Flooring Magazine Apr/May 2023

FOR COLOUR FOR CHOICE THINK

Potters Wheel 8628

Linen Air 8635

Editor’s Note

Welcome to the April / May 2023 edition of Flooring Magazine. Inside this bumper issue you will find our annual Australian Made Feature. Where Australian Made Chief Executive Ben Lazzaro reminds everyone about the direct economic impact buying Australian can have on the livelihoods of thousands of Australians throughout the supply chain.

Our Company Profile in this issue is Floorworld. Celebrating their 32nd anniversary this year, Philip Ashley takes us on a walk down memory lane as he writes about how from being predominately a Victorian and Tasmanian buying group, Floorworld is now a 43-strong retail group with stores right throughout Australia.

Please feel free to contact me directly regarding any company events, industry news and or new product information by email at – michelle@ elitepublishing.com.au

Don’t forget to check out our new website, join our growing online community and visit us on Facebook and Instagram.

Until next time, enjoy your read.

Michelle Cammiade Editor

FCIA partners with Flooring Protect Insurance Brokers

The Board of the Floor Covering Institute of Australia (FCIA) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Flooring Protect Insurance Brokers in order to provide specialised and exclusive insurance services to FCIA members.

The agreement states that Flooring Protect will be the FCIA's sole preferred insurance broker and will provide FCIA members with access to a new insurance programme designed specifically for flooring industry businesses. This programme will include a number of value-added benefits available only to FCIA members.

Flooring Protect was chosen as FCIA's new insurance partner after a competitive procurement process in which many suppliers participated. Flooring Protect distinguished itself by providing the highest value and service quality to the Association's members, thanks in part to the insurance broker's expertise in the industry.in part due to the insurance broker's knowledge in the flooring, manufacturing, distribution, and contracting sector.

"We are delighted to announce Flooring Protect Insurance Brokers as our new exclusive insurance partner," said Fiona Wischnewski, CEO of the FCIA.

"At a time when many in the flooring industry are struggling to find affordable insurance coverage, this new partnership will help FCIA's member businesses thrive by keeping costs low."

Flooring Protect Insurance Brokers are Flooring Industry specialists who provide Insurance Broking services to Flooring Businesses throughout Australia.

"We are proud to be working with FCIA and to be able to support the excellent work they are doing for the Flooring Industry in Australia," said Nathan Ray, Group Director of Flooring Protect. "The new insurance programme will provide insurance tailored to each member's specific business needs across the entire flooring industry represented by FCIA. We recognise the challenges that many industries face, and we look forwards to working with the Association's members to ensure that they have the coverage they require."

Some of the benefits of the new program include:

• Up to 20% reduction in business insurance pricing

• Highly experienced insurance brokers looking after FCIA Members

• Dedicated 24/7 claims assistance service, backed by multiple insurance claims expert partners to ensure that all claims are met with exceptional support.

• Exclusive cover enhancements specifically designed for the Flooring Industry i.e., workmanship cover, product defect and legal expense cover (covers legal costs to help businesses on legal disputes for payment disputes, unfair allegations of faulty workmanship, allegations of not complying with the contract, breach of contract with suppliers/manufacturers, breach of contract with subcontractors/ trades, property disputes)

• Annual travel insurance cover which can cover the business and its owners for their private holidays as well as business trips more than 100km from the office location (including interstate and overseas)

Further details of the new insurance partnership and how FCIA members can access can be seen at: https://www. flooringprotect.com.au/fcia-membersinsurance

Clever Choice takes you inside and under the flooring industry

There is an old saying, “If you’re not first, you're last” and with that in mind, Clever Choice embarked on a strategy to change the conversation in the flooring industry. Developing their own podcast was a daunting task, but with 15 episodes in the bag, they haven’t regretted it at all.

Although relatively new to the scene, “The Underlay – A Clever Choice Podcast” has already amassed a dedicated following of listeners who tune in to each episode to learn about the intricacies of the flooring industry.

Co-hosted by Michael Roberts, a flooring industry expert, and the General Manager of Clever Choice Flooring, each episode of The Underlay features a unique guest, bringing their own experiences and perspectives to the conversation. From suppliers to retailers, installers to architects, each guest provides valuable insight into the complex world of flooring.

You never know what insights or anecdotes will arise from each episode, but you can be sure that you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of the industry and the people who make it tick. Michael approaches each episode as a conversation, inviting guests to join him in discussing the flooring industry from their unique perspective.

The Clever Choice team is thrilled with the response they’ve received too The Underlay so far, and for good reason. The podcast has become a valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about the flooring industry and has the potential to become a true industry leader.

If you’re looking for a podcast that will educate and inspire, while also entertaining you, The Underlay – A Clever Choice Podcast is definitely worth checking out. Tune in to discover more about the world of flooring and the people who bring it to life.

A NATURAL BEAUTY

Marmoleum cocoa is a collection where beauty and circularity are united thanks to the unique addition of cocoa husk; a byproduct from cocoa production giving the floor a unique, granular look and feel.

It is the perfect choice for those looking for a flooring option that is both beautiful and environmentally friendly.

Made with plant-based natural raw materials, it is CO2 positive cradle to gate, without offsetting. By saving one square metre from incineration after fulfilling its intended purpose, we can reduce pollution for the next generation, equivalent to 1.8 kg of CO₂ emissions.

But that’s not all. Marmoleum with its Topshield pro surface finish is also incredibly durable, resistant to scratches, stains and is easy to clean.

Discover the full Marmoleum story on our website

FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES

OVER 60 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Andersens is proudly a privately held company with over 60 years in the home improvement sector We have 54 sites from far North QLD and down to Adelaide and expanding nationally.

B.I.G. Acquisition

eaulieu International Group (B.I.G.) acquires Australian B2B flooring wholesaler Signature Floors, strengthening its position in the Australian and New Zealand market.

B.I.G. is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with Australian B2B flooring wholesaler to acquire its complete range of activities. Through this acquisition, both companies will strengthen their growth opportunities in both soft, resilient and hard flooring in Australia and New Zealand.

As part of B.I.G.’s corporate strategy, the group is actively investing in strategic business segments and geographies.

CEO Pol Deturck comments: “This acquisition will provide great opportunities for all our stakeholders, especially our customers, suppliers and employees. Both B.I.G. and Signature have solid positions as leaders in the flooring industry and a shared commitment to sustainability, product innovation, design and customer service.”

Significant incentives available to existing flooring stores

National training and business support

Industry leading green programs

Full range of suppliers available from day one with only one account

Retain your local brand

We understand that it is your business

Field support

Marketing support programs and dedicated digital marketing professionals

Country Town Values are what drives us

Ideal for independent operators or installers wanting to be part of a national brand

Signature Floors is an Australian B2B flooring wholesaler serving retailers, commercial contractors, architect-designers and end-users in Australia and New Zealand. Founded in 1989, the company has 120 employees and is owned by two family shareholders which are both active in the company. Signature has offices, warehouses and showrooms in Melbourne and Auckland spread over three locations.

Signature CEO Richard Braic adds: “Joining B.I.G. is an exciting opportunity for Signature Floors. With their global resources to support us, we will continue to create sustainable and innovative products tailored to the needs of our local market. We look forward to seeing how our synergies can drive future growth.”

Together, B.I.G. and Signature will integrate their sales and business activities over the coming months, ensuring business continuity for customers, partners, suppliers and employees. Both companies expect to close the transaction in the coming months. No financial details have been disclosed.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU JOIN AUSTRALIA'S LEADING FLOORING & WINDOW RETAILER

AVAILABLE NATIONALLY

Bramwell’s Floor Coverings celebrate 70 years of business

Bramwell’s Floor Coverings has evolved over three generations, starting with John Senior in 1953, to be led by John from 1978, with Mark set to take the reigns over the next few years.

The first Bramwell’s location was set on South Melbourne in the 1950s, then moving across to 284 Chapel Street Prahran adjoining the arcade and above Dan Murphy’s (which is still there). John Senior adhered a piece of vinyl on the sidewalk just outside this shop back in 1962, right next to Dan Murphey’s entry, which can still be seen today – a testament to the quality and longevity of the products used.

and communication. Passers-by will always stop to see popular team members, Zoe and Bert, the beautiful and friendly Australian Shepherd and Border Collie, who are muchloved members of the family.

Cheltenham, and finally, to their current home; 212-214 Bluff Road Sandringham.

Specialising in quality woollen carpets with the highest standards of installation, Bramwell’s have a team of four apprentices and seven fully qualified installers, many of which serving upwards of 20 years with the company.

As strong supporters of education and training, Bramwell’s ensures all new members of the installation team complete their flooring apprenticeship while being mentored by their nominated senior installer. The office team receive training and upskilling to support their career development and to foster operational excellence. Also serving as loyal members of the Carpet Institute of Australia (CIAL).

Over the years the Bramwell’s team has grown steadily. Now operating with a team

looking after their customers, many of which have chosen Bramwell’s time and again for their multiple homes.

Flooring Magazine congratulates Bramwell’s on such a wonderful achievement.

Above: John Bramwell (top) and Mark Bramwell (above)

TYROLIT GRINDING SYSTEM - FGE515

Tyrolit launches the Tyrolit Grinding Systems.

The FGE515 is a professional and powerful floor grinder for surface preparation and floor polishing. The innovative gear concept guarantees the highest level of productivity, while at the same time requiring minimal maintenance. The planetary drive system ensures a perfectly even and economical grinding result. Simple, intuitive operation is achieved by the digital control panel with a display.

Furthermore, the built-in water tank also allows wet grinding and, thus, expands the grinding range of applications. Its efficient dust extraction system ensures a clean, low-dust working environment. The extremely compact dimensions, the lightweight design and dismountable components allow for a quick system set-up and easy transport.

Recommended Dust Extractors

Also in the Tyrolit Grinding Range

FGE280

FGE400

FGE331

FGE515

FCIA Gala 2023

On Saturday 4 March 2023 the Chair of the Floor Covering Institute of Australia (FCIA), Brett Sturgess, had the pleasure of hosting the first ever national flooring industry Gala at the historic Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne. In welcoming more than 300 industry leaders from across Australia Brett invited all to engage as one community to celebrate the industry’s aspirations and achievements and contribute to promoting best practice and the upskilling of the entire industry.

A major achievement was the establishment of the first ever flooring industry Registered Training Organisation, FCIA Training Academy, which has over 150 enrolled apprentices in the Certificate III in Flooring Technology across several states and Territories.

The Gala enabled everyone to network and understand the major issues and risks to the sustainability of the flooring industry. In her keynote speech, Fiona Wischnewski (CEO of the FCIA Group) highlighted the immediate challenges faced by all sectors: Manufacturers, Suppliers, Retailers, and Commercial Contractors. These include a critical lack of qualified installers, an aging workforce, a lack of apprentices entering the industry, environmental issues, and industrial relations issues.

For the last six years the FCIA has actively tackled these issues. They now have 450 members, a best practice handbook and have been instrumental in the enrolment of approximately 300 apprentices nationally. In 2021 the FCIA Training Academy was approved as an industry RTO and is delivering funded apprenticeship training in NSW, TAS, ACT (and shortly SA).

