Contract Flooring Journal articles from May 2005

Contract Flooring Journal archives from May 2005

Your customers are worried.(Editor's comment)
May 1, 2005... FLOORING companies keen to understand customers' concerns should take note of a recent survey by the respected independent polling organisation YouGov, leased just weeks before the May 5 election. It shows enormous unease among voters on...

CFA contractor has designs on school.(Installation of the month)(Contract Flooring Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... VARIETY FLOORS, a member of the CFA, was the contractor involved in a significant installation at Matthew Arnold School, Oxfordshire's first Department of Education & Skills designated specialist science college. As a result of the elevated...

An idiot's guide to moisture can be misleading: Peter Kaczmar, of TRADA, urges the experts not to attempt to over-simplify the problems of moisture.(Dampness)
May 1, 2005... WHENEVER I am asked to give advice on appropriate moisture values for wooden flooring, it is all too easy to reach for BS 8201 and to quote the appropriate value for the environmental conditions which best describe the job in question. For...

'Don't always blame the installers'.(Points of view)
May 1, 2005... Richard Deakin, of Western Carpets & Pine, of Ivybridge, Devon, responds to Sid Bourne in CFJ (March 2005 'Wood industry scores an own goal'): FROM Mr Bourne's comments one would think that manufacturers never send out sub-standard goods. I can...

'Flooring industry continues to be indifferent to training': David Cheshire, NVQ assessor level 3 (flooring), says the flooring trade is often all too ready to complain, but is lethargic when it comes to training.(NVQ qualifications)
May 1, 2005... I AGREE totally with Sid Bourne in CFJ (March 2005) under the headline 'Wood flooring industry. scores an own goal' when he talks about how the industry handles complaints. I have attended complaints on variouse types of installations over...

'Linished PVC stairnosing patent bid poses threat': Andrew Oates, a director of Tek-Dek, warns of a competitor trying to set up a worldwide patent.('Rogue patent' bid)(Polyvinyl chloride)
May 1, 2005... I AM a carpet and vinyl fitter by trade. I have used PVC linished stairnosings ever since I did my apprenticeship, which is now almost 25 years ago. I am now a director of Tek-Dek Ltd, which manufactures a linished PVC teak effect decking for...

Welcome for a new FITA floorlayer training, centre.(comment)(Flooring Industry Training association)
May 1, 2005... I WOULD like to congratulate John Roberts and his whole team at FITA-Flooring Industry Training Association, on the successful opening of their newest FITA training centre at Loughborough. I understand their first course--wood laminate...

Training directory.(Training)(Directory)
May 1, 2005... Flooring industry Training Association Advanced carpet fitting May 9-12 (L); Intensive basic carpet fitting May 16-20 (N); Intermediate carpet fitting May 23-27 (N); Laminate and floating wood fitting Jun 1-2 (L); Commercial vinyl fitting Jun...

Linoleum laying training offered.(Training)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... ARMSTRONG FLOOR PRODUCTS is offering flooring contractors the chance to perfect their skills in the installation of linoleum by attending the Armstrong Linoleum Training School. The one-day course covers all aspects of subfloor preparation,...

CPD courses.(Training)
May 1, 2005... Floor manufacturers offering CPD courses: Altro * T: 01462 489568 Amtico * T: 024 7686 1400 Antron * T: 07876 577317 Ardex * T: 01440 714939 Armstrong * T: 0:1235 554848 BAL * T: 01782 591100 Ball & Young * T:...

Views from a mainstream wood supplier.(Help and advice)(Column)
May 1, 2005... A FEW months ago, I visited a wood flooring supplier with somewhat controversial views. But after writing the CFJ article, I began to wonder there it was just that those views did not concur with my own? I decided to resolve the matter by...

Always keep systematic nailing patterns.(Sid Bourne on wood floors)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... In his regular column, SID BOURNE, technical director at Grundorf Terhurne, answers questions from CFJ readers based on his 25 years of installation experience. Q: I installed solid jatoba flooring several months ago. I received a...

Relative humidity: too high or too low?(Bob Mabbutt on subfloors preparation)
May 1, 2005... MOISTURE is the constant source of problems in the construction industry as it has an effect on most materials. We are all familiar with the issue of moisture causing the breakdown of an adhesive bond and the resulting problems with...

