Contract Flooring Journal articles from July 2006

Contract Flooring Journal archives from July 2006

New footing for 'old fogeys'.(Angry old man's openion)
July 1, 2006... I HAVE been called an angry old man, so I am going to speak up for all those in the flooring industry who are disparaged as 'old fogeys'. And there are a fair few of them, much to the chagrin of a certain carping hack on another trade title....

CFA contractor hand cuts Eden floor pattern.(Contract Flooring Association.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... INTRICATE chevron patterns in the floor at the new education centre, The Core, in The Eden Project, were entirely hand-cut by a member of the CFA, UNICRAFT FLOORING CONTRACTORS, of Exeter. Unicraft installed ever 2,000sq m of Marmoleum Dual...

FSC thanks CFJ.(Forest Stewardship Council thanks Contract Flooring Journal)
July 1, 2006... Beck Woodrow, construction advisor of the Forest Stewardship Council UK Working Group, writes to thank CFJ for urging readers to support the FSC certification scheme. WE welcome your support for the FSC system. There are nearly 73m...

F Ball reveals the secrets of staying on top.(F Ball and Co awarded)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... AS market-leading manufacturer of flooring adhesives and floor preparation products, F Ball and Co might be forgiven for a little complacency. After all, our reputation in the flooring industry has been built on high quality, products...

Anhydrites make me see red!
July 1, 2006... THERE were a number of articles on calcium sulphate screeds in CFJ (April 2006) which raise various questions. BS 8204 Part 7 warns that calcium sulphate screeds are unsuitable for use in 'wet' situations. There are essentially two reasons...

Flooring contractor meets his own Waterlow.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... HAVING read with great interest the articles in CFJ over the years by Terry Wolfe and Sid Bourne whom I don't always agree entirely with, I though I might bore you with a couple of site addresses that I found amusing. A few years ago I was...

'Mis-match the old and new, and your floor will be past it'.
July 1, 2006... THERE is always an uneasy balance in the restoration of old or historic buildings: Needing to ensure that the character of the building is not compromised, while finding functional and cost-effective solutions, without creating an unrealistic...

The glues brothers.(Readers forum)(Cartoon)
July 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: I CAN'T BELIEVE IT-HYMIE WILTON'S DEAD GONE TO THAT GREAT CARPET WORKROOM IN THE SKY IT DON'T SEEM FIVE MINUTES AGO SINCE HE WAS HELPIN' US TO WIN THE GOLDEN KNEE PADS EUROPEAN FITTING CHAMPIONSHIPS ...

Appeal to manufacturers: stop getting heavy with floorlayers! Around 4,300 major injuries in 2003/4 were caused by handling, lifting and carrying.
July 1, 2006... THE council of the Contract Flooring Association is becoming increasing concerned regarding the weight of flooring materials, especially when carrying them across a rough, muddy, uneven building site, or up numerous flights of stairs, in...

Flooring industry training association.(fita)(Calendar)
July 1, 2006... TEXTILE Carpet fitting starter course: Sep 18-19 (N); Basic carpet fitting: Jul 3-7 (L); Sep 11-15 (L); Intermediate carpet fitting: July 17-21(L); Natural riling: Aug 16-17 (N); Carpet tile carpet fitting: Aug 7-8 (N); WOOD & LAMINATE...

Pilot scheme launched for two-day floorlayers' NVQs.
July 1, 2006... THE Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) is the new alternative to OSAT leading to CSCS cards. The NVQ and CSCS awarding body for construction, CITB-ConstructionSkills/City & Guilds, has worked closely with CFA members and FITA...

Show your grit and you'll be up to scratch: Sid Bourne on the 'best' repair method for scratches.(Grundorf Terhurne)(Interview)
July 1, 2006... SID BOURNE, technical director at Grundorf Terhurne, answers questions from CFJ readers based on his 25 years of installation experience. Q: I often find scratches on lacquered floors not long after installation. Some people admit having...

If it's a wrong profile you'll be brassed off: Ian Knifton on movement joints (6).(Help and advice)(Interview)
July 1, 2006... IAN KNIFTON, technical manager at Schluter-Systems, continues his series on ensuring the long-term integrity of tiled floor installations by using protective movement joints. This is the second part of a look at the variety of joints on the...

