Contract Flooring Journal articles from December 2003

Contract Flooring Journal archives from December 2003

Manufacturers in the dock.(Editorial)
December 1, 2003... THE hair-raising story is told by one flooring contractor of a so-called 'technical sales rep' for a certain manufacturer of adhesives, latex and DPMs who wrote a specification that was in direct conflict with the recommendations in their...

CFA member makes a splash.(PFD Flooring)
December 1, 2003... THIS month we commend the work of a member of CFA, PFD FLOORING of Alfreton in Derbyshyire, at Alton Towers theme park. PFD Flooring installed all the carpets in the 391 guestrooms for both hotels and in the corridors of Splash Landings...

'High quality TV adverts'.(Readers' forum)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... YOUR appallingly inaccurate, emotionally charged, highly prejudicial leader which unfairly criticises the Carpel Foundation TV campaign is not worthy of professional journalism. The tenor of the article is evident from the title used--'The...

I make no apology for supporting British manufacturing.(Readers' forum)
December 1, 2003... The editor of CFJ responds: The letter from Mike Hardiman is printed in its entirety, illustrating that debate within the carpet industry has nose-dived to the level of personal abuse. As an independent industry magazine, CFJ owes it to our...

'Greendale totally supports generic advertising scheme'.(Readers' forum)
December 1, 2003... IT IS with the greatest dismay that I feel provoked to respond to your appallingly negative and quite misleading editor's comment in (CFJ October 2003). If only you bad spent the time to glean and absorb all the facts before putting pen to...

'Over 3,000 spots were scheduled reaching 29 million'.(Readers' forum)
December 1, 2003... John Duncan, joint md, Victoria Carpets, writes: YOUR recent editorial severely criticising the Carpet Foundation TV campaign is completely unwarranted. As you will know, Victoria Carpets has been a funding partner of the Carpet...

'We have all worked so hard'.(Readers' forum)
December 1, 2003... Wendy Tinsley, of Carpets Curtains & Rugs, Evesham, Worcestershire, writes: MIGHT I enlighten you on a few facts in life! As an independent carpet retailer in a small town, each morning I arrive work (as do all the other independent carpet...

'We know what consumers want'.(Readers' forum)
December 1, 2003... P Phillips of Sunniva Carpeting, Tunbridg Wells, writes: YOUR totally misinformed and financially inaccurate comments regarding the Carpet Foundation and its activities concerning the British manufacturers and the 1,200 plus retailers who...

Support the campaign to get rid of retentions.(From the president)
December 1, 2003... FIRSTLY, I would like to wish all the members of the Contract Flooring Association together with the readers of the Contract Flooring Journal, a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I believe there is always time to enjoy the...

Don't be punished by high premiums.
December 1, 2003... BARRY WICKS of Latham Blackham advises CFA members on what to do about the rising costs of insurance. INSURERS say claims costs in Employers Liability will force further premium increases in 2004. An average rate increase of 30% in 2003 is...

New isocrete CPD majors on design.(Training directory)(Isocrete)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ISOCRETE has launched a new CPD, which reflects the trend towards the specification of designer-led resin floor finishes. Entitled 'decorative resin flooring for public areas' the RIBA-approved CPD covers the specification of fit-for-purpose...

Avoid stress to get it right.(Ian Knifton's tile talk)(Interview)
December 1, 2003... ONE of the major causes of tiling installations failing is where stresses from the substrate are transferred into the finished covering of stone or ceramic tiles. Ian Knifton, technical manager for Schluter-Systems, who has extensive...

The truth and fiction about friction.(The lowdown from Brian Newell)
December 1, 2003... A GOOD quality unglazed ceramic tile is the hardest floor finish you can install. Harder than marble, harder than granite. Properly installed, unglazed ceramic tiles will outlast them all in terms of surface wear. As with the specification...

Wood flooring warts and all! Part 2.(Terry Wolfe's case book)
December 1, 2003... LAST month I discussed the selection of the species of timber and how it is cut. I did not mention moisture content because I assumed a competent manufacturer would kiln dry the material to 8%-10% moisture content if a normal installation and...

Acclimatisation is as clear as wood.(Ask Sid)(Interview)
December 1, 2003... SID BOURNE, training and technical manager of Floorboards, in his regular column, answers questions from CFJ readers and shares some of his 25 years of installation experience. As well as being an experienced and authoritative source of...

Putting news values into your press releases.(Making the news)
December 1, 2003... MANY companies struggle to feature on the news pages of trade journals and are frequently frustrated when their press releases appear to be ignored. In most cases the reason is simply that the press releases fail to contain real news, or...

Ask sid.(Problem solving)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Ideally, whenever fitting wood flooring, an initial site visit should be carried out, viewing the room in its liveable condition. The season should be noted and the local climatic conditions assessed-not everywhere is the same. Once these...

