D e c e m b e r 2 0 19 / J a n u a r y 2 0 2 0
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
KEVMOR CELEBRATING YEARS
40
1980 - 2020
Flooring Trade Suppliers www.kevmor.com.au
Introducing Express collections from Amtico. A carefully curated selection of Amtico flooring designs, fully stocked here in Australia so we can offer short and convenient lead times for your projects. amtico.com/commercial/express Mark Taylor Sales Director +61 (0) 477 708 418 Wayne Schofield Sales Manager NSW +61 (0) 499 091 049 Mike Hammond Sales Manager VIC/TAS +61 (0) 428 600 076
Contents
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vol 37 no 6
News
Editor’s Note
6
Kevmor – 40 years and still going strong
Icon 18
Mike Duggan
Technical Bulletin 22
Marmoleum characteristics and useful things to know
Feature 26
Carpet and woven flooring
Software 38
Can you google your business data?
Safety
Happy New Year and welcome to the December / January 2020 issue of Flooring Magazine. Inside this issue you will find our feature on carpet and woven floor coverings where we sit down with Allan Firth of the CIAL to discuss the benefits of using carpets as well as address some of the common myths and misconceptions associated with one of the most popular and versatile floor covering solutions available on the market. This issue’s Icon is Mike Duggan, a carpet man through and through. Mike began his longstanding career in 1955 then spent sixty-four continuous years working in the trade and adapting to the many industry changes.
Overseas News
Feel free to contact me directly, regarding any industry relevant news or events, or if you know of a person worthy of Icon status, by email at – michelle.cammiade@ elitepublishing.com.au
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Until next time…enjoy.
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Safety standards in public spaces
IHGF Delhi Fair – a new take on sustainability
Prep, Install & Care
Michelle Cammiade Editor
52
Saving your floors with self-adhesive films
Flooring Magazine is now on:
Front Cover Kevmor www.kevmor.com.au
@flooringmagazineaustralia @flooringmagazine @flooringmagazine
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News Mannington Appoints EC Carpets as New Australian Distributor EC Carpets is pleased to announce their recent appointment as the new Australian distributor of Mannington – one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fine flooring solutions. Mannington has a strong reputation as a trusted brand throughout the Australian market, from architects and designers to facility managers and installers, so they are delighted to be associated with such a world-renowned range of products. This partnership brings together two marketleading manufacturers delivering a range of inspiring products to discerning decisionmakers. The opportunities this presents are very exciting. While Mannington's complete product range of flooring solutions will be available for distribution, EC Carpets’ focus would be on Mannington's commercial broadloom carpets. The Mannington brand is highly regarded in the Australian commercial flooring market, particularly in aged care, retirement and independent living facilities so initially the focus will be on their range of durable, commercial broadloom carpets. EC Carpets has built a trusted reputation in the industry over many years, providing them with the perfect platform to establish strong customer relationships based on reliability and trustworthiness, elements vital to the success of every project.
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Good sports in flooring Connor maple basketball court systems have only been part of the Gerflor portfolio for a couple of years, but the local team has been quick to welcome the new addition to an already impressive indoor sports flooring portfolio. In recent months, Gerflor’s passion for all things sporting, and the local team’s ability to support the most elite events, have been on display at the historic Boomers verses USA basketball match in Melbourne.
Hot on the heels of the local event came the FIBA World Cup in China where Connor was again the playing surface. Eight Connor Quicklock courts were created and installed for this two week long event attended by a delighted local Gerflor delegation.
“It was such a buzz being commissioned to custom make and install the court for the historic shoot-out between the Australian Boomers and the visiting USA team,” National Sport Manager, Paul Tofful said. “It was a hectic six hour window for our technical team to set the modular Quicklock panels in place whilst the traditional home of AFL, Marvel Stadium, was being transformed all around us. Then we moved back in to deconstruct and re pack the court for its next outing,” Paul said. Custom made and painted in Michigan before being shipped to the Gerflor warehouse in Melbourne, the 900 square metre Quicklock court delivered a mint surface for the world’s most elite to strut their stuff in front of record crowds over two events.
From top: The Gerflor team work with installation partners, Kemellies to set the stage for the historic Boomers v USA basketball clash at Marvel Stadium. Australian star, Patty Mills in action on a Connor court at the FIBA World Cup in China.
Above: One of the eight stadiums fitted out with Connor Quicklock basketball courts for the FIBA World Cup in China.
