Flooring April-May 2016

april/may 2016

YOUR ARTWORK HERE

incorporating

FLOORS

april/may 2016 | vol 34 no 02 www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Industry News

Special Features

Regular Reports

FrontCover

06 New standard for cement and concrete products

24 FocusOn: Domotex Asia/ ChinaFloor

01 Classic Architectural Flooring

08 Laticrete now in WA

30 Timber

17 Airstep Retailer of the Month: Aggenbach Floors, Wangaratta,VIC

10 Carpet Court invests in success

32 Carpet

14 An extraordinary achievement 20 Wellington retailer takes top prize

36 Business: How prepared are you for an insurance claim?

40 Transport

27 Software 34 Product Update 39 Training 42 Alternative Floors 43 PIC Floors 50 Exhibition Calendar

Flooring April/May 2016 3

LetterToTheEditor

I just wanted to warn/complain about two matters that have come up in our business that I believe need to be published so others don’t get caught out or even engage in this activity.

1: Carpet Installers keeping and selling products left over on jobs. This seems to be a standard practice and I believe we, as shop owners, have not helped by letting our Installers keep all the leftover products on jobs from time to time without policing the return of these materials. It has led to a ‘back of house’ cash industry with carpet layers reselling underlay and carpet at 50% cheaper rates, to other shops and installers, after the product had already been paid for by the shop that gave them the job in the first place.

I recently had one of our carpet layers approach me and try to sell our shop half price underlay. This was an installer that I had realised some time ago had been encouraging our shop to over-order underlay and glue on projects.

We suspected that this team had been ‘shaving’ materials for themselves. I am

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD ABN: 27 006 876 419 PO BOX 800, Templestowe Victoria, Australia 3106 Ph: + 61 3 9890 0815 Fax: + 61 3 9890 0087 Email: info@elitepublishing.com.au Website: www.elitepublishing.com.au PUBLISHER Vicky Cammiade Email: vicky.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au GROUP MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Curtis Email: jennifer.curtis@elitepublishing.com.au TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Philip Ashley philipneilashley@yahoo.com.au NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Ashley Cooper Email: ashley.cooper@elitepublishing.com.au CIRCULATION MANAGER Georgia Gilmour Email: georgia.gilmour@elitepublishing.com.au PRODUCTION For artwork and production enquiries please email: production@elitepublishing.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGN Uber Creative – Annette Epifanidis Mobile: 0416 087 412 Email: annette@ubercreative.com.au www.ubercreative.com.au

4 Flooring April/May 2016

fairly certain that the underlay they tried to sell us was, in fact, most likely ours in the first place!

This is a most distressful and distasteful conduct since we paid this team over 500k per year in laying fees for many years prior.

I believe that if you are a shop that has the practice of letting layers keep leftover product, this is making the problem worse. I would suggest that this practice stops as it encourages illegal activity and gives new layers the impression that they can steal from shops and that this is an acceptable practice when it is simply not.

2: We have just had some work carried out by a timber Installer, who had insisted his product that he insisted was cheaper and better than our preferred products. As we had a very tight schedule on a job that needed attending to urgently, we had the installer supply and install on this occasion as he could get the stock within one day and have the works completed in two.

We then had a call from the owner who had requested some fire specification sheets on the product to give to the Body Corporate and, when asked, our installer said he couldn’t get the specifications and that this was an “unusual request”.

We couldn’t get the name of the timber supplier from the Installer and, as a result, we have had to remove all of his products and install our own supplier’s timber.

The lesson learnt is that our own local suppliers, even if they had been a little more expensive, had all the specifications needed along with the correct warranty and compliance processes documented.

Trying to cut corners to save a dollars can sometimes backfire and we have now elected to only use local suppliers that can back up their products with tangible information and warranties.

Ross Riek, Director, Carpet Care Services Pty Ltd Complete Care Restorations Pty Ltd Lane Cove West. NSW 2066

PRE-PRESS Prominent Digital PRINTED BY Prominent Group Pty Ltd ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Supplier Woodworking Magazine, Tile Today Magazine, Discovering Stone Magazine, FB Magazine, Flooring Magazine, Finishes & Surfaces Magazine Member of the International Woodworking and Furniture Supplier Magazine Association Jennifer Curtis – Group Managing Editor

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD (established 1985) All rights reserved – No part of this publication maybe reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Viewpoints, opinions, claims, etc expressed in articles appearing in this publication are those of the authors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the information supplied or for claims made by companies or their representatives regarding product performance, etc or for any errors, omissions, misplacement, alterations, or any subsequent changes, or for any consequences of reliance on this information or this publication.

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News Polished concrete training sessions in May With the IBS polished concrete course in February 2016 fully booked the overflow has been moved to another session scheduled for 25 to 27 May. The three day course is designed for professionals who either want to go into the polished concrete business and or to expand their expertise in their existing business.

Day one includes a two hour discussion followed by practical applications, inspecting the floor, selecting

the diamonds to do the required finishes and use of the Terrco single phase grinding machine. This is followed by hardening the concrete using a process called Densification.

Day two includes a discussion on colour densification and the Starseal FSR (food stain resistance system) with no sealer.

Day three is a review of the entire course plus some practical applications of the techniques shown.

Welcome back Kenbrock Flooring welcomes back Marty Wytkamp to the Kenbrock team.

Marty is in fact the second longest serving sales person at Kenbrock with overall 19 years up his sleeve. This will be Marty’s third stint with the company having left about seven years ago to join QEP/ AFS. He has seen Kenbrock grow significantly over the last seven years and Marty is confident in the future success of the company and wants to make a significant

contribution to this growth using his valuable experience in the flooring business.

Marty Wytkamp

A whole new look British Carpet Company has announced the May 2016 opening of its latest venture located at Taren Point, NSW. The newly constructed carpet studio has been specifically developed to provide greater connectivity and access to the company’s unique carpet collections for its customers living in

the Sutherland Shire and surrounding areas.

“Consumers will now be able to view the latest emerging carpet trends, beautiful designs and innovative construction without having to travel into our Eastern Suburbs Showroom,” said the company’s Wayne Edworthy.

New standard for cement and concrete products GECA is in the process of developing a new standard for cement and concrete products.

The standard is being developed to address a number of industry needs, including to allow cement and concrete better access to points under green building rating tools.

The standard is currently going through a second round of consultations with a Technical Advisory Group.

Once these consultations are finished, a draft of the standard will be released for public comment and further feedback.

A final version of the standard is expected to be released mid-year 2016.

Simpler flooring specifications with TarkoSpec Tarkett’s new TarkoSpec product information hub has been developed to provide architects, designers and contractors with all they need to complete flooring specifications quickly and easily.

This invaluable resource is packed with comprehensive information across the huge range of Tarkett flooring products including vinyl, Luxury Vinyl Tiles, sports floors, laminates, timber and carpet tiles and will be well worth bookmarking in your search engine.

6 Flooring April/May 2016

Once registered, users can search through the extensive Tarkett range by product or category and access the complete colour offer together with information on the local availability of products.

Building Information Models (BIM) are available for download for each product together with data sheets, maintenance and Installation manuals. A full suite of application brochures and other literature relevant to each product is also available.

Another feature that will be popular with specifiers

and designers is the ability to download colour swatches and to order physical samples of individual colours for a specific project. Each

sample request will be sent to the local Tarkett office for processing and will be delivered within five working days.

BE PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE 144 members and growing

For a strictly confidential discussion about the future direction of your business, please contact: Andrew Lewis Chief Executive Officer Mobile: 0400 400 036 Email: alewis@choicesflooring.com.au

Tim Drew Group Manager - Retail Development Mobile: 0425 751 756 Email: tdrew@choicesflooring.com.au

choicesflooring.com.au

News Finding flooring facts easily Flowcrete Australia has launched a new website, designed to make it easier for contractors, architects and end users to find the flooring information they need while onsite, on the move or in the office.

Centralising the content and shortening the user’s pathways around the site makes it quicker and easier to navigate, while the responsive design means that the website works equally well across desktop computers, tablets, laptops and cell phones.

A refocused strategy based around highlighting flooring attributes, the types of ranges available and the best solutions for each market sector makes it easier for construction professionals, who may not be aware of Flowcrete’s various surfaces and solutions, to find what they are looking for.

Now they can search via one of three routes, either by the benefits they need (e.g. antimicrobial, anti-static, decorative), by the flooring

range (e.g. car park coatings, industrial resins, polyurethane floor screeds) or by the market sector they work within (e.g. automotive, food & drink, healthcare) and be presented with the options relevant to them.

Alongside these overviews, users can access a vast library of technical data, flooring ideas and advice. All of Flowcrete Australia’s product data sheets can be downloaded from the site alongside brochures, whitepapers and complementary literature.

Videos detailing application techniques, high-profile case studies and Flowcrete’s news stories are all available on the website to inspire, inform and advise.

Gerflor to take centre stage at Rio Olympics Gerflor will continue its 40 years of unbroken participation in sport at its highest level when its courts are rolled out for volleyball and handball competitors at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Gerflor has been at the forefront of comfort, safety

8 Flooring April/May 2016

and performance for elite athletes since the Montreal Games in 1976. Seven volleyball and six handball courts will be provided made of 15,000 m2 of Taraflex Sport M Evolution premium indoor sports flooring manufactured at Gerflor’s factory in Tarare, France.

Jim Green from Kennards Hire Coffs Harbour and Wayne Kenny, Rally Australia fly the flag for the start of the Kennards Hire Rally Australia partnership.

Kennards Hire starts the engines Leading equipment hire company, Kennards Hire is excited to announce its new sponsorship agreement with the FIA World Rally Championship – Kennards Hire Rally Australia.

Kennards Hire are the naming sponsor and will supply the vast majority of equipment and infrastructure required for the event.

The Rally Australia will take place in Coffs Harbour from 17 to 20 November and will encompass 300 kilometres of Shire and forestry roads surrounding the Coffs Harbour region.

Kenards NSW General Manager Darren Simmons is excited to be sponsoring the final stop of the FIA World Championship Tour and pleased to have the opportunity to place Kennards Hire equipment

and services into the global spotlight.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing our capabilities and expertise to this partnership with Rally Australia.

Kennards Hire will provide the equipment and facilities for the competitive stages, competitor service areas, international media centres, spectator areas and much more,” stated Mr Simmons.

Kennards Hire has signed a two-year deal with Rally Australia as the naming sponsor. The event is also backed by Destination NSW. The Kennards Hire Rally Australia in November will see approximately 61 million television viewers tune in to watch the action across one of Australia’s most picturesque stretches of countryside.

Laticrete now in WA Laticrete has announced that their products and materials are now available to be purchased in Western Australia.

Neil Warden, Laticrete Australia National Sales Manager, confirmed Tilers Express in Western Australia is now distributing Laticrete tile and stone installation materials across Western Australia.

"Justin Ryan, Managing Director of Tilers Express in Western Australia, approached Laticrete to become a preferred

Laticrete stockist,” said Neil.

“Justin and his team have worked closely with the Laticrete team to make this possible. We are excited to be venturing into Western Australia and in having Tilers Express as the preferred Laticrete stockist. This is a goal we have been working towards to continue the growth for Laticrete Australia."

