April / May 2020
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
THE BEST IS YET TO COME! Never before has a laminate floor captured the look and feel of real timber as authentically as Quick-Step’s new Perspective Nature collection. All the beauty of real timber with a water-proof surface for unparalleled, all-round performance. COMING JULY
HEARD THE
NEWS?
1300 737 155
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PRIMERS
MOISTURE BARRIER
GRADING & SMOOTHING
LEVELLING COMPOUNDS
ALSO AVAILABLE AT AFS
THE WIDEST RANGE OF FLOOR LEVELLING AND SMOOTHING COMPOUNDS IS NOW AVAILABLE AT AFS
FLOW SIKAFLOOR GREAT WORKABILITY
NOW! AVAILABLE AT AFS
AND
LOW
SHRINKAGE EASY APPLICATION LARGE FLOOR AREAS
1–30
MM
IN ONE APPLICATION
VOC
1300 737 155
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Contents
3
vol 38 no2
Product Update
Editor’s Note
8
Laminate: an innovative all-rounder
Feature 22
A Guide to Sustainable Flooring
Business Perspectives 31
Will Covid-19 change the shape of business?
Icon 33
Rob Levin
Welcome to the April / May 2020 issue of Flooring Magazine. Inside this issue you will find our 2020 Eco and Sustainability Feature. Were, in consultation with, Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) we discuss why sustainable flooring has become a popular consumer choice and how you might find environmentally and socially preferable products in today’s market place. Our Icon for this issue is Rob Levin who, together with his business partner Sam Grande, ran Mr Carpets for over forty years. Rob is a much-loved and respected icon of the flooring trade who has spent almost 50 years in the industry. During these challenging times the team at Flooring Magazine want to assure our readers that we will continue to be the industry communication link through our print, digital and social media platforms.
Safety 36
Slip resistance classification and safety standards
Technical Bulletin 38
QuickFit subfloor solution by Forbo
Software 42
How does your business recover from Covid-19?
Due to the worldwide ramifications caused by COVID-19 many exhibitions and trade shows have been cancelled and or postponed. As such, we will not be publishing an events calendar and advise all readers to check with event websites for up to date information before making travel arrangements. Please feel free to contact me directly regarding any industry relevant news or events, or if you know of a person worthy of Icon status, by email at michelle. cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au. Until next time, enjoy your read!
Michelle Cammiade Editor
Front Cover Premium Floors www.premiumfloors.com.au
Flooring Magazine is now on: @flooringmagazineaustralia @flooringmagazine @flooringmagazine
Flooring April/May 2020
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News
4
DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR announces the new dates The organizers of DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR confirm that the leading flooring show in Asia Pacific will take place from August 31 to September 2, 2020. For the new dates, the exhibition will relocate to the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), the largest exhibition center in Shanghai. The postponement of the original date (March 24-26) was necessary to protect the health and safety of exhibitors and visitors from the recent outbreak of the coronavirus in China. “Confident in the improvement of the situation in China by the end of August 2020, and inspired by the can-do attitude of the DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR exhibitors, we are optimistic of a safe and successful 22nd edition of the show,” said David Zhong, President of VNU Exhibitions Asia. “We are now resuming our preparations with exhibitors and working on the layout of the halls,” added Zhong. As always, Shanghai will continue to host the exhibition, but the postponement of the event has necessitated a move to the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC). The NECC is the largest exhibition complex
in Shanghai, located in the immediate vicinity of Shanghai-Hongqiao International Airport and the Hongqiao transportation hub, with excellent connections to metro, high-speed trains, and buses, guaranteeing accessibility for all visitors. DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR has seen great success over its 21 year history. The upcoming edition will continue provide attendees unique events and showcases, such as: • Treasures of the Orient - a area featuring handmade carpet and rug exhibitors from India, Afghanistan and Nepal. • Southeast Asian Business Hub - an exclusive area with SPC and wood flooring exhibitors whose production is located in Southeast Asia. DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR will also present a complete array of high-end design rugs from China and abroad. Cadex conferences will complete the design area and last but not least, the global market overview, including the international wood and resilient flooring market will be presented at the World Flooring Forum.
DesignBUILD Update Organisers of DesignBUILD, Diversified Communications Australia, have been closely monitoring the current situation regarding the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). In response to the information released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Australian Department of Health including restrictions disrupting travel and business, Diversified Communications Australia have made the decision to reschedule DesignBUILD 2020. Originally scheduled to run from 21-23 April, the event will now take place on 27-29 October 2020. The venue, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, remains unchanged. Please be advised that existing visitor registrations remain valid and Diversified Communications Australia will work with key stakeholders including exhibitors, partners and sponsors to mitigate inconvenience wherever possible. For further information and queries, please contact the DesignBUILD team.
2020 Carpet Baggers Charity Golf Club Day The 2020 annual Carpet Baggers Charity Golf day has unfortunately been postponed. This year’s event marks the 51st anniversary of the carpet baggers in Sydney and event organisers are
Flooring April/May 2020
hoping to reschedule sometime in late September. The charity day will be held at the North Ryde Golf Club and again be supporting the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Sponsors that have already pledged their support and paid are urged to stay tuned for more information and or contact Glen Bryon for further details at - gbryon@carpetcutters. com.au
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Product Update
6
Virtuo Hybrid plant boosts confidence
Tips for Vacuuming Triexta
Gerflor has added more choice and features to the hybrid plank market with the launch of its opulent new Virtuo Rigid 55 range. The quality Unilin lock system and rigid core technology deliver optimal dimensional stability and have caught the interest of retailer’s keen to avoid the traps and claims associated with some of the inferior options that have flooded the market. However, it is the stunning range of colours featured in this virtual forest of design inspiration that has excited consumer interest, according to Gerflor’s Product Marketing Manager, Jutta Fronert.
With more filaments per fibre than regular carpet some domestic vacuum cleaners simply just don’t work, struggle to move or are ineffective at removing debris from certain carpet styles. It is best practice to recommend a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the Carpet Manufacturers Care and Maintenance Guidelines.
“The Virtuo story is unified by beautiful designs and colours, quality and the unique synergy of underfoot comfort, ease of installation and maintenance. The high definition printing achieves very authentic timber designs and the palette on offer is right on trend with current interior styles,” says Fronert. Designed for loose lay installation, Virtuo Rigid 55 is the ideal solution for high-rise properties and fast makeovers in the various Australian climatic conditions. The foam backed range achieves excellent acoustics (43) and is suitable for wet areas as specified in the product installation guide. The planks are 6 mm thick with a 0.55 wear layer, PUR+ surface treatment and backed by a 15year manufacturer’s warranty.
SEBO X7 BOOST’s vacuuming success SEBO – Made in Germany is the market leader in commercial upright vacuum cleaners and their domestic range benefits from this expertise.
When choosing a vacuum to suit Triexta, Carpet Manufacturers recommend the following features are desirable: • Adjustable Height - Use the highest setting where appropriate. • Efficient Airflow - Avoid vacuums with very concentrated or sealed suction. • Large Wheels - A vacuum with large wheels is easier to move across soft carpeting Which vacuum cleaner has it all? SEBO X7 BOOST Automatic Upright Vacuum cleaner simply glides across the Triexta fibre. With a unique combination of strength and enriched softness, not all domestic vacuums can handle this type of carpet construction.
Kristine Collins, Product Manager for SEBO Australia explains, “SEBO X7 BOOST’s good vacuum design and correct carpet cleaning
Flooring April/May 2020
knowledge is behind the technology capable of maintaining Triexta in accordance with a carpet manufacturer’s recommendations and at the same time achieving optimum Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)”.
SEBO X7 BOOST Automatic Upright – Gold Standard in correct carpet care ticks all the boxes when it comes to vacuuming Triexta. Automatic adjustable head height to the perfect cleaning level, efficient airflow with large air intake and large wheels for easy glide across the carpet.
SEBO premium vacuum cleaners are the gold standard in debris removal and can remove up to 92% of soil from carpets. Recommended world-wide by carpet manufacturers for the care and maintenance of soft floor furnishings, SEBO is the vacuum of choice for both commercial and domestic premises. Retailers provide your customers with the complete carpet package including a SEBO X7 BOOST vacuum cleaner for Triexta cut pile twist carpet and be rewarded today with happy customers for life.
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Carpet Tiles
We have something exciting to declare NOW RED LIST F R E E C E RT I F I E D Made in Australia, all Feltex carpet tiles are now proudly certified as Declare™ Red List Free. With the goal of creating a healthier built environment, Declare™ is a stringent product transparency program that provides a ‘nutrition’ label containing a products entire constituent ingredients. With three levels of certification, Feltex have achieved the highest possible Red List Free certification, meaning that our products meet the stringent sustainability standards of the program and contain no nasty chemicals found
We’re here to help!
on the Red List.
Our Australian facilities are currently OPEN for business.
The Declare™ program is offered by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) and its local affiliate, the Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA). It
Contact us for all your flooring needs. For assistance in NZ,
examines where a product comes from,
please contact your local Account Manager.
what it is made of and where it ends up at the end of its life, ensuring healthier materials are being used in our buildings. To learn more about the Declare™ program or to order samples of our Red List Free carpet tiles for your next project,
W W W. G H C O M M E R C I A L . C O M
contact your local representative.
AU: 1300 444 778
|
NZ: 0800 500 210
SM
Product Update
8
Laminate: an innovative all-rounder
W
hen Quick-Step launched in 1990, the brand immediately put laminate flooring on the map. While they have since expanded to include wood and vinyl flooring, they have continued to improve their laminate category with even more life -like designs, structures and performance. In 2019, this process led Quick-Step to develop their brand-new Perspective Nature collection.
originals are treated in-house with patina or wax to obtain a specific look. Next, they comprehensively scan the original piece of wood, including the design and colour, as well as the complete structure with its cracks, knots and flowers. The result is a huge, virtual 3D model of each piece, which is then refined by the designers. By getting rid of details that are too conspicuous, they craft a perfectly balanced design.
