Q1

Bona DriFast Stain

The addition of the seven new colors - Bark, Cocoa, Driftwood, Birch, Aged Pewter, Twig and Sand Dune offers homeowners a range of choices to complement their personal style. Bona has curated all of the 26 stain colors into four designer collections that bring out the best in showcasing the natural beauty and grain of the wood.

Trend Update - Fashion Floors

• Hyper natural: This relates to wood styles that flaunt the natural imperfections and grain character of the raw material. Far from wanting engineered perfection, consumers will increasingly seek to surround themselves with products that bring them closer to nature, and that look and feel authentic. The desire for a natural, rustic appearance does not only apply to solid wood flooring; laminates, inkjet-printed porcelain and incredibly realistic LVT can also satisfy this desire.
• Gray: This is not a fad fashion color, but a new classic color with customer appeal that will continue for many years. Wood and wood-look flooring in gray tones can be used to instantly provide the foundation for on-trend industrial or urban styles and a myriad of modern styles from Scandinavian to new minimalism. Of course, concrete also fits into the gray color family, and just as with the hyper-natural trend, it does not necessarily need to be the “real thing.” High-definition, inkjet-printed porcelain tiles give end users the desired concrete look with the performance and durability of porcelain tile.
• Reclaimed: Products that have a story to tell, have been previously used and are repurposed or vintage resonate with consumers. In flooring this equates to a distressed appearance with signs of wear and aging. It is a timeworn aesthetic that hinges on a weathered look and also advocates the mixing of varied woods and/or wood tones across a floor.
• Mixed-width formats: In line with the trend for reclaimed flooring styles comes an interest in incorporating a mix of plank widths across a floor. This move away from uniformity is an important trend for 2016.
• Dark and blonde wood: Both dark and blonde wood tones are currently trending and will continue for several more years, so retailers should be sure to stock offerings at both ends of the shade spectrum. The deep, dramatic espresso tones of walnut give a glamorous heritage look, while blonde tones of oak, maple and ash appeal to customers looking to achieve modern styles.
• Parquet: The classic herringbone and chevron layouts will be a favorite, but I predict puzzle-like geometrics will also begin to gain the interest of interior designers.

Industry Events

NWFA
Come and visit Bona's latest innovations in booth #623! We will be participating in the NWFA Wood Flooring Expo on April 28th-30th, 2016 in Charlotte, NC.

BCCP
In conjunction with the NWFA Expo, Bona is excited to provide an off-site event for our Bona Certified Craftsman. On April 27th, 2016, members will have a chance to tour our Monroe, NC facility, gain insights with product demonstrations, hone their knowledge of how to market themselves in both print and digital landscapes and experience great networking opportunities.

Sand and Finish Schools
Each year Bona provides 4-day sand and finish schools throughout the year. We have six locations across the nation, including one in Canada, featuring a unique training space for hardwood industry professionals. Each facility mirrors an actual jobsite and offers the same challenges a contractor would face in order to maximize the training purposes. Learn more and view a complete schedule. 

Tech Tips & Tricks

To produce this much sought after look, mix Bona SuperSport Paint – Black with Bona DTS waterborne sealer in approximately a 3:2 ratio (or 60% paint and 40% sealer if that’s easier to picture). Shake well and apply with a Bona Roller in the regular manner. Have a bare spot, blotchy look or thin areas? Because this is a hybrid system utilizing waterborne sealer, just let the 1st coat dry for 2-3 hours before applying a second coat to even everything out; then protect with 1-2 coats of Bona waterborne finish. Experiment with other SuperSport Paint colors and exponentially expand your color style offering!