Tip of the month.(Problem solving)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... If you sand a floor and the customer complains that they can feel small bits left in the finish, simply get a min 600 grit and not pressing too hard, quickly go over the floor. The 'bits' will be removed and you won't need to do a recoat....

Diary dates.(Calendar)
December 1, 2003... 2004 HEIMTEXTIL January 14-17 Frankfurt, Germany Contact: Deutsche Messe www.heimtextil.de DOMOTEX January 17-20 Hannover, Germany Contact: Deutsche Messe Tel: 020 8688 9541 www.domotex.de DESIGN INTERIORS & EXPOTILE January 18-21...

The Glues brothers: the golden knee pads European championships Part 22.(The series)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... AS I LIVE AND BREATHE--SHAKIN' STEVENSON! NO WORK THEN, SHAKEY? I'M 'AVIN' A GAP YEAR YOU MEAN A SORT OF HOLIDAY--LIKE A SABBATICAL? NARRR--GAFFERS PUT ME ON VINYLWELDIN' FOR 12 MONTHS TO SHARPEN UP MY SKILLS--BUT IT AINT MY CUP...

Here's proof of the harm of retentions.(News file)
December 1, 2003... CHIEF executive of the NSCC (National Specialist Contractors Council), Suzannah Nichol, has attacked supporters of retentions who say that the practice is merely an 'inconvenience' to floorlayers and other specialist contractors. In a...

'Make retentions an election issue'.(News file)
December 1, 2003... ANOTHER call to get rid of retentions has been made by the CFA President Peter Foster. 'I like many other members of the CFA Contract Flooring Association have followed with considerable interest the retention debate that has gripped the...

CI to Abingdon.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The joint administrative receivers have sold Carpets International to a management team. The sale, said to include Cl's Kosset, Abingdon, Wilton Royal and Weavercraft brands, will retain some 300 jobs at Newbridge and 25 at Bradford. The new...

Quality certificate.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Ardex UK has received accreditation to the latest BS EN ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management Systems Award. www.ardex.co.uk Tel: 01440 714939

Estate bought.(Business in brief)(Createcity group.)(George Reynolds Industrial Estate. )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Createcity group, which has flooring companies in the north east including Frank's Factory Flooring, Maguires Carpets and Cloverdale Carpets, has acquired the former George Reynolds Industrial Estate in Shildon to develop as a business park and...

Victoria move.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Victoria Carpets has brought 60% of its UK distribution in-house, using a new fleet of nine commercial vehicles supplied on a five-year contract hire agreement by Fraikin. www.fraikin.co.uk

Clay floor merger.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Clay floor manufacturer Daniel Platt of Stoke-on-Trent has merged with Dublin-based CMB Group. Tel: 01782 577187

Scottish skills worry.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... A survey by a building trade body in Scotland reveals that 93% of member firms report rising workloads with concerns over skills shortages.

Quote.(News file)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... QUOTE: 'It can take up to 28 separate visits to put a bathroom into a conventionally-built new home. If we built cars like that we'd still be driving around in ModeI-T Fords.' --Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott QUOTE: ...

Local councils urged to act.(Retentions)(surveys)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... LOCAL authorities are being urged to ringfence retention payments. The Specialist Engineering Contractors Group says a recent survey found that 50% of subcontractors had suffered delays in regaining their retentions cash from local authorities...

Free flotex mat offer to schools.(News file)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... BONAR FLOORS is giving away a free 650sq mm Flotex playmat to all schools which buy 60sq m of Flotex flooring. The mat comes in three designs, a ludo board, snakes and ladders or the alphabet. The construction is said to allow allergens to...

'Made in the UK' label for Mapei.(News file)
December 1, 2003... THE giant Mapei adhesives group is celebrating the opening of its new factory in Britain, its 40th manufacturing facility worldwide. The new 5,000sq m purpose-built manufacturing, distribution and administrative complex on a 7.5 acre...

Specifiers invited to come out to play.(News file)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... INTERFACE presents its new showroom in Clerkenwell, London, as a playroom for customers. It's aimed at architects and specifiers, but flooring contractors are also very, welcome. Covering a total of 400sq m, it features an area where...

Sales jobs offered.(Business in brief)(Shackerley (Holdings) Group)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Shackerley (Holdings) Group, supplier of ceramic tiles and other floorcoverings, is looking to recruit new salespeople across the country. Applications from mature and experienced salespeople with a good track record are welcomed. However, the...

New 4m division.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... 4m flooring has set up a new commercial division offering a bespoke supply, design and installation service. Tel: 01270 251244

Price hikes in January.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... British Gypsum is reported to be planning an average 11% price rise on its plaster and dry lining products from January 1.

