Contract Flooring Journal articles from August 2005

Contract Flooring Journal archives from August 2005

Do your employees feel valued?(Editor's comment)
August 1, 2005... MANY people spend more than half their waking hours at work and these are not always happy. Although workers' rights have increased in recent decades, some companies continue to treat employees as units of labour. And even among more...

Fossils feel at home on oak flooring.(Installation of the month)
August 1, 2005... HARDWOOD flooring is a feature of the recently refurbished main gift shop in the Natural History Museum in London. Over three million visitors pass through the doors of the museum every year, so the floor in the main shop has to be durable and...

'I have sung with Robbie: now I can't afford to pay you for flooring'.(NON-PAYMENT EXCUSE OF THE MONTH)
August 1, 2005... WE had been chasing this debt for some time. Eventually we received a long letter which gave us some amusement. Needless to say we never got paid and the guy disappeared shortly afterwards--C'est La Vie! This is what he wrote: ...

Save time and money by spotting problems before they can cause damage.(WOOD FLOORING)
August 1, 2005... SINCE writing An idiots guide to moisture can be misleading (CFJ, May 2005) I have thought very seriously about the expectations placed on the contractor when approaching the potential minefield of any new job. In that article I was trying...

Parador--a powerful brand conquering new markets.(Advertisement Feature)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... For many years now Parador has been experiencing continuous growth of their export-business in Great Britain. Besides the Benelux countries, France, Switzerland, Czechia, Spain and Austria, the UK with its great sales potential has gained a...

The law leaves design thieves with nowhere to hide.(LEGAL OPINION)
August 1, 2005... SO, you want to buy a carpet? You may be a carpet wholesaler, distributor or flooring contractor looking to buy in your supplies, direct from the manufacturer. You may instead be a building subcontractor tasked with having to kit out and...

'We will fight to protect our IP rights'.(intellectual property)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Lindsey Parnell, CEO and president of Interface Europe, comments: As the market leader Interface's reputation is built upon new and innovative product design and we continue to invest a lot of money in the creation and launch of new...

CFJ readers thanked for supporting Tsunami appeal.(Contract Flooring Journal)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... I WOULD like to thank the many of readers of CFJ who have contributed to our tsunami appeal fund after your report. As you may remember, my Wife Tracey, daughter Eleanor and I were caught up in the Tsunami whilst on holiday last...

Go back to school! It's the business.(School's services)
August 1, 2005... GOOD news for all on the education front. Government spending on school buildings continues to be huge, with a further 5bn [pounds sterling] earmarked for primary schools in the next five years, 30 [pounds sterling]-40bn [pounds sterling] to be...

Problem! What problem? Just get it right first time!(comment)(methods of problem handlings)
August 1, 2005... WHEN it comes to solving the everyday problems we all face on a regular basis, the more things seem to change, the more they actually stay the same. There is almost an urban myth quality about some problems in the way that they keep...

Training directory.(Training)(Directory)
August 1, 2005... Flooring industry Training Association Intermediate carpet fitting Aug 8-12 (L); Solid wood fitting Aug 15-17 (L); Solid wood sanding and finishing Aug 18-19 (L); Commercial vinyl fitting Aug 22-25 (L); Laminate and floating wood fitting Aug...

Flooring contractor wins training award.(Training)
August 1, 2005... FLOORING contractor, Carpeting Merseyside, has won the Micro Employer of the Year category at the Learning and Skills Council's 2005 Apprenticeship Awards. Proprietor John Garvey (centre) is pictured above with four-time Olympic Gold...

Carpenter gets nil points for wood floor.(visits Grundorf UK)
August 1, 2005... WHEN I started writing for CFJ, my column was called Terry Wolfe's Casebook because it was intended to consist of interesting stories from cases I had dealt with in my work as a consultant. It developed into having a moral to the story, which...

Do avoid floating solid wood with PVA.(on wood floors)
August 1, 2005... Sid Bourne, technical director at Grundorf Terhurne, answers questions from CFJ readers based on his 25 years of installation experience. Q: I I was installing solid wood flooring for a company which was told by a supplier that 20mm thick...

Before using the triple-head scarifier ...(on machinery for subfloor preparation)(methods to use the triple-head scarifier machine)
August 1, 2005... Simon Collins, national sales manager, Truvox International, examines some of the tools available and considerations that need to be taken before using a triple-head scarifier machine. * Tools for triple-head machines: There is a wide range...

