Contract Flooring Journal articles from January 2005

Contract Flooring Journal archives from January 2005

Lip service on health & safety.(Editor's comment)(Editorial)
January 1, 2005... FITTED kneepads have been worn by floorlayers for over 25 years. They provide crucial protection and are a well accepted part of health & safety. But on many of today's construction sites floor fitters also have to use hard hats and steel...

Posh frocks and a fab floorcovering.(Installation of the month)
January 1, 2005... AN eye-catching carpet woven to a sixties design was used by women's fashion retailer Emma Somerset in the refurbishment of its 2,000sq ft store in Southport, Lancashire. The carpet is inspired by the Agincourt design in the Originals Axminster...

'Too many unknowns on stick-down floors'.(Wood Flooring)(Column)
January 1, 2005... In his regular column for CFJ, TRADA's peter Kaczmar raises questions about the long-term performance of stick-down timber flooring systems. More information is needed, he believes to guard against problems after installation. INNOVATIONS...

Moisture menace still not always understood.(Readers forum)
January 1, 2005... Roger Southee, of Foresbec, says lack of understanding of how moisture influences the performance of solid wood flooring can lead to major problems. THE increase in demand for solid wood flooring in the DIY and domestic sectors...

Row over hot air heats up.(Readers forum)(Panel Discussion)
January 1, 2005... You may never have thought that underfloor heating was such a controversial subject. But correspondence in the 2004 Issue of CFJ has provoked a furious debate. The distinction between heat and hot air is the subject of a major disagreement...

Let's make 2005 the year of the apprentice.(comment)
January 1, 2005... HAPPY New Year everyone! I hope it will be a prosperous and healthy one for us all. As we start to plan for the next 12 months and beyond I wonder how many of you are planning to take on a new apprentice. The construction industry again...

Fita.(Training directory)(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... Flooring industry Training Association Jan 24-28 intensive basic carpet fitting (N); Jan 31-Feb 4 intermediate carpet fitting (L); Feb 7-9 ceramic fitting (N); Feb 10-11 sales personnel vinyl fitting; Feb 14-15 laminate and floating wood day...

BAL wins training award.(training)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... BAL has won a National Training Award, a major accolade for the company's national training programme, which is successfully tackling the skills shortage in the tiling industry. The Awards are managed on behalf of the Department for...

You didn't know? Too bad! That's no excuse!.(Help and advice)(Column)
January 1, 2005... A FLOORING contractor gave an estimate to sand and seal three floors in a house. Two were strip floors and were fine. The third was an oak parquet floor. Within a few weeks of completion, the battens started coming loose, until walking over the...

How to avoid slid ups on bathroom floors.(on tiles)
January 1, 2005... WITH floor tiles available in a vast range of shapes, sizes, textures and colours-and the fact that they're durable, easy to maintain, and affordable-it's no wonder they appear in many bathrooms. A flooring contractor must ensure that a...

The top 12 short-cuts to problems.(on wood floors)(Column)
January 1, 2005... In his regular column, SID BOURNE, technical director at Grundorf Terhurne, anssers questions from CFJ readers based on his 25 years of installation experience. Sid is a member of the CFA committee. A QUESTION I am often asked by Companies...

This job shouldn't drive you up the wall.(on seamless floor, wall and ceiling installations)
January 1, 2005... WHEN is a floor not a floor? Whilst this could be the start of a bad flooring contractor's joke, it is quite a sensible question. It may not immediately cross the mind of a flooring contractor who spends the majority of their time at floor...

Diary dates.(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... HEIMTEXTIL 2005 January 12-15 Frankfurt, Germany www.heimtextil.de DOMOTEX 2005 January 15.18 Hanover, Germany T: 020 8688 9541 www.domotex.de BAU 2005 January 17-22 Munich, Germany www.bau-muenchen.de DESIGN INTERIORS January23-26...

The glues brothers.(Help and advice)
January 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: WOTS WITH THE NEW SIGN NO VALUABLES LEFT IN THIS VAN OVERNIGHT? TO STOP BREAK INS BUT THERE MUST BE UNDREDS OF POUNDS WORTH OF PATTERN BOOKS LEFT IN ERE! DON'T WORRY ABOUT THEM-THEY'RE AID FOR...

'NSCC concerns are widely recognised': Michael Ryan looks back on his two years as President of the NSCC (National Specialist Contractors' Council).(News file)
January 1, 2005... WHEN I was elected two years ago it was during a period of great change and uncertainty; but as time has progressed this gave way to positive action and progress. Let me start at the beginning. When I became the representative from the CFA...

Altro floors boss is 'gunged'.(News file)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE chief executive of Altro, Richard Kahn, was 'gunged' as part of the company's fund raising activities for Children in Need, which netted over 1,300 [pounds sterling]. Mr Kahn commented afterwards: 'As a father of five, Children in Need...

