Contract Flooring Journal articles from March 2007

Contract Flooring Journal archives from March 2007

Hypocrisy, damned hypocrisy!(Editor's comment)(funds required for National Construction College)(Editorial)
March 1, 2007... TRAINING has always been an over-riding priority for CFJ. That is why the possible forced closure of the flagship National Construction College in Norfolk is seen as absolutely appaling. And even more so is the feckless and indifferent attitude...

CFA contractor has designs on PFI hospital.(Installation of the month)
March 1, 2007... AXIOM GROUP, a CFA member, was the flooring contractor involved in the new Queen's Hospital, Romford, where the floorcoverings were supplied by TARKETT MARLEY FLOORS. The 1m sq ft four-storey building was designed and built by Bovis Lend...

'I thank CITB for replying to me via CFJ, but why not face-to-face?': NVQ assessor David Chesshire walks back into the storm created by his previous comments in CFJ (November 2006), making a few more telling points.(Qualifications)(Construction Industry Training Board)(Contract Flooring Journal)(National Vocational Qualifications)
March 1, 2007... IT APPEARS that I have upset some people with my comments in CFJ (November 2006). I would like to respond to the reactions of a spokesperson from the CITB and to John Roberts of FITA published in CFJ January, 2007. Firstly, the...

'If you don't train your staff it could cost you over 1,700 [pounds sterling] a year': Mike Bialyj, field director, ConstructionSkills, discusses the importance of training for small firms in the flooring industry.(Training)
March 1, 2007... THE majority of my career has been dedicated to helping small businesses improve standards through training, so I recognise that when you are dealing with the daily pressures of running your own business, it's easy to let staff training slip...

'You can't sell wood if you don't have a clue': Gordon Hounslow, md of Purdie Flooring Contractors, Solihull, West Midlands, says knowledge of wood flooring is essential if you are going to sell it.(Product knowledge)
March 1, 2007... I READ with interest Sid Bourne's article on a retailer selling real wood flooring, and his problems. (CFJ January 2007). Whilst I basically agree with Sid's reply, surely it would be easier to have asked the retailer a few questions first....

'Do not be simplistic, look at the big picture': TRADA Flooring specialist Peter Kaczmar stresses the importance of considering how all aspects of a floor system will interact with each other to ensure long-term performance.(Specification)
March 1, 2007... IN MY other life as a coatings specialist for exterior wood joinery, I am constantly required to remind specifiers that the performance of a wood window is dependent not only on the quality of the individual components comprising the system,...

Diary dates.(Points of view)(Brief article)(Calendar)
March 1, 2007... SURFACE DESIGN SHOW March 7-8 Business Design Centre, London www.surfacedesignshow.com IDEAL HOME SHOW March 9-April 1 Earls Court, London www.idealhomeshow.co.uk THE CLEANING SHOW March 13-15 NEC...

DPM: get the builder to sign a disclaimer letter.(The president)
March 1, 2007... A MEMBER of the Contract Flooring Association recently contacted me for my opinion on a problem which has presented itself to all of us in one form or another. Most flooring contractors are aware of the necessity of testing a subfloor for...

Fita: Flooring industry Training Association.(comment)
March 1, 2007... TEXTILE Basic Carpet fitting Mar 5-9 (N) Intermediate Carpet fitting Mar 19-23 (L) Advanced Carpet fitting Mar 26-29 (N) VINYL FLOORING Safety & Solid Vinyl fitting Mar 12-15 (L) WOOD & LAMINATE Laminate/Floating...

Other courses.(Training)
March 1, 2007... CENTRAL FLOOR TRAINING Independent Wolverhampton training centre. * T: 01902 454790 * www.centralfloortraining.com HCTS MERSEY ACADEMY The HCTS floorcovering academy offers free apprentice training for NVQ for local CITB and a few...

Tile protection training is increased three-fold.(Training)(Schluter Systems conducts training services for contractors)
March 1, 2007... SCHLUTER-SYSTEMS has increased the frequency of training at its purpose-built training centre, from one day a month to three. The additional training is geared to give tiling contractors, distributors, retailers and stockists the knowledge...

CPD courses.(Training)
March 1, 2007... Floor firms offering CPD courses: Altro * T: 01462 489568 Amtico * T: 024 7686 1400 Antron * T: 07876 577317 Ardex * T: 01440 714939 Armstrong * T: 01235 554848 BAL * T: 01782 591100 Ball & Young * T: 01536 200502 BonaKemi * T: 01908 399740...

