Los Angeles—The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) has named Bentley its 2025 Recycler of the Year. The organization recognized Bentley for incorporating post-consumer calcium carbonate (PC4) from reclaimed carpet into its manufacturing process.
PC4 is a recycled mineral filler recovered from used carpet. By finding a new application for the material, Bentley is helping reduce waste and support a circular economy within the flooring industry.
“Utilizing PC4 into the manufacturing process has not been easy and there are still challenges,” said Sandy Eppard, senior director of sustainability and technical at Bentley.
Overcoming recycling challenges
PC4 can contain contaminants, including residual carpet fibers and latex. These impurities can clog equipment, disrupt material flow and create processing difficulties during manufacturing.
To address these challenges, Bentley worked closely with its supplier to remove contaminants and test for legacy chemicals. The company also installed additional filtration equipment to incorporate recycled content while maintaining its performance standards.
“The team remained committed to finding solutions because they saw the positive environmental impacts of the project, so they stayed focused on making it work,” said Ines Ware, sustainability director at Bentley.
CARE recognized these efforts when it selected Bentley for the award. CARE CEO and Executive Director Bob Peoples has described carpet recycling as a “heavy lift.” He emphasized the collaboration between recyclers and manufacturers needed to create new markets for recovered carpet.
For Bentley, the recognition reflects years of work to incorporate recycled carpet materials into its manufacturing process.
The company continues to address challenges associated with PC4 while exploring additional opportunities to advance sustainability and carpet recycling.
The RMI survey asks remodelers to rate five components of the remodeling market as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” Each question uses a scale from 0 to 100.
An index reading above 50 means more remodelers view conditions as good than poor. NAHB seasonally adjusts the RMI results.
The Current Conditions Index averages three components. They include the current market for large remodeling projects, moderately sized projects and small projects.
The Future Indicators Index averages two components. They include the current rate of leads and inquiries and the backlog of remodeling projects.
NAHB calculates the overall RMI by averaging the Current Conditions Index and Future Indicators Index.
“Remodeler sentiment remained stable in the third quarter, although remodelers in certain parts of the country continue to report issues with high material costs and finding enough labor to finish projects on time,” said Elliott Pike, NAHB Remodelers chair and a remodeler from Homewood, Ala. “Remodelers also report that economic uncertainty is making some potential customers hesitant to move forward with projects.”
Robert Dietz, NAHB chief economist, added, “The third quarter reading of 62 for the RMI is consistent with NAHB’s projection for remodeling activity to remain stable in 2026 and grow slightly in 2027. Labor shortages, exacerbated by immigration enforcement and competition from data center construction, are extending the time it takes to complete projects. Nevertheless, remodeling is gaining share in the overall construction market, as it is somewhat less sensitive than new construction to the current elevated interest rates.”
Current conditions remain strong
The Current Conditions Index averaged 70 for the third consecutive quarter. All three components remained well above 50.
The index for large remodeling projects of $50,000 or more increased two points to 66. The measure for moderate projects of at least $20,000 but less than $50,000 fell two points to 71.
The index for small remodeling projects under $20,000 slipped one point to 73.
The Future Indicators Index averaged 54, up two points from the previous quarter.
The measure tracking the current rate of leads and inquiries rose two points to 53. The component measuring the backlog of remodeling jobs also increased two points to 56.
Dallas—Daltile is recognizing contractors and tile installers during its annual Trade Pro Appreciation Week this week.The event features tile savings, vendor discounts, tool deals and giveaways at Daltile locations nationwide.
As part of the celebration, Daltile will award three trade professionals and their guests all-expenses-paid trips to the 2027 Kentucky Derby.
The event also highlights Daltile’s ProContractor Program, which provides services and resources to help contractors and tile installers grow their businesses.
