News
You Have To Obey EU Regulations
Jim Coulson on chipboard and plywood relative to the CE Mark I WROTE in CFJ (October 2014) about the possible impact of EUTR (European Union Timber Regulation), considering that it is now just over a year old. Another piece of European legislation came out at almost exactly the same time in 2013: That’s when we got the CPR (Construction Products Regulation) from Europe. I also wrote a bit about it last year; but here we are just over year on, and it seems that people are still not taking the CPR fully on board – especially where...
read moreExplain The Job Or Risk A Call Back
Sid Bourne’s top tips to installers on avoiding fitting complaints IN my role as an independent flooring expert I get consumers telling me that the installer who fitted their floors never said a word to explain the job and on completion gave no advice on care and maintenance. I have compiled a short list of how to avoid complaints: One of the biggest problems for a wood flooring professional (that’s not including Bob the builder) is dealing with customer complaints. Many complaints I see are to do with moisture, like gaps between...
read moreConfidence Is Returning
Caroline Hardy hears upbeat comments from UK flooring distributors Another positive, encouraging year: That’s the view of many UK-based distributors who are continuing to benefit from the upturn, reports Caroline Hardy. However, although confidence is encouraging some companies to spend more money on flooring, competition in the industry remains tough, according to some. ‘So far 2014 has been a good year,’ says Paddy McLoughlin, sales executive, Brooks Bros (Midlands). ‘Our turnover has increased and the economic upturn is...
read moreWhat You See Isn’t Always What You Get
Alex Davidson on wood floor pricing in the B2B sector WHAT is the fairest way to produce a price list for the B2B sector? Any wood flooring manufacturer that reaches its end-user via B2B (business-to-business) customers faces a challenge every time it produces a new price list; how should it price its products? It may seem simple but when a company, like Kährs, targets and deals with B2B customers, including retailers, architects, designers, developers and flooring contractors, it becomes a difficult question to answer, especially when...
read moreAbrasives For Wood Floors
Alec Stacey on showing your grit ONE of the largest abrasives markets is the automotive industry and other applications which involve the sanding of metal. When abrasives were first marketed for wood floor sanding the existing abrasive products were simply re-shaped to fit floor sanding machines and sold via flooring distributors in the grit sizes considered appropriate. For several years now Bona has taken a different view, recognising that wood behaves differently when sanded compared to metal. Recent studies have revealed some...
read moreTry Strutting When The Joist Is Jumping
Hugh Mansfield-Williams on strutting in timber floors IT IS important that when we talk about timber struts, that we’re all on the same page as to the meaning of the word. This is not a feature about swaggering on a timber floor; this is instead a look at the role strutting plays in promoting composite structural behaviour of the components that form a timber floor. Strutting helps to limit deflection and vibration of timber floors, and improves the lateral stability of individual joists. There are three main options available when...
read moreQualified Floorlayers Always Best
Sid Bourne asks why some people think so highly of Bob the builder SOME time ago I was invited to look at the 180mm solid oak flooring which had been installed very badly by a carpenter/joiner. The problem was that he had installed the solid oak planks by way of secret nailing using a gas brad nailer and then followed this up by pinning every other row. Needless to say the job went wrong. I went out and found numerous issues. After I had completed my report it went to court. The judgement was for the consumer who was awarded the claim for...
read moreSpecifying Underlay For Laminates
EPLF (Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring) has published a practical guide on specifying the appropriate underlay for laminate flooring. The guide is now available for FREE download in PDF format and in a choice of seven languages, including English. The EPLF leaflet outlines the most important requirements of CEN/TS 16354 for laminate underlays. It also provides valuable advice not only for the field sales force of any flooring or underlay manufacturer, but also for sales staff in the retail trade. It is designed to...
read moreGoing With The Grain
Wood and laminate flooring has a growing share of the flooring market: Atkinson & Kirby has introduced the new Kronoswiss laminate flooring range. Kronoswiss is one of the world’s leading producers of quality laminate flooring and regularly features the latest designs and technological advancements. The range comprises 16 decors all available ex-stock ranging from 7mm–12mm; it includes benefits such as 5G installation, domestic and commercial wear warranties, latest registered and embossed surface textures all supported with full FSC...
read moreContrast Is Not Simply Black & White
WHEN choosing products for use in healthcare environments, you need to meet requirements of the Equality Act (2010). Sustained slip-resistance is a pre-requisite, but contrast is another important factor in your product choice. l Why contrast matters?: The use of colour, light and contrast in everyday environments is not just an issue for the visually impaired, carefully considered schemes can enhance the usability of the space for everyone. For someone who is visually impaired though, subtle differences between floors, walls, steps and...
read more