SPECIFYING services

Which flooring products are best for your facilities? Inside Edge will assess your needs on a national basis, then work with flooring manufacturers to recommend the appropriate products. Our expertise in product analysis, installation methods and maintenance, as well as our familiarity with a broad spectrum of manufacturers, allows us to specify the best products for your usage, design and budget.

We are an independent service company: your ally in the product selection process. Other participants, including carpet manufacturers and traditional flooring contractors, have a major stake in the products that you select for your facilities. This affects the products and pricing provided for your facilities.

Initial Assessment

Inside Edge will assess your flooring needs related to the following key factors:

• Cost
• Internal maintenance programs
• Usage
• Life expectancy
• Visual impression
• Future replacement

General Specification

Once we complete the assessment, we will create a general specification for products that meet your budget. For carpet, the specification will include the following:

• Yarn system
• Tufting method
• Yarn weight
• Stitches per inch
• Dye method
• Gauge
• Backing system

Inside Edge will then work with several manufacturers that can meet your specification. Each manufacturer will be asked to provide product samples and unit cost information. (Pricing will be based on manufacturers providing product only, as Inside Edge will provide all services.) We will prepare a cost/benefit analysis for each product, to be presented along with the manufacturer samples and pricing. This will allow you to make a decision based on complete and unbiased information.

Exclusive Specification

We can also develop a limited specification when necessary. For example, you may direct us to work exclusively with one manufacturer to find the right product. Or we may determine during the assessment process that a specific product would work best for your facilities. Inside Edge would work exclusively with that manufacturer to create the right specification for your needs and price point.

Hard Surface and Specialty Products

Inside Edge will also assist you in specifying the right products to meet your hard surface, wood and resilient needs. As independent service experts, we work with all the manufacturers that provide these products and we'll help you find the right ones to meet your needs and budget. The following are some of the different types of products we can specify for your facilities:

• Base and transitions
• Laminate and real wood products
• Vinyl Composite Tile (VCT)
• Rubber products
• Pure vinyl tile products
• Synthetic products
• Vinyl roll goods
• Many more

Inside Edge will then work with several manufacturers that can meet your specification. Each manufacturer will be asked to provide product samples and unit cost information. (Pricing will be based on manufacturers providing product only, as Inside Edge will provide all services.) We will prepare a cost/benefit analysis for each product, to be presented along with the manufacturer samples and pricing. This will allow you to make a decision based on complete and unbiased information.

Our product selection and cost/benefit analysis would follow the procedures for carpet as described above.

Advantages of using Inside Edge for Specifying Services

• As an independent expert, we have the ability to work with any manufacturer to find the right product for your needs.  Most other participants are aligned with or support a specific group of manufacturers, which limits the product lines available to you.  We are an independent service company focused on providing services only and are not limited or biased in our selection of products.

• Only Inside Edge provides you with the actual material cost from the manufacturer.  This pricing will not include profit or markup typically added by other flooring contractors and distribution channels. You will receive any discount terms offered by the manufacturer, and our fees will be clearly separated from the material costs.

• As experienced insiders, we can provide a detailed competitive analysis or Return on Investment (ROI) for each product presented to you.  Our analysis would include comparing different yarn systems, weight variations, backing systems, construction, installation method and more.  With this detailed, objective analysis, plus the manufacturer’s actual cost information, you will be able to make a much more informed selection of all your flooring products.

• As your independent expert, we will help you sort through the manufacturer and dealer rhetoric to determine what really works best for you.  Our apples-to-apples cost analysis will allow you to better understand the benefits and costs of different products.

• Consolidation in the flooring industry has created confusion. Inside Edge can help you sort through industry changes and keep your selection process up to date.

Service Type:
Management fee or hourly consulting