Top performance The Quick-Step team never compromise on quality. Perspective Nature is water-resistant and therefore perfect for installation in damp areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Enter the world of Quick-Step The history of Quick-Step is laden with tales of daring entrepreneurship and innovation. Thanks to that rich history, they are not only able to present some of the most beautiful flooring on the market, but the strongest as well. They pride themselves on a dedication to beauty and elegance that is built to last. Quick-Step is one of the few flooring brands worldwide with an in-house design team. Taking inspiration from architecture, art, fashion and real life, their expert designers embark on quests to obtain perfect originals; pieces of wood or stone that have the right look and feel to serve as a prototype for a flooring board. In some cases, these
Quick-Step's Perspective Nature collection: redefining the essence of beauty “It’s always been our goal to create the most beautiful laminate floors. Perspective Nature, our latest collection, is marked by unprecedented levels of refinement.� Katrien De Vlieger, Design Manager and Laurent Meersseman, R & D Director at Quick-Step.
Perspective Nature is inspired by nature and pure influences, with white and light colours dominating the palette. They were also inspired by the re-emergence of warm naturals and exotic colours from Africa and Latin America. The common thread present in all these floors is an eye for detail and a sense of craftsmanship.
Flooring April/May 2020
The most refined water-resistant laminate floor The Perspective Nature collection brings together 30 years of innovation, creativity and technological leadership, resulting in a new innovative and ground-breaking range that delivers life-like design, detailed structures and unparalleled performance not seen before in laminate flooring.
Refined in every detail The ethos behind Perspective Nature is a laminate floor that looks and feels like real wood, without compromise. Since 1990, Quick-Step has continually pushed the development boundaries in ease of installation and water-resistant flooring and with Perspective Nature they have now perfected the realistic attributes of a real wood floor. The design and the joints are more refined and authentic; the structure 10 precise and sharp.
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COMING SOON
PUTTING NATURE INTO PERSPECTIVE Our best laminate yet! Quick-Step proudly presents its new Perspective Nature collection, a revolutionary floor that combines lifelike design, detailed structures and unparalleled performance. It’s Quick-Step’s finest laminate moment! Arriving July. Talk to your Premium Floors representative today.
Product Update
10 only be recreated with heavy gloss levels. A brushed structure runs through the joint, reinforcing the authentic, refined look. The brushed effect highlights the oak’s structure and makes the floor not only look, but feel like real wood. To accomplish this Quick-Step developed a new technology to create 64 different depths; pushing their engineering team to go above and beyond what was possible.
The new Quick-Step Perspective Nature collection comprises 12 floor designs, each unique and each standing out for their unparalleled level of refinement. Their promise: a precise and sharply structured laminate floor that looks and feels just like real wood. A floor for every customer Perspective Nature laminate is tailored to everyone’s liking. From die-hard wood lovers and style-savvy devotees to performancedriven consumers this new collection will persuade even the toughest sceptics. Discover the unique selling points that will help you close every deal. For die-hard wood lovers
With the Perspective Nature collection, they went to great lengths to create a top-shelf laminate floor, the closest to real wood ever seen. A wood lover in your shop? Show them Perspective Nature, let them feel the structure and seal the deal.
For performance-driven consumers
A Quick-Step laminate floor is made to last a lifetime. Appreciate the look and feel of real wood while still enjoying the comfort of a laminate floor. Through its characteristic water-resistant nature, Perspective Nature is the perfect match in damp areas like the kitchen or bathroom. Brushed Oak – A showpiece of structure Brushed oak fits in perfectly with different interior styles. This floor is based on a brushed European oak sprinkled with a few subtle cracks and knots. The subtle brushed effect really brings out the natural imperfections and gives each plank a soft, rustic character. The originals stand out by their natural imperfections and sit perfectly with current tactile trends. For this new floor, the design team not only wanted to create the look but also the feel of real wood with its refined and detailed structure.
Soft Patina Oak – An added layer of Zen Due to its versatility, oak remains as popular as ever. By treating the original planks with a robust patina, imperfections have been softened to create a romantic Zen look. Giving Soft Patina Oak its authentic Zen look wasn’t easy. In fact, Quick-Step had to completely redevelop their oil patina print technology to ensure that the white oil perfectly highlighted the details of the décor and complemented the structure of the plank. They had to test several different approaches before they ended up with the right one. The subtle and intended imperfections are where this floor really shines. If you look closely, you will notice touches of matt finish, which give the floor a used look. In addition, the bevel looks distressed and splintered – just like a real wooden floor.
For style-savvy devotees
To dream up new and authentic floors a close eye is kept on architecture, fashion and design. The 12 new designs reflect the latest trends in craftmanship, with different techniques used to create detailed structures, a patina effect and cracks all inspired by the latest trends.
Flooring April/May 2020
To achieve this level of realism, a new technology was developed. The plate pressing a structure that consists of 64 varying depths on the surface as well as in the bevel – a feature that is unseen in laminate flooring. This creates a play of light and shadow and a visual depth effect, which previously could
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BE MORE EFFICIENT ON SITE AND SCRAPE UP MORE PROFIT FOR YOUR BUSINESS 1
5280 – WALK BEHIND SCRAPER This hydraulically driven, forward self-propelled scraper removes the worst of today’s soft goods, such as glued-down floors, gummy commercial carpet, VCT, sheet vinyl, rubber tile, linoleum, indoor and outdoor sport surfaces, roofing material, and more. The ergonomic features of this machine reduce operator fatigue while optimizing time and labor savings. The compact design makes it ideal for use in tight spaces.
The Commander removes the worst of today’s soft goods, such as glueddown floors, gummy commercial carpet, VCT, sheet vinyl, rubber tile, linoleum, indoor and outdoor sport surfaces, roofing material, and more.
FROM
FROM
PER WEEK
PER WEEK
$40
2
6280 – COMMANDER WALK BEHIND SCRAPER
$75 3
ION4K – CLEAN AIR COMPANION The Ion4K is a compact machine that electronically charges the air in the room, driving dust and other contaminents rapidly to the ground in a manner that is safe for the user and the enivironment. It operates with little input from the user so you can spend more time focusing on the task at hand. Versatility makes the Ion4K applicable for many jobsites including renovation and demolition contractors, food processing facilities, schools, anyone generating dust on their jobsite, and more. Clean air is right for any environment.
4
7700 – RIDE-ON SCRAPER Powered by 12 200-amp hour batteries that exceed the industry standard, this machine is everything you need it to be. Bigger, heavier, and faster than the 5700, it is designed to remove difficult material and built to operate on almost any jobsite.
FROM
$61 PER WEEK
FROM
$272 PER WEEK
CONTACT YOUR NEAREST INTAFLOORS DISTRIBUTOR TODAY NEW SOUTH WALES Intafloors Trade Depot P: (02) 8678 5479
ACT Intafloors Trade Depot P: 0403 420 377
QUEENSLAND Intafloors Trade Centre Gold Coast P: (07) 5564 9999
TASMANIA Total Flooring P: (03) 6234 9855
VICTORIA Intafloors Trade Depot Vic P: (03) 9768 7248
SOUTH AUSTRALIA DE Seal & Sons Pty Ltd P: (08) 8346 9833
NEW ZEALAND Allnex Auckland P: +64 (09) 583 6500
Brisbane P: 0438 703 536 Sunshine Coast P: (07) 54510856
www.intafloors.com.au
Product Update
12
Use it, remove it, reuse it with Altro
B
y popular demand, Altro’s adhesivefree backing is now available across their most popular designs from the Altro Cantata and Altro Wood collections. Enjoy ultra-fast installation times on products that look beautiful, with no compromise on safety, durability or cleanability. Installed directly on the slab, tiles or vinyl, Altro XpressLay lays flat and stays flat. Walk on the floor the same day as installation and say goodbye to disruptive smells (and the resulting complaints) on site. All backed by Altro’s industry leading 10-year guarantee, you can rest easy knowing that the product is 100% recyclable – use it, remove it, reuse it. In a world first, you can now enjoy the best features of Altro’s most popular products, all rolled into one. Adhesive-free technology for ultrafast installation Adhesive-free flooring provides with you with a cost saving alternative due to a reduction in installation time, labour costs and expensive equipment hire. With all Altro adhesive-free floors no DPM and no adhesive are required meaning your installation can be up and ready quickly with no waiting time - just lay, weld and walk on the same day.
Lays flat, stays flat no rucks, no movement Altro adhesive-free vinyl lays flat without an adhesive to stick it in place, so you can roll away without the floor rolling up. Odour free no disruption, no complaints No adhesive means no odours, which is perfect for environments where there are lots of people living and working and shutting down shop or installing noisy extractor fans is not an option. The best designs from the most popular ranges With Altro’s new woods, terrazzo and concrete designs giving customers 59 colours and on trend designs to choose from, adhesive-free flooring now provides an inspirational and decorative solutions for all application areas. Using biophilic design the wood-look floor can help create a comfortable, homely and calm feeling to promote wellbeing in health and care environments. With the concrete design option in the Altro Cantata range you can
Flooring April/May 2020
create a chic urban look in contemporary buildings and terrazzo provides an organic look with a metallic twist. 100% recyclable - use it, remove it, reuse it Altro’s commitment to sustainability enabled them to become the first manufacturer to recycle traditional safety flooring in-house. • Contains recycled material and biobased content • Meets low VOC guidelines • Does not contain phthalates • Made with bio-plasticizers • Installed using a tape system instead of adhesive • Uplifted product does not need to be sent to landfill • EPD, HPD declarations available Quality guaranteed Altro Cantata and Altro Wood adhesive-free has the same guarantees and performance you would expect from an Altro floor; a life expectancy of 15 years and a 10-year guarantee.
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Product Update
13
Altro Wood adhesive-free Altro Wood adhesive-free is a safe, durable and decorative solution for busy spaces. It offers 14dB sound reduction and high levels of comfort underfoot. Using Altro’s awardwinning adhesive-free installation method, it can be welded and walked on the same day. Then at the end of its life it can be removed easily, allowing it to be reused or recycled. It is ideal for busy public spaces where disruption needs to be minimal, plus there are no associated adhesive odours.
