Expertise

Services Available Through Interior Specifications Technical Services Department

Interior Specifications, an independent floor covering consulting and management company, provides services that transcend the sale of a product. We provide ideas and solutions.

Historically, the project designer works with manufacturer’s representatives in the development of a scope of work that best represents the end user’s goals, and the designer’s concepts. The specifications are written and given to a general contractor to be put to bid for competitive pricing. The end result may or may not be satisfactory. Money becomes the deciding factor in the selection of the ultimate provider used for that end result.

The historical methods have been modified to fit the updated world of business. Sales is still the goal of the floor covering provider, but service has become the vehicle of the decision maker. We at Interior Specifications have developed a highly sophisticated model for services offerings.

At this time a limited number of “Ad On” services are available from the three carpet alignment channels. Interior Specifications has put all of the services together, and added some uniquely advantageous benefits to those “Ad On” services.

Please consider the advantages of involving Interior Specifications in your decision making process. In the following pages you will find a description of the services and benefits we provide by the. The length and breath of these services exceeds any of the “Channels.”

Complete diagnostic evaluations of all flooring systems, either existing or proposed

Interior Specifications will provide, a review of your plans and thoughts on existing and future floor covering needs. This review, by professional consultants, will lead to insights into the future use of the floor covering systems.

A floor covering system is not confined to carpet, as the carpet industry would have you believe. There are many modalities to be considered when evaluating a long term investment in a facility. Interior Specifications is not a carpet sales company.

Depending upon the scope of the project under consideration, the following criteria will be analyzed, and a recommendation will be given for the most practical methods of decision making.

Life Cycle Cost Study

In the life cycle of a floor covering system there are many factors to be evaluated. The end result of a study into the life cycle cost, is a determination of value.

The obvious consideration is initial cost. The designer has prepared an aesthetic representation that fits the needs of the client. What will this cost? That question cannot be answered by the competitive bid process. In the world of limited distribution, as the carpet industry has become, the competitive bid process is no longer a reliable source for that information.

Expert opinion must be used to establish comparisons for the manufacturers of comparable products, in order to establish a competitive environment. The process where floor covering dealers compete is no longer viable, for medium to high quality materials, there are three spheres of influence.

Effective appearance life is a criteria needed to arrive at a life cycle cost. Who is qualified to make a determination of this quantifiable value? The designer is guided by a wholesale representative. Rarely is the same designer called in at the time the original installation is to be replaced. This is part of the history required to gain a sensitivity of this specific knowledge. Interior Specifications will provide individuals with such specific knowledge.

Cost of maintenance over the effective appearance life is the next factor needed in this study. SCS Systems has a relationship with floor care specialists that will project the costs of all surfaces involved in the project. This factor in itself will lead to a practical financial consideration.

Replacement cost is the final ingredient in this mix of disciplines required for a complete evaluation. Our experts are qualified by the Federal Government to affix life expectancy and replacement cost of time of all floor covering materials.

Budgeting of Repair, or Replacement

Interior Specifications will evaluate all of the operations of the client and its effect on the floor covering. This includes the length of time expected for occupancy. There will be a consideration of the floor coverings influence on the environment that it functions in.

The costs of maintaining the usefulness of the flooring system and the comparison of repair versus replacement will be studied. Using the partnership Interior Specifications has with other service providers, we will look at the time / repairs value and compare it to a life cycle cost of replacement.

Maintenance is a function of the of floor’s performance expectation at the time of selection. An expectation of capital expenditure was projected at the time of purchase. This will be considered in the evaluation. These past expectation will be compared to the reality, and through expert guidance any adjustments in the materials will be recommended with respect to those original parameters as well future expectations.

Value is a function of the relationship between many factors; Economic life expectancy; appearance life expectancy; aesthetic impact on the style of business; impact on the working environment; cost maintaining efficient level of all of the above.

Development of Remediation Program

Given:

The environment to be evaluated in an occupied commercial/ institutional space. It must remain partially functional during the remediation program. Disruption of the work flow must be minimized and predictable.

Method:

Examining the space requires a complete awareness of the mechanical functions of each work station, weather it be a common area, an executive office, a laboratory, a clerical station or assembly position. Each portion of work space has specialty requirements.