The inaugural FCIA Gala allowed us to showcase our successes, together with employers and industry leaders who help us achieve our goals, whilst highlighting the road ahead to address the challenges that face our industry, particularly with respect to skilled installers.

The FCIA Gala was an excellent opportunity for industry professionals from key flooring associations to gather together to embrace the challenges and opportunities facing us. It was impressive to see so many representatives of the flooring industry celebrating their collective achievements. Since the FCIA’s establishment in 2017 they have been steadily expanding their membership and driving new strategies to benefit the whole industry.

By bringing the industry together the FCIA took the opportunity to inform business leaders of the significant role they play to enhance the profile of the industry.

At the industry’s first ever Gala, FCIA recognised and honoured some of the best talent with whom we have had the pleasure of working. Firstly, they issued awards to the best-in-class apprentices for each year of the Certificate III in Flooring Technology qualification. Four apprentices (one for each year) had shown outstanding commitment to their training and skills application and exceptional performance on the job at the companies for whom they worked.

The FCIA Apprentice of the Year award winners were:

First Year Apprentice: Kyle Sankey, Floorworld Nowra.

Next, the first ever FCIA Apprentice Achievement Award was issued to Shaun Haskard who recently graduated from the FCIA Training Academy. Shaun is now a fully qualified flooring installer and continues to make a strong impact in the industry.

recognised for his unwavering commitment, knowledge, expertise, and dedicated support for his apprentices.

insurance package which, alongside other standard cover, protects policy holders against flooring failures. This major initiative complements other FCIA products and services such as skills recognition, skilled migration (Visa) programs, technical bulletins, informing Australian Standards in sustainability and best practice, and lobbying State and Commonwealth Governments in the interests of the Flooring industry.

They also recognised the FCIA Employer of the Year which was awarded to Terry Bro’s Carpet Court for their tireless effort and support of the flooring industry through their commitment to training apprentices and leading the way for apprentices to enter the industry.

All in all, it was an outstanding night where everyone came together for the benefit of the industry. A post-Gala survey gave the evening a 4.9 rating with excellent feedback regarding this and future Galas:

• “It was a pleasure to see a celebration of and forward planning for the industry.”

• “Keep up the standard as presented on this occasion; it was wonderful.”

• “More awards, the recognition element was great.”

• “It was so good, don’t change the format too much.”

• “Definitely need this annually!”

The final award for the evening was the Flooring Association of Victoria’s (FAV) inaugural industry Statesman of The Year award, which was present to Chris Lowe from Lomac Commercial Flooring who joined the flooring industry when he was just 17. This prestigious award recognises Chris’ passion and commitment to training and best practice over a lifetime within the industry. Chris has demonstrated how members of our industry can dedicate their entire working lives to flooring and set the benchmark for sustaining the skills base for the future of the industry.

• “Encourage more apprentices to come along.”

• “Could allow some quiet time to enable more networking discussions.”

• “Expand apprentice of the Year Award to all states.”

Thirdly, the FCIA Trainer of the Year Award was awarded to Robert Cole, honouring his efforts as an outstanding trainer and assessor for the FCIA Training Academy. Robert was

The Gala presented Fiona with a unique opportunity to share FCIA’s vision for the future of the flooring industry by announcing new FCIA initiatives such as the Flooring Protect insurance program aimed specifically for the protection of our Members and Associate Members. This is a cost-effective

Many who were present also gave positive feedback on social media, sharing their support for our cause as an industry association, and offering to partner with the FCIA on achieving our future goals for the flooring industry. The night was a resounding success, and the FCIA look forward to hosting another event next year with more members of the flooring industry being present.

If you would like to understand more about the FCIA and how you can partner with them to create a better future for the flooring industry, then visit www.fcia.org.au .

Second Year Apprentice: Lachlan Giuliani, Cooma Furnishings Flooring Xtra.

Third Year Apprentice: Joshua Coade, Terry Bro’s Carpet Court.

Fourth Year Apprentice: Kaleb Black, Choices Nowra.

50 Years of building dreams

For the past 50 years Carpet Court has been inspiring Aussies to dream it, style It and most importantly live it when it comes to their dream homes. Celebrating this important milestone in Australian retailing, the team at Carpet Court revisited the past whilst clearly looking to the future.

Celebrating 50 years in business is a significant milestone in anyone’s terms. And Carpet Court, now Australia’s leading retail flooring and window furnishing specialist, has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1973. Starting with a foundation Member group of eight, Associated Furnishers P/L was officially registered in New South Wales with the founders becoming directors of the new business.

Expansion ensued with the formation of Alliance Buyers Company in 1977, Ron Graham and Geoffrey Matlock, the two original directors, led the business, which was essentially a group of furniture businesses whereby some owners sold carpets. That was all about to change.

Fast forward to 1994 and a trip to New Zealand to explore the market across the ditch, was the beginning of the new vision. Court Stores Australia was then formed as a state based buying group, creating the largest carpet buying group with Queensland and Victorian stores adopting the name.

However, over time the state-based entities merged to form a northern and a southern group of stores. In 2007 the merger continued with the Carpet Court Northern and Southern businesses to form Carpet Court Australia. This saw the formation

of Carpet Court’s National office based in Victoria to centralise the operation, creating business strategies, marketing, and sales support for the newly integrated group. The Carpet Court network today has 206 stores under its banner nationally.

The current CEO is James Hayward who has been at the helm since 2016, who continues to bring a wealth of retailing, leadership and team building experience with him.

The importance of partnership

Chief Marketing Officer Kara Norris, who also joined the team in 2016, has worked with James and the team to enhance a unique membership model. This model has been nurtured and improved to deliver successful outcomes for the entrepreneurs attracted to the Carpet Court group.

“I think the way we have approached our membership model has been quite unique in retailing. We effectively began as a co-op

and now we run a sophisticated membership model. We empower our members through relationships, backend programs and marketing support, whilst empowering the Membership to employ their own flair and personality to their individual businesses,” James said.

“We are delighted to be in such a positive position in 2023, to celebrate our 50th anniversary and look to the future, knowing our members are engaged and empowered.”

According to Hayward, one of the keys to success is to live your company values. “Our corporate values include openness, honesty, integrity, and leadership; leadership in our business means to show the path to our wonderful members. The National Support Centre exists to serve our members through developing initiatives and programs to drive success however we choose to educate rather than tell our members what to do and for our members to engage with the programs that will best suit their store and local community.”

Relationship with suppliers is key to the success of the business and these relationships have evolved over many years. Carpet Court involve their suppliers at all levels of their business, from shop front to their annual Conference, to ensure a shared understanding and commitment to mutual success.

“We work hard to build strong relationships with our suppliers as they are intrinsic to the success of our business for our members. We walk the path together, sharing knowledge and great respect, which has been key to our business model working,” Hayward said.

The marketing approach has also been intrinsic to the success of the business, with Kara Norris bringing marketing and retail knowledge to the table, elevating the brand through a strategic rebrand and putting together a comprehensive ‘above the line’ advertising program for the 50th Anniversary.

Giving equal weight to the importance of brand building via earned media engagement with PR, to maintaining a strong social media presence, to a progressive program of influencer engagement, Norris and her team have taken the brand to the next level.

“We work hard and thoughtfully at everything we do, keeping the needs of our members at the heart of all our thinking. We offer support, marketing knowledge, and achievable guidelines to our members who adapt to what’s appropriate in their own businesses. The 50th anniversary year will reveal some exciting new looks and plans as we embrace change and the next chapter,” Norris said.

“We work hard to build strong relationships with our suppliers as they are intrinsic to the success of our business for our members.”

Giving back

The Carpet Court community is quite a unique and engaged group of members, with a strong commitment to giving back both locally and on a larger scale.

Members undertake their own local engagement at a grassroots level that can include sponsorships, raffle prizes, partnerships, and collaborations, all the while providing local employment.

At an industry level, Carpet Court has been instrumental in the establishment of the Floor Covering Institute of Australia (FCIA), which has empowered apprenticeship training, with 160 apprentices currently being trained under its auspices. James was one of the major drivers behind the FCIA initially, identifying a need for there to be one industry body dedicated to training.

“After travelling the country once I started with Carpet Court, I identified a need for a specific industry body who could empower the next generation of flooring professionals whilst bringing the broader industry together into one group. I think we are on that path and as the current deputy chair, there is still work to be done,” Hayward said.

Reflecting on success with a focus on the future

With 30 years of high-level retail experience, Carpet Court’s Chairman, Rod Walker, brings a wealth of expertise to the role. As an independent Chairman, he helps to guide the elected members on the board as they navigate an ever-changing retail landscape whilst representing their member colleagues.

Rod's ability to focus on what's best for the group is invaluable. He encourages an altruistic approach from members, refocusing on strategic issues and unifying the group with a shared vision. Rod believes that part of Carpet Court’s success has been the businesses’ ability to develop long term, loyal partnerships with suppliers.

“In our business, our relationships with our suppliers are keys to our success. We’ve worked hard on these over the lifetime of the business, which has served us well,” Walker said.

Reflecting on other reasons for Carpet Court’s success, Walker believes that Carpet Court’s franchise model is what has set it apart.

“Rather than having strict franchise rules that limit freedom, we encourage talented entrepreneurs who are focussed on success – both individually and as a group. Of course, we give them a backend framework and marketing support however, it is primarily up to them how creatively they run their business. It’s a refreshing change,” he said.

Looking to the future, Rod believes the Carpet Court Membership network will continue to differentiate itself from competitors with enhanced product and brand positioning.

“We want to keep the free spirit of our members whilst continuing to build strategic trust and strong decision-making for the group. We are using strong data insights to understand our customers and we will continue to nurture our supplier relationships and partnerships to develop our range and offering in line with consumer needs. And we will live our values of openness, honesty, integrity, and leadership. These things have served us well for the last 50 years as we look to the future with enthusiasm,” Walker said.

Above: (from left) Carpet Court's CEO – James Hayward, CMO – Kara Norris and Chairman – Rod Walker

Meeting today’s sustainability requirements

The world is transitioning towards a more sustainable future, and reducing emissions is the key focus of governments, corporations, and individuals globally.

The building and construction sector accounts for almost 40% of all annual carbon emissions from the operation and construction phases. Embodied carbon or upfront carbon, is all the emissions from the construction phases of a building, including the energy and impacts from manufacturing every finish and fitting within the building.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and over 1100 local architectural practices have declared action against climate change and have set goals to reduce embodied carbon in new buildings to net zero by 2030.

The Green Building Council sets the benchmark for buildings and products, driving change to favour supply chains that are transparent, healthy, carbon neutral and circular. The Responsible Product Framework developed by the GBCA requires all products used in Green Star projects to meet certain requirements across both independent certification and proof of a valid and current Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). An EPD documents the full makeup and lifecycle of a product and allows one to understand the true impacts of a product across several common categories from raw material extraction, to manufacture, transport and use, and end-of-use stage.

Marmoleum - the carbon and circular champion

Marmoleum is a flooring product that is future-ready, now. A carbon champion that is carbon neutral from cradle to gate, its natural raw materials absorb more carbon during their growth phase than is required to manufacture the flooring. Marmoleum also contains a high percentage of recycled content in its makeup and end-of-life recycling options.