Dying to sue? Don't go to any old solicitor: Dids MacDonald on legal action to protect your IP.(Help and advice)
July 1, 2006... DIDS MACDONALD. ceo of ACID (Anti Copying In Design), warns that taking legal action against someone whom you believe has copied your designs is not for the faint-hearted; it can be an expensive business. If you must take action--Think...

It's time to pop the question on blisters: David Gatfield on two-part adhesives.(Help and advice)
July 1, 2006... DAVID GATFIELD, Attro technical services manager--northern region, discusses two-part adhesives. THE summer has finally arrived and, along with ice cream and deck chairs, this has heralded the start of a flood of queries relating to...

Expectorate if you expect to rate in China: Peter Allan on exporting (cultural awareness).(Help and advice)
July 1, 2006... PETER ALLAN, export sales manager at Burmatex, continues his CFJ series with advice to UK flooring companies on exporting. He titles this month's article 'cultural awareness--or why it isn't always a bad idea to spit on the floor during a...

Wring down the curtain on moisture: Martin Cummins on dealing with the damp.
July 1, 2006... MARTIN CUMMINS, Laybond technical advisor, examines moisture in relation to subfloors, its causes and resulting problems. He concludes with helpful advice on control moisture: MOISTURE typically manifests itself through floorcovering...

Walk right in and dish the dirt: Peter Mayer on specifying entrance matting.
July 1, 2006... PETER MAYER of Building LifePlans assesses options and costs for entrance matting systems, which tend to be short life components with high whole life costs. THE principle function of an entrance flooring system is to reduce the quantity...

Terry moves into the top spot.(Contract Flooring Association appoints Terry Wolfe)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... TERRY WOLFE, the well-known flooring consultant and columnist with CFJ for many years, has been elected unopposed as President of the Contract Flooring Association. Terry, who starts a two-year stint in the president's role, takes over...

FeRFA fetes first NVQ successes.(FIVE installers from Grimsby Resin Floors )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... FIVE installers from Grimsby Resin Floors (GRF) have gained the CSCS blue skilled card after successfully completing an NVQ Level 2 in insitu resin flooring. GRF is the first member of FeRFA (The Resin Flooring Association) to have...

Beatrix Potter license.(Business in brief)
July 1, 2006... Trendy Tuft has asked CFJ to point out that it still holds the license to use Beatrix Potter characters on its unusual shaped hand-tufted rugs in 100% pure new wool. 'The report in June 2006 that Goodacre Carpets is the only carpet & rug...

Wool interiors buys 'bank'.(Business in brief)
July 1, 2006... Ilkley-based Wool Interiors has bought the entire colour yarn bank of over 20,000 shades from Duncan Booth Design Studio which has closed. Wool Interiors says this facility will make its colour archive one of the largest in the world and enable...

Grundorf restructures.(Business in brief)
July 1, 2006... Grundorf has revamped its sales responsibilities. Tony Lancaster will cover the East; Belinda Tolenaar the West and Scotland; and Koos Groenendijk South and London. Sid Bourne will serve the Midlands and South Wales while continuing as UK...

Joint venture launched.(Business in brief)
July 1, 2006... Touchstone Floors, which supplies and lays resin flooring, has formed a joint venture with Quartzline BV, an manufacturer of epoxy self levellers, coloured aggregates, epoxy top coats and other polymer coatings in the Netherlands. Touchstone...

Resool honoured.(Business in brief)
July 1, 2006... Flooring company Respol, a member of FeRFA, was a finalist in the Specialists in Construction Awards organised by Construction News.

Hot business.(Business in brief)
July 1, 2006... Devi, electrical underfloor heating supplier, reports 2.5m [pounds sterling] of new projects-based business between January and April 2006 involving 2,300 residential apartments. www.devi.co.uk

Action must be taken, top Tory tells CFJ: stolen wood floors: CFJ sparks political row.(News file)
July 1, 2006... THE Conservative Party front bench MP Peter Ainsworth is calling for action to stop stolen wood floors being imported into the UK. Mr Ainsworth is the shadow environment (DEFRA) minister. In an exclusive statement to CFJ, Mr Ainsworth says:...

The skills crisis exposed.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2006... Over 1,500 new floorlayers are needed in the UK every year between now and 2010, says a new report by ConstructionSkills, a total of 7,500 floor fitters in five years.

More building going on.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2006... Construction orders soared by 8% in the 12 months to April 2006. Public housing and housing association orders rose by 18% in that period, while private housing orders rose by 1%. Private industrial orders rose by 32%, with private commercial...

