Contract Flooring Journal articles from August 2006

Contract Flooring Journal archives from August 2006

Stop these cheating builders!(Editor's comment)(Editorial)
August 1, 2006... DELIBERATE violation of the 1996 Construction Act by main contractors is widespread. This is confirmed by the latest NSCC state of trade survey--78% of all respondents say they are victims of pay-when-paid, which is illegal, but apparently not...

Lano lays down the law at Palace of Justice.(Installation of the month)
August 1, 2006... A LEADING UK architectural practice, Richard Rogers Partnership (RRP), designed the imposing and striking Palace of Justice in Antwerp. RRP created a vision of a space designed to 'make justice more transparent'. The building provides...

'Buyers of wood floors need to get certified': Alasdair McGregor, product/timber business manager, BM TRADA Certification, discusses the role of chain of custody in the flooring sector.(Points of view)
August 1, 2006... TIMBER has been used for flooring for centuries. However, while in the past any controversy might have centred on the suitability of a certain species for a hardwearing floor, today the more sensitive issue of sustainability has come to the...

Game for a challenge: Karen Warner, marketing director of Interface, describes her visit to South Africa.(Carpet tiles for Africa)
August 1, 2006... MY flight from Manchester to Johannesburg takes approximately 11 hours. I arrive late in the evening, so straight to my hotel and to bed. I'm expecting 200 architects to arrive the following evening for an Interface event at the hotel so I...

'Customers have great expectations for vinyl': polyflor marketing manager Simon James, says manufacturers must address customer's growing demands over the value and features of vinyl flooring.(Vinyl market moves)
August 1, 2006... MAYBE it's the mini-heatwave, the fact that I have just returned from holiday or that today (at the time of writing) is the start of the World Cup, but for whatever reason, a substantial and topical vinyl industry issue seems particularly...

Smoothing underlayments: we do need guarantees.(The president: Terry Wolfe)
August 1, 2006... The problem: The vinyl tile was still firmly fixed to the surface of the latex screed, and a layer of latex screed still adhered to the screed, but the latex screed itself had sheared in its centre. The continual expansion and contraction...

Flooring industry Training Association.(fita)
August 1, 2006... TEXTILE Carpet fitting starter course: Sep 18-19 (N); Basic carpet fitting: Sep 11-15 (L); Natural carpet fitting: Aug 16-17 (N); Carpet tile carpet fitting: Aug 7-8 (N); WOOD & LAMINATE Laminate/floating wood fitting: Aug 7-8 (L); Sep...

Accrington College offers fast-track route to NVQs.(Training directory)
August 1, 2006... ACCRINGTON & ROSENDALE COLLEGE has been awarded Grade 1--Outstanding in the last three OFSTED inspections. This year the construction team featured alongside major universities and colleges awarded The Queen's Anniversary Prize. Since its...

New Midlands training centre caters for floor tilers.(Training)
August 1, 2006... FLOOR and wall tiling is one of the courses offered by the new Birmingham and Solihull Centre for the Built Environment in Bordesley Green, which opened in January, 2005. As part of South Birmingham College, it is one of Europe's largest...

Manufacturers focus on staff development.(Training)
August 1, 2006... RYALUX and POWNALL are continuing to invest in the development of their employees with a training programme which allows all staff--from management to factory workers--to take individual courses to further their careers. Nine department...

Stubborn stains won't be sorted in the wash: Sid Bourne, technical director at Grundorf Terhurne, answers questions from CFJ readers based on his 25 years of installation experience.(on staining and burnishing)
August 1, 2006... Q: I recently installed an unfinished solid wood floor in maple, but when I tried to stain it, it went all patchy. A: Maple is a difficult species to stain because it has a very tight grain, which is reluctant to absorb stains evenly. Try...

Acclimatisation is not always the answer.(on moisture in wood floors)(BS 8201)
August 1, 2006... SENSITIVITY of timber to moisture and variation in seasonal humidity can make life difficult for floorlayers. BS 8201, the code of practice for flooring of timber, timber products and wood based panel products, emphasises the measurement of...

Remember to start as you mean to finish: Laybond's technical advisor, Martin Cummins, advises on achieving the perfect finish with reference to preparation and priming and application of the final smoothing compound.(on floor preparation)
August 1, 2006... * What is the perfect finish?: Resisting temptation to run with a football analogy, the perfect finish can mean one of three things--how level, how smooth and how hard? In some installations, such as an operating theatre the smoothing...