In addition to the product itself, for every square metre installed in Australia, local climate partner Carbon Positive, plants native trees and shrubs to create long-term carbon sinks, not as an offset program, but rather as a regeneration of local habitat that has been cleared or damaged, restoring parts of native Australia to what it was before. Marmoleum can help lower a building’s overall embodied carbon footprint and resource consumption, thus helping to meet climate goals. Being a

Sustainability

natural, highly plant-based material, it also improves indoor health and well-being.

Natural beauty, proven performance

Aside from its impressive sustainability credentials, Marmoleum is exceptionally hard-wearing and not dissimilar to timber floors; as it continues to harden over time, contributing to a very long lifetime. The new Topshield pro surface finish provides incredible protection from scratches and scuffs making floor care a breeze. Additionally, Marmoleum is naturally bacteriostatic, and allergy and asthma approved.

The new addition: Marmoleum

Cocoa

The sustainable Marmoleum champion just got better. The Dutch region De Zaanstreek - The region where Forbo’s Marmoleum factory is an area where cocoa is produced and processed. This inspired them to create a cocoa-themed floor covering using a combination of sustainable Marmoleum flooring and recycled cocoa husks.

The Marmoleum Cocoa production process prevents and reduces carbon emissions while also allowing the product to be recycled or reused resulting in less pollution. In fact, every square metre saved from incineration after its lifetime saves emissions to the equivalent of 1.8 kg of CO.

Other complete flooring solutions that contribute to Green Star and sustainable projects

“The Marmoleum Cocoa production process prevents and reduces carbon emissions while also allowing the product to be recycled or reused resulting in less pollution. ”

Forbo’s sustainable design ethos is perfectly displayed in this collection of linoleum flooring; the use of tough cocoa husks, a waste product from cocoa production, is ground and added to the mix. The finely ground cocoa husks add a unique granular look and feel to the floor design. Not only do they use cocoa husks, but also incorporated pre- and postconsumer Marmoleum, which they believe achieves the ultimate challenge of circularity.

Forbo prides itself on offering total flooring solutions for all areas and catering to each project’s specific needs. While PVC products will never be as sustainable or low in embodied carbon as Marmoleum, there are attributes that contribute to Green Star buildings. Their PVC collections including Eternal general purpose vinyl, Sphera homogeneous vinyl, Step safety flooring, Sarlon acoustic vinyl, Allura LVT and Flotex resilient textile are all GreenTag GreenRate Level A and Best Practice PVC certified.

While circularity for PVC still poses a large challenge, progress is being made through local and strong industry collaboration.

If you would like to learn more about responsible products and how they fit within Green Star, please visit www.forbo-flooring. com.au/sustainability or to discover the latest Marmoleum Cocoa collection visit www. forbo-flooring.com.au/marmoleum-cocoa

FLOORWORLD ADDS TO THE GROUP IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

Floorworld welcomed North Lakes Floorworld in Brisbane into the Floorworld group in March 2022.

Raymond Bartel and his wife Diane and team of six service the north and south of Brisbane and at times from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast and beyond.

“What drew Diane and I to join the Floorworld group was the Floorworld business model, member support, low fees, good rebates, community spirit and the large product range.

Floorworld – Advice, Price, Range it all rings true,” says Raymond.

With 49 years in the flooring industry Raymond started his journey as an installer and worked his way through various roles in sales and store management before owning his own store. Collectively the team at North Lakes Floorworld can boast 125 years in the flooring and window furnishings industry.

Raymond remarked, “I’ve been a store owner with another

flooring group for over 17years and although not an easy decision, it was time to change. It was a challenging time, but the results have been positive.”

Raymond also added, “Our success has been the fact that we put a lot of focus on people. We believe people buy from people. That’s why we work with our customers to give them a personal flooring solution and help turn their hopes and dreams into reality.

“North Lakes Floorworld prides themselves on the long term relationships with their customers, staff and suppliers.

“Along with our extensive product knowledge and handson approach, we offer our customers the whole package –carpet and carpet tiles, timber, hybrid, vinyl and vinyl planks. We also specialise in window furnishings from custom-made curtains, blinds, shutters and awnings.”

In2021 Shane Herborn thought seriously about what the next steps were for him in the floor-laying world.

“Ultimately, it was to open a small shop in Cairns, where I grew up,” Shane recalls.

“I worked for over 9 years as a contractor with Wayne Hoppen from Hoppens Floorworld in Cairns and after looking at a few stores with him, I decided to open a fresh, new Floorworld store in Caboolture, Queensland and to build our own name and create something we would be proud of.” Shane remarks.

Having been an installer for 18 years, Shane reflects that it definitely helps to have that sort of knowledge while running a flooring store.

“I’m able to be transparent and advise our customers with their choice of flooring because I’ve laid a lot of the products we sell here. Our customers love discussing their new floors with me and having me show up to lay it soon after. That, plus my wife Lou and mum Debbie, run the front counter and take the time to greet each customer and chat with them about anything and everything, helps us stand

out from other shops; we put a lot of time into our customers.” comments Shane.

“As an installer, I have have the luxury of offering almost every flooring service. From commercial to residential, even boats and caravans, almost anything vinyl-wise I can probably do. We have already landed some semicommercial fitouts, commercial kitchens and wet areas. Our customers come from our local area of Caboolture over to Bribie, up to Maleny and even Kilcoy. We are happy we made the right decision.”

Floorworld was nominated as one of the finalists at the 2023 Australian Retail Innovators Awards in the category of Social Cause. The 4th annual Australian Retail Innovator Awards showcased retailers who are outstanding in their approach to innovation and out-of-the-box thinking across seven unique categories.

Thank you, Pancare Foundation, valued supplier partners and our members for being a part of this amazing cause. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners and thank you, Retail Doctor Group, for shining a light on innovative thinking that creates a path for others to follow.

Floorworld’s philosophy is to improve your business by providing a support mechanism for small businesses with our proven model of operational success. Intrigued by the possibility of joining a retail group with tangible benefits then Floorworld may be the perfect solution for you. If you are interested in the Floorworld model please contact Bob Crotty (03) 9761 5235 or info@floorworld.com.au for a confidential discussion. At Floorworld, we offer more than just

Company Profile

Floorworld, focus on community

With decades of experience and 43 current locations across Australia, Floorworld members are naturally bound to their local communities. In addition to offering many of Australia’s leading flooring products, Floorworld commits to a generous School Sponsorship Program, and Pancare; a foundation devoted to supporting families, and funding cancer research.

All Floorworld stores are locally owned and operated by dedicated, passionate flooring experts, giving their customers access to the best range and the right advice at a competitive price point. Floorworld members benefit from the group’s buying strength and business support. Many Floorworld stores are long-term familyowned and some on their third generation. Family businesses dominate lists of the longest lasting companies in the world and are a leading source of jobs and economic growth.

Floorworld celebrates its 32nd anniversary in 2023. It started simply when seven retailers in Melbourne thought it was a good idea to get together to buy stock and distribute it amongst themselves. Doug Trickey, Robert Levin, Greg Smith, Billy Tsapataris, Kevin McAuliffe, Angela Bridgeman, Gary Breen, Alan Nolan, and several other independent retailers established a buying group called Floorworld in 1989-90. Organically, other retailers joined, and from being predominately a Victorian and Tasmanian buying group, it is now a 43-strong retail group with stores in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT.

Australia First

Floorworld’s products and services include Australia’s leading brands as well as their own exclusive ranges, and connect the desirable properties of user-comfort, durability and environmental sustainability. Partner brands include Airstep, Australian Select Timbers, Beaulieu, Clever Choice, Clix, Dunlop Flooring, Feltex, Floating Floors, Gerflor, Godfrey Hirst, Imagine Floors (Airstep), mFLOR, Pegulan, Polyflor, Quick-Step, Redbook and Redbook Green, Signature, Titan, and Victoria Carpets.

Where something is made matters. Around 70% of Floorworld’s products are Australianmade and the demand for local product has increased considerably since the lessons of the recent pandemic. The Floorworld group has a significant bulk buying power that benefits their members. Floorworld partners with a number of Australian owned or operated suppliers who not only produce high quality products, but also support their local communities and stimulate the Australian economy through the creation of local jobs, both now and in the generations to come.

Company Profile

Bob Crotty is CEO of Floorworld. He said, “Floorworld has a track record in driving profitable, sustainable growth while ensuring lean, agile operating models that return value to our members’ bottom line. Over my 25 years with Floorworld I’m proud to have led the business through significant growth, including instigation and delivery of a major brand refresh and store refurbishment program, and development of new routes to market, including e-commerce.” Floorworld member stores benefit from extensive training programs, group advertising, financial and management support, low admin costs and high member rebates.

Giving Back

Bob says, “We are excited to give back to our local communities through our School Sponsorship program. The program is designed to assist schools with direct funding for sports equipment, special projects, and other educational initiatives. We invite schools within a 10km radius of their community Floorworld store to apply for up to $1,000 of funding. Floorworld also allows families to contribute funds back to their child’s school by making a flooring purchase from any Floorworld store.”

Floorworld’s community commitment continues with its support of Pancare, a charity close to the heart of the group because of Billy Tsapatsaris, one of Floorworld’s past directors. Recent statistics released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimated that 12,434 Australians would be diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancers this year. This represents a 7% increase in the number of Australians diagnosed in 2020. The Floorworld community’s hard-earned fundraising efforts will accelerate change, promote greater awareness, and support cutting-edge research that will transform and save lives. Keeping to Floorworld’s vision of helping their customers, community, and members live better in the spaces they are in.

Investing in our Future

When consumers choose to buy Australianmade they invest in more than just a product or service. They invest in the future of Australia and in each other. Their journey

usually starts online, a trend that accelerated over the last three years but flooring as a tactile product needs to be experienced and felt. This is when Floorworld’s considerable experience comes into play and their member stores guide the customer through a process that eventually leads to the products that are right for their needs. Floorworld believes that it’s not just about what they do now, it’s also about what they do next.

Bob said, “We are firstly a locally owned and operated business. We believe in connecting with our community. We are inclusive and adaptable to change. The Floorworld founders’ business values were that our customers, community, members, and suppliers can live better in the spaces they’re in. For our customers, it’s based on advice; for the community, it’s based on financial support; for their members, it’s about their wealth and well-being; for their suppliers, it’s increased sales. These values are the same today as they were when we first started 32 years ago.”

“We are firstly a locally owned and operated business. We believe in connecting with our community. We are inclusive and adaptable to change. ”

The Revised Australian Standard for Resilient Flooring Installation AS1884-2021 – Moisture Barrier performance

Article by David Hood and Stephen Wood, ARDEX Australia

After a two year period of drafting and then revision starting in 2019, the revised version of AS1884-2012 was released as AS1884-2021. A review was called for by sponsor industry groups because a number of issues had arisen with the 2012 version, most notably concerning moisture testing of the subfloor, but also concerning performance criteria for sand-cement screeds and moisture suppression systems.

During the standards committee discussions it became clear that some minimum requirements were needed and moisture suppression via moisture barriers was considered an installation critical factor. Unlike in other jurisdictions, there was no measurable requirement for this property in our Australian market so discussion centred on determining one.

There are two main types of moisture barriers, sub-slab plastic sheeting compliant with AS 2870 and topical products (usually liquids) that are applied on to the concrete surface. The topically applied barriers have no Australian performance specifications, whereas in the US there are standard requirements (e.g., ASTM F3010 for certain types). Therefore, a decision was made to look into potential methodologies of test and appropriate testable pass-fail measures for these barriers.