Tilers Express WA will stock a full range of Laticrete products for all tile and stone applications.

Safety now extends beyond the kitchen and wet areas....

safety LVT The new Allura safety luxury vinyl tile range combines stylish aesthetics and performance with the slip resistant properties of step safety flooring. With 16 colours to choose from, Allura safety vinyl tiles are ideal for any application that demands great looks coupled with slip resistant properties. Forbo’s innovative Step crystals are used for a clear, light aesthetic with proven slip resistant properties, Allura safety complies with the updated AS4586:2013 slip standard and achieves a P4 ‘wet pendulum’ test result providing ongoing sustainable safety. Great for fruit stores, canteens, café corners and entry halls.

To find out more visit www.forbo-flooring.com.au or contact your local representative or distribution partner.

News Having a ball on the beach

The sky’s the limit

Gerflor’s passion for sport took Commercial Manager NSW, Sandy Pratt to Manly beach for Volleyfest 2016.

The sell out event showcased the world’s best Olympic beach volleyballers from around Australia and Asia.

Volleyball Australia President Craig Carracher said the 10-day event capped off an outstanding year for the sport in Australia.

“In more than 25 years of involvement with the sport of beach volleyball I have not enjoyed the good will, standard of competition or quality of engagement with our partners here and abroad with such enthusiasm as we experienced during Volleyfest 2016,” he said, “It has been an incredible month for the sport not only hosting Volleyfest but also having our top women’s team of Taliqua Clancy and Louise Bawden all but qualifying for Rio 2016 and we were also delighted to announce the inclusion of Beach Volleyball in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games,” he said.

The sales and installation teams at Carpet One in Lithgow, NSW are scanning the Red Balloon site for an adventure they can share, compliments of Gerflor. Louise Moore (centre) and Beth Barrie welcomed a visit by Gerflors’ Michael Blue following their success in the recent Texline roll promotion.

“They were over the moon and started looking on the Red Balloon website for available options,” Michael said.

10 Flooring April/May 2016

Carpet Court invests in success Carpet Court has welcomed its new Chief Marketing Officer – Kara Norris.

Originally from South Africa, Kara’s diverse sales, marketing and product experience spans over 25 years. Her career journey began as part of a family business, Dial A Bed, in the furniture and bedding category. Leading the business alongside her brother, Kara focussed on sales and operations, achieving business growth to reach a successful eight-store network across South Africa.

In 2000, she migrated to Australia and commenced work with Pacific Brands, before completing a decade-long stint at Forty Winks. It was there Kara gained a highly-regarded reputation in her work as Category Manager (Furniture), National Merchandise Manager and most recently Group Manager (Product and Marketing).

During her time at Forty Winks, Kara continued to deliver cohesive advertising and marketing programs year-on-year with great success.

With a nod to the past and bold plans for the future, Kara brings to Carpet Court significant key skills including the ability to deliver leading strategic initiatives to result in prosperous franchise networks.

She already has exciting plans. Her main focus is to grow Carpet Court’s already successful and broadly positioned network.

"Carpet Court continues to lead Australian's on their design journey, from the moment renovators seek expert advice and product knowledge to the finishing installation.

“Through a vast range of marketing channels, including creative digital and social media campaigns, interactive in-store Design Hub experiences and ambassador endorsement, I’m looking forward to working closely with the team to reinforce the strength of the brand and exhibit the entrepreneurial spirit of our members,” said Kara.

Kara also shares further plans to grow the window solutions offering of the business, strengthening the alignment of industry trends by maintaining significant growth over the next two years.

Kara Norris

News

Domotex Turkey

Godfrey Hirst hardflooring seen on The Block machines and accessories.

Turkish manufacturers will be joined by companies from Bangladesh, Belgium, China, France, Germany, India, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.

Last year, a total of 8,734 trade visitors, mostly from Turkey and the Middle East, attended the event in Gaziantep.

Thanks to collaboration between the tradeshow organisers and Turkish Airlines as the event’s official airline, exhibitors and visitors can book flights to Istanbul or Gaziantep with special discounts of up to 20%.

From 23 to 26 May 2016, Domotex Turkey is being staged in Gaziantep, Turkey for the third consecutive time.

All signs are pointing to a successful event ahead, and one which will be based on the considerable strengths of the previous show. The event aims to consolidate its position as the leading trade platform for carpet manufacturers in Turkey and the Middle East.

The keynote displays of the trade fair will be machinemade and handmade carpets, textile and resilient floorcoverings, parquet and laminate flooring, as well as

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Godfrey Hirst floors is the hardflooring of choice for The Block NZ. In last season’s Villa Wars, the couples chose laminate, timber and bamboo flooring to stunning effect. Timber look flooring remains a popular choice for interiors. The selections show the timber look can be achieved on a tight schedule, with various materials and on any budget.

Both Cat and Jeremy and Sarah and Minanne used Vue Laminate Flooring in Mountain Oak Natural, demonstrating how versatile timber look flooring can be. They each chose identical laminate flooring to suit quite different interior styles.

Laminate flooring is a hard-wearing timber flooring alternative that is low maintenance, wear, fade and stain resistant. Features such as the matte finish and bevelled edge help give it the genuine timber appeal.

Brooke and Mitch chose Regal Oak Timber Flooring in Astor. This stunning Regal Oak timber flooring helped Brooke

and Mitch win the kitchens, dining room and living room reveals and a perfect score of 10.

Regal Oak floorboards have warm tones and a distressed finish that puts this timber flooring on the wishlist of many home renovators.

Jamie and Hayden chose Zen Bamboo Flooring in Brushed Onyx, doing a great job of highlighting how striking a dark toned timber floor can be.

Bamboo is a renewable resource and bamboo flooring has a wonderfully versatile timber look flooring option feels as good as it looks.

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RetailNews

Store evolution Transforming the Australian retail flooring experience as we know it, Choices Flooring continues to expand the number of showrooms undergoing the innovative Store Evolution program with Choices Flooring by Bel Air (NSW) being the latest store to complete the state-of-the-art refit.

The store is locally owned and operated by Wayne and Gai Rosser, who decided to undergo the Store Evolution program to develop their business and enhance the consumer’s in-store experience by providing them with a point of difference from their local competitors.

“We ask our customers what they think of the updated showroom and they all say the same thing – it’s open and easier to navigate through products,” said owner and manager, Wayne Rosser.

“In addition, the team noticed that whilst

customers enjoyed looking and feeling the samples in our showroom, they were struggling to see the big picture.

“The technology of the Inspiration Station takes away the uncertainty by allowing customers to see

what the flooring products would look like using their own room images.”

Choices Flooring’s Store Evolution aims to provide an unparalleled in-store experience. This is demonstrated by the showroom layout, inspiring product displays and the industry leading digital technology of the Inspiration Station, which allows consumers to visualise over 2,000 different flooring options in their own room images.

With over 30 stores completing the Store Evolution so far, and many more planned for 2016, Choices Flooring is continuing to transform the flooring retail experience as we know it.

An extraordinary achievement There’s not many retailers than can boast a history like Cross Carpets and this year marks an extraordinary achievement as they celebrate their 50th year in business, 25 of those on the Gold Coast.

A third generation business, their name is synonymous with flooring product excellence and quality customer service.

Cross Carpets is also the family business behind the inspirational voice of paralysis in Australia, Perry Cross.

Perry is the visionary founder and president of Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation (PCSRF). He knows paralysis first-hand as, in 1994, a simple game of football left him a quadriplegic. Perry’s goal now is clear – to cure paralysis for all.

Partnering Perry in his vision are both the team at Cross Carpets and Airstep.

Through their alliance they donate $1 per metre of Airstep underlay sold at Cross

14 Flooring April/May 2016

Carpets to the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation (PCSRF).

Cross Carpets sponsors a number of PCSRF events throughout the year, including the recent SIP Week. In February Cross Carpets sponsored the foundation’s annual Gala Dinner on the Gold Coast with the theme “Everything Is Possible”.

Hosted by local football icon Ben Ikin and radio host Emily Jade-O’Keefe, this sold out event was a great evening full of delicious food, local talent, raffles and a charity auction. A key performance

by Tim McCallum, The Voice finalist, was awe inspiring.

“This glorious night proudly supported by Cross Carpets raised in excess of $55,000 for the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation,” said Shirley Cross. “Every dollar will be used toward research to help in Perry’s vision, to cure paralysis for all.”

For more information please visit pcsrf.org.au

Emily Jade and Carol Taylor

Swimmer Susie Maroney with Perry Cross

The Blooms

Tim McCallum

Australia’s

number one

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is coming to

New Zealand

For a strictly confidential discussion about the future direction of your business, please contact: Andrew Lewis Chief Executive Officer Mobile: 0400 400 036 Email: alewis@choicesflooring.com.au Jason Verstak Group Manager - Marketing Mobile: 0498 136 395 Email: jverstak@choicesflooring.com.au

choicesflooring.com.au

RetailNews

Staff celebrated at Carpet Court awards For the second year running, proven excellence in flooring, installation, training and customer service has received recognition on stage in Fiji as a part of the annual Carpet Court Excellence Awards.

The 2016 award winners were announced during a special gala evening at the Carpet Court Annual Conference, held this year at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa on 13 March.

The awards were divided into two categories: the Store Awards, which are nominated

by Carpet Court head office to acknowledge the hard work and team effort of individual stores; and Staff Awards, which are awarded to outstanding individuals and their accomplishments, nominated by each Carpet Court member store.

Carpet Court customers from across the country were also able to take part in this year’s awards, nominating their favourite store and service person for the People’s Choice Awards.

Carpet Court CEO, Andrew Brand, said he was very impressed with the calibre of the nominations and how much the stores continue to improve their services each year, building on from the success of last year’s awards.

“Customer service is at the heart of Carpet Court and the awards enable us to recognise the excellent teams we have working in our stores across the country, as well as to encourage the best possible service for our customers.

“The quality of our teams and members continues to amaze us and have helped us to establish Carpet Court as a respected brand in the community.”

Taking out the Member of the Year award, NSW member Floorshop Carpet Court owner Niels Walter said he was honoured at the award and proud of the hard work for which his team has been recognised.

“We work extremely hard to present our customers with one-on-one flooring advice and installation service and it is fantastic to have the opportunity to be recognised for our delivery,” said Niels.

Carpet Court Store Excellence Awards

National Winner

State

Member of the Year

Floorshop Carpet Court

NSW

Outstanding Performer

Churchill’s Furnishings Pty Ltd

NSW

Best refurbishment

Drysdale Carpet Court

VIC

Excellence In Commitment to Training – Store

Joondalup Carpet Court

WA

Carpet Court People’s Choice Awards

National Winner

State

People’s Choice – Store

Fashion Carpet Court

QLD

People’s Choice – Serviceperson

Eric Parke from Fashion Carpet Court

QLD

Carpet Court Staff Excellence Awards

National Winner

State

Best Serviceperson of the Year

Kerry Findlay from Kadina Carpet Court

SA

Rising Star

Brooke Ritchie from Coffs Harbour Carpet Court

NSW

Community Hero

Ryan Terry from Terry Bros.