When tiles won't stick in new-build property.(Ian Knifton on tiles)
May 1, 2005... A PROBLEM for flooring contractors is that normal tiling adhesives sometimes won't bond to the subfloor in newly-built property. This means that, on the face of it, customers can't have tiled floors in showers, bathrooms and kitchens. Ian...

50 ways your company can help (and make a saving).(Business and the environment)
May 1, 2005... AS a service to readers, CFJ has examined current environmental advice and selected 50 tips for flooring firms (big and small) to help protect the environment. Transport: 1 Stick at 70mph on the motorways instead of cruising at...

Protest over rainforest floor in lottery project.(News file)
May 1, 2005... WORK was halted on the National Lottery-funded refurbishment of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow after allegations that the Merbau flooring being used in the project came from 'illegal' rainforest timber. Around 100 Greenpeace...

Interfloor for 100m [pounds sterling].(Business in brief)(Rutland)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Rutland, the private equity company which owns Interfloor, is said to be offering it for sale for 100m [pounds sterling]. Rutland bought Interfloor for 60m [pounds sterling] in May 2002 and has since invested 21m [pounds sterling] in the...

Tarkett growth in UK.(Business in brief)(United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The UK business of Tarkett grew by 11.8% in 2004, contributing to the company's worldwide growth of 3% with total turnover rising to 1,437m Euro (979m [pounds sterling]), it is reported.

AW courts UK.(Business in brief)(Associated Weavers )(United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Belgian carpet maker Associated Weavers saw profits rise from 1.3m Euros (0.89m [pounds sterling]) in 2003 to 6m Euros (4.1m [pounds sterling]) in 2004. Volume rose by 5.6% and sales were up 5.9%. Most of the increase came from the UK market,...

Hugh Mackay fails again.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... One of the UK's oldest carpet manufacturers, Hugh Mackay, subject of a management buyout last year, has gone into administration again. All 130 employees have received redundancy notices.

Forbo bidder pulls out.(Business in brief)(CVC)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The investment firm CVC has dropped its takeover bid for Forbo, which now plans to focus on restructuring its core business. The company has 5,500 employees and factories and sales organisations around the world.

Belgian acquisition.(Business in brief)(Laminate Flooring Direct )(Laminate Flooring plc )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A Belgian company, LF Direct, has acquired 22 UK stores of Laminate Flooring Direct and Laminate Flooring plc in administration. The deal saved 91 employees' jobs.

'We never take Merbau from logs.(News file)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... LAST month CFJ reported the exposure by the Environmental Investigation Agency of a massive timber smuggling racket from Indonesia to China. The EIA claims that most Merbau flooring sold in Britain is derived from these smuggling...

Contractor wins CFJ camcorder.(News file)(Contract Flooring Journal )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A LATEST model 500 [pounds sterling] Sony digital camcorder was offered by CFJ in a prize draw among all the flooring contractors who voted in our 2005 flooring industry awards. The winner was Alan Duffin of Ideal Floors, Preston. Alan...

Quote.(News file)(Construction Industry)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... QUOTE: 'Human activities are causing environmental damage on a massive scale throughout the world, and biodiversity--the very basis for life on Earth--is declining at an alarming rate' --Kofi Annan, UN secretary-general, commenting on a...

Help fight for fairer payment practices.(Contact your MP now)
May 1, 2005... FLOORING contractors, particularly CFA members, are being urged to speak out now for fairer payment practices. June 21 is the final deadline for comments on the proposed changes to the Construction Act after the recently completed...

Flowcrete 'eliminates waste'.(News file)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... FLOWCRETE claims to have developed a 100% waste-free flooring system, eliminating buckets from the application process and replacing them with recyclable plastic IBC reusable containers. In a trial of the system more than 10,000sq m of...

Age creeps up on the flooring industry.(News file)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... OVER 38% of the directors of UK flooring companies who have served for eight years or more will be over 60 this year, according to a new study of the 2168 executives who run Britain's top 1,068 flooring companies. The report also looks at...

