News
Questions That Lead To More Questions
ONE of the most frequent calls made to our technical helpline is on whether products can be laid over a timber floor. Technical datasheets would be the size of a small booklet if they were to include all scenarios and possibilities, so often many make basic statements such as ‘suitable with flooring grade plywood’ or ‘timber floors must be over boarded.’ So the calls come through and the ‘can of worms’ that this question opens up can sometimes lead to quite a lengthy conversation with the customer, usually telling them...
read morePencil In A Way To Prove It’s Not Your Fault
AN increasing number of new properties have floating chipboard subfloors. Chipboard is rarely acclimatised to the conditions of the room before fitting, and in some cases is laid before the roof is on. Builders see this as a ‘safety feature’. I have been on several sites where rain had soaked the chipboard, causing the boards to swell. I always ask the builder why they don’t use old boards, and install the new chipboard when the building is watertight. I think you already know the answer! They say this is time-consuming and costs...
read moreSomething That Can Really Save Your Floor
IN my role as an independent expert I often get complaints about floors buckling or expanding more than expected. One of the difficulties that I have is to get ‘real’ (accurate) facts from consumers and contractors alike. I am there to help and guide the best I can. I know that using my experience on how a wood floor has reacted I can say many of the issues are down to ‘internal humidity changes’ (humidity fluctuations within the home) beyond the manufacturer’s recommendations and instructions for their products. Speaking from...
read moreRefurbishments That Look & Sound Good
Naomi Cole, segment executive at Tarkett, gives sound advice on refurbishments: REFURBISHING is a great way to give any room a fresh new look, whether it’s a quick coat of paint for a bedroom or a complete re-fit for a store or office. The flooring can make a big difference to the visual appeal of any space. Simply replacing tired or dull flooring with a bright colour or bold pattern will instantly transform a room, often making it feel lighter and more spacious. But with careful planning, even more sensory appeal can be...
read moreRestore & Refresh
Floorcoverings are a key part of many refurbishments: Altro Aquarius safety flooring was used in the shower and toilet area of a newly refurbished ward at Bristol Royal Infirmary. This new product, suitable for healthcare, is claimed to deliver guaranteed performance in wet or dry conditions for combined shoe and barefoot use – including hard soled, rubber and training shoes. A spokesperson from the estates team at the hospital commented: ‘The shower and toilet area on the ward incorporates a wet room. This means the floor is...
read moreThink Multi-Tasking, Think Entrance Matting
Architect Christopher Sykes examines techniques for specifying perfect solutions: THE specification and selection of entrance matting is not rocket science. It is, however, one of those important decisions a specifier or facilities manager has to get right because it affects so much. The right decision saves money; the wrong decision generates a bad and unhealthy image, expensive maintenance and unnecessary distraction, particularly from the legal consequences of slipping. Today, entrance matting not only has to perform superbly...
read moreMatting Can Really Make An Entrance
Rachael Robertson, product manager for Gradus Barrier Matting, looks at how contractors, specifiers and building owners can reduce maintenance costs and increase safety with barrier matting: THE HSE states that slip, trip and fall accidents are the most common hazard in public buildings and are responsible for over a third of all reported major injuries. This statistic contributes to rising compensation claims, currently at an all time high costing the UK £800m annually. And with the increased specification of expensive luxury floors such...
read moreEntrance Matting On Track In Manchester
Rachael Robertson, product manager for Gradus Barrier Matting, looks at how contractors, specifiers and building owners can reduce maintenance costs and increase safety with barrier matting: THE HSE states that slip, trip and fall accidents are the most common hazard in public buildings and are responsible for over a third of all reported major injuries. This statistic contributes to rising compensation claims, currently at an all time high costing the UK £800m annually. And with the increased specification of expensive luxury...
read moreMuck Raking
Entrance matting plays a key role in keeping dirt out of building interiors: Coba Europe has unveiled a selection of competitively priced aluminium systems to its specialist entrance matting range aimed at flooring contractors and specifiers. Known as the ‘plan range’, it offers a choice of primary and secondary matting designs that are custom-made to order. They can be fitted in ‘zoned’ entrance areas with options for indoor and outdoor environments. The manufacturing technique allows for matting to be produced with a...
read moreIn The Bag
Tools are essential for floorlayers to finish any project successfully: Chesterman supplies Protimeter moisture meters, which are designed to assist in the early detection and monitoring of high moisture levels and for diagnosing the causes of existing dampness problems. The Protimeter Mini is described as a compact, general purpose pin type moisture meter for making rapid moisture assessments in a wide range of materials. The pins are small and sharp allowing measurements to be taken at the surface with virtually no marks left behind, says...
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