Fair and unfair criticism of anhydrites.(on calcium sulfate screeds)
August 1, 2005... Bob Mabbutt, development manager of Laybond Products, considers what has been said and written about calcium sulfate screeds. CACLIUM sulphate is a mineral that occurs naturally in several forms ranging from gypsum, or alabaster, to...

Under starter's orders.(on sports floors)(methods of flooring systems)
August 1, 2005... DAVID GATFIELD, Altro technical services manager-northern region, advises on the installation of sports flooring, THERE are several types of pvc and rubber sports flooring systems on the market and Altro is often asked for advice on the correct...

Diary dates.(Help and advice)(Calendar)
August 1, 2005... NATIONAL FLOOR SHOW September 6-8 Harrogate T: 020 7921 8415 www.nationalfloorshow.co.uk DECO CONTRACT September 10-13 Brussels, Belgium www.decosit.com ABITARE IL TEMPO September 15-19 Verona, Italy. www.abitareiltempo.com GLEE...

The glues brothers.(Help and advice)(Cartoon)
August 1, 2005... IT'S THE HADHESIVE WOT THE TRADE USES AND PROBABLY WOULD BE AT THIS VERY MOMENT IF IT 'ADN'T BECOME ER, SURPLUS TO REQUIREMENTS

What makes your employees.(Business briefing on motivating your staff)
August 1, 2005... This is another in the exclusive CFJ business briefing series on the advice of experts. BUSINESSES large and small must look after their employees if they are going to meet the needs of customers. To get the best out of your staff, you as...

Olympics: 'make it gold for UK manufacturers'.(News file)
August 1, 2005... Call for contractors to buy British carpet CFJ has learned from the London Tourist Authority that over 20,000 new hotel rooms in the Capital have past the planning stage and many more are expected by the time of the Olympics in seven years....

Goodacre in Poland.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Goodacre Carpets is to 'relocate' some of its looms to Kowary, a Polish Axminster carpet manufacturer, with the loss of 50 UK production jobs. Goodacre's traditional patterned ranges and all its contract carpets will be produced in Poland....

Mohawk buys Unilin.(Business in brief; Mohawk Industries Inc. (Calhoun, Georgia);Unilin Flooring)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Mohawk Industries of America is to acquire Unilin, Belgian manufacturer of laminate flooring with its Quick-Step brand, for a reported sum of 2.2m Euro ([pounds sterling]1.5m). Unilin has annual sales of 837m Euro (576m [pounds sterling]).

Headlam is buoyant.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Sales at the distributor Headlam in the first 21 weeks of 2005 increased by 2.6% on a like for like basis, says group chairman, Trevor Larman. He says the group is continuing to court independent retailers and flooring contractors.

Victoria suffers 21% fall.(Victoria Plc)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Carpet producer Victoria Plc saw a 21% fall in operating profit from 4.75m [pounds sterling] to 3.73m [pounds sterling] in the year to April 2. Turnover was down from 54.6m [pounds sterling] to 53.2m [pounds sterling]. However, the company says...

De Clercks get together.(Business in brief)(De Clerck )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The De Clerck family in Belgium have merged their interests in various flooring companies into one. The new Beaulieu international Group will include Ter Lembeek, Ideal and Berry Floors. The group has 4,781 employees in eight countries and a...

Vorwerk has record year.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... German carpet manufacturer Vorwerk enjoyed a 20% sales increase last year to 2.047bn Euro (1.36bn [pounds sterling]) with exports accounting for 50% of turnover. Most of the growth came from the company's household appliance division, but the...

Quote.(News file)
August 1, 2005... 'Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose'--Bill Gates 'When you own your own business, you only have to work half a day. You can do anything you want with the other 12 hours'--Business proverb ...

DDA on nosing advice: solution in sight: confusion over hazard warning stair edging inserts.(News file)
August 1, 2005... THERE is an urgent need for clarification on what stair edgings comply with DDA (1995) and ADM (2004), says Keith Oakes, technical director of Gradus. The company reports a big rise in customer requests for technical advice on these...

