Contract Flooring Journal articles from July 2005

Contract Flooring Journal archives from July 2005

Face down the design thieves.(Editor's comment)
July 1, 2005... THINK of the abhorrence of the mindless thug who brutally attacks an elderly woman to steal her purse containing only a few coins. No less scurrilous, but seldom in the headlines, are the businesses which blatantly rob others of their...

Scouting for 'fabulous' looking floors.(Installation of the month)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... CFA member, Essex-based Pica Floorings installed a 170sq m Boflex sports floor at the new Mansergh Scout Hall in St John's Wood. Designed to withstand heavy use by thousands of young feet, the maple floor was manufactured by Boen and specified...

Sid Bourne hits back at critic: "I am not the voice of the manufacturer".(Consultants' Role)
July 1, 2005... Sid Bourne responds to the letter from Richard Deakin, of Western Carpets and Pine, Ivybridge (CFJ May 2005) (see panel on right) I CAN assure Mr Deakin that as an independent consultant my fees are always shared between the manufacturer,...

Diary dates.(Points of view)(Calendar)
July 1, 2005... LONDON INTIERIORS July 3-5 Earls Court 1, London T: 0870 429 5338 www.londoninteriors.com NATIONAL FLOOR SHOW September 6-8 Harrogate T: 020 79218415 www.nationalfloorshow.co.uk GLEE September 18-20 NEC Birmingham T: 020 8277 5800...

It's very reassuring that the CFA is always there to help.(What the CFA means to me)(Contract Flooring Association)(health and safety)
July 1, 2005... WHEN I left school at 181 wasn't really sure what I wanted to do but luckily I was told about the CITB and enrolled as a trainee estimator in this industry. Some 17 years later I still wake up every day looking forward to going to work, which I...

Training directory.(Directory)
July 1, 2005... Flooring industry Training Association Design tile fitting July 11-14 (L); Carpet fitting (details on request) 10 weeks from Jul 18 (L); Advanced carpet fitting Jul 25-28 (N); Intensive basic carpet fitting Aug 1-5 (N); Intermediate carpet...

Seeking an unbiased view on laminate.(visits Grundorf UK)
July 1, 2005... I RECENTLY visited Grundorf UK. The company is based at Emley Lovett, a delightful village in the heart of the Worcestershire countryside. I met Koos Groenendijk, the UK md and Sid Bourne, technical director, well known to CFJ readers from...

Training will help you stave off failure.(on wood floors)
July 1, 2005... Q: I installed an engineered flooring which is a glue system (PVA onto tongue). The end consumer complained about one of the staves in centre of room. I contacted my supplier who was willing to supply me with a pack to take out the offending...

Ventilation! Ventilation! Ventilation!(on combatting moisture)
July 1, 2005... Q: I've been asked to lay a vinyl floor on a suspended timber floor in a ground floor situation--what are the pitfalls? A: The main problem you will encounter will be moisture laden air. If the gap between the floor and the concrete below...

Crack, buckle & debond--not what you want before breakfast.(on tiling over heated screeds)
July 1, 2005... Q: Why are tiles susceptible to damage on heated screeds? A: The ceramic or stone covering expand and contract at a different rate from the screed, due to their different heat expansion coefficients during temperature changes. As the...

You should not be scared of scarification.(on machinery for subfloor preparationx)
July 1, 2005... * Machine type and performance: There are numerous types of machine available for scarification and subfloor preparation tasks. Two key types are single or triple-head rotary floor machines. Heavy duty rotary floor machines can use...

A few simple steps to be successful.(on selection of wood flooring adhesives)(wood flooring)
July 1, 2005... THE rising popularity of wood flooring has led to increasing demand for adhesives to suit a range of wood floors and a variety of situations. This article reviews the requirements of subfloor preparation and the factors for selecting adhesives....

Any sign of damp means it's time to hit the deck!(on specifier costs for floor decking)
July 1, 2005... How much does it cost to ensure your timber flooring complies with regulations on preventing moisture damage. Peter Mayer of Building LifePlans compares various specification options. THE 2004 edition of Approved Document C Site preparation...