“Trade professionals are a key driving force within our industry, so Daltile is thrilled to honor three lucky trade pro winners (and their plus-ones) with a Kentucky Derby trip as a key part of this week’s celebration,” said Amber Leigh Martinson, vice president of marketing for Dal-Tile LLC. “For over 79 years, Daltile has been the resource for contractors and tile installers, providing the design, service, technology, manufacturing and distribution leadership trade pros need to succeed. It has been our pleasure to come alongside these professionals and equip them to serve their customers effectively and grow their own businesses for so many years.”
The company’s ProContractor Program provides exclusive contractor pricing, project support, tools and accessories. Trade professionals can also use Daltile’s free ProExchange app to search products, check inventory, place orders, make payments and schedule pickups.
“Daltile is committed to being the trade pro’s trusted partner, serving as their one-stop-shop for all tile, stone, countertop and installation needs,” Martinson said. “We have over 260 Daltile Sales Service Center locations nationwide offering unmatched product selection, service and availability year-round. In addition, we offer a user-friendly ProContractor Program complete with exclusive contractor pricing, comprehensive project support, tools and accessories. We also make it easy to conduct business with Daltile anytime and anywhere, on any computer, smartphone, or tablet via our free ProExchange app. With ProExchange, trade pros streamline workflows by accessing everything needed in one place—from product searches to viewing available inventory, placing orders, payment, order tracking, scheduling pick-ups and more.”
2027 Kentucky Derby giveaway
The giveaway is open to eligible tile installers, tile contractors and general contractors. Participants must have an active Daltile Trade Pro account, which is free. Participants can enter or win without making a purchase or payment.
Eligible professionals can enter at a local Daltile Sales Service Center or through the Daltile ProContractor website by selecting “Daltile 2026 Trade Pro Giveaway.”
Lehi, Utah—Floorzap has named Dan Blake chief product and technology officer. Blake will lead product and technology efforts for the business management software company serving independent flooring retailers.
Blake brings more than 30 years of experience building and leading software teams. Most recently, he served as chief product and technology officer at Aspire Software.
Aspire provides software for commercial landscaping, snow and ice and field service contractors. Its platform supports operations, finances and customer management.
During Blake’s tenure, Aspire’s product and technology team grew from seven employees to more than 260. The company also grew from an early-stage startup through its acquisition by ServiceTitan. It later became one of ServiceTitan’s largest product lines.
Blake also serves as a board member and product and technology adviser to six other software companies.
Blake to lead product, engineering and AI strategy
In his new role, Blake will oversee Floorzap’s product and engineering organization. He will also set the company’s technical roadmap and lead the integration of AI into its platform.
“Flooring dealers do not want software that adds work to their day,” Blake said. “Floorzap already gives them the quote, the invoice and the work order in one place. I want to make that faster and more dependable and I want to put the AI work I have been doing to use for the dealers who run their businesses on it.”
Blake joins a product and engineering team that includes executives Eric Carlson and Shane Blaser. He will also work directly with Floorzap’s retailer customers to help shape the company’s product roadmap.
“Dealers tell us they need modern and cloud-based software that keeps up with how their business really runs,” said Matt Buckley, CEO of Floorzap. “Dan has led product and engineering for software built for the trades and he has spent recent years putting AI into production systems. That is the experience we wanted running product and technology at Floorzap.”
Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes fell three points to 29. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index reported the decline Oct. 19. The reading was the lowest since June 2012.
“Mortgage rates have climbed well above 7% in recent weeks and higher gas prices and inflation have further weakened buyer traffic across much of the country,” said Bill Owens, chairman of the NAHB and a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio. “Though builders are also contending with higher costs for construction loans, building materials and diesel, the Trump administration’s efforts to advance regulatory reform are helping to ease some of the cost pressures they face. Nationwide, more than one-third of builders reported immigration enforcement activity in their market areas during the past month, causing construction delays and discouraging legal workers from reporting to work.”