There's no excuse for bad floor preparation: David Gatfield, Altro technical services manager--northern region, discusses floor preparation.(on resin floors)
August 1, 2006... A RESIN contractor decided to try vinyl, thinking it looked easier. One of his first jobs was a factory where he was asked to quote for overlaying a resin floor he'd installed a few years earlier. The new owners were unaware of his previous...

Badly translated claim gives the run in Spain: Peter Allan, export sales manager at Burmatex, continues his CFJ series with advice to UK flooring companies on exporting.(on marketing to an international audience)
August 1, 2006... EFFECTIVE marketing is the bedrock of any successful export business and balances an awareness of cultural differences in each market with protecting the core brand and corporate identity. Easier said than done. History has shown that some...

A joint cannot be used if the crack is irregular: Ian Knifton, technical manager at Schluter--Systems, explains, why in some cases it is not practicable to insert a movement joint over every joint in the floor, especially if the joint or crack is irregular.(on movement joints(7))
August 1, 2006... Q: I fixed movement joints at the installation shown in Fig 1, but the tiles still cracked over the board joint. How could I have prevented that problem? [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] A: Adhesives used to adhere tiles rely on a strong bond to...

Do you really think you are a good manager?(on training)(CITB-ConstructionSkills)
August 1, 2006... WHAT makes a good manager? Think of any manager you have worked with in the past (good or bad) and you can probably make a list as long as your arm. But one thing is for certain, working for a good manager has a massive impact on how happy...

Tips on how to reduce your premiums.(on liability insurance)
August 1, 2006... PREMIUMS on liability insurance are now much lower than three years ago. Nevertheless, it is prudent to remember the factors that influence insurers when assessing risk and thereby premium. The higher the risk perceived by an insurer (i.e...

Protect your big ideas: read the small print.(on legal action to protect your IP)
August 1, 2006... GOOD terms and conditions of business are intended to be a reasonable and professional foundation on which two parties can work together in a business relationship with safeguards for all. Sometimes small businesses use someone else's terms...

It's time to take to the floor.(CFA dinner dance)
August 1, 2006... THE highlights of the year for Contract Flooring Association, the Annual dinner dance was held at the Shrigley Hall Hotel near Macclesfield on Saturday 24 June. Over 200 guests enjoyed fine food and wine and danced through to the early...

The glues brothers.(News file)(Cartoon)
August 1, 2006... THE WHOLE TOWN'S IN THE GRIP OF POST WORLD CUP DEPRESSION SALES DOWN, FITTINGS CANCELLED, PAYMENTS STOPPED.... AND I'VE LOST THE LITTLE FLAG OFF ME CAR.... BLEW OFF SOMEWHERE ON THE M6, IT DID. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Your MP can help: bid improve payment practices in the construction industry.(News file)(Claire Curtis-Thomas proposed Construction Act )
August 1, 2006... A NEW Early Day Motion (EDM) has been tabled in the House of Commons urging the Government to amend the Construction Act to include payment 'security'. Claire Curtis-Thomas MP, who is sponsoring the EDM (No 1941), sent this exclusive...

Amtico finds a buyer.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... Private equity firm ABN Amro Capital has bought Amtico International for 98.25m [pounds sterling]. In 1995, Amtico was sold to a 52.8m [pounds sterling] MBO from Courtaulds, backed by Electra Investment Trust. In the year to March 31, 2006,...

Tarkett sells textiles wing.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... Tarkett has sold its textile division, Tecsom SAS, to Enia Carpet Group. Tecsom is claimed to be Europe's third largest commercial carpet tile manufacturer. With sales of 80m Euros (55m [pounds sterling]), it supplies Tecsom tufted carpet tiles...

Condor Combifloor fails.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... An unnamed business consortium bought assets of Condor Combifloor--two carpet backing and three felt underlay lines--after it went into administration. The Accrington-based underlay and needle punch manufacturer was created after an MBO from...

Victoria earnings up.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... Carpet manufacturer Victoria PLC reports revenue of 52.29m [pounds sterling] in the year to April 1, 2006, up 6.1% from 49.28m [pounds sterling] in 2005. But profit before tax 2.01m [pounds sterling] was down (3.01m [pounds sterling]).

James Latham thrives.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... Timber floor distributor James Latham boosted pre-tax profits to 5.4m [pounds sterling] in the year to March--up 43% from last year.

Low & Bonar acquisition.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... Low & Bonar, parent company of Bonar Floors, has acquired Colbond Investment BV for 71.7m [pounds sterling], to expand in the technical textiles markets, it is reported.

Kingspan buys board firm.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... Access flooring firm Kingspan has bought insulation board producer, Xtratherm for 59.8m [pounds sterling].