Carpet Court

NSW

Excellence in Commitment to Training – Serviceperson

Peter Jones from Hoppers Crossing Carpet Court

VIC

Best Installer of the Year

Arnell Belano from Allfloors Carpet Court

VIC

Floorshop Carpet Court members collecting their award.

The awards – launched last year – are a part of Carpet Court’s internal The Pathway to Success initiative to celebrate great teamwork and individual efforts demonstrated as a part of Carpet Court’s 200 store network around Australia.

They provide an opportunity to connect the national network of stores to take pride in their hard work and effort throughout the year, as well as to showcase their work as a part of the wider community.

Carpet Court supports Fijian cyclone recovery Carpet Court used its annual conference, held recently at Fiji’s InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa, to support the recovery of the country’s devastated areas following Cyclone Winston.

Goods were donated to the cause including essential items such as linen, canned food and toiletries, provided by many of the conference attendees, who generously filled their suitcases with the much needed items.

16 Flooring April/May 2016

Carpet Court also made a financial contribution and donated five Melbourne weekend breaks, including entertainment and accommodation, which were auctioned as part of its special gala evening.

Carpet Court CEO, Andrew Brand, said the group would like to use the conference this year to make a difference.

“Although the area we are staying was not affected

by Cyclone Winston,

unfortunately a large portion of the rest of Fiji has been with many people losing their homes and all of their possessions.

“We are dedicated to helping in any way we can to support the wonderful people of Fiji as they rebuild their lives. It’s the least we can do,” Mr Brand added.

The donations and funds raised will be given to the Red Cross and The Wings of Hope Ministry.

Thanks to our sponsors The Members and Directors of Carpet Court Australia would like to thank all of our suppliers for their valued participation in our best ever conference, held in Fiji between the 10th – 14th March 2016.

Andrew Brand Chief Executive Officer

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Retailer of the month

50 years and still going strong Aggenbach Floors, Wangaratta, Victoria Philip Ashley reports:

W

angaratta, affectionately known as ‘Wang’ by the locals, is one of Australia’s most historic regional cities. The region was home to Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop for a time but the most famous historical personality was the bushranger Ned Kelly. Wangaratta is steeped in history with more than 30 buildings being classified by the National Trust. Wang is often referred to as a cathedral city because of its many churches and cathedrals built after the discovery of gold in nearby Beechworth in 1852. This is the setting for Aggenbach Floors with a history of its own stretching back to the mid 1950s.

Aggenbach Floors is a family business started in 1954 by Charles Aggenbach. After the brothers went their separate ways in 1979, Bill Aggenbach continued as an independent business operating initially from his garden shed. The business became a Carpet Court store and, more recently, a Choices store. The range includes over 1000 carpet styles and colours, floating timber floors, vinyl, laminate and cork

Bill (left) and Chris Aggenbach

18 Flooring April/May 2016

flooring. The company trading today employs 19 full-time staff and operates out of a 2,000 m2 showroom and warehouse.

The present team includes Bill, who still works up to 70 hours a week at the age of 68; his son Chris, who has been with the business for four years after returning from Melbourne where he worked as a chef at the Sofitel hotel; and Andrew Haring, a qualified installer, now team leader, who has worked with Bill for 25 years. Additionally, the sales team includes Mathew Booth and Danny Rizzo with Marian Winter, their interior designer and Dianna Piazza, who looks after the finances and various staff and office duties. The team is rounded out with five tradespersons and five apprentices, who are responsible for the installations.

This is a close-knit team of professionals working in a challenging environment.

Aggenbach Floors trades on a work ethic of customer satisfaction, honest and sound advice, quality, workmanship and competitive pricing.

“We’re 100% straightup with our customers,”

said Chris, “We tell our customers what they are going to get; guarantee a quote within 48 hours and get out there within a week.”

The hardware giants now sell much of the product once sold exclusively by flooring retailers. As Chris puts it: “Everyone’s stealing your pie but we’re strong because of our diversity and service. Our homewares store next door is a good opportunity for us”.

Aggenbachs specialises in the critical control of major projects through to the most demanding domestic applications.

A recent project was the 150-year old St Patricks Roman Catholic Church in Wangaratta. The pews, carpet, underlay and under floor heating had to be removed and the new carpet laid within a week.

Marian Winter worked with the Monsignor on the colours and style of carpet that would best suit the current décor of

the church. The result was a beautiful Axminster carpet with traditional styled fleur-de-lis pattern installed on-time including underfloor heating and audio wiring.

Aggenbachs also refurbishes hospital wards for North East Health. Half a working ward is shut down for a limited amount of time while the often hazardous floorcovering is removed and replaced with modern vinyl. On another level, the famous Beechworth Bakery’s 200-year old floor was re-covered overnight so it could remain open during the day. Many regional HIA Home of the Year winners have also been ‘floored’

by Aggenbachs.

Away from the business, Bill and Chris are both ‘rev-heads’ and race their beloved Datsun 1600 rally car nicknamed Datto as often as they can. Bill celebrates 50 years in the floorcovering industry this year and like his company, is still going strong.

…AIRSTEP UNDERLAY …“THAT’S CONFIDENCE” www.airstep.com.au • Bonded Foam Underlays • High quality Natural Rubber Underlays • SBR Double Bond Commercial Underlays • Floating Floor Underlays • Recycled Textile Underlays THE COMPLETE UNDERLAY COMPANY Manufactured and distributed by AIRSTEP AUSTRALIA LTD, PO Box 166 Dandenong Sth Vic 3175 Ph: VIC/TAS 1800 803 545 NSW 1800 802 926 WA/SA/NT/QLD 1800 806 375 Fax all states (03) 9706 8553 In New Zealand distributed by

Jacobsen Creative Surfaces Auckland (09) 574 0640 Wellington (04) 4954 300 Christchurch (03) 3664 153

RetailNews

Wellington retailer takes top prize Wellington retailer Devon & Patterson Flooring has won the Cavalier Bremworth NZ Independent Retailer of the Year IndyClub award for 2015.

The award is based on criteria that includes customer service and feedback, sales growth and level of business conducted with Cavalier Bremworth.

This year, the inaugural black tie awards ceremony was held at Millbrook Resort in Arrowtown in February. The awards were presented by Cavalier Corporation CEO Paul Alston and Cavalier Bremworth GM Sales Warren Drinkwater.

Distinguished Achiever awards were also presented to Floorpride Mandeville Street of Christchurch and Christies Floorings of Tauranga.

Christchurch retailer Nextdore won the People's Choice award as they were voted the most supportive retailer by the Cavalier Bremworth sales team.

The following day saw retailers experience the best that Arrowtown and Queenstown has to offer – including activities ranging from wild

food experiences, award winning spa treatments, world class golf and lunch at Josh Emett’s restaurant, Rata.

Cavalier Bremworth started the IndyClub in 2014 to provide independent retailers in both New Zealand and Australia with staff training, marketing and product support.

Distinguished Achiever award winners - Christies Floorings Tauranga & Floorpride Mandeville St.

People's Choice award winner – Nextdore

IndyClub Dealer of the Year award winners - Devon & Patterson Flooring.

Win for Toronto Carpet Court A trip to South Africa or Europe is on the cards for Rumzy and Margaret Meena of Toronto Carpet Court after winning the coveted $15,000 travel voucher from Hycraft Carpets.

A drawn via live feed from the Godfrey Hirst Head Office in Geelong to the Carpet Court Conference in Fiji made for an exciting finish to the eight month Hycraft promotion.

“Rumzy was pretty excited to say the least,” said Hycraft Carpet's Business Development Manager, David Mitchell of presenting the prize in-store.

The store’s husband and wife team look forward to expanding and continuing the Hycraft partnership.

“We enjoy the support we receive from the local Hycraft team,” Rumzy said.

Half of the Toronto Carpet Court showroom is devoted to wool carpet.

“Wool, and especially Hycraft wool carpet, suits our customers well,” he said. “We sell Hycraft products with a great degree of confidence.”

Associating Hycraft with quality, Rumzy likes the selection of 4M wide loop styles on offer, especially Ravine. “We also like that Hycraft stays in fashion, with

20 Flooring April/May 2016

Warrick Hewitt, Hycraft Account Manager Newcastle; Rumzy Meena and Gary Healey, Hycraft Account Manager Carpet Court.

constant colour upgrades and new styles to meet consumer demands,” he said.

Rumzy and Margaret purchased Toronto Carpet Court in 2009 following 30 years in business broking and retail.

“We have dabbled in newsagencies, a liquour store, stationery and books. The GFC hit the broking business quite hard

and prompted our decision to purchase Toronto Carpet Court.”

Paying tribute to his Toronto Carpet Court team, Rumzy added: “The culture and loyalty of our staff is the absolute cornerstone of our business and every credit should be given to them wherever possible.”

Mapei are a world leader in the supply of solvent-free, innovative timber flooring adhesives and related products to the building industry. Mapei possesses all the technology and can supply a complete range of innovative products adapted to all installation systems, on any scale. Mapei offer high performance products with cutting-edge technology to complete a perfect installation every time.

The perfect combination - Mapei products and your expertise! moisture vapour barrier: Apply Planiseal EMB 100% epoxy moisture barrier for concrete substrates ultimate in moisture transmission reduction one coat application system 3 coverage rates available for varying moisture vapour emission conditions • internal use only • 7 day old concrete over 95% RH • • • •

or

Apply Eco Prim PU 1K Turbo AU • moisture curing and rapid drying polyurethane surface membrane • ultimate in moisture transmission reduction • one coat application system • internal use only • 28 day old concrete up to 95% RH (one coat)

primer: Eco Prim T • All purpose solvent-free neoprene primer to improve the adhesion of levelling compounds on all absorbent and non-absorbent substrates - very low VOC

engineered timber flooring

levelling compound: Ultraplan

self-levelling compound

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primer

adhesive:

timber adhesive

Ultrabond Eco S955 or Ultrabond P990 1K Ultraplan

Eco Prim T

ultra quick-hardening self-levelling smoothing compound ideal for smoothing substrates under timber flooring high mechanical strength exceptionally smooth finish set to light foot traffic in 3 hours install flooring after 12 hours very low VOC content

Ultrabond Eco S955 1K

moisture vapour barrier

Eco Prim PU 1K Turbo AU or Planiseal EMB concrete substrate

or

• ready to use silitated polymer-based adhesive • isocyanate, solvent & water free • excellent rib stability • low expansion and viscosity • used for all sizes and formats of prefinished, laminated, lamparaquet, parquet timber flooring planks • suitable substrates: concrete, cementitious screeds, old timber, properly prepared ceramic & marble floors • suitable over heated screeds

Ultrabond P990 1K

Please refer to relevant product data sheets for further information.