Altro Cantata A tonal and modernist, adhesive-free floor that creates maximum impact with minimum downtime. It is ideal for busy public spaces where disruption needs to be minimal and has no associated adhesive odours. Using Altro’s award-winning adhesive-free installation method, it can be welded and walked on the same day and at the end of its life can be removed easily, allowing it to be reused or recycled. Altro Cantata has been designed for your hard-working public areas, with enhanced cleanability, 14dB impact noise reduction, plus comfort under foot to help reduce fatigue.
With 12 wood-look designs, customers can create biophilic, stylish, warm and homely aesthetics. It is suitable for medium to high foot traffic areas.
Imagine Floors design partnership Imagine Floors by Airstep Reclaimed Wild Oak Engineered Timber floors celebrate the natural colour and texture variation of timber with a selection of authentic European Oak decors. The boards suit modern through to rustic styling and feature the beautiful natural characteristic knots, grains and lines that come with using a natural material.
Oak Engineered Timber floors in Drift Oak for a St Kilda East renovation project. This beautiful home renovation caught the attention of many and was filmed for the 9Life Open Homes Australia television show. Nicole really wanted a light oak, wide board floor that was the perfect balance of warm and washed. “As soon as I saw the Drift Oak,
I knew it was the ideal colour, width and texture. The flooring is such a big decision so when you find that perfect finish it is such a great moment.” If you missed this episode you can view it and design inspiration tips from Nicole herself on Imagine Floors most recent blog www.imaginefloors.com.au/blog
Imagine Floors by Airstep timber is sustainably sourced by a team who are committed to protecting the climate and nature of the environment. Using Certified European Oak there is no compromise on quality so you can enjoy the products natural features for many years to come. The Reclaimed Oak Engineered Timber Floors are supported by a Lifetime Structural Domestic Warranty and a 20 Year Coating Warranty. Imagine Floors by Airstep recently partnered with Nicole Chapman from Empire Interiors, a Melbourne based design studio, with the supply of their Reclaimed Wild
Flooring April/May 2020
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Product Update
14
AFS: The House of Leading SLC Brands
T
he widest range of floor levelling and smoothing compounds is now available at Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS) with the distributor now offering three renowned powder brands.
“I believe that the combination of these three very well-known brands along with our service and competitive prices will allow AFS to offer our customers products that will satisfy their needs,” Tettamanti added.
Sika Australia’s range of Sikafloor levelling solutions is now stocked and available at AFS along with a new range of Roberts powders by RLA.
Building Trust with Sikafloor A concise range of two primers, a moisture barrier system, two grading and smoothing products and five levelling compounds by Sikafloor are available now at AFS.
“AFS is now the house of world-renowned powder brands offering installers the widest choice available,” said Danny Colbertaldo, AFS National Sales Manager. Both Sikafloor and Roberts self-levelling compounds (SLCs) join leading brand Ardex at AFS. “We introduced Sika and Roberts products to offer our customers a wide range of high quality and installer friendly floor preparation products at very competitive prices,” said Ugo Tettamanti, National Product Manager AFS.
Sikafloor was developed in Australia from Sika’s internationally celebrated Schonox range of floor preparation products. “The technology transfer to Australian conditions has yielded a high quality and reliable flooring range,” said Anthony Lewis, Sika National Flooring Manager. “We have listened carefully to contractors and installers along the journey of putting our range together with many long hours trialing and perfecting each individual product. “This was conducted by John Jennings our market field manager of cement flooring in conjunction with our cement chemists from our Australian laboratory in Sydney.” Jennings said they wanted to combine the knowledge and experience from the Schonox range from Europe and adapt it to suit Australian conditions and local installer expectations. “Our aim was to keep the range condensed so that our Sikafloor range of levelers and ancillaries allow for less products to perform all the requirements on site.
Above: AFS’ Bruce Maclaren and Sika Australia’s Adam Sharp at the AFS Sales Conference
Flooring April/May 2020
“The result is a complete, high quality, reliable and installer friendly range that
is tailored to all requirements in flooring preparation for subsequent floor finishes. “These also tie in with Sika waterproofing, sealants, vinyl and timber floor adhesives to offer a full systems approach.” An example of innovation from Sika is their Sikafloor ‘One Day’ system that allows all floor preparation and subsequent covering with vinyl or carpet to occur in one day. The ability to prep the subfloor and install floorcovering in a single day reduces dust issues and avoids multiple visits by contractors. This system includes the rapid drying epoxy vapour barrier Sikafloor 158 W Fast Barrier, the non-porous primer Sikafloor 14 Prep ‘N’ Prime and the Sikafloor Level 30 leveller with very short intercoat times and rapid moisture loss. Another innovation is the Sikafloor 4020 FiberLevel which is a leveller for timber floors that is one part, fibre reinforced and free flowing with excellent levelling properties. All of the abovementioned Sikafloor products are available at AFS as are the following Sikafloor products: porous concrete primer 01 Primer, self-priming skim coat Level Pro Finish, repair and grading mortar Rapid Patch, high flow SLC Level Top, economical high-build leveller Level Eco and premium levelling compound Level Ultra. Lewis said Sika was committed to supporting AFS customers with technical representatives available across the nation. “John Jennings, our market field manager, is from the trade originally and has a great understanding of installers requirements,” Lewis said. 16
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Product Update
16 field of inorganic cementitious engineered technology. “Davide’s technical tutelage ensures the Roberts range delivers not only on high European quality standards but also ensures the range is world class.”
Above: AFS’ Winston Hall, Bruce Lugton and Brett McCauley inspecting product at the AFS Sales Conference “He is available to consult on specific project requirements and to discuss the Sikafloor range with AFS customers.” Roberts: European Technology, Locally Made RLA has invested significantly to create a high performing range of competitively priced SLCs with all seven available now at AFS. “To achieve our goal of becoming a significant player in the SLC segment, RLA had to make significant investments in technology, equipment and process improvements to complement our strong distribution channels and brand,” said Troy Hogan, Managing Director at RLA Polymers.
The new Roberts powders also feature a high proportion of locally sourced key raw materials.
AFS has been a distributor of Ardex for over 10 years, regularly hosting trade events and training for the popular products. In 2019, AFS extended its distribution of Ardex into QLD following the acquisition of PR Floors.
“We proudly source more than 80% of our materials from local manufacturing based vendors, whom we are delighted to call our value chain partners,” said Craig Hildebrand, RLA’s Business Manager Flooring.
“Ardex has a strong following among trade as a leading powders brand and AFS is proud to support this following with the widest distribution infrastructure of the Ardex ranges,” said Colbertaldo.
To ensure the range would be trade approved, RLA canvassed local flooring stakeholders to understand the key SLC drivers and conducted extensive field testing.
Popular Ardex products available at AFS include K220, K120, Feather Finish and K12.
“This resulted in RLA developing a concise solution creating ease of product selection at an economical price point,” said Hildebrand. “The Roberts SLC range is also Green Star compliant with the products low VOC content meeting the Green Building Council Australia’s indoor air quality regulations. This further complements the trades approval of the range.”
“Davide has enabled the development of our highly technical SLC range that is proudly 100% locally produced in Australia throughout RLA plants in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth,” said Hogan.
The seven new Roberts SLCs are all rapid drying and include the general trade levelling compound Generale (1-20mm), premium levelling compound Primo (1-30mm), Pronto (1-10mm) on which floorcoverings can be installed after only two-three hours and the high build Grande (3-70mm). The range also includes the one-part, fibre-reinforced and flexible Flexi (1-15mm), the slump free repair mortar Rapido and ultra-smooth skim coating compound Fino.
“Davide’s career spans over 30 plus years and he is classed as a European expert in the
Ardex Choose Your Solution AFS stocks the full suite of Ardex’s ‘Choose
This included securing the services of Davide Caprotti who joined RLA as technical director having previously developed innovative technological breakthroughs for the likes of Mapei, Kerakoll and Fassa.
Flooring April/May 2020
your Solution’ powders range throughout all 20 AFS branches in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
AFS: The House of Leading SLC Brands Both Sikafloor and the new Roberts SLC ranges were launched at the AFS Sales Conference in February. Trade Shows and training sessions for both brands were planned however these have been postponed due to COVID-19 social distancing rules. Despite this assistance is still available with AFS sales reps as well as representatives from both Roberts and Sikafloor available to consult on project requirements. “Our trade branches are fully stocked, open and operational. Our sales reps are trained in all brands and available to consult with via the phone or teleconferencing,” said Colbertaldo. AFS now offers the widest range of SLCs with Sikafloor, Roberts and Ardex all available under the one roof at AFS. AFS is Australia’s leading flooring and accessory distributor with 20 branches across Australia and a host of leading of brands including Makinex, Cyclone, Tredsafe, Borg, AirCo and many more.
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Product Update
17
Boral Timber introduces Engineered Herringbone Parquetry As the benefits of engineered timber flooring continue to boost its popularity, Boral has introduced Engineered Herringbone Parquetry to its timber flooring range. Suited to both commercial interiors and residential projects, this Australian hardwood flooring in the classic block parquetry style is quick to install and easy to maintain. The new flooring range features a tongue and grooved edge which easily joins together for a tight-fitting board-to-board finish. The boards are a standard size of 670 x 134 x 14mm, suitable for any residence. The engineered parquetry can be laid over a level subfloor, including a concrete slab, particleboard or plywood sheeting or over old timber floors for an instant makeover.
