Contract Flooring Journal articles from July 2007

Contract Flooring Journal archives from July 2007

This is a matter of life and death.(Editor's comment)(Editorial)
July 1, 2007... WORKERS face death on a daily basis! No, this is not in Iraq. It's here in the UK--in construction. The country's biggest industry is arguably its most dangerous, where negative attitudes to health and safety are sometimes to blame for...

6,000 feet on Boots carpets every day.(Installation of the month)
July 1, 2007... OVER 3,000 people work in Boots' listed headquarters building in Nottingham. When the floorcoverings had to be replaced Boots specified carpet tile ranges from INTERFACEFLOR. Contractor AEH FLOORING SOLUTIONS worked with the manufacturer on...

'Health and safety should not be taken lying down'.(Training)
July 1, 2007... The industry is apparently poorly prepared for the new CDM regulations, says Kevin Fear, head of health and safety at ConstructionSkills: THE new Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations are now in force and worrying research...

'Controlling our yarn supply puts us well ahead of the pack'.(Yarn supply)
July 1, 2007... Peter Forrester, technical and design director at Bonar floors, says the relationship between yarn suppliers and tufted carpet and carpet tile manufacturers is key to achieving a significant competitive edge: TEN years ago there were...

Plimsoll turns guns on CFJ.(Market survey)
July 1, 2007... Clair Sherwood, of Plimsoll Publishing, criticises an item in CFJ referring to one of its market analysis reports: MAY I firstly say how surprised and dismayed I was to read the article in CFJ 'Bonar Floors named as a 'flooring contractor'...

'Now let's look at the true facts'.(The editor replies)
July 1, 2007... The editor responds: There are a couple of inaccuracies in Clair Sherwood's letter, which need to be corrected. Firstly, the truth is that we did query this report with Plimsoll, contrary to what Clair Sherwood says. Our email to her...

'Industry must bond to sort sticking problems.(Adhesives)
July 1, 2007... TRADA flooring specialist Peter Kaczmar discusses the problems of bonding in floating floors: I WAS recently involved in a spate of consultancy jobs involving tongued and grooved floating floors, made from engineered boards laid as...

The glues brothers.(Cartoon)
July 1, 2007... AN UNEXPECTED VISIT FROM ME AND MY SALES DIRECTOR, MAURICE [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HE WAS DOWN HERE VISITIN' A COUPLE OF THE BIG BOYS... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] .. BUT ONE OF 'EM CANCELLED--SO WE HAD SOME TIME TO KILL ...

CFA Lords it with CPA in the Upper House.(The president)
July 1, 2007... I THINK most CFA members are aware that, whilst the contractor members are the majority, the manufacturer members are the backbone of the association and the rest of us owe them a huge debt. Consider the CFA guide to Contract Flooring, produced...

FITA leads in training and assessment, especially for wood.(comment)(Federation of International Trade Associations)
July 1, 2007... John Roberts, director of training at FITA explains the many options offered: FITA continues to add to its portfolio of course and assessment/qualification programme. The latest course is the understanding moisture. This is designed for...

Training directory.(Directory)
July 1, 2007... Flooring industry Training Association TEXTILE Basic carpet fitting July 2-6 (L). Aug 1-5 and 14-17 (L); Aug 1-5 (L). Intermediate carpet titling July 23-27 (L); Sep 10-14 (L). Carpet tile fitting Sep 20-21 (N). VINYL...

Staff learn management skills.(Training directory)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... RYALUX is continuing to invest in the future development of its employees. Nine department managers from Ryalux and Pownall have completed the Professional Certificate of Management (PCM), a one-year degree-level course. The course focuses...

'Listen and don't let UFH leave you cold!'.(on underfloor heating)(HVAC industry)
July 1, 2007... UNDERFLOOR heating systems have been around for some time and are certainly growing in popularity. It's hardly surprising then that it is a topic that attracts a lot of questions, but with a thorough understanding of its workings and...

'New association will focus on wood'.(on the BWFA)
July 1, 2007... AT LAST an association has been formed with the sole focus on wood flooring. It is BWFA (British Wood Flooring Association). The industry has been crying out for something like this for many years. It will help good installers get...

