Contract Flooring Journal articles from February 2007

Contract Flooring Journal archives from February 2007

Payment charter is fantastic news.(Contract Flooring Association)(Editorial)
February 1, 2007... OFFICIAL confirmation of a sensational victory for specialist contractors working on Government projects came just before this issue of CFJ went to press. Despite fierce opposition from the major contractors, the National Specialist Contractors...

Chandeliers, mirrors and china, but the carpet "steals the show".(Ulster Carpet Mills chosen to decorate Orchid Room at Dorchester Hotel)
February 1, 2007... THE famous Orchid Room at the five-star art deco Dorchester Hotel, London, is described as sparkling with chandeliers, mirrors and cabinet of white and blue china, and renowned for the detail and delicacy of its white-on-blue plasterwork,...

What 'going green' means to us: 'rubbish! Let's cut it out'.(Point of view)
February 1, 2007... Pete Thomas, environment manager, Tarkett Marley Floors and chairman of the UK Resilient Flooring Association (UKRFA) recycling committee, writes: Tarkett Marley Floors I AM sure all of us would agree that since the introduction of PVC...

What 'going green' means to us: 'pay attention to he facts!'.(Point of view)(Viewpoint essay)
February 1, 2007... Simon James, marketing manager, Polyflor, wites: Polyflor ENVIRONMENTAL issues continue to dominate the news--and our lives. From 'green taxes' to national and global targets, there are few areas of activity not increasingly...

Fitters want smaller rolls but reject smaller roles.(The president)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... HOW many times have your floorlayers had to unload immensely heavy rolls of vinyl, linoleum or carpet, carry it across uneven, mud-slippery ground, get it into an incomplete building and possibly up a stairwell to an upper floor? How does...

Flooring industry Training Association.(comment)(Directory)
February 1, 2007... TEXTILE Basic Carpet fitting Mar 5-9 (N) Intermediate Carpet fitting Feb 12-16 (N) Mar 19-23 (L) Advanced Carpet fitting Mar 26-29 (N) Carpet Tile fitting Feb 22-23 (N) VINYL FLOORING Domestic Vinyl fitting Feb 19-20...

Diary dates.(Training directory)(floor covering industry)(Brief article)(Calendar)
February 1, 2007... SURFACES February 7-9 Las Vegas, US www.surfacesexpo.com CEVISAMA February 6-10 Valencia, Spain http:/cevisama.feriavalencia.com LONDON FLOOR SHOW February 20-21 Olympia, London ...

Why more are taking a shine to concrete: on decorative concrete floors.(Help and advice)
February 1, 2007... POLISHED concrete floors are being used more and more in shopping centres, retail units, airports, schools, warehouses and other high-traffic areas. Advances in grinding equipment and techniques have meant that old and new concrete floors...

Epoxy DPM is not the answer in every case: on calcium sulfate screeds.(Help and advice)(Column)
February 1, 2007... THIS year, I thought I'd discuss some of the most common, or frequently asked questions, we receive at our technical support. Although we get a wide variety of questions, there are a few which keep recurring, and which over the coming...

You have to groove for welding success: on welding new types of vinyl flooring.(Help and advice)(Column)
February 1, 2007... A FEW contractors tell us they have problems hot welding our new Timbersafe and Maxis products. So here is a bit of helpful advice. The patented polymer technology that gives the products their dirt shedding properties does have a small...

Entrance matting is honest muck-raking! on carpet cleaning management.(Help and advice)(Column)
February 1, 2007... LAST month I discussed the importance of preventative maintenance in the context of competent carpet management. Here we consider perhaps the most important item in the preventative maintenance toolbox--entrance matting. Some years ago I...

Compensate! Do it or you maybe liable to! on protection for stone flooring.(Help and advice)(Column)
February 1, 2007... IF A stone floor cracks or debonds from the substrate, flooring contractors could well have to compensate the end-user. But if the contractor compensates for something else when the initial installation is carried out, problems of that nature...

Expert guidance on ensuring your workplace is safe: obey the new rules don't go to blazes ...: on major changes to the fire safety law.(Help and advice)
February 1, 2007... BUSINESSES, including contractor firms, which operate from a shop, an office, or even a lock-up, need to be fully aware of the new fire safety rules. In 2004, fire and rescue services attended more than 33,000 tires in non-domestic...