It has a pre-finished surface which requires no sanding or sealing, ready to walk on the same day. Boral Timber’s new Engineered Herringbone Parquetry range is available in Blackbutt and Spotted Gum species, showcasing the beauty of Australian timber. With a 4mm nominal hardwood top layer, the boards can
be re-sanded and re-coated over time for a long service life. The boards are finished with a 10% UV cured acrylic matte that has been brushed for added texture. The clear coating highlights the natural colour of the patterned hardwood surface. Carefully graded to include the most interesting yet subtle natural features in the timber’s appearance, the classic Engineered Herringbone Parquetry reflects a modern design style. Boral Timber products are Responsible Wood Chain of Custody certified to give peace of mind that the timber is sourced from sustainably managed and legal forestry. Timber is an environmentally friendly choice as it is a natural and renewable resource.
Product Update
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Redefine your style with hot new looks from Carpet Court
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arm colours are back with a bang for 2020, according to Carpet Court trend forecasters. “Grey has been the go-to for several years now, so it’s exciting to see bold brights and soft, earthy neutrals coming through for 2020,” says Heather Nette King, interior stylist and Carpet Court Style Ambassador. “These are colours that lift your spirit the moment you walk into a room. They cry out for layering of texture, matte finishes and, in some cases, a little bit of daring when it comes to decorating,” she says. Two standout looks for the season, says Nette King, are Colour Play and Raw Luxe. “Colour Play is all about fun,” she says. “With its unexpected colour combinations and clashing patterns, it’s about having the confidence to break the so-called ‘rules’ of decorating and creating spaces that bring you joy.” “We’ve seen a lot of restrained colour and material palettes in recent years and while they are still very relevant, there is a new wave of colour-hungry homeowners who take delight in trying something new.”
“With the Marie Kondo craze sweeping the country, coupled with the popularity of minimalist Scandi styling, we’ve been urged to pare back our belongings to the bare essentials over the last few years. Colour Play is a reaction to that – ‘more is more’ is the new maxim when it comes to colour, and quirky pieces that speak to our sense of fun are in vogue.” “But don’t confuse Colour Play with a busy, eclectic look – it’s more refined than that. Think of it as ‘curated maximalism’; the colours and patterns might be bright, but furniture and accessories are chosen for their clean lines and styled with intent to allow plenty of breathing space.” The floor is one of the biggest expanses of space and sets the tone for the rest of your scheme. Opt for pale or white-washed floorboards that will reflect the light. Carpet Court’s Laneway vinyl plank flooring in White Oak will make a space feel open and airy and provides the perfect base for vibrant brights. Or, for softness underfoot, go for a twist carpet in a pretty pastel, such as a Carpet Court’s Hideaway Lodge in
Bubblegum. Complete the look by layering up with a statement, patterned rug such as a Carpet Court’s Botanical rug in Aztec Cream or Desi Light Grey. At the other end of the style spectrum, the Raw Luxe look is coming through for 2020, according to Carpet Court forecasters. “This trend reflects our desire to slow down and disconnect from the 24/7 digital onslaught,” says Nette King. “Colours are warm, muted and drawn from nature, with raw textures and imperfect finishes that speak of authenticity and craftsmanship.”
“While the look is restrained, it’s by no means lacking in comfort or luxury. The idea is to include discreet hints of opulence that elevate natural materials and forms. The result? Calm, nurturing spaces that draw nature inside your home.”
Flooring April/May 2020
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Product Update
19 • Take a sample: Flooring looks different when the light falls on it throughout the day, so grab a sample to take home and assess at different times of day before you commit. • Think about how you live: If you have children or pets, a carpet with a cut pile in a forgiving colour will work wonders. For a more luxurious look, consider a plush or textured loop pile carpet.
To create an opulent, open feel choose wide floorboards in a pale colour, such as Carpet Court’s Precinct Oak engineered timber flooring in Loire. A textured, loop pile carpet such as Carpet Court’s Hawksview in Beechwood, is another appealing option. Keep the look soft and tonal by adding in a chunky, sink-your-toes-in rug such as Carpet Court’s Columbo rug in Cream, and pale timber and woven rattan furniture.”
Heather Nette King’s Flooring Style Tips • Be colour-wise: To help you choose the right flooring colour, bring along samples of the other colours in the room, such as paint, wallpaper, window and furniture upholstery. This way you can see in an instant if the colours will work together.
• Go wide: When it comes to timber flooring, wide boards will create a subtle sense of luxury in a room. Longer, slimmer boards will elongate a space. • Layer up: If you’re not in a position to change your flooring, use rugs to update the look of your room. Best of all, you can move them around down the track if you want to switch things up.
AXI Ready to Wear - by Signature Signature Floors now offers the enhanced performance of quality commercial grade Axminster carpet with the flexibility and convenience of their ‘off the shelf’ range. The comprehensive range of designs from the experienced Signature Design Studio includes a range of colours, graphics and patterns ideal for both commercial and residential installations. Ready-to-Wear AXI is suitable for installation in wide range of spaces including hospitality, education, retail, office and anywhere exceptional performance and durability are required. With 16 unique designs available in the collection, Ready-to Were AXI is the perfect choice for both refurbishments and new projects, offering a fast cost effective
Flooring April/May 2020
solution with great looks and long lasting value. Signature Floors, a leading designer and manufacturer of quality carpets for the Australian and New Zealand commercial market, have a talented team of textile designers that make selecting the right carpet for your next project a breeze. Simply choose one of their in-stock carpets and see how it looks in a range of 3D room visualisations and layouts that have been specifically designed to simplify the selection process. Whether you are inspired by nature, excited by abstraction, or moved by the built world the Signature team of designers are available to help bring your designs to life or assist in creating something bespoke that meets your brief.
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
Retailer of the Month
A New Model
Angelo Papas is Merrylands Floors, a name they adopted from their store in Merrylands Road, Merrylands in Sydney’s western suburbs. They moved from the store four years ago this month into a warehouse and into a new business model. Angelo was seeing a drop in what he calls ‘good clients’ coming into the shop while noticing a surge in online business activity, so he decided it was time for a change. It was time to move from a traditional flooring retail shop, into a warehouse where their shopfront was a web page.
he took over the business he said they had outgrown and moved into a retail outlet on Merrylands road. And so, for 26 years Angelo operated a flooring retail store in Sydney’s western suburbs, building up the business and client base that included schools, childcare centres, builders and developers and people in the real estate industry. He’d only been in the business with his parents a few years and concedes, “It was a gamble and it took a few years to get positive, but I was enjoying what we were doing so we set up a store selling and installing all flooring types. I had to learn pretty fast and I’m still learning; we all are but we’re like a family now, we all have each other’s back.”
Story by Philip Ashley
The COVID-19 crisis has seen Merrylands Floors drop quotes by almost 40% but their new business model may see them coming out the other side in good shape.
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outlets. Their main source of income was sales from market stalls where they sold mats, rugs and runners. In the meantime, Angelo had finished school and was working as an accountant. He’d been doing it for 18 months when at 22 years of age he decided to take leave without pay to help his parents, a job he quickly found he really liked. He said, “I loved the freedom, three days we would be out on the road and three days we’d be making the mats.” He wasn’t stuck at a desk every day like he was, straight out of university. After six years
And so. Four years ago this month, Merrylands Floorcoverings bought a warehouse in Villawood to embark on a new business model. The shop was replaced with a web page and this resulted in savings in overheads. Everyone from the shop still works there but it’s mostly behind the scenes. His people that include Jenny, who he readily credits as his ‘right-arm’ his wife Thalia and one of his two sons who does some of the measuring and estimating. Angelo also employs an apprentice who is currently learning on the job with the layers.
Angelo’s family came out from Greece in the early 1960’s. His father got a job with a carpet retailer and they had an overlocking machine that he learned to use, and later taught his wife, Angelo’s mother. When the store ceased trading, they bought the machine and moved it into their garage and later, a small warehouse in Bankstown where they overlocked carpets for other retail
Flooring April/May 2020
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Retailer of the Month
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what they are looking for. Of course, we still give them the same professional advice we always did but now the customer knows what we’re talking about.”
So how does it work? Clients, many of whom have done business with Angelo for decades, and private people view the website, much like most people these days, often coming to conclusions about what they want from that site visit. Then, instead of going to a store, they make an appointment and Angelo or one of his people go out to the customer with samples. At the same time, if the customer decides to proceed, the measure and estimating can also be done.
Angelo’s business advice is no B.S. “Don’t tell them what they want to hear, if you don’t have the stock, tell them. Referrals are the cheapest form of advertising. You do the right thing by your customers and you will hardly ever need to pay for publicity.” Over the last few years Angelo and Thalia have been able to pursue some other interests, like travel to Greece, Hawaii and Thailand. Angelo likes horse racing, AFL and NRL. He says, “I’ve got a good ten years left, maybe the family will continue the business but for now, we are comfortable with what we are doing.”
The industry is going through some tough times right now as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and Angelo fears that some businesses will struggle for a long time. He has seen his own quotes drop almost 40% and on a number of occasions has not been able to enter private properties, despite practicing safe hygiene. Orders, especially from private clients are likely to be harder to get for some time as people get back on their feet. Angelo feels that their business model may help them avoid some of the hardships other suppliers might endure but he’s under no delusion that it’s still going to take a dedication to their customer’s needs to get through this.
Merrylands Floors, Sydney, NSW
Angelo says, “This really works for us, many of our clients are landlords or developers and they want a quick service. This business model achieves that, but I admit, it may not work for everyone. The people we usually end up talking to are usually genuine buyers, we don’t get a lot of tyre-kickers. They know
Look what’s NEW! Welcome to Airstep Online Ordering, where you can now order both Underlay and Hard Flooring products at your convenience, 24/7. We invite you to register using the link below: https://eorder.airstep.com.au/Account/RegisterAir For more information, please contact your Airstep Account Manager.
www.airstep.com.au 1800 803 545
www.imaginefloors.com.au 1800 803 545
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A Guide to Sustainable Flooring – by GECA Sustainable flooring has become a rising trend in 2020, so how do you find these environmentally and socially preferable products? And what can you do to show that your flooring is a cut above the rest?
