Contract Flooring Journal articles from September 2006

Contract Flooring Journal archives from September 2006

Skills crisis hits flooring trade.(Editor's comment)
September 1, 2006... THE latest CITB Construction Skills Network report published in CFJ last month should serve as a wake-up call to the flooring industry. It reckons that er 7,500 new floorlayers will be needed in the UK between now and 2010 to meet the expected...

Talking about carpet.(Installation of the month)(of Brintons Ltd. at the Colorado Convention Centre)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... DIFFERENT things are spoken about at the many meetings held annually in the Colorado Convention Centre in Denver, but the striking axminster carpets from BRINTONS are bound to be a talking point. Situated in America's Rocky Mountain state,...

'Sub-standard underlays are damaging the trade'.(Laminate underlays)(Acoustalay of Beacon)
September 1, 2006... Adrian Stammers, Md of Beacon, Challenges the Industry to Maintain Standards on underlay AS our company approaches our 20th anniversary, we believe we have become one of the UK's leading underlay manufacturers. Sales of our Acoustalay...

'Fitters don't listen to us on storage of cork tiles'.(Site conditions)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Raymond Bacon, managing Partner of Siesta Cork Tiles, Writes about site conditions: THE comments of flooring contractors from East Anglia in the CFJ contractors' forum (June 2006) were very interesting regarding site conditions. They...

'Don't follow standards blindly'.(Moisture in wood)
September 1, 2006... Peter Kaczmar, of TRADA, discusses the dangers of adhering to standards without taking practical issues into account: IN my role as an independent consultant dealing with installation and performance of wooden flooring I am always uneasy at...

The Glues Brothers.(Readers forum)(Cartoon)
September 1, 2006... REMEMBER HOW YOU LET THE APPRENTICE EASE THE DOORS AT THAT CASINO JOB AND THE ENDED UP MORE LIKE STABLE DOORS? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEVER TO LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN WE AGREED--WELL JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THIS LOT [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Check before you start the blame game!(The president)(flooring contractors)
September 1, 2006... 'I KNOW the cause of problems with this floor,' said the school caretaker (oops! Sorry, school estate manager!) as we clambered over huge bumps in the new oak hall floor, 'they supplied domestic flooring instead of commercial.' 'Really,' I...

Training directory.(floor coverings)(Directory)
September 1, 2006... fita Flooring industry training association TEXTILE Carpet fitting starter course: Sep 19 (N); Basic carpet fitting: Sep 11-15 (L); Intermediate carpet fitting: Sep 25-27 (N); Advanced carpet fitting: Oct 9-13 (N); Carpet tile carpet...

John Roberts invites you to... Get an NVQ in just two days.(National Vocational Qualifications)(Experienced Workers Practical Assessment )
September 1, 2006... John Roberts gives a step-by-step account of how to gain an NVQ in only two days thanks to the new Experienced Workers Practical Assessment (EWPA), first announced in CFJ (July 2006) ONCE you have an NVQ you can apply for a CSCS card which...

Check the crawl spaces before you walk away.(on moisture in wood flooring)
September 1, 2006... SID BOURNE, technical director at Grundorf Terhurne, answers questions from CFJ readers based on his 25 years of installation experience. Q: I don't understood why you need to control the moisture of wood flooring, as I believe this is...

Don't let your choice spoil the installation.(on adhesive selection)(Column)
September 1, 2006... CHOOSING an adhesive is not as simple as it appears it should be. This month I'll consider adhesive choice for textile and resilient floorcoverings. * Why is there so much adhesive choice? Although floorcoverings are referred to as...

The red tape comes before the green light.(on bureacracy in exporting)
September 1, 2006... PETER ALLAN, export sales manager at Burmatex, continues his CFJ series with advice to UK flooring companies on exporting: ALL countries need to know the products and volumes exported and imported. They therefore implement control systems,...

Anglo French cove fosters entente cordiale.(on international training)(Altro Group PLC training sessions for flooring contractors)
September 1, 2006... PART of my role in Altro's technical services department is to conduct training schools for flooring contractors and other parties. They are often at the request of contractors who employ more than one of floorlayer in need of a little...

Here's how to get loads of tile protection.(on supporting particularly heavy loads)(Column)
September 1, 2006... LAST month we concluded the seven-month series on the importance of using the correct movement joints in ceramic and stone floors, discussing how an uncoupling system allows independent movement of the surface covering from the substrate. ...