Arguably, topically applied moisture barriers are a type of waterproof membrane as defined in the standard for waterproofing domestic wet areas AS 3740-2021. One suggestion was to examine the requirements in the related AS/ NZS 4858 which is the testing standard for

waterproofing membranes. The difference here being that classic ‘membranes’ are intended to stop liquid water and water vapour from above, whereas for resilient flooring the moisture barrier has to be more effective for stopping water vapour from below.

The standard AS/NZS 4858-2004 carries a test criterion for water vapour resistance and uses the test method ASTM E96, which defines methods of measuring permeance and water vapour transmission rates. This standard method ASTM E96 has been

Above Schematic of ASTM E96 and (left) real world test specimens from the ARDEX lab.

around since the 1930s and is used widely for measuring the performance of moisture suppression of many materials, so it was a logical choice.

The committee decided to seek outside opinions and so several industry majors, all with expertise in this area of supplying moisture barriers, were polled by the lead author for their input. The consensus was that the selected figure of a water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) for topical moisture barriers of 10gm/m2/24hrs was acceptable in our market (whereas AS/NZS 4858 uses 8gm for this test).

The 10gm value is less conservative than the commonly quoted and strict values <0.1gm/ m2/24hrs in overseas (US, UK and European) markets for the widely used topical epoxy products. A WVTR requirement was also

introduced in AS1884-2021 for concrete (<15gm/ m2/24hrs, which was based on the long standing de-facto US figure of 3lbs/10002ft/24hrs). The requirement for an emission rate was a consequence of the introduction of ASTM F1869 as the secondary moisture test method; a figure lower than 15gm would allow a factor of safety for less than adequate installation.

During the standard review period, some concern was raised about how ASTM E96 would be tested by installers in the field, but this was clarified by adding a statement that this requirement was a proof test for manufacturers of the products. This is no different to many other proof tests for materials in various standards and is a core feature of the concept of performance-based systems.

Conducting the proof testing via ASTM E96 requires adapting the methodology to suit the material undergoing the test, be it a film tested by itself or on a porous filter paper, applied on a standard porous ceramic base or simply a masonry substrate sample. The lead author has conducted ASTM E96 testing on a range of moisture barriers on such substrates and produced workable results.

In conclusion, there has been some confusion in the industry about this change, how to apply it, and what the motivation was. The answer is quite simple really, it places onus of proof of the product performance on suppliers, allows the consumers to compare systems based on hard data rather than anecdotal historicity and thus determine which barriers have the performance they require for their flooring projects.

Carpet Matters

Adding softness and texture to an interior

This month we hear from Bremworth product designer Lily Ng who explores the beautiful 'Under Pohutukawa' beach house in Piha, on Auckland’s rugged west coast. Read on to find out how Lily introduces a beautifully crafted Bremworth rug to compliment the already exquisite architecture to add softness and texture to any interior.

What do you look for in choosing carpets and rugs?

Firstly, the material, and I tend to select natural materials and fibres. So, for carpets, it’s naturally wool. My favourite is a nice plush pile that will provide a nice luxurious base. If you are looking to add texture, then opt for a loop pile, like Levante or the new Wainamu. These two products wear well and as they are all heathers, they hide dirt. For rugs, I’m not a huge fan of overly patterned rugs, I tend to look for colour and texture. There are plenty of chunky felted wool loops in our Bremworth Collection that make perfect rugs.

Size - Getting the right size rug is important to make your room or space look in proportion. I recommend getting a ball of string and outlining the area to determine the size rug that you need.

Samples - Always get a sample to look at in the space it is going in. There are so many different types of light source, that even reflection from wall colours will affect the appearance of your carpet. Ask your designer or sales assistant about borrowing a larger sample as some carpets have a striation or accent slub yarn that will have a subtle pattern that a small sample will not show.

Any advice for choosing a circular rug for the home and where they work best?

A circular rug can be a stunning statement piece for your home. It often works well placed in a space where the rug mirrors other round shapes in a room. It breaks up all the straight lines, while also softening things up.

Another good space for a circular rug is in a little nook. A nice statement chair on a circular rug always looks good, keeping it really simple.

What’s your main advice for those not sure where to start with new flooring?

Always choose something you love – trends come and go but if you select based on a colour or product you love, then your interior will be timeless. Declutter and get rid of anything that does not spark joy.

About Bremworth

Bremworth is a premium rug and carpet company based in New Zealand. Guided by the purpose of finding a more sustainable way, Bremworth is on a transformational journey focused on helping consumers to bring more natural products into their homes and daily lives. Their choice of fibre is New Zealand wool. 60+ years of experience has taught them that wool is not only 100% natural, biodegradable, and renewable, but it is also a brilliant fibre for design innovation and overall performance on the floor.

web www. bremworth.com.au

Brought to you by Bremworth

CUSTOM RUGS ARE

A NATURAL FIT

The Five Rs Retail Project Review

In the previous issue of Flooring Magazine, we described the “Five Rs of Successful Resin Flooring” and explored how these principles played a pivotal part in the successful rollout of Foot Locker stores across Australia and New Zealand.

In this article, we want to jump to the other end of the flooring lifecycle and look a specific example of another retail floor to demonstrate how using the Five Rs not only ensured excellent long-term performance, but also helped overcome problems that arose at the time of installation.

The Right Specification

As this particular floor was also part of a national rollout of stores, the flooring system was locked in and the first half-dozen installations had already been successfully completed. Therefore, the specification on this project was primarily aimed at ensuring the site conditions and subfloor would be suitable for the flooring system being used.

The initial inspection noted a few key considerations in this regard, including the risk of UV directly on the floor through the large, untinted shopfront windows; several different types of joints and transitions to existing flooring surfaces; and gaps at floor/ wall junctions that encouraged seepage of liquids and moisture under the walls.

Additionally, there was a large expansion joint running from the back of the store to the front that was problematic from an aesthetic point of view. Although the temptation was to cover it over, the anticipated structural movement of the concrete slab made it necessary to retain and repairs were made to the damaged edges to make it strong, neat, and tidy.

The Right Flooring System

With the inspection specification completed, it was confirmed that the subfloor could be made suitable for the system that had already been used in other stores of the franchise.

Like the Foot Locker process, this system was the result of many weeks’ worth of collaboration between the manufacturer and retail client to meet requirements around design, performance, safety, cleaning, slip resistance and lifespan. The result was once again a thorough specification that would allow installation to be carried out nationally as part of a campaign to refresh their brand.

In the end, the system created was a custom metallic floor in the brand colours of the franchise, consisting of a coloured basecoat, marbled metallic topcoat, and a final clear epoxy topcoat with stir-in non-slip aggregate for better wear and slip resistance.

The Right Preparation

As we also discussed in the Foot Locker example, the right preparation is rarely as straightforward as grinding alone. It’s more about a holistic approach to preparing the subfloor in order to give the flooring system the best possible chance to perform as well and last as long as expected.

This retail floor was no exception as it threw up a few challenges that had to be resolved effectively. This included the removal of old glue from the previous floor covering that required specialist grinding equipment, and a saw-cut control joint running right through

Brought to you by Resin Flooring International

Above:: Expansion Joint

Above:: Flooring Design

Above: Subfloor Glue

Resin Flooring

the planned serving area that required infilling. While there’s always a risk of these joints cracking underneath the resin floor, it was decided to proceed with the repair as it could be re-cut and sealed with flexible caulking sealant if they did start to appear at some stage.

The Right Installation

To refresh, the right installation mainly comes down to getting together the right team of installers to do what the project is asking of them. On this project, the right installer had to have product familiarity and experience at the type of decorative finish being used. They also had to be able to work on their own or with a small crew as it wasn’t a big job in terms of area.

Most importantly, however, for the project to be a success they also needed good attention to detail. This meant they could work off a specification and execute the types of repairs, infills and transitions within the timeline given. It also meant they could work in with inspection and testing plans to make sure the stages were signed off and the finished floor was handed over to key site personnel in a clear, structured manner.

Attention to detail requirements also carried through to application. With three separate transitions on this project, the success of the floor largely hinged on how well these common points of failure were addressed.

The Right Process Management

Having a clear process to follow and the ability to record every detail along the way is what we’ve talked about as being the pillars of good process management and this project was no exception.

Comprehensive installation

instructions

were provided to allow installers to visualise the techniques and adapt them to the store they were doing. This included a video demonstration of the system being applied in the very first store of the national rollout. They were also equipped with inspection and test

plans to make sure key stages were completed satisfactorily and signed off by the client before progress continued. Finally, all aspects of the project were recorded and archived in the one job folder so that specific details and photos, like the ones shown in this article, could be retrieved to help quickly and effectively resolve issues if they arose.

After almost ten years of daily use, a follow-up inspection of the store painted a very pleasing picture. The floor colour was still modern and there was no sign of wearing, fading or delamination of the epoxy system. The semi-gloss, slip-resistant floor finish showed minimal scuffing across the store and was able to be maintained easily by the staff. Even the expansion joint had held up remarkably well. By sticking to the Five Rs, a beautiful yet extremely functional custom flooring had been delivered and provided exceptional service to the clients over a long period of time.

Great working conditions and generous salary package for the right candidate...

Choices Flooring Launceston is a leading Tasmanian retailer of flooring solutions.

We are currently looking to appoint a talented individual with a proven track record in sales to join our Commercial Team.

Above:: 10 Year Service

Above: Front Transition Strip

Product Update

Innovative tools by Tyrolit

Tyrolit is one of the world's leading manufacturers of grinding and cutting tools and is also a system provider for the construction industry. Since 1919, their innovative tools have been making an important contribution to technological development in numerous industries.

Tyrolit offers tailored grinding solutions for a varied range of applications and comprehensive assortment of standard tools for customers all over the world.

The family-owned company based in Schwaz, Austria, combines the dynamic strengths of the Swarovski Group with over a hundred years of commercial and technological experience. Being established in Australia for over 25 years, with excessive knowledge of the floor preparation industry, distributing the Swedish HTC range during this time, has given Tyrolit Australia a broad customer and application base.

Tyrolit Australia, with the global support from headquarters, is now developing a new full range of professional floor preparation grinding machines, dust extraction units and diamond and resin tooling designed for the Australian market and conditions.

The range of floor grinding tools has also been re-developed and revised in order to perfectly match with the new machines. The new, metal-bond diamond floor grinding tools are suited for different stages of floor hardness and are already available, as are the high-quality bush hammer tools.

A brand-new range of resin and ceramicbond grinding and polishing tools is

also currently in development and will be presented in the coming months. In addition, a selection of tools for use with the power trowel is also being worked on.

Within the range they stock both the EZ wing shoe and the T-loc shoe. These carriers will be suitable for 90% of the market machines, including HTC and Husqvarna grinders, and the new Tyrolit grinding range.

With specifications available for a multitude of applications from grinding soft rain-affected slabs to the hardest of burnished concrete, the Tyrolit bond specification will suit. Grit sizes range from 6 - 150 in the metal bond specification and 30 - 3000 in the resin and finishing pads.

In addition, the range includes specifically designed edge grinding tools for grinding and polishing.