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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News
6
40 years and still going strong
S
o, what does a tailor, a chef, a mechanic and a banker have in common you ask? They are the eclectic founding members of the proud Kevmor dynasty. Kevin Mort, the founder of the organisation, commenced his working career as an apprenticed tailor. This stood him in good stead when an initial career change into the flooring industry, required the art of hand stitching Axe Minster Carpets. He went on to work for five different flooring companies including Cunninghams, Smyth & Hickman, Huega and Westwools. This was the perfect learning platform for his future which saw him owning and operating his own company for the next 30 years. This culminated in Kevin having over 60 years of experience in the flooring and soft furnishing industry. Kevin J Mort Agencies commenced in 1980 with his wife Shirley, mother of seven children, working from the kitchen table of their family home. Within six months the first commercial premises were opened in Burswood. During the first 10 years of operation three of their children joined the firm. Vincent a skilled chef joined in the
first year of operation, followed several years later by the oldest son, Simon, a qualified diesel plant mechanic. Finally, the team was complete when their younger sister Virginia, who came from a banking background, joined the firm. The evolution of the Kevmor company from those early years, has been long and varied. Initially offering United Carpet Mills products, it soon progressed to include upholstery fabrics. Over time, the company ventured into broadloom carpet, woven carpets, carpet tiles, rugs, accessories for furniture manufacturing, boiling water units and custom cushions. The company was fondly known by the locals as ‘Kevmor’ which was the original short name for the six-digit code on the telex machine. As time passed in the carpet industry, the family home was soon proudly showcasing the quality of carpet remnants and tiles. The family enjoyed fond memories of the kaleidoscope of hair carpet tile leftovers from projects that adorned their bedrooms and living areas.
Above: Kevin Mort
Back in the early days, ‘putting the kettle on’ had a dual purpose; boiling water was
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
necessary to shrink and adjust the natural fibres of the woven carpets. This was a skill set that only an artisan of extensive experience, could effectively complete. Those were the days Some of the original commercial carpet contracts Kevmor won included the Burswood Casino, Merlin Hotel, Boans, Kings Hotel and Myers, to name a few. These initial installations included hand sewing in workrooms with installations over traditional hair felt. The quality Kevmor brand and highly skilled reputation soon spread widely across the Perth metropolis. How times have changed The company has grown substantially over the last few decades. Kevmor now employ over 20 dedicated and professional staff in their premises, with over 10,000 m2 of warehouse and showroom space. Over the years, the business has constantly evolved to meet their clients’ needs and keep abreast of market trends. Today, Kevmor has grown into a complex international importer and distributor, supplying an extensive range of flooring installation tools, carpet tiles, sheet vinyl, planks, rigid core and marine carpet. 8
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Tough enough for the rough & tumble of everyday life. Ask about our exciting new range: www.preferencefloors.com.au
by
News
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Their exclusive range of flooring removal and renovation equipment, sourced from Germany, with cutting-edge technology and high productivity, is leading the industry market.
Kenbrock exceeding client’s needs
There is no rest for the wicked in this industry Every year the Kevmor directors travel to all the major exhibitions around the world, sourcing and developing, the latest and greatest industry technology and innovations available, supported by their trusted suppliers. During this time, extensive training is designed and delivered to keep abreast of the latest advancements in flooring technology.
Kenbrock’s Harmony Artisan Vinyl Plank Collection draws inspiration from the diverse and stunning timbers of Australia. It is the culmination of years of technological advancements in flooring, delivering hand scraped finishes which echo the unique touch and feel of our native timbers. What is next you ask? Kevmor are not resting on their laurels, they are expanding their training programs, introducing new products and developing new methods of installation.
Albany Carpet Court on behalf of Kenbrock and Ryde Building Company, have recently completed this beautiful installation of Kenbrock’s Harmony Artisan Attitude for one of their customers.
However, for more instantaneous service, the convenient Belmont location means if you are located in Perth Kevmor have all products on hand. This includes carpet tiles to installation tools, from moisture testing equipment to large ride on floor strippers. The professional and personalised service team, led by Vincent, Simon and Virginia, are continually present on the shop floor.