Contractors are sought.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2006... Housebuilder Churchill Retirement Living in the Midlands is looking to foster new relationships with quality sub-contractors, suppliers and consultants. T: 0800 783 7661 www.churchillretirement.co.uk

ESI tool for CIS unveiled.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2006... The government has introduced an employment status indicator (ESI) tool for contractors ahead of the launch of the new CIS tax next April. The ESl tool can be accessed online orvia a helpline (T: 0845 366 7899) 8am to 8pm seven days aweek....

CIS guide is published.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2006... The Construction Confederation has published a series of booklets at 5[pounds sterling] each to help contractors prepare for the new CIS tax scheme. After April 2007 old plastic cards & certificates will not be valid. Contractors will have to...

NSCC has voice on CITB.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2006... Geoff Holt, past president of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, has been appointed by the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC)to sit onthe board of CITB-ConstructionSkills.

UK to host worlds skills.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2006... London has been chosen to host the biennial WorldSkills competition in 2011 with 40 countries expected to participate. Roor tiling will be among the events. The Govemment will match the sponsor's pledge of 11m [pounds sterling] to fund the...

Big brother gags floor companies.(News file)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... GAGGING ORDERS have been placed on companies which supplied floorcoverings for the set of the latest series of Big Brother, the Channel 4 television reality series, currently being shown. An investigation by CFJ has unearthed the names of...

MRSA expert vouches for Marmoleum.(Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... PROFESSOR Curtis Gemmell, director of the Scottish MRSA Reference Laboratory, has unveiled scientific research highlighting the role that Marmoleum flooring can play controlling the MRSA superbug and associated hospital acquired infections. ...

Kahrs enjoys higher profile on telly and on show.(News file)
July 1, 2006... KAHRS new one-strip Linnea and Vancouver wood floor ranges have appeared in high profile applications this year, including several episodes of the primetime TV series, DIY SOS. The products were also used during Celebrity DIY...

Och aye the noise!(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Scots are claimed to be Britain's noisiest neighbours and laminate flooring is often to blame, according to a survey for Noise Action Week. People in Scotland apparently suffer twice as much as those in England from noisy neighbours, saying...

More are going bust.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Construction firm failures are up 8%, according to Equifax, the business information specialist. Overall business failures rose 13% for the first quarter of 2006. The retail sector came first with a rise of 19%.

Pay agreement settled.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... The Construction Confederation has agreed a 14.5% pay rise over the next three years for 600,000 building and civils workers after Ucatt, the T&G and GMB rejected the employers' 13% offer.

Cormar has seventh win.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Cormar Carpets has won the Metro Group's tufted supplier of the year, for the seventh consecutive year.

Axminster saves big time.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Axminster Carpets is reported to have achieved substantial savings in yarn wastage with carpet stock management improving significantly a year after installing the Tropes information technology system from SSI. Both Brintons and Cormar and said...

BBA offers CE guides.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... BBA has launched a series of CE Marking Application Guides on both UK and imported products for specifiers and purchasers. T: 01923 665382

British wool cuts prices.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Following a worldwide fall in demand for wool, it is reported that farmers will receive 10% less for British Wool this year, equivalent to just 45p per kg. Britain now produces less than 5% of world wool.

Major scam targets flooring exhibitors.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... EXHIBITORS throughout Europe, including the UK, are being duped into paying hundreds of pounds in a seam by an Austrian company, Construct Data which has a website: www.fairguide.com Construct Data uses online and printed exhibition guides...

Bausen earns Q Mark quality assurance.(News file)
July 1, 2006... BAUSEN hardwood flooring from James Latham has obtained the Q Mark assurance of quality. The third-party product certification scheme operated by BM TRADA Certification is based on recognised quality assurance standards (ISO9001,...

All three Sundolitt plants receive ISO 9001:2000.(News file)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... ALL three UK plants of Sundolitt have achieved ISO 9001:2000 accreditation. The plants are at Gateshead, Montrose and Fort William. Last year the company gained BBA accreditation from the British Board of Agrement for its EPS flooring...

Tile reports available.(Marketing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Two new reports published by Consulting Plus analyse the luxury vinyl tile market in the UK and the carpet tile market in the Republic of Ireland. Both are based on original research with architects and flooring contractors. Consulting Plus was...