Pergo boss walks out.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Goran Bernhoff, president and CEO of Pergo, has resigned, saying that he opposes the plans proposed by influential new shareholders, according to reports from Sweden.

Contract vinyl is up.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Western Europe contract vinyl sales rose, but residential vinyl sales fell, says a new financial report from Forbo in Switzerland. Linoleum sales grew strongly in North America, but declined in Western Europe, it says.

CPA issues good news.(Industry in brief)(Construction Products Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The construction products industry (including floorcoverings) has enjoyed a buoyant start to 2005, says the Construction Products Association's new construction activity barometer.

CSCS to be demanded.(Industry in brief)(Construction Skills Certification Scheme)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Insurance companies are poised to demand that construction firms, including flooring contractors, state publicly how many of their workers are CSCS-qualified as evidence of a competent workforce.

Market takes hold.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The adhesives market is growing again after a steep decline in the 1990s, according to a new report by AMA Research. In 2004 the market was estimated at 722m [pounds sterling] and forecast to expand to 790m [pounds sterling] in 2008. T: 01242...

Kingspan acquisition.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Kingspan, supplier of building products including access flooring, has bought the Irish timber frame specialist Century Homes for 68m [pounds sterling].

Interface on ethics list.(Industry in brief)
May 1, 2005... Interface is included on the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List by Business Ethics magazine.

Facing chemical attack.(Industry in brief)(FeRFA)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... FeRFA has published a new document Chemical Resistance of Resin Flooring including the new standard method of measurement for determining chemical attack. www.ferfa.org.uk

Gaskell 'bits' are quickly snapped up.(News file)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... FIVE parts of Gaskell Plc were quickly sold off as going concerns by the company's administrators after their appointment on March 18. The biggest of these, the contract carpet division, was sold to an MBO led by the group's former chief...

Study on success of ethnic contractors.(News file)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... CARDIFF Community and Taff housing associations with the CITB have secured funding from the Welsh Assembly for research to identify hew many black and minority ethnic construction contractors and consultants are operating in Wales and factors...

Ryalux moves into European contract market.(EXPORT)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... RYALUX has been awarded the European fire certificate which allows the company to sell into the contract market across mainland Europe. The certificate applies to the V&A Twist, Devonshire Twist and Chatsworth Classics ranges. To pass the...

Construction orders.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Construction orders in the year to February 2005 rose by 6% with public non-housing orders (excluding infrastructure) in the same period up by 10%. Private commercial orders were 8% higher, according to the DTI.

Curbs on drivers.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Drivers of heavy goods vehicles in the UK are now restricted to working an average 48 hour week and a maximum of 10 hours in any 24 hour period in terms of the new Road Transport (Working time) regulations.

Safety qualifications.(Industry in brief)
May 1, 2005... The British Safety Council has two new professional health and safety qualifications for managers in the workplace. T: 020 8741 1231 www.britishsafetycouncil.org

NBS Plus listing.(Industry in brief)
May 1, 2005... The A Proctor Group acoustic and thermal insulation product information is now listed within NBS Plus. www.proctorgroup.com

Healthcare scheme.(Industry in brief)(British Contract Furnishing Association )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... An enhanced Healthcare Scheme is being offered exclusively to members of the British Contract Furnishing Association by specialist consultant MLP. www.thebcfa.com T: 01494 896790

CITB revamps website.(Construction Industry Training Board)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... CITB-ConstructionSkills has overhauled its website to create a 'one-stop-shop' construction industry information portal. Employers can conduct business services online, including booking the health & safety test. www.citb.co.uk

CSCS in 10th year.(Construction Skills Certification Scheme)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... CSCS, endorsed by 220 trades, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with over 700,000 cardholders. An increasing number of clients are requesting CSCS cards in tender documents and at site gates.

Revenue collects.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Inland Revenue is reported to have raised an extra 26m [pounds sterling]\ in extra tax from thousands of contractors following its latest crack down on bogus self-employment.

Floorlayer forced to uplift crappy carpet.(HEALTH & SAFETY)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A FLOORLAYER was instructed by a retailer to replace a bedroom carpet which he found to be covered by excrement. He also had to remove a bucket of urine in the same room. This case has been revealed by the president of the NICF, Tony...

