News
Epoxy Grout
Lisa Breakspear, sales & technical director, Fila (UK). explains the best ways to remove epoxy grout: EPOXY grout is a product that offers lots of benefits. It’s renowned for its durability and resistance to just about everything – from chemicals, to water and UV rays. In areas where hygiene is essential, such as hospitals and food prep areas, its advantages are substantial; as in wet areas – from spa and swimming pool, to hotel bathroom. But, like any great product, epoxy’s benefits can sometimes have draw-backs. These...
read morePUR Technology: Cleaning Up The Mystery
Emma Goulding of Altro explains the benefits of PUR technology: EASYCLEAN safety flooring ranges featuring PUR technology have been around for a few years, allowing customers to save time, money, chemicals and energy. But whilst the benefits are clear, customer awareness of the potential of PUR remains rather patchy. So how can contractors explain this innovation? How much improvement can flooring specifiers offer customers with confidence? And what tips can we give for customers to benefit fully from the advantages of this flooring...
read moreWiping The Floor
To keep all flooring looking at its best a an effective cleaning and maintenance programme is essential: Bona isgivingwood flooring specialists a chance to offer their customers a deep cleaning service claimed to revive the look of the surface of a wooden floor, between full sanding and re- sealing. The new Bona Deep Clean System is designed for busy public areas such as schools, community halls and hotels. The system comprises the Bona Power Scrubber, a scrubber drier machine optimised for cleaning wooden floors, and Bona Deep...
read moreModular The Answer For Offices
Jason Holmes, head of design textiles at Forbo Flooring Systems, explains key elements of office flooring design: THE floor is the single largest component to any building and one which often is the first thing you see as you step inside, so creating a lasting impression. Aside from being functional, the floor can be an integral part of the overall colour and design of any interior. For contractors, however, the trick is knowing how to combine the individual elements together to form a stylish design that not only ticks the box when it...
read moreDoing The Business
Flooring in offices needs to be more design oriented: B A S F’s Mastertop 1324 flooring system was used to refurbish the café at The Building Centre in central London. Areas of ageing rubber flooring had peeled and become torn from general wear and tear. Contractor Surtech removed the rubber flooring, revealing a poor quality screed with some blown areas and hairline cracks. Time and level constraints meant it was not possible install a levelling screed. Instead, the area was diamond ground to remove the existing rubber...
read moreBuilder Comes Unstuck After Fitting UFH
John Alcock on getting it right first time A RECENT technical support job reminded me of the importance of using the right contractors for flooring projects – and perhaps also how the skills and experience of flooring professionals can sometimes be undervalued when there is a desire to get a job done quickly and with minimal costs. A builder had called up for some advice on what smoothing compound to lay with a new underfloor heating system he was fitting himself. Duly informed, the chap went away and purchased the...
read morePUR Floors Require Different Ways Of Welding
Paul Jarvis on good riddance to bad welds - part 3 YOU will surely have encountered new easy-clean safety flooring incorporating PUR technology. Product names vary according to manufacturer, but the technology remains basically the same. An additional polymer component (usually polyurethane) is included in the surface layer or throughout the entire wearlayer of the flooring. The aim is to prevent dirt retention around the slip resistance particles during cleaning, enabling the floor to be maintained more quickly and...
read moreFlooring That Can Help Kick Injuries Into Touch
Mark Burton on slip and trip accidents THE most common cause of major injuries in the workplace are slips and trips, which are estimated to cost employers around £512m a year through lost production and other expenses. Whilst such accidents can happen almost anywhere, certain commercial areas are particularly susceptible to slippery surfaces, creating a higher risk of slips and falls. Reasons for this can include the type of flooring installed or the surface treatment used to enhance cleanability, but the presence of liquid...
read moreBeing Green Won’t Put You In The Red
Craig Pawson on sustainability SUSTAINABILITY is a key topic in the construction industry where flooring plays a key part in both the physical structure and aesthetic appearance. Here are a few ways in which flooring contractors can best support sustainability. The general definition of sustainability is to help conserve and reduce the depletion of natural resources – and for those of us working with wood, it is a key concern. With more pressure than ever for companies to be sustainable, businesses must consider their...
read moreSome Products I Test Are Not Fit For Purpose
Sid Bourne raves about the ‘most advanced’ system AS I travel around the country inspecting flooring problems, it is very clear that the number one reason for failure is moisture and related problems. I see floorlayers and retailers who think they are testing correctly by using hand held moisture meters which send a signal through the concrete, usually to a depth of 30mm. These meters are excellent in combination with a relative humidity tester. However they are only indicators of moisture, not to be fully relied upon as the...
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