SATRA claims record.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... SATRA has declared 2005 its most successful year, earning over 8m [pounds sterling]. It notes a 23% increase in floorcoverings and furniture work.

Quote.(News file)
August 1, 2006... 'It is extremely disappointing that this major Government strategy document contains no new proposals or initiatives' --Michael Ankers, chief executive of the Construction Products Association, commenting on the Government's new energy...

Illegal 'pay when paid' practices widespread.(State of trade survey)
August 1, 2006... PAY-WHEN-PAID, which was outlawed by the Construction Act, is widely practiced according to a staggering 78% of sub-contractors surveyed in the latest State of Trade survey for the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC). The new...

Vinyl firm sets up.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... Project Floors, European supplier of wood, stone, slate and metal vinyl floor tiles, has set up in the UK. Its 2.5mm Premium Collection, featuring 72 designs, has a 0.8mm PU coated wearlayer and comes with a minimum 12 year contract...

Trident on the RAK.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... RAK Ceramics has acquired the Bristol distributor Trident Bathrooms to be known as RAK UK West. www.rakceramics.co.uk

Interface adds FLOR.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... Interface Europe is to re-brand as Inter faceFLOR in the commercial sector including the Heuga contract range. T: 08705 304030

Wood gets dearer.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... Hardwood flooring price increases of up to 20% are forecast following shortages from European suppliers and higher demand.

Wool gets cheaper.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... Prices of British wool (70% of which goes into carpets) have fallen to record lows, half of the level 10 years ago, say industry sources. The weakness of the US dollar and less wool bought by China are seen as major factors.

Concrete market lifts.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... The UK concrete repair market grew 5% in 2005, following a 7% rise in 2004, says the Concrete Repair Association. Its 2005 contract value is estimated at nearly 230m [pounds sterling], compared with 217m [pounds sterling] in 2004 and 202m...

Rising wood imports.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... European solid wood flooring imports rose by 44% in 2005 with engineered multilayer parquet flooring up 33% to a total of over 10.5m sq m, according to the European Federation of Parquet Importers. www.efpi-europe.org

More contractors specify.(Business in brief)
August 1, 2006... More than a fifth of the products of steel giant Corus were specified directly by contractors in 2005 /2006, a 10% rise since 2000.

'Be responsible when you buy wood floors'.(News file)
August 1, 2006... THE campaign by CFJ to alert the industry to the volume of stolen wood floors being imported into the UK continues to attract the attention of influential politicians. This month Chris Huhne MP, the Liberal Democrat frontbench shadow...

Ryalux invites staff to take tours of its six sites.(News file)
August 1, 2006... RYALUX is allowing all its staff to tour all six sites to gain an insight into the complete carpet manufacturing process. The tour begins at Oxford Spinning in Lancashire moving on to Pennine Yard Dying and then Ensor Mill. After a lunch...

Approved fitters bid.(Trade in brief)
August 1, 2006... Laminate and wood retailer Floors-2-Go is establishing a network of approved fitters. Flooring contractors will need training and tests before their details are added to the approved list. The scheme has been piloted in 25 stores across the...

PC gets new screed pump.(Trade in brief)
August 1, 2006... PC Flooring (Southern) has acquired a M760DH Putzmeister loading pump for a high screed output of 4cu m per hour. The M760DH is said to have a horizontal reach of 200m and vertical reach of 50 storeys, www.pcflooring.co.uk. T: 01489 894332

Blast! for recruitment.(Trade in brief)
August 1, 2006... Kevin Jackson, former national sales manager at Karndean and area sales manager at Altro, has formed Blast!, a sales training and recruitment company for the flooring industry. T: 01785 250925 www.blastrecruitment.co.uk

Construction orders up.(Trade in brief)
August 1, 2006... Construction orders rose 9% in the 12 months to May, says the DTI. In the same period public housing and housing association orders jumped 25%, while public non-housing orders (excluding infrastructure) fell 9%. Private commercial orders were...

DW is TRADA certified.(Trade in brief)
August 1, 2006... Timber flooring accessories specialist DW Mouldings has achieved chain of custody certification with BM TRADA for FSC, PEFC and BM TRADA's own Forest Products Certification schemes. The Bedfordshire firm recently invested more than 700,000...

500 [pounds sterling] prize offered.(Trade in brief)
August 1, 2006... Contractors are invited to submit views on construction adjudication with a chance to win 500 [pounds sterling] and give a presentation at the 2006 AICA annual conference on November 2, plus free AICA membership for a year. September 29 is the...