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very day, we walk upon different types of floors, wherever we live, work and play. Not only is it important that suitable flooring is selected for its intended use, but it is becoming more important to Australians to understand the impact those floors have on the environment, our health, and the people making them. Flooring, like any other product, requires a process of design, manufacturing, testing, distribution and end of life. To be truly sustainable, it's important to look at the impacts along this entire product lifecycle. How were the raw materials sourced? What chemical treatments and dyes were used? How much energy was required during manufacturing? Who made the product, and did they have safe working conditions? Does the flooring emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? Where does it end up? Unfortunately, the answers to these questions might not always be positive, and the flooring product you purchased may incidentally contribute to illegal harvesting, climate change, modern slavery, health issues like respiratory conditions, waste and pollution, for example.
Flooring April/May 2020
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To reduce these risks, we need to purchase sustainably Sustainable flooring occurs when the whole product lifecycle ensures minimum environmental impacts, considers human health, is ethically made and is fit-forpurpose.
into many homes looking for sustainable and healthy products.”
Differentiating sustainable flooring products from unsustainable options can be time consuming. This is where certifications, such as GECA’s ecolabel, play a crucial role. GECA certification removes doubt and confusion and makes identifying environmentally and socially preferable products easier for consumers. GECA have developed rigorous standards, following ISO 14024 principles and ISEAL frameworks for global best practice in ecolabelling, which are then independently assessed by their Assurance Providers. GECA’s database of certified products and services includes an array of flooring to choose from, with products certified under their Floor Coverings, Hard Surfacing and Carpet standards. Further, these standards and many more, contribute towards green building programs, such as Green Star (Level A), WELL and ISCA. So now that we know how to purchase sustainable flooring, what if you are a flooring business and want to show your commitment to sustainability by being GECA certified? At GECA, the certification process consists of five key steps. First, you will need to submit an application form, receiving in return a no obligation free quote from a third-party Assurance Provider, For Future Generations (FFG) and Bureau Veritas.
Flooring April/May 2020
Secondly, you will need to decide which quote and company you would like to go ahead with to conduct the assessment process, which will involve an onsite audit. The third stage is when a conformance assessment is conducted, and a verification report is produced as a result. When you have completed your assessment, you will then be awarded a GECA licence certificate and the rights to use GECA’s ecolabel mark on your certified product to win over consumers looking for a sustainable choice. Need more convincing to have your floors GECA certified? Forbo Flooring System’s main linoleum brand, Marmoleum, is an excellent example of the success of sustainable flooring. “Our Marmoleum range has had GECA certification since 2007 and with GECA’s recognition in the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star program, Marmoleum has always been a popular choice for sustainable projects”, explains David Blakemore, Marketing Manager of Forbo Flooring Systems.
The GECA certified Marmoleum line is a truly natural floor made from 97% natural raw materials, 72% rapidly renewable and 43% recycled content. Marmoleum now features a double UV cured finish that takes care of floors with a lasting appearance retention which guarantees low maintenance cost over its lifetime. It is available in over 300 colours and more than 12 different structures available in sheet and modular tile formats. For instance, Marmoleum Acoustic, Marbled, and Decibel offer a stone look, while Marmoleum Linear, Modular and Modular Textura provide customers with a wood-look. On top of that, it is also certified as carbon neutral from cradle to gate by UL Environment (EPD based on life cycle assessment). You can find these products from Forbo Flooring Systems and many more from GECA licensees Regupol, Cloudwalk, Kebony, Spectrum Floors, Modulyss, Shaw Contract Group, RC&D and Melocco Stone at www.geca.eco
ABOUT GECA GECA is an independent not for profit that assists in cutting through the greenwash by certifying leading sustainable products and services. GECA is recognised as a mark of trust. The GECA scheme was the first of its kind in Australia and has more Australian certified products than any other scheme. GECA empower architects, builders, suppliers, designers, procurers, and consumers to have confidence in their purchasing decisions and trust certified products to be healthier, safer, and better for the environment. GECA offer a range of services to assist an organisation on its sustainability journey. Working with their clients to achieve a shared vision of a sustainable future for people and the planet.
“The good news is sustainability these days has spread beyond commercial buildings
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New Flooring Innovation Kenbrock have taken the top features from LVT Looselay and combined them with the core strengths of Hybrid to create a new flooring category. Introducing...
The first affordable Modular Hybrid. It is quality Hybrid flooring that eliminates the need for a click system and dispenses with the need for scotia.
www.kenbrock.com.au No Click. No Scotia. No Fuss!! www.kenbrock.com.au www.kenbrock.com.au www.kenbrock.com.au
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Kronotex - The environmentally friendly flooring choice
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ronotex laminate floors, designed and manufactured in Germany and distributed locally by Australian Flooring Supplies, is the environmentally friendly flooring choice. Kronotex laminate floors have been constructed with sustainably sourced raw materials and are free from resins, glues and other toxins - making them a healthier choice for homes, areas of business and the natural environment. Manufactured by reputable German company the Swiss Krono Group, Kronotex laminates have been designed to mitigate the environmental impact of construction at all stages of the lifecycle – from production and use to disposal.
laminate the ideal solution for designers, specifiers and end-users concerned with postuse disposal.
Above: Kronotex Herringbone Treviso Oak They are so robust they can be installed in both commercial and residential settings with abrasion class ratings of AC3 to AC5. Kronotex laminates also boast a minimum 20-year residential warranty and are stringently tested to ensure quality and performance.
Production Kronotex laminates are manufactured using more than 90% of wood-based materials from sustainably managed forests that are both FSC and PEFC certified.
To ensure they maintain their brilliance, Kronotex laminates are also abrasion, scratch, stain, load and impact resistant as well as non-fading. Select Kronotex ranges and colours also come with 48 hour water resistance – a feature that provides added longevity against house-hold spills.
They are also manufactured using formaldehyde free binders, meaning they are practically odorless and have minimalto-no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Kronotex Laminates also contain no halogens, PCBs, dioxins or plasticisers.
All of these features are designed to make a Kronotex laminate floor a long-term flooring solution to reduce consumption and waste. Furthermore, Kronotex laminates are also easy to maintain and can be cleaned without the use of harsh chemicals.
Kronotex laminates are also manufactured in compliance with European standards for environmental and emissions performance.
Disposal At the end of their extensive product lifecycle, Kronotex laminates can be recycled. Kronotex laminates are 100% recyclable due to the natural and sustainable materials they are constructed from, with the majority of the materials being wood-based.
Use As laminate is a floating floor, Kronotex laminates can be installed without gluing meaning there is no adhesive residue. Kronotex laminates have been built to last.
Flooring April/May 2020
This 100% recyclability is significant as it avoids contributing to landfill. This makes
Sustainable Credentials In short, a Kronotex laminate floor is a sustainable flooring solution. Kronotex laminate floors are: responsibly produced with sustainable raw materials; durable and long-lasting to reduce consumption and 100% recyclable. Concern for the environment is growing among consumers, as is the market demand for sustainable solutions that mitigate the environmental impact of construction. Kronotex is ready to meet those environmental demands with eight ranges of beautiful, durable and affordable laminate flooring distributed locally by Australian Flooring Supplies. The ranges include a diverse set of design features including boards that are extra-long or extra-wide, boards with bevel edges for added depth or boards with square edges for a seamless finish. They are available in a variety of thicknesses from 7mm to 12mm and a variety of stunningly realistic wood-look designs with embossed surfaces. Kronotex also offers a range of Herringbone laminate, a striking parquet designed floor that recalls European elegance.
Kronotex is distributed in Australia by Australian Flooring Supplies. Australian Flooring Supplies is one of the country’s leading suppliers of flooring solutions for commercial, residential and industrial markets. With 21 branch locations across the country, Australian Flooring Supplies understand the key challenges in contemporary flooring specification and responds to the evolving needs to consumers and design professionals alike.
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
THE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FLOORING CHOICE
WATER
Designed and manufactured in Germany, Kronotex laminate floors have been constructed with sustainably sourced raw materials and are free from resins, glues and other toxins – making them a healthier choice for homes, areas of business and the natural environment.
SISTANT RE
P 1300 737 155 E salesaust@qep.com kronotex-aust.com.au
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GH Commercial Have Something Exciting to Declare
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n a marketplace increasingly focused on environmental considerations and issues around sustainability, GH Commercial are incredibly proud to have products officially certified Declare Red List Free. The International Living Future Institute (ILFI), and local affiliate, the Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA), are organisations committed to the notion of a socially equitable, culturally rich and ecologically responsible society, has developed leading edge programs designed to radically change our approach to building and construction. Predicated on creating a healthier built environment, their Declare program delivers clear, unambiguous information about building material specifications. Participating manufacturers are required to disclose a product’s entire constituent chemical composition to a threshold of 100-parts-per-million; essentially creating a ‘nutrition’ label of ingredients. This label addresses three key concerns: • Where does a product originate? • What is it made of? • Where does it end up at the end of its life? A product transparency program Each Declare label is compared against a list of worst-in-class materials, better known as the Red List. Chemicals on the Red List are responsible for:
Flooring April/May 2020
• Polluting the environment • Bio-accumulation of contaminants progressing up the food chain • Negative health implications for factory personnel, construction industry workers and building occupants. Aware of their role in developing products that architects and designers can comfortably specify to meet leading green building initiatives, GH Commercial worked with their entire supply chain to identify, source and utilise the healthiest possible manufacturing ingredients. When they were confident their product met the stringent sustainability and toxic free chemical standards, they applied for Declare certification. The Declare initiative has three levels of potential certification: • LBC Red List Free - Complete ingredient disclosure revealing ZERO Red List chemicals. • LBC Compliant - Where chemicals or product ingredients have no available public information, or a manufacturer is unable to publicly identify an ingredient due to proprietary registration. Products may potentially contain Red List chemicals, which, if identified, will be highlighted in orange. Red List Free GH Commercial are delighted to announce the hard work paid off and their all Australian made Solution Dyed Nylon (SDN) and Designer Jet carpet tiles and planks achieved the highest possible Declare status and are certified Red List Free. Produced on their Enviro Bac and Enviro Bac Plus backing system, both carpet products are PVC, BPA and Phthalate free.
