Contract Flooring Journal articles from April 2006

Contract Flooring Journal archives from April 2006

Stink over Wembley carpets.(Editor's comment)
April 1, 2006... VOICES urging reform in the UK construction industry have been strangely silent during the rumpus over Wembley Stadium. This is supposedly a new era of integrated working as was proclaimed in a recent National Specialist Contractors Council...

CFA members land repurpose project.(Installation of the month)(contract flooring association)(Terminal 2 at Birmingham International Airport )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... THE replacement and repurposing of 6,000sq m of floorcoverings in Terminal 2 at Birmingham International Airport was undertaken by Axiom Contract Flooring, a CFA member, with carpet tiles from Interface Europe, also a CFA member. One of...

Wembley: top UK flooring firms 'dumped' by Aussie contractor: Australian flooring contractor hired for British national stadium carpets for hospitality areas allegedly to be made in Australia.(Points of view)
April 1, 2006... WELL, well, well, so it's been confirmed that Wembley Stadium won't be ready for the FA Cup Final next month. It also won't be on budget. No surprises there then. What may come as a surprise, is the way that the floor finishes package was...

Price rises: how really they can be justified.(price increase for 2006 vinyl flooring)
April 1, 2006... 'If a flooring manufacturer is making over 50% gross margin, blithely passing on all costs to the contractor would not appear to be the only option available' --SIMON JAMES, POLYFLOR THE vast majority of flooring contractors will by...

'Screeds are not all the same! You get what you pay for!' Experts clash over anhydrates.(Readers forum)
April 1, 2006... I AM delighted to see that my comments in last November's have elicited much interest from the industry, and I am pleased to welcome spirited debate on the topics raised! I would like to thank Mr Pepper for his valuable contribution to the...

Wet, wet, wet is just bad, bad, bad! 'Dry extraction cleaning could avoid the shrinking carpets'.(Mystery solved?)
April 1, 2006... I HAVE read the complaints of 'incredible shrinking carpets' published in CFJ and I can offer a possible explanation. Now, I am not qualified to comment on whether or not there is an inherent manufacturing fault in the carpet. However,...

The Glues brothers.(Readers forum)(Cartoon)
April 1, 2006... AFTERNOON MAURICE... RONNIE NIPPED INTO THE SUPERMARKET ON ME WAY THRU'--WAS SURE YOU WOULDN'T MIND. YER'LL HAVE TO STEP ON IT, MIND... DON'T WANT ME FROZEN STUFF GOIN' ALL SOGGY. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

The profile of the CFA has never been any higher.(The president)(Contract Flooring Association)
April 1, 2006... AS I approach the end of my presidency I thought I would take this opportunity to thank the many of you who have taken the time and trouble to keep me informed of the key issues which affect your business. Your candour and swift response to...

Diary dates.(comment)(Calendar)
April 1, 2006... COVERINGS April 4-7 Orlando, Florida, USA www.coverings.com FLOORING MOSCOW April 4-7 Moscow www.mosbuild.com/flooring SCOTPLANT April 7-8 Edinburgh www.peeblesmedia.com INTERBUILD ...

Training directory.(Directory)
April 1, 2006... fita Flooring industry Training Association Know your carpet: Jun 5-6 (L); Carpet fitting starter course: Apr 24-25(L); Jun 21-22 (L); Basic carpet fitting: May 22-26(N); Intermediate carpet fitting: May 15-19 (N); Carpet tile fitting:...

POLYFLOR has radically revised its specification of vinyl floorcoverings CPD seminar presentation, bringing in new sections, updating and expanding others and introducing greater visual content throughout.(training)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... POLYFLOR has radically revised its specification of vinyl floorcoverings CPD seminar presentation, bringing in new sections, updating and expanding others and introducing greater visual content throughout. New sections include colour and light...

Antron CPD goes on tour.(training)(Antron carpet fibre)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... INVISTA's Antron carpet fibre sustainability CPD is on a Roadseminar Tour organised by the Construction CPD Certification Service with 20 events in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire. In Glasgow on May 9 design consultant for...

We can learn something from every case.(on failed hardwood floors and screeds)
April 1, 2006... THERE are many articles in CFJ on the subject of hardwood flooring installations on concrete subfloors, adhesives for fixing boards and methods of testing for moisture before laying etc. I have written several myself, and other regular CFJ...