Expert guidance on ensuring your workplace is safe: safety is more than just ticking a box: on the the cost of infringing health & safety rules.(Help and advice)
February 1, 2007... HEALTH & safety is an issue never far from the mind of workers--indeed keeping safe and working to a high standard are essential given the very nature of the construction industry. However, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is full of...

Supplier warranties may be worthless: on wood flooring and underfloor heating.(Help and advice)(Column)
February 1, 2007... It is surprising how many times I hear the same old question--can a solid floor be installed over underfloor heating? That's probably because half the so-called experts say 'yes it can', and the other half say 'no, it can't'. What do I...

So can I give a job to an asylum seeker? on employing immigrants.(Help and advice)(Column)
February 1, 2007... Continuing CFJ's acclaimed legal advice series, leading employment lawyer Jonathan Exten-Wright advises the flooring industry on hiring overseas workers in the second of a two-part series. EMPLOYING staff is fraught with difficulties,...

Countdown to CIS tax: 2 months to go.(Help and advice)(Construction Industry Scheme)
February 1, 2007... THERE are now just two months before the new CIS tax comes into force on April 1. Flooring contractors are urged to make sure they are fully prepared and to check their systems to ensure that they have completed all the items recommended...

Always sign and date to deter copycats.(company's intellectual property 'health')(Column)
February 1, 2007... IN my column in CFJ two months ago (December 2006) I invited you to test your company's intellectual property 'health' with a number of questions. I answered four of the questions last month. Here are the final four answers to see how well...

Welcome for Fair Payment Charter.(United Kingdom Office of Government Commerce)
February 1, 2007... THE National Specialist Contractors' Council (NSCC) is delighted that the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is to unveil new best practice on fair payment. The clause stipulating 'payment periods not exceeding 30 days' is seen as a...

FeRFA establishes resin apprentice scheme.(News file)
February 1, 2007... FeRFA has set up an apprentice scheme for newcomers to in-situ resin flooring, which will provide a qualified and skilled workforce for the future. The first eight candidates have all taken part in an initial two-day training session for...

Bye bye DTI?(Department of Trade and industry)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The Department of Trade and industry (DTI) may be abolished if Gordon Brown becomes prime minister this year. There are whispers about a major shake-up in government if Gordon takes over, with rumours that construction could be pot back in...

Armstrong seeks buyer.(Business in brief)
February 1, 2007... Armstrong wants to sell its carpet tile & broadloom and sports flooring divisions, including the Desso brand. Its Desseaux business, with factories in Holland and Belgium, had a 132m [pounds sterling] turnover in 2005. The sale will allow...

Hugh Mackay in profit.(Business in brief)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Hugh Mackay carpets are in profit a year after being rescued from administrators by Whitestone Weavers, with sales of 6m [pounds sterling] expected in the year to the end of June. The group aims for turnover from Gaskell Mackay of 12m [pounds...

Floors 2 Go buyout.(Business in brief)
February 1, 2007... A cash offer of 52.4m [pounds sterling] has reportedly been made for Floors-2-Go. It will mean the company being owned jointly by private-equity firm Alchemy Partners and Floors-2-Go's chief executive Simon Farnsworth and finance director...

Retailer is buoyant.(Business in brief)
February 1, 2007... United Carpets is reporting like-for-like sales up by 11.6% in the six months to September 2006, while total sales rose 17.4% to 8.97m [pounds sterling] and pre-tax profits grew by 6.8% to 406,000 [pounds sterling]. The upward trend is said to...

Quote.(News file)
February 1, 2007... 'A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject' --Sir Winston Churchill 'I am not young enough to know everything' --Oscar Wilde 'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind --Mahatma Gandhi...

Sarah of Mapei sees 'violent brawl in pub'.(Sarah Rose)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A PUB brawl has been witnessed by Sarah Rose, marketing manager for Mapei. But no-one got hurt because it was choreographed. The location was a scene in Torchwood, the Doctor Who spin-off series recently shown on BBC3 and BBC2. Many in the...

UK tiles sold to UAE.(Versatile Flooring Company)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A UK business supplying leather floor and walls tiles for use in hotels, luxury villas and apartments and commercial premises is reportedly planning a major push in the United Arab Emirates. The Versatile Flooring Company, of North Wales,...

Topps Tiles sales rise.(Business in brief)(Financial report)
February 1, 2007... Topps Tiles is reporting a 12.6% rise in total sales in the first 14 weeks of trading in the new financial year with like for like sales up 4.7%. The company has 278 stores which saw overall revenue growth of 11.8%, significantly up on 2006.

