CFI Business Practices & Customer Relations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When estimating flooring material for a room, what typical waste factor percentage is added for a standard straight-lay tile installation?
- 10% (Correct answer)
- 5%
- 20%
- 15%
Correct answer: 10%
A 10% waste factor is standard for straight-lay tile installations to account for cuts, defects, and future repairs.
Question 2: What additional waste percentage is commonly recommended when installing hardwood flooring on a 45-degree diagonal?
- 15% (Correct answer)
- 5%
- 10%
- 25%
Correct answer: 15%
Diagonal installations require approximately 15% extra material to account for the increased number of angled cuts at walls and doorways.
Question 3: What is a 'change order' in a flooring installation context?
- A written amendment to the original contract when scope changes (Correct answer)
- A product substitution form
- A warranty claim document
- An invoice adjustment without customer approval
Correct answer: A written amendment to the original contract when scope changes
A change order formally documents any modifications to the original scope, price, or timeline agreed upon in the contract.
Question 4: What professional practice should a CFI installer follow when discovering unexpected subfloor issues (e.g., rot) during a job?
- Stop work, document the condition, and notify the customer before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Fix it at their own cost and continue
- Skip the affected area
- Complete the job and note it on the invoice
Correct answer: Stop work, document the condition, and notify the customer before proceeding
Stopping work and notifying the customer ensures they can authorize and pay for the additional remediation work, keeping the installer and customer aligned.
Question 5: What does a 'maintenance guide' provided to a customer after installation accomplish for the installer?
- It establishes that the installer provided care instructions, reducing liability for customer-caused damage (Correct answer)
- It guarantees the product's performance indefinitely
- It replaces the manufacturer warranty
- It obligates the customer to hire the same installer for repairs
Correct answer: It establishes that the installer provided care instructions, reducing liability for customer-caused damage
Providing written maintenance instructions protects the installer by demonstrating due diligence; damage from improper care by the customer then falls outside the installer's warranty.
Question 6: Why should a flooring installer keep records of batch/lot numbers for materials used on a job?
- To ensure color consistency for future repairs and support warranty claims (Correct answer)
- To calculate job cost only
- To comply with OSHA regulations
- To register the materials with the city
Correct answer: To ensure color consistency for future repairs and support warranty claims
Lot numbers allow the installer to source matching material for future repairs and provide documentation needed to support warranty claims with the manufacturer.
CFI Business Practices & Customer Relations 2
When estimating flooring material for a room, what typical waste factor percentage is added for a standard straight-lay tile installation?