Expecting heavy traffic? Best turn to oil.(on finishes)
March 1, 2007... TIMBER floors can cause problems in busy commercial locations, such as shops, restaurants and pubs, due to the limited amount of time available for both initial installation and treatment, as well as for ongoing maintenance and refurbishment....

Without question you need to use primers.(on primers)
March 1, 2007... ALTHOUGH we receive many questions at Laybond technical support regardingthe use of primers, typically all enquiries question their necessity. For this reason I believe this month's question should be: Q: Do I need to prime? A: Ask...

Don't be a 'wet'! Get a moisture meter!(on testing for moisture)
March 1, 2007... Q: Whenever I undertake a solid wood floor installation I always seem to run into problems. My worst experiences are with raised edges of boards or when the expansion gets filled with movement and floor lifts. The suppliers always blame me, but...

Spilled hot coffee must be a wake up call.(on maintenance--good housekeeping)
March 1, 2007... LAST month we discussed the importance of entrance matting as a tool for preventative maintenance. There are three other aspects that have an important role to play--good housekeeping, choice of colour and design, and soil and stain repellent...

Always be alert to the menace of moisture.(on problem floors)
March 1, 2007... EXCESSIVE moisture is the biggest single cause of failure in flooring installations, according to the CFA. Recent calls to the Altro technical hotline have involved some interesting examples. In one case a surface damp proof membrane (DPM)...

Bosses must enforce the smoking ban.(on new restrictions at work)
March 1, 2007... IN his early movie career, Groucho Marx once uttered the line 'Do you mind if I don't smoke!' Now, for the first time, not smoking in public is to be set in law. On July 1 (four months from now) smoking in public places will be unlawful in...

Exploit your designs with licenses.(on protecting your IP)
March 1, 2007... IN the first of a two part series, we look at ways in which designs can be commercialised and fully exploited by licensing. Pressure to innovate is forcing brands to develop new partnerships and one of the most productive routes is through...

Believing a tax myth can cost you dear.(on the top tax myths--part one)
March 1, 2007... WITH the tax year coming to an end next month, this is an appropriate time to address some of the wrong assumptions about tax which can be very painful, especially for business people: Myth 1: If I sell my shares after two years I will only...

Provide a smooth transition.(on stone flooring)
March 1, 2007... ALL too often where stone floor tiles or slabs join other surfaces such as timber, carpet, vinyl or laminate, the edges of the stone can crack, chip--and even debond. The use of transition profiles ensures that stone floors stay looking as good...

Changes are planned for next month.(Health & Safety Test)
March 1, 2007... FLOORING contractors are advised to take note of the changes to the test question bank of the CITB-ConstructionSkills Health and Safety Test from April 2. The Test has been revised by a panel of industry experts to bring it up-to-date with...

The glues brothers.(Problem solving)(Cartoon)
March 1, 2007... WOW--ERIC, THANK YOU A GOLD PLATED PEN--HOW KIND [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ER, IT'S NOT EXACTLY A GIFT MAURICE [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT'S TO SIGN A CHEQUE FOR YOUR OVERDUE ACCOUNT [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Office contracts slow fall in carpets market.(News file)
March 1, 2007... THE buoyant office sector will keep the UK carpet market afloat in the next five years, says Market & Business Development (MBD). The new MBD report forecasts an annual decline of 1% to 2% in the total carpet market with a projected value...

Cormar adds three outbases.(Wakefield, Peterborough and Little Hampton)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... CORMAR CARPETS has opened three new distribution outbases in Wakefield, Peterborough and Little Hampton, adding to Glasgow, Darlington, Bristol and Belfast, located to offer an average 48 hour nationwide service to retailers. Wakefield...

Richard Wollerton to retire from CFA.(retirement of Richard Wollerton)(Contract Flooring Association.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... The CFA council has announced with regret that Richard Wollerton, director of the CFA, has decided to retire on March 31, due to continuing problems with his health. Arrangements are being made to recruit a replacement. Meanwhile Helen...

Flowcrete hikes profit.(Business in brief)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Flowcrete is set to double its profits--almost 20% ahead of the budgeted figure. Preliminary estimations show 2.7m Euros on the profit before tax--against a budget of 2.2m Euros (1.6m last year). This will push the group's turnover to 52m...

Reprotec shows growth.(Business in brief)
March 1, 2007... National resin contractor Reprotec reports growth in sales and profitability. The company recently completed printing industry projects for 6,000sq m of polyurethane smoothing screed and 8,000sq m of resin coatings and screeds. Having recently...

