News
Skills Shortage Amid Increasing Optimism
The outlook for the specialist sector is increasingly positive says the latest NSCC state of trade survey, which reveals a record 60% of respondents who anticipate an increased workload this year. Flooring and other specialist contractors are seeing ‘tangible signs of more confidence in the industry’ with 34% intending to expand their business in the next quarter and 33% expecting to take on more employees. However, 26% of respondents are having increasing difficulty finding the right candidates for specialist work, the highest since Q2...
read moreConstruction Decline
GDP figures, published by the ONS last month (March), reveal that construction declined 0.3% in the fourth quarter of 2013, despite a 0.7% rise in the UK economy overall. Noble Francis commented: ‘The decrease in the preliminary estimate for construction in 2013 Q4 was disappointing but followed an increase of 2.6% the previous quarter. Between 2012 Q4 and 2013 Q4, construction output increased by 4.5%. ‘Of the four main sectors, construction output was the only one to register a negative result. However, this was a marginal fall...
read moreProduct Sales Grow But Rising Costs Are A Worry
SALES of construction products, including flooring, saw increases in the last quarter of 2013, says the latest state of trade survey from the Construction Products Association (CPA) to which the CFA is affiliated. The rising sales were driven by wider UK economic growth and key private construction sectors, along with strength in export markets. Looking ahead in 2014, product manufacturers are also anticipating further growth in sales, both domestically and abroad, over the next year. Dr Noble Francis, (right) economics director at the...
read moreTop Tips For Looking After Your Back
THE best treatment for back pain is generally to stay active and, if necessary, use over-the-counter painkillers. You may feel like going to bed, but this won’t help and could make it worse. The longer you’re immobile, the weaker your back muscles will become, and the more they will hurt in the long term. The best ways to deal with pain and help your back to recover are to maintain your mobility, based on your usual activities, and return to work as soon as possible. Any exercise that strengthens your legs, back and stomach will help to...
read moreBack Ache Is A Real Pain For Workers & Bosses
BACK pain is the second most common cause of long-term sickness in the UK after stress. Over 7 million working days are lost annually due to work-related back pain. The costs of back pain to society and the economy run into billions of pounds. There is also a high price for individual companies when key workers are off ill for any length of time. The construction trades are particularly prone to back pain. Floorlayers, for example, have to kneel, stoop, bend and crouch; as well as pushing, pulling or dragging heavy rolls of carpet and...
read moreBAL Quickset Cement ‘better’
NEW BAL Quickset Cement has been re-engineered, with fixers and contractors nationwide trialling and providing feedback to the development team. The product is designed for applications including underfloor heating, resilient and wooden floor finishes, and in such total immersion areas as swimming pools. It is said to offer high water and frost resistance and good setting performance, a particular benefit during colder weather. In normal conditions, the screed is designed to bear foot traffic after three hours; tiling onto bonded screeds...
read moreQuadrant Launches Riva Tiles
QUADRANT CARPETS has launched the Riva range of richly coloured carpet tiles. Riva extends the company’s Essentials carpet tile collection. The range has been developed to offer contemporary styling by using a mix of coloured yarns interwoven with contrasting metallic highlights. This allows Riva to be used on its own or as a feature element. The Riva range has been created to add colour and style to the Essentials collection, with its level loop pile construction, said to be Class 33 rated, providing a carpet tile suitable for...
read moreHultafors New Catalogue
THE new HULTAFORS TOOLS brochure is available free to professional tradespeople. The product and price catalogue has detailed information on a wide selection of hand tools and accessories for working on site, for all types of trade. With Fisco technology, there are tools for measuring, marking, chopping, striking and levelling. There are also wrecking bars that act as multi-purpose workmates. Hultafors has introduced a new product range of chisels, designed to combine maximum sharpness with hard-wearing durability. Hultafors is an...
read moreSika Products Join BIM Library
SIKA has added four decorative flooring products to the National BIM Library – Sika CompactFloor, Sika DecoFlake, Sika DecoFloor and Sika DecoQuartz. The free resource, for all major building fabric systems, gives architects and specifiers information on the design, modelling and planning of commercial and industrial floor applications. The inclusion of the Sika products as BIM objects aligns with the company’s ongoing commitment to product development, technological innovation and collaborative working practices. Sika’s product...
read moreProtected By A Third Layer
SNICKERS says its Three layer workclothes principle’ keeps people working at their best. The soft wicking polyester in Snickers’ First Layer underwear is designed to keep the wearer’s body warm and dry, while the Second Layer garments insulates them by creating a pocket of air containing the warmth. On top of these Third Layer jackets and trousers are said to deliver reliable weather protection against rain, wind, hail and snow along with advanced ventilation plus in-built functionality to control and regulate the heat from a...
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