How to resolve the mother of all conflicts.(Business briefing on settling disputes in family businesses)
July 1, 2005... MANY flooring companies, particularly flooring contractors, are family-run concerns in which disputes can be very damaging. In this, the first in a new occasional series based on professional advice exclusive to CFJ, we suggest ways of...

Shareholder agreements.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Shareholder agreements are vital in a family business to establish plans for the ownership structure and orderly transfer of equity, particularly in the event of unexpected events such as death, or divorce. Key issues in a shareholder...

Guidelines to help resolve major family business disputes.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... * Remain true to the mission, philosophy, and values that have been agreed by the firm; * Use the policy and procedures that were established to guide work with employees and staff; * When question arise about growth and development as...

Moisture is still surrounded by mystery.(on correct priming)
July 1, 2005... Bob Mabbutt, development manager of Laybond Products, underlines file reasons why moisture can mean failure for timber used in flooring IN flooring, whether machined, laminated or reconstituted, wood is commonly used as a covering, underlay...

The glues brothers.(Help and advice)(Cartoon)
July 1, 2005... I SUPPOSED YOU'D LIKE A CUPPA RATHER [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ONE EXTRA CUP OF TEA FOR OUR TRAVELLING SALESMAN [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ... AND SHOVE EXTRA COLD WATER IN IT--DON'T WANT HIM HANGIN' ROUND HERE ALL MORNIN' ...

Gordon holds up funds for Tony's new carpets.(News file)
July 1, 2005... THE Treasury is claimed to be holding up a decision on funding a major refurbishment of No 10 Downing Street. The project may now be postponed for several years until after Tony Blair stands down as prime minister, possibly to be replaced by...

Mapei goes motoring after gala opening.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... THE Mapei tour bus ventured throughout the UK for seven days following the May 19 official open gala at Mapei's UK manufacturing facilities in Halesowen, the group's 42nd worldwide. Stops included Ellesmere Port, Coventry, Bristol, Cheltenham,...

Gaskell Mackay in news.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The formation of Gaskell Mackay Carpets has made the news in America, holding as the new company has the former Hugh Mackay's prestigious client list, including Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas as well the QE2, Houses of Parliament and the Royal...

What it takes to get paid.(business in the construction industry )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The average small business in the construction industry spends an average 2.5 hours every week chasing payment every week, according to research by the Forum of Private Business. It shows that the industry's 51,000 SMEs spend a total of 127,500...

Osma has new division.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Osma Under Flooring Heating Systems, part of the Wavin Group, has set up a commercial division. The company traditionally specialised in the domestic market. www.wavin.com

STS marks 40 years.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Distributor STS is celebrating its 40th anniversary in the contract flooring trade. The company currently employs 80 staff and stocks over 2.5m [pounds sterling] across four depots in Penge SE20, Croydon, Watford and Cambridge. More depots are...

Osmo wins ethical status.(Osmo UK Ltd)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Wood product specialist Osmo UK has gained Ethical Company status based on its approach to environmental issues and corporate social responsibility, demonstrating its commitment to customers, staff, trade colleagues and shareholders. Over 50 U...

Output inches up.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Construction output in the year to the first quarter of 2005 rose by 1% compared with the previous year, according to the DTI.

Quote.(quotes of construction industry)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... 'The UK has the longest working hours of amy EU country and it is about time those in a position to affect legislation took a stand' --TGWU general secretary Tony Woodley 'We have historically had a very constructive relationship with...

Have your shout!(Skillfast-UK launches Think Tank to help flooring employers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Skillfast-UK has launched the Think Tank to help flooring employers to present views across to the government. Participants can receive information and questions by telephone or email. Answers will be fed back to the policy-makers, and form the...

CRA firms obey law.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2005... Concrete Repair Association manufacturing members have finalised new product formulations to meet new restrictions on the amount of water soluble chromium VI that contain cement after hydration, such as mortars, grouts, adhesives, etc. The move...

Sheep farmers backed.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Proceeds from the sales of three new carpet ranges made with wool from hardy Herdwick sheep found only in Cumbria will go to farmers with Herdwick flocks thanks to a partnership between Goodacre Carpets in Kendal and the National Trust. The new...