Now that the world focus is on sustainability and environmentally friendly products, the industry as a whole, has seen a vast amount of change. No longer are harsh chemicals seen as acceptable, but rather new merchandise is focused on being environmentally safe for the contractor and the end consumer. For example, Kevmor now have a range of water-based adhesives that are green building certified which are imported from the USA. Initially they found that some contractors were challenged by these products, but now the industry sees the health benefits and prefers to use them over the solvent based merchandise available. In addition, Kevmor offers training and equipment that comply with the new silicosis epidemic that is now evident in the flooring industry.
Business Owners Jane and Jens Barslund who have owned and run Albany Carpet Court since 2016, were delighted with the ease of installation and outcome of the Harmony Artisan Range resulting in a very happy customer. Being very much handson style business operators, Jane and Jens commitment to their business is exceptional and they fully appreciate and understand the importance of both meeting and exceeding clients’ expectations.
Kevin will be turning 90 in August, one of his fondest memories has been teaching his children, watching them come to understand the industry and take over the business. It has been extremely rewarding seeing his children continue the journey he and Shirley started decades earlier.
Kevmor is proudly based in Western Australia, with a family leadership team offering over 100 years of experience. Their expert staff work hard to ensure customers have the best possible experience which is renowned and respected across the flooring industry both locally and nationally.
This includes a training academy in Belmont where customers can see a demonstration of all available equipment and stock. This is popular and well respected by Kevmor clients, as it provides them with hands on experience with large floor removal machines. Kevmor now has a large digital presence in the flooring market where clients can shop online. The online facility allows customers to access an extensive product range that is shipped Australia wide.
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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RECHARGE AND REUSE Fast and convenient charging via micro-USB
AIR+ - Now available at www.kevmor.com.au
News
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Building up to Sydney Build Expo 2020 What to check out at Australia's Leading Construction, Architecture and Infrastructure Expo Australia’s top built environment experts will meet with industry businesses and vendors at the annual Sydney Build Expo 2020. Taking place on the 19th-20th of March 2020, the event will showcase the latest in equipment, innovations and developments across Australia’s Construction, Architecture and Infrastructure Industries. Returning for its fifth consecutive run, Sydney Build Expo 2020 is anticipated to expand its scale, scope and outreach beyond preceding trade shows to become the largest Sydney Build to date. Taking place in the very heart of the city, Australia’s most renowned B2B construction tradeshow of the year will be held at the iconic Sydney International Convention Centre. The event is free to attend and requires a simple registration on the expo's website to secure a spot amongst the 25,000+ pre-registered attendees. Here’s what to expect in the buildup to the expo’s upcoming 2020 return:
Sydney Build Expo Overview Brought to you by Oliver Kinross, Sydney Build is part of the company’s awardwinning ‘BUILD’ exhibition portfolio that extends internationally to include trade shows held throughout New York, Chicago and London. Promising to be bigger and better than ever before, Sydney Build 2020 will feature over 350+ exhibitors and 300+ speakers in 21 summits across 8 stages. Alongside Sydney Build, the CIVENEX infrastructure exhibition and Sydney Transport and Roads Expo will be co-hosted at the venue. Three major expos in one, spread across a two-day period, will showcase the latest in technological advancement and touch upon controversial topics highly prevalent within the contemporary built environment industry. Boasting a comprehensive program and diverse range of displays, the event’s show floor incorporates a unique format designed to stimulate business networking opportunities between attendees and exhibitors and deliver quality content across for audience members in an entertaining
and engaging manner. Cutting-edge seminars, sponsored networking lounges and live equipment demonstrations are just a small portion of what attendees can expect to encounter at this year's expo. Sydney Build Expo 2020 will feature a networking lounge powered by Linkedin. This unique first of its kind networking experience will enable attendees and exhibitors the opportunity to network and establish contact with one another face-toface in a casual ‘disconnected’ environment, whilst simultaneously establishing connections and sharing contact info with one another over their online Linkedin network. Equipped with a unique QR code linking each user to their virtual profile, attendees with a smart device at the Linkedin networking lounge will be granted access to insight, content and networking opportunities all year round as part of a new community that features a wide range of meet-ups and social events. Other noteworthy features of the lounge include complimentary refreshments, entertainment and a Humans of Construction display which will broadcast images of over 1000 influential industry figures along with live profiles of those attending the Expo. Opportunities for all Uniting thousands of construction experts, architects, engineers, designers, government personal and aspiring tradies is no easy task. That’s why Sydney Build Expo has themed its 300 top-level speakers into 21 free to attend summits which are scheduled to take place on the 8 stages scattered throughout the venue. These CPD accredited presentations will encompass a plethora of exclusive industry insights; touching upon topics of 12 interest prevalent within the field of
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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imagine the possibilities
Imagine Floors by Airstep has a range of stylish floors to complete your customers design that includes Laminate, Vinyl, Hybrid and Timber in a variety of classic and contemporary hues, textures and styles. All floors include features to satisfy the needs of busy households, households with pets and commercial environments.
