News
Polish Your Skills
THE latest market survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) suggests that the construction industry is currently enjoying a healthy revival, driven primarily by a boom in private housing. However, figures from the first quarter of this year also indicate that a skills shortage is threatening to slow the pace of the sector’s recovery. A crucial part of the trade is to be able to stay ahead of the game and offer training, which is something that perhaps a competitor may not be able to do. Having a training offering...
read moreQuick-Step Academy
FLOORLAYERS who become Master Installers at the Quick-Step Academy for Excellence in Flooring are offered a range of benefits with support from Quick-Step including a two-year warranty on all installation work. Master Installer accreditation is awarded on a strictly enforced pass or fail course. Those who are successful can access a range of benefits including: Listed as a certified installer on www.quick-step.co.uk; Technical advice line; Offers customers a free two-year warranty on installation work; Carry the prestige of the Master...
read moreApprentices Give You More Than You Think
THE Apprenticemaker organisation advises that taking on an apprentice makes good business sense. Trained staff with the right skills for the job can do a wider range of tasks and take on new responsibilities. Taking on an apprentice is cost effective because people can learn while they’re on the job and the government contributes to the costs of learning. A business that invests in apprenticeships is repaid many times over. The costs of apprenticeship training are recouped relatively quickly, and where the investment is nurtured, the...
read moreM&S Approved Contractors Need QA Cards
FITA helps Marks and Spencer approved contractors to acquire QA cards, without which they may not be allowed on site. Any CFA members who are M&S approved contractors are reminded that they need to hold valid QA cards. QA Card assessment dates at FITA are: Subfloor preparation: Oct 8 and Dec 10; Sheet vinyl installation: - Oct 9, Dec 11; Vinyl tile installation: Oct 10, Dec 12; Carpet tile installation: Oct 15, Dec 17; Floating timber installation: Jul 4, Oct 16, Dec 18. In order to run assessment days FITA requires a minimum of five...
read moreFlooring Contributes To Poor Indoor Air Quality
Flooring and other products contribute to poor indoor air quality Sustainability consultant Alan Best reveals growing concerns about the effect of flooring and some other products on worsening indoor air quality; THERE is a clear focus these days on energy-efficient construction which is leading to increasing concerns about indoor air quality (IAQ) and the extent to which flooring and other products contribute to poor IAQ. We spend most of our lives indoors and the air that we breathe inside buildings is generally of poorer quality...
read moreFlooring Systems On The Level
SAINT-GOBAIN WEBER has introduced a new product guide that details a range of flooring screeds for commercial, industrial, design and marine applications. The 32-page guide includes a Product Selector, which provides application instructions and product characteristics. Products are designed to be, in some cases, ready for foot traffic just a few hours after application and to be covered with a soft floorcovering in 24 hours. A Best Practice section provides advice for specific installations, with a selection of case studies....
read moreSecure Contact From Pallmann
PALL-X 350 is a two-component bonding agent developed by PALLMANN for adhesion between an existing surface and new lacquer coating without intermediate sanding. Designed to refurbish wood floor areas, the product is suitable for cases where an additional coat of protection is needed, corrections of sheen levels are necessary on newly laid pre-finished floors or in areas of light damage. The application of Pall -X 350 is designed to provide edge protection and joint closure for newly laid solid and engineered boards. Even the alteration of...
read moreWorkers Stay Cool In The Heat
SNICKERS WORKWEAR for summer will keep the wearer looking good and working comfortably, says the company. Snickers’ Warm Weather Workwear – particularly the AVS garments – are said to combine market-leading fabrics with advanced technology. Snickers’ AVS fabric is a mixture of polyester and bamboo carbon, designed as a breathable material for moisture transportation, UV protection and anti-odour comfort. Other garments and accessories include Working Trousers in Rip Stop and CoolTwill fabrics and Snickers’ Pirate Trousers with...
read moreEco LVT
MAPEI has introduced a new high-performance adhesive to its eco adhesives range. Ultrabond Eco 4 LVT is a high-temperature, solvent-free, fibre-reinforced adhesive for bonding internal LVT and PVC floors, and semi-flexible vinyl tiles. It is designed to promote fast, safe application on a variety of substrates, and to provide a high initial bond for rapid flooring fixing. Ultrabond Eco 4 LVT is a synthetic, polymer-based adhesive in water dispersion which is suitable for conventional absorbent substrates, in normal humidity levels. It...
read moreBriwax Addition
BRIWAX Liquid Beeswax is formulated to nourish and protect sealed or unsealed wood, to be quick-drying and to be suitable for use on absorbent woods such as pine and oak. Said to be safe to use on toys, Briwax Liquid Beeswax can also be used on interior wooden furniture such as wood panelling. Using a clean cotton cloth or duster, the Liquid Beeswax can be applied evenly over surfaces, left to dry, and polished off. In 2013 Briwax became part of Rustins wood care company. Briwax product range has been selected from traditional trade...
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