Take cover or else you could be washed up.(on liability insurance)
September 1, 2006... IS your flooring business properly insured? Simon Thomas, group commercial director of the award winning broker Moorhouse, answers questions from flooring contractors: Q: Employers' liability insurance... do I really need it? A: YES!...

ACID sets out its campaign platform.(on legal action to protect your IP)(Anti Copying In Design)
September 1, 2006... IN December 2005 Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown appointed Andrew Gowers to head an independent review on the framework of intellectual property in the UK. Submissions were invited, not only from organisations and stakeholders...

10 top tips for getting paid.(on looking after your cashflow)(for construction contractors)
September 1, 2006... 1 Agree contractual terms: Before starting work, agree the key contractual terms in writing. This will help clarify your rights, limit your liabilities and provide certainty as to your position as the project progresses. Agree at least the...

Stolen wood: suppliers named: environmental group appeals for a boycott of top branded Merbau floors.(News file)(Junckers, Kahrs and Tarkett)(Environmental Investigation Agency)
September 1, 2006... THE Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is appealing for a boycott of Merbau wood flooring from Europe's leading manufacturers after claiming that they are continuing to trade in materials of uncertain origin. EIA alleges that the...

'We have set up an action plan'.(Junckers response)(Junckers Industrier A/S)(Environmental Investigation Agency)
September 1, 2006... Lars Hermansen, CEO of Junckers Industrier A/S, comments: 'WE were surprised to see the latest EIA report dated July 31. After the first EIA and Telapak report earlier this year, Junckers went to Malaysia in March to audit our suppliers. We...

'Any threat must be weeded out'.(Kahrs response)
September 1, 2006... Carsten Svantesson, Kahrs vice president marketing and sales for the world, responds: 'KaHRS is a 150 year old company with wood as the main raw material source. Our past, our present and our future depends on the raw material we can...

'All our suppliers are reputable'.(Tarkett response)(Harald Schuren on Environmental Investigation Agency's report)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Harald Schuren, director of communications for Tarkett, responds: 'We import less than our offered allowance of 2% and emphasise that we only work with experienced and reputable suppliers who work according to the principles of sustainable...

'You can tell if it's Amtico': Amtico CEO reveals his approach to competition and competitors.(News file)(Jonathan Duck of Amtico Flooring Div. )(Interview)
September 1, 2006... THE Amtico brand remains as strong as ever, according to the company's CEO Jonathan Duck (pictured). He was speaking exclusively to CFJ editor, Alan Bakalor, following the company's recent re-financing. The key question is whether he...

BRE green awards.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... BRE Certification has awarded Environmental Profiles to three flooring manufacturers: Interface Europe for palette and tufted carpets; Freudenberg Building Systems UK for Noraplan floorcovering; and Tarkett-Marley Floors for Elite PUR and...

BASF buys Degussa.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... BASF has acquired Degussa AG's construction chemicals business for 2.2bn Euros (1.49bn [pounds sterling]) including production sites and sales centres in over 50 countries as well as a research and development centre in Trostberg, Germany....

Invista invests.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Invista affiliate, Arteva Specialties, has acquired the yarn processing assets of Mitex, a leading German yarn processing company. Mitex's capabilities will enable Invista to develop new finished yarn products and expand its product portfolio.

Remmers relocates.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Remmers (UK) has relocated to new larger and custom designed premises in Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex, including three times as much warehouse space and a training facility. T: 0845 3730103

MBO at CRL.(Business in brief)(M.J. Gleeson Group PLC shares are purchased by Concrete Repairs )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Senior management at Concrete Repairs (CRL) has acquired the issued share capital for the specialist contracting business from M J Gleeson Group plc. CRL has been trading for more than 50 years. CRL staff will remain unchanged in each of the...

Car park award for CRL.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Concrete Repairs (CRL), together with Warings Construction Group and BAA have won the Parking Review journal's best refurbished car park 2006 award for the multi-storey car park 3 at Gatwick Airport South Terminal. T: 020 8288 4848...

Acquisition bid reported.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Forbo is seeking acquisitions, according to a report in Switzerland.

Quote.(News file)
September 1, 2006... 'Twenty years and $40 billion. They seem like good round numbers' --Michael Dell, computer magnate 'One of the marks of excellent people is that they never compare themselves with others. They only compare themselves with themselves...

Sub-contractor abuses remain at record levels.(State of trade survey)
September 1, 2006... A HIGH incidence of retention abuse and pay when paid is recorded in the latest State of Trade survey for the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC). The new survey, which covers the second quarter of 2006, was produced by Northumbria...