This new range opens a multitude of floor grinding possibilities for the customer and all from a single source – which is totally in line with the philosophy of the Tyrolean manufacturer.

“Tyrolit Australia, with the global support from headquarters, is now developing a new full range of professional floor preparation grinding machines, dust extraction units and diamond and resin tooling designed for the Australian market and conditions. ”

Introducing innovative hard flooring options to Beaumonts

With Australia’s love for natural timbers remaining as strong as ever and its availability becoming restricted across the country, homeowners are increasingly turning to timber-look flooring products for their renovation.

And with new innovations in product manufacturing and design, the options for stunning timber-look floors are aplenty, with high-quality engineered timber, hybrid, vinyl, and laminate flooring products now available.

“We are excited to be building on our 62-year heritage of providing homeowners with quality flooring, by adding an extensive range of engineered timber, hybrid, vinyl, and laminate flooring,” Mr Morellato said.

“These new products not only look great but have been engineered to ensure they are able to stand the test of time.”

“Just like its hybrid flooring counterparts, RDcore has a number of protective qualities to ensure it keeps looking great no matter what is thrown at it.

“The Multi-Layer Protective Coating provides protection from the morning coffee spill through to scuff marks from your shoes and is super easy to clean.

“If that isn’t enough RDcore is also allergy, asthma, family and pet friendly so the whole family can stay healthy, and our pets can run around to their hearts content.”

Elegant and sustainable Engineered Timber flooring

Another addition to Beaumonts is Engineered Timber flooring, with 6 beautiful new ranges on offer.

Following its launch of stone look, terrazzo look and timber look hybrid flooring ranges last year, Beaumont Tiles has extended its timber look offering to give renovators the very best hard flooring options that not only have the same look and feel that timber has but is stacked with a range of benefits which isn’t offered in the traditional plank.

Alex Morellato, National Sales and Category Manager for Flooring, said Beaumonts was now truly the one-stop-shop for flooring, offering everything from tiles, hybrid, laminate, vinyl, and engineered timber with the latest looks in stone, terrazzo and timber.

The revolutionary

hybrid RDcore flooring

One of the new products introduced by Beaumonts is the fabulous and exclusive RDcore range which brings the stylish timber look with all the latest in functionality.

“RDcore includes a revolutionary stone polymer which makes it more rigid and stronger than any of its counterparts in the category,” Mr Morellato said.“It also doesn’t require any acclimation, so it won’t shrink or expand.

“This means RDcore is even easier to install for all those DIYers out there, with its superfast click and lock system ensuring you’ll be sitting back and enjoying your gorgeous new floor in no time at all.”

“We want to ensure that Beaumonts offers the best in flooring while sourcing products sustainably from our suppliers,” Mr Morellato said.

“Our engineered timber flooring fits the bill with French Oak sourced sustainably and responsibly from the Forest Stewardship Council, meaning that you can be stylish and sustainable all at the same time.

Above: 1261044 Lifestyle Monsoon Blackbutt LVP 156x1235x3

Above: 1261047 Lifestyle Monsoon Byron LVP 156x1235x3

Above: 1261048 Lifestyle Monsoon Natural LVP 156x1235x3

Hard Flooring Range has arrived!

Laminate

...realistic timber look and textural feel

Hybrid ...multi-layered fusing of flooring technologies

Offering authentic timber and stone designs with scratch resistance and waterproof properties these stable and hygienic floor coverings are suited to a

An affordable entry level 8mm Laminate flooring with a realistic timber look and textural feel bringing warmth to interiors. With a click-lock joining system this laminate is easy to use and install. Spills and marks can simply be wiped away with a soft microfibre cloth, and dirt or dust is easy to sweep or vacuum away.

Scan here to learn more and choose the right hard flooring for your space

Over 60 years experience & Australia’s number 1!^

Australia’s largest tile and bathroomware retailer has further extended its range to include innovative new engineered timber, hybrid, vinyl and laminate products; making Beaumonts the go-to for all hard flooring solutions.

Luxury Vinyl ...affordable and practical flooring solution

With a realistic timber look and textured feel this range of Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP) are an affordable and practical flooring solution for any project. Easy to install and maintain with great wear layer protection, this range is suited to a direct stick/ glue down

Engineered Timber ...time honoured timber meets modern technology

Made from layers of real FSC certified timbers our engineered flooring is pet and asthma friendly. A great affordable alternative to hardwood floors with a durable protective layer offering fantastic scratch resistance, while being comfortable underfoot.

tile.com.au

“The range also offers many benefits that many timber planks don’t offer, like its Boric treatment which can keep a lot of the nasties away ensuring the floor remains odour free, mould resistant, insect resistant and fungi resistant.

“That means less time spent on maintenance and more freedom to relax and enjoy your healthy and happy home.”

Coming in lighter shades like the Natured Natural and darker shades like the Natured Toorak, each of the engineered timber products have a simply exquisite grain which is natural and very comfortable underfoot.

Fabulous Luxury Vinyl flooring

Mr Morellato said Beaumonts’ exclusive Luxury Vinyl was another great flooring option as it delivered a beautiful timber look with long term durability and was great for a quick win reno.

“Luxury Vinyl is a wonderful range with the realistic look and textured feel of real timber on the surface, which is perfect for many

classic, traditional, modern and contemporary renos,” Mr Morellato said.

“You can also install it right on top of your current floor and its thickness means that it won’t change the height of all your current fixtures.

“Our Monsoon Luxury Vinyl ranges come in seven different colour tones from warmer natural timbers, including Blackbutt and Spotted Gum, through to your greyer ranges, such as Stormy and Haze.

“So, if you want to get your renovation started quickly with 11/10 results, luxury vinyl is a great choice.”

Glamourous Laminate Flooring

Next up is the Laminate Flooring which is great for those looking for the wooden style for a budget-friendly price.

“Typically, laminate flooring will have a plastic feel to the finish, but at Beaumonts it really looks and feels like timber,” Mr Morellato said.

“Adding to this, Laminate Flooring is easy to install with a click and lock joining system that ensuring greater durability. It also includes a balance layer that stabilises the floor and resists moisture which could cause warping, buckling or delamination.”

Beaumonts laminate range comes in seven different styles and are 8mm thick for extra stability.

“The Forest Oak Light range is perfect for a modern living room, particularly when paired with grey plush couches and dark timber features in a TV unit or bookcase. The contrast between the floor and furnishing is brilliant and will bring any reno to life,” Mr Morellato said.

Beaumonts real-time visualisation tool, BeVisual Live, has been updated with the new hard flooring range, enabling homeowners to take a pic of their space, upload it and then overlay their choice of products to get a realistic image of how it will look.

Above: 1261060 Lifestyle Metro Café RDcore 230x1830x7

Above: 1261069 Lifestyle Natured Moon Engineered Timber 190x1900x14-2 Nested

Above: 1261066 Lifestyle Natured Natural Engineered Timber 190x1900x14-2 Nested

STRUCTApanel H2 12mm is made with the same durable materials used in our market leading STRUCTAflor particleboard flooring products. It is a high performance panel designed for flooring underlay where it provides a consistent, flat and durable alternative to other products in the market, offering superior nail and staple holding capability.

• Australian made from sustainable certied plantation forestry

• Highly durable with resin/wax enriched surfaces

• High xing capacity

• H2 Treated for termite resistance

• Consistently at with no internal delamination

• Easy to cut leaving smooth, clean edges

• Excellent adhesion to the sanded surface

• An ideal alternative to non-structural ply

• This product is sold as 2400mm x 1200mm panels (actual size approx. 2420mm x 1215mm)

Feature

Australian Made Ash Barty set to smash Australian Made Week

She’s a former Young Australian of the Year, an Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon champion, and has excelled in other endeavours, including golf, cricket and as an author, role model and a proud Ngarigo woman. Now Ash Barty is serving one of her most patriotic points yet as the ambassador for Australian Made Week 2023 (15–21 May).

Ash will be representing Australia as she highlights how seeking out and buying products bearing the Australian Made logo supports local growers, producers and businesses and benefits the Australian economy.

Ash said buying goods and produce made in Australia also comes with an added feel-good factor.

“There are so many benefits to buying Australian made, including creating and supporting local jobs and boosting the economies of cities and towns where the goods are produced,” she said.

“There’s a huge amount of choice when it comes to local goods, plus you can buy with confidence knowing that goods carrying the Australian Made logo have been grown and manufactured locally to Australia’s high standards.

“I grew up on some iconic Aussie brands, so I’m incredibly excited to have this opportunity to be part of the Australian Made campaign and spread the word about homegrown favourites and newcomers. Having travelled the world, I feel so much pride in our country and the highquality goods it produces.

“Nothing would make me happier than knowing my involvement in Australian Made Week had encouraged people to support our wonderful country.”

Feature Australian Made

The latest figures from Roy Morgan Research show Australians are as committed as they’ve ever been to supporting local manufacturing and production. Four in five (86%) say buying Australian is important to them, while 67% state they ‘often’ or ‘always’ buy Australian-made products. Impressively, 99% of Australians aged 18 and over are aware of the Australian Made logo.

Australian Made Chief Executive Ben Lazzaro says he couldn’t think of anyone better to draw attention to Australian Made Week and help push that recognition to 100% than Ash.

“This is a great time to remind everyone about the direct economic impact buying Australian can have on the livelihoods of thousands of Australians throughout the supply chain,” Ben said.

“Ash is the perfect ambassador to highlight the best this country has to offer. She is an inspiration and loved by Australians. Ash also has a long-standing history of supporting Australian Made brands including Vegemite and Esmi Skin Minerals, so working with Australian Made is a natural extension of this.

“There’s an Australian Made option in just about every product category you can think of, from high-end health and beauty products to industrial materials.

“During Australian Made Week, we’ll be highlighting the stories of some of the people behind the more than 4,400 businesses that consider their Australian Made certification a badge of honour.”

Keep your eyes out for the Australian Made, Australian Grown green-and-gold logo, Australia’s most trusted, recognised and widely used country of origin symbol.

Consumers can learn more about Australian Made Week and find genuine Aussie products at australianmadeweek.com.au and share their Australian Made purchases on social media using #AustralianMadeWeek

Feature Australian Made

TWO Australia is Nationally Local

TWO Australia is more than just a leading manufacturer of interior and exterior shutters, interior blinds, and outdoor shades. It's a company that is passionately committed to providing their dealers with Australian-made products. Since launching in the early 2000s, TWO Australia has become a trusted name for high-quality products and exceptional service, and this is all thanks to their unwavering commitment to local manufacturing.

With three factories across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, the company has doubled its capacity to manufacture a local product range. By investing in new machinery and production teams, TWO Australia can provide its customers with high-quality products that are made right here in Australia. Not only does this create jobs and support the local economy, but it also means that TWO Australia has greater control over the production process, ensuring that their products comply with Australian standards and regulations.

Managing Director Robert Blanch is proud of TWO Australia's commitment

to local production, especially during the pandemic. "The pandemic has shown us how important it is to have a reliable and robust local manufacturing industry," he says. "By manufacturing our products locally, we can ensure that we can maintain our high standards of quality and service, even during difficult times."

