Contract Flooring Journal articles from September 2007

Contract Flooring Journal archives from September 2007

Natural History Museum bones up on wood floors.(Installation of the month)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] PRE-OILED Prime European flooring, supplied by THE NATURAL WOOD FLOOR COMPANY (NWFC), was recently installed in the Natural History Museum by FPS FLOORING. The contract, for a total of 1,168sq m of 100mm...

Show organizer hits back at criticism.(Readers forum)(Viewpoint essay)
September 1, 2007... Paul Sweeney, event director, National Floor Show, responds to comments in CFJ last month by Simon James, of Polyflor: THE comments by Mr James on London Floor Show are a little unfair and therefore I would like to explain why the show was...

'Flaws exposed in Robust Detail system'.(Readers forum)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... David Holder, of CMS Acoustic Solutions, reveals some 'Home Truths' about Robust Detail: THE Robust Detail (RD)scheme is held up by many as a sure-fire and hassle-free way to achieve Part E compliance. Few seem to realise that 2.5% of the...

'I was given the (tomato) pip, it was hair-raising!'.(Customers from Hell!)
September 1, 2007... Martin Patey, of Dappa Flooring, recounts his experiences with his own 'Customers from Hell': SITTING in my office on Friday pm, I found myself amused by your 'Customer from Hell' article by Jeff Sharpe (CFJ, June 2007) and cannot resist...

'We must all be talking rubbish!'.(Dealing with waste)
September 1, 2007... Following the CFJ editor's comment (August, 2007) Pete Thomas, environmental manager at Tarkett, urges everyone in the flooring industry to be more proactive in dealing with waste: THIS year I attended EcoBuild and it afforded me a really...

'Lower specification must not mean low quality'.(Readers forum)
September 1, 2007... TRADA flooring specialist Peter Kaczmar warns against lowering standards: THE other day I came across a sample of flooring sent into one of our consultants for species identification. It consisted of a length of quarter-sawn V-jointed,...

You'll get an 'A' for an apprentice.(Training)
September 1, 2007... Robert MacGregor, business support manager for ConstructionSkills, advises flooring companies on the benefits of apprentices: APPRENTICES are the key to the future of the construction industry and to your own business. With over 87,000...

With any verbal contract, it's best to get it in writing.(The president: Terry Wolfe)
September 1, 2007... 'VERBAL contracts are as binding as written ones'. That may well be true, but there is no substitute for a good written contract when it comes to a dispute. In the case of a flooring contractor, this usually means a written quotation,...

Put something back into the trade by becoming a flooring assessor.(comment)
September 1, 2007... AT a recent CFA members' meeting in Yorkshire the shortage of sector assessors was highlighted which is hampering employers' efforts to achieve a qualified workforce and convert CSCS experienced worker cards to Skilled Worker cards. The...

Training directory.(Directory)
September 1, 2007... Flooring industry Training Association TEXTILE Basic carpet fitting Aug 13-17 (L); Oct 1-5 (N) Intermediate carpet fitting Sep 10-14 (N). Carpet tile fitting Sep 20-21 (N). VINYL FLOORING Domestic vinyl fitting Aug...

The glues brothers.(Cartoon)
September 1, 2007... MAURICE-QUICK CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NORMAN'S TRAPPED IN HIS CAR-NEEDS CUTTING OUT [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MOBILE PHONE... SANAV... HANDS FREE .. BLUETOOTH... BATTERY CHARGER... Ipod IT'S A TANGLED...

Cover yourself when applying an adhesive.(on coverage)(Column)
September 1, 2007... ALTHOUGH not an issue in the problematic sense, here at Laybond we do still get a lot of queries regarding coverage rates, particularly with regards to adhesives but also on membranes and smoothing compounds. Packaging information from...

Questions on cleaning are flooding in.(on maintenance)
September 1, 2007... IT is no wonder that, following one of the wettest summers on record, cleaning related questions remain amongst the most frequently asked of manufacturers' technical help lines. With increased quantities of water and dirt walked in to...