New Atkinson & Kirby website will be bang up to date.(News file)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... ATKINSON & KIRBY has upgraded its website to include the new corporate image. Featured are the company's five ranges of hardwood flooring and collection of accessories. Online brochures on all of the ranges can be downloaded, as well as...

Carpetright profit growth.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Carpetright reports a 65% increase in underlying operating profit to 3m [pounds sterling] and an underlying profit margin of 15.1% with an operating cashflow of 72.6m [pounds sterling] in the year to April 30, despite tough trading conditions....

Higher expectations.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Construction Products Association is expecting higher levels of sales in the third quarter of this year following a disappointing second quarter which was down on last year.

Parallel recycles waste.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Flooring accessory manufacturer Parallel has installed a new waste compactor at its Market Rasen factory in Lincolnshire. It crushes and bales all cardboard and plastic recyclable waste, halving waste from the site, according to the md Tony...

Hazardous waste warning.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... New legislation which came into force last month bans the co-disposal of hazardous and nonhazardous waste at the same landfill site. This includes solvent-containing products such as adhesives. www.hazardouswaste.org.uk

Carpet-Burns gets support.(Business in brief)(National Endowment of Science Technology and the Arts)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Carpet-Burns, supplier of HTC (heat treated carpet), has received a 35,000 [pounds sterling] grant from NESTA (National Endowment of Science Technology and the Arts) for developing the business. HTC involves waste carpet undergoing a patented...

Spanish tile exports up.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2005... Spanish tile experts rose 0.90 to 458.6m Euros in the first three months of 2005, according to the Spanish Ceramic Tile Association, Ascer. Tile imports to Spain are said to have fallen 15.3% last year.

First division laminates.(Business in brief)(Floors-2-Go)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Floors-2-Go is to sponsor the main stand of first division Walsall FC this season. www.floors2go.co.uk

Win-win offer for backers of the British fitting team: major benefits for sponsors of the UK fitting team.(News file)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... SPONSORS are again being invited for the UK trio of fitters at the European Team Floorlaying Championships (ETFC) to be held at Domotex in Germany next January. For the third year running the Domotex organisers have asked John Roberts and...

How to keep up appearances.(News file)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... RYALUX has produced a guide to carpet care. Approved by the National Carpet Cleaning Association, it includes information on the care of wool rich carpets. The booklet has chapters on preventing soiling, benefits of regular vacuuming, as...

Gradus and Folotec in a 'joint' partnership.(News file)(Folotec)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... GRADUS ACCESSORIES has formed a strategic partnership with Folotec, the Italian manufacturer of stair, floor and wall profiles. Folotec offers profiles in stainless steel, brass, aluminium, PVC and PVC-u, for materials from contemporary...

Latham's windfall gains.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Wood flooring firm James Latham is reported to have gained a 17.8m [pounds sterling] windfall from the sale of its Clayton site in east London. The proceeds boosted Latham's pre-tax profits for the year to March to 21.8m [pounds sterling]....

Kingspan 'doing well'.(Business in brief)(Access flooring manufacturer )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Access flooring manufacturer Kingspan is said to be set to beat market expectations for the first six months in 2005

SATRA cash injection.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The technology, centre, SATRA, received a record income last year, 6% above 2003. The recent AGM also heard that SATRA's work in floorcoverings had increased by 15% compared in the last 12 months. T: 01536 410000

Meister merger planned.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2005... Parquet and laminate flooring manufacturer Meister-Leisten Schulte and Schulte Raume will merge in January 2006. Anja Schulte will become md of the new company.

Domo sells polymers.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Belgian manufacturer Domo is selling its chemicals and polymers business to focus on its remaining floorcoverings and fibre and yarn interests.

Czechs bounce in.(Business in brief)(The Building Centre)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Building Centre is to introduce a selection of Czech building products to the UK, including ceramic tiles, coatings, adhesives and timber staircases. T: 020 7692 6205 www.buildingcentre.co.uk

Cormar's sixth success.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Cormar Carpets has won the Metro Group's tufted supplier of the year for the sixth year. Metro's membership includes 170 independent carpet retailers across the UK. Cormar claims that over lm people a year buy its carpets.

Building orders increase.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Construction orders in the year to May 2005 rose by 6% compared with the previous 12 months, while orders in the three months to May rose by 14% compared with the previous three months, according to the DTI. Private industrial orders in the...