Project image courtesy of Empire Interiors. Range: Reclaimed Wild Oak.
Imagine the Possibilities
www.imaginefloors.com.au 1800 803 545
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construction and shedding light on the firsthand experience of industry professionals. Below is a comprehensive list of summits occurring throughout the course of the event: • Contractors & Subcontractors Summit • Architecture & Design Summit • Digital Transformation Summit • Disruptive Technology Summit • Geospatial Summit • The BIM Summit • Construction Outlook: Forecasts & Tenders • Reconciliation in Construction • Modular & Prefab Summit • Women in Construction Summit • Sustainable Construction Summit • Fire & Safety Summit • Non-Conformance & Defects Summit • HVAC & Facilities Management Summit • Property Management Summit • Sydney Metro & Rail Summit • Sydney Transport & Roads Summit • The Government Policy Summit • The Asset Management Summit • The Engineers Summit • The New Infrastructure Summit Speaker, sponsor, exhibitor showcase Sydney Build capitalises on the strong economy and high levels of inward migration which currently make Sydney one of the best performing construction industries in the world. The main objective of the expo is to provide the best opportunity for professionals to get together to discuss past, present and future projects. The event enables the industry to educate itself and provides the perfect marketing tool for companies looking to stand out within the competitive construction industry. On the topic of speakers, Sydney Build has been consistent in attracting high-level
CIVENEX Expo, a successful initiative held by the IPWEA (Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia), and Sydney Transport and Roads Expo, to extend the show's outreach further into the infrastructure and transportation industries. These events offer a more focused insight into their relevant fields, however, all three are free to attend under the same ticket and attendees are encouraged to freely explore all areas of the show depending on their interest.
experts and securing prominent figures such as the lord mayor of Sydney Clover Moore to lend their time for the event. Key figures central to Sydney’s urban development confirmed to speak at the 2020 expo include the city of Sydney Deputy Lord Mayor Linda Scott. Industry leaders at the forefront of developing on-site technologies such as the senior BIM manager at AECOM Ceasare Caoduro and principal at Architectus, Rodd Perey, are due to present. Furthermore, other distinguished speakers featured in the 2020 lineup include Downer Construction director Mac Harvey, Aurecon director Rowena Walk, Laing O’Rourke technical director Andrew Harris, and the NSW Minister for industrial relations and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet. Four in One Sydney Build Expo 2020 will feature two additional expos run alongside the main Sydney Build stage. They include the
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
The 2020 Australian Construction Awards are being co-hosted alongside Sydney Build and are scheduled to take place on the first night of the expo. Taking place at the Sydney Cricket Grounds, the ACA is an awards event that recognizes the achievements, developments and innovation within Australia's booming construction industry and features a wide range of categories for solution providers, contractors, architects, developers and local authorities. All awards are free to enter and are impartially judged by a panel of leading industry experts from across Sydney, New South Wales and Australia as a whole. Any company that services the Australian construction, architecture or design industry are eligible to enter. The foundation of the Sydney Build Expo has been built on providing education and training opportunities across the Australian built environment industry; therefore, Sydney Build hopes to provide guests new perspectives and favourable circumstances for approaching this booming field. More importantly, Sydney Build hopes that its attendees can build lasting relationships within the industry to further the growth potential of Australian construction development. For more information and to register a complimentary ticket visit https://tickets.lup. com.au/sydney-build-2020
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CONCRETE MOISTURE DECTECTION WHEN YOU NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT, START WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS
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If your buisness is larger then this is the electronic moisture detection kit for you. With extra probes giving you more flexibility on the your next job site. Again, all kits are fully expandable to match your job or business requirements.