Industrial contract.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Twintec Industrial Flooring is reported to have received a 225,000 [pounds sterling] deal from Wates to build a reinforced internal concrete floor slab for a distribution centre in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Knowles does well.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Construction consultant James R Knowles is reported to have boosted pre-tax profits 85% to over 1m [pounds sterling] for the year to July. Turnover rose 6% to 32.8m [pounds sterling].

Call for VAT cut.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Federation of Master Builders is joining calls to slash VAT on repair, maintenance and improvement to 5%.

Disto is 10 years old.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Leica Geosystems is celebrating 10 years of the Leica Disto hand held laser measurer designed to quickly calculate floor areas by measuring the length and width of a room. Tel: 01908 246245

Laptop solution.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Westex Carpets has implemented a new field sales reporting system based on Wharncliffe's max-i-mise solution and new IBM laptops for its 14 strong national sales force. www.wharncliffe.co.uk Tel: 0800 917 3061

Warning of CFJ imposter.(News file)(Public Notice)
December 1, 2003... COMPANIES are warned to beware of calls from a person claiming to be from CFJ who is reportedly saying that they have won an award and must instantly agree over the phone to pay for a page of advertising. This person has no connection with...

Government funding drives construction.(News file)(Construction Confederation )(Construction Products Association)
December 1, 2003... INCREASED Government-funded work drove construction growth during the third quarter of 2003, according to the Construction Industry Trade Survey compiled jointly for the first time by the Construction Confederation and the Construction Products...

Pioneering Tarkett gains green award.(News file)
December 1, 2003... TARKETT has become the first resilient flooring manufacturers to receive BRE's Environmental Profile Certification. Earning the 'award' involves having all the inputs and outputs from the manufacture of Tarkett's products independently...

CFA meetings attract greater interest.(News file)(Contract Flooring Association)
December 1, 2003... Flooring contractors as well as manufacturers are paying an increasing amount of attention to the role and activities of the Contract Flooring Association as was shown by the association's autumn's CFA regional meetings held at venues around...

CSCS rush to register.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The CITB is receiving up to 10,000 calls a day enquiring about registration for the CSCS card as the December 31 deadline approaches.

Asbestos risk call.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The TUC has called for a national inspection day to highlight workplace hazards posed by dangerous substances and to check that employers are up to the task of managing asbestos in buildings.

Workplace stress.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The HSE has launched a new practical guidance pack for employers and employees on workplace stress, claimed to cost the country 3.7bn [pounds sterling] a year. Entitled real solutions, real people it is outlined on the website:...

Lifting accidents.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Nearly 3,000 major injuries at work in 2001/02 were caused by manual handling, says the HSE.

Dust proofing job.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Industrial flooring specialists Fastrack (Midlands) has 1,417sq m of floor for Ballan Electrical in a new distribution warehouse for Telewest Broadband in Gloucester with two coats of Epoxy Dustproofer for longterm dust protection, www.fastrack...

Skillbuild sponsor.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Jewson, with its 450 branch network, has joined the growing number of sponsors for Skillbuild, the competition for construction trainees. www.skillbuild.org

Training courses.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Property Care Association, a division of the British Wood Preserving and Damp-proofing Association, has published its 2004 training programmes. www.bwpda.co.uk Tel: 01332 225113

New timber centre.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Hardwood importer C Blumson has opened a new timber centre in Barking, East London, featuring solid hardwood, Ekowood engineered flooring alongside adhesives and finishes. Tel: 020 8594 3074

CFJ is the most requested flooring magazine.(news file)(Contract Flooring Journal)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... MISLEADING information about the circulation figures of CFJ has been sent to advertisers by another flooring magazine, apparently intended to deliberately cause confusion. It makes bogus and totally unfounded claims to have the highest...

Ardex earns quality management award.(news file)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ARDEX UK has received the BS EN IS0 9001:2000 Quality Management Systems Award. Peter Bell, general manager of Ardex UK, comments: 'Achievement of the new improved standard BS EN ISO 9001:2000 recognises the effective and efficient way...

Website award.(Internet in brief)(flooring supplies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Flooring Supplies, of Norfolk, has won the best growth through use of technology category in the Sage Business Awards 2003, run in conjunction with The Daily Telegraph. The flooring contractor and supplier demonstrated how the use of the...

TTA updates site.(Internet in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The title Association website has been completely re-designed to include over 100 photographs of tiles and tiling projects with a search facility.www.tiles.org.uk

Carpet site hits.(Internet in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Carpet Information website received over 6,000 hits in the week October 11 and 17, according to Select First which operates the site.www.carpetinfo.co.uk

Hire on the web.(Internet in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Hire Station says its new website received nearly 4,000 visits in the first month alone. The site details the more than 2,000 different products in it's tools and equipment catalogue. The new branch finder function to locate your nearest Hire...