'Growth will resume in 2007 after slowdown'.(CPA forecast)(Construction Products Association)
August 1, 2005... FOLLOWING sustained growth over the past three years, the latest Construction Products Association forecast predicts that construction output growth will slow to less than 1% in both 2005 and 2006, although there will be a turn around in 2007...

Flowcrete flooring stars in the kitchen.(News file)(Hi-Spec Industrial Flooring)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A FEATURE of the recent Hell's Kitchen series on TV was the Flowfast Quartz flooring from FLOWCRETE installed by Hi-Spec Industrial Flooring. Flowfast was installed in the two kitchens, confession room and corridors within the restaurant,...

Safety award for Altro.(Achievements and awards)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Altro Imprint flooring is one of the 36 products showcased in the second edition of the Construction Products Association's annual publication, Construction Products Innovation and Achievement. The Altro product features under the health &...

Bardon expands.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2005... Bardon Concrete has rebuilt its concrete plant in Chelmsford to expand its product range, including Elite Minimix, traditional screed and Cemflow high-flowing screed. T: 01335 372222

Speedy growth.(Speedy Hire merges with MJ Gleeson Group )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Speedy Hire, which has over 300 depots across the UK hiring tools and equipment, has acquired the internal plant hire operations of MJ Gleeson Group for 8.2m [pounds sterling].

Slowdown reported.(Rising materials prices according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Rising materials prices and economic uncertainty are causing a slowdown in construction growth, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. It cites sharp rises in cement and steel prices with materials costs increasing 8.5% in...

US wood imports up.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2005... UK imports of US hardwoods rose by 16% in value to $19m (10.5m [pounds sterling]) and 5% in volume for the first quarter of 2005. White oak was significantly up while Ash, Cherry and Walnut also gained, www.ahec-europe.org

Concrete expands.(UK Concrete Repair Association's reports)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The concrete repair market rose by 7% in the year to December 2004, according to the UK Concrete Repair Association. Contract sales in 2004 were 217m [pounds sterling], compared with 202m [pounds sterling] in 2003, but down from 230m [pounds...

Asbestos exposure fines.(Huntsman Advanced Materials been fined)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Huntsman Advanced Materials of Cambridgeshire and Patrick B Doyle of Suffolk are reported to have been fined a total of 48,000 [pounds sterling] after their workers were exposed to asbestos fibres during refurbishment work.

Teflon cancer alert.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A draft report by the Environmental Protection Agency in America says that Teflon, which is used in some floorcoverings, is 'likely' to be carcinogenic to humans following animal studies. DuPont, which makes Teflon, states that human health and...

Contractor fined 10,000 [pounds sterling].(Foylespan Floors )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Northern Irish flooring contractor Foylespan Floors was fined 10,000 [pounds sterling] after pleading guilty to not preparing a risk assessment and failing to adequately design the pre-stressed concrete hollow floor slabs. The case arose after...

Construction needs 6,500.(The trade in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The construction industry must recruit 6,500 new people in the next 12 months to meet the shortfall in skilled craft workers, says the National Heritage Training Group.

Firms can't keep staff.(The trade in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Over 45% of construction firms have problems keeping staff, the worst figures for 15 years, according to new research.

Bid for CSCS relaunch.(Construction Skills Certification Scheme)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A campaign is being launched to reverse declining CSCS skills card renewal rates. Major Contractors Group cardholders fell 4.5% from 33,651 to 32,173 between September and December 2004 after two years of rapid growth. Reintroduction of...

EU acts on illegal timber.(European Union)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The European Union is to cut illegal timber use under a new Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade licensing scheme.

Contract division set up.(The trade in brief)
August 1, 2005... Wood and laminate flooring retailer Floors-2-Go has launched a contract division, www.floors2go.co.uk

Cowboys are targeted.(The trade in brief)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Trustmark, a new scheme to protect consumers from cowboy builders has been launched. Over 111,000 complaints about cowboy builders were registered with trading standards officers last year. www.trustmark.org.uk

Do you know the answers?(TEST THE TRADES at interbuild 2006)
August 1, 2005... * What is the British standard for Tile adhesive? * Who won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2004? If you fancy your trade and general knowledge then Test The Trades competition is for you. In association with Interbuild,...