CONTACT YOUR NEAREST INTAFLOORS DISTRIBUTOR TODAY
www.intafloors.com.au
NEW SOUTH WALES (Head Office) – Intafloors Trade Depot Seven Hills – 15 Artisan Rd, Seven Hills. P: (02) 8678 5479 E: sales@intafloorstrade.com.au Intafloors Trade Depot Botany – 6 Morgan St, Botany. P: (02) 80381111 E: botany@intafloorstrade.com.au. ACT – Intafloors Trade Depot – Fyshwick: Unit 17-1 Pirie St, Fyshwick. P: 0403 420 377 E: fyshwick@intafloorstrade.com.au. VICTORIA – Intafloors Trade Depot Vic – Keysborough: 107 Atlantic Drive, Keysborough. P: (03) 9768 7248 E: sales@fisdistributors.com.au. Intafloors Trade Depot Vic Knoxfield – Unit 4, 59 Gilbert Park Drive, Knoxfield. P: (03) 9764 2400 E: knoxfield@fisdistributors. com.au Intafloors Trade Depot Vic – Preston. 39 Raglan St, Preston. P: (03) 9416 7878 E: preston@fisdistributors.com.au Intafloors Trade Depot Vic – Geelong: Unit 2B, 6 Gravel Pits Rd, Geelong South. P: (03) 5221 6670. QUEENSLAND – Intafloors Trade Centre – Gold Coast: 3/27 Activity Crescent, Molendinar. P: (07) 5564 9999 Intafloors Trade Centre Brisbane – 10 Darnick St, Underwood. P: 0438 703 536 Intafloors Sunshine Coast – Unit 1. 24 Trinder Ave, Maroochydore. P: (07) 54510856. SOUTH AUSTRALIA – DE Seal & Sons Pty Ltd – 11 Richard St, Hindmarsh. P: (08) 8346 9833 E: office@deseal.com.au. TASMANIA – Total Flooring 45 Feltham St, North Hobart. P: (03) 6234 9855. NEW ZEALAND – Allnex Auckland, 6 Industry Rd, Penrose. P: +64 (09) 583 6500, +64 (09) 525 3709 E: ncpsales@nuplex.com Allnex Hamilton – 18 Somerset St, Hamilton. P: +64 (07) 847 8658, +64 (07) 847 3766 Allnex Wellington – 19A Jamaica Drive, Grenada North. P: +64 (04) 240 0305, +64 (04) 240 0339 Allnex Christchurch – 112 Carlyle St, Sydenham. P: +64 (03) 366 6802, +64 (03) 365 7845.
Product Update New residential carpet range by Vorwerk Carpet Exclusive in Australia to Alternative Surfaces, the Vorwerk Best of Living residential carpet range has just landed. The range addresses major current trends, keeping with Vorwerk’s renowned quality velours, Saxony and woven loops. The broadloom carpets are available in both 4000mm and 5000mm widths that customers can also have custom made into a rug.
Oatlands Imagine Floors by Airstep is proud to have one of the best assortments in the market of Australian species designs in a 2mm vinyl product, with the impressive Oatlands range. Ideal for busy lifestyles, Oatlands uses innovative technology to create enhanced
14 Vorwerk is a household name and market leader in Europe, with a reputation for quality and reliability since 1883. Based in Germany, Vorwerk Carpets are one of the leading international suppliers of high-quality carpets for the private and commercial sectors today. For more than 130 years, Vorwerk has been one of the most desirable brands in floor coverings. All carpets have been tested for harmful substances and their ability to bind fine dust. At a recent awards presentation Vorwerk’s high dust-binding capability led to them being awarded the ‘recommended for people with allergies’ seal of approval.
Compact carpet extraction technology Polivac International is recognised as one of Australia’s leading manufacturers of commercial cleaning equipment and a major exporter of advanced cleaning technology worldwide. The Polivac range includes electric, gas and battery-powered models suitable for a wide range of cleaning applications. Years of experience in carpet extraction technology has gone into the creation of the Terminator (220 PSI) and the Terminator PLUS (600 PSI) specifically designed for large and or small areas and upholstery. The Terminator PLUS’s powerful 800psi pump helps you get more work done in less time. As well as offering brute power in a compact sized body giving you all the power and performance of larger carpet extractors with maximum manoeuvrability.
embossing for the ‘real look’ and feel of natural timber, protected against everyday wear and tear. The protective 0.3mm wear layer, with PUR reinforcement efficiently seals the surface, offering resistance against staining and protection against hard impact. This closed surface is hygienic and easier to clean, with improved slip resistance and sound absorption, allowing customers to feel confident knowing their floor is prepared for the unpredictability of real life.