Adjudication wins claimed.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Knowles, which offers contractors advice and assistance on adjudication, claims over 1,300 victories in adjudication. Knowles also organises seminars on a range of contractual topics. www.jrknowles.com T: 08707 530630

Injuries are cut, says CPA.(Construction Products Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The accident rates in the construction products industry has fallen by 30% over the last 12 months, according to the Construction Products Association.

Yes, ma'am. It is a Ryalux V&A twist.(News file)(Ryalux Carpets Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... THE Queen stepped on a bridal red carpet when she visited Guernsey's 60th Liberation Day ceremonies recently. Ryalux supplied three carpets from its V&A Twist range. The first was a 42m by 1.8m piece in Bridal Red, running the length of...

Brintons' design chief slates 'costly' IP theft.(News file)(Interview)
July 1, 2005... BRINTONS is fighting to raise industry awareness of the extent of design theft and to support relentless prosecution of the culprits. Brintons is an active member of the organisation ACID (Anti Copying In Design), John Bain, (above) group...

Ray is a shining light in fight for sustainability.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... INTERFACE is marking the 10th anniversary of its sustainability drive, established and orchestrated by the company's chairman and founder Ray Anderson, who visited customers in London recently. Recognising the environmental harm of his...

'Feel good' factor clinches Wool Interiors rug award.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... THE annual Wool Interiors rug design competition with the textile department at Huddersfield University was won by Jane Allen, a BA creative crafts undergraduate. Jane's portfolio was based on Vanity Fair, the Wool Interiors 2006 colour...

School makeover is child's play for Burmatex.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... BURMATEX was involved in a TV classroom makeover at Four Acres Primary School, Bristol as part of the 'All Change' programme on digital channel, Teacher's TV. Their classroom had begun to look very dated and teachers wanted to use the...

97m [pounds sterling] in training grants.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Over 18,700 registered construction companies claimed training grants worth 97m [pounds sterling] in 2004, according to the CITB annual report. Meanwhile on-site assessment and training broke new records with over 30,000 employees registering...

Shopfitting survey.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The total UK shopfitting market in 2004 was worth 2.46bn [pounds sterling] at manufacturers selling prices. This is slightly down from the peak of 2.5bn [pounds sterling] in 2002, according to AMA Research. Companies with turnovers of less than...

SDEA directory is out.(Shop and Display Equipment Association )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Shop and Display Equipment Association has published a new guide with full contacts of suppliers in UK retail display industry. Normally priced 10 [pounds sterling], the new sdea Directory is available free to the first 50 readers of CFJ to...

C&A correction.(Collins and Aikman)(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2005... Collins and Aikman, the wholly owned subsidiary of the Tandus Group, is not in financial difficulty, as reported last month. Collins & Aikman Floorcoverings is not connected to Collins & Aikman Corporation, which currently is in financial...

Bosses salaries revealed.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Sir Peter Mason of Amec is the highest paid contracting boss, earning 949,000 [pounds sterling], according to a new survey. This compares with his employees whose average pay salary is reported to be 28,931 [pounds sterling].

UK business rates higher.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... UK business pay three times more property taxes than their competitors in Europe, according to the Federation of Small Businesses.

Apprentice pay increases.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Construction workers who are doing NVQ3 apprenticeships and those who have completed an apprenticeship with NVQ2 will earn up to 9 [pounds sterling] an hour, equivalent to 351 [pounds sterling] for a 39 hour week, following a new pay rate...

UK cleaning costs 'high'.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The UK is the third most expensive European country for commercial cleaning and maintenance costs, after Sweden and Finland, according to a new survey. Portugal, followed by Italy and Ireland are the cheapest.

Tender rise forecast.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Tender prices in Greater London are expected to rise by up to 5% in the next 12 months, according to Davis Langdon.

Sustainability call.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... New sustainability guidance from the European Construction Industry Federation urges members to improve ethics and environmental management.

Business victims.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... More than half the companies responding to a Federation of Small Businesses survey said they had suffered a crime in the past year, most usually vandalism, vehicle damage and burglary.

Asbestos appela.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Tony Blair is being urged to press for a worldwide ban on all form of asbestos during his presidency of the G8.