Some simple ways to avoid problems.(suspended timber subfloors)
April 1, 2006... I AM often asked to advise on when installations go wrong on ground suspended timber subfloors. The problems are always the same 'cupping' and excess movement. It's important to point out here is that wood is hygroscopic and provision must be...

Elbow grease is sometimes the answer.(on cleaning)
April 1, 2006... ALTHOUGH cleaning issues are not new, cleaning related questions are still among the most frequently asked of manufacturers' technical helplines. You may think cleaning is a simple affair--if you put enough effort into getting a floor clean the...

Check the suitability of movement joints.
April 1, 2006... IN RECENT articles I've looked at why and where movement joints can be incorporated to protect tiled installations from damage caused by movement stresses. The next step is to install the correct type for the application--what is right for...

Why ceramic tiles are showered with praise.(specifying tiling for damp areas)
April 1, 2006... Q. How important is flooring to a bathroom or kitchen scheme? A: The choice of flooring is significantly important not simply as a finishing touch to the whole scheme but it is literally its foundation and careful consideration must be...

Anhydrites: questions you might well ask.(calcium sulfate screeds)
April 1, 2006... Martin Cummins, Laybond's technical advisor, explains how to recognise calcium sulfate screeds and to understand the issues they present. WHAT is a calcium sulfate screed?: Simply, it is a non-cementitious screed with a composition based...

The customer expects! Can you deliver?(on getting the best finish)
April 1, 2006... Alec Stacey, technical manager, BonaKemi, advises on getting the best finish. SOMETIMES it can be difficult to reconcile the expectations of the customer with what the flooring contractor can physically achieve. Often a customer has...

How to energize your staff with a roar!(using the Chinese lion dance)
April 1, 2006... Feng Shui practitioner Dawn Gibbins explains how the Lion Dance ceremonies performed at the Chinese New Year can energize a company workforce. THE Lion Dance begins with a sleeping lion, awakened with a drum and gong. The lion is then fed...

Register your new flooring designs.(on protecting your copyright)
April 1, 2006... Dids Macdonald, chief executive of ACID (Anti Copying In Design) gives the flooring industry more advice on protecting designs. THERE are many challenges facing those who rely on design as a key usp within the flooring industry, they are...

A message for all firms--big and small.(marketing)(marketing services provided by small and big firms)
April 1, 2006... John Woolmore FCCA, interim manager and business consultant, continues his series exclusive to CFJ with business advice to small and medium sized businesses, especially flooring contractors. MARKETING is one of the most abused words in...

The pendulum should swing it for you: how to be sure when you are specifying.(slip-resistant flooring)
April 1, 2006... Non-slip flooring is an important safety issue, but it's plagued by confusing standards and complicating factors. Barbour Index and Scott Brownrigg bring some clarity. STATISTICS show many thousands of people have accidents by slipping on...

Squeeze on margins 'beginning to ease'.(News file)(State of Trade survey)
April 1, 2006... FEWER specialist contractors are complaining about tightening margins, according to the latest State of Trade survey for the fourth quarter of 2005 produced for the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC) by Northumbria University. ...

Building orders jump 16%.(Industry in brief)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Construction orders rose 16% in the three months to January 2006 against the same period the previous year, according to the DTI. Orders for the year rose 8% in the 12 months to January compared to the previous year. Despite falls in some...

New delivery service.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Whitestone Weavers has introduced a five day service to mainline UK areas, with plans for a three-day turnaround. T: 01642 242423

Stikatak changes profiles.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Stikatak is to change the length of all trade pack metal profiles to 0.9m and 2.7m from next month. Building regulations for new houses now allow for downstairs wheelchair access with house builders working to a minimum downstairs internal door...

Online order tracking.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... FN Neuhofer Holz now offers an online delivery tracking service. The flexible logistics concept is also designed to ensure shortest delivery times. With unique numbers and passwords, customers can view the delivery status of every order....

CRA CD proves 'a hit'.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... The Concrete Repair Association free training CD-ROM, which includes two audiovisual programmes, is still available with more than 5,000 copies having been requested since its introduction in 1997. CRA also presents personalised CPD seminars...

New NSCC member.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... The National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC) has signed up its 30th member organisation, Fall Arrest Safety Equipment Training. FASET, set up at the request of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), now represents 80% of the safety...