Tell the customer about every detail.(on dealing with problems)(Column)
September 1, 2007... Q: I have been involved in a three-way argument, myself the retailer, the customer, and the manufacturer. The problem has been ongoing for three months and will not go away and with no help from the manufacturer, it has now got out of hand. A...

Chipboard: love it or hate it, but deal with it!(on floating chipboard subfloors)
September 1, 2007... MANY people have strong views on floating chipboard subfloors, especially those who have had problems with them. But sometimes we have to install floorcoverings over them. Here are a few tips to help you avoid costly problems: *...

The wrong choice can do major damage.(on specifying floor access panels)
September 1, 2007... IF you are planning to install an expensive terrazzo floor, you won't want to tarnish the sparkling finish with a low quality access panel. Access panels are vital for maintaining safe access to cabling, drainage and underfloor heating...

'Out, out damn spot!' as Shakespeare would have said (or, if you really want to know, it was Lady Macbeth).(on treating stains)(Column)
September 1, 2007... LAST month we discussed the chemistry of detergency. This month we will take a look at stain removal. There are five primary mechanisms of stain removal. These involve mechanical techniques, dissolution methods, reaction, decolourisation,...

Put a 'burglar alarm' on your website!(on protecting your IP)(Website overview)
September 1, 2007... WHETHER you are creating a new company website or assessing your existing one, there are three basic areas where intellectual property will impact: 1. The content of the site will attract copyright protection; 2. The software which...

How to respond if the unthinkable happens.(on investigating an accident)
September 1, 2007... EVERY employer, regardless of size, will from time to time have to conduct different kinds of investigations. Sometimes these relate to employment issues and may follow an accusation of misconduct. Here I would like to discuss...

So you want to buy another company?(on acquisitions--part one)(pros and cons for acquisitions)(Column)
September 1, 2007... FOR many, buying a company can be a frightening prospect and those looking to make their first acquisition will undoubtedly have many questions. There are a number of complexities and nuances which can arise, particularly on larger...

Avoid problems where two surfaces meet.(on tiling onto acoustic floors)
September 1, 2007... Q: Six months ago I tiled to the edge of a carpet, and already the tiles ere chipped and cracked. I now need to tile right up to the edge of a wooden floor. Is the same thing likely to happen here? A: Problems will occur whenever the edge...

Sharp rise in skills crisis.(News file)
September 1, 2007... SIGNIFICANTLY more specialist sub-contractors, including those in flooring, are reporting difficulty in recruiting skilled labour, according to the latest State of Trade survey for the second quarter of 2007 produced for the National Specialist...

Best monthly figures.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2007... Flowcrete claims to have achieved its highest monthly figures in July with 1.86m [pounds sterling] of product sold. Group turnover for the first six months of 2007 reportedly exceeded 20m [pounds sterling] with a profit 80% ahead of budget.

Higher profits for IDS.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2007... Building materials giant Saint-Gobain, parent company of flooring distributor IDS, forecasts a higher than expected rise in first-half profit following increased European construction activity.

Carpetright sales up.(Business in brief)(Financial report)
September 1, 2007... The early summer floods didn't dampen business for Carpetright, the UK's largest floorcoverings retailer, which reports a 16.7% increase in sales across its 650 shops for the quarter to July 28.

BASF grows strongly.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2007... BASF, which owns Degussa Construction Chemicals in Cheshire, reports a 19% increase in second quarter sales to 10bn [pounds sterling].

Travis Perkins profits.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2007... Building materials group Travis Perkins had a 17% rise in first-half pre-tax profits to 128.6m [pounds sterling] but remains cautious about the impact of higher interest rates on housing. Turnover rose 12.3% to 1.59bn [pounds sterling].

Mitie over the moon.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2007... Maintenance contractor Mitie says it has 4.1bn [pounds sterling] of orders, 81% of its budgeted revenue for the next financial year. Mitie interim results for the half-year ending September 30 are out on November 26.

Suppliers are busier.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2007... Construction product sales rose as output increased again during the second quarter of 2007, according to the latest joint trade survey report from the Construction Products Association and the Construction Confederation.

Building materials call.(Business in brief)
September 1, 2007... Building material sales rose 6.8% in the three months to May compared with the same period in 2006, according to the Builders' Merchants Federation.