Tarkett Marley formed.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Tarkett has acquired Marley Floors. The new company, Tarkett-Marley Floors, will operate from Lenham, Kent, with David Clark as md. Tarkett and Marley brands will continue with separate field sales teams operating in parallel.

Adfil is acquired.(LCM Construction Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Low & Bonar, parent company of Bonar Floors has acquired LCM Construction Products (trading as Adfil) for 12.8m [pounds sterling]. Adfil makes specialist fibre for use as additives to concrete for strength and enhanced resistance to surface...

Junckers' distributors.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Junckers has appointed three new distributors: Tradewoods, covering the north east; McMillan in Scotland; and 3D in the south west, in addition to its existing network, including Havwoods and STS. T: 01376 534700

Signature set up.(Signature Solid Wood Floors)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Signature Solid Wood Floors is a new supplier set up by Sussex-based Salesmark with assistance from Lloyds TSB Corporate. Nine species from red oak and walnut to cherry and white oak will be offered, sourced from sustainable forests.

4m on the go.(4m flooring uk's three year deal with Vauxhall)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... 4m flooring uk has secured a three-year deal with Vauxhall's giant plant in Ellesmere Port after installing more than 100,000sq m of specialist industrial flooring at the site. www.4m-flooring.co.uk

ISO 14001 awards.(Heckmondwike FB )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... ISO 14001 has been awarded to Heckmondwike FB at its manufacturing site in Liversedge. Sister company Paragon by Heckmondwike earned the standard at its Wath-upon-Dearne facility.

DPM price rises.(Damp Proof Membranes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Damp Proof Membranes could see more price rises this year following low density polyethylene shortages.

Costs rocket.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Construction costs have risen four times faster than consumer price inflation over the past year, according to Davis Langdon. Rising oil and steel prices are mainly to blame.

Quote.(News file)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... 'Skills have never been more important. We think that within just a few years, there won't be any work in Britain for unskilled people' --Digby Jones, director-general of the CBI

'Contractors must act on new EU law'.(News file)
January 1, 2005... FLOORING contractors and distributors are being warned that new legislation has implications for those stocking and using cement and cement-based products. From January 17, a new EU Directive restricts the amount of a substance called...

Can floorlayers beat electricians or plumbers?(News file)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... ARE floorlayers really brighter than electricians or plumbers or roofers? There's now a chance to find out. In association with Interbuild, the UK's largest building show, CFJ is looking to find the UK's most professional flooring contractor...

Brooke Ceramics Monopoly in Hull.(News file)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... BROOKE CERAMICS, one of Yorkshire's most successful independent family firm, features on a customised Monopoly board game, launched in Hull recently at The Deep, which claims to be the world's only submarium. Brooke' flagship showroom in...

Investment plans.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Egger UK plans a multi-million pound investment at its Hexham plant, including replacing existing wood-based chipboard panel production lines with a more efficient state-of-the-art ContiRoll continuous line.

Latham success.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Timber distributor James Latham has seen an 11.6% increase in turnover to 54m [pounds sterling] in its half year results. Pretax profits at 2.2m [pounds sterling] are up 60%.

CSCS card shock.
January 1, 2005... Only 8.5% of construction craft workers hold CSCS cards, it has been revealed.

TTA Awards deadline.
January 1, 2005... Entries for The tile Association 2005 annual awards close on January 14 and the winners are announced on April 16. T: 020 8663 0946 www.tiles.org.uk

New qualifications.(Qualifications and Curriculum Authority approves new General Certificate of Secondary Education in construction)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A new GCSE in Construction and the Built Environment, approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), will be taught as a pilot in schools and colleges across England and Wales from September. It will help young people make...

Laminate quality.(launch of Certified European Laminate Quality symbol)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... CELQ (Certified European Laminate Quality), a new symbol for laminate flooring with a new federation, will be launched at Domotex, supported by the EPLF (European Laminate Producers of Laminate Flooring).

Glueless patent limit.(European Patent Office limits Unilin Flooring's patent )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The European Patent Office has reportedly limited the Unilin patent to exclude hard floor panels with a solid or plywood core. The patent covers panels which can be installed by substantial horizontal shifting, not so-called angle connections...

Product approval.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Heckmondwike has received a BCFA 2004 product approval award for its Montague carpet tiles.

Quote.(News file)
January 1, 2005... 'It is ironic that employers who take a positive stance with recruitment should suffer in times of skills shortage' --Douglas Fergus, general manager of Scottish Building

Output increases.(industrial construction)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Private industrial construction work in the year to the third quarter of 2004 was 15% higher compared with the previous year, while new private commercial output was 2% higher and public non-housing work up 19% in the same period, according to...