Queen honours NICF stalwart.(News file)(Northern Ireland Cycling Federation)
April 1, 2006... MIKE PAGE, a long standing Master Fitter and past President of the NICE has been awarded the Royal Victoria Medal from the Queen. Mike has held the Royal Warrant for a number of years and has been fitting carpets at Sandringham for over 25...

Bob Read memorial.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... A memorial service for Bob Read will be held at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden WC2E 9E (www.actorschurch.org) at 1pm on Monday May 8. Bob's wife Pauline invites his friends and colleagues to join her to celebrate and reflect on a life that...

Training cash offer.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... The European Social Fund is offering 9m [pounds sterling] via the Learning and Skills Council to finance construction skills training ahead of London's 2012 Olympics.

Businesses failing.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Around 25 construction companies a week will go bust in 2006, according to a new survey, bringing the total for the year to over 1,300. the highest since 1996.

'CIS crackdown will force us to go bust'.(News file)(Construction Industry Scheme)
April 1, 2006... FLOORING contractors across the UK are among the small firms in construction fearing they will be forced out of business if the Government continues with its crackdown on employment status. Losing the right to use self-employed labour could...

FeRFA gives lowdown on DPMs.(News file)(Design Preservation Models)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... FeRFA, the Resin Flooring Association, has published guidance on the effective use of surface damp proof membranes. Designed to assist specifiers and builders, the document is available to download free from the association website. It...

CF code is launched.(Trade in brief)
April 1, 2006... Dodge Interiors will implement the new Consumer Code of Practice, designed by the Carpet Foundation exclusively for associates and devised to promote and safeguard consumer interests and supported by the Office of Fair Trading....

Lionheart appoints agent.(Trade in brief)
April 1, 2006... T1 commercial has been appointed agents for Lionheart Associates covering London, Essex and Herts offering the signature collection of carpet tile and broadloom ranges including fibre bonded, loop pile and heavy contract cut pile products. E:...

Bonar in Hungary.(Trade in brief)
April 1, 2006... Bonar Floors parent company Low & Bonar has reportedly bought Hungarian geotextile manufacturer Geo-Tipptex for 9.5m [pounds sterling].

Wharncliffe for newts.(Trade in brief)(Wharncliffe Business Systems Ltd. had to delay the building of their new premises)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Wharncliffe Business Systems had to delay the building of their new purpose built premises at Wentworth Industrial Park, Tankersley, when it was discovered that the site was a breeding ground for newts, an endangered species. English Nature and...

Equipment theft.(Trade in brief)
April 1, 2006... Police solve only 5% of UK equipment theft, according to a Construction News investigation. Equipment worth 23.8m [pounds sterling] was reported stolen last year.

Floor collapse.(Trade in brief)
April 1, 2006... Firemen had to be called to rescue 21 health and safety officers after an office floor collapsed during a safety meeting at Hyde in Greater Manchester, it is reported.

CORGI man for CSCS.(Trade in brief)
April 1, 2006... Brian Adams, corporate affairs director of the gas fitters registration body, Corgi, has been appointed chief executive of the CSCS industry skills card scheme.

Gradus delivers (more than 200 times a day).(News file)(Gradus accessories has made a substantial investment in its transport fleet)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GRADUS ACCESSORIES has made a substantial investment in its transport fleet, designed to provide customers with an even quicker and more frequent service. The enhanced fleet includes three new vehicles, increasing the fleet from seven to...

Instarmac backs snooker whizkid.(News file)(Instarmac has signed a sponsorship deal to support Mitchell Mann)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... INSTARMAC has signed a sponsorship deal to support Mitchell Mann, a 'snooker sensation' tipped to become a future world champion. Mitchell, 14, from Birmingham, has already faced legendary snooker champion Jimmy White, who tips him for the...

CFA member contractor shines in world event.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... JAMES MEARS, of Pica Floorings, of Great Dunmow, Essex, a CFA member, participated in the world sailing championships 2006, held in Sydney Harbour, Australia in January. James carne third overall in the 14ft (B14) racing dinghy class. A keen...

Bosses 'alarmed over new employee rights'.(News file)
April 1, 2006... THERE is reported to be widespread concern among businesses over the impact of the new employment regulations coming into operation this month, according to a new survey. The survey from AXA finds that nearly half (43%) of the UK's small and...