Builders are busier.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Construction orders in the year to June rose by 8% compared with the previous 12 months, says DTI. During the same period orders were up in private commercial (26%) industrial (17%) and public housing and housing associations (29%), but down in...

80.4m [pounds sterling] profit for Tarmac.(Business in brief)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Tarmac is reported to have achieved operating profits of 80.4m [pounds sterling] in the six months to July 2006, as it continues to restructure underperforming parts of the business. In the UK, Tarmac plans to invest more than 20m [pounds...

Mohawk is making more.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Mohawk reports second-quarter profit rising 22%, boosted by higher sales of hard flooring such as tiles. Sales rose 27% to $2.06bn (1.08bn [pounds sterling]) from $1.62bn (0.85bn [pounds sterling]) last year.

Readymix is doing better.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Screed supplier Readymix has pushed up operating profits 25% in the first half of the year to 6.8m [pounds sterling] from 5.4 m [pounds sterling] last time.

Interfaceflor successes.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Interfaceflor, part of Interface, has won the Sir Peter Parker Award at the Business Commitment to the Environment (BCE) Awards 2006. And at the eighth Arena Network Survey of Environmental Management in Northern Ireland the company scored...

Armatile wins again.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Armatile has won an award from The Tile Association for the second time in three years. The Best Technical Use of a Tile in a Construction Contract category went to the Northern Ireland firm for its work on the Ennis Information Age Park in Co...

'Aggressive climate' forces contractor to close.(People file)(Andrew Bruce & Co.)
September 1, 2006... ONE of the UK's long established flooring contractors, London-based Andrew Bruce & Co, ceases trading on September 1. The company, a long-standing member of the CFA, was founded in London by Andrew Bruce in 1954, initially trading...

Peter Evans hands over the hot seat.(of the Peter Evans Flooring to Glyn Thomas)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... AFTER his election to the Council of the Contract Flooring Association, Peter Evans has handed the job of md at Peter Evans Flooring to Glyn Thomas. Peter has headed the company which carries his name for 40 years. He considers it's now...

CFA contractor gets a rise in office job.(People file)(Rudge Brothers and James Flooring)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A LARGE amount of furniture in an office was no problem for the floorlayers from CFA flooring contractor member, Rudge Brothers and James Flooring (RBJ), when they were required to fit 1,500sq m of Entropy carpet tiles from Interface at AQA...

Materials sales fall.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Builders' merchants' sales fell by 1.1% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2006, say the Builders Merchants Federation. Plumbing, heating and ironmongery products were down 0.5%, blocks aggregates and cement rose 1.2%, while general business...

MDF price surge.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... The prices of manufactured wood, notably MDF, have risen by over 30% in the past six months, builders are complaining.

Business crashes.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Accidents in company vehicles claim 66 lives a year with 6,300 injuries, costing the British taxpayer over 200m [pounds sterling], according to the HSE. A new HSE on-line tool gives guidance on workplace transport. www.hse.gov.uk T: 0845...

A-Plant to invest 80m [pounds sterling].(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... A-Plant is to invest over 80m [pounds sterling] during the next 12 months on new plant and tool available for hire. T: 01925 281044

More are firms failing.(Business in brief)(according to Experian)(construction industry)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Construction business failures have risen 7% this year, says credit checking agency Experian. So far 857 building firms have failed in 2006. That's 55 more than at the same time last year. Meanwhile 16 materials firms have gone bust so far,...

Activity increases.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Construction sector activity, including New business gains and planned company expansions, increased in July after June's five-month low, says the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

Money from power.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2006... Businesses which produce electricity from microgeneration-including micro-wind turbines, solar panels and other localised energy production technologies--can now sell unused power back to their energy suppliers. T: 0845 015 0010

Screed pump crushes fitter's fingers: his employer is fined 3,000 [pounds sterling].(News file)(Ian Goom vs. Robert Haywood)
September 1, 2006... AN 18-year old construction worker's fingers were partially amputated during the laying of concrete flooring at Wembley National Stadium. The incident was described at the City of London Magistrates Court on July 17. Ian Goom, trading as...

Carpet apprentice scheme established.(News file)
September 1, 2006... UP to 20 West Midlands students between 14 and 16 are being enrolled into a scheme designed to help solve the long-term recruitment issues in the carpet industry as the youngsters learn the specific skills they require. The young...

Arkwright week is awright.(News file)(CITB-ConstructionSkills introduced its workshop at the National Construction College )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... CITB-ConstructionSkills recently hosted its Arkwright Week at the National Construction College in Norfolk. Sixteen talented young people (pictured below left) were invited to learn about a career in construction with practical experience...