Irish building boom.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Irish house building industry grew over 19% in 2003 and 20% growth in 2004 is forecast, according to AMA Research.

Building costs up.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Housing construction costs rose by around 16% in 2004 and are expected to increase by 11.6% in 2005, according to Experian.

Concrete 'better value'.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Flat slab reinforced concrete floors offer better value for money than steel systems in hospital developments, according to a study by the consultant Arup.

Pay rises agreed.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Local authorities and unions have agreed a deal to give building craft workers a pay rise of nearly 9% over the next three years to 13,633 [pounds sterling].

Glass to glass framless floor 'now possible'.(News file)
January 1, 2005... A BREAKTHROUGH in fire resistant glass flooring now allows continuous panels of glass to be laid without the need for intermediate framing. This development was achieved using glass from VETROTECH SAINT-GOBAIN, a leading specialist glass...

Students are a cut above.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... CFA President Hamish MacGregor and CFJ editor Alan Bakalor were among the judges at the Altro Cut & Design Awards 2004 for apprentice floorlayers with up to two years experience and floorlaying students studying for NVQ qualifications. The...

CPD seminars at new show: 22-23 February 2005 Olympia 2 London www.londonfloorshow.co.uk.(London Floor Show)
January 1, 2005... LONDON FLOOR SHOW (February 22-23) at Olympia has the support of RIBA with a series of CPD accredited seminars. Confirmed seminars to date include: Screeding, levelling and subfloor preparation--presented by Cyril Potter, chief chemist,...

Respol crowned FeRFA Contractor of the Year.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... TELFORD-based RESPOL industrial flooring contractor has won the coveted FeRFA Contractor of the Year award for 2004. David Clark, md of Respol received the award from Nell and Christine Hamilton at the ceremony at Alveston Manor Hotel in...

Harvey Maria makes call.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Harvey Maria has launched a new sales and marketing initiative to attract top retailers across the UK to promote the company's designer tiles, www.harveymaria.co.uk T: 020 8542 0088

Euro safety pledge.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... European construction organisations meeting in Bilbao recently called for better project planning to eliminate safety risks and boosting co-operation between unions and management on health & safety.

CIRIA online resource.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... CIRIA has launched Compliance+, an online resource linking construction good practice to environmental legislation with guidance. www.ciria.org/complianceplus

Award nominee.
January 1, 2005... A Proctor Group was shortlisted in the TTJ Award for best technical information support, based on the company's technical advice line for contractors, architects and specifiers. T: 01250 872261

Kemtile down at eels.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Kemtile supplied Kagetec BS ceramic tiled floors, ceiling and walls to F R Bradley (Feltham), a jellied eel processing plant in Middlesex near Heathrow. www.kemtile.co.uk

Occupied buildings.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... CIRIA has released a new publication Good practice guidance for refurbishing occupied buildings. T: 020 7549 3300

Installation products.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... F Ball has updated its installation guide to its products for subfloor preparation and installing decorative floorcoverings. T: 01538 361633

Retirement earnings.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Nearly two thirds of construction workers do not have access to a company pension, says Age Concern.

Waste reduction site.(Ciria)(www.ciria.org/cwr)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... CIRIA has launched a website aimed at encouraging waste reduction. www.ciria.org/cwr

Floor for carpets.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Twintec Industrial Flooring has won a 340,000 [pounds sterling] contract at a carpet warehouse in Tamworth.

Quote.(News file)
January 1, 2005... "The potential for cost savings from improved safety measures are enormous' --Mike Low, director of standards, BSI

Fastest risers named.(News file)(United Kingdom's growing flooring industry)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE UK's fastest rising and fastest falling companies in the flooring industry have been revealed in two new surveys by Plimsoll. They list 34 floorcovering companies and 27 flooring contractors among the risers. Plimsoll would not...

Massive Cormar investment plan.(News file)(Cormar Carpets)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... CORMAR CARPETS has completed a multi-million pound investment programme including a new 5m wide backing plant costing of 3.5m [pounds sterling]. Previously all 5m work was outsourced, but in 2003 new sew-on and packaging equipment capable...

Boen connects.(News file)(Boen UK produces floor catalogues)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... BOEN UK has produced a new combined product selector catalogue and trade price list. It contains descriptions and technical details of all the company's floors, including 14 species of traditional 2 strip engineered boards; the new dry-joint...

Waxman Ceramics opens new London showroom.(News file)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... TILE distributor, WAXMAN CERAMICS, has opened a showroom and distribution centre in Coulsdon, South London. The 20,000sq ft premises provides a specialist service for specifiers in Greater London and the South East. In charge is general...

Wolff demos planned.(Wolff Tools)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Wolff Tools is to demonstrate its stripping, subfloor preparation and sanding machines with Pallmann oils and wood floor seals at two new stockists: Newlands Contracts, Stourbridge, on January 20 and Pat Hayes, Moreton-in-Marsh,...