CRA technical move.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... The Concrete Repair Association (CRA) has a new technical committee, chaired by Nigel Cox of Dew Construction. The committee will update CRA documents to be offered free. CRA also recently established a health and safety committee....

Stikatak on track at 21.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Stikatak took stockists for a days racing at Silverstone racetrack as part of its 21st birthday celebrations. Customers were given instruction by a professional racing car driver and then let loose on a Lotus Exige, 4x4 rally car.

Private seminar offer.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... SATRA Technology Centre is offering to run exclusive flooring slip seminars for individual companies, including the opportunity to tour SATRA's floorcoverings laboratory. T: 01536 410000 or stevef@satra.co.uk.

A Plant is nominated.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Equipment rental company A-Plant is a finalist in five categories in the National Business Awards North West. The results will be known on July 11. T: 01925 281044

Olympic construction data.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... A report from AMA Research reviews new build, refurbishment and legacy activity for the 2012 Olympic Games. It includes housing, retail, leisure, infrastructure, utility and workspace developments with timescales and expenditure, contractor...

'Carpet is hot'.(Research conducted by the Carpet Foundation )
July 1, 2006... THE performance of underfloor heating under carpets is not impaired, according to new research conducted by the Carpet Foundation in conjunction with the Underfloor Heating Manufacturers Association (UHMA). The work, which used a room...

Rug company backs student competition.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... WOOL INTERIORS and Dutch rug design company Arte Espina supported this year's Huddersfield University rug design awards. The brief was based on the Wool Interiors 2007 Colour Forecast and an Arte Espina design concept. Some 64 students...

JHS is right on cue and is watched by millions.(Joseph Hamilton Seaton)(Tretford floorcoverings )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... TRETFORD carpet and tiles supplied by JOSEPH HAMILTON SEATON were used throughout the entire playing area at the recent World Snooker Championships at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. This major sporting event is viewed by millions. ...

Free blades offer.(Products in brief)
July 1, 2006... Irwin Industrial Tools has launched a micro site from its main website, enabling floorlayers to register and receive five free BiMetal Blue Blades. The site also has a blade calculator that works out how much money you could save by switching...

Hot laminates.(Products in brief)
July 1, 2006... Pergo's laminate flooring has been approved for use with Rehau's Solelec electric underfloor heating range after extensive tests. Pergo flooring is reported to have undergone heating tests from 15-29degC without warping or gaps developing,...

When to shut your gob!(Confidential business conversations )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... One in 10 businessmen and women have been reprimanded for discussing commercially-sensitive information including salaries and searches for a new job in a public place, according to a new poll by east coast rail operator GNER. The most common...

UK is not up to speed.(Have you heard?)
July 1, 2006... British manufacturers are struggling to maintain their share in Europe's recovering economy, according to the manufacturing purchasing managers' index for May. While UK manufacturers reported strong output and new order books, the improvement...

Sponsors sought.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Paul and Ian Berrett of CS Flooring are participating in the Three Peaks Challenge on July 8 in support of three charities: Little Havens Children's Hospice, Little Hearts Matter and Age Concern. The challenge is to walk Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike...

Contractual difficulties.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Due to 'contractual difficulties', T1-commercial says it currently is not representing Masland in the UK, but does offer alternative commercial products. T: 07971 401499

CRL sets up school.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Specialist main contractor, Concrete Repairs Limited (CRL), has set up its own in-house training facility. www.concrete-repairs.co.uk T: 020 8288 4848

Devi cuts price.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Devi has reduced the price of the new Devicell underfloor heating system for wooden floors. T: 0845 4349991

Migrant aid boosts UK.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Immigrant workers from countries which joined the EU last year, especially in construction, have boosted the UK economy, according to a survey by Ernst & Young.

6.9m [pounds sterling] for office fit-out.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... Wates is reported to have won a 6.9m [pounds sterling] contract to fit-out 70,000sq ft of office space in central London for Sumitomo, a Japanese bank. The job is due for completion in December. www.wates.co.uk

Initial, not Initially.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2006... A typographical error in CFJ June issue misspelt the name of a cleaning company, Initial, using the new range of Scotch-Brite floor pads. www.3m.com/uk/facilities

Carpet slide is forecast to continue.(People file)
July 1, 2006... THE UK carpet market--including residential and contract--is expected to decline by 3% in real terms between 2005 and 2010, despite projected growth in construction output, according to a new survey by Market and Business Development (MBD). ...