Uzin buys sanding firm.(Business in brief)
March 1, 2007... Uzin has taken over the parquet sanding machine manufacturer Hermann Frank GmbH, to enhance its range of products for the installation, renovation and maintenance of wood flooring. www.uzin-utz.com

Builders' workrate rises.(Construction orders )(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Construction orders in 2006 rose 6% compared with 2005, according to the DTI. During the year there were rises for private commercial, public housing and housing association, and private industrial orders by 35%, 33% and 3% respectively; but...

Quote.(News file)(Quotation)
March 1, 2007... 'It is our responsibilities, not ourselves, that we should take seriously' --Peter Ustinov, actor 'I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them' --Isaac Asimov, author 'Nostalgia isn't what it used to be' --Peter De...

Contractors are jailed for 5m [pounds sterling] CIS tax fraud.(News file)
March 1, 2007... THREE Surrey construction bosses have been jailed for a total 11 years by Blackfriars Crown Court after committing tax fraud with an estimated loss of nearly 5m [pounds sterling]. HM Revenue & Customs deputy head of region Andy Stewart...

Flood is the ultimate test for Flotex.(News file)
March 1, 2007... FLOTEX floorcoverings from BONAR FLOORS were saved after a flood severely damaged the Village Hotel & Leisure Club (pictured below) Hyde in Cheshire. All fittings and exercise machines in the leisure club had to be replaced, but the Flotex...

Growth indicator positive.(Business in brief)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Construction activity grew in January at its strongest rate in three months thanks to increased employment, according to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. Latest data reveal that rising workloads urged contractors to take on...

Offices heading revival.(Construction Products Association.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Public sector work is finally picking up after two disappointing years, but it is the private sector that is forecast to be the main driver for this growth, as it benefits from the strong office market, says the Construction Products...

Call for space continues.(Business in brief)(Survey)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Demand for city office space continues despite recent interest rate rises, according to RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors). Its latest survey reveals office demand in central London rising at its fastest pace with 63% more...

Boom is forecast.(Business in brief)
March 1, 2007... Construction costs will rise as the industry gears up for a boom year, according to a survey of 2,500 firms by Lloyds TSB. Optimism follows increased orders fuelled by a surge in commercial property and house improvements.

Barratt shuns subbies.(Business in brief)
March 1, 2007... House builder Barratt is reportedly aiming to slash its list of approved sub-contractors, while making some of its own workers redundant, following its 2.2bn [pounds sterling] takeover of rival Wilson Bowden.

Tender prices to soar.(Business in brief)
March 1, 2007... Rising material prices will bump up tender prices even higher this year, according to a new survey by cost consultancy Davis Langdon. The study found that sand, aggregates, ready-mixed concrete and asphalt prices rose in January and these costs...

High profile role for CFJ at Interbuild.(News file)
March 1, 2007... THE organisers of Interbuild, the UK's top building show (October 28-November 1) at the NEC have invited CFJ to organise the flooring demo zone again. John Roberts, training director of FITA and one the UK's best known floorlayers, will...

Mobile screed factories take to the road.(News file)
March 1, 2007... MOBILE floor screed factories are being operated by screedflo.co.uk, launched by Robert Lee a year after establishing screedpumps.co.uk, which specialises in the sale and hire of screed pumps and screeding machines. He says: 'Our mobile...

CFA dinner meeting.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... The Midlands region of the Contract Flooring Association has its first dinner meeting under new chairman Stewart Bint, of Schluter-Systems, on March 20. The venue is the Gateway Hotel, Nottingham, near junction 26 of the M1. Details from Sally...

FeRFA's lucky 13.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... Thirteen more candidates have successfully completed the NVQ L2 in insitu resin flooring and are being awarded the FeRFA ID badge and certificate. They are Paul Ali, Paul Faulkener, B O'Neill, Keith Pope and Dean Whiting from Industrial...

New anti-theft scheme.(Industry in brief)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... A high-tech registration scheme has been launched in London to fight plant theft, backed by the Metropolitan Police and the Plant Thee Action Group. The scheme is expected to spread throughout the UK as police forces in other regions recommend...

WONZ winners.(Industry in brief)(Wools of New Zealand )(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Over 35 new Wools of New Zealand branded product developments, consisting of loop and cut pile carpets from fine to coarse gauge in a wide range of colours featured in the annual product innovations awards at Domotex. Carpet winners included...