'UFH is in big demand, and it's a cracker!'.(on stone flooring on underfloor heating)(Interview)
July 1, 2007... AS outlined in CFJ last month, the current boom in underfloor heating is bringing its own set of problems for stone-fixers and specifiers: Temperature changes within the screed mass of underfloor heating installations--whether water or...

'Since 1971 I have never looked back!'.(on seeking technical advice)
July 1, 2007... I'VE written many times in this column of problems faced by contractors who have turned to our team of technical experts for help. With years of practical flooring experience, we can offer sound advice to solve a wide range of queries regarding...

'Mediation means not burning your bridges'.(on protecting your IP)
July 1, 2007... MANY ACID members have taken action against some well known retailers as a result of alleged copying. Often the retailers adopt a legal strategy of stonewalling challenge and perpetuating litigation. I intend to include a further clause in...

'Why you ought to get to grips with grit'.(on understanding the physics of soiling)
July 1, 2007... EFFECTIVE carpet appearance management, at least from the point of view of cleaning, presumes an understanding of the physics of soiling and, perhaps more importantly, the physics of soil retention. Mechanisms of soiling (that is, how the...

'Whole life costs can be an arm and a leg'.(with advice to architects on specifying carpet)
July 1, 2007... THE whole life costs of textile floor coverings can be distinctly pricey for commercial and domestic buildings. Introduction: Whole life costs of sheet or broadloom textile floor coverings can be high as they often need replacing and...

Specialists set for very busy summer.(State of trade)(National Specialist Contractors Council)(Survey)
July 1, 2007... SPECIALIST contractors, including those in flooring, are expecting a much heavier workload and more orders this summer, according to the latest State of Trade survey for the first quarter of 2007 produced for the National Specialist Contractors...

Topps Tiles on top.(Business in brief)(Financial report)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Topps Tiles saw a 14.9% rise in sales to 101.8m [pounds sterling] in the half year to March 31. Its pre-tax profit fell to 18.7m [pounds sterling] down from 20.3m [pounds sterling], but its operating profit rose 8.8% to 21.3m [pounds sterling]....

BASF wants a double.(Business in brief)
July 1, 2007... BASF plans to double sales in its construction chemicals division to 2.7bn [pounds sterling] by 2015. This follows the acquisition of Degussa in the UK one year ago. The company offers a wide range of products for sports and industrial...

A rating for Gerflor.(Business in brief)
July 1, 2007... Gerflor has received a BRE 'A' rating for low environmental impact of its Mipolam range. Reduced energy and water consumption are described as key features in the manufacturing process for Mipolam. It is also 100% recyclable, www.gerflor.co.uk

Bonar 'moves ahead'.(Business in brief)
July 1, 2007... Bonar Floors is making good progress, according to a trading statement by parent company, Low & Bonar ahead of its interim results announcement on July 16.

Screwfix sales surge.(Business in brief)
July 1, 2007... Screwfix claims a 25.9% sales growth to 103m [pounds sterling] in the 13 weeks ending May 5. The company, which has 61 trade counters across the UK, has a 345m [pounds sterling] turnover. www.kingfisher.com

Another Storey.(Business in brief)
July 1, 2007... Storey Carpets recently opened a new superstore in Blyth Valley Retail Park. Soon afterwards Storeys was acquired by Carpetright, which has its own store nearby on the same retail park. Coincidence?

Norcros seeks listing.(Business in brief)
July 1, 2007... Norcros Group, whose products include tile adhesives, is seeking a listing on the London Stock Exchange.

Quote.(News file)
July 1, 2007... 'Apprentices are essential to the construction industry and they can be an invaluable asset to any company' --Max Hamps, director of Construction skills 'If you look at what is being built around the world, an enormous amount can be...

CFJ backs flooring-market research projects.(News file)
July 1, 2007... CFJ is supporting flooring research being undertaken by Consulting Plus, a market survey company specialising in the flooring sector. Flooring contractors will be invited to participate in surveys carried out by Consulting Plus. The...