High-gloss paint ban.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The EU is to ban the use of high-gloss paint from 2010 to cut pollution.

Promoter of training John is up for award.(News file)(Carpeting Merseyside )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... FLOORING contractor Carpeting Merseyside is a finalist in the 2005 national apprenticeship awards of the Learning and Skills Council. Carpeting Merseyside gives training for a full framework of qualifications. Apprentices receive one week...

Wolverhampton is site for new training centre.(News file)
July 1, 2005... THE Midlands now has a second floorlayer training facility. It's based in Wolverhampton and is called Central Floor Training (CFT). The new independent training centre is situated on Landport Road in Wolverhampton, just off the A41 and...

Carpet men putt their money where their mouth is.(News file)(Cancer Relief Macmillan)(Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... THE long standing Kidderminster carpet manufacturers annual golf tournament this year raised 16,000 [pounds sterling] for the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association and Cancer Relief Macmillan. Over 200 golfers from across the industry...

Carpet is rated 'best to tackle dustmites'.(News file)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... CARPETS are actually better for people with a dust-mite allergy than parquet or laminate, according to scientists at the respected German institute Stiftung Warentest. A new report from the institute states: 'It is often advised to remove...

Back the bid for 2012 Olympics.(News file)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... We'll know this month whether London has won the bid to stage the 2012 Olympic Games. If London is successful it will mean a surge of work for flooring contractors during the next seven years. In addition to flooring in all of the...

Bonar gets new showroom to a Tea.(News file)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... THE 'trendy' Tea Building in Shoreditch, once part of Thomas Lipton's grocery empire, is the home of Bonar Floors' new London business centre. The historic Tea Building with its beautifully restored architectural features is surrounded by...

CRA sets up safety group.(The trade in brief)(Concrete Repair Association )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The UK Concrete Repair Association has established a Health & Safety committee to provide industry guidance, promote H&S awareness and best practice and assist with compliance to H&S Standards. www.cra.org.uk T: 01252 739145

NCCA at Good Homes.(The trade in brief)(National Carpet Cleaners Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The National Carpet Cleaners Association exhibited at the BBC Good Homes Show in May where over 1,000 leaflets were distributed. The association will be present at Carpex (March 10-11, 2006) at Excel, London. www.ncca.co.uk T: 0116 271 9550

Specialist course.(The trade in brief)(Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers is backing the establishment of a specialist university offering courses in sustainable building.

Changes in construction.(The trade in brief)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Construction orders in the year to April 2005 rose by 6% but fell by 6% in the three months to April, according to the DTI.

Kronospan has heart.(The trade in brief)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Employees of Kronospan U K raised over 3000 [pounds sterling] for the British Heart Foundation after taking part in a sponsored bike ride.

Floors-2-go for charity.(The trade in brief)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Birmingham-based Floors-2-Go chief executive Simon Farnsworth and financial director Eddie Taylor raised over 10,000 [pounds sterling] for Cystic Fibrosis after running the London Marathon in four hours, 12 minutes.

Devi order success.(Contracts in brief)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Underfloor heating supplier Devi reports winning 1.87m [pounds sterling] worth of new business from developers including Berkeley Group, George Wimpey and Barratt East London between January and March. T: 01359 243516

Carpet for 35,000 [pounds sterling].(Contracts in brief)(Gilt Edge Carpets)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Gilt Edge Carpets supplied 400sq m of custom made wool carpet worth 35,000 [pounds sterling], for a new refurbishment project at Upper Grosvenor Street in London's West End.

PC Flooring success.(Contracts in brief)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... PC Flooring (Southern) has secured a 120,000 [pounds sterling] contract to apply a specialist floor screed package at the Paramount project in Swindon. In another contract worth 30,000 [pounds sterling], the company is to apply a specialist...

Twintec factory deal.(Contracts in brief)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Twintec Industrial Flooring has won a contract for a new manufacturing facility at Bridgwater, Somerset, reported to be worth 975,000 [pounds sterling].

Flooring for Coventry FC.(Contracts in brief)(Bathgate Flooring)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Bathgate Flooring has secured a 350,000 [pounds sterling] contract at a new stadium for Coventry City FC.