Colour workshops.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Colour workshops are being held through to April organised by Interface Europe and presented by consultant Angela Wright. T: 0207 490 3960 www.colour-affects.co.uk

Flooring at DI.(Design Interiors)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Floorcoverings from companies including Protak Wood Flooring will be among the materials featured at Design Interiors (January 23-26, NEC) www.designinteriorsuk.co.uk

Bigger Surfaces.(Surfaces 2005)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Surfaces 2005 (January 26-28) in Las Vegas, USA, has 13% more exhibiting companies than last year, with 99% of space sold out. The show is targeting installers as well as retailers, builders, architects, designers and distributors....

Scotbuild success.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Over 2,400 visitors attended Scotbuild 2004, according to the organisers.

Rush for Batimat.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Over 1,350 exhibitors have signed up for the 25th Batimat (November 7-12 in Paris) with 92,000sq m of stand space booked, 30% for international companies. T: 0033 147 565 184E: isabelle.destailleur@reedexpo.fr

Decorex 2005 dates.
January 1, 2005... Decorex 2005 show and conference will be on September 25-28 again at The Royal Hospital, London SW3. www.decorex.com T: 020 7833 3373

Expotile moves.(Trade shows)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Expotile moves to Hall 19 at the NEC when it is next held in 2006 This will make it part of KBB, the kitchen and bathroom show.

Quote.(News file)
January 1, 2005... 'The average employer can expect a health & safety inspection only every eight to 20 years' --TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, urging more effective enforcement of health & safety

UK bid to to hold Euro title.(News file)(Contests)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE three-man British floorlaying team flies to Hannover this month to take part in the 2005 European team floorcovering fitting championships at Domotex (in Hall 9). The UK team of Nick Hood (carpet), Gary Middleton (wood/laminate) and...

Carpet innovation award.(News file)(Contests)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... WOOLS OF NEW ZEALAND is to run a carpet innovation competition at Domotex (January 15-18) on its stand in Hall 3/A56. The competition is open to Wools of New Zealand licensed brand partner carpet manufacturers. The competition will be...

Register for Surfaces.(News file)(Exhibitions)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... WITH over 90 companies signed up to exhibit at the Surface Design Show (March 2-3), visitors are now being invited to pre-register online to fast-track their way into the exhibition. Although the exhibition is themed around a range of...

The winners.(News file)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE winner of the welding kit offered in the CFJ competition sponsored by Laybond Products (CFJ November 2004) was Iain Sykes of Carpetstyle, Middlesex. The 10 runners up prizes of lino and tucking knives were won by Chris Beard, Allsquare...

Exports: the truth.(News file)
January 1, 2005... Michael Hardiman, chief executive of the Carpet Foundation, says UK manufacturers are doing so well as exporters that they don't need to exhibit at major international shows like Domotex. That's fair comment. But exactly how well are the...

Example of success.(News file)
January 1, 2005... Industrial flooring manufacturer Don Construction Products, part of F Ball and Co, increased its exports to 38% of turnover from 20% after joining the British government-backed UK Trade & Investment Passport to Export scheme in 2003. DCP...

Debolon BAU launch.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Debolon will launch Compact XPS at BAU (January 17-22 in Munich). It comprises Matrix in 22 colours; Metallic with solid colours and Wood based on original wood colours. T: 08700 10 44 84

Protective gloves.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Ansell has launched Vantage, a range of cut-resistant gloves claimed to be up to half as thick and a third lighter than standard protective gloves while offering even higher resistance to cuts. www.anselleurope.com

Quote.(News file)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... "I recently explained to a new graduate trainee that access flooring isn't rocket science. He said, "that's a shame. My degree was in rocket science"' --Tim Hudson, of TFA Interior Projects and director of the Access Flooring Association

Rising skills shortage is hurting contractors.(State Of Trade Survey)
January 1, 2005... THE increasing severity of the skills shortage is revealed in the latest state of trade survey conducted for the NSCC (National Specialist Contractors Council) by Northumbria University. Covering the second quarter of 2004, the statistics...

Interface.(People)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... AMANDA FARRELL has been appointed as client services director of Interface. Currently marketing communications manager, Amanda join ed Interface in August 2000 with a background in textile, design and marketing.

Laybond.(People)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Laybond has announced TONY THORNE as flooring area sales manager for South Wales and the South West. Tony has nine years experience in the flooring industry, having been previously employed by a distributor.

Stikatak.(People)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Stikatak has named ROGER EYLES as national account manager. Roger joins Stikatak from Vileda

Westco.(People)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... NICK BROWN has joined Westco as a buyer responsible for the north of England, sourcing new products and assisting suppliers in merchandising stores. Nick spent the last two years working as a sales and customer executive for another well-known...