News
Knowing Your DPM From Your DPC
Martin Cummins on knowing your DPM from your DPC THE world appears to have gone crazy about using acronyms nowadays. Although I can’t claim to know what ROFL, LOL or OMG mean, we’re all familiar with examples such as the RSPCA and NASA, and know what these organisations do even if we don’t know their full names! However, when it comes to acronyms in the flooring industry I have to confess that we may not always be as clear as we could be. This is especially true for products used to manage moisture levels in floors. Is it DPM or...
read moreMarine Flooring Installations
Neil Sanders with tips on marine flooring installations THIS month I discuss the unique challenges associated with marine flooring installations. Many flooring contractors may never work in marine or offshore settings, but those who do should be aware that there are a range of products on the market that deliver maximum convenience to contractors, alongside proven high levels of performance, all guaranteed for use in marine settings. The first consideration when planning a new floor or refurbishment, for example, in a cruise liner or other...
read moreSome ‘Certified’ Wood Is Not All It Is Cracked Up To Be
Jim Coulson on the importance of proper quality assurance I MAKE no apology for referring once again to Diamond Marked flooring plywood, because two things have happened recently which show up both the good and the not-so-good sides of Product Certification. You may remember that we at TFT Woodexperts have a sister company – Technology For Timber – which has the Diamond Mark, used as a registered certification mark for timber and wood-based products. But of course, there are a number of other certification marks out there – the BSI...
read moreWood Apprentices Going Great Guns
Sid Bourne on Floorskills training advances OUR wood flooring apprenticeship courses at the Floorskills have been going now for nearly three years. Many apprentices from our first and second year groups are now qualified, all to an amazingly high standard. What’s so encouraging is to think that our apprenticeship courses have enrolled young people with no experience at all on how to install wood floors. With expert tuition, they have reached the stage of being able to complete an installation to a very high standard and are also capable...
read moreEpoxy Grout Removal No Longer A Flooring Problem
ARE you a fan of epoxy grout or do you avoid using it? As a product, it’s fantastic; it provides multiple benefits in terms of durability and an abrasion resistant waterproof finish that’s hygienic and impervious. But the downside is that it can be incredibly difficult to remove where it’s not wanted. One of the most common problems is epoxy grout haze, where the product leaves an unsightly white film over a floor. This can completely ruin a ceramic or porcelain application. The haze is caused by cleaning the floor with water, after...
read moreDon’t Slip Up On Cleaning Floors
HOW your customers treat their floors once you’ve installed them may be out of your hands, but by understanding how cleaning and maintenance practices impact on different flooring and conveying some of that knowledge, you could save yourself some hassle further down the line. Did you know that safety flooring that meets minimum HSE slip resistance standards has odds of anyone slipping of one in a million? Many factors – from the obvious spillages and contaminants, to gradual degradation and wear of flooring that’s not made to the...
read moreCleaning Floors
Advice on cleaning and maintenance is a valuable part of a contractor’s service: Bona supplies a range of cleaning and maintenance products for use by floor owners (private homes and floors in commercial or public areas) that make an add on sale for contractors after they have installed a new wood floor or renovated an old one! In homes or for smaller commercial floors, the Bona Spray Mop is designed for day to day cleaning. It’s supplied with a cartridge of ready to use wood floor cleaner and a microfiber pad that goes in the...
read moreMore Carpet Colours In An Office Can Boost Productivity
IN recent years, the trend has been towards greater use of colour in office carpet. Research by the Institute of Employment Studies, also Maris Interiors, has explored how colour use in the workplace can encourage creativity, productivity and boost morale. Certain colours have been found to provoke psychological and physiological responses, so careful choice of carpet is becoming increasingly important for office work areas and boardrooms. Use of particular shades has proven to maximise productivity levels and minimise fatigue, as well as...
read moreWork Wonders With Carpet Tiles
Flooring can play an important role in the workplace: burmatex structure bonded carpet tile ranges of lateral, zip and code were used in Inverclyde Council offices, Scotland. The expansive colour options and complementary product ranges offer a simple way to introduce elements of colour and design in a hardwearing finish. Within the main office, a quarter turned background of zip steel cable is interspersed with detail, using multiple colours of lateral in two highlight greys (diamond dust and carbon steel) and two blues (blue monday and...
read moreRubber Has A Long Life Warranty, Naturally
WITH more and more building projects taking account of lifecycle costs as part of their planning and specification process, the durability and maintenance of products are becoming increasingly important. People are becoming wiser to the fact that they have to replace flooring in too short a period of time. By choosing rubber flooring which is exceptionally durable, has a long life warranty, and only requires solution free cleaning, the client is assured a superior quality, healthy and also economical long-term solution. Rubber flooring is...
read more