Preston university job.(Contracts in brief)(Site-Form Flooring )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Site-Form Flooring has won a 100,000 [pounds sterling] job at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.

Exotic laminates.(Products in brief)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... BHK has launched Vision, a range of laminate flooringwood in six exotic wood grains. The embossed and hand scraped boards carry micro-bevels on all four sides with V-groove joints that run the length of the floor. www.bhkonline.com T: 0191 587...

Brochure launch.(Products in brief)
July 1, 2005... Limestone Gallery has a new brochure including antique reclaimed stone flooring and its new range of marble, granite and onyx. www.limestonegallery.com

Laid in the BB House.(News file)(Big Brother)(Homeserve Carpets)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... CFJ can exclusively reveal details of some of the floorcoverings installed in the Big Brother House. The contractor was Homeserve Carpets based in Borehamwood near the production studios. Around 300sq m of carpets were installed throughout...

Polyfor makes splash with new promotion.(News file)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... POLYFLOR has begun the 'biggest ever' promotional campaign for safety floors following the launch of Polysafe Corona sheet vinyl. Over 13,000 flooring distributors, contractors, specifiers and end users are receiving brochures and...

Prize puts contractor into the fast lane.(News file)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... THE competition to mark the launch of the four new state-of-the-art additions to Laybond's ScreedMaster subfloor preparation range has a winner. He is contracts manager, Darren Robson-Bluer, of Stockport Flooring Co. Darren will soon be...

'I'm not an old boy!' says Mary.(opinion of Mary Sillitoe)(Hillside Contracts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... MARY SILLITOE, financial director of Hillside Contracts, of Whetstone, Leicestershire. She is the second woman on the council, following Karen Warner, of Interface, who was elected last year. Straight-talking Mary is determined to dispel...

Holiday pay and sickness: new court of appeal ruling.(News file)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... FLOORING contractors are advised to note of a new Court of appeal decision which will affect all employees in the flooring industry. One of the key rullings by the court was that a worker on long term sickness absence is not entitled, under...

Power tools worth 3,000 [pounds sterling] TTT winners.(TEST THE TRADES at interbuild 2006)
July 1, 2005... THE surge of interest already shown for the Test The Trades competition at Interbuild 2006 at the NEC Birmingham (April 23-27) is sure to escalate with the announcement of more prizes for the winners. Power tool manufacturers Dewalt and...

US hotel building spree.(The world in brief)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Hotel construction in America is booming for the first time after 9/11, according to a new survey. At the end of the first quarter of 2005 there were 2,388 hotels being built having 322,177 rooms. This compares with the peak in 3Q of 1998 when...

Contractor in 'Hot 100'.(The world in brief)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... A flooring contractor with sales of $4.9m (2.7m [pounds sterling]) only a year after being founded in 2003 has been listed by a US business magazine in the 'Hot 100' fastest growing new businesses in America. Business Flooring Specialists is...

Wood turns to Oprah.(The world in brief)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... America's National Wood Flooring Association has negotiated advertising rates with Oprah Winfrey, one of the country's top talk show hosts. Each weekday broadcast of the syndicated series is claimed to reach over 30m Americans.

Eco-friendly flooring.(The world in brief)(American Resilient Floor Covering Institute)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The American Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) has set up a voluntary certification scheme to identify flooring that meets stringent indoor air quality requirements for low-emitting building materials. Certified products are listed on...

Export rebate call.(The world in brief)
July 1, 2005... Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association wants a 6.5% duty rebate on carpet exports to help stall declines in sales. Pakistan's exporters of hand-knotted carpets say their chief competitors--China, India and Nepal--have cheap...

China buys most US wood.(The world in brief)(American Hardwood Export Council)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... China has become the largest destination for US hardwood, according to the American Hardwood Export Council.

Construction week.(Industry in brief)(National Construction Week)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... National Construction Week to make young people aware of the potential of careers in construction takes place across the U K from October 6-13. The NCW website showcases successful events in previous years and assists companies who may not be...

Show House promo.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2005... Flooring manufacturers and suppliers are invited to display their latest products at the inaugural Show House 2005 exhibition from November 1-3 at ExCel London. A range of interior furnishings and finishes will be shown. www.showhouse2005.co.uk...