Tussle for top spot in the LVT market.(News file)
July 1, 2007... THREE flooring companies battling for supremacy in the commercial luxury vinyl tile market, according to a new market research report released exclusively to CFJ. The report on the UK Commercial Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) market, produced by...

Timber prices rise.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... Construction input price inflation accelerated to a nine-month high in May with higher prices for timber, steel and raw materials, according the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. Its seasonally adjusted purchasing managers' index...

Building orders up.(Industry in brief)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Construction orders in the year to April 2007 rose by 6% compared with the previous 12 months, reports the DTI. During the same period private commercial, public housing and housing association, and private housing orders were up 26%, 20% and...

Output increases.(Industry in brief)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Construction output in the 12 months to the first quarter of 2007 rose by 2% compared with the previous year. During the same period new work rose with increases in all sectors except infrastructure and public non-housing output. Repair and...

Office space premium.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... Despite an extra 1.58m sq ft of office space going under construction in London within the past six months, demand is still outstripping supply, according to a new survey. As a result, it says, rental rates are soaring.

OFT probe widens.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... The lengthy Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation into construction contract rigging has reportedly been widened and now includes some of the UK's big name building-firms.

1 year growth forecast: 25%.(Electric underfloor heating is a hot product)
July 1, 2007... THE electric underfloor heating and controls market is continuing to experience healthy performance in 2007, with likely growth of 25%, according to a new report from MTW Research. The UK electric underfloor heating market report pinpoints...

Resilient body backs training for floorlayers.(News file)
July 1, 2007... THE UK Resilient Flooring Association (UKRFA) has launched an initiative to support training in colleges across the UK. In a proactive scheme endorsed by the Contract Flooring Association, UKRFA will support colleges which train floor...

Wool bodies agree-close-knit alliance.(News file)(British Wool Marketing Board)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... A WORKING partnership including the British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB), Woolmark and Wools of New Zealand is focusing on opportunities for increasing the market share for wool in the global interiors market. They met at the recent congress...

Over 30,000 go bust.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... A record number of 30,074 people went into insolvency in the first three months of 2007, up 24% from the same quarter in 2006. This figure included 16,842 bankruptcies and 13,233 individual voluntary arrangements, according to Government...

Cement men hit back.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... Cement manufacturers are denying reported allegations that buildings are being delayed because of cement shortages. The British Cement Association says it has imported more product to help alleviate the situation. It also claimed that...

Cemplas wins at Wembley.(Industry in brief)(Wembley Stadium)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Cemplas Waterproofing and Concrete Repairs has won an 180,000 [pounds sterling] contract to refurbish the main pedways between Wembley station and Wembley Stadium. The project involves stripping out the 100m structure, installing a non-slip...

Hoo's for Wilton.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... Wilton Carpets is using nine tons of wool, 29,535 miles of jute, 7,000 miles of yarn and 2,800 miles of warp threads in a project to transform Luton Hoo, a Grade 1 listed mansion, into a five-star hotel, golf resort and spa to open in...

Construction worker tally.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... A total of 1.87m people now work in the UK construction industry, with 1.14m directly employed and the rest self-employed, says the DTI.

Irish tax bonanza.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... Tax inspectors in Ireland reportedly raised an extra 100m [pounds sterling] in revenue last year after a crackdown on the construction industry.

Ethical recognition.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... Milliken has been named one of the world's most ethical companies by Ethisphere, a US magazine focusing on the correlation between ethics and profit.

Interbuild gets a green thrust.(News file)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... INTERBUILD (Oct 28-Nov 1 at the NEC) is launching its eco product showcase alongside a series of snapshot seminars on the environment and related 'hot' topics. To highlight these Ecolnterbuild initiatives the show's logo is being presented in...

Tony legs it for charity.(News file)
July 1, 2007... Tony Steer, the F Ball and Co technical representative for South London and Surrey, running in the London Marathon. He finished and raised over 3,000 [pounds sterling] for PhabKids, a charity which alms to promote and encourage people with and...