A Commitment to Product Transparency and Healthy Materials As part of their contribution to the creation of healthy interior spaces, GH Commercial have committed to six core sustainability pillars. They recognise that simply adopting recycled content is no longer a viable long-term solution to environmental degradation, given materials used remain unhealthy throughout their entire life cycle. Their Material Health pillar, reflecting the fundamental shift in traditionally considered building practices, seeks to positively impact the industry with safe and healthy materials. This, combined with their Product Transparency pillar, ensures GH Commercial is committed to sustainable construction practices and legitimate environmental certification – as their commitment to environmentally conscious architects, builders and designers, along with all the people who live and work in their developments.
GLOBAL FLOORING SOLUTIONS Drawing on over 150 years of manufacturing experience in Australia and New Zealand, GH Commercial is committed to designing, creating and supplying high quality, beautiful and sustainable floorcoverings around the world. As the oceanic division of Mohawk Group, the world’s largest commercial flooring company, GH Commercial belong to a global network of brands dedicated to helping you meet your project goals and connecting you with the right floor, when, where and how you need it.
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
The Intersection of Performance and Style Introducing Our New Car pet Tile: Converge
We’re here to help! Our Australian facilities are currently OPEN for business. Contact us for all your flooring needs. For assistance in NZ, please contact your local Account Manager.
Practical, affordable and available in six easy‑to‑style neutral shades, Converge features a subtly contrasting criss‑cross design of intersecting lines that not only look great but hide a multitude of foot traffic sins and stains that can occur in bustling venues. These Australian made carpet tiles serve to absorb airborne sounds, dramatically decreasing ambient noise. Designed to withstand heavy pedestrian use, Converge carpet tiles can easily be removed and replaced if needed. Converge delivers a resilient, stylish and reliably high performance flooring solution for your next commercial project.
Contact your Godfrey Hirst Account Manager to order sampling and discuss your next commercial project. AU: 1300 444 778 | NZ: 0800 500 210 W W W. G H C O M M E R C I A L . C O M
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Coreflex Enhanced Hybrid Flooring by Kenbrock
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Jon had recently been visited by his Kenbrock representative who provided him with information and sampling on the new Coreflex Enhanced Hybrid. Considering the job at hand and the existing floor, although badly worn, it was still basically smooth and flat with the ability of Coreflex to be installed directly over a majority of subfloors. He presented this as an option to Ricky Frost, the manager at Matthews Petroleum BP Roadhouse Camperdown. They discussed the installation advantages and Ricky happily selected Coreflex.
aterproof Hybrid Flooring has proven itself to be the superior solution in countless applications throughout Australia. Kenbrock has taken this successful product type to the next level by introducing an advanced multi-layered system. Corflex features two additional LVT layers, it is this unique feature that gives these planks its superior flexibility. The first LVT layer delivers a more authentic timber look and feel whilst the second, located underneath the core, provides additional stability and comfort. Coreflex was the ideal solution for a recent installation at BP Camperdown Roadhouse located on the Princess Highway in Camperdown. Jon Steele from Cobden Floors and Furnishings went to the site to measure up and upon inspection he discovered
there would be a lot of work involved in the removal of existing floor and preparing of the subfloor to allow installation of a 2mt commercial vinyl. As this business operates 24/7 the logistics in all this, as well as OHS, relocating displays, fridges and freezers and the disruption this would create prompted him to think about possible options.
Jon from Cobden Floors and Furnishings and his installers were impressed with Coreflex and the ease of installation. Importantly, their client was also very pleased with the end result and the service provided.
Flooring April/May 2020
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Business Perspectives
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Will Covid-19 change the shape of business? From BBS, Australia’s installation accessories manufacturer
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ovid-19 has swept across the globe, locking down countries from Chile to China. The economic effects have been chilling. With many people forced to stay home and businesses either closed or partially operational the economic harm has not yet been measured. Health authorities predict that this pandemic could take six to eighteen months to subside completely, so the economic effects will continue for some time.
Covid-19 is one of many recent viral pandemics – SARs (2002) and MERS (2012) were also corona viruses, and H1N1 (2009) was an influenza A type similar to the great Spanish Flu pandemic of 1919. The deeper we dig into our history the more evidence there is of an ongoing risk. If pandemics like these keep coming back what will their long-term impact will be? And how should businesses adapt to survive in this environment? It is useful to start thinking about how the threat of pandemics could change the way business is conducted.
What will be Covid-19’s legacy? The ongoing threat of pandemics will create both its own effects as well as accelerating existing trends. On my list of predictions are: a) Global travel could be replaced by regional travel: Recovery from Covid-19 is likely to be slow, and it will take several years before most restrictions on our movements are relaxed. Some aspects of international travel may never go back to the old ‘normal’.
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Business Perspectives Our opportunity to access endless air travel from continent to continent will be reduced for years to come. Travel is likely to become local and regional, so that our health authorities can better monitor and control the spread of future diseases. b) Fewer international trade shows, conferences etc.: In the middle of our April Stage 3 Shutdown I was surprised to receive an email inviting me to an overseas trade in July. Clearly someone is not getting the message. It is impossible to believe that thousands of people from diverse continents are going to fly across the globe and congregate in large trade halls for several days. It is very clear that the days of jet-setting to trade shows and conferences are behind us. c) Regionalisation may replace globalisation: The free trade of goods between nations was already under considerable threat from the rise of protectionist forces. Recent trade deals have been shifting from multilateral (among all nations) to bilateral (among selected nations) - a trend that diminishes the total volume of trade. A fear of the spread of future pandemics will likely accelerate the building of protectionist and anti-trade policies which will only slow or reduce global trade. We can expect to see a rise in regional trade to take the place of ‘globalisation’.
d) Shorter supply chains: Any move from globalisation to regional trade will shorten our supply lines. This means shorter distances between the product source and the markets they serve. This has several profound benefits; it will be easier to manage and control the spread of infections, and shorter supply chains are inherently more stable and less prone to outside shocks. e) Greater diversity in products: A downside from globalisation was that wherever you went we all used the same pens, wore the same clothes, ate the same burger and listened to the same music. The global market drove ‘homogeneity’ through hour supply chains. It made the same stuff for everyone.
g) A resurgence in locally made products: A benefit for Australia from the pandemic is the likelihood that more ‘things’ will be made locally. As a regional centre we will naturally become the regional focus for supply. Local production enables Australia to keep better control on health and safety standards, regulate any pollution, and to provide fairer wages of manufacturing workers – and that’s a win all round!
The rise of regional supply will also mean the rise of regional differences. The products we consume will no longer be ‘one size to fit all’ but rather they will be tailored to the region they serve. This is good for Australia because we should experience more products made and suited for Australian conditions. f) Less direct customer contact: Like many suppliers I have not visited a customer for many months. With Stage 3 restrictions still in place I can’t imagine making a personal call any time soon. With less direct contact possible we can expect to make better use of technology for virtual meetings. Apps like Zoom and other conferencing and messaging services are likely to become our mainstay of communication particularly interstate or overseas. The hand shake and close quarters discussion over a cup of coffee are moving to be replaced by video screens and webinars with the occasional emoji for good luck. We will be well advised to become proficient in this form of communication as quickly as possible.
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h) Less pollution (and less global warming too): Another benefit from shift to regional trade is a likely decline in pollution arising from manufacture. If the large greenhouse gas emitting factories in distant third world nations are replaced by smaller regional manufacturing hubs, it will also be easier to regulate and manage the pollutants they generate. Already we have seen measurable reductions in Nitrogen Dioxide and other air pollution across the factories in Asia as they are forced into shutdown. When these industries return to a regional base, we will have a new start to manufacture without harming the environment with pollution and greenhouse gasses.
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Rob Levin:
You Can’t Buy a Good Name Story by Philip Ashley
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ob Levin and his business partner Sam Grande ran Mr Carpets for over forty years in three business locations, all within only half a square kilometre, just east of Melbourne CBD. You could say Rob’s as recognisable a character of the flooring industry as anybody in the business. He’s as highly regarded as anyone; he’s loved by his family and his employees and held in high esteem by his business acquaintances. He’s an honest man who always does the right thing for others no matter what the cost, a mark of a true icon of the industry.
Above: (L-R) Michael, Rob and Jane
Rob Levin is a much-loved and respected icon of the flooring trade with almost 50 years in the industry. His philosophy? “Be honest, do the right thing, be helpful to others no matter the cost and be happy to embrace change.” Flooring April/May 2020
Rob’s family originally came to Australia in 1823 with the Levin side arriving from Lithuania in 1890. In only a few years the family will celebrate 200 years in Australia! Rob was born here in 1943, the same year as Molly Meldrum; politician Philip Ruddock; Ian Chappell; Judith Durham and radio host Alan Jones; all heavyweights in their various fields. Rob was the youngest of three children and remembers a very happy childhood. Rob was fortunate to attend Wesley College but decided to leave after year eleven. He said, “I had no great skills in science or maths, but I was very interested in the humanities, subjects like history, English and languages and I certainly liked working with people.” Like many personalities in the flooring industry, Rob also possessed strong sporting prowess and, at 16 years of age, played soccer for Slavia in the State League
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as a goalkeeper, and had quite a significant cricket career with a local club, north eastern Maccabi. Are you being served? After leaving school Rob won a cadetship at Myer and started working in the menswear department. In those days he was required to wear a gentleman’s hat at work. He soon moved to Roger David, also selling menswear. During his time there he completed a sales management degree at Swinburne University, eventually moving out to start his own menswear business with stores in Melbourne City and Prahran. The next five years or so were frantic. Rob got married, had two children, Jane and Michael, but was struck down with glandular fever which kept him away from his business. As a result, in 1973 Rob decided to close the two stores and started out afresh with Vinyl Fair and Exhibition Carpets in Collingwood, as General Manager, his first exposure to the flooring industry. It was the same year Don and Kay Currie started Don Currie Carpets and they became close friends. During his time at Vinyl Fair a young man, Sam Grande, attended an interview for a sales job. Rob saw something in the young man and hired him. Eventually, in 1979 Rob and Sam went out and started Mr Carpets in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Clifton Hill. Sam’s role was to manage the estimating and installation side of the business and Rob’s was to use his people skills at the front of house, maintaining purchasing and retail sales and the administration. After five years at Clifton Hill Rob and Sam moved to the first of two significant Melbourne landmark buildings. The first was the Lyric Theatre in Fitzroy, one of Melbourne’s very first theatres that has
Flooring April/May 2020
Above: Rob in 1973 with Michael and Jane
only recently been reimagined as a series of chic apartments. The art nouveau building screened silent films from the 1920s to the 1950’s. They were there for six years and in 1990 moved to the Austral Picture Theatre in Collingwood. That building is historically and architecturally significant to the locality of Collingwood and the City of Yarra. It’s where Mr Carpets is currently located, and it makes a perfect showroom and warehouse. The recession we had to have In October 1987, the international Stock Market Slump saw markets crash around the world. By July 1990, Australia had entered severe recession leading to Paul Keating’s now infamous comment. By April 1991, unemployment in Australia was nearing 10% and rising. Rob remembers that in the year’s 1991 and 1992 eight of the top ten commercial flooring companies closed down. He said, “I wasn’t going to go the easy way, to close and start again later on. We worked hard to trade through it. We were effectively broke, but we got through in the end.”