CFJ flooring awards in top London venue.(Royal Air Force Club)
February 1, 2007... THE 2007 flooring industry awards winners' luncheon organised by CFJ and the CFA will be held at one of London's most prestigious venues which is steeped in history, the resplendent Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly. The rear of the...

Carpet and Flooring Birmingham on the move.(News file)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... TO facilitate growth, CARPET & FLOORING BIRMINGHAM has moved to new premises at Emerald Point. The 56,000sq ft warehouse will enable the company to expand its range of contract and domestic flooring products and increase stocks of existing...

Laminate price hike.(Business in brief)
February 1, 2007... Laminate flooring prices are set to rise 5-8% this year after increasing costs of row materials, including MDF sheets, paper, resins and adhesives, plus energy and transport costs, say the European Producers of Laminate Rooting.

Pergo buyer reported.(Business in brief)
February 1, 2007... A takeover offer for the Swedish laminate flooring company, Pergo, is understood to have been made. The company is said to be valued at around 200m [pounds sterling], but a third-quarter loss with falling sales are reported.

Parador buys stake.(Business in brief)
February 1, 2007... Parador of Germany has bought a stake in the Austrian company European Hardwood Production. one of the biggest suppliers for sawn oak timber in Europe.

Flooring firms bounty.(Business in brief)
February 1, 2007... Flooring firms can share in the buoyant UK construction market with over 7,500 new projects worth nearly 190bn [pounds sterling] planned from 2007 to 2012, says ConstructionSkills which is urging employers to ensure their training needs.

Shenkin is reformed.(Business in brief)
February 1, 2007... ORC Interiors is the name of a new Scottish floorcoverings distributor formed after the assets of Shenkin & Co, in administration, were bought by Oriental Rug and Carpets UK.

BASF integrates.(Business in brief)
February 1, 2007... BASF is to further integrate its global operations, including the recently acquired former Degussa construction chemicals business in the UK, said to be performing 'very well'. The reerganisation is expected to save 67m [pounds sterling] a year...

BIG is still OK.(Business in brief)
February 1, 2007... Beaulieu International Group (BIG) says its products were not affected by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ban on the import of certain glue-free laminated flooring products. BIG markets its products in the US under the Alloc and...

45bn [pounds sterling] for schools.(Business in brief)
February 1, 2007... Flooring will benefit from the 45bn [pounds sterling] Building Schools for the Future programme announced by the Government, covering 600 projects involving 50 local authorities.

Rush for CSCS cards.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... Over 70,000 CSCS cards were issued between August and December 2006 before the Major Contractors Group's January 1 deadline. Workers without cards may now be refused access to a worksite. Advice is offered on the CSCS hotline on T: 0870 417...

CIS tax status warning.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... Some floorlayers may be left without a tax status due to confusion when the new CIS starts in April, say tax experts. A list of sub-contractors that main contractors do not have to verify regarding their tax status is being produced by the...

College in dire straits.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... An uncertain future faces the National Construction College in Norfolk after losing its planning appeal to sell 50 acres of currently unused brownfield land to finance redevelopment. The CITB wanted to raise 13m [pounds sterling] for new...

Threat to adjudication.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... Adjudication could be killed off by soaring legal costs for subbies challenging main contractors, the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group is warning. The DTI is due to allow adjudicators--whose fees average 10,000 [pounds sterling]--to...

Apprentice boost.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... ConstructionSkills places 9,500 apprentices in the UK every year, with all pre-screened to ensure they can add value to the industry. Ongoing mentoring and support is offered to employers and the apprentices with CITB Grants of up to 8,400...

Training indifference.(construction firm owners)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Only 31% of small construction firm owners and managers plan to invest more time and money in staff training in 2007, according to a survey of New Year's resolutions. However, 65% aim to devote more time to their families, 43% pledge to work...

sdea member offer.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... The Shop and Display Equipment Association is offering new members who join before March 31 a bonus entry in the new sdea shopfittings and display directory. T: 01883 348911 www.sdea.co.uk

Carpet recycling.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... Reeds Carpets, which supplies floorcoverings to the exhibition trade, is to launch a fully recycled carpet plant following an investment of 500,000 [pounds sterling] in a project with Warwick University. It says the recycled carpets can be...

