News
Water – The ‘Achilles Heel’ Of Wood
Jim Coulson on water - the ‘Archilles heel’ of wood IN my nearly 40 years of working as a timber consultant, at least 50% of the problems I have dealt with had something to do with moisture in wood. And in about half of those cases, the moisture – usually in the form of leakage or water penetration – has got into the wood after installation, when the moisture content of the wood had originally been OK at the time it was delivered or installed. And with regard to water, flooring is no different to wood used in general construction:...
read moreShameless Cowboy Cons Old Lady
Sid Bourne says ‘steer clear of this rogue in a badly painted van’ YOU may recall a column I did a couple of years ago where I went to site to meet the installer who turned up in his rusty old van with roof rack and packs of opened solid wood flooring on top … and it was raining heavily. I thought I had seen the last of him but to my surprise, we recently met up again on-site. The consumer in this case commissioned me to inspect engineered wood flooring which she believed was faulty. The flooring in question had been installed right...
read moreRevamp For A New Stamp
Refurbishment, especially involving flooring, is growing in demand as the economic recovery starts taking hold: Altro Suprema II safety flooring is reportedly providing a hardwearing, slip-resistant surface for thousands of school children, community groups and tourists who visit Aberdeen Maritime Museum annually. The installation was part of the museum’s refurbishment managed by Studio SP. Suprema II was apparently chosen for its slip resistance, durability, ease of maintenance and colour range, along with the fact it can be laid to...
read more5 Years Of Making Vinyl More Green
RECOFLOOR is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month (September) with a host of activities across the country to mark five years of success as the UK’s award-winning national vinyl flooring recycling scheme. Since its foundation in 2009 by UK flooring manufacturers Altro and Polyflor, this Take Back initiative has engaged with all levels of the flooring supply chain and contributed to increasingly large volumes of vinyl flooring being diverted from landfill. Recofloor offers a sustainable, cost-effective and efficient collection...
read moreSome Safety Flooring Is Ahead Of The Others
Sarah Igglesden on how safety flooring can keep you out of court WHO would YOU sue if you suffered a slip? A new survey that makes a strong case for the growing use of safety flooring. Nasty slips can be painful – not only for the people who fall, but also for the organisations that may be sued. As our society becomes increasingly litigious, good safety flooring means more than just providing a safe and healthy environment. With over 8,000 major injuries caused by slips, trips or falls reported to the Health and Safety Executive last...
read moreInstalling LVT? Don’t Forget The Subfloor!
Paul Rogers answers flooring contractors’ questions Q: I’m about to fit out an open plan office with carpet tiles and my client would like vinyl flooring in breakout areas where employees take their coffee breaks, I’ve got a tight deadline and obviously don’t want to do any more subfloor levelling than necessary. What vinyl product would you suggest and what adhesives do you recommend? A: The most logical option would be to use loose lay LVT tiles for breakout areas, which also have a similar depth to carpet tiles, so you won’t...
read moreHow To Create The ‘Wow’ Factor
David Brailsford on developing colour palettes INNOVATIONS in technology allow us to develop flooring products that perform at the very highest levels, but bring many other benefits too. For instance, as flooring becomes more technically advanced, there are more options aesthetically, allowing customers to create beautiful spaces with no compromise on performance or function. With clients, specifiers and suppliers all having a duty of care to avoid foreseeable risks in the workplace, safety flooring is increasingly moving front of house,...
read moreVersatile Vinyl
Vinyl has multiple guises, including safety flooring, decorative flooring and also with the convenience of LVT: Amtico flooring was chosen for the Sears Balcony Champagne Bar at Selfridges, in Birmingham. Situated on the fourth floor, this eatery offers diners views over the city’s shopping district. Local design firm, Harrison, refurbished the existing restaurant, working closely with Selfridges’ in-house team. Harrison specified a bespoke Amtico floor, using a combination of products from the premium Signature range, which features...
read moreDon’t Be At A Loss With Marble Installation
Colin Stanyard on installing ceramic and stone finishes LAST month in CFJ, I discussed the importance of selecting the correct adhesive for installing tiles, notably ceramic surfaces. Of course, not all tiles fall under the ceramic umbrella. Natural stone is extremely popular too, with marble, travertine, limestone and slate widely available. The main difference between natural stone and ceramic tiles is how they can behave during and after installation. The characteristics of natural stone vary depending on its constituent parts, which...
read moreFloor Finishes Can Boost Bottom Lines
Lisa Breakspear on making the most of your consumables IN most retail showrooms, space is at a premium. Unless you stock just one brand or only a handful of products, it’s hard to achieve a minimalistic look. And, with so many flooring displays to accommodate, there’s often little room for sealants and maintenance products. And, yet, when it comes to profit potential, they can pack a big punch! Floor finishes and treatments have evolved over recent years, but this is rarely reflected in the shop environment. Old stock sticks around...
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