Sickies cost a packet.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2006... Sick days cost the construction industry 492 [pounds sterling] per employee per year, says the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. An average of 8.3 days per employee are lost due to ill health. The CBI estimates that the cost of...

'Work makes us ill'.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2006... Two million British workers suffer ill heath believed to have been caused or made by worse by work, says the Health and Safety Executive's self reported Work-related Illness survey for 2004/2005.

Youth are more at risk.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2006... More than 4,000 young people are seriously injured at work every year, new research by the TUC reveals. It concludes that lack of training among under 25-year-olds in the UK had led to a higher accident rate among the age group, compared with...

Crime on building sites.(Industry in brief)(PricewaterhouseCoopers survey of economic crime )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Over 43% construction and engineering firms are victims of economic crime, a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers reveals. It warns firms to be more careful and check financial backgrounds of both clients and subcontractors. Theft of material and...

Quicker asbestos pay-outs.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2006... The government is promising quicker compensation for people suffering from lung cancer after exposure to asbestos. Insurance claims handlers will be told to give priority to mesothelioma claims, while the Department for Work and Pensions works...

Growth? Yes, but energy prices squeeze margins.('Contractors report rising material costs')(Construction Products Association and the Construction Confederation survey report)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... MANUFACTURERS of construction products are enjoying an overall rise in sales, but this positive outlook is being curbed by continuing rises in energy costs, which are squeezing both manufacturers' and contractors' margins and driving up tender...

Puhos Board earns Chain of Custody award.(News file)(Sustainable Forestry Initiative)(from BM TRADA Certification Ltd.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... PUHOS BOARD (UK) has received the BM TRADA Certification's forest products chain of custody (CoC) recognition under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). ('No 038/BMT--COC--0025' with 'TJI's 75% SFI Certified'). This relates to activity...

CFA regional meetings.(The trade in brief)
September 1, 2006... The CFA has organised two autumn meetings for members and guests. Western region has a dinner at the Celtic Manor Hotel, Newport, Gwent. on October 11; Yorkshire region has a meeting at the Holiday Inn, Ossett, on October 25. For further...

Amtico launches CPD.(The trade in brief)
September 1, 2006... Amtico has launched a RIBA-approved CPD on the uses and benefits of high quality LVT. with guidance on specification, installation and maintenance. The seminar fulfils one hour of CPD requirements for RIBA members. T: 024 7686 1400

Altro offers slips CPD.(The trade in brief)
September 1, 2006... Altro has launched a slips and trips CPD presentation for contractors, specifiers and end users to explain the how new CIRIA guidelines Safer Surfaces to Walk On will impact on their businesses. The presentation can count towards professional...

World Cup prize winners.(The trade in brief)(Polyflor promotional activities)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Flooting contractors Michael Eva, of MJP Eva Flooring in Truro, and Emie Lamond, of Calton Floors in Livingston, have won 2,000 [pounds sterling] and 1,000 [pounds sterling] respectively in Polyflor's recent World Cup themed holiday voucher...

Shift work guidance.(The trade in brief)
September 1, 2006... HSE has issued a new publication raising awareness of the health and safety risks of shift work and suggesting sensible measures employers, safety representatives and employees can use to reduce its negative impact. More than 3.5m people in the...

Insulation advice online.(The trade in brief)
September 1, 2006... A guide for contractors doing acoustic insulation work on buildings has been published by Sound Research as part of a Government-funded project. www.soundresearch.co.uk

Claire fights for you to get paid.(United Kingdom. Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996)(Early Day Motion)(Claire-Curtis Thomas)
September 1, 2006... CLAIRE-CURTIS THOMAS MP says the Government will have to take notice if over 200 MPs sign her Early Day Motion (EDM) asking for the imposition of a secure payment system in the construction industry. So far 178 MPs signatures appear on...

'Many rake it in'.(Flooring contractor profits)(Plimsoll Publishing survey)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... ALMOST two thirds of UK flooring contractors make 'fantastic' returns, whilst a third are struggling to break even, claims a new study by industry analysts Plimsoll Publishing. The research looks at the financial performance of each of the...

Polyflor has walk-on role in Big Brother.(News file)(Polyflor Expona art & design collection)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... POLYFLOR was again 'walked all over' by the 'house mates' in the seventh series of Big Brother, which reached its climax a couple of weeks ago. Timber effect luxury vinyl tiles in a Chestnut design from the Polyflor Expona art & design...