TWO Australia's commitment to local manufacturing has also positively impacted customer service. Les Grills, National Delivery and Warehouse Manager, says 98% of orders are handled and delivered nationally by TWO delivery teams. "Very little goes through third-party couriers. Our teams know how to handle the product, and being in control of the schedules means orders are delivered on time when expected by our dealers."

TWO Australia has also expanded its customer base to include flooring retailers. By offering a complete range of products, retailers can improve the customer experience and increase sales. It's all part of TWO Australia's commitment to providing the best possible service to their customers.

Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, TWO Australia has managed to maintain its supply chain and delivery standards. By building strong relationships with suppliers and managing client expectations, the company has been able to handle delays caused by disruption to international and domestic freight.

TWO Australia's commitment to quality and service has earned them a loyal customer base and a reputation for excellent support. By continuing to invest in local manufacturing, delivery, and customer service, the company is poised for continued growth and success in the years ahead. With a passionate team dedicated to providing the best possible products and service, TWO Australia is more than just a manufacturer. It's a company that is proud to be nationally local.

web www.two-australia.com

Above: Australian-made by TWO Australia: Shadesol Zipscreen outdoor shades

Above: Australian-made by TWO Australia: Colourvue roller blinds

Above: Les Grills, Delivery and Warehouse Manager at the Queensland TWO warehouse facility

Feature Australian Made

A commitment to excellence

As one of Australia’s largest manufacturers and exporters of residential and commercial carpets, Godfrey Hirst and Feltex produce thousands of metres of carpet in state-of-the-art Australian facilities every day.

They proudly operate four carpet manufacturing facilities, three yarn processing facilities, 10 distribution centres, and 14 sales offices across Australia and New Zealand. Currently, Godfrey Hirst employs over 1,000 people, of which roughly half are employed in Australia and half in New Zealand.

Their partnership with the official Australian Made campaign aligns them with Australia’s most trusted, recognised and widely used country of origin symbol, underpinned by a third-party accreditation system that authenticates genuinely Australian products.

First Australian carpet manufacturer to achieve Climate Active Carbon Neutral Organisation status

Taking real climate action as an organisation means voluntarily going above and beyond current regulations to achieve net zero carbon emissions. At Godfrey Hirst, they do. Godfrey Hirst Australia has achieved Climate Active Carbon Neutral organisation status and are proud to be the first Australian carpet manufacturer to do so. Furthermore, Godfrey Hirst New Zealand is also now a carbon neutral organisation.1

Their Australian history spans back to 1865, when the Victorian Woollen and Cloth Manufacturing Company began operations in Geelong and was purchased in the 1890’s by Godfrey Hirst. Godfrey Hirst’s entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of the industry lead to the great success that was furthered even more so by the McKendrick family in the 1960s. In 2018, the Godfrey Hirst business was acquired by Mohawk Industries, the world’s largest flooring company, expanding its product offering and capabilities to a global scale.

Commercially, their customisation capabilities and vast archive of designs are trusted for major projects in all market segments across workspace, retail, hospitality, healthcare, education, public space and multiresidential in Australia, New Zealand and around the world.

Their local investment in people, manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution provides total supply chain capability, ensuring quality control and consistency from product design, right through to delivery. They are proud to have a loyal and long serving inclusive and diverse workforce while managing organisational renewal to ensure excellent mix of new thinking and deep knowledge.

As a global flooring solution provider, Godfrey Hirst offer one of the largest portfolios in the world, featuring products that people trust to use in the spaces they live, learn, work, play and rest. Through their local in-house design, manufacturing and distributing facilities, they provide locally based support with their passionate and knowledgeable design and sales teams. From high quality Australian and New Zealand Made wool, synthetic and triexta carpets, and an extensive range of carpet tiles and planks along with world class hard flooring solutions in hybrid, timber, laminate and vinyl their goal is to connect you with the right product and make specifying flooring for your next project a breeze.

Investing in innovation and technology are the hallmarks of Godfrey Hirst, and when it comes to improving existing systems and processes their commitment to excellence is continually at the forefront.

web www.godfreyhirst.com

1. Godfrey Hirst Australia Pty Ltd and Godfrey Hirst NZ Ltd are ‘carbon neutral’ organisations. This means that those entities purchase and voluntarily retire carbon offsets equivalent to their annual carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sources within their organisational boundary. For New Zealand, organisational GHG emissions are accounted for in accordance with ISO140643:2018. For Australia, organisational GHG emissions are accounted for, and carbon neutral status is certified, in accordance with the requirements of Climate Active.

Believe in Better

Taking

Godfrey

Feature Australian Made

Interface celebrates 50 Years of local manufacturing

As a global leader in commercial flooring solutions, Interface recently celebrated 50 years of local manufacturing here in Australia. Interface’s factory located in Minto, Southwestern Sydney, manufactures carpet tiles that are supplied across Australia and New Zealand.

For Interface, encouraging their customers to buy local means not only supporting their own people, but in turn, the wider community and economy. The company’s investment in its local community began back in the 1970s, when Heuga, which eventually became the Interface that we know today, opened its first manufacturing plant in Picton, NSW. After growing and prospering there for 40 years, the business experienced a damaging factory fire in 2012 and was forced to shut down local operations.

Faced with a critical decision for the future of their company, Interface chose to reinvest in Australia. Relocating to Minto in 2014, they were able to continue their local manufacturing capabilities thanks to the confidence and support of their community.

Australian Made

Buying local and supporting Australian manufacturers has never been more important. After three years of uncertainty surrounding international supply and trade, the re-emergence of our national manufacturing industry serves as a reminder, to the flooring sector in particular, the unmatched quality of locally made products.

Beyond quality, the benefits of buying local are being recognised increasingly by Australian consumers, and the necessity for an accessible workforce has led to significant growth in local employment opportunities.

Not only does this contribute to investment in the local community, but consumers are also afforded the assurance of genuine and ethical labour. Australian guidelines and regulations ensure locally made products adhere to strict standards and an ethical manufacturing process.

The environmental benefits of buying local

For Interface, there are many added and longterm benefits from local manufacturing in the role it plays in its commitment to improving our environment. Creating and distributing products within a domestic market makes for a significant decrease in the carbon emissions generated, as opposed to those generated by importing goods from abroad.

Everything we do from sourcing raw materials, through our entire manufacturing process and up to the installation, usage, and maintenance of finished product, is now carbon neutral.”

Productive local communities and reconciliation

As part of Interface’s enduring commitment to sustainability, they have established a strong appreciation of their role in contributing to not only a healthy natural environment, but also productive communities. A key component of this is their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Interface’s vision for reconciliation is for all Australians to value and learn from the traditional custodians of the lands on which we live - embracing the history and cultural significance of First Nations peoples while contributing to a sustainable future.

Trish McCann, Marketing Director for ANZ explains: “By seeking to understand and learn from our First Nations people, and importantly developing strategies together, we will connect in ways we haven’t before –driving our businesses and communities to innovate and collaborate for positive change.”

By choosing to support our community and economy, Interface is contributing to positive and sustainable change for all Australians, ensuring local industry continues to thrive.

By sourcing over 50% of its raw materials locally, Interface reduces emissions through lower fuel use by transporting these materials and products over shorter distances.

Aidan Mullan, Sustainability Manager for Interface Australian & New Zealand adds, “As another first for the flooring industry, we have just announced we are a Carbon Neutral Enterprise – both globally and locally.

web www.interface.com

Minto, South-Western Sydney

Feature Australian Made

An Iconic Brand

The Dunlop brand is iconic and well-known all over the world. It might make you think of tyres, shoes, tennis rackets or, in this case, carpet underlay. The team are enormously proud of their long-standing association with the Dunlop brand, and their heritage as an Australian manufacturer providing comfort to Aussie homes over the last fifty years.

Today, they are one of Australia's leading carpet underlay manufacturers thanks to the support of their loyal customers nationwide. They pride themselves on their commitment to product development, sustainable manufacturing practices, and recycling initiatives. The Dunlop team also pride itself on excellence in customer service, ensuring that the underlay you want is available when you want it. Being a great supplier to the flooring industry is at the heart of everything they do, and they look forward to supporting their retail partners as they continue to grow in the years ahead.

Watch the video about Dunlop Flooring here.

featuring a bio-based film that is ethically sourced and 100% recyclable. This innovative new underlay has been designed to reduce Dunlop Flooring's carbon footprint from end to end. It's made using sugar cane, a renewable resource that can be harvested many times without producing the same emissions as plastics and absorbs harmful CO2 from our atmosphere.

Made here in Australia, Renu's production provides employment while keeping transport emissions low. When it comes to sustainability, they've thought of every detail right down to the biodegradable packaging and environmentally friendly store displays, all sourced from Australian suppliers.

For more information about Renu, visit dunlopunderlay.com.au/Renu

Watch this video about Dunlop Renu.

Their foam underlays are manufactured locally, ensuring they provide the market with well-made products designed for Australian conditions. As part of their commitment to local manufacturing and the environment, they have recently launched Renu.

Renu is their most sustainable underlay,

Educating on the importance of underlay is critical in changing customer behaviors, which is why Dunlop have continued to evolve their brand. They are excited to unveil the new look and feel for Dunlop Underlay - a fresh take on an underestimated product.

As an essential flooring product, they hope to demonstrate that a Dunlop Underlay is the right choice for comfort underfoot, superior sound reduction, and thermal insulation within any space.

That's because they believe it's what you can't see that makes all the difference and that if you choose comfort, choose Dunlop, Australia's most trusted brand in Flooring.

web www.dunlopunderlay.com.au

We are always working to take our underlay to the next level, whether it’s through innovation or sustainability. This time, we are excited to present to you a more sophisticated and modern way to see underlay with our new branding and new offerings on our Dunlop Underlay website.

Choose Comfort

Improves softness of the carpet

Choose Warmth

Retains more heat in the winter

Choose Peace & Quiet

Reduces noise transfer

Choose Durability

Improves carpet appearance and retention

COME HOME TO COMFORT

Find out what we’re made of at dunlopunderlay.com.au or scan the QR code to find out more.

Australia’s last maker of Carpet Gripper and Carpet Seaming Tape

BBS Flooring Products is proud to be an Australian owned and operated business, manufacturing in the heart of Dandenong, Victoria. By maintaining their Australian based manufacture, they keep alive the tradition of crafting quality Carpet Grippers and Carpet Seaming Tapes using local knowhow.

BBS are grateful to be Australia’s last manufacturer of Carpet Gripper and Carpet Seaming Tapes. At a time when their competitors have offshored their manufacturing to gain cost advantages in low wage countries like China and Thailand, they fight to keep it local.

Their driving motivation is to keep their Carpet Gripper and Carpet Seaming Tape manufacture in Australia because their very success is only possible through the hard work and dedication of an experienced Australian workforce.

By offering a diverse range of domestic and commercial carpet grippers suitable for all sub-floors and carpet constructions they ensure their Carpet Grippers will always be in demand. The range they make is so versatile that installers from Dunedin in New Zealand to Perth in the West can find the right Carpet Gripper for their installations.

The same goes for the wide range of Carpet Seaming Tapes they manufacture, from double bond to 6”, or gold foil, all designed and made by BBS for the Australasian carpet industry.

While BBS prides itself on being a modern manufacturer, they are careful to use only the tried and tested manufacturing methods they know. These traditional techniques, along with accumulated knowledge make their products unique and high quality. They prioritize quality and reliability above anything else, and don’t compromise on raw materials, or cut corners in their manufacture.