Experts from all of the Interior Specifications service providers will be assembled to make determinations for the most valuable solution to the remediation. This will include material manufacturers, maintenance contractors, furniture moving professionals, and contracting project managers. These experts will confer with the client’s design team with the intent of retaining the design integrity created by that design team.

Plans will be developed for scenarios that represent aspects of business that the client can choose from. Knowledge and flexibility will be provided as needed to make the most efficient decision.

Development of Replacement Program

As in the case of remediation, replacement requires a working knowledge of the functions of the business and the space. The Interior Specifications team will work as it did before.

It will be necessary to involve the client’s design team as an integral part of the planning for replacement. We will furnish the designer with the products and services that provide them with as many options as possible.

Replacement like remediation will require import from maintenance and furniture moving professionals. All of the planning will incorporate the functional and budgetary needs of the client. The results of the “Life Cycle Cost Study” will be provided as a guide to value.

Replacement will require financial and functional projections from the client. These will allow the selection process to be narrowed to those products that fit a specialized matrix of value, and design. The Interior Specifications team will guide the design team from a practical and value added prospective.

If the space to be supplied is new, the required consulting by the Interior Specifications may be limited to product specialization, and financial management, which can include long term maintenance and leasing of materials.

Development of Purchasing Program

Once a plan has been selected, Interior Specifications works with the client in the development of purchasing options.

We have resources of short term payment of materials, medium payment for some materials, and a complete leasing package that encompasses the on going care of the floor covering over a period of years while maintaining manufacturer’s long term warranties.

Our leasing provider will develop a plan for the financial convenience of the client to effectively care for the floor covering system in total. Interior Specifications products and services are not confined to the carpet industry. Interior Specifications all encompassing Finance, Warranty, and Maintenance umbrella for the life cycle of all of the floor covering materials used will remove that responsibility from the facilities manager.

Ongoing Services

Over the life of the flooring, Interior Specifications experts will be available, at no charge, for any discussions pertaining to the materials and services that were provided. Our involvement is not limited to the product warranty period, or the state mandated labor warranty period, but for the life of the system.

The expertise needed for all of the facets of floor covering can be provided by Interior Specifications counselors and service providers. As independent floor covering consultants we have access to all of the products the industry has to offer. Additionally, we have access to products and services that are not floor covering, but associated with floor covering, such as Raised Panel Floor Systems, Concrete Admixes, Site testing capacity. Interior Specifications is not a flooring contractor nor a sales organization.

Forensic Examination

A Forensic Examination will provide information that is “Suitable for law court, public debate, or formal argument.”

Interior Specifications is headed by a Diplomate of the American College of Forensic Examiners. He will provide expert information on failure analysis, and appraisal of damages as needed for forensic purposes in a court or insurance claim.

Additionally, a judgment of the equality of like materials, made by a federally certified expert, that will acceptable by a public agency. This is often a position placed upon a designer whom may feel unqualified to pass such a judgment.

Also, with his knowledge of failure he can predict the performance of a floor covering system while it’s in the design stage, He will develop a system that meets the needs of design, end user’s goals, and facilities management efficiencies.

Summary of Services Available Through the Interior Specifications Technical Services Department

The floor covering industry today is based on SERVICE. The carpet manufacturers of the world have developed limited distribution to emphasize this modern approach to a developing industry, as well as control the quality of its service providers.

Interior Specifications holds a prominent place in this industry because, it provides products and services the not only equal the best parts of all the alignments, but furnishes a menu of services that goes beyond any individual floor covering provider. We do not manufacturer any product, but service all flooring materials required, from conceptions assistance to long term finance and maintenance.

• Development of replacement/new program
• Development of remediation/repair program
• Life cycle cost study
• Budgeting of repair, or replacement
• Development of Purchasing/Leasing program
• Management of labor requirements
• Development of maintenance program
• On going inspection and counseling services
• Recycling programs Forensic Examination
• Expert Witness services (like kind and quality)
• Appraisal of damage

Interior Specifications, in conjunction with its manufacturing and service affiliations can offer the consumer, designer, and the general contractor every advantage the newly evolved flooring industry can provide.