During this time Don Currie and Rob copped huge debts but worked with their creditors and the trade to pay everyone back. Rob recalls, “I didn’t take a holiday for seven years. Looking back, it was the most trying time of my career but also the most satisfying. One thing you can’t buy is a good name and we worked very hard to keep ours.” Rob singles out some of the people who helped them through the recession including Michael Oakley of Victoria Carpets; Peter Hepples from Feltex and Arthur Shaffir of Invicta; as well as Bill O’Halloran, who started his business in their premises in Clifton hill and was also a great support at this time. Chairman of the Board Mr Carpets joined Floorworld in 1991 when the group was established, with Rob right at the centre of things. Rob was a founding member with Greg Smith and others, including Gary Breen (Dandenong); Doug Trickey (Ballarat); Bill Tsapatsaris (Thomastown); and Kevin McAuliffe (Camberwell). The group now boasts more than 40 stores Australia-wide. Rob served as Chairman of Floorworld for an impressive 16 years, traveling to Domotex in Hannover and Shanghai; Surfaces, Las Vegas; and Neocon, Chicago, as well as countless suppliers around Australia and the world.
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35 The business continues with the same integrity as always with Jason at the helm. Rob said of his dear friend and long-time colleague Sam Grande, “We couldn’t have achieved what we did without the amazing efforts and work ethic Sam always gave to the business and our customers, many of who have been coming back to us for years.
Above: The Collingwood Store When Rob started out, he recalls, “There were 57 carpet mills in Australia and New Zealand, now there’s only seven or eight.” Over the years Mr Carpet have always supported local brands and do so to this day. Sam and Rob managed to rebuild their business into a highly successful operation, both in the commercial and domestic sectors, winning awards for some of their installations.
This not only expanded Rob’s incredible circle of contacts but also help him keep up with the latest trends. Rob says, “When we started it was mostly wool carpet, some polypropylene and domestic and commercial vinyl. The woven carpets were hand sewn and laid on horse-hair underfelt. The changes kept coming – nylon and solution dyed nylon both emerged. Commercial broadloom carpet has mostly been replaced by carpet tiles, which continue to evolve. We now have engineered timber flooring, laminates, hybrids, LVT and recycled rubber!” Computers meant estimating software and no more written cheques and purchase orders.
Flooring April/May 2020
The next chapter Sam Grande has recently retired, and while Rob has wound back, he’s still keeping his hand in, working from home or the shop as needed with his new partner Jason Brophy, who Rob mentored since he started as a salesman with Mr Carpets in 2001.
Below: Sam Grande
Outside of work, Rob enjoys spending time with his extended family (including his two grandchildren); playing a round of golf; working with his local Rotary International chapter (where he is renowned for his joke-telling that starts each meeting); attending cultural events like the opera, ballet and theatre; and of course, following his beloved St Kilda Football Club (that’s a lesson in resilience right there). His positive attitude is evidenced by the fact that he still holds out hope to see them win their second premiership!
Above: Rob (far right) with his extended family Looking back over his almost five decades in the industry, there are two things Rob is most proud of – the longevity of his business relationships and the dedication of his team. “I can’t stress enough that the most important thing in business is to do the right thing and to treat your people well. We have people working with us now who have been with us for fifteen years or more. Along the journey more than twenty team members have achieved long service leave. A business is only as good as its staff and our team is as good as it gets”.
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Safety
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Slip resistance classification and safety standards “What are the Australian Standards of slip resistance?” – A question asked frequently by many who come to Classic Architectural Group seeking advice on their projects. Since the first Australian Standard for slip resistance was published in 1993, it has evolved into the four primary Australian Standards and Code Requirements that all have references to slip resistance in the built environment that are adhered to today: NCC 2019 – National Construction Code of Australia The Construction Code of Australia (NCC) is a uniform set of technical provisions for the design and construction of buildings and other structures throughout Australia. This document includes a reference to slip resistance and designers and builders must ensure that their constructions satisfy this section. Following on from this, under the NCC 2019, all building classifications must be accessible to people with disabilities with reference to the Australian Standard outline for access being AS 1428.1: 2009. AS 1428.1: 2009 – Design for access and mobility - General requirements for access - New building work This Australian Standard is designed to provide building designers and users (architects, property owners and regulators) with the minimum design requirements for new building work to enable access for people with disabilities. This Standard states that continuous accessible paths of travel and circulation spaces defined in the standard must have a slip resistant surface. However, as with the NCC, no further information is provided regarding testing and classification.
Flooring April/May 2020
AS 4586:2013 – Slip Resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials This Australian Standard sets out suitable testing methods as well as the resulting classifications for each of the test methods. Test methods included in the standard allow for both wet and dry conditions and the limitations of some of the test methods (in particular the Oil-Wet Inclining Platform Test) are also raised. HB 197: 1999 – An introductory guide to slip resistance of pedestrian surface materials This handbook establishes a basis for specifying pedestrian surface materials for various locations, to assist with the reduction of certain pedestrian risks. As noted, the NCC 2019, the AS 4586:2013 and the AS 1428.1: 2009 all still require a certain amount of further clarification. As the standards are laid out above, it is important to consider what the recommendations for stair nosings, as advised by Classic Architectural Group, are. Internal/ under cover applications The SBR104 is an aluminium safety stair nosing for hard substrate stairs with a ribbed polymer insert, ramped back and a 10mm front. It is best suited for internal applications due to a high slip resistance as well as the large colour range.
Indoor and outdoor applications The Tredfx Fusion series (eg FMR104) offers a distinguished elegant metal insert within the aluminium profile, which is also suitable for both internal and external applications. There are profiles in the range to suit any application such as vinyl, polished concrete, timber, carpet tiles or rebated applications. Outdoor applications The Domain series, including the DKR104, is the preferred choice of many of today’s specifiers with its contemporary appearance accompanied with durability. The carborundum/grit is suitable for the harshest of conditions, including wet areas. All of Classic Architectural Group’s aluminium stair nosings are treated with the highest-level anodising, which not only looks better, but also assures longevity. All installations are in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations and the requirements of the NCC and AS1428.12009, come with a lifetime warranty and a customer satisfaction guarantee.
To discuss your next project, email info@classicarch.com mentioning Flooring Magazine and our team will specify everything you require in accordance with Australian Standards.
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Technical Bulletin
38
QuickFit Subfloor Solution – fast, easy and non-invasive Brought to you by Forbo
Q
uite often we are asked about installing resilient flooring over existing or problem subfloors. It may be a heritage listed floor, old asbestos tiles, cracked concrete, to be used purely as a temporary installation or for increased acoustics performance between floors. One solution that has proven to work well is the QuickFit subfloor system. The QuickFit system is a floating MDF substrate that is not bonded to the subfloor or the foam underlay and provides a smooth and flat surface for resilient flooring installation while mitigating issues beneath. The first part of the process is into install the Forbo polypropylene foam that is covered by a metallised foil, the foam side points to the subfloor. The Forbo foam (4.5mm) is provided with a self-sticking foil overlap of 20cm, creating a suitable moisture barrier for damp and old problem subfloors. Once the foam is down and ready, it is time to unwrap the QuickFit packs which contain equal panels in 3mm and 4mm thickness and make up 3.67m2 per pack. The 3mm MDF boards are first placed directly on the
Flooring April/May 2020
foam in a brick pattern. The 4mm thick panels are then overlapped on top of the 3mm panels avoiding the joins creating a strong, smooth and stable floor.
