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Flooring in offices needs to be durable as well as stylish: Desso says it is giving architects and interior designers the ‘best of both worlds’ with the extension of its patented AirMaster carpet tile collection. The company recently introduced AirMaster Elements and AirMaster Blend to offer a wider variety of patterns and textures with all the functionality of the original AirMaster range. The product is proven to reduce the concentration of fine dust indoors eight times more effectively than hard flooring, and four times better...
read moreSurface Preparation Is All It Is Cracked Up To Be
Mark Leigh of Tremco illbruck offers some sound advice on floor preparation: WHEN planning flooring projects, the substrate must be one of the first considerations as it is vital to success; if the substrate is not properly prepared, the installation will probably fail. Where to start?: Competent contractors generally turn to the advice of major manufacturers on whom they routinely rely for system performance and they regularly invite companies’ technical representatives to get involved with an initial inspection. First you need to...
read moreSurface Prep Is Key To A Good Performance
Barry Hodges, technical Manager, Mapei UK, explains why proper surface preparation is key to performance: THE importance of correct subfloor preparation cannot be emphasised strongly enough. Performance of any applied preparatory materials and, of course, subsequent floorcoverings are wholly dependent upon the process. The correct method of preparation is dictated by the nature of the substrate and it is vital that you establish its exact composition. There are numerous substrates you may come across, including sand:cement screed, power...
read moreThe Basics Of Surface Preparation In A Nutshell
Stephen Boulton, technical service manager, F Ball and Co, explains key aspects of surface preparation: THE long-term appearance and durability of a new floorcovering is initially determined during the planning and subfloor preparation stage of a flooring installation. Measuring and managing moisture, and installing a waterproof surface membrane where necessary, is crucial to ensuring the longevity of a new floor. At the start of any new floor installation or refurbishment, we recommend that contractors make time to conduct a thorough...
read moreSmooth Operators
Surface preparation is arguably the most important part of any flooring installation: Bostik offers a full system of surface preparation products for professional flooring applications. For example, Bostik Screedmaster Rapid DPM is a single part surface membrane for cementitious subfloors and is designed to dry in up to one hour. It reportedly protects adhesives, floorcoverings and smoothing compounds from residual moisture in power floated concrete slab or sand/cement screed, with a two coat application suitable for up to 95% RH. The...
read moreHelp Available To Members Of The CFA “Absolutely Priceless”
SINCE I became CFA President nearly two years ago, I’ve covered quite a lot of ground, though I should probably say ‘we have covered quite a lot of ground’ as my tenure started with us, as an industry, still deep in recession. Today there is the emergence of those ‘green shoots of recovery’. Whilst the green shoots may be exaggerated in height by some quarters for political gain, they are there and although fragile, I have to carry some optimism for the future, but accept also that my business will never truly be the same...
read moreCFA Has A Record Of Sustainability Focus
READERS of CFJ should have received a free copy of the CFA Guide to Sustainability with the magazine in March. It’s an annual publication and much credit must go to Alan Bakalor and all the team at Kickstart who edited and produced what I think is becoming increasingly seen as a key point of reference for those wishing to stay up to date in this increasingly important field. It is also available in digital form from our website www.cfa.org.uk In fact, my assertion of the importance of sustainability in flooring was the basis of a short...
read moreCowboys Cheer Chancellor
COWBOY builders were quietly smiling over their pints while giving a grateful thumbs up to the Chancellor, George Osborne, after his Budget in March. Clearly mindful of the general election in May 2015, Mr Osborne announced deliberately targeted giveaways, notably for the Conservatives’ core supporters, pensioners. Rogue traders also had a lot to cheer about. Before the Budget the Chancellor was approached by a number of prominent people from all sides of the political spectrum on behalf of the Cut the VAT Campaign. They presented him with...
read moreNew Report Gives Lead To Flooring Companies Wanting To Be Greener
‘The State of Green Business 2014 report is packed with information and insights’’ Sustainability consultant Alan Best discusses the State of Green Business 2014 report and highlights some points relevant to the flooring sector: ONE of the world’s most active and influential groups working in the field of sustainability in commerce and industry is the GreenBiz Group. They recently produced their seventh annual report The State of Green Business 2014 in collaboration with the Trucost organisation, which specialises in the...
read moreVorwerk Eco Flooring In A Plank
BUILDING on its Re/Cover Green organic flooring made from natural and renewable raw materials, VORWERK has launched a follow-up collection Parts, ecological flooring in a plank format. Both collections are said to be predominantly made from renewable raw materials, to be free from chlorine, plasticisers and solvents and to be recyclable. Parts takes design inspiration from materials such as sand, rope and timber and come in three formats – a long, slim plank for a floorboard effect, larger slab formats and a neat tile outline. These...
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