Leads for tilers.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... The new lead generator, Quotatis, is offering tiling leads by region and category, including floor-supply & fit, walls-supply & fit and walls-fit only. Quotatis says it contacts only five businesses to match one request. Domestic leads cost 12...

'Chat' on tile website.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... BAL, the tile adhesive and grout manufacturer, has revamped its website with an interactive forum for tilers to 'chat' about issues, from project experiences to advice and opinions, www.building-adhesives.com

Recruits for FeRFA.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... Contractors recently joining FeRFA include Anglia Flooring of Bishops Stortford and John Slattery Hygienic Applications of Co Clare, Ireland. New associate members are Blastrac UK and Specialist Surface Preparation.

Carpet Foundation nod.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... The Carpet Foundation has received Office of Fair Trading approval for its consumer code of practice, which includes a two year guarantee against manufacturing faults for carpets made by CF members and a one year guarantee against installation...

Promotion extended.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... The Polyflor cash back incentive scheme for Polysafe Strata sheet vinyl safety flooring has been extended to April 30. Flooring contractors can claim 10 [pounds sterling] per full roll cashback. After buying 10 full rolls, the cashback on...

Handling diversity.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... Bradford University has produced a guide to help managers understand how key cultural differences affect worker performance in health and safety, product quality, and efficiency. T: 01274 236679

Safety first for specialist firms: our member suffer fewer injuries, says NSCC.(National Specialist Contractors' Council)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... SPECIALIST contractors suffer fewer injuries than the overall construction industry level, according to the National Specialist Contractors' Council (NSCC) which compared the fatal and major injury rates for its members with those for the whole...

Tarkett Express is quick off the mark.(Express Service introduced)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... TARKETT-MARLEY FLOORS has launched a new Express Service under the Tarkett brand, which gives distributors and flooring contractors fast access to its best-selling commercial vinyl and linoleum products. The new service also means that Tarkett...

Tacwise offers 100 [pounds sterling] for trashed tackers.(News file)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... TACWISE is offering 100 [pounds sterling] worth of consumables to buyers of its new Ranger 40 Duo cordless nailer/stapler while declaring an amnesty on worn out air, gas or electric nailers or tackers handed in when purchasing a Ranger...

Tender prices boom.(flooring contracts)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Flooring contractors can expect higher profits in the next four years as tender price rises outstrip rises in material costs, according to a new report. 'Booming' workloads are forecast until at least 2010, allowing tender price inflation to...

Building orders up 8%.(Industry in brief)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
February 1, 2007... Construction orders in the year to November 2006 rose by 8% compared with the previous 12 months, due to orders from public housing and housing association, private commercial and private industrial rising by 46%, 35% and 19% respectively....

Fewer subbies used.(Industry in brief)(subcontractors not used )(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Construction workloads grew in December 2006 thanks to a rise in new contracts, according to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. However, the use of subcontractors fell for the second consecutive month, but availability grew for...

Product volumes rise.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... Construction product sales' volumes strengthened during the last three months of 2006, according to a new survey by Ernst & Young and the Construction Products Association. The boost is said to reflect the strength of the office construction...

RICS sees a bounce.(Industry in brief)(Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)(Survey)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Construction workloads have bounced back from a three month slowdown to register the fastest increase in more than two years, according to RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), with 26% more chartered surveyors reporting a rise in...

Peter Evans Asda job.(Industry in brief)(Asda supermarket)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... CFA member Peter Evans Flooring of South Glamorgan was recently involved in the new 2,000sq m Asda supermarket at Hereford, including health areas, community centre, staff restaurant, offices, WC and shower room facilities. Peter Evans applied...

2.3bn [pounds sterling] on MoD refurb.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... The refurbishment of the Ministry of Defence's new Whitehall headquarters, including the restoration of a terrazzo marble and stone floor, will reportedly cost the taxpayer 2.3bn [pounds sterling]. Three miles of walls were apparently...

Stone project award.(Realstone of Chesterfield and JW Smith in the 2006 Natural Stone Awards)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A new museum project in Lincoln including 650sq m of flooring stone in mixed colours has earned a commendation for Realstone of Chesterfield and stone contractor JW Smith in the 2006 Natural Stone Awards organised by the Stone Federation Great...

BAL backs hospice.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... Building Adhesives, the tile adhesive and grout manufacturer based in Stoke-on-Trent, has donated 10,000 [pounds sterling] to its adopted local charity, the Donna Louise Trust, which operates a children's hospice. The donation takes the...