Quote.
September 1, 2007... "The UK construction industry is right at the heart of the chances of success for Gordon Brown's government' --Stephen Timms, new construction minister 'You have my assurance I will do everything possible to overturn this latest...

Whitestone Weavers are on the move.(News file)
September 1, 2007... WHITESTONE WEAVERS has bought the vacant former Carpets International yarn plant as the next stage in the development of the company, which now includes Gaskell Mackay Carpets. The eight acre site--on Park View East Industrial Estate,...

Trade flooring sector 'has a quiet quarter'.(News file)
September 1, 2007... THE overall trade flooring market declined in the second quarter of 2007, according to the latest Flooring Market Barometer report. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The market is thought to have held up in the first few months of the year but...

New orders 10 year high.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... UK construction achieved a 10-year high in new orders and a seven year high in activity. The latest Chartered Institute of Purchasing Managers (CIPS) survey also reveals product suppliers lead-times increasing for the 25th successive month.

More building activity.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... Construction orders in the year to June 2007 rose 3% compared with the previous 12 months. During the same period public housing, private commercial and public non-housing orders rose by 26%, 8% and 4% respectively; while private industrial,...

UK surges ahead.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... The UK economy grew at an annual rate of 3% in the first quarter of 2007, higher than most other major economies, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Growth forecast.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... The 1.73bn [pounds sterling] UK industrial products distribution market is forecast to grow by 1-2% a year to 2010, says a new report, www.amaresearch.co.uk

Speedy snaps up rival.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... Speedy Hire has acquired the tool hire division of Hewden Stuart for 115m [pounds sterling]. Speedy also bought Waterford Hire Services, of the Irish Republic, for up to 4.4m [pounds sterling].

Contico is acquired.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... Cornwall-based cleaning company Contico Manufacturing has been acquired by Proventec Plc, provider of specialist steam cleaning and coatings technologies for 5.5m [pounds sterling].

Cement 'to be dearer'.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... The price of bulk cement could rise by up to 20% from 2008, to 15 [pounds sterling] a tonne, warn industry sources.

Tender price rises.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... Tender prices in London rose 8% in the year to the second quarter of 2007, according to Davis Langdon.

Exciting new show to launched in 2008.(News file)
September 1, 2007... FLOORSTYLE 08 is the name of a ground-breaking new annual trade event to be launched at ExCel in London next year from June 29 to July 1. These dates are the same as for The Tile & Stone Show, which received widespread acclaim from across...

David Wildman: the man behind the scenes at Floorstyle.(News)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ONE of the UK's most experienced trade exhibition organisers, David Wildman, will be playing a key role towards the success of the new Floorstyle exhibition. David is known to hundreds of people in the flooring...

Fair payment campaign.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... The National Specialist Contractors' Council (NSCC) will officially launch its Fair Payment campaign at a reception attended by the new construction minister Stephen Timms on September 19. www.fairpaymentcampaign.co.uk

QSs back retentions.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... A poll in an online quantity surveyor newsletter reveals that 90% of them support retentions, even knowing that they are used to 'blackmail' subbies. In fact, 50% of QSs want retentions built into all contracts.

Bad back advice.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... HSE is offering an action pack for employers on tackling back pain ahead of the European Week for Safety and Health (October 22-26). www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/ euroweek/resources.htm

Manslaughter charge.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... Company directors will face more responsibility for health and safety and the possibility of convictions when the new offence of corporate manslaughter is introduced on April 6 next year, it is claimed.

Holiday leave pay league.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... The UK will stay at the bottom of the European Union holiday entitlement league even after a rise to 28 days in April 2009. Denmark allows most time off--39.5 days. A change in EU rules means the U K will have to stop including eight public...

OFT homes investigation.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... The Office of Fair Trading is looking at the UK's 20bn [pounds sterling] a year house building sector on the standard of properties being built and whether land suitable for development is being used to best effect.

Safety summit planned.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... A government construction safety forum will be held on September 17 following news that construction deaths rose 28% in the last year.