FN Road show is 'a moving experience'.(People file)
July 1, 2006... OVER 150 people attended the FN Neuhofer Holz 'drive off' event at the company's new factory at Zell am Moos in Austria recently. The visitors saw the FN truck designed as a mobile exhibition stand, equipped it with the range of FN...

Five years ago: hopes for CSCS in 2001, long way to go in 2006.(People file)
July 1, 2006... In July 2001 CFJ reported the renouncement by the Major Contractors Group (MCG) that CSCS cards would be made compulsory on all its members' sites by December 2003. It's now five years filler that initial target set by the MCG, and it is still...

Ryalux extends Scottish deliveries.(News)
July 1, 2006... THE RyaDirect delivery service for all Ryalux, Lomas and Pownall's carpets to the north east of Scotland has been extended. The company's distribution network was launched in 2000 in response to delivery issues with the Ryalux any-width...

Gerflor.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2006... Gerflor has appointed JOHN SHANLEY in a senior sales role to provide contract and residential floorings to specifiers in the housing sector, while supporting Gerflor's distributor network. John has 14 years of sales and marketing experience in...

F Ball and Co.(Mark Wheeler appointed at F Ball)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... F Ball and Co has promoted North London technical representative, MARK WHEELER to area manager for the southern region. Mark became a trainee floorlayer with Rowan & Bowden footing contractors when he left school at 16. He later became a...

Construction Products Directive (CPD).(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2006... STEVE FERRY, head of floorcoverings at SATRA, is the new deputy chair of the UK Construction Products Directive (CPD) Notified Bodies Mirror Group. The appointment Follows the extension of SATRA's CPD notified body status, allowing it to act as...

Construction Products Association.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2006... JOHN COLLEY has been elected president of the Construction Products Association. A chartered certified accountant, he was previously finance director and then md of British Gypsum. He is BPB group md for the UK, Ireland, the Nordic countries...

TrustMark.(Trustmark Corp. appoints Linda Perham)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Former MP for Ilford North, LINDA PERHAM has been appointed as a board director of TrustMark, the Government-backed scheme to help people find reputable firms for repairs, maintenance and improvement work in the home and garden. She was a...

University Partnerships Programme (UPP).(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2006... The University Partnerships Programme (UPP), the student accommodation specialist, has appointed DOUG ALLEN as health and safety manager. UPP is responsible for 16,000 student rooms across 13 sites in the UK. Doug, a chartered safety & health...

Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association (FTBA).(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2006... MIKE CLARE, executive chairman and founder of Dreams Plc, is the new president of the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association (FTBA), taking over from Mark Webster.

Wool Interiors banks on the Spectraflash.(News)
July 1, 2006... WOOL INTERIORS has bought a Datacolor Spectrophotometer. The new Spcctraflash allows high-resolution colour measurement and is designed to ensure excellent repeatability, vital in carpet and rug development. Wool Interiors is building a...

Ryalux, as seen on TV.(News)
July 1, 2006... RYALUX had a starring role in three episodes of ITV's 60 Minute Makeover programme after supplying bespoke carpets. Mike and Anne Smalley from Carmarthenshire wanted a carpet for their daughter Lara's bedroom. It had to be versatile yet...

Diary dates.(Calendar)
July 1, 2006... NATIONAL FLOOR SHOW September 5-7 Harrogate www.nationalfloorshow.co.uk EURASIA FLOOR September 7-10 Istanbul, Turkey www.eurasiafloor.com 100% DETAIL September 2l-24 Earls Court 1, London ...

How to make money.(Events in brief)
July 1, 2006... The National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA) is planning a technical roadshow on July 18 at Alltec Network in Royston, Herfordshire. Speakers include Robert Saunders on how to make money in carpet cleaning; Keith Robertson on tile and grout...

FTBA plans a ball.(Events in brief)
July 1, 2006... The autumn ball of the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association (FTBA) organised by the AMUSF (Association of Master Upholsters and Soft Furnishers) will take place on September 2 at the De Vere Belfry Hotel in Warwickshire. Details from Sue...

See floors in seven balls.(Events in brief)
July 1, 2006... Visitors to the National Floor Show in Harrogate (September 5-7) will be able to see the latest collections from wood to carpets, underlay to rugs and underfloor heating, vinyl to laminate alongside rugs and accessories presented in seven...