For more information visit www.mapei.com.au

• ready to use, polyurethane, moisture curing adhesive • solvent free, no unpleasant odour • excellent rib stability • low expansion and viscosity • used for all sizes and formats of wooden flooring including, pre-finished parquetry, laminates, solid wood and planks • suitable substrates: concrete, cementitious screeds, old timber, properly prepared ceramic & marble floors

NEWFURN TRAINING ACADEMY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM:

a new learning d e h c n u a l s a h n o i revolut

After months of extensive planning and input from our Alliance Partners, Newfurn Floor Coverings officially launched a new learning revolution in March, with over 30 Flooring Apprentices from across Australia converging at the Aitken Hill Conference Centre in Melbourne for a five-day Residential Workshop hosted by the Newfurn Training Academy.

The Residential Workshop is the first stage of an intensive new two-year training program for the MSF30813 Certificate III in Flooring Technology qualification. This dynamic new program is only possible through the active participation of Choices Flooring Members and their committed Alliance Partners.

The first day of Residential Workshop training was followed by the official launch event of the Newfurn Training Academy, with over 90 invited guests from industry, government and education in attendance.

Throughout the Residential Workshop, Apprentices took part in three days of classroom training which provided them with the knowledge to undertake the range of skillsets needed to become a professional Flooring Installer. This was followed by two days of extensive hands on practical learning at the Cheltenham Junior Football & Cricket Club.

Residential Workshop - March 2016 Hire Kennards charity celebrates success wrapped up its

News

Hire has Kennards Kennards ty initiative, annual chari better results this For Kids with before. Over the ever Kennards year than campaign two-month 000 for over $40, Hire raised charity, en’s KidsCan childryears result of last bettering

during $30,000. hire made For every er, and Octob around September hes Hire branc $2 to Kennards nd donated y to New Zeala the mone who use KidsCan, ing and basic ng e food, cloth ls to enable traini provid the During in schoo ntices will health care their full potential. te program appresive hands on demonstra kids to reach GM of Fundraising are able to etency in all , receive exten experience in at the Jan Clark and ed ahead KidsCan, current comp ted, the final with ction steam red full instru eting is selec It the skills requi and Mark ng Academy, the units maybe happier with the practical the wide range t process Newfurn Traini apprentices couldn’t be campaign in New assessmen a desk audit. If liers, the to undertake red to become by s all with supp results of an incredible conducted requires further nment bodie of tasks requi “It’s really will make installers. sor and gover Zealand. y etence, al flooring the asses board.

This mone profession tuition will be of their compprovide jumping on urn Training for Kiwi outcome. evidence to lot easier Much of this “The Newf Card is experts ask them life a whole our help,” on their by industry they may Trade ng in delivered really need information Academy now rers worki ge kids who ditation additional “KidsCan manufactu urn also arran t and ined. and Newf a formal accre lers and Jan expla ls throughou n with the experience instal on site.” conjunctio emy.

500 schoo for flooring qualified supports the generous to meet them al, nd due to Training Acad usion of the lers profession like New Zeala go When instal At the concl program businesses e ready to to personnel. support of First intak of planning training Trade Card Hire.” two-year continue hs that show their ards Kennards ntice will will know After mont from the , CEO of Kenn are each appre sive input their clients, they the high Ward by Liz exten kids ored the and met it’s vital that to be ment liers within lace they have success Hire, said and workp inder major supp try, 30 flooring ce standards chance at employer performan it’s all given every for the rema This flooring indus the Academy around believe that cycles supervisor s from all required by nticeship. in life.“We apprentice at the specialist ing negative of their appre supported of and are a converged be about break s life,” she Centre Australia certain types a child’ program will built learning Conference eek installer in ined Kids was early in a se Aitken Hill gs,” expla nards For for a one-w by a purpo floorcoverin for Choices stated. “Ken nt system help youth in Melbourne hosted on manageme in order to workshop le each spokespers ed e their ntial enab creat will reside ng unities realis (LMS) that urn Traini s their Flooring. in our comm le for a Trade by the Newf ntice to accesand submit appre To be eligib work do tial.” rces poten Academy. lers must ards Hire’s hop is stage learning resouand evidence Card, instal Flooring store, While Kenn This works ts each year es new nmen drive sive le Choic ty a assig or inten for e via mobi main chari local one of an an employee also program For Kids, of competenc either as s Kennards ear training ed in a must is . cover two-y involv They . ology are also t to techn rehensively ship unity contractor this branches that comp an assessmen endent comm The aim of am Apprentice ledge undertake range of indep such as school ry new progr the full trade Certificate III in skills, know cts, revolutiona job ready 3 satisfy the ience s. based proje ce (MSF3081 e-job exper ology). This nmental cause is to produ installers, and on-th level and enviro al flooring Flooring Technprogram is nts for the profession me the next they requireme new for which the dynamic beco gh Card will our throu who in Trade ble of they of leaders only possi ing. When n of the generation are apply Card, they participatio and Trade active liers try. their indus ng supp nally receive ve a natio who major floori employers n to go will also recei learning committed qualificatio part of the the recognised form a key ort that supp with it. , even if your community “But be aware ed, they s. apprentice are qualifi is a installers that there may not know qualification, -level new trade called last year, cate III introduced rds Hire and 30813 Certifi r of Kenna the MSF .

Tom Kimbe nier, the Brand & n Technology Sophie MartigManager for KidsCa in Flooring installers Sponsorship “If you have a trade dy hold that alrea n in the old qualificatio equivalent (or 8 LMF 3120 country) and in another

d? de credite stallers tra Are your in

g 16 Floorin

Feb/March

2016

p XX

As featured on the cover of the February/March 2016 edition of Flooring Magazine.

ion visit For more informat ademy.com.au newfurntrainingac

NEXT I NTAKE WILL B E J

ULY 2O I6

As part of the Residential Workshop, the first intake of Flooring Apprentices at the Newfurn Training Academy were given the perfect opportunity to put their training into practice by upgrading the flooring at the Cheltenham Junior Football & Cricket Club. The old slate, vinyl and tiles at the club were replaced with practical and hard wearing flooring solutions such as carpet planks, needle punch carpet, and safety vinyl and rubber tiles.

The Apprentices were coached and mentored throughout the project in subfloor preparation and flooring installation by a number of leading Technical Specialists from our Alliance Partners.

The critical shortage of Flooring Installers in Australia continues to see the occupation listed on the National Skills Needs List, the Newfurn Training Academy is committed to addressing this skills shortage. The next intake of Apprentices to the Newfurn Training Academy will occur in July 2016, for more information, please go to newfurntrainingacademy.com.au

“

put their training into action

For a strictly confidential discussion about the future direction of your business, please contact: Andrew Lewis Chief Executive Officer Mobile: 0400 400 036 Email: alewis@choicesflooring.com.au

Tim Drew Group Manager - Retail Development Mobile: 0425 751 756 Email: tdrew@choicesflooring.com.au

FocusOn

DOMOTEX asia does it again The 18th DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR took place on 22 to 24 March, 2016 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre with 1,303 exhibitors from 39 countries attracting 50,398 trade visitors from more than 110 nations.

“DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR 2016 was another successful event reconfirming the leading position of the show in the Asia Pacific region.

The increased number of both exhibitors and visitors were a clear indication of the confidence the flooring industry has about the show as being the best platform to do business in the region“ said Martin Folkerts, Director of Global Fairs at Deutsche Messe, one of the organisers of the show.

Visitors from all around the world discovered new trends, technologies and innovations in 12 halls covering a gross area of 140,000 m2 and

24 Flooring April/May 2016

took part in more than 30 conferences, events and seminars presented by worldrenowned flooring experts, professionals and designers.

The first North American distributor delegation, consisting of 12 of USA’s most prominent names in the industry, visited some of the biggest domestic exhibitors’ manufacturing sites right before the show and met with their Chinese and Asian peers during the show.

An international delegation of bamboo flooring buyers also attended and was welcomed by the Anji region officials on the first day of the show while they toured the Anji Bamboo Pavilion, which took up the entire E3 Hall.

Handmade carpet was highlighted with the Handmade Carpet Buyer Match-Making Event, a B2B casual networking event at which exhibitors supplied carpets from India, Pakistan, Iran, Nepal and Afghanistan.

Events such as the World Flooring Forum, coorganised by DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR and the China National Forest Products Association, highlighted the Chinese wood flooring market, while the China International WPC Development Forum gathered domestic and international leaders in the fields of WPC production, raw material supply, engineering, construction and research.

With environmental protection and innovation being the primary driving themes of the show, programs such as the GreenStep Asia Awards and InnovAction were designed to showcase new products that support these principals.

Concurrent events such as Cadex for architecture and design had over 50 innovative materials suppliers and more than 10 dedicated events and Materia Exhibition was established in 1998 to bring together architects and new material producers.

As a final note, DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR 2016 provided an insightful experience to all visitors and exhibitors who enjoyed events catered for by all kinds of flooring products, practices and technological innovations.

The 2017 DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR will be held on 21 to 23 March, 2017 and is definitely one international flooring event that shouldn’t be missed. See you there.

Flooring April/May 2016 25

Software

How much are your quotes worth to you? ... or the importance of follow-up

By Chris Ogden, Managing Director of RFMS Australasia It never fails to surprise me how experts – consultants and trainers – can complicate the sales process. In their hands, selling becomes an arcane art requiring salespeople to learn theories, behaviours and habits that inevitably don’t stick. When was the last time you saw a salesperson’s performance permanently transformed by a sales course?

The problem for the sales expert and consultant is the real solution to effective sales is so simple it can’t be spun it into a book or a three-day course.

But, you might be asking, what does sales process have to do with IT? I will come to that but, for the moment, I will hark back to my days as a flooring retailer to talk about the fundamental process missing in most retail businesses resulting in wasted sales opportunities.

Anyone who has worked with me will tell you (amongst other things) my mantra in sales is the importance of effective follow-up. As much as we might like to believe differently, our salespeople are not following up on sales opportunities – at least, not following up repeatedly and with purpose. As business owners, we spend time thinking about how we can get customers to come into our store, or worrying about why we don’t have more customers coming into our store. Very few of us are

28 Flooring April/May 2016

thinking about what we are doing with those precious leads our salespeople have on their desks right now.

I was at a flooring group meeting last year, and they had a marketing expert present to them about how he was going to be able to drive ‘qualified leads’ into their stores. It was all I could do to stay still in my seat. Every one of those group members (like every flooring business) is sitting on a mountain of qualified leads that, to some extent or other, are being ignored.

In fact, the leads they are sitting on couldn’t be more qualified; these are people (leads) who had come into your store and taken samples from you at one end of the qualification spectrum and those to whom you have given quotes at the other.

Think about the people who have had quotes from you – they have talked to someone in your store, taken samples home, and very likely, one of our staff has stood in their bedroom and toilet. How much more qualified can a lead be?

So, what are you doing with those leads? Beyond sending a quote, very little in most cases. For those leads that take samples, many stores would be lucky to know if the sample was returned much less have followed up on the interest.

Could you call the customer to find out what they thought of the samples once they had them at home? What

about asking if they need alternative samples, or finding out more information about their project. Is the time right to ask for the measure?

By following up on quotes, I don’t mean giving the customer a call to ask if they received the quote, I mean initiating a process of repeated follow-up, until one of two things happens; we either get the sale or we lose it.