Boen opens trade shop at new premises.(News file)(Boen UK)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... BOEN UK has opened a trade shop and showroom at its new premises in Farnborough. Located three minutes from the M3's junction 4, the new purpose designed facility has plenty of customer parking. The 120sq m showroom displays samples of all...

Devi appoints new Scottish distributor.(News file)(Ceramic Tile Distributors)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... DEVI has appointed CTD (Ceramic Tile Distributors) as an official distributor of Devimat underfloor heating system. The move follows CTD's acquisition by the Saint Gobain Group, which has over 40 subsidiaries in the UK. Devi is Saint...

NICF special offer.(National Institute of Carpets and Floorlayers)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... NICF members receive a special rate on the Mobile POS for floorlayers to process credit card payments via mobile phones. The set-up fee is 75 [pounds sterling] plus an annual licence and bank charges. T: 0870 060 2201

FTBA benefits.(Business in brief)(Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Recent Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association grants included 1,000 [pounds sterling] for a holiday for a floorlayer and his terminally ill wife and four children; and 400 [pounds sterling] for a self-employed carpet fitter from Cheshire to...

On the right tracks.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Kronospan UK has begun a six-week trial, sending 180 lorry-loads--4,500 tonnes of wood--by rail rather than road from Aberystwyth 75 miles to its woodchip factory. If successful Kronospan will apply to the Strategic Rail Authority for a five...

Sex still a factor.(Business in brief)
May 1, 2005... Britain is still channelling young people into jobs traditional to their sex and failing to provide real opportunity, according to the Equal Opportunities Commission's new Free to Choose report. But it does see some progress in the construction...

Flooring is soap star.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Twintec Industrial Flooring has won a 140,000 [pounds sterling] contract for a warehouse in Skelmersdale for Proctor and Gamble, soap powder manufacturer.

Contracts awarded.(PC Flooring)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... PC Flooring (Southern) has won floor screeding contracts with Mowlem at the Lanterns Learning Children Centre in Winchester; with Street Construction in Botley Park Hotel, Southampton; and with Interserve at Clystheath Primary School, Exeter,...

Chinese laminate rocket.(Power Dekor)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Power Dekor, a major laminate flooring manufacturer in China, reports a revenue growth of 1.26bn yen (89m [pounds sterling]) last year, up 56% from 2003. The company's profits jumped 150% last year, to 120m yen (7.6m [pounds sterling]), and its...

Flooring 'chatline'.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... 'Live help' is a feature on the website of a US flooring retailer Miami Style Tile and Marble Inc. Online visitors can ask about ceramic, marble, granite, laminate or wood flooring, including installation problems, and chat in real time to a...

US recycling bid.(Carpet America Recovery Effort )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), a US organisation, aims to recycle 22% of carpet waste with automatic sorting of carpets according to face fibre composition using infrared spectroscopy. The US makes 45% of the world's carpet production.

Contractor sued.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A US flooring contractor faces a 37,000 [pounds sterling] fine after the Environmental Protection Agency alleged violations of asbestos requirements under the Federal Clean Air Act when the company was installing flooring in two classrooms at a...

Tarkett Chile link.(Aconcagua Timber)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Tarkett has formed a joint venture with Chilean wood panel company Aconcagua Timber to produce laminate flooring for the North and South American markets, which are growing rapidly.

European deaths.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Over 5,000 workers within the EU die from work-related accidents annually and 300,000 suffer serious injuries, leaving them with permanent disabilities, according to new figures.

Iranian carpets dip.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Iranian exports of hand-woven carpets in the 12 months to March 20, 2005, worth 250m [pounds sterling] was 17.7% lower than the previous year, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran's customs administration.

Stolen covers.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Criminal gangs in South Africa are reported to be stealing scores of cast-iron manhole covers. The authorities are now turning to the use of heavier concrete covers with virtually no resale value.

Russian forests hit by Chinese wood floor use.(THE ENVIRONMENT)
May 1, 2005... GROWING demand for wood by China's booming flooring and furniture industries is claimed to be threatening huge areas of Russia's Siberian forests, despite pledges by both governments to protect environmentally sensitive areas. Russia, home...