Gerflor charity run.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... Gerflor staff raised 3,500 [pounds sterling] for the British Paralympic Association after participating in a recent sponsored 10k fun run. The funds will help send an athlete to the Paralympic Games in Beijing next year.

Kidderminster golf.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... The 51st Kidderminster Carpet Manufacturers National Golf Tournament in aid of the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association and Macmillan Cancer Support is at Kidderminster Golf Club on May 1516. Last year 27,000 [pounds sterling] was raised....

A-Plant double prize.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... Hire company A-Plant won two awards in the 2006 Construction Marketing Awards--construction marketer of the year and the client-customer focus award.

Job cuts in CITB.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... CITB-ConstructionSkills is to make job cuts after announcing plans to centralise administration work in three regional offices leaving seven front-line offices to concentrate on training needs, it is reported. Savings of 2.2m [pounds sterling]...

Consolidation forecast.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... City analysts are predicting the disappearance of several well-known housebuilding names through acquisition in 2007 with the sector dominated by five or six major players, including Barratt, Persimmon, George Wimpey and Taylor Woodrow.

Retail sales rise.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... UK retail sales rose 2.5% on a like-for-like basis in December 2006 compared with the year before, according to the British Retail Consortium. Furniture and floorcoverings improved but remained below year-earlier levels.

More firms go bust.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... Failures by building material suppliers rose by 95% in 2006, according to Experian. In all UK business, the rise was 10.7%, the highest total since 1997.

RICS opposes curbs.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... RICS is campaigning against visa restrictions on quantity surveyors coming to the UK from outside the EU.

Keeping lawyers busy.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... Construction firms are facing a rise in employment litigation because of age discrimination laws, the smoking ban and the new CIS tax.

Migrant benefits.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... A top official at the Bank of England, Professor David Blanchflower, says new workers from abroad help keep UK inflation down and limit interest rate rises. Accepting lower wages, the immigrants also curb pay rises despite strong economic...

US flooring boost.(Industry in brief)
February 1, 2007... The US laminate and vinyl flooring industry grew nearly 8% from 2001-2005 and topped $3bn (1.5bn [pounds sterling]) in 2005, according to new research. The forecast is for a rise to over $4bn (2bn [pounds sterling]) by 2010.

Worldwide support for new exhibition.(News file)(The Tile and Stone Show)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... SOME of the biggest names in the tile and stone industry from around the world are to exhibit at The Tile and Stone Show (July 1-3) at Excel, London, making it a truly international event. Countries currently represented among the...

Flooring contractors invited to London events.(News file)(The Building Centre)(Grant Thornton UK LLP)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... TWO events in London on Thursday, February 15, have an interest for flooring contractors. The Building Centre with Grant Thornton UK LLP is hosting a workshop to help companies prepare for the new CIS tax scheme. There will be a detailed...

Brochure updated.(New literature for the trade)(Ardex UK)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... ARDEX has updated its industrial flooring range brochure. The new brochure is designed as an easy guide to provide the first point of reference when looking to solve a variety of flooring problems. It offers technical information and...

The 2007 RAG is out.(New literature for the trade)(Recommended Adhesive Guide)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... THE 2007 edition of F BALL's Recommended Adhesive Guide is now available with 4,500 adhesive recommendations for brand name floorcoverings from over 200 leading manufacturers. The information is continually updated throughout the year by F...

Contracts seminars.(Events in brief)
February 1, 2007... Knowles has a series of half and full day seminars from now to July at locations across the UK. Topics include 25 common pitfalls on construction contracts; successful claims: new CDM regulations; and 'don't lose money on defects'. CPD...

Floor talks in Las Vegas.(Events in brief)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... No less than 42 conference sessions will be held at Surfaces in Las Vegas (February 7-9) on themes including marketing, business, sales, design and installation with topics ranging from '25 ways to increase profits' to 'Dare to be a different...

Cleaning Show online.(Events in brief)
February 1, 2007... Visitor registration for The Cleaning Show at the NEC, Birmingham (March 13-15) is available online. Over 9,000 visitors are expected. www.cleaningshow.co.uk

Serious show visitors.(Events in brief)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Some 63% of visitors to the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows had building projects and 91% made the specifying and purchasing decisions, according to the organiser. In 2006 the overall combined purchasing budget of people attending the shows was...