News
Handling The Flooring Worker Shortage
John McDonald on handling the worker shortage WITH both the Bank of England and the government pushing for greater housing production to deal with an overheating market and rising prices, it begs the question: Who’s going to build them? Mark Carney, the governor of the Bank of England, is worried about housing, as apparently is the prime minister, business secretary and other senior members of the coalition. They are concerned about price rises, the market overheating and a shortage of affordable dwellings, and they are also worried...
read moreMake Sure You Back The Right Horse
Martin Cummins on the technical needs of adhesives LAST month I discussed why manufacturers offer ranges rather than just a single product, specifically about adhesives and the need for different handling characteristics of products depending on what was being bonded, the ‘horses for courses’ reference. In this article I would like to expand on this theme and discuss the different technical needs of adhesives depending on the floorcovering, the service conditions and even the subfloor. n Carpet tiles: Most flooring contractors would...
read moreJim Coulson On The EUTR
Jim Coulson on the second year of the EUTR IT is now over a year since the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) came into force; not just in the UK, but right across the entire EU. So I thought it was time to re-visit the regulation, and examine whether it has been accepted or ignored, and if it has caused people any problems. Although it is EU legislation, it nevertheless reaches far beyond the boundaries of Europe: to all the places where wood and wood-based products come from, that then end up in an EU country. And in the case of...
read moreRepairing Wood Floors
Terry Guilford on repairing wood floors A subject that I am getting asked about on an increasingly regular basis is how to carry out wood floor repairs. Like most things concerned with all flooring disciplines, an article like this can mainly tell you what is possible rather than how it is possible due to the very nature of what you are trying to achieve. So let’s start by defining the scope of this article: Firstly, I am mainly concerned about damage that either requires the removal or repair of an individual or group of boards,...
read moreSid Bourne On Recoating Wood Floors
Sid Bourne on recoating pre-finished wood floors I HAVE received many calls over the years from wood flooring contractors asking me about re-coating prefinished floors. These are usually cases where the floor has been damaged or where customers have moved house and want the existing wood flooring resanded. For example, one unfortunate contractor was called in to inspect a floor where there were deep white scratches. He decided on a complete resand with the big machine. To start he placed a 60 grit on the machine. No sooner had he...
read moreHow Flooring Can Make A Statement In-Store
WITH the retail sector remaining highly competitive and customers having instant access to products online, the physical shopping experience needs to be more engaging for customers than ever. With this in mind, contractors must think carefully about how they can transform a store environment into an enjoyable experience at the time of specification. More so than ever, contractors need to inspire and take customers by surprise with engaging colours, designs and textures. The right surface should be straight-forward to install and easy to...
read moreTips On Giving Stores Something More
SINCE the creation of online shopping, the modern shopper now expects more from their experience within physical stores. Retail designers now deal with more discerning buyers who react to inspiring and engaging retail designs. An effective approach is needed to continue enticing and attracting customers. When it comes to designing a retail environment, contractors should be able to provide adequate guidance to their clients on the various trends and developments, but also how to apply this to the overall design to achieve the desired look....
read moreFloors By The Buy
Flooring plays an important role in shopping and retail locations: Coba Flooring has introduced a collection of ‘new generation’ luxury vinyl tiles. Patented Tough-Lock Naturals are designed to have the appearance of ceramic tiles, but feature all the benefits of traditional vinyl, starting with ease and speed of installation. The vinyl tiles have what is described as a rather nifty interlocking system that is totally concealed once installed, thereby looking like any other ‘ceramic/terrazzo’ tile. This is made all the more...
read moreTuft Choices
Carpets continue to be extensively used in certain contract locations: Adam Carpets worked with contractor, Hearnshaws of Walsall, to carpet Bloxwich Golf Club with a bespoke designed carpet. The wool carpet was manufactured using Adam Carpets overtuft method. The method involves the plain ground being made first, followed by a second process of the design applied by the needles punching through the back and then sheared off. The result is an 80/20 2-ply carpet said to look, feel and perform like a woven carpet. This golf club carpet was...
read moreTurn To FeRFA For Questions On Resin Floors
Screed underlayments are frequently used as a cost-effective way to pre-level existing substrates before applying resin flooring systems. These screeds usually fall into two main categories, those in accordance with BS 8204 Part 3 (2004): Polymer modified cementitious levelling screeds and wearing surfaces, and those in accordance with BS 8204 Part 7 (2003): Pumpable self smoothing screeds. Both of these types of screed are deemed suitable to receive resin floor finishes. In addition, screeds in accordance with BS 8204 Part 1 (2003):...
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