New exhibitors to take a bow at Harrogate.(News file)
July 1, 2007... A LOAD of new exhibitors are lined up for the National Floor Show in Harrogate from 4-6 September. Spread over six halls, the Kings Suite and a number of hotels, the annual celebration of flooring this year welcomes an array of new...

CIS deadline missed.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... Over 20,000 contractors, including some in flooring, are receiving letters from HM Revenue after they missed filing their first returns on time under the new CIS tax scheme. Initially there is no penalty, but from October there will be fines of...

Advice on cutting waste.(Industry in brief)(Website overview)
July 1, 2007... A new website has been launched aiming to cut the amount of waste going to landfill. It includes free listings for trades people and a reuse centre for leftover materials. There is a flooring section under materials and a separate section for...

Train to gain launched.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... A new project called 'train to gain' is being launched this month by the Learning and Skills Council. It aims to help businesses improve their productivity and competitiveness, while promoting vocational skills training, www.traintogain.gov.uk

Check your ladders.(Industry in brief)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Health and Safety Executive is inviting small businesses to get their ladders checked and where necessary trade them in for new ones at a discounted price. HSE 'ladder exchange' aims to remove 4000 'dodgy' ladders from workplaces. Every...

Smoking new banned.(Industry in brief)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Employers and those in charge of buildings in England now face fines of up to 2,500 [pounds sterling] if they fail to stop people smoking within enclosed spaces. They also risk on-the-spot fines of 200 [pounds sterling] if they have failed to...

Minimum wage blitz.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... The minimum wage rises to 5.52 [pounds sterling] in October and employers who pay less than this amount face fines of 5,000 [pounds sterling] under a new crackdown by the Government. www.dti.gov.uk

Health & safety guide.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... The Institute of Directors has begun a public consultation on new advice on directors' health & safety responsibilities, www.iod.com

Flooring demo zone gears up.(News file)
July 1, 2007... The Interbuild flooring demonstration zone (October 28-Novemher 1 at the NEC) will again be hosted and organised by CFJ. John Roberts, training director of FITA and one the UK's best known floorlayers, will run the demo area on behalf of...

Lomas raises the baa with Chatsworth.(News file)(new Duke )(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... LOMAS has renewed its licensing partnership with the new Duke and Duchess of Devonshire's Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire. The Chatsworth Trust has worked with Lomas Carpets--a division of Ryalux--for over a decade promoting high quality...

Desso shows something a touch different.(News file)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... DESSO demonstrated to specifiers a new direction in carpet and carpet tile design at Design Prima in London recently. Pattern, texture and colour were combined to create a new focus. This included an array of bold linear patterns forming...

Bissell unveils 'next big thing in floorcare'.(News file)
July 1, 2007... BISSELL has launched the Proheat All-Rounder, described as 'next big thing in floorcare'. Says the company's international markets director Charles Gordon: 'This is the first and only vacuum cleaner which deep cleans carpets too. 'It...

Sexism 'rampant'.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... Sexism is rampant across quantity surveying with almost two-thirds of women claiming to be a victim of male prejudice, suffering sexist behaviour during their QS careers, according to QS Week. And a third of men admit they've been sexist to a...

Move on energy.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... Energy Performance Certificates will be required for all buildings constructed, sold or let from October 2008. The certificate must include an energy rating, plus advice from the Energy Savings Trust on making the building more energy...

Road charge rage.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... The British Retail Consortium has condemned plans for road user charging, saying it could damage local high streets and, in particular, the businesses of flooring retailers.

Apprentice drive.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... The Government is calling for 500,000 people to be on apprenticeships across all sectors by 2020.This is double the number currently employed.

Phone books dumped.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... Over 44m UK phone directories are never used, according to a survey by the Rated Tradesmen, the online service provider. It claims that 71% of Brits prefer the internet to find services and suppliers. www.ratedtradesmen .com

PFI comes under fire.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... Less than half of PF1 buildings have provided value for money during the service period of their contracts, states the National Audit Office.

Not in my backyard.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... British people are five times more likely to oppose new housing schemes than their counterparts in the US, according to a new survey.