Robert Dietz, NAHB chief economist, added, “Housing remains squeezed by supply-side constraints and significant affordability challenges. Demand persists, but higher mortgage rates, elevated construction costs and weaker consumer confidence are keeping more buyers on the sidelines. As a result, buyer traffic has fallen to its lowest level since April 2012, excluding the pandemic’s onset in April 2020.”
Builders turn to price cuts, incentives
The latest HMI survey found that 43% of builders cut prices in October. That marked the highest share recorded during the 2020-2026 period.
The average price cut remained at 6% for the seventh consecutive month. Meanwhile, 65% of builders reported using sales incentives in October.
October marked the 19th consecutive month in which at least 60% of builders reported using incentives.
NAHB has conducted the monthly HMI survey for more than 40 years. The index measures builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months.
Builders rate conditions as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate prospective buyer traffic as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.”
NAHB uses the scores for each component to calculate a seasonally adjusted index. A reading above 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor.
All three major HMI indexes declined in October.
The index measuring current sales conditions fell two points to 33. The index measuring sales expectations for the next six months dropped five points to 32.
The index measuring prospective buyer traffic also fell five points to 18.
Regional three-month moving averages also declined. The Northeast fell one point to 38 while the Midwest dropped three points to 40.
The South declined one point to 30 and the West fell two points to 26.
The Midwest remained a relative bright spot for single-family home building, with permits up 2.9%.
The Armstrong Flooring mobile showroom trailer was parked in front of Adleta’s warehouse on the third stop of AHF’s 2026 Roadshow tour.
Dallas—Floor Covering News is here for the third leg of the 2026 Armstrong Flooring Roadshow, a series of events held in conjunction with Armstrong Flooring/AHF Products distribution partners. Adleta served as the host site for this week’s event, which welcomed scores of retailer/designer customers.
“The reaction from retailers and distributors to having the Armstrong Flooring brand back in residential has been phenomenal,” said Jennifer Zimmerman, chief commercial officer, AHF Products. “We haven’t done anything like this in a really long time.”
The road show format, according to Zimmerman, gives AHF Products a platform to create a high-impact experience that celebrates the return of the Armstrong Flooring brand to retail and gives customers the confidence and tools to sell the brand. Make no mistake: this isn’t simply a return of a historic brand. Rather, according to the company, it’s an opportunity to help write the next chapter in a storied history. Generations of families have trusted Armstrong Flooring. For decades they have associated the Armstrong brand with quality, style and lasting value.
“This is an exciting moment for the Armstrong Flooring brand and, more importantly, for our retail partners,” said Chris King, senior vice president of residential sales, AHF Products. “We are coming back with products designed for today’s consumer, the recognition of a name people already know and trust, and the marketing and merchandising support retailers need to turn that into sales. We want retailers to see the opportunity, experience the products and get excited about what we can build together.”
Expanded product portfolio
Armstrong Flooring is returning to retail with a wide assortment that includes DLuxe Plank HDPC luxury vinyl plank, which is produced at its Cartersville, Ga., facility. In support of the expanded Armstrong Flooring portfolio, AHF has rolled out a flexible merchandising system that allows retailers to configure for standalone displays or larger branded presentations.
“Customers that already display Armstrong-branded products will receive a retro-fit kit so they can turn their existing display into an Armstrong Flooring merchandiser,” Zimmerman explained. “We also offer a spinner display that can hold a full-size plank showcasing the heft of the product.”
Another road sow highlight is the Sacred Grove Select collection of engineered hardwood, produced at AHF’s facility in Turney, Tenn. The new line boasts a billet plywood core for strength and dimensional stability, and utilizes select-grade hardwood and trendy colorways.
AHF Products’ Milton Goodwin, left, walks All About Floors’ Steve Watson through the new Armstrong Flooring engineered portfolio.
Rounding out the new offerings are three porcelain tile collections—Heritage Tailoring, Subtle Chic and Indie Edge—that span a range of styles, price points and project needs. All are made domestically at its plant in Crossville, Tenn.