Laminate flood in China.(Laminate Flooring)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... LAMINATE flooring, regarded as a luxury item in China just a few years ago, is now reported m be inundating the market. When laminates were first introduced into China from Germany, Sweden, Austria and Norway in the early 1990s few could afford...

Irish contract show.(Events in brief)
May 1, 2005... Floors Expo will be held at CityWest Hotel, Dublin, from June 28-29, alongside Clean Expo Ireland. Exhibitors include Karndean, Irish Flooring Products, Ardex, Mapei, F Ball, International Timber, Steirer Parkett, Roc Group, Lano Carpets,...

100% Detail grows.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... 100% Detail (September 22-25) at Earls Court 1, now on four days, will be 40% bigger, according to the organiser. T: 020 8910 7998 www.100percentdetail.co.uk

Moscow move.(Flooring Russia)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Flooring Russia (October 11-13) has moved to the international exhibition venue, Expocentr, near Red Square in the centre of Moscow. www.flooringrussia.com

Boost for Surfaces.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The new World Market Centre in Las Vegas coincides with Surfaces (Feb 1-3, 2006). The new centre, now under construction, will house permanent showrooms for floorcoverings as well as furniture, decorative accessories, lighting and home...

Holiday warning.(Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Ucatt is warning members that they will lose holidays if the Tories win the election and reject Labour's pledge to stop construction firms counting bank holidays as part of the statutory four week leave.

Online tax returns.(Have you heard?)
May 1, 2005... All Construction Industry Scheme tax forms must be filed online from next April, but currently only 10% of firms make electronic returns, according to the National Federation of Builders.

On being detached.(Have you heard?)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Most English people want to live in a detached house, according to a MORI survey for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

Diary dates.(News file)(Calendar)
May 1, 2005... BATHROOMS & KITCHENS EXPO May 8-10 ExCel, London T: 01923 690685 www.bkexpo.co.uk SED construction show May 17-19 Milton Keynes T: 020 8652 4657 www.sed.co.uk DESIGN PRIMA May 17-19 Billingsgate...

Pub quiz champs up for Interbuild trades challenge.(News file)
May 1, 2005... STEVE BRADBURN with Terry and Nick, from Bradburn Flooring of Warrington, Cheshire, ate not just highly competent floorlayers (even if they say so themselves). They have also made a name for themselves on the local pub quiz circuit. These...

Brits for Domotex.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A total of 2,090 people from the UK visited Domotex this year, according to officially audited figures. Overall 43,855 were at this year's show compared with 46,578 in 2004 and 40,132 in 2003. This year 58% of visitors were from outside...

Coverings sold out.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Coverings, the tile and stone trade show, in Orlando, Florida, (May 3-6) was sold out weeks ago with over 1,400 exhibitors from over 100 countries. www.coverings.com

Surface Design shines.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Over 3,500 visitors attended Surface Design Show in March, 60% up on last year with exhibition space rising by 62%, according to the organiser. Six of the UK's top 10 architectural practices and six of the top interior design consultancies are...

Domotex Asia records.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor 2005 in Shanghai has broken records with 588 exhibitors on 46,000sq m of space (up 33.3%) in four halls with 25,300 visitors (up 33.5%).

FloorTek this month.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... FloorTek Expo--showcasing the latest carpet industry technologies and services worldwide--is from May 17-19 in Dalton, Georgia. www.americanfloor.org

Asbestos seminar.(Events in brief)
May 1, 2005... A free seminar on the new duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises will be held in London on May 25. www.ems-online.co.uk

Getting in touch.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... SIBEC UK is a new event to enable contractors to reach buyers from operators in the local authority leisure and educational sectors. It is at The Belfry conference centre on June 8-9. There is a formal dinner and golf day. T: 01932 267 632...

CFJ five years ago.(News file)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... In May 2000 we reported on the launch of FITA (Flooring Industry Training Association), established by the CFA and NICF. FITA has since gained in strength and influence with its second training centre--at Loughborough--being established...

Gerflor: Andrew Davis.(appointments)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Gerflor has named ANDREW DAVIS as a national specialist for sport to work with sports end-users and become a key support to Gerflor's sales team. Andrew has been with Gerflor for three years, most recently in the sales team covering contract...