To stay competitive against low wage countries like China and Thailand, they have automated their production and constantly strive to maximize productivity wherever possible.

As part of their productivity drive, they are committed to sustainability and to reducing their environmental impact. They do this through many small initiatives like only using sustainable harvested FSC certified plantation plywood in their Carpet Grippers, or by reducing their carbon footprint through the management of energy efficiencies, and by constantly striving to minimize waste.

Their commitment to sustainability is not only good for the environment, but it also ensures that they maintain their place as a leading Australian manufacturer of flooring installation accessories for years to come.

The long-serving employees are BBS’s most important asset, followed closely by their commitment to their customers. BBS takes great pride in supporting customers nationwide by responding to their different market needs through the wide variety of products they make.

Placing customer satisfaction above all, working closely with customers to understand their requirements so they can design and build better installation solutions that meet their specific needs.

By combining all these factors, BBS strives to stay on top as an Australian manufacturer. Their vast range of products and the knowledge they have gained through years of hard work in Australian manufacturing, means they can look forward to a strong future in the floor covering industry.

web www.bbscarpetgripper.com.au

Improve your flooring business - Looking after sales opportunities

Article by Chris Ogden

For this article, I am returning to my favourite subject when it comes to growing a retail business.

Follow-up is the most powerful tool available to salespeople, yet invariably we don't do it or don't do it well. Contacting someone who has been in our store, taken samples, or given a quote seems to be the most challenging activity for our salespeople.

It's not hard to understand why. None of us wants to appear pushy, and nobody likes rejection. Also, decades of sales training has complicated something that is actually very straightforward. I have been successful in sales, not for any unique personality qualities and not because I attended sales courses. My recipe for success in sales is very simple whether I was selling flooring or, as I do now, sell software solutions:

• Engage with the customer. We don't have to be an over-the-top personality; in fact, the bar is quite low; be well presented, be friendly, listen to the customer and try not to offend them.

• Ask questions to understand their needs. Demonstrate you have been listening by showing them products that meet their needs.

• Progress the opportunity. Selling flooring is a series of stages. At each stage, we should be looking to take the process to the next stage, inviting the customer to take samples, asking for the opportunity to measure and then to quote.

• Follow-up to a conclusion. We only build a relationship with a customer by following up at each stage. Along the way, we will lose some opportunities, but by following up, we will know about it, ideally learn why, and then have more time to focus on our remaining opportunities.

• Have a system to manage your sales opportunities. There are many ways to do this, but however we do it, it's essential; otherwise, we will lose track of opportunities. Every opportunity should have an outcome (won or lost) or a date for the next follow-up activity.

Your salespeople are probably doing well in the first steps of the process above, but

almost inevitably, they will be reluctant to do effective follow-up.

When it comes to the fear of being pushy, in fact, 99% of customers are impressed to receive follow-up calls; they see it as good service. And yes, we will experience rejection; it's part of being in sales, but those losses enable us to focus on those remaining opportunities that will turn into sales.

If managing sales opportunities is challenging for your business, you might want to consider a Customer Relationship Management app (CRM). RFMS is flooring-specific management software, and we have recently added a CRM app to our tool bag. If you want to see what application this might have for your business, contact us at the email below, and we will arrange an online demo.

Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia (rfmsANZ.com), a supplier of IT solutions for the flooring industry. Chris has an extensive background in all aspects of the flooring industry, and he can be contacted at cogden@rfmsanz.com.

99% of customers are impressed to receive follow-calls; they see it as good service.

What Would a Quantifying Service Do for Your Business?

Article by Chris Ogden

What would your business look like if you didn’t have to manage the process of quantifying plans?

Quantifying has traditionally been part and parcel of the sales role in a flooring business. In some businesses, take-offs might be done by a specialist measurer who will measure and quantify for the sales team.

In either case, quantifying is a significant hidden cost that is an accepted part of every flooring business.

The other aspect of quantifying is that it is the biggest bottleneck in converting opportunities into sales. It’s accepted that the quicker we get a quote into a customer’s hands, the more likely we will win the job. Yet across flooring businesses, sales desks are littered with plans that won’t be quantified promptly or, in some instances, won’t be quantified at all; another hidden cost.

Quantifying is time-consuming and distracts salespeople and project managers from more productive sales and project-related activities.

QuantiSafe is a service that addresses these issues.

Quantifying is the biggest bottleneck in converting opportunities into sales.

Across flooring businesses, sales desks are littered with plans that won’t be quantified promptly or, in some instances, won’t be quantified at all.

Over his time as a successful flooring retailer, Chris Ogden recognised quantifying as an obstacle to sales, but there was no cost-efficient solution. Chris established specialist measurers and quantifiers in his business. It was somewhat effective

but shifted costs and created additional fixed overhead. He also found that sales performance didn’t increase sufficiently to justify the overhead. The one thing it did was allow Chris to add salespeople to his sales team that didn’t have quantifying experience.

In 2020, Chris set out to establish the quantifying service he would have used as a retailer. He set three goals; the service must be accurate, prompt, and affordable. QuantiSafe is the result, and clients are already reporting they are generating more quotes more quickly and with a corresponding lift in sales.

We are always looking for the next thing to

give us an edge in retail. Using a third-party service such as QuantiSafe will reduce costs and increase sales. Each take-off package generated by QuantiSafe includes a PDF of the plan, including quantities and cut plans. Also included is a file which can be opened in Measure by RFMS for another level of benefits.

You can learn more about QuantiSafe and get a free trial of the service at QuantiSafe. com.

Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia (rfmsANZ.com), a supplier of IT solutions for the flooring industry. Chris has an extensive background in all aspects of the flooring industry, and he can be contacted at cogden@rfmsanz.com.

We are always looking for the next thing to give us an edge in retail. Using a third-party service such as QuantiSafe will reduce costs and increase sales.

Design & Trends

Brutalism takes on a luxurious edge

What’s old becomes new again –Brutalist design, made popular in the 1950s, is back in time for winter, but with a luxury twist according to Carpet Court trend forecasters. Interior stylist and Carpet Court ambassador, Heather Nette King shares her tips to achieve this look.

The trend of simplistic and refined interiors is making a comeback, with pared-down designs expected to be one of the most popular styles of the season. This aesthetic draws inspiration from the Brutalist design, which emerged in the 1950s and is known for its clean lines, concrete materials, and predominantly grey colour palettes. Today, this style is refined and luxurious, resulting in more inviting and liveable spaces. Dubbed as "Brutal Beauty," this trend celebrates popular architectural and interior aesthetics of Brutalism in a more approachable and appealing manner.

According to Heather Nette King, interior stylist and Carpet Court ambassador, Brutal Beauty is a celebration of contrasts that creates homes that speak of minimalism, yet feels sophisticated, refined, and supremely comfortable. This look works particularly well in new dwellings or contemporary renovations where architectural ornamentation is minimal.

Achieving the perfect balance of Brutal Beauty may seem challenging, but by carefully considering the interplay of these elements, Australians can create a striking and memorable aesthetic that is both captivating and thought-provoking.

Keep colours restrained

In the Brutalist style, colour is often kept to a minimum. For homeowners to achieve this aesthetic, they can consider incorporating shades of light and dark grey into their flooring and upholstery. Think of using black accents in artwork and accessories to create contrast, whilst keeping the walls and ceilings white to maintain a sense of brightness and openness.

Neutral colours like grey, black, and white are timeless and versatile, allowing for seamless ways to adapt home decor as design preferences change. For an eco-friendly flooring option that complements this style, consider Carpet Court's Cosmos in Globe. It's made from ECONYL regenerated nylon, a 100% recycled yarn, and boasts a luxurious softness underfoot.

ARDEX WPM 300

Your two component

Water based epoxy moisture barrier coating

Compliant to AS/NZS4020

– Potable drinking

WaterExpress dry time

Compatible with damp surfaces and green concrete

Water resistant, prevents rising damp and formation of efflorescence

Can withstand 250kPa of hydrostatic pressure

www.ardexaustralia.com

Design & Trends

Choose furniture with strong, sculptural lines

Brutalist furniture pieces and statement items follow a bulky design with clean, geometric lines. The focus is on stripping down to the basics, just as the architectural style does with buildings. Minimalist sofas and armchairs, and coffee and dining tables with simple, blockish lines are fitting for this aesthetic. The style is characterised by edges, spikes, and angles, so it's possible to experiment with simpler or more dramatic geometric shapes, depending on personal preference.

Make it easy

Contemporary designers and architects have given the Brutalist aesthetic a new twist by incorporating raw concrete into various elements, including kitchen islands, furniture, benchtops, cabinetry, and home accessories.

Hybrid tiled flooring offers a durable and low-maintenance option for achieving the look of a concrete or stone floor without

the installation or upkeep challenges. For those who prefer not to incorporate concrete as a dominant feature, smaller items and accessories, such as vases, sculptures, and side tables, can also be fashioned from this material to complete the look.

Add timber for warmth

Incorporating rich timber tones, such as walnut, on cabinetry or a few furniture pieces can add warmth and cosiness to an otherwise minimalist Brutalist scheme. It's common for designers to use timber as small accents in Brutalist home interiors, as it adds variation to other blocks of colour and material.

For a durable and low-maintenance flooring option, Carpet Court's Elements hybrid tile in Onyx is an excellent selection. Combining the best attributes of laminate and vinyl

Design & Trends

Don’t forget comfort

Despite its reputation for minimalism and a lack of warmth, Brutalism can complement softer, rounded pieces in modern homes. Incorporating deep-seated sofas, upholstered bedheads, tactile bedlinen, and soft curtains can bring a sense of comfort and luxury to the space. Curtains, in particular, can add warmth and light to the interiors with their soft, flowing lines.

flooring, it provides a water-resistant, scratchand stain-resistant surface that is effortless to clean. Additionally, this flooring allows homeowners to achieve the look of trendy

flooring options, such as stone, concrete, and terrazzo, using an affordable and easy-toinstall material.

Carpet Court's Bali range of S-Wave curtains are a great option for softening the edges of windows and doors and adding a modern touch to the living or bedroom. It's worth noting that even soft items can convey interesting textures and are an excellent way to create a liveable and inviting space in this style.

Brutal Beauty: on trend, contemporary and accessible.

Design & Trends

Palettone - Discover a new world of colour

Commercial Homogeneous Flooring

Homogeneous flooring made by Polyflor in the UK is synonymous with quality and performance and product ranges that are typified by their excellent durability, reliability, ease of maintenance and design opportunities. The latest addition, Palettone PUR, is no exception. Featuring a solid colour base with complementary toned highlights in a palette of 50 shades.

Sectors

All the established characteristics of a Polyflor homogeneous PUR product are inherent within this premium collection, which is ideally suited for the most demanding of commercial interiors, education facilities, leisure and retail areas. Within the health and care sector, Palettone combines performance with aesthetics. When the issue of preventing and controlling infection is paramount or when a subtle, tone-on-tone design is required, Palettone is the perfect fit-for-purpose contemporary floor covering solution.