Skills shortage worry.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... The skills shortage is a concern for 77% of construction managers, according to the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

Italians wipe the floor with the Brits again!(News file)
March 1, 2007... DESPITE a first class performance in the World Team Floorlaying Championships at Domotex, the British team was pushed into second place by the Italians for the second time in two years. The other countries entered this year--all of which...

Mapei Group hits 70.(News file)
March 1, 2007... THE Squinzi family, which founded MAPEI in 1937, recently celebrated the company's 70th birthday at its headquarters in Milan, Italy. The group, now has 46 plants worldwide, including America, Far East, Europe, Australia, the Middle East...

Staying on the fast-track.(News file)
March 1, 2007... FAST track products from F BALL and overnight working by Erith Carpet Centre combined to prevent subfloor moisture delaying the refurbishment of a Co-Op supermarket in Reading, which continued to trade. Preparation of the existing terrazzo...

Olympic warning.(Industry in brief)(closures of National Construction College)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... The threatened closure of the CITB's National Construction College could hit preparations for the London 2012 Olympics, according to the leader and chief executive of King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council in whose area the college is based....

Locating contractors.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... Visitors to Buildstore, the new National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon can select a local specialist contractor from the new service provided by the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC) www.nscc.org.uk...

'Don't blame the builder'.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... This is reported to be the provisional title of a Channel 4 documentary on construction arbitration scheduled to be aired in the autumn. It will feature attempts to resolve disputes between client and builder.

Olympic online tenders.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... An online 'e-tendering' and planning package, containing information on the building, transport, design, landscaping and logistical support contracts up for grabs in 2,000 contracts linked to the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games has...

Feminine touch.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... If women started businesses at the same rate as men, the UK would see 150,000 more companies per annum, according to the DTI.

QS in fraud scam.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... A quantity surveyor from Ramsgate in Kent has been convicted for being involved in an identity fraud operation across the south east which netted more than 500,000 [pounds sterling] over three years.

Foundation recruit.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... Underlay supplier Ball & Young has joined the Carpet Foundation as associate member. Other associate members are Bissell and the British Wool Marketing Board. www.carpetfoundation.com

CFA members shine in new trade survey.(News file)
March 1, 2007... THREE members of the Contract Flooring Association are highly rated in a new growth survey on UK flooring contractors. The three are Beacham & Co Contracts of Sutton Coldfield; HFS of New Barnet); and West End Carpets & Contract Flooring of...

Altro wins BRE green award.(News file)
March 1, 2007... ALTRO has been given the highest possible A rating for its Suprema safety flooring under the Building Research Establishment (BRE) environmental profiling scheme using ecopoints. The Building Research Environmental Assessment Method...

Bet your shirt on this carpet.(News file)
March 1, 2007... RYALUX is showcasing its colour matching service with the production of a carpet matched to a blouse! The customer wanted a stairs and landing carpet in the exact same colour as a jade blouse owned by his daughter. The retailer, Robin Ward,...

Kronospan gives more info online.(News file)
March 1, 2007... KRONOSPAN has refined its website, offering more information on products, technical data, industry advances and events as well as handling online requests for brochures and samples. The website has a new technical area with information on...

Product guide stands up to scrutiny.(News file)(Buyers guide)
March 1, 2007... LAYBOND has launched a new product guide, describing all the company's flooring products together with information on their application and suitability for particular tasks, encompassing location, subfloor, traffic and floorcoverings. Entitled...

Ombudsman launched.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... The Furniture Ombudsman, the new name for Qualitas, offers an independent service to resolve disputes and complaints. www.fira.co.uk/services/furnitureOmbudsman.html

Insurance offer.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... The Post Office is offering van insurance to small and family businesses, including a 24-hour claims helpline, 50 [pounds sterling] cashback with new policies and a physio programme to speed a driver's recovery in case of injury. T: 0800 169...

Supplier expands.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... Carpet supplier to the housebuilding industry Designer Contracts has a new South Midlands division and warehouse in Falkirk. T: 01246 854577 www.designercontracts.com

Seminars CPD certified.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... Two roadshows presented by the UK Concrete Repair Association have been CPD certified. They cover successful concrete repair and structural strengthening with composites. T: 01252 358735

Querying invoices.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... Customers can use the new A-Plant extranet to query and resolve invoices on-line, automatically updating the credit system. T: 01925 281044 www.aplant.com

Irwin in race team.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... Irwin Industrial Tools and SAS International have joined forces with championship-winning race teams Redline and Team Parker Racing for the 2007 Porsche Mobil1 Supercup which begins at the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 14. www.irwin.eu

Charity supported.(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... The Preparation Group recently presented a cheque for 328 [pounds sterling] to the Lincoln Committee of Cancer Research UK, the result of a charity auction at the company's open days to celebrate both its 15th anniversary and the official...