100 [pounds sterling] on the button.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Polyflor is offering flooring contractors 100 [pounds sterling] for their most impressive installation pictures of the company's flooring. Email the images to Polyflor marketing manager Simon James. sjames@polyflor.com

Consultancy deal.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Gearing Scientific has become DMA consultants to Triton Technology. Sample size ranges from a few mg of powder or wax or resin, via thin fibres and films or coatings to thick bar samples of polymer or composite. T: 01462 742 007...

Award for Berry.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Berry Floor has won the Trends Gazelle Award for fastest growing enterprise in West-Flanders for the second year running. The award is sponsored by Belgian finance magazine Trends. Berry Floor is part of the Beaulieu International Group....

Parador e-journal.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Parador has introduced an e-journal providing customers with a complete online product catalogue. This is supported by the new image tool Dream & Trend, available in a 36-page printed version for Parador trade partners, www.parador.de

Richwood on web.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Richwood Flooring has launched a new website featuring its quality engineered hardwood flooring and its exclusive Multigarant brand. www.richwoodflooring.com

Site revamped.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services, which conducts product testing, inspections and auditing services, has revamped its website. www.cps.bureauveritas.com

Flat accreditation.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Face Consultants claims to be the first company accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for testing floor flatness in accordance with the latest edition of the Concrete Society's technical report number 34 (TR34) on...

TTA backs The Tile and Stone Show.(The tile Association)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... THE TILE ASSOCIATION (TTA) is giving its full backing to the new Tile and Stone Show to be launched on July 1-3, 2007, at Excel, London. Over half the space has already been sold 15 months before the event with many of the biggest names in the...

Lees lays on stars & stripes for UK architect audience.(News file)
April 1, 2006... LEES CARPETS recently welcomed leading figures from the architecture and interior design community to a targeted product showcase event held at the Institute of Directors. The event was held in conjunction with the United States Embassy...

Breakthrough in tests to predict wear resistance.(News file)
April 1, 2006... A NEW test method for the early prediction of wear resistance has been launched following a three-year research supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The new method assesses performance based on 'more relevant parameters...

Polyflor cheers in World Cup.(News file)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... THE World Cup is the basis for the latest promotion from POLYFLOR. The promotion--in two parts--is centred on new Polysafe Hydro sheet vinyl safety range for continually wet and barefoot areas, with an advanced technology Plasma/LCD...

Bid to cut waste.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... A new Government consultation on sustainable construction strategy seeks ways to minimise waste in addition to more sustainable building design and construction methods and greater energy efficiency. www.dti.gov.uk

Massive warehouses.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... The UK will need warehouses of up to 100,000sq m (covering 50 hectares) to meet future market demands, according to a new study. This reflects the decline in British manufacturing and the growing volume of imported products.

Croydon casino.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Carpets will be required for a new 1,532sq m casino planned for Croydon near London. The owner, Century Casinos, also plans to expand an existing 150 room hotel, build restaurants, bars and a health club as well as a conference centre.

Giants taking over.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Britain's small businesses see larger competitors as the most significant challenge, according to new research from Lloyds TSB and the Open University.

Bankruptcy record.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Nearly 70,000 people became insolvent in 2005, the highest since records began, according to the DTI. There were a record 20,461 insolvencies in England & Wales in the final quarter of 2005.

Inspectors employed.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Some 45 new planning inspectors are about to start work to speed up planning appeals. This follows a campaign to attract new inspectors.

Absence costs.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Sickness absence costs the British economy 12bn [pounds sterling] a year, according to new figures.

50 [pounds sterling] for a fag.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... From the summer of 2007 anyone caught smoking in an enclosed public space in England and Wales will face a 50 [pounds sterling] spot fine.

Hear! hear!.(Industry in brief)
April 1, 2006... Extended opening hours in pubs and clubs playing loud music could see an increase in work-related hearing loss, according to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf.

Flowcrete firms up deal in Africa.(Ivory Industrials)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... FLOWCRETE has acquired Ivory Industrials, South Africa's largest and longest established resin flooring company with a turnover of 5.5m [pounds sterling] and factories in both Durban and Johannesburg, producing products sold across Southern and...