Cleaning skills challenge.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... The first UK skills challenge for the cleaning industry will take place next month across the UK. www.teamclean.assetskills.net

'Gissa job, my old man's a flooring contractor'.(News file)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE 17-year-old son of a London flooring contractor has achieved national fame by setting up a website designed to create opportunities for students and school leavers to find work experience. Ben Hawkes hit on...

140m [pounds sterling] in grants now available to CFA members.(Contract Flooring Association )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... MEMBERS of the Contract Flooring Association (CFA) registered with ConstructionSkills now have access to 140m [pounds sterling] in training grants. This compares with 113m [pounds sterling] of training grants in the 2006 financial year,...

Harrogate trials for UK fitting team.(News file)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A NEW British flourlaying team must be selected for the Euro championships at Domotex in Germany next January. John Roberts (above), of the NICF, is holding team trials at the National Floor Show (Sep 4-6). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

College fate in balance.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... The Learning and Skills Council will decide the fate of the National Construction College next month after learning that it needs 15m [pounds sterling] to prevent it from being closed. The crisis arose in January when the Government blocked the...

CIS helpline swamped.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... The helpline dealing with the new CIS scheme has reportedly been deluged with 54,000 calls a week from contractors, 42% of them regarding verification, determining whether to pay a subcontractor gross or about deductions and at what rate. T:...

Tackling the cowboys.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... The Government has launched plans to beef up powers for local authorities to tackle illegal or botched construction. This includes allowing up to two years from completion of non-compliant work to bring a prosecution for breaches of building...

SATRA income is up.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... Income at SATRA technology centre rose 5% to 8.73m [pounds sterling] with an operating surplus of more than 500,000 [pounds sterling], according to its annual report. SATRA is a not-for-profit membership organisation where any surplus of funds...

Death costs firm 75k [pounds sterling].(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... A Manchester steel firm was fined 75,000 [pounds sterling] after an employee was crushed to death between two wagons, one of which was parked in gear without the brakes on.

OK to hire foreign QSs.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... Quantity surveying is now on the Government's national shortage occupation list, making it easier for QS firms to hire non-UK national professionals.

Home products survey.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... The UK building and DIY products distribution market is covered in a new report, www.amaresearch.co.uk

Kronospan cuts 'carbon footprint'.(News file)
September 1, 2007... WOOD-based panels manufacturer KRONOSPAN claims to be reducing its carbon footprint at its plant at Chirk in North Wales where it operates a rigorous environmental assessment programme. The company uses 350,000 tonnes of waste wood...

Packaging waste: firms face big fines.(News)
September 1, 2007... FLOORING manufacturers and distributors now face fines in excess of 5,000 [pounds sterling] for breaches of new waste regulations. The Environment Agency is reportedly bringing an increasing number of prosecutions against businesses, from a...

Peter Evans is safe.(The trade in brief)
September 1, 2007... Peter Evans Flooring (PEF), a member of the CFA has received accreditation from SAFEcontractor after being vetted by safety, health and environmental risk management specialists. www.peflooring.com

Ferfa recruits two more.(The trade in brief)
September 1, 2007... Two contractors have joined Ferfa: Acryflor, of Redruth, Cornwall, installs seamless resin flooring. (T: 01209 860775 www.acryflor.co.uk) and Hy-Tech Industrial Coatings of South Brent, Devon, specialises in the food, drink & pharmaceuticals...

Masonry skills challenge.(The trade in brief)
September 1, 2007... Stone Federation Great Britain has organised the UK's first masonry skills challenge, involving teams from nine colleges. The event was sponsored by Construction Skills and DBR. Each contestant was given a drawing, a piece of Portland stone...

Mats net always used.(The trade in brief)
September 1, 2007... Only 67% of facilities managers in a recent survey by PHS admitted placing barrier mats at all building entrances. However, 81% said they gave their foyers and receptions a daily floor cleaning. The survey also revealed that more public sector...

Contact Everbuild.(The trade in brief)
September 1, 2007... The telephone number for Everbuild Building Products published in CFJ last month was a direct line to the marketing manager. The number callers should dial for sales enquiries and product information is: T: 0113 240 3456

Mum and daughter trek for sick babies.(News file)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A MOTHER and daughter, both employees of a Manchester flooring contractor, are flying to South America next month to raise money for Action Medical Research. Elizabeth Marsh is finance director and her daughter,...

