News
It Stands To Reason Why You Should Use Resin
Helen McGachie, ceo of FeRFA (the Resin Flooring Association) explains the outstanding qualities of resin flooring for use in industrial locations: INDUSTRIAL floors present challenges for any flooring system, but not too great a challenge for resin flooring which has successfully met the rigorous requirements of this environment for over 40 years. As the association dedicated to seamless resin flooring, and the renowned centre of technical knowledge on this specialist area, FeRFA leads the way in providing advice and...
read moreUnderlayments Are Advancing
Richard Harris, marketing manager at F Ball and Co, highlights recent advances in smoothing underlayment technology and underlines the importance of continued product development: SUBFLOOR preparation products have advanced greatly over the years, with a host of products now available to flooring contractors. A key area for development has been smoothing underlayments, as the selection and application of these products must be right every time. A general-purpose smoothing underlayment is no longer considered best for a high quality...
read moreIndustrial Action
Flooring in industrial locations is subject to added stresses: Altro says its AltroScreed Quartz EP resin flooring was laid in the new £55m engineering & computing building at Coventry University. The building includes a 2,000sq m £3m high-performance engineering centre, home to a Harrier Jump Jet aircraft, three flight simulators, the UK’s largest Cryogenic magnet, engine test cells for petrol- and electric-powered trains, and a leading precision measurement facility. The floor was installed by Nottingham Industrial Flooring. Site...
read moreColleges Have Key Role In Training Raw Recruits
Martin Cummins on the training of people new to flooring I AM writing this article shortly before the Christmas break, contemplating the merriment and what lies ahead for 2013. I also have the perennial problem of what gifts to buy for my two sons ... one a strapping 18-year-old and the other a sulky 15-year-old. Gone are the days when a box of Lego, a bike or a new football kit would make up part of the list, now it is PS3 games, iPods, laptops, electric guitars and the like. This led me to a moment of melancholy and...
read moreHandy Hints & Tips For Resin Installers
Jonathan Baxandall on resin flooring for refurbishment RESIN flooring systems can be a good choice for refurbishment of old floors. A well-designed resin system installed correctly will provide a functional floor for many years. However, when looking to take on a refurbishment project, there are a number of factors that need to be considered at the planning stage and during the application. Here are some common issues a resin installer should consider: I Old paint/resin coatings: These must be removed by mechanical means...
read moreFinding A Solution Acceptable To Everyone
Rob Winstone on settling business conflicts: Part 3 MEDIATION is voluntary and involves using an independent and impartial third party, the mediator. Last month in CFJ, I explained the process leading up to mediation. Here I will discuss the practice. On the day of the mediation all the parties will meet at the venue at the agreed time. The parties will be directed to their individual rooms, before bringing them together to meet in one room with the mediator, who will take you through the process of the day. After going...
read moreSkirting Around The Options For Floor Profiles
Craig Pawson on finishing ‘extras’ RECENT trends for open plan living in the UK brings new challenges and exciting opportunities for flooring contractors. With the housing sector still on shaky ground, homeowners are reluctant to sell and move. Thus home improvements are becoming more commonon the basis that money invested in the current property should pay dividends later. The refurbishment market isn’t only seeing small DIY projects, but more detailed enhancements such as pulling down internal walls to create a...
read moreHard-Wax Oil Touch
Terry Guilford with a rough guide to wood floor sanding LAST month I wrote about the profitability of wood floor sanding compared to that of carpet or hard floor cleaning and I also touched on the fact that the real opportunity here lies in the maintenance of wood floors. Why is it that up to now well-heeled clients have been quite happy to have their carpets and hard floors professionally maintained, but have ignored those scratched, worn and tired looking wooden floors? The answer lies within the industry itself as does the...
read moreCarpet Cleaning
Ken Wainwright on life after carpet cleaning FOR many of us carpet cleaners, we are blessed with having the best job in the world! We are invited into peoples’ homes and their workplaces and are asked to transform their soiled and grey floorcovering into something bright and clean. The praise and satisfaction we receive for performing this act of ‘magic’ is immense. We are also fortunate to be able to meet so many amazing people from all walks of life; the rich and famous, celebrities, the old and frail, maybe some folks...
read moreDon’t Be Duped
Jim Coulson on what exactly is marine plywood IN my first last article on plywood in CFJ December 2012, I attempted to explode the myth of the term WBP. This month I want to extend that myth-busting process to the other old chestnut which crops up with alarming regularity – those weasel-words, marine plywood! This name seems to be imbued with the same, almost magical properties that are given to WBP (weather and boil-proof) and therefore it suffers from the same problem. There is almost no proper marine ply in the UK; and most...
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