Installing and overlapping of the QuickFit panels is rapid as they are provided with a self-sticking contact adhesive on one side. Pre-printed installation cross marks on the panels allow installers to work fast. The panel edges of the boards are clean and tight and minimises the need for serious abrasive or filling corrections after installation. The panels are also easy to score and snap to size without specialist tools required. As the system is floating and not adhered to the subfloor, expansion gaps of 6mm must be left around all sides and every 10m in width or 100m2 an expansion gap applied for both the subfloor and floorcovering is needed. Once installed a fine sand of the surface and feather finish of any irregular
joins creates the perfect base ready for the resilient floor. The system is no different to a floating timber floor. The individual panels don’t move because of the adhesive and the foam does not move due to the weight of the panels. At the end of its use short or long term the floors and panels can be lifted, cut up and moved with ease. Excellent acoustics – QuickFit can solve impact sound reduction challenges in multilevel projects. A recent example in an old 70’s brick unit block where the bare floor measured L’nT,w of 75 (NCC newbuild requires a minimum of 65) QuickFit by itself improved the rating to an L’nT,w of 48 (the lower number the better) solving the issue and that was before an acoustic resilient was installed on top. Coving QuickFit with Forbo Marmoleum and vinyls Coving is often required in health, labs or childcare applications. We do not recommend QuickFit for constant wet rooms, however, QuickFit can work with coving in the following way. Install the QuickFit as per the standard installation recommendations above, leaving a 6mm expansion gap around all perimeter walls, protrusions and door jambs. At the door jambs and protrusion expansion gaps, fill the gaps flush to the surface of the QuickFit with neutral cure, non-staining flexible filler; this is done to avoid the floorcovering slumping into the open expansion gap. Next fit a cove former fillet to the cove area. Use only a large radius 32mm or 38mm cove former as this will straddle the 6 mm expansion gap and give more flexibility for expansion at that point. Only glue the side of the cove 40
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Technical Bulletin
40 original linoleum which had been laid in 1932, while standing the test of time well, it had begun to wear. When the linoleum was removed from the concrete subfloor, the slab underneath was found to be in a very bad state although structurally sound. The subfloor had many wide cracks and spalling of the concrete due to moisture. Because the concrete subfloor was heritage listed minimal preparatory work could be done to bring the slab up to an acceptable level for the installation of a new Marmoleum tile floor. The other factor in selecting and using the QuickFit system in this case was the lack of down town when installing it and hotel clientele could still access the main entrance foyer because the installation could be completed in sections therefore through traffic was not affected.
former that is bonding to the wall. The other none glued side of the cove form must be installed on the QuickFit; this is done to give any expansion of the QuickFit a slip joint effect. Marmoleum must be installed with separate cove boarders. Reducing the cove to doorways. If the room has doorways without architraves (or has very thin architraves), taper the last 200 mm of cove former so that there is no gap at the end of the sheet material.
CASE STUDY: Historic Masonic Hotel NZ In 2012 the iconic and heritage listed Art Deco Masonic Hotel in Napier New Zealand built in 1932 went through a massive refurbishment which included replacing the
Note: where the pointed end of the cove former is installed the expansion gap must be filled with a flexible filler to avoid the cove former end slumping into the expansion gap. Where applicable all QuickFit installations must follow the usual recommendations of Australian Standard 1884 – 2012.
Flooring April/May 2020
QuickFit installations are printed on the plastic packaging and a leaflet is within each pack. Further information can be sourced on www.forbo-flooring.com.au/quickfit
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Software
42
How does our business recover from COVID-19? Story by Chris Ogden
I
write this article from within the NZ lockdown environment wondering what the landscape will look like for flooring businesses by the time this article is published in early May. I would like to anticipate the worst of the Coronavirus pandemic will be over. Hopefully, we have passed the peak infection rate and are now taking our first steps into a dramatically and fundamentally different business world. I hope this is the case. Scientists are predicting that whether it has abated by now, or not, the pandemic will eventually pass. Whenever it is, we get to the point of recovery, we will have things to be thankful for. But as thankful as we might be, we will be thinking about how we recover the ground our business has lost. The reality is that unless something miraculous has happened between me writing this article and you reading it, we shouldn’t expect to get back to where we were anytime soon. We will have a new business reality to work in for the foreseeable future. Right off the bat, we likely must accept profit is a notion that has been replaced by survival. So long as we deliver value to our clients, cover our costs, pay ourselves a living wage, and continue to pay a living wage to our staff, we should consider ourselves successful, and in a position to become profitable as circumstances improve. What I don’t know at the time of writing is what further steps the government has taken to enable us to hold on to staff. We particularly want to hold on to those who
Flooring April/May 2020
contributed to our previous success. Those that haven’t been contributing need to step up, because we won’t be able to carry them. Our employees need to understand the new reality as clearly as we do. We no longer have the luxury of carrying staff who are not committed to giving our customers the very best service. While there is an imperative to keep as many people in employment as possible, we can’t do that if they are undermining our ability to survive. As businesses, we need to do the fundamentals better than we have ever done them in the past, and it all starts with sales. Those people that come into our stores to browse, who take samples, have us out to measure, and to whom we give quotes have to be recognised as a precious commodity we can no longer afford to squander. A sales opportunity lost because we didn’t follow up, is not going to be so easily replaced with another sale in this new environment. Our sales team must be diligent about
following through on every lead. As business owners, we have to implement rigorous sales management processes to ensure we help our salespeople make the most of every opportunity.
“Right off the bat, we likely must accept profit is a notion that has been replaced by survival.” It might go without saying, but we need to analyse our costs. The two highest costs most businesses have are rent and payroll. Landlords don’t want an empty building and staff want to remain employed; talk to your landlord about a rent holiday, and negotiate a wage/salary reduction across all your staff. In these current circumstances, you might be surprised at how readily we can reach 42 agreement on these.
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Software When it comes to our staff, be open and transparent; none of us works at our best when we are anxious and uncertain, and this applies to us as owners. We must be tracking our situation, if not day by day, then certainly weekly. We have to know our breakeven point; the amount of GP we need to be generating to keep our doors open. If we know how we are tracking against this number, we can reduce the anxiety and uncertainty we feel, be positive and take proactive steps to address problems, earlier rather than later. When we know what our breakeven point is, we should share it with the team so it can be a collective goal.
“…we need to do the fundamentals better than we have ever done them in the past, and it all starts with sales. ” Cashflow in the flooring industry can be a challenge at the best of times. In the new environment that is widely predicted, we might increase the amount of deposit taken from customers, and then we must ensure jobs are installed promptly and to a high standard so the job can be invoiced to get the balance of money in quickly. Every person has to be at the top of their game.
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How does our business recover from COVID-19? Part Two Story by Chris Ogden If you read part one on this topic, earlier in this issue, you will have seen, like others, I anticipate difficult times ahead. I should reiterate I don’t see the situation as dire for every flooring business; those that can learn and adapt will survive to take advantage of better times in the future. If our business is quieter than usual right now, how can we best use our time? Many have used the lockdown period at home to learn new skills; how to play the guitar or the piano have been popular. What might be the corresponding activities for a business in a period of enforced inactivity? The list could be endless, but it can be summed up as any activity that is going to put us in the best possible position to respond to opportunities when they start
coming our way. If it’s quiet right now, and if the government is paying us to keep our staff on, then we are being paid to work on our business. Now, more than ever, our staff are receptive to change, so we should take advantage of the opportunity. Forgive me for being frank; if we don’t recognise the need to make changes to accommodate the new reality, our business could be a casualty to COVID-19.
“…those that can learn and adapt will survive to take advantage of better times in the future. ”
It would be wonderful if, by the time this article is published, I can look at it and be embarrassed because actually, things didn’t turn out so bad. I will be delighted to be embarrassed if that is the case. In the meantime, let’s hope for the best, but plan for the worst.
Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Go to RFMSanz.com for more information.
Flooring April/May 2020
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Software As difficult as things might be initially, there will be opportunities, and we want to be around to take advantage of them. Most businesses have processes that have evolved over many years. We haven’t reviewed them because we haven’t had the time to do it. If we take the opportunity to revise our internal processes now, we have the time to think carefully about what changes need to be made. We can consult with the team, having meaningful meetings (perhaps remotely) to communicate the changes and the reasons for them, and then to document the changes so nobody can say they “didn’t know”. What about training? If we have experienced some contraction in staff numbers, maybe staff have more roles to fulfil. Now is the opportunity to ensure everyone has the skills to perform any additional duties effectively. An example might be in the area of sales. In my previous article, I said sales are where we will live or die. Salespeople might have enjoyed the luxury of dedicated measurers and quantifiers, but now we need salespeople to have these skills themselves. We need them to have these additional skills without compromising service, and without creating errors that will lead to over-quantifying or,
45 perhaps worse, under-quantifying. A good goal for the immediate future is to shorten the time it traditionally takes to measure, quantify, and quote accurately. If you are not using electronic quantifying, this might be something that you explore as you adapt to the new market conditions.
“Electronic quantifying is one of the few things flooring retailers can do that has the potential to shorten the sales process and gain efficiencies.” In the circumstances, it feels opportunistic to recommend that people investigate electronic quantifying as a response to our difficult situation. Measure by RFMS is not the only EQ solution on the market, and EQ, regardless of the provider, is one of the few things flooring retailers can implement that has the potential to shorten the sales process and gain efficiencies.
As a supplier of a suite of EQ solutions, the environment has changed for us. New clients are not going to feel comfortable committing to an annual subscription, they might need the comfort of a free subscription period, and they will need a comprehensive training program to get Measure adopted in their business. In past weeks we have addressed all three to make the implementation of Measure by RFMS effective as quickly as possible with no upfront cost. Electronic quantifying is a low-cost way to improve your business significantly. If you would like to explore Measure by RFMS, we have a risk-free way for you to do that, and we would love to work with you. Whether it is by adopting electronic quantifying, or any other means we have to improve our business, we have a window of time to work on our business. We want to ensure we are in the best shape possible to meet the challenges we will face.
Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Go to RFMSanz.com for more information.
Ad Index Airstep Australia Australian Flooring Supplies
20, 21 Inside Front Cover, 15, 27
Australian Select Timbers
5
BBS Flooring Products
31
Classic Architectural Group
37
CleanSpace
Back Cover
Forbo Flooring
39
Floorcovering Assn of Victoria (FAV)
46
FloorInsure 45 GMK Logistics
17
Godfrey Hirst Australia
7, 29
Intafloors 11 Kenbrock Flooring
25
Laser Measure Australia
41
Premium Floors
Front Cover, 9
RFMS Australasia
43
Signature Floorcoverings
23
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FAV Awards Postponed for 2020 The Flooring Association of Victoria regrettably has had to postpone its’ 5th Annual Awards event. The awards event will now take place on the 7th August 2021.
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We will now incorporate projects completed from the 1st July 2019 up to 30th June 2021. The Gala evening will recognize the industry’s best work and will give us something to look forward to in these troubled times. We can celebrate our resilience and our emergence into our new future. The Flooring Association hopes for all its members to stay safe.
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