CFA contractor survives blaze: Mary Murrell reports on how back-up system paid off.(People file)(Geo Brady Flooring)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... IT'S business as usual at Geo Brady Flooring of Newcastle, a member of the CFA, after a disastrous nighttime fire. Mary Murrell reports. The blaze, last August, started in the adjoining premises. It damaged Brady's offices and showroom,...

Lano focuses on the UK specifier market.(People file)(LANO CARPETS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... LANO CARPETS of Belgium, which operates three high-speed Max 63 looms, is working with Natural Elements to spearhead the Lano Project Division and develop new ranges for the hospitality and leisure sector. Lano Project Division is headed by...

Flowcrete site takes title in media awards.(People file)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... THE Flowcrete website has won the commercial category of Big Chip 8, one of the UK's largest new media awards in Manchester. The website (www.flowcrete.com) includes the ability to introduce colour and texture to a 'virtual floor' in the...

CFA welcomes members.(Trade in brief)
August 1, 2006... The CFA has accepted for membership two contractors--Brighouse Flooring Co and Ward Flooring--and a distributor, Real Oak Floors.

Contractor for Outdoor.(Trade in brief)
August 1, 2006... CFA member Peter Evans Flooring of Barry, South Glamorgan, recently installed 600sq m of Burmatex carpet tiles in a new store for outdoor clothing retailer, Cotswold Outdoor. www.peflooring.com T: 01446 700600

BCFA approvals begin.(Trade in brief)
August 1, 2006... The British Contract Furnishing Association (BCFA) 2006 Product Approval Awards is open to floorcovering companies. Entries must cover innovation, uniqueness, commercial reality, sustainability and compliance with British Standards. Winning...

Surveyors optimistic.(Trade in brief)
August 1, 2006... Construction output will revive over the next 18 months, rising 2% by the end of 2006 and 2.7% in 2007, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

SATRA in fire testing.(Trade in brief)
August 1, 2006... SATRA has invested 50,000 [pounds sterling] in flammability testing equipment for floorcoverings, using a radiant heat source, evaluating materials to BS EN ISO 9239: Part 1. T: 1536 410000

1,500 new fitters needed every year.(Skills shortage)
August 1, 2006... OVER 1,500 new floorlayers are needed in the UK every year between now and 2010, according to the latest Construction Skills Network report 2006, published by ConstructionSkills. The report forecasts that 348,000 more employees will be...

Armatile opens new Belfast showroom.(News file)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... ARMATILE has a new showroom and offices on Boucher Crescent, Belfast. The 5m [pounds sterling] investment will see staff numbers rise from 95 to 150 within the next 12 months spread over the company's locations in Armagh, Belfast and Newry. ...

Creom voucher winners.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2006... The winners of M&S vouchers in the Creom UK June draw were: Chris Wallace, Riding Floors, Brighouse, West Yorks (100 [pounds sterling]); John Eden, Harmony Contracts, Bradford (50 [pounds sterling]); and Gary Weightman, Trade Sales UK, Tyne &...

Gerflor for Paralympics.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2006... A team from Gerflor undertook the recent British Paralympics 10km fun run aim to raise money to send an athlete to the 2008 World Paralympic Games in Beijing. Sponsors are invited. Email: contractuk@Gerflor.com

Testing on the move.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2006... SATRA has a new Portable Slip Tester operating on the biomechanical principles used for laboratory slip testing of flooring. The device is designed to assess floorcoverings slip under on-site conditions. T: 01536 410000

New deal with CSCS.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2006... CITB-ConstructionSkills has signed a new seven-year contract with Construction Skills Certification Scheme to continue owning the CSCS card and CITB providing support services.

WoolSafe info card.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2006... WoolSafe offers an information card on its range of services, including advice on carpet care and maintenance, plus a list of WoolSafe approved DIY cleaning products, inspectors' hotline number and finding local approved professional carpet...

Illegal asbestos removal.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2006... A Leeds building contractor and its director has been fined nearly 40,000 [pounds sterling] for asbestos removal without a licence from a former Working Mens Club in Batley. The prosecution was brought by HSE.

Retirement saving falls.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2006... Only 55% of people save adequately for old age, down from 46% last year, according to research by Scottish Widows. Meanwhile, 28% make no form of pension saving, up from 17%.

Contractor visit to Sweden has a twist and turn.(News file)(Bona Kemi)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... CONTRACTORS from nine European countries, including the UK, visited the head office and factory of Bona in Sweden in June. A total of 125 'new customers', among them 11 invited by BonaKemi in Britain, enjoyed a two day visit to Malmo. The...