A very successful flooring salesperson I know tells me he is happy with either outcome; even if told he has been unsuccessful he has at least got a result, and he can move on to his next sale. Every job on a salesperson's desk should fall into one of three categories: won, lost or still in play, and there should be a record somewhere of what follow-up has taken place and what is next scheduled.

If this is not the case in your business, then you have a follow-up problem, and you are missing out on sales.

Interestingly, when you start asking salespeople about what they are doing with their leads, they can become very proprietary about them. Initially, they can be defensive and maybe a little resentful of your enquiry. Regardless of how they feel, you need to take ownership of the leads in your business and in doing so be more prescriptive about how you want to see them handled.

In fact, I consider my leads as assets – I have paid for them just as surely as I have paid for any other asset in my business. Unlike other assets, an accounting value cannot be put on them but, if I know my average sale, my average GP% and my conversion rate I can put a value on them.

On these metrics, every job-sheet on my salespeople's desk would have had a value of $700.

When you begin thinking like this, your view of how you want your salespeople to handle your quotes changes dramatically.

At this stage there is still more to be said about the value of good follow-up but I have run out of space. In coming articles I will address why, as salespeople, we hate following up (I still hate it), what the obstacles are and how they can be overcome.

I will also cover why a good IT system (I knew I would get there eventually) is invaluable to you in assisting your salespeople to manage the follow up process and providing you with the tools to monitor it.

Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Chris has an extensive background in all aspects of the flooring industry and he can be contacted at cogden@rfms.com.

TRYING TO PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER? Layers Diary Financials Debtors Quotes Stock

Mobile Sales Measuring Reporting Projects Sales

The Flooring Software leader for more than 30 years Clients in Australia and NZ since 1999 Over 8,000 ooring businesses already using RFMS worldwide Cloud hosted options available Flexible and ready for Retail, Commercial and Distributor Fully integrated solution, including tablets and laser measure

Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012

www.rfms.com

salesau@rfms.com

Timber

Kebony joins GECA family Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) has welcomed Kebony as one of its newest certified clients.

Developed in Norway, the Kebony technology is an environmentally friendly, patented process, which enhances the properties of sustainable softwood with a bio-based liquid. The process permanently modifies the wood cell walls giving Kebony premium hardwood characteristics and a rich brown colour.

Suitable for interior and exterior applications that demand high performance and a refined look, Kebony is available in clear and character grade. After exposure to sun and rain the wood develops a

natural silver-gray patina.

Performance is maintained, while beauty is enhanced.

Kebony is recognised as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, listed as Global Cleantech 100 and now recognised

by GECA under the Floor Coverings standard, meaning the product has a lower environmental, health and social impact.

Kebony has been embraced by leading international and local Australian architects and developers, which are served through a global sales and distribution network. In Australia and throughout Asia, Kebony can be purchased through their distributor, Mafi.​

MEASUREMOBILE 3 the best mobile estimating software in the industry FREE DOWNLOAD AT:

• EASY TO USE • STORE IN THE CLOUD • ACCESS ANYWHERE

Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012 www.measuremobile3.com

30 Flooring April/May 2016

salesau@rfms.com

n e a h m t ades r o F er Tr am rt S

Visit the Intafloors website www.intafloors.com.au

See our extensive range of Flooring Accessories & Tools

AVAILABLE THROUGH YOUR LOCAL INTAFLOORS TRADE DEPOT * Availability on certain products may vary from store to store.

Please contact your local trade depot for more details.

www.intafloors.com.au

QLD

Gibbon Group

VIC

NEW ZEALAND

Gibbon Group Newcastle: 02 4951 1002 Email: greg.gardiner@gibbongroup.com.au

Brisbane: 07 3881 1777 Email: sales@gibbongroup.com.au

Free Phone: 0508-882-288 Email: ncpsales@nuplex.com

Intafloors Trade Depot

McDonalds Flooring Accessories

Knoxfield: 03 9764 2400 Dandenong: 03 9702 7822 Geelong: 03 5521 6670 Preston: 03 9416 7878

Sydney: 02 8678 5479 Email: sales@intafloorstrade.com.au

Gold Coast: 07 5564 9999

NSW

TAS

Total Flooring North Hobart: 03 6234 9855

SA

Seal and Sons Adelaide: 08 8346 9833 Email: office@deseal.com.au

FIS Distributors

WA Kevmor Wholesale Trade Supplies Perth: 08 9277 7177 Email: sales@kevmor.com.au

Nuplex Construction Products

Carpet

Ivy Ballroom

Contrasting colour combos There is a clever use of contrasting carpet colour combos in these four installations recently completed by Feltex. Bold and graphic or fine and elegant, a clever use of colour brings a unique element to interior design.

Gotham Bar, Sydney, NSW

This dark and moody bar on Sydney's Oxford Street is the perfect example of how a monochrome colour palette can create striking interiors. White Chesterfield sofas, black wingback armchairs and marble tables team beautifully with the Feltex black and white geometric patterned woven carpet chosen for this installation.

Not only does woven carpet make for a hardwearing surface, the use of the limited palette provides plenty of scope for injecting colour and personality into architectural features to balance the dramatic effect. The exposed brick walls, industrial plumbing fixtures and old fireplaces make this bar, designed by award-winning architects Squillace Nicholas, worthy of any caped crusader.

Gotham Bar

32 Flooring April/May 2016

Ivy Ballroom, Sydney

With six metre high ceilings, floor to ceiling windows and a bold black and white colour scheme, this 509 m2 ballroom needed a carpet that could really pack a punch.

This graphic zebra print custom Feltex Woven carpet takes centre stage in this room. This bold and elegant print plays on the classic black and white stripe in an unexpected way. The stark, organic lines lead the eye into the space and contrast brilliantly against modern furnishings like the oversized chandeliers and sheer curtains.

Vincent Street Apartments

The modern, clean interiors of the Vincent Street Apartments created the perfect backdrop for this contrasting striped commercial carpet.

The bold grey, black and blue lines in this 100% wool carpet have been used to maximum effect along the glassed walkways and spacious corridors.

There’s a classic elegance to this

Vincent Street Apartments

interior thanks to the contrasting carpet colours, stark white walls, high gloss black finishes and black framed window letting in floods of natural light. It's minimalist without being stark, we also love the pops of green from the potted plants and greenery beyond the huge windows.

Doltone House, Sydney

Press my tuxedo and pour me a martini – the jaw-dropping interiors of Doltone House are a beautiful blend of modern monochrome meeting oldworld glamour. Such dramatic contrast is truely complemented by a custom Feltex Woven Axminster carpet.

Bold geometric shapes along with strong contrasting gold and black stripes enhance the bold and sophisticated elegance of this interior. The opulent splendour of this interior – the gold mirrors, leather padded walls, black and gold fixtures and the enormous glass-drop chandelier – is like a room straight out of The Great Gatsby.

Doltone House

Interface switchs to green power Cementing its reputation as a leader in sustainability, carpet tile manufacturer Interface announced it has switched to sourcing 100% green electricity for its manufacturing operation in Sydney.

The switch was made through Interface’s partnership with Energy Action, specialists in commercial energy procurement who also carried out an extensive on-site audit to identify potential efficiencies and savings.

Australian CEO, Clinton Squires said the switch to renewable energy was rare for an Australian manufacturer.

“I’m not aware of any Australian manufacturers who have invested in green energy as we have at Interface.

For Interface, the switch to renewable power is a must and a crucial part of our Mission Zero commitment to have no net impact on the environment by 2020.

“Mission Zero is a fundamental expression of Interface’s values. It’s who we are and how many of our customers know us to be,” Squires added.

Mr Squires said while he hoped other local manufacturers would follow the company’s lead, he recognised that the recent policy environment in Australia meant green energy can be a costly option, unless you make significant reductions in energy demand.

Before investing in green energy certificates, Interface made a concerted effort to become more energy efficient and reduce its energy consumption per metre square of carpet manufactured.

“We made a number of sweeping changes at our manufacturing facility. One simple program was the replacement of aging skylights which had lost much of their transparency, enabling us to cut down on lighting during daylight hours. This alone reduced our energy use by 20%.”

“Energy Action identified a number of further measures to significantly reduce our energy usage, particularly with lighting, and they are providing us with ongoing support through energy monitoring and reporting data.”

After investing in renewables, Interface is now well on track to achieving its goal of Mission Zero.

“As a manufacturer, Mission Zero has been a monumental undertaking. Yet the goal is in sight. I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to achieve,” said Mr Squires.

“Switching to renewable energy sources is just one of seven steps we’ve identified on the pathway to Mission Zero. Other steps also recently completed include Zero Waste and closed loop manufacturing processes.

The new Sydney factory has had a zero waste to landfill program since it opened in 2014.

And to ‘close the loop’, Interface is building a ReEntry facility at its Sydney plant. This will accelerate the recycling and reuse of old carpet tiles, complementing product design efforts that ensure used carpet tiles can be readily be deconstructed after use and repurposed.

Acme Binding expands its finishes Acme Binding, one of Melbourne’s oldest carpet edging companies, has expanded the variety of edging it supplies to the carpet industry.

Acme Binding Company was established in 1969 as an overlocking company to provide an edging service for the carpet shops of that time. Since then it has expanded its profile of edgings and backings to meet the needs of the ever expanding carpet industry.

It provides a sampling service to the manufacturers as well as the overlocking service to the retailers.

Acme has now expanded its services to include a variety of different taped borders: * 50mm binding top stitched with overlapping corners; * custom binding 65mm hidden stitching with mitred corners; * custom binding with heavy duty material such as macro suede; * custombind with leather or imitation leather.

“We saw the need to expand the business to provide a wider variety of finishes for carpet rugs as people’s requirements for a more impressive finish from just overlocking, “ said Acme’s David Supple. “We also provide a speedbinding edge that is similar to the finish on the carpet samples and this has proven to be very popular.We have a wide range of colours to choose from for all our tape and speedbinding.

“Acme also provides a variety of backings for the rugs to protect the floors under the rugs and to provide a non-slip safety feature. We have also expanded our variety of backings to include a latex backing, which makes the carpet rug more rigid and again non slip.”

ProductUpdate

Hydro Ban membrane Hydro Ban from Laticrete is a thin, load bearing waterproofing/crack isolation membrane that combines optimum performance with unmatched productivity.

Hydro Ban does not require the use of fabric in the field, coves or corners. It is a single component self curing liquid rubber polymer that forms a flexible, seamless waterproofing membrane that bonds directly to a wide variety of substrates.

Rapid drying allows for faster time to tile. It changes in colour from a light sage to an olive green when dry.

Hydro Ban is a low VOC emitting product that has been GREENGUARD certified.

It is a highly extensible Class 3 membrane suitable for immersed installations, internal wet areas and external above ground use.

It’s new, it’s classy, it’s Classic The Tredfx Fusion series is the latest addition to the stair nosing range offered by Classic Architectural Products.

Featuring a distinguished elegant metal insert within an aluminium profile, this designer series is suitable for internal or external fitment with profiles to suit any application such as vinyl, concrete, carpet

Primer for high colour enhancement

Safe glue removal The removal of carpet glue has always been a messy business. However, now you can remove glue safely and quickly without all the hassle.