Open house at upgraded Burmatex design studio.(News file)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... BURMATEX is inviting architects, designers and specifiers to use its new dedicated design studio and showroom at Ossett. The new studio will be the focus for the creative team to work on the development of new ranges and interpreting client...

Floor photography offer.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2006... A new on-site contract carpet and flooring photography service has been launched by David Jardine of Jardine Photographic. He says: 'Using high-end 12 mega-pixel digital cameras, we can go virtually anywhere in the UK. Prices start from 250...

Woolsafe inspectors plan.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2006... The WoolSafe Organisation has unveiled its registered inspectors network designed as a service to contractrors, consumers, retailers and manufacturers. A free booklet 'The safe way to care for your wool carpets' is available. T: 01943 850817...

Corporate manslaughter.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2006... A new bill, due for a second reading debate on October 10, will make corporate manslaughter a crime. Companies will be liable for due to a general breach of the duty of care by the firm. Unlimited fines could be imposed, but individual...

Retirement saving falls.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2006... Only 55% of people save enough for old age, 46% less than last year, Scottish Widows research reveals. Meanwhile, 28% make no form of pension saving, up from 17%.

Recruitment worries.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2006... Half small and medium sized companies cite the tack of good staff as the most common reason for business failure, says insurance giant AXA.

Architect wins iPod.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2006... Juan Pinol, an architect with Darling Associates Architects, has won an iPod Nano in the prize draw on the PCl website to mark the arrival of the improved PCI-Nanolight range. T: 0161 794 7411 www.pci.uk.com

Carpet can tell your sex.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2006... A sensor carpet to tell a person's age and gender has reportedly been developed in Japan. The prototype requires people to walk across it shoeless, but the scientists aim to improve the technology for use in retail stores to analyse shopping...

Assets of failed carpet firms fetch over 1m [pounds sterling].(News file)(Kingsmead and Causeway Carpets)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... PLANT and machinery of two carpet manufacturers in administration, Causeway and Kingsmead, have together raised over 1m [pounds sterling]. The disposals were arranged by commercial property agent, Eddisons. Acting on behalf of Kroll,...

DVD features wood flooring.(News file)("Hardwood Flooring: A Guide To Fitting and Finishing" from British Hardwoods)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... BRITISH HARDWOODS has developed a DVD entitled 'Hardwood flooring- a guide to fitting and finishing' for both trade and domestic customers. It covers everything from initial preparation to fitting, finishing and maintaining a floor. ...

Tarkett-Marley floors has 100% designs for show.(News file)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... TARKETT-MARLEY FLOORS will be at 100% Design (September 21-24) on stand L30 featuring several new products, including Veneto XF Linoleum with the new extreme finish surface protection. It is available in 2mm, 2.5ram, or 3.2mm thicknesses with...

CMS launches Sound Guide.(News file)(CMS Acoustic Solutions )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... CMS ACOUSTIC SOLUTIONS has launched The Sound Guide for specifiers. This free application-led directory provides detailed information on over 200 acoustic and anti-vibration products. Annually updated, the CMS Sound Guide contains key...

A&K price guide.(Products in brief)(Atkinson & Kirby)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Atkinson & Kirby has a new trade price guide. The handy sized A5 guide features many new products including Diamond multi-layer range 22-6 a 22mm thick board in Oak with a 6mm wearlayer and Platinum FineLine high specification designer...

Matrix 100 XT unveiled.(Products in brief)
September 1, 2006... Lano Carpets has introduced Matrix 100 XT loop pile carpet tiles for the commercial office sector, upgraded from Matrix 100. Made from 100% solution dyed polypropylene, it is available in 50cm square tiles. www.lano.com T: 0032 5665 4270

Gerflor unveils Taralay.(Products in brief)
September 1, 2006... Taralay Impressions multi-layered acoustic flooring from Gerflor comes in six designs and two types: Comfort with a very high density foam backing and Standard Multilayered without foam. T: 01926 401500

Ulster name changes.(Products in brief)
September 1, 2006... Ulster Carpets has changed the name of one of its ranges. Verona will be known as Ariana. www.ulstercarpets.com T: 028 3833 4433

Hardwood reference.(Products in brief)
September 1, 2006... The American Hardwood Export Council (AH EC)launches the second edition of its architectural publication, Hardwood References, at 100% Detail (September 21-24). www.ahec-europe.org

Laminate standard.(Products in brief)
September 1, 2006... The CE mark for EN 14041 compliant laminate flooring comes into force on January 1, 2007, EPLF has announced. www.eplf.com