'Hot air' from MPs.(Industry in brief)
July 1, 2007... MPs Westminster office emits 537 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, according to new figures. However, the premises had a 17% drop in its C02 usage in the last four years.

UK fitting team trials.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... Trials for the U K fitting team for the European championships at Domotex next January will be held at the National Floor Show in Harrogate (September 4-6). T: 0115 958 3077 e: info@nicfltd.org.uk

Polyflor quids in promo.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... Polyflor is offering flooring contractors 1 [pounds sterling] a box cash back for purchasing a minimum of 50 full boxes of 2mm gauge Polyflex Plus semi-flexible floor tiles from participating distributors until the end of July 2007. For claim...

Harrogate golf date.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... The 15th annual Harrogate golf tournament takes place on September 3 at Harrogate Golf Club, the day before the National Floor Show begins. It's a two-man better ball stableford competition, maximum handicap 24. Following the tournament,...

Football challenge.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... Tilers will be putting their footballing skills to the test and trying to win a year's supply of adhesive and grout worth up to 3,000 [pounds sterling] in the Weber Challenge Roadshow which continues in August and September. T: 08703 33 00 70...

FIRA offers benefit.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... FIRA is offering full members a free, one-day consultation with ukfirst on improving manufacturing performance and competitiveness. JBaldwin@ukfirst.org.uk info@fira.co.uk

Sdea launches guide.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... The Shop and Display Equipment Association has published a new guide to the UK retail display industry--the sdea Directory 2007/2008--giving shopfitting buyers, visual merchandisers, retail designers and brand owners a comprehensive insight...

Cleaning Show TV.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... The Cleaning Show has launched an online video reviewing the 2007 event with commentary, keynote interviews and product demonstrations presented by exhibiting companies. The Cleaning Show is held again in 2009. www.cleaningshow.tv

Pile reversal advice.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... Cleaning Research International (CRI) has issued a guide on understanding pile reversal (commonly referred to as shading, water marking or pooling), a nagging problem in certain carpets. The cost is 3 [pounds sterling] per copy, 45 [pounds...

Contractors thanked.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... Axminster Carpets would like to thank the two installation teams in the Ascot project featured in CFJ last month. Wayment Flooring was responsible for all the main areas of the building and Floorform looked after the boxes. The manufacturer...

Saddle up for FTBA.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... Peter Bonsall, of FIRA, is to ride in the Isle of Wight Cycling Festival's on Sunday September 16 to raise funds for the FTBA (Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association). Peter invites other keen cyclists from the flooring industry to join him...

A Plant online orders.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... A-Plant has launched a comprehensive online ordering system for hire equipment, allowing customers to stipulate the equipment the need and arrange for its delivery to site. wwwaplant.com

CFA member revamps site.(The trade in brief)(Website overview)
July 1, 2007... Axiom Group, a member of the CFA, has launched a new website showcasing the range of services it offers, notably in contract flooring and business interiors. www.axiomgroup.co.uk

SATRA opens new lab.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... SATRA Technology Centre has invested 200,000 [pounds sterling] in a new fully equipped floorcoverings laboratory to test flooring materials, including textiles, resilients, laminates, timber, natural stone, entrance matting, ceramic tiles and...

NICF demos in Dubai.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... John Roberts was in Dubai last month to host NICF fitting demos at Domotex Middle East.

Moving under one roof.(The trade in brief)
July 1, 2007... House builders Taylor Woodrow and George Wimpey are set to merge.

IDS cuts delivery mileage.(News file)
July 1, 2007... IDS has reshaped its delivery routing to help reduce mileage and therefore carbon emissions while maintaining its commitment to deliver products ex-stock within 48 hour. As one of the UK's largest distributors of laminate, solid wood and...

Oak floors grace restored medieval cottage.(News file)(Floors-2-Go)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... THREE years after a devastating fire at their medieval thatched cottage, Alex and Cheryl Reay fully restored their home with the help of Floors-2-Go's contract division. Returned to its former glory after nearly 500,000 [pounds sterling]...