Multi-Clean Ultra Stripper from International Building Supply gets the job done, is quick and safe.

Concentrated and certified ‘green’ the stripper enables the removal of all sorts of glue, paint, epoxy and sealer

coatings quickly and safely.

For the removal of glue, apply the diluted Multi-Clean Ultra Stripper to the surface and leave for 40 minutes and then remove with IBS removal diamonds. Then add some extra water and vacuum the rest off.

Once removed you can then reseal with any IBS quality Multi-Clean sealing systems.

Image (above) shows glue prior to removal and then (right) sealed with our durable combination of sealers 3 coats Multi-Clean LD1000 & Clinton Squires followed by 3 coats Multi-Clean PREMIER.

34 Flooring April/May 2016

tiles or for fitting into rebates.

Classic’s stair nosings come cut to length and supplied complete with inserts and fixings, ensuring a quick and easy installation. In addition, the nosings carry a class leading warranty and comply with relevant industry standards giving you complete peace of mind.

Lobadur HS 2K Intensive AT, the latest product from the Loba laboratory, changes the protective function of the primer into an effective design element.

As well as enhancing and intensifying the colour of the wood, this primer is very environmentally friendly because, being oil-based and roller-applied, it does not have a high solvent content.

One of the essential features of a professionally laid wooden floor is the way the nuanced colour tones of natural wood are developed to best effect. Lobadur HS 2K Intensive AT has the special property of intensifying the natural effects of the colour of the wood. On dark floors in particular, the primer is very effective at bringing out the full depth of colour.

This enhancement and intensification of the colour of the wood, which can usually only be achieved using high solvent content primers, creates the same elegant,

fascinating effect in the room, yet is very environmentally friendly.

Prime once for all-round gains: the professional floorlayer benefits right from the start from the properties of the new Lobadur HS 2K Intensive AT in terms of efficiency of use and environmental friendliness.

Edge gluing is reduced and joint cracking effectively prevented. The result is the overall look of oiled wood combined with all the advantages of a sealed finish.

In addition, the floor-layer can give his customers the absolute certainty that they have used an environmentally friendly and low-emission product in their rooms.

Surface without primer Surface with HS 2K Intensive A.T.

SOMETIMES

SINGLE

IS A LOT EASIER.

THE NEW ARDEX WPM 368 IS HERE SINGLE PART BARRIER ARDEX WPM 368 is the first and only single part, subfloor moisture barrier membrane for flooring applications. No mixing, no wastage and no more risk of mistakes. It even has a built in mechanical key, so no more sand broadcasting.

WPM 368 is water based making it environmentaly friendly and suitable for use in confined spaces. WPM 368 will save you money on materials, save you time on the job and will remind you everyday, that single is a whole lot easier.

For more information, contact ARDEX on 1300 788 780 or visit www.ardexaustralia.com

Business

How prepared are you for an insurance claim ?

By Ian Jones, FloorInsure That depends on your insurance policy. They're not all the same and provide different covers in the same way that different floors have different qualities.

Retail Flooring businesses do have similar requirements and needs for insurance as other retail style businesses.

There may, however, be a few aspects of some business package insurance policies that may leave you high and dry at the time when you need the protection most.

It is vital that you understand what policy exclusions, endorsements and sub limits are included to ensure absolute protection against the unexpected. This is not necessarily something that flooring retailers are well equipped to translate, so advice ... the right advice ... is absolutely crucial.

If you arranged your insurance with an insurance company, they won't, and aren't able to give advice on matters such as sums insured, sub limit values,

36 Flooring April/May 2016

policy modifications, etc, so the onus is on the retailer to tell the insurance company exactly what they want and hope that they have gotten it right.

To get the right advice the best way is to engage an insurance broker and ensure that they have a good knowledge of your business, its workings and needs so they can make all appropriate recommendations and make qualified options available so that you can make an informed decision with the comfort of knowing it came from a professional. Insurance brokers also deal with a wide variety of insurance companies so the advice comes with that experience.

A typical flooring retailer business package insurance policy would protect against risks such as fire, storm, impact and a range of other perils listed within the policy; loss of business income and profits following a peril; burglary and theft; loss of money, plate glass,

breakdown of motors and electrical items; stock in transit; public and products liability and more. Other covers that may need advice sought after may include management liability, tax audit and legal expense cover, motor vehicles and professional indemnity. The list can go on, so once again it is important to get the right advice on what suits you and your particular business.

A flooring retailer needs to also ensure that they are fully protected against any claim brought against them for property damage or personal injury by contractors or other parties in the course of business. For example, a consumer may consider these services provided as an extension of your business, disregarding the fact that these services may be contracted.

Some insurers’ policies may exclude such claims made where a retailer/ contractor relationship exists and the retailer may not be

fully aware of what cover any contractor holds, or even if it is adequate. The retailer may also have insufficient cover for civil claims bought about by contractors if they themselves are injured on a job.

A web of confusion emerges very easily when it comes to liability claims so the right advice is vital.

The cost of insurance is always relevant but don't believe that all insurance policies are the same and, in any case, you always get what you pay for – just like differing qualities in flooring.

There may be for a reason why an insurance policy is slightly more expensive but, once again, it pays to get the right advice – it can save you a lot in the long run, maybe even your business.

Ian Jones, Dip Fin Serv. (Broking), ANZIIF (Snr Assoc) CIP, Principal and Founder, FloorInsure, Flooring Industry Insurance Specialists www.floorinsure.com.au insure@floorinsure.com.au

EMERYTOP 400™™ isEMERYTOP the World’s400 is the World’s Toughest Floor.

Toughest Floor.

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Your tipping floor takes daily abuse from impact, abrasion, and chemicals.

Without a proper topping, your floor gives away until there’s nothing left.

Your tipping floor takes daily abuse from impact, abrasion, and chemicals.

EMERYTOP 400™ solves your flooring problem by offering: Without a proper topping, your floor gives away until there’s nothing left.

Exceptional floor protection 400™ solves your flooring problem by offering: FastEMERYTOP installation LessExceptional cost over thefloor life protection of your floor Fast installation www.emerytop400.com | 1800 331floor 012 Less cost over the life of your n

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A-1158-0316 LATICRETE Pty Ltd 29 Telford Street, Virginia, QLD 4014 1800 331 012 www.laticrete.com.au

www.emerytop400.com 1800 012 ©2016 LATICRETE Pty Ltd. All trademarks|shown are the331 intellectual properties of their respective owners.

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A-1158-0316 LATICRETE Pty Ltd 29 Telford Street, Virginia, QLD 4014 1800 331 012 www.laticrete.com.au A-1158-0316 ©2016 LATICRETE Pty Ltd. All trademarks shown are the intellectual properties of their respective owners.

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Business

Managing HR can positively impact profit www.businessnumbersmadeeasy.com Whether you’re new to business or a seasoned operator, it can sometimes be difficult to know what to focus on. Business owners/ managers are expected to be in control of: • product/service development • marketing and sales • operations and finance • customer service • human resources I’ve put them in the above order because firstly you have to have a viable product/ service to offer to the market.

Then you need to convey a compelling marketing message to customers and be able to convert their interest into sales. You then need an effective method of delivering your product/service to customers as well as finance to fund the business. You also need to focus attention on customer service to ensure they come back and give good testimonials.

Probably the number one for established businesses is human resources. It can be summed up into one sentence: “Happy staff – deliver great service – to happy customers – who are happy to pay you!”

It may be surprising to some that HR can have such a big impact on your bottom line. When your business is small you can afford the time to focus attention on customers and ensure they are being well looked after and happy. When your business grows, you can become distanced from customers due to all the other things you have to focus on.

One thing I’ve learned about employing people is

38 Flooring April/May 2016

that they aren’t there just to make your life easier. They have their own motivations and desires and you need to understand this and nurture them if you hope to successfully employ people and grow your business.

The best way to nurture staff is to take this area of your business seriously. It’s surprising how many big businesses don’t, let alone small businesses. It’s not rocket science though. We’ve been employing people in our business for about 20 plus years and it hasn’t all been ‘plain sailing’, but due to our proactive approach we’ve had much less hassle than other employers I know.

It pays to have regular reviews with staff and work with them to develop their skills. Try to create a consultative culture in your business and really listen to staff and what they have to offer, in terms of feedback and suggestions for what might work best for the organisation. They are generally the ones interfacing with customers and hear what they say, so often have the best handle on reality. If you listen to them and incorporate their suggestions, it can be very worthwhile to your bottom line.

If you work with staff to develop their skills and help them to be more productive, you will also win as a business owner. On top of all this you get great loyalty from staff if they feel valued and listened to. It can save you much money and headaches if you keep working with great people who are committed to your business and its success.

“One thing I’ve learned about employing people is that they aren’t there just to make your life easier. They have their own motivations and desires and you need to understand this and nurture them if you hope to successfully employ people and grow your business.”

The very best place to start with HR management is with an organisational chart. This sets out everything that gets done in the business and who does it. It’s a great way to ensure that all aspects of business operations are covered and there aren’t any gaps or overlaps.

Once you have the organisation chart you can then come up with accurate job descriptions for everyone – it is vital for everyone to understand what they are responsible for. Having people running around without clear understanding of what they should be focusing on is very detrimental to business productivity and profitability.

Once you have these tools in place it’s much easier to regularly review the situation and creates an easier environment for HR realignment. This means constantly reviewing who is doing what and, if some people are overloaded, where you can shift tasks to others who aren’t fully utilised.

If you’re in a service based business your most valuable income earning asset is your service staff. You want to ensure they are spending the maximum time on billable activity. For example, if they

are spending five hours a week on non-billable admin and being charged out at say $100 per hour moving that work onto a cheaper resource, eg. admin person, could create an extra $20,000 of revenue per person. That’s if you take into account a 40 week working year allowing for annual leave, sick leave, public holidays etc.

And that’s just one person – imagine if you could do that with five or six people!

It would more than cover the wage of someone else to do the admin or better utilise someone already employed.

One very important question to ask in a service based business is: “Am I selling all the hours I’m paying for?”

The best way to be more productive with service staff is to have great systems for managing people’s time and travel and scheduling. There are some fantastic systems available nowadays to make this process easy and cost effective.

Cloud commerce has made systems more affordable and accessible to small businesses. Check them out to see how much you could save – not just in money, but headaches too.

Training

Industry training in Queensland If you take a snap shot of the building and construction sector in Queensland – figures are looking positive: • an increase of almost 9% in building approvals* • 60% of building activity is residential • 61% of residential building was new housing.** These figures lead to an increasing trend towards the need for apprentices in the flooring technology trade area, according to TAFE Queensland SkillsTech Flooring Technology Teacher, Shane Eales.

“The fact that Floor Finisher is on the National Skills Needs List tells us that this is a trade area that needs apprentices,” Shane said.

“In fact, for the first time, we will be holding a demonstration for flooring technology at the WorldSkills Australia National Competition in Melbourne in October with the intention that the trade area be considered for future regional and national competitions.