US has soft spot for British Wool.(News file)(British Wool Marketing Board award)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... THE BRITISH WOOL MARKETING BOARD (BWMB) received a commemorative plaque from the International Design Guild at the Surfaces show in Las Vegas. The Guild, a division of CCA Global Partners, is an exclusive membership organisation of 100...

CFJ on show.(News file)(Contract Flooring Journal)
April 1, 2006... CFJ (Contract Flooring Journal) and sister titles in the Kick-Start Publishing stable (Wood & Laminate Journal, Tile & Stone Journal and Haywood Handbook) had prominent exhibition stands at two recent London shows. Both events proved...

Antron underlines its green image at Design Prima.(News file)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... THE Antron carpet fibre stand at Design Prima (May 16-18 at Old Billingsgate, London) will focus on key business elements vital to specifiers of commercial interiors. With biodegradable cups brimming with fresh coffee forming part of the...

Geltron 2000 and Tyne.(Products in brief)
April 1, 2006... CFS carpets has recoloured its Tyne and Geltron 2000 carpet ranges, introducing six new colours to Tyne and five to Geltron 2000. www.cfscarpets.co.uk T: 0870 607 4321

Luxury underlays.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Haro has introduced two new luxury insulation underlays. Silent Pro DS is a 3mm thick product similar to the established Silent Pro, but features an additional aluminium-coated foil that acts as a vapour barrier (SD > 100m). Multi Reduct, a 2mm...

Becker barrier seal.(Parquet Barrier Seal)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Becker Acroma has launched Parquet Barrier Seal, described as a fast drying sealer, designed as a basecoat to isolate any potential contaminants, such as traces of wax, which may have escaped removal by preparatory sanding. Waterborne lacquers...

Back to the future.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Swiss company, Dura-Malans, has produced carpet containing an integral polyurethane backing, using Desmodur and Desmophen from Bayer MaterialScience. It claimed that Compur@Comfort floorcoverings are easy to remove, with no dust or residues....

Triple guarantee.(Products in brief)
April 1, 2006... The laminate flooring moldings from SimpleSolutions, a division of Pergo, now have a 25 year triple guarantee against wear, stains and fading from sunlight. www.pergo.com

Myson brochure.(Products in brief)
April 1, 2006... Myson has a new brochure featuring its electric underfloor heating. T: 01204 863200

Solidfloor collection 'attracts architects'.(News file)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... FETIM reports considerable 'great enthusiasm' from architects and designers in its Solidfloor Collections shown at Domotex in January. It launched Solidfloor Earth & Fire engineered parquet, a new generation of thermo treated wooden...

Ryalux urges customers to 'experience the difference'.(News file)
April 1, 2006... RYALUX has introduced a new marketing campaign, Experience the Difference, to communicate its premium offering and to reconfirm its key messages of quality, innovation and choice of colour. Experience the Difference marketing tools and POS...

Cormar staff raises 24,000 [pounds sterling] for charity in only 12 months.(News file)
April 1, 2006... CHARITY representatives in Lancashire were recently invited to the Brookhouse Mill of Cormar Carpets in+ Bury to meet some of the company's staff who had raised 24,000 [pounds sterling] for the local charities over the past year. Cormar...

Carpet golfers collect 1m [pounds sterling] for charities after 50 years.(News file)
April 1, 2006... THE 50th charity golf tournament organised by the Kidderminster carpet manufacturers will take place this year, celebrating a record of having raised over 1m [pounds sterling] since 1957. Manufacturers, retailers and suppliers from...

NICF golf day.(Events in brief)
April 1, 2006... The NICF president's annual golf day is on Wednesday June 14 at the Ombersley Golf Club near Kidderminster. Teams of three are invited to enter. The fee is 40 [pounds sterling] per member (120 [pounds sterling] per team). Prizes will go to the...

Viva Las Vegas.(Events in brief)
April 1, 2006... A record-breaking 40,588 visitors flocked to Las Vegas to attend the Surfaces show in February. This was a 6% increase over 2005. There were 1,070 exhibitors, up on last year's figure of 1,054, covering nearly 48,000sq m of display space....

In-store show.(Events in brief)
April 1, 2006... The In-Store Show will be held on June 13-15 at Earls Court 2, London, with over over 200 exhibitors, www.instoreshow.co.uk,