The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA), of Memphis, Tenn., has partnered with the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) and the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association Inc. (MFMA) to offer a four-day basic flooring school March 15-18, 2005. The school is an updated version of the NOFMA school traditionally held in Memphis, and will now be held at the NWFA International Headquarters in Chesterfield, Mo.

The course curriculum will cover all aspects of proper wood flooring installation, with sections on wood products and characteristics; job site evaluation and preparation; layout; installation techniques; fillers, repairs and special tools; sanding and finishing; specialty products and examination; estimating mechanic production time and specialties; and troubleshooting and handling complaints. The new school now follows a Tuesday-Friday schedule to make it more convenient for students to attend.

"The school still covers the same basic information, but we were able to juggle the schedule a bit to get it done in four full days instead of the five-day school we used to hold," said Mickey Moore, NOFMA's technical director.

The course is a prerequisite for the NOFMA certified wood flooring inspector program. Registration will open at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, March 15, with classes beginning promptly at 8:30. The school is $450 for members of any of the three sponsoring associations and $550 for all others.

For more information, visit www.nofma.org or call 901/526-5016.