“We have a Queensland and Western Australian apprentice for the demonstration: I am training both students and they are

exceptional ambassadors for our industry.

“Flooring technology is a trade area that is expanding and it is essential that we provide consistent quality training around the country to ensure the future for our trade.”

Bunbury apprentice, James Warwick is currently enrolled at TAFE Queensland SkillsTech for a Certificate III in Flooring Technology and is looking forward to demonstrating his trade at the national skills competition.

“My TAFE teacher Shane comes to South Metropolitan TAFE from Queensland to train us and has been working with me towards the national competition demonstration too,” James said.

“He has worked in the industry, so speaks in a way that I can understand. He stays updated with latest trends and techniques in flooring with his industry contacts, so I know I’ll be ready for any worksite.

“I really want to demonstrate my competitive work skills at the national comp too and really appreciate Shane working

with me to get me ready; he’s a great trainer and has inspired me to push myself.”

TAFE Queensland SkillsTech is renowned for providing high quality training and well respected by peak construction industry bodies and flooring specialists including Construction Skills Queensland, the Australian Timber Flooring Association, WorldSkills Queensland, Mapei, Laticrete, MJ Sturgess, PKF Flooring and Husqvarna.

TAFE Queensland SkillsTech is Queensland’s largest trade and technical training provider and prides itself on its flexible training such as the face-to-face programs delivered at South Metropolitan TAFE in Perth and online. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), student support services including literacy and numeracy support, plus highly qualified teachers with more than 50 years combined experience in carpet, timber, vinyl and resilient flooring and concrete polishing, results in quality training for the apprentice or tradesperson.

For further information about training your

Trainee James Warwick.

apprentice in the flooring technology trade, contact TAFE Queensland SkillsTech on 1800 654 447 or visit tafeskillstech.edu.au *Australian Bureau of Statistics, 8731.0, Building Approvals, Australia, Table 32. Value of Building Approved – Queensland, Trend, September 2015 **Australian Bureau of Statistics, 8750.0, Building Activity, Australia, Table 24. Value of Residential Building Work Done By Sector, Queensland, seasonal

INVEST IN A COMPLETE CARPET CARE SOLUTION WITH TENNANT TENNANT HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR CARPETS LOOKING GREAT We offer a complete line of upright, backpack and canister vacuum cleaners, well suited for both small and large areas. We also provide restorative carpet cleaning equipment including portable extractors, deep cleaning extractors and daily use carpet cleaners.

Contact us at www.tennantco.com/au/floor-care to schedule a FREE cleaning assessment!

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An extensive range of popular European & proprietary flooring brands now available Australia Wide.

European manufactured Laminate from KronoSwiss, the newly introduced Wicanders Cork Flooring, along with our ever popular Verdura Bamboo and a host of exciting Prestige Oak and engineered timber options.

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Isuzu trucks ready to work For tradies looking for more payload than a ute can safely deliver, Isuzu has come to the party with its new light-duty Servicepack.

Built on an Isuzu NLR 45-150, the Servicepack offers an impressive GVM of 4,500 kg, GCM of 7,000 kg and towing capacity of up to 2,500 kg – and you only need a passenger car licence to get behind the wheel.

Building on the continued success of the Isuzu ready-towork range, the Servicepack is both compact and nimble, with a tight turning circle and short wheelbase dimensions that fit comfortably into any standard driveway or shopping centre car park space.

The new model also offers ample on-board storage with two rows of lockers of various sizes, each fitted with internal LED lighting for optimum visibility no matter what time of the day or night you’re called to work.

A central storage area with load rated tie-down hooks is also part of the package, and an integrated step towbar and reversing camera finesse the Servicepack’s already abundant form and functionality.

Isuzu Australia Limited’s National Sales Manager Andrew Harbison said the Servicepack promises to be a tough new contender in the light commercial market – and for good reason.

“The Servicepack was developed for tradespeople with big plans and, as the new model can be driven on a passenger car driver’s licence, business owners will have maximum flexibility among their driver workforce,” Mr Harbison said.

“With the Servicepack, we’ve created a one-stop vehicle for a huge range of applications. It’s essentially the tradies’ dream package rolled into one. It offers around the same wheelbase as a ute, provides premium visibility and car-like comfort, all rounded out with trucktough engineering and a superior payload of approx.

1.5 tonnes.”

Equipped with the full suite of trucking credentials – from class-leading safety to state-of-the-art in cab technology – the Servicepack comes with the practicality and go-anywhere flexibility and that makes it the perfect work vehicle for the discerning tradesperson.

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                                              



®



 

®

AUSTRALIA

THE NAME  



Alternative

Huon Aquaculture expands on a Flowfresh floor The food manufacturing design specialist, Wiley, specified a high performance resin floor from Flowcrete Australia for a $12 million, state-of-the-art smokehouse.

The flooring project at the Huon Aquaculture Smokehouse and Product Innovation centre in Parramatta Creek, Tasmania, was part of a 10-month construction program to upgrade, centralise and future-proof the large-scale salmon producer’s operations.

The project involved a refurbishment of the existing

42 Flooring April/May 2016

site as well as an extension that would double the business’ footprint. The new facility opened in July 2015, bringing together Huon’s full range of seafood processing, which incorporates whole fish, fresh fish and value-added cold and hot smoked salmon production.

Huon’s Managing Director, Peter Bender, said in the company’s press release: “The new smokehouse and new product centre is part of a four-year, $200 million controlled growth strategy for the company, which

consolidates our operations to Tasmania, delivers increased production capacity and efficiency whilst reducing our environmental footprint”.

Wiley has been a long-term partner with Huon Aquaculture and utilised its extensive expertise in the industry to create a revitalised facility that is expected to deliver over one million dollars in cost savings in its first year alone.

Huon Aquaculture’s floor area would have to withstand the annual production of 17,000 tonnes of fresh salmon, which will subject it to heavy equipment, spillages of fish and by-products, frequent cleaning, thermal shock and constant foot traffic. As one of Australia’s premium global producers of fresh and smoked salmon products, the new 2,500m2 facility would need a floor that met the highest standards of cleanliness despite these difficult operating conditions.

Wiley contacted Flowcrete Australia regarding its ultra-hygienic antimicrobial Flowfresh flooring range and specified its polyurethane system Flowfresh SR for the task at hand. The durability of Flowfresh combined with its anti-slip, easy to clean finish made it ideal for Huon’s new facility.

Flowcrete Australia’s Managing Director, Sean Tinsley, said: “Being specified for this project is a testament to the quality of Flowfresh, as it had to meet the high standards and rigorous demands of one of the nation’s largest salmon producers as well as a premier food industry Designer Builder.

“Thanks to its highly successful, tried-and-tested ability to create a hygienic floor finish within food and beverage industry facilities, Flowfresh has recently been accredited with HACCP International Certification. This achievement means that food producers can specify Flowfresh, safe in the knowledge that it complies with a crucial, globally recognised standard for food safety.”

A key component of Flowfresh’s hygienic credentials stems from the fact that it has been enhanced with the antimicrobial agent Polygiene, which utilises the natural bactericidal properties of silver to eliminate germs and microbes. The Polygiene additive is homogenously distributed throughout Flowfresh’s resin matrix, a formulation that has been tested to meet the ISO 22196 standard for measuring a surface’s antibacterial effectiveness on plastics and other non-porous surfaces.

It was crucial that the production areas maintained a clean and fresh appearance, not only to ensure a safe processing space, but also because a suspended walkway allows customers and visitors to view the facility, further emphasising the importance of portraying a spotless appearance.

Huon Aquaculture wanted it to be possible to expand its site again at a later date. Wiley therefore designed the facility so that it could be added to over the years. The Flowfresh floor ties into this aim and its robust nature means that it will be able to handle an increased workload at a later date.

PICFloors

Preparation, Installation & Care

The Laticrete solution Boyer’s Food Markets in Pennsylvania, USA, recently completed construction on its eighteenth store – the first one the company has built from the ground up.

The building boasts approximately 2,972 m2 of space and the design called for all floors to be polished concrete.

The polished concrete contractor faced a few significant challenges with this project: • The crew of four men worked nights and had to work around the equipment and messes of other contractors who were working during the day, dealing with everything from spilled hydraulic fluid from the equipment to paint and plaster that would fall and adhere to the floors.

• As the team began the preparation of the floors, the new concrete proved difficult to open up, so workers had to use a grind aid to allow for an easier cut.

• The company had only five weeks to complete the project, and had to do all the work in overnight shifts so that other contractors were not interrupted.

The Laticrete solution

Laticrete solutions that are part of the FGS PermaShine System in the new store include: FGS Hardener Plus is a proprietary, chemical hardening solution that is formulated to increase the wear resistance and surface strength of concrete floors that have been mechanically ground, smoothed, and polished. Polished concrete floors treated with FGS Hardener Plus last longer than conventional concrete floors, cost less to maintain, reflect light better, hold

TANDUS POWERBOND

a shine longer, are safe to use, and are guaranteed to resist dusting for a minimum of ten years.

L&M Vivid Concrete Dye is available in 24 standard colours and is formulated using extremely fine molecules of colour designed to penetrate and colour any cementitious surface. Created for use with the FGS PermaShine polished concrete floor system, it can be used as a base colour or touch up for acid stained concrete or as a colouring agent itself.

PermaGuard SPS is a topical sealer that effectively protects concrete and other natural stone floor surfaces from the damaging effects of staining, defacing, and deterioration due to contaminant penetration. The resulting floors are easier to clean and keep clean, featuring a longlasting high-gloss finish that improves light reflectance and eliminates the need for floor waxes, polishes, and conventional epoxy-based coatings.

Boyer’s Food Market opened on time to a rush of happy customers and very satisfied owners. The floors are a highlight of the facility and will require very little maintenance while providing decades of service.

The ideal flooring for healthcare & aged care Powerbond hybrid resilient flooring combines the impermeabilty of vinyl with the comfort of carpet to provide the ideal flooring solution for healthcare and aged care.

The closed cell resilient backing provides a barrier to moisture and contaminants. This is fused to the solution dyed nylon pile to create a luxurious look with the acoustic and comfort benefits of carpet.

www.tarkett.com.au

To see the full Powerbond range visit www.tarkett.com.au

Preparation, Installation & Care

A fast cut and perfect finish There are hundreds and thousands of ways to polish concrete floors using the same basic concept: different options in the grit, bond and segment type of diamonds through to the resins, grouts and densifiers as well as different machines and different manufacturers.

For more than 85 years, Schwamborn grinders have given the user a fast cut and a perfect finish on every concrete floor no matter what condition the floor is in, how hard or soft the concrete or how new or old the substrate may be. Boasting the highest possible productivity in its size is the DSM650S Schwamborn grinder.

Designed with the operator in mind, Schwamborn grinders have all been designed to

have the right proportion of weight, speed and power to get you through the floor preparation, removal and cleaning of a slab, through to getting the perfect polish on your floors.

Grinding concrete is a process, but polishing concrete is another – Schwamborn Grinders will easily do them both. When making the decision about the types of polished concrete floors you promote it’s important you understand the different levels of exposure in the concrete, and the types of finish you can get depending on the types of diamonds and resins that you use.