But it wasn’t just about new collections. Attendees also got their first look at a completely revamped Armstrong Flooring website, which touts improved functionality, visualization tools, lifestyle content and lead-generation capabilities, among other key enhancements. The site also allows visitors to peruse other flagship AHF Products brands.
All these upgrades, according to the company, give retailers a powerful one-two punch: a brand consumers already recognize, combined with a portfolio that gives them more ways to sell it. As King explained: “We are backing it with the products, displays, marketing and supply reliability to help our partners turn that opportunity into growth.”
Adleta retailer customers in attendance here expressed excitement about the expanded offerings as well as the focus on the Armstrong Flooring brand in general.
“We’re excited to see the Armstrong Flooring-labeled vinyl plank products that are coming out,” said Trey McGee, Henson Carpet One, Shreveport, La. “The Diamond 10 finish has been popular on the commercial side, and we’re excited about Armstrong Flooring bringing that back on the residential side. We also like what we’re seeing in terms of the premium hardwood looks being offered as well as the new tile products.”
AHF Products’ Jarrett Stewart, left, with Henson Carpet One’s Trey McGee in the Armstrong Flooring mobile showroom.
Steve Watson of All About Floors, Forney, Texas, was similarly impressed with the new offerings, particularly the Sacred Grove Select Engineered Hardwood collection. “We sell a lot of hardwood in our store,” he told FCNews. “We like the fact that the consumer will be able to refinish the product. The Made in America aspect is also a huge deal.”
For more on this story, look for the November 2 issue of FCNews.
Washington, D.C.—New home sales improved in August, but the monthly gain masks continued weakness in the broader new-home market, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Elevated mortgage rates and ongoing affordability challenges continue to constrain demand. Sales remain below last year’s pace and year-to-date sales trail 2025 levels.
Sales of newly built single-family homes increased 6.4% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 684,000. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Census Bureau reported the latest figures following an upwardly revised July estimate.
The pace of new home sales was 2% lower than a year earlier. “The gain in new home sales is encouraging, but affordability remains a challenge,” said Bill Owens, chairman of the NAHB and a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio. “Sales are still down year over year and year to date and builders continue to use incentives and pricing adjustments to support buyers as limited existing-home inventory helps sustain the new-home market.”
A new home sale occurs when a buyer signs a sales contract or submits a deposit. The home can be at any stage of construction, including not yet started, under construction or completed.
“While the monthly increase in sales is a positive development, housing demand remains sensitive to higher mortgage rates and broader macroeconomic conditions,” said Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington, NAHB assistant vice president for forecasting and analysis. “A sustained improvement in affordability, particularly through lower financing costs, would provide a stronger foundation for housing demand going forward.”
The August reading of 684,000 units also accounts for seasonal effects. The figure represents the number of homes that would sell if the August pace continued for 12 months.
New single-family home inventory remained unchanged from July at 483,000 units. Inventory fell 2% from a year ago.
That represents an elevated 8.5 months’ supply at the current sales pace. Completed, ready-to-occupy inventory totaled 112,000 homes in August.
The combined inventory of resale and new homes represented a 5.3-month supply at the current sales pace.
The median new home sales price increased 0.4% from July to $393,700. The median price fell 5.8% from a year ago.
On a year-to-date basis, new home sales fell 0.6% in the Midwest, 1% in the South and 10% in the West. Sales remained unchanged in the Northeast.
Los Angeles—The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) has named Bentley its 2025 Recycler of the Year. The organization recognized Bentley for incorporating post-consumer calcium carbonate (PC4) from reclaimed carpet into its manufacturing process.
Washington, D.C.—
Dallas—Daltile is recognizing contractors and tile installers during its annual 
Lehi, Utah—
Washington, D.C.—Rising mortgage rates, energy and material costs, and worsening labor and lot conditions pushed builder sentiment to a 14-year low in October, 
Washington, D.C.—New home sales improved in August, but the monthly gain masks continued weakness in the broader new-home market, according to the