Slips hotline set up: call before you fall!(News file)(Altro Floors)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... A NEW telephone advice line has been set up by ALTRO for contractors, specifiers and end users unsure how the new CIRIA guidelines Safer Surfaces to Walk On impacts on their businesses. A team of technical advisors will answer queries on...

Building for Olympics.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2006... A new AMA Research report reviews current and planned new build, refurbishment and legacy activity for the 2012 Olympic Games, including tendering, projects, budgets and timescales, plus opportunities for suppliers, manufacturers and...

Simpler risk reports.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2006... The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging businesses to spend less time dotting 'i's and crossing 't's and more time on practical actions. A revamped risk assessment guide is available online, www.hse.gov.uk/risk

Game for a job.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2006... ConstructionSkills says its online games on teen websites have brought a 50% rise in hits to its website and 1,218 new user registrations in April alone. The careers section has become the most popular website page. www.bconstructive.co.uk

How happy are you?(Industry in brief)(survey of construction staff on their career progression)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Only 47% of construction staff are happy with their career progression, with 39% blaming bosses for not doing enough, 43% claiming their organisation lets them down with effective day-today management support, setting development goats and...

Online shopping boom.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2006... With an average spend of 1,200 [pounds sterling] each in 2006 (expected to exceed 1,600 [pounds sterling] in 2011), UK online shoppers will soon outspend the Americans, according to a new survey. Britons currently spend nearly 30bn [pounds...

Firms without email.(Industry in brief)
August 1, 2006... One in 10 of Britain's small firms still don't use email and a third don't use the Internet for information, according to research1 from Lloyds TSB Business and Open University.

Harrogate: fitters invited to attend UK team trials.(News file)
August 1, 2006... TRIALS for the UK team to participate in the 2007 International Team Floorlaying Championships will be held at the National Floor Show in Harrogate (September 5-7). The selection will take place on the stand of the National Institute of...

Contractor bags the box in Polyflor draw.(News file)(Halliwell Flooring's Mike Sinett)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... CONTRACTOR Mike Sinett, of Halliwell Flooring, Manchester, won an HD-ready plasma TV in Polyflor's World Cup-themed promotion. The contractor promotion centred on Polysafe Hydro range of sheet vinyl safety floors designed for continually...

Last chance to win a champion holiday.(News file)
August 1, 2006... THE World Cup may be over, but flooring contractors have a last chance to enter Altro's summer promotion with the chance to win a holiday worth up to 4,000 [pounds sterling] in Italy, home of the World Cup winner. Second prize in the...

Introduced by A&K.(Products in brief)
August 1, 2006... Atkinson & Kirby has eight new products, including five engineered boards, the first being Diamond Range, a 127mm wide American Black Walnut, Merbau and White Oak. The latest addition is a 22mm multi-layer board, with 6mm hardwood wearlayer on...

Hardwood mouldings.(Products in brief)
August 1, 2006... Castle Mouldings supply solid hardwood mouldings, including ramps, tees, square edge, scotia, quadrant and skirting, from its East Midlands factory. Owners Stewart Piercy and Joe Schaffarzyck jointly have 40 years of timber products and wood...

Origins of H&R Johnson.(Products in brief)
August 1, 2006... H&R Johnson has launched Origins in 15 standard and large format tiles in three styles: Coastal, Water and Mother Nature. T: 01782 575575

Mipolam relaunched.(Products in brief)
August 1, 2006... Gerflor has relaunched Mipolam Esprit 500, protected by PUR Protect treatment, in new 24 colours. T: 0870 2647 581

Interlocking PVC tile.(Products in brief)
August 1, 2006... Connection Tiles has launched Secretlok, an interlocking PVC tile with a textured slate or small stud surface finish and smooth background in nine colours. T: 0870 0500 548 E: sales@connectionstiles.co.uk

Clip n Fit agent named.(Products in brief)
August 1, 2006... John Northwood of T1 commercial is the new Essex, Hertfordshire and London agent for Clip n Fit, a click system allowing dry installation of ceramic tiles. T: 01702 302553 www.faenzacliptile.com

Wembley protection.(Products in brief)
August 1, 2006... Terraplas has supplied 10,000sq m of Terraflor, a removable floor system, to Wembley for concerts and other non-sporting events. The slipperiness of the new floor was measured by SATRA. T: 01536 410000

CFJ backs winning college.(News file)
August 1, 2006... CFJ was the official co-sponsoring magazine of the South Birmingham College team which won the Test the Trades competition at Interbuild last April. The college recently took delivery of its prize, the latest model Mercedes van. The...