There are various types of finishes you can get depending on how deep into the concrete slab you

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SBC0159

PICFloors

grind. By doing a light grind across the floor chances are minimal that the aggregate will be exposed giving you a ‘Bunnings warehouse’ look across your floor.

By taking it down even further you will next achieve a ‘salt and pepper’ look while additional grinding will bring you to full exposure.

After these grinding stages are done and the aggregate exposured to the desired level, people will either coat the floor with an epoxy or polyurethane or densify and achieve a mechanical finish. Both of these types of finishing are very popular with the latter way being more expensive.

Other materials including glass, rock or bead can be put into the surface during

your pour to give a different character to your polished concrete floor. The best thing about a polished concrete floor is they are all one of a kind and no other floor will ever be exactly the same.

All Preparation Equipment staff are the experts in floor polishing and preparation and can help make sure you are achieving that perfect floor for your client every time.

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PICFloors

Preparation, Installation & Care

Basement waterproofing In the past, residential basements were mainly used for purposes that usually entailed the area becoming partially wet during their usage; for example, car parking and plant rooms. Today, they are increasingly used as habitable room spaces, primarily theatre rooms. This is designed to minimise the transmission of audio sounds from the theatre room.

By Barry Schafer, Australian Insitute of Waterproofing (Reprinted from Tile Today Magazine Issue 89) This type of usage places additional demands on the waterproofing, as it becomes necessary to prevent damage to surface finishes used in these rooms. This, in turn, produces an increase in the cost of the waterproofing.

This results in two types of waterproofing, one for what I refer to as ‘wet basements’, the car parking and plant room type, and the other, which I refer to as ‘dry basement’, the habitable room type.

Wet basements

Firstly the wet type. Cars always bring water into the parking space. You can observe this when entering an undercover car park in multi car park spaces on a wet day.

In commercial car parks the extent of water deposited on the floor can extend well over 100 metres into the car park. Even in a residential basement of a detached dwelling the floor has to cope with the ingress of water.

The walls and ceiling need to handle the build up of humidity within the car park that can lead to condensation forming on these surfaces.

Plant rooms are designed with floor drainage to deal with accidental spills, with similar design requirements to car parks in regard to humidity build up. Figure 1 depicts the type of drainage that is built into floors to cope with water.

This particular car park had been built well below the water table level. To reduce the water pressure on the floor of the car park, core holes were drilled though the floor each side of the drainage grate to release water pressure under the floor, allowing it to drain into the grate – as can been seen in the illustration.

It is common in units with underground car parks that there are lockable cages along some external walls of the car park for storage of items owned by residents.

Figure 2 illustrates how a

Figure 1 – Drainage along wall of underground car park

46 Flooring April/May 2016

Figure 2 – Items stored above drain

resident stored the items in the cage on a timber platform placed above the water flow.

Water flows in drains along the walls needs to be handled differently than shown in this example.

Water entry at the wall/ floor junction is common in car parks built below ground level and is where these storage cages are usually built. If storage units are to be constructed along the walls of a car park then a better way of handling the water flow needs to be created at the design stage to avoid potential damage. Drainage along the wall/floor junction is the best position for the drain as water inflow is most likely in this location. A removable raised false floor over the drain

is a possible solution as it protects the items stored, and allows access to the drain for cleaning. The other solution is to build the storage cages in the middle of the space away from the walls, however this usually results in restricting vehicle access to parking spaces.

Dry basements

Now for habitable room basements. With habitable rooms not only do you need to prevent water entry, the water vapour transmission through the walls and floor also needs to be lower than any finish applied to them.

As the floor of the basement will often be below the water table level at some stage during the life of the

building, the floor needs to be waterproofed as well as having a low water vapour transmission rate.

The water vapour barriers used for concrete slabs on ground construction will not achieve this requirement. Due to their thin nature the water vapour barriers frequently have small pin holes made in them and this creates difficulty in making water tight seals between sheets.

Pin holes and joins between sheets are not a problem with water vapour transmission as the rate of bleed of water vapour is a function of the total surface area. So a few pin holes or gaps in joins do not greatly alter the total amount of water vapour transmission through the whole surface of the floor. However, even a small pin hole will be a problem in regard to water entry, which must be avoided in habitable room spaces.

In this type of construction, it is possible that some of its life will be spent below the water table level. Therefore, a waterproofing membrane with a low water vapour transmission rate is required below the floor. A low water vapour transmission rate is one that is 0.1 gram or less per square metre in a 24 hour period. This low rate requires the use of sheet waterproofing membranes or hydro carbon liquid ones. Any that are water based or require water to activate will not provide the required low rate of water vapour transmission.

As the floors are usually concrete, two separate layers of concrete in the floor construction are required to apply the membrane.

What is commonly referred to as a wear slab is initially installed, then the membrane is applied. The conventional floor slab is then placed over the membrane as shown in Figure 3. The wear slab is extended out past the floor slab, so that the wall membrane can be joined onto the membrane after the walls are in place. This extension allows a waterproof junction between the wall and the floor membrane.

To limit the long-term water pressure on the wall there must be a sub-soil drain installed below the top of the floor slab as shown in Figure 3.

If this detail is not followed then coverings of the floor slab need to be limited to those that will have a high water vapour transmission rate. Otherwise there is the risk of dampness building up under them due to the water vapour transmission through the floor slab.

With walls it is worth considering the use of a vented cavity between the wall finish cladding and the structural wall behind it. This would be advisable, as the waterproofing membrane on the wall is frequently damaged during the backfilling operation, even if protection boards are used.

An example of the damage that can occur due to water

Unfortunately these extra performance requirements are often overlooked in the specifications used in the waterproofing of habitable room spaces. This frequently results in the need to undertake extensive repairs and/or alterations once the building is occupied to provide the required performance.

Figure 4 – Internal damage to a wall from water vapour transmission

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SBC0160

Figure 3 – Details for a floor slab with wear slab

vapour transmission through a wall in a habitable basement is shown in Figure 4.

From the examples discussed in this article it is clear that greater performance requirements are required for waterproofing of habitable room spaces in basements than are deemed necessary for car parks and plant rooms.

1300 044 625

www.contreat.com.au info@contreat.com.au “From time of pour, to finished floor... we’ve got you covered”

Flooring April/May 2016 47

PICFloors

Preparation, Installation & Care

Flowcrete showcases food industry Flowcrete Australia will be taking its food safe flooring expertise to Foodtech Queensland 2016, a new trade event for the state’s food and beverage manufacturing industry.

The show, which is taking place from the 26 to 28 June at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, will provide a platform for food industry professionals to learn about the latest ideas, trends and technologies available to the market.

On stand C38, Flowcrete Australia’s resin flooring experts will be on hand to discuss the key flooring characteristics that food and beverage manufacturers need to be aware of to ensure a clean and safe working environment.

Visitors will also be able to find out how the antimicrobial enhanced, polyurethane Flowfresh range has been uniquely formulated to minimise

the risk of contamination incidents within food industry facilities.

The seamless and impervious finish that Flowfresh creates is easy to clean, as contaminants cannot hide in hard to clean cracks or gaps. The robustness of this system means that it will retain its functionality for an extended period of time in the face of typical food industry challenges, such as corrosive food by-products, thermal shock from hot ovens and steam cleaning, spillages, heavy impacts and more.

Every Flowfresh system includes the antimicrobial additive Polygiene, which is able to eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria that comes into contact with the floor. The polyurethane system has been proven to meet the ISO 22196 standard, which measures the antibacterial effectiveness of plastics and other non-porous surfaces.

Floorex unveils new line-up Floorex Products used the HRIA Hire and Rental Expo to unveil the latest in its lineup of innovative concrete grinders.

Building on the success of the Satellite Generation3 range, the Meteor 250 Generation3 has been eagerly awaited by both the hire industry and the flooring industry alike.

The new Meteor 250 Generation3 has a completely new auto height adjustment (patent pending) designed by Floorex and a reworked version of their

48 Flooring April/May 2016

highly desirable edger system. The Meteor also has the same LCD screen as some of the Satellite machines that allows you to get the maximum use of single phase power.

The release date is to be announced shortly.

Floorex Products had a productive time exhibiting at the SydneyBuild Expo in March. Despite the unfavourable heat, a large number of flooring professionals visited Floorex’s stand and live demonstrations.

The effectiveness and versatility of Flowfresh was exemplified recently when Huon Aquaculture built a new Smokehouse and Product Innovation Centre in Parramatta Creek, Tasmania.

The food manufacturing design specialist, Wiley, specified a Flowfresh SR floor for this $12 million project, as it would be able to maintain an anti-slip, easy to clean finish in what would be a busy environment prone to slippery conditions.

Different colours were used

in the cold and hot smoke slicing rooms to avoid cross contamination by creating a clear visual difference between the two areas.

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With over 45,000 unique visitors per month and more than 3000 members, Infotile.com is the place to go for all the latest news, product profiles, installation guides and advice dedicated to the ceramic tile and natural stone industries.

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MAY 2016

20-23 Heimtextile Russia Erbil Stone 2016

International trade fair for hometextiles, Stone, ceramics, tile & sanitary floorcoverings and interior furnishings equipment & machinery exhibition Moscow, Russian Federation Erbil, Iraq http://heimtextil-russia. http://erbilstone.com/English/default.aspx ru.messefrankfurt.com/moscow/en/

Ardex

12-15

Carpet Court

23-26

Con-Treat

47

DuraCore

44

Middle East Covering 2016 Exhibition dedicated to the flooring, wall covering & surfaces Dubai, UAE http://www.middleeastcovering.com 26-29

HIA Sydney 2016 Home Show Sydney, Australia http://www.sydneyhomeshow.com.au

JULY 2016 21-24

AIFF 2016.

Australian International Furniture Fair and Decor + Design Show 2016

Interiors co-located event showcasing interior products and furnishings Melbourne, Australia http://www.aiff.net.au http://www.decordesignshow.com.au SEPTEMBER 2016 11-13

NYICS 2016 New York International Carpet Show New York, USA http://www.nyics.com

26-30 Cersaie

International exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings

Bologne, Italy http://www.cersaie.it/en/ 28-1 Oct Marmomacc

Global event for the natural stone industry

Verona, Italy http://www.marmomacc.com/en JANUARY 2017 14-17

Domotex – World trade fair for carpets and floorcoverings Hannover, Germany http://www.domotex.de/ MARCH 2017

Choices Flooring

2 & 17 7, 15, 22 & 23

Classic Architectural Group Front Cover, 26 & 27

Forbo

9

IntaFloors/Gibbon Group

31

GMK Logistics

42

International Building Supply

12

Laser Measure

11

Laticrete

13 & 37

Mapei

21

Oxtek/Protect Crete

41

Preference Floors

40

Domotex Asia / ChinaFloor International trade fair for the floorcovering industry

Shanghai, China http://www.domotexasiachinafloor.com

Proline Floors

*** For more information on the fairs or to confirm dates, please check the individual event websites.

21-23

35 & Back Cover

5

Protecrete

25

RFMS

29 & 30

Tarkett

43

Tennant Company

39

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