Houses averages 200k [pounds sterling].(Industry in brief)
March 1, 2007... The average UK house price rose to 200,000 [pounds sterling] at the start of 2007, according to official statistics.

Wool carpets given new weapon against insects.(News file)
March 1, 2007... AN environmentally based insect resist treatment of wool and wool-blend carpets has developed by Catomance Technologies in conjunction with Wools of New Zealand. Mystox MP is a new generation of insecticide that is described as being...

Flooring people take on new challenges.(News file)
March 1, 2007... POLYFLOR purchasing manager and charity climber Chris Jenkinson will take to the saddle in his latest attempt to support Candlelighters children's cancer charity based at St James's Hospital in Leeds. Having raised over 30,000 [pounds...

Paul Hartley has re-joined Gaskell Mackay as national key account manager.(appointments of Paul Hartley and Collette Mears)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... PAUL HARTLEY has re-joined Gaskell Mackay as national key account manager. He spent 18 months with Premier Commercial Flooring Solutions. Prior to that he had 10 years experience with Gaskell, initially as contract sales executive in the North,...

Stan Howarth.(PEOPLE)
March 1, 2007... National resin contractor, Reprotec UK, a leading national resin contractor from the North East of England, has recruited STAN HOWARTH as technical sales Director. Stan, who has 35 years' experience of contracting and manufacturing, aims to...

Birch International Carpets.(PEOPLE)
March 1, 2007... Birch International Carpets has appointed STEPHEN FOSTER as technical sales consultant for London and the Home Counties. Stephen has considerable knowledge of our industry having worked in the flooring trade for 32 years.

Stanley Tools.(PEOPLE)
March 1, 2007... DAVID OSBORNE has joined Stanley Tools as head of marketing after 13 years with Triton Showers, where he had the same position.

Bissell.(PEOPLE)
March 1, 2007... CHARLES GORDON has been promoted to international markets director at Bissell. He was previously UK commercial director.

Six Ryalux employees have completed an NVQ level one supervisor training.(appointment of Peter Warburton, Wayne Crook, Christorpher Turner, Paul Sayers, Peter Sayers and David Richardson)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... SIX Ryalux employees have completed an NVQ level one supervisor training. The course, which last for six months, focuses on management skills. All students are regularly assessed on progress and sit final exams at the end of the course. ...

Set to wipe the floor.(Events in brief)
March 1, 2007... Floor cleaning will be a feature of the Cleaning Show (March 13-15) at the NEC. Organised by BCCE, a company jointly owned by the British Cleaning Council and Quartz Publishing & Exhibitions, the event is held every two years and will again...

Irish floor show.(Events in brief)
March 1, 2007... Over 60 exhibitors will cover 800sq m of display space at Floors Expo in Dublin on April 18-19. Now in its third year, the event was attended by around 1,000 visitors in 2006. A presentation on installing wood flooring and a demonstration by...

Design Prima dates.(Events in brief)
March 1, 2007... Design Prima. the contract interior design exhibition, is on May 15-17 at Old Billingsgate, in the City of London, targeting architects, multi disciplinary designers, facilities managers and corporate end users with products including...

Safety and Health.(Events in brief)
March 1, 2007... The Safety and Health Expo will be held on May 22-24 at the NEC with over 300 exhibitors, including the British Safety Council. www.safetyhealth-expo.co.uk

The Tile and Stone Show.(Events in brief)
March 1, 2007... The Tile and Stone Show takes place from July 1-3 at Excel in London Docklands T: 01892 752400 www.thetileandstoneshow.co.uk

Anhydrite row.(On the record)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... In March, 2002, CFJ returned to the topic of moisture in screeds with a flooring contractor calling in a letter to CFJ for main contractors to produce a certificate of dryness in liaison with the screed manufacturer and installer. In the...

Estillon on Cloud 9.(Products in brief)
March 1, 2007... Underlay distributor Estillon has introduced the Cloud 9 Flame Retardant IMO certified underlay for marine use. This polyurethane rubber product an has a combustion modified core with corona treated polymer film and is claimed to be up to three...