Patterns of 1848 revived.(Craven Dunnill Jackfield completes tile flooring at Westminster church )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... THE recently completed tiled floor at a Westminster church was created by tile manufacturer CRAVEN DUNNILL JACKFIELD. Attention to historical accuracy was crucial in ensuring consistency of colour and design across 830 hand-made, five...

Chris cycles 145 miles for kid's charity.(News file)
September 1, 2007... THE purchasing manager of Polyflor and part-time charity fundraiser Chris Jenkinson presented a cheque for 12,610 [pounds sterling] to the Candlelighters children's cancer charity based at St James's Hospital in Leeds. Through marathon...

'Watch the birdie!'.(Flaw talk)
September 1, 2007... THE sales director of a leading company in the flooring industry recently phoned the editor of CFJ to discuss an important trade issue. In the middle of the conversation, he said abruptly: 'I'm sorry I'll have to go now, I'm on the golf...

Who has sex in the van?(Have you heard?)
September 1, 2007... One in five tradesmen claim to have been sexually propositioned on the job, according to a survey, and those aged between 17-24 are the most likely targets with 36% being hit-on while working. Indeed, 11% admitted to having sex in their vans....

Fire alarm after hot email.(Have you heard?)
September 1, 2007... A manager of a major UK company accidentally sent full details of his employees' salaries on a company group email. Realising the error, he set off the fire alarm to clear the office before going round and deleting the email from every inbox.

Left-handers 'earn more'.(Have you heard?)
September 1, 2007... Among graduates, the earning power of left-handed men is 15% greater than those who are right handed, according to a new survey in the US. An example cited is the billionaire Bill Gates.

Laptops on the beach.(Have you heard?)
September 1, 2007... Over 20m Brits take work on holiday, according to a new survey by an online travel company. Two thirds questioned admitted to having their holidays interrupted by work, while 80% said they worried about their work while abroad. A third take...

Better than Becks!(Have you heard?)
September 1, 2007... Forget about footballers, quantity surveyors allegedly top the list of Britain's most eligible bachelors, according to new research from CareerStructure.com which claims that 43% of British women think that QSs make the best boyfriends.

Pupils take the floor at Flowcrete.(News file)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CHILDREN from a Cheshire primary school recently visited the Cheshire HQ of FLOWCRETE. The visit was part of the University of York's Children Challenging Industry project, to show young children how science and...

Skills challenge is back at Interbuild.(TEST THE TRADES)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... TEST THE TRADES challenge returns to Interbuild from October 28 to November 1 at the NEC and it's bigger and better. Teams of apprentice builders, floorlayers, heating and plumbing engineers and roofers will go head-to-head for the title of...

Seamless boasts Somero success.(Seamless Floors purchases -130 topping spreader and SXP-12 laser screed)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... SEAMLESS Floors bascd in Greater Manchester, claims to have been first UK company to purchase the SOMERO S-160 laser screed machine in 1996. Seamless Floors recently purchased an S-130 topping spreader and earlier this year an SXP-12 laser...

HRH greets Halstead.(News file)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... James Halstead Group chairman Geoffrey Halstead was among business leaders greeted by the Queen and other Royal Family members at a Buckingham Palace reception celebrating the winners of the 2007 Queen's Awards for Enterprise. Mr Halstead was...

Hairywood at Domotex.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... The UK Architecture Foundation's Hairywood installation at its east London gallery, The Yard, is up for one of the major prizes in the contractworld.award in the 8th international architecture prize competition to be presented at Domotex in...

Greener without green.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... Chipboard manufacturer Egger UK has removed a green dye from its moisture resistant Weyroc flooring products, claiming to make them 'greener'. The green dye was originally added to visually differentiate between standard P4 grade and the...

150m [pounds sterling] breakdown bill.(Industry in brief)
September 1, 2007... British van drivers and their businesses are losing 150m [pounds sterling] every year in lost earnings by failing to carry out simple routine checks on their vehicles, according to More Th>n Business. It reveals that over 1.3m vans and...