Wood on web.(Internet in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... A range of reclaimed and new, parquet, strip and board flooring is featured on the Lassco website. www.lassco.co.uk

Going for gold: the support of manufacturers is crucial if the UK fitting team is to compete and have a chance of beating Germany.
December 1, 2003... SPONSORSHIP from flooring manufacturers is a crucial element of British participation in the first European team fitting competition. Plans are well advanced for this major event to be staged at Domotex (January 17-20). Other countries...

100% design visitors.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... A total of 12,796 visitors attended 100% Detail at Earls Court last September. Over 30% of space in 2004 is reported to have been booked. The event is sponsored by RIBA.

Slip resist seminar.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... SATRA has another slip resistance seminar in Kettering on Wednesday January 28. Floorcoverings technical expert, Jeff Lane, will again lead subject discussions including the development of slip test procedures and the interaction between...

BBC DIY show.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The new BBC DIY Show (NEC, Birmingham, May 20-23, 2004) is on at the same time as the Good Homes Show. Tel: 0207 471 1081

China show.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The 6th China International Building & Decoration Fair--CBD 2004- (July 6-9, 2004) has an exhibition area of 90,00sq m, with 2,000 companies expected to exhibit.www.cbd2004.de Tel: 0049 406087 6926

Harrogate dates.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The National Floor Show 2004 is from September 7-9 in Harrogate. www.nationalfloorshow.co.uk

Revealed: the front runners for next year.(news file)
December 1, 2003... FLOORING companies to watch out for next year have been named by Plimsoll Publishing in the first edition of its 2004 analysis on UK flooring contractors and floorcoverings companies. Two reports cover nearly 1,500 companies, highlighting...

These are the ones to watch!(news file)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Floorcoverings companies: Allders Anchor Carpets Anglo Baltic Armstrong Floor Products UK Atkinson & Kirby B Shenkin & Co BHK(UK) BHK (UK) Bob Hughes (Carpet Warehouse 1981) Brookvale Bruce Hardwood Floor Carpet Express Carpetright...

Levelling devices.(Products in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Mans International has introduced a range of laser devices for floor levelling projects.www.mansint.com Tel: 01249 816181

Underfloor heating.(Products in brief)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Speedheat has supplied electronic underfloor heating to a Grade II listed building near Birmingham. Tel: 01908 562211

High spirits.(news file)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Calderdale Carpets manufactured over 1,200sq m of heavy duty Axminster carpet for the Evolution Nightclub, Cardiff. The Evolution is one of the Spirit Group's premier nightclubs * Tel: 01924 487800

Forecasters are at odds: market research companies clash over future trends.(news file)
December 1, 2003... A NEW UK carpers market development report has dramatically different conclusions from another study published in CFJ last month. The research organisation MBD (Market & Business Development), in a report just released, anticipates that the...

Iraq work sought.(Have you heard?)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... A UK Government-backed trade mission to secure more work for British companies in Iraq is being held this month in Jordan because of continuing violence in and around Baghdad.

Highest earners.(Have you heard?)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Scaffolders are the highest earners in the construction industry with an average salary of over 26,000 [pounds sterling] in 2003, according to the Office of National Statistics.

It's your card talking.(Have you heard?)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Government is considering a proposal for an embedded radio frequency chip to be incorporated into CSCS cards to carry information on workers, especially foreigners and their entitlement to work in the UK.

Workers losing out.(Have you heard?)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The trade union Amicus has attacked the practice of European construction contractors of imposing inferior conditions on British workers when they carry out work in the UK.

Mess is a danger.(Have you heard?)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Untidy and badly laid out sites are to blame for nearly half of all construction accidents, according to the HSE.

Jarvis late again.(Have you heard?)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Jarvis, the construction company facing a string of rail accident investigations, is reported to be two months late on it's own new 30 [pounds sterling] m headquarters in London. How embarrassing!

Blast it!(Have you heard?)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The National Construction College has introduced a new course on demolition.

F Ball.(People)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... DAVID HIBBERT has been appointed sales director at F Ball, following the retirement of TED TOOKEY. A former president of the Contract Flooring Association, David has been at F Ball for 11 years, starting as liaison manager. He was promoted to...

Sealocrete.(People)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... MICHELLE KELLY has become sales director at Sealocrete. She was previously administration director, while JIM PALMER has been promoted from technical and R&D manager to the role of technical director. Michelle has over seven years sales...

Weston.(People)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Weston Carpets has appointed two new contract area sales managers, ROB KILLINGBECK in the North East and Yorkshire and David Coyle from in the West Midlands.

Fells Carpets.(People)(Fells Carpets)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... CARL CUMMINGS is to take over as sales director of Fells Carpets when TERRY WHITE retires next summer.

Sika-Armorex.(People)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... MARTIN WALKER has been appointed area sales manager for the south of England for Sika-Armorex.