IFTI’s flooring expertise reaches commercial projects through a few distinct service models — each addressing a different stage of the project lifecycle and a different stakeholder need. This guide walks through the IFTI services catalog: what each service covers, when to engage it, and which projects fit which model.
For background on why flooring expertise matters at the spec stage, see the complete guide to commercial flooring expertise.
Flooring Expert Solution: The Core Consulting Model
IFTI’s Flooring Expert Solution is the firm’s foundational engagement. It brings IFTI’s flooring expertise to a project at the appropriate stage — spec review, construction document review, pre-install verification, install troubleshooting, or failure investigation. The engagement is sized to the project scope and the specific questions the stakeholders need answered.
When to engage: Whenever a commercial project has flooring scope substantial enough that a failure would be a major dollar event. Most engagements start at the schematic design or CD review stage and continue through install.
Who engages: Architects of record, project managers, owners, and GCs.
Typical scope: Spec review, technical opinion on product/substrate compatibility, moisture testing protocol design, install condition verification, manufacturer warranty review, post-install documentation.
Concrete Moisture Testing: The Highest-Leverage Specialty
If there is a single technical service that prevents more commercial flooring failures than any other, it is correctly-executed concrete moisture testing. The math is straightforward: ~80% of major commercial flooring failures trace to concrete moisture issues — either testing that wasn’t done, testing done incorrectly, or readings that exceeded the flooring product’s moisture tolerance and the installation proceeded anyway.
IFTI’s moisture testing service uses ASTM-standard protocols:
- ASTM F1869 (Calcium Chloride Test). The traditional moisture vapor emission rate test. Useful but limited to surface-zone moisture and a 72-hour window.
- ASTM F2170 (Relative Humidity / RH Probe Test). The current preferred protocol. RH probes installed in drilled holes measure moisture deeper in the slab. More accurate predictor of long-term moisture behavior.
- ASTM F2659 (Concrete pH Test). Surface pH measurement, important for certain adhesive compatibility.
- Visual and non-destructive evaluation. Specific patterns of staining, efflorescence, and surface condition can indicate moisture issues before quantitative testing confirms.
The testing report includes the specific readings, ASTM-compliant documentation, interpretation against the flooring product’s moisture tolerance, and recommendations for moisture mitigation if needed. The moisture testing evaluation page covers the engagement details.
The concrete moisture solution landing page details the engagement for projects facing specific moisture concerns.
Expert Consultations: Issue-Specific Engagement
For projects that need focused expertise on a specific issue rather than full project oversight, IFTI’s expert consultations model provides targeted technical advice. Engagements range from a single-question phone call to multi-day forensic investigation.
Common consultation topics:
- Product selection for an unusual application (extreme temperature, chemical exposure, heavy rolling load)
- Substrate condition outside normal parameters
- Failure investigation (what caused the flooring failure, who is responsible, how to remediate)
- Warranty dispute documentation
- Litigation expert witness work
- Specification language for unusual project requirements
PROvision: Independent Project Oversight
PROvision is IFTI’s premium engagement model — independent flooring oversight throughout the build. The owner gets a technical advocate on flooring decisions, from spec review through install completion. PROvision is the right engagement when the owner wants to maintain technical independence from the GC and the architect of record on flooring matters specifically.
What PROvision covers:
- Pre-bid spec review
- Bid evaluation (substrate prep scope, install conditions, warranty terms)
- Pre-install substrate verification (moisture, flatness, surface condition)
- Install condition monitoring (temperature, humidity, acclimation)
- Adhesive coverage verification
- Punch list and post-install documentation
- Warranty registration and documentation
PROvision engagements are typically multi-month and cover the full flooring installation phase of the build.
Buildpoint: Project Management for Flooring Scope
Buildpoint is IFTI’s project-management platform specifically for the flooring scope of construction projects. It provides the structured documentation, milestone tracking, and stakeholder coordination that flooring projects benefit from — particularly large projects with multiple flooring product lines, multiple installation phases, and multiple stakeholder coordination requirements.
Fuse: The Specifier Resource Platform
Fuse is IFTI’s specifier-facing resource platform — the structured library of flooring technical content, product compatibility data, substrate prep specifications, and expert references that specifiers can use during the design and CD phase. For architects and designers who don’t engage IFTI on every project but want access to the firm’s knowledge base, Fuse is the entry point.
SPECS and the Industry Resource
IFTI publishes SPECS, the industry resource that captures current product specifications, substrate requirements, and install conditions across the major flooring product categories. SPECS is referenced by architects and specifiers across the industry.
IFTI Network: The Broader Community
The IFTI Network connects the firm’s clients with the broader community of flooring expertise — installers, manufacturers, specifiers, and other industry participants who IFTI works with across projects. Network membership extends a firm’s reach beyond direct engagement.
Choosing the Right Service for Your Project
Quick guide:
- If you have a specific question or concern: Expert Consultations.
- If you have an existing or suspected moisture issue: Concrete Moisture Testing.
- If you’re an architect in the spec stage and want expert review: Flooring Expert Solution.
- If you’re an owner who wants independent oversight throughout the build: PROvision.
- If you’re managing a complex multi-product, multi-phase flooring project: Buildpoint.
- If you’re a specifier who wants ongoing access to IFTI’s knowledge base: Fuse.
- If you have a project that’s already failed: Expert Consultations with failure investigation scope.
For the deeper risk-management math behind each engagement type, see preventing the million-dollar flooring failure.
Service Area
IFTI serves commercial projects nationally. On-site engagements (moisture testing, install oversight) extend across the U.S.; consulting and review engagements are delivered remotely or on-site depending on project scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only work on large projects?
No. IFTI engagements scale from single-question consultations on smaller projects to multi-month PROvision oversight on major builds. The engagement model matches the project scope and risk level.
Can you do moisture testing on a single-day visit?
ASTM F1869 (calcium chloride) requires a 72-hour test window. ASTM F2170 (RH probe) typically requires a 72-hour equilibration after probe installation. A single-day visit can install the testing apparatus; the readings come from the subsequent equilibration period.
Is IFTI a flooring contractor?
No. IFTI is an independent flooring expert and consulting firm. The independence is the value — recommendations are not shaped by manufacturer relationships or install contracts.
How do you handle expert-witness engagements?
Litigation engagements run under specific confidentiality and expert-witness protocols. IFTI has decades of experience in expert-witness work and the documentation standards required for the federal and state court systems.
What does it cost?
Varies by service and scope. See pricing or get a project quote.
How fast can you respond to an urgent issue?
For urgent failure investigations or pre-install moisture concerns, IFTI typically can deploy within 24–72 hours. Contact IFTI directly for urgent engagement.
Talk to IFTI
Get a quote for a specific engagement, review case studies from prior projects, or contact IFTI with project-specific questions. The resources library includes white papers and diagnostic materials.