Our natural world is alive with wonderfully concealed textures and materials that create beautiful arrangements of shades and colours. When exploring our surroundings, we can often be absorbed with a focal point or an exceptional view. This can often distract or disguise many of the smaller components that make up what we see. Only when we look closely at these individual elements, is it possible to discover a whole new world of shades and colours. Polyflor have used this philosophy to generate the new Palettone flooring collection. They hope this will inspire

you to construct a captivating foundation for your next interior design project.

Inspired by the natural environment and a world of colour, Polyflor is proud to introduce their most extensive range yet, Palettone.

Palettone PUR enables you to bring a special brand of style and elegance to any commercial environment. Available in sheet in a palette of 50 contemporary colours, ranging from pale neutrals through to more intense shades, Palettone PUR features a solid colour base with complementary toned highlights. Each shade of this range has its’ own unique NCS reference for use as a guide whilst exploring bespoke design schemes.

Provided in the form of a flexible vinyl sheet and featuring a high-quality polyurethane reinforcement, Palettone is easy to maintain, making it ideally suited to heavy traffic areas.

Specification

• Full conformance with the requirements of ISO 10581/EN 649

• Flexible PVC sheet flooring in 2mm thickness

• Use area classification 23/34/43 as defined in ISO 10874/EN 685

• Fully tested to EN 13501-1 in respect of flamespread

• For slip resistance, classified DS to EN 13893

• R10 slip resistance (for sustainable wet slip resistance refer to Polysafe ranges)

• Abrasion group T (EN 660-2) and classified Type I within ISO 10581

• BRE Global A+ rating ENP 472* in major use areas such as education and healthcare

• Tested to international standards for low VOC emissions

Design & Trends

Features

As with all Homogeneous PUR ranges, Palettone PUR features a high quality, crosslinked polyurethane reinforcement, UV cured to provide a low-cost polish free maintenance regime for the lifetime of the flooring.

Polyflor Homogeneous PUR ranges demonstrate outstanding durability and abrasion resistance. Palettone PUR achieves the highest abrasion wear rating Group T (EN 660 Part 2), EN ISO 10581 Type I.

Following an individual assessment from BRE Global, Palettone PUR achieves an A+ rating in major sectors such as health, education and retail (ENP472).

Palettone PUR is 100% recyclable and contains 25% recycled material. Ideally suited for heavy traffic areas, Palettone PUR is recommended for use throughout commercial interiors, healthcare, and education facilities, as well as retail outlets.

Palettone PUR can be installed over underfloor heating up to a maximum of 27ºC. It is recommended that underfloor heating systems are commissioned prior to the flooring being installed to ensure the heating system is operating correctly.

Projects

Wayss

Wayss provides emergency accommodation services for people in difficult situations and was seeking a commercial fitout that was both safe and welcoming.

Polyflor’s product Palettone was used in the children’s play area as it adds vibrancy to the space. They also wanted to use a product that was easy to make into different shapes and having the vinyl in roll form allowed them to do that.

Architect/Designer: ODC Design

Women’s and Children’s Hospital

Polyflor SA donated approximately 120m2 of XL PUR (base colour) and Palettone (assorted colour pattern work) to help refurbish the school inside the Women’s and Children’s Hospital which had fallen through the gap between medical and educational funding despite the planned upgrade to the hospital. Polyflor kindly donated the flooring for this revamp. This will secure Polyflor with all future specifications in Palettone for all SA Health’s upcoming projects.

Their partnership and donation was recognised at a Charity Gala Dinner on completion of project.

Architect/Designer: Tracey Davies at Broadfeather Design

The BMT Factory

The BMT Factory, is a Perth family owner business, with fiery passion to serve quality and delicious Vietnamese food. With a brief to create an eye catching and Instagram worthy space on a tight budget, BEST & CO Design played with contrast, bold colours and architectural form. When selecting the flooring, it had to tick three boxes: bold, durable, and cost effective. Palettone was the answer.

Architect/Designer:

Best & Co Design

Above: Wayss project

Above: Women's and Children's Hospital project

Above: The BMT Factory project

The Importance of Tactile Indicators in Australian Standards

Around 330,000 Australians currently experience blindness or vision impairment, with a large proportion being over 65 years of age. As Australia's population continues to age, it is projected that the number of people with vision impairments will double within the next 25 years. With this in mind, the visually impaired often experience a range of difficulties when navigating built areas, including poor orientation, difficulty finding their bearings, and an increased risk of falls.

Whether it’s vision impairments or other forms of disability, we must ensure dignified, safe and independent access for all members of our community. From making outdoor walking paths detectable and safe to

installing floor and safety features such as tactile indicators and stair nosings, there are many ways for building professionals to comply with safety regulations and antidiscrimination standards.

This article focuses on the different types of tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs) and their relevant applications, as well as tips on choosing the best tactiles for your project. According to the Australian Standards AS/NZS 1428.4, there are also specific compliance requirements to note when installing tactiles across new building works and renovations which we’ll also explore below.

What are Tactile Indicators?

Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSIs), often referred to as tactile indicators or tactiles, are floor safety features designed to empower the visually impaired to confidently and safely navigate public spaces. Combined with other environmental cues, tactile indicators often play two different but complementary public safety roles: providing directional guidance and warnings of upcoming hazards or obstructions.

Safety

You’ll often find tactiles installed at stairways, ramps, escalators and moving walks - shared access points that are built to improve traffic flows but are often still challenging for the vision impaired. Here is a list of public access areas that must have tactiles installed to ensure safe access for visually impaired pedestrians.

• Stairways

• Escalators

• Passenger conveyor/moving walk

• Ramps

• Areas which lack suitable barriers

• Pedestrian crossings

Unfortunately, not all environments effectively use tactiles which can pose several challenges including:

• Higher risk of trips and falls

• Disorientation

• Diminished mobility due to loss of confidence

• Social exclusion

An inability or lack of confidence to safely navigate their environment not only risks their physical safety but can also adversely impact their overall health and wellbeing.

warnings of impending hazards as well as crucial directional information. According to AS/NZS 1428.4, all newly constructed and renovated public or private works must include tactile indicators.

This Australian Standard guideline is further reinforced by the Building Code of Australia (BCA) Section D Clause 3.8, as well as the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Types of Tactile Indicators Per Australian Standards

In general, there are two main types of tactile indicators, namely Warning Tactile Indicators and Directional Tactile Indicators. While both tactile types provide important directional and orientation cues for the blind and vision impaired, they serve slightly different but complementary purposes.

Warning Tactile Indicators (also known as Hazard Tactile Indicators)

Warning tactile indicators, also commonly referred to as hazard tactile indicators, are textured features installed onto walking surfaces to function as a ‘stop’ sign. These warning TGSIs alert any pedestrians who may be blind or vision-impaired of potential hazards in their path of travel, prompting them to stop and assess the situation before moving forward.

Commonly installed at:

• Ramps or ramp landings

• Kerb ramps

The Importance of Australian Standards in Tactile Indicators

With the built environment posing a significant safety and access risk for the vision impaired, the Australian Standards have developed a set of initiatives and guidelines to improve access and equality for all. Prioritising the effective design and planning of public spaces, tactile indicators play a critical role in providing necessary

• Steps and stairs

• Escalators

Directional Tactile Indicators (also known as Leading Tactile Indicators)

Directional tactile indicators, also commonly referred to as leading tactile indicators, are textured features comprising directional bars, installed onto walking surfaces to provide directional orientation. These directional TGSIs assist blind and visionimpaired pedestrians to determine and navigate their next best accessible path of travel.

Commonly installed in open areas to assist with continuous navigation, directional tactile indicators also guide people to safely deviate from one path of travel to another.

Commonly installed at:

• Crossing points and intersections

• Kerb ramps

• Open areas

• Public transportation access points

• Building entrances

Both warning and directional tactile indicators are available in different formats and materials to suit your project

Both warning and directional tactiles are available in two different application formats:

• Individual tactiles - installed in custom dimensions depending on the application area

• Plate format - installed in a pre-set plate format of 300mm x 600mm or 300mm x 300mm for standard applications

Choosing the best tactile materials

Once you’ve determined the type of tactile indicators you need (warning and/or directional), as well as your preferred format (individual and/or plate), you can also choose specific tactile materials to achieve your project’s functional and aesthetic requirements.

As long as they comply with the relevant dimensional and spacing requirements of the Australian Standards, tactile indicators can be manufactured from any material that will withstand the harsh roading environment.

Here are some popular options:

• Solid Brass Tactile Indicators - a durable and aesthetically timeless option, ideal for retrofitting across interior and exterior applications

• Stainless Steel Tactile Indicatorsoffer premium durability, perfect for retrofitting to existing applications across interior and exterior environments

• Aluminium Tactile Indicators – an affordable choice for interior use.

• Polyurethane Tactile Indicatorsavailable in a huge range of colours and suitable for both interior and exterior use

• Ceramic Tactile Indicators - UVstabilised for both interior and exterior applications

Installation of Tactile Indicators under Australian Standards

Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSIs) must be installed in accordance with AS1428.4 .1-2009.

While there may be variances between tiled TGSIs and individual TGSIs, here are some general tips when preparing installation surfaces and planning the layout:

• Substrates must be virgin, uncontaminated, unsealed and free of hydrostatic pressure.

• Thoroughly clean all surfaces from dirt, moisture and grime, and conduct a final clean with a suitable non-residual cleaner, to ensure the adhesive has maximum surface area contact with the substrate.

• Any surface irregularities must be corrected before installation of the TGSIs

• Lay out the TGSis in the designated areas using a straight edge/ string line or tape to ensure straight lines.

o Stairs: All TGSIs must be installed 300mm from the leading nosing edge at the top and bottom of the stair flight, and 600mm deep to the full width of the path of travel

o Ramps: All TGSIs must be installed 300mm from the change in plane, and 600mm deep to the full width of the path of travel

o The 600mm depth requirement is exempt when there is a solid wall within 3 meters of the top of the stairs or ramp. In this scenario the tactile tiles/pads need to be 300mm deep to advise the visually impaired to turn right or left within 3 meters.

Always be sure to seek specific advice from a reputable and accredited TGSI installer to ensure your complete compliance.

Ascertain your project’s compliance with Australian Standards and relevant safety laws

The built environment and high-traffic areas can be a challenge for everyday Australians to

navigate, let alone those living with blindness and vision impairments. As a community, we should make it our priority to ensure safe and equal access for all members of the public, whether it be a renovation or a new project.

To achieve a satisfactory and compliant result as per Australian Standards, the project needs to be planned and set out before any installation. If TGSIs aren’t properly installed according to recommended installation requirements and maintenance guidelines, they can pose a public safety risk and access hindrance, defeating their purpose. Furthermore, any non-compliance issues can be a costly fix while delaying your project’s handover timelines.

As the leading supplier and installer of stair and floor safety products, Classic Architectural Group offers architecturallydesigned tactile ground surface indicators, stair nosings, and a range of floor and safety products, in a diverse array of styles, materials and colours to support your project goals. Complying with all Australian Standards, you can also use their 3D/AR Product Visualisation Tool to get an accurate sense of scale, depth and special when making your product selections.

The team at Classic can assist you with assessing the best access products for your needs, as well as providing efficient installation services for an end-to-end solution. Or if you’re the DIY type you can visit their online resource hub for easy access to technical advice, including installation guides.

www.classic-arch.com

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