Tarkett-Marley is in 'excellent health'.(News file)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... TARKETT-MARLEY FLOORS claims to be the first UK flooring company to be accredited with the Occupation Health & Safety Management Systems specification OHSAS 18001. This is an international standard created by the world's leading national...

Accolade for BAL training officer.(News file)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... DAVID ROWLEY, training officer at tile adhesive manufacturer, Building Adhesives (BAL), has won The Tile Association's outstanding employee award in recognition of his contribution, since he joined BAL in 1992, to the company's fixer training...

Victoria generosity prize.(The trade in brief)(Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Victoria Carpets has received the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association's Velvet Cushion Award for matching staff payroll donations with an equal sum. The Cushion Club encourages employers and employees to assist the FTBA to help people...

Retentions cripple.(Mechanical and electrical contractor's surveys)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Mechanical and electrical contractors, who have to pay retentions to 80% of their clients, say the practice is crippling them with the level of return of retentions money rated at only 3.6 out of 10, according to a new survey.

Illness payments record.( Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Compensation payments for workplace injury and disease to members of the construction union UCATT hit a record 8.7m [pounds sterling] in 2004. This is said to be partly doe to the rise in asbestos related claims.

Global injury rise.(Repots of work-related injuries)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The worldwide rate of work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths is rising due to rapid industrialisation in many countries, according to the International Labour Office and the World Health Organisation.

Better backs info released.(health and safety executive)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The HSE's Better Backs campaign offers businesses and employees practical tips on reducing back. related conditions. HSE says that one in six construction workers suffers back pain. www.betterbacks.hse.gov.uk T: 0845 345 0055.

More projects are late.(Project time )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Project time predictability has fallen from 49% to 44%, according to this year's key performance indicators from Constructing Excellence.

Curtains for CSCS.(The trade in brief)
August 1, 2005... Curtain and blind site installation operatives have joined the CSCS scheme along with fenestration supervisors (developed with the Glass and Glazing Federation); and civil and structural engineer designers. Over 220 occupations are now covered...

Tartan treat.(News file)(Contract Flooring Association )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... THE movers and shakers of the flooring industry were much in evidence at the 2005 CFA dinner dance, especially when the band started playing. CFA president Hamish MacGregor was on home ground with the event being held at the Thistle Hotel,...

Burmatex acts on customer advice.(News file)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... BURMATEX has re-organised its sales force combining with its sister firm, The Carpet Tile Company. This follows extensive customer research. The new team of 13 business managers will be a single point of contact for both ranges in different...

NeoCon visitor record.(Events in brief)(contract furnishings show )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... NeoCon, the contract furnishings show in Chicago, is claiming an alltime record this year with 46,352 visitors. Neocon, which has a strong floorcoverings presence, will be held in 2006 from June 12-14. www.merchandisemart.com

Irish show 'success'.(Events in brief)(FloorsExpo)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The first FloorsExpo in Dublin in June had 640 visitors, according to the organiser, MPP.

Flooring at Leisure Week.(Events in brief)(Leisure Industry Week)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Flooring, with exhibitors including Dek-Tec UK, will feature at Leisure Industry Week (Sep 20-22), NEC. www.liw.co.uk

ExCel attendance record.(Events in brief)(Grand Designs Live exhibition)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Grand Designs Live exhibition claims to have broken attendance records at ExCel, London, with over 40,000 visitors in three days. (June 10-12).

Price is right for US fitters.(Events in brief)(Certified Floorcovering Installers of America's annual convention theme)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The theme of 12th annual convention of the Certified Floorcovering Installers of America (August 11-13 in St Louis, Missouri) is: Installation: the price is right, you get what you pay for. www.CFlinstallers.com

Carpets at Index in Dubai.(Events in brief)(Index interiors exhibition in Dubai)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Carpets will feature at the 15th annual Index interiors exhibition in Dubai (Nov 28-Dec 2). Index is supported by the British Contract Furnishing Association which organises government grants for UK exhibitors. Details from Sue Graves. T: 01494...

China Floor is booming.(Events in brief)(Domotex Asia China Floor trade show)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Going into its eighth year, Domotex Asia China Floor will be held from March 28-30, 2006, at Shanghai New International Expo Centre with five halls covering 57,500sq m (up from 46,000sq m this year) and 700 exhibitors (588 in 2005). T: 020 8688...