hardscaping Training Available
• Belgard offers Interlocking Concrete Pave- ment Institute certifi cation courses, as well as a broader spectrum of classes, approximately 20 times a year at 20 locations, which educate contractors about Belgard products, sales and marketing. (belgard.biz/university.htm) • Unilock, which manufactures concrete land- scape products, including pavers and retain- ing wall products, offers training and semi- nars across North America throughout the year. (unilock.com) • The National Concrete Masonry Associa- tion (ncma.org) also offers certifi cation class- es, including one for segmental retaining wall installations.
product's sustainability." Both O'Neill and Smith say their organizations
can't quantify with hard data the contention that certifi cation helps hardscapers win more bids than non-certifi ed contractors. But both say their organizations fi eld plenty of phone calls from consumers who ask for help in fi nding certifi ed and/or authorized contractors in their areas.
Benefi cial to business Franz says during the years, ICPI certifi cation has added value to his company in many ways. "I've taken our two foremen to get certifi ed," he explains. "The education alone is invaluable. The fi rst time, one of our foremen thought he knew everything about laying pavers because it's what he does every day. But he learned a lot." Another factor: To be a certifi ed contractor for paver manufacturers such as Belgard and Unilock, a contractor must obtain ICPI certifi ca- tion, he says.
Gordon's® and Trimec® are registered trademarks of PBI-Gordon Corp 02/12 01721
"Overall, I would say certifi cation is well worth the money," Franz concludes. "At the class- es, you meet other contractors who install pavers on a daily basis, and you can bounce ideas off of them and share experiences. And the certifi cation benefi ts almost every aspect of your business."
18 TOTAL LANDSCAPE CARE / March 2012
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