News
Shiver Me Timbers
Peter Daulby on working in brass monkey weather SO it’s September or will be in a couple of days (depending on when you are reading this). And whether we’re set for an Indian summer or an autumn with a bite, winter will be here before we know it. And winter means the jobs you’re planning for now are likely to be carried out in less than perfect site conditions. Site conditions have a massive effect on the installation of contemporary flooring. Get the right temperature and lighting, plus enough time and space, and you can usually...
read moreOutside Job
Neil Sanders on exterior flooring solutions IN this, my first technical advice column of this new series, I will tackle the topic of difficult and challenging substrates, focusing on the importance of product specification when working on outdoor flooring projects. Like most installations, external floors have specialist criteria that must be considered if the new floor is to be a success. When working on exterior flooring installations, a contractor must be mindful of extreme weather conditions and the anticipated traffic demands a floor...
read moreWhat You CE May Not Be What You Get
Jim Coulson says without the CE mark products are illegal I WROTE in a recent article (CFJ May 2013) that the CE Mark can often be regarded as meaning not much more than Chinese Exports: and it is true that a lot of plywood has been coming to the UK from China, with the letters CE stamped on it, or printed on a label attached to it. But – as from July 1 this year – all plywood, from whatever source – must have a CE Mark on it, by law. The Law in question is the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) which came into force less...
read moreWet Screed
John Alcock on anhydrite screeds over underfloor heating A few weeks after my article on anhydrite screeds (CFJ July 2013), a technical support enquiry landed on my desk highlighting the issue of anhydrite screeds over underfloor heating. A domestic barn in the Midlands was being converted into a high-end residential property. As seems more common with refurbishment jobs of this standard, underfloor heating had been fitted, claimed to have been commissioned by the book – a subject we’ve dealt with in past articles. An anhydrite screed...
read moreHigher Joist Gives Builder The Hump
Sid Bourne solves the riddle of a ridge in wood flooring I RECENTLY inspected a wood floor problem where the consumer (the lady of the house) complained about a large ridge or hump in newly installed flooring. The manufacturer had sent a rep who was at a loss to explain the phenomenon. The lady was adamant that the ridge wasn’t there before the wood floor was installed. The manufacturer then commissioned me to get to the bottom of the problem. Knowing that a ridge cannot suddenly appear out of nowhere, I asked her what work, if any,...
read moreSupersize LVTs Sure To Make An Impact
Fleur Carson, key account manager at Forbo Flooring Systems, focuses on trends in the Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) market: NOWADAYS manufacturers are being pushed to be more clever with their design foundations. Driven by a requirement to step away from the traditional LVT, recent ranges to hit the market allow for the opportunity to experiment with the latest on trend ‘form’ elements to create different design styles and effects. Reflecting contemporary and emerging trends, collections are now being built around the concept of new and...
read moreVa Va Voom Vinyl
Vinyl flooring and LVTs are holding onto their major market share: Altro floors and walls were installed in the Co-operative Group’s new £100m beehive-inspired headquarters in Manchester. Designed by architect 3D Reid and built by BAM Construction, the structure uses a range of energy-efficient features, from giant earth tubes to a ventilated double-skin glass façade. These have helped the new Co-op building achieve the highest BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ score of any UK office. The internal layout of the 16-storey, 325,000sq ft building...
read morePile Drivers
Contract carpets are produced in a wide variety of styles: danfloor has unveiled new colours in its award winning Equinox collection. The new shades follow the latest trend colours and provide a natural floor finish for any interior design scheme. They encompass tonal mushroom shades to the Tones, Stripe and Equinox ranges. The new carpets are promised to have the same performance characteristics as the rest of the Equinox collection; including an impervious layer and the maedical i-Link anti-microbial coating, making them suitable for...
read moreCaring For Encaustics
Lisa Breakspear, of Fila UK, explains what is involved in caring for encaustic tiles: ENCAUSTIC tiles are currently enjoying a real resurgence. Having previously been covered over, original encaustics are now being lovingly restored. New designs are also available, many staying true to the traditional earthy colour-scheme, with the occasional splash of blue or green. Rather than having a patterned surface glaze, an encaustic’s pattern is inlaid in different coloured clays, so it never fades. This fabulous composition is part of its...
read moreTile We Meet Again
Stone & ceramic flooring is used in some of the most prestigious projects: ESL Ceramics has a dedicated contract and specification team with a combined 60 years of experience in the tile industry working within the commercial sector. Because of this, ESL is chosen as the preferred tile supplier for a wide range of specifications including hotels, retail chains, care homes and student accommodation schemes both in the UK and throughout mainland Europe. The company says its extensive UK stocked ranges feature the highest quality polished,...
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