Fluid levels of both the recovery and solution tanks in all Polivac carpet machines are now controlled by electronic switch systems. The Terminator is portable and fits into the back of most station wagons allowing users to get into tight spaces for fast, efficient cleaning without sacrificing power. Ideal for any scale carpet cleaning and flood recovery. Operators can now select between 5m/10m solution and vacuum hoses and a 12" 2-jet stainless steel wand to meet the specific needs of each job.
Colour specialists have created a range showcasing traditional and contemporary Australian and Oak designs to suit a diversity of customer styles that also includes a 20 year residential warranty for peace of mind.
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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Product Update
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Advanced architectural surfaces
stone to metal and concrete-inspired finishes. Capturing the luxurious look of marble, the Marmi collection delivers the highly sought after appearance of Calacatta and Statuario marbles, as well as travertino, onyx, and other coveted stones. Datauni has smooth, silky and consistent finishes, while Aster has a textured, brushed effect inspired by concrete and Metals combines the beauty of naturally occurring metals with the lightweight durability of porcelain panels. MAXIMUM is also available with Active 2.0, a revolutionary photocatalytic coating that reduces indoor nitrogen oxide and VOC levels, has antibacterial and anti-odour properties and is self-cleaning. Developed specifically for MAXIMUM, the Active 2.0 invisible coating offers a permanent solution that won’t wear out or wear off and is suitable for internal, external, floor and wall usage. Its antibacterial properties, even under LED lights or in the dark, means that it kills bacteria, and its selfcleaning hydrophilic properties result in little or no need for detergents or physical cleaning, even when used for building facades. Active 2.0 severely degrades airborne pollutants such as NOx, all VOCs and odours, by cleaning the air around it.
Artedomus’ Porcelain Panels are changing the face of architectural surfaces. The extra-large, fine-profile, lightweight panels have exceptional strength, durability and resistance, offering a beautiful and practical surface. Artedomus pioneered the revolutionary Porcelain Panels, after identifying the potential of pressed porcelain in 2013. Using innovative, Italian-designed technology, the pressed porcelain is made from all-natural ingredients – clay, sand and quartz – that are heated and mixed into large-format panels of unparalleled size (up to 3000-by-1500 millimetres). The physical strength of the pressed porcelain panels enables them to be produced with a fine profile (6, 9 and 12
millimetres) – thinner than most traditional benchtops. The strength of the panels also enhances their superior performance. Porcelain Panels resist staining and etching and are completely UV stable, making them suitable for interior and exterior applications in residential and commercial projects. The Artedomus range of Porcelain Panels includes the revolutionary MAXIMUM range. MAXIMUM is suited for all exterior facade cladding and interior applications thanks to its lightweight, easy installation and low-maintenance requirements. Like Artetech, MAXIMUM is offered in a wide range of stunning surfaces, from natural
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
“Active 2.0 is the singular building product on the market that is a true antidote to sick building syndrome. For business owners, its means less sick leave, greater productivity and greater profitability. And for all of us, it means a greater sense of wellbeing and a healthier life,” said Phil Brenton, Artedomus Managing Director. The ‘healthy building’ benefits of Active 2.0 include its 100-per-cent natural composition, free of the toxic resins and chemical binders used in engineered stone, and its aesthetic beauty, with colours and markings mimicking natural stone, marble, concrete and more. Active 2.0 is offered as an optional addition to standard MAXIMUM panels and minimum order quantities apply.
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Mike Duggan:
The Carpet Man Story by Philip Ashley
M
ike was born in 1940 in the Sydney suburb of Greenwich. Some familiar people born that same year were Athol Guy of the Seekers; Jack Thompson; Diana Trask; artist Ken Done, and Bruce Beresford. It was just over a year after the outbreak of the second World War and warships would often be seen docked at Circular Quay in Sydney, loading supplies and troops bound for Europe. These were bleak years for Australia; threatened early in 1942 with invasion by the Imperial Japanese army. Australians tightened their belts, rolled up their sleeves and got on with the job of winning the war.
Mike Duggan has sixty-four continuous years working in the carpet trade, almost twenty years longer than most people work in their lifetime. Flooring December 2019/January 2020
Mike is the youngest of five boys and two girls. Seven sounds like a handful but wasn’t unusual for the time. Mike attended Marist Brothers Catholic school in North Sydney until he left school at fifteen. In those days people didn’t work towards a career like they do now, they just went out and got a job. And so, in December 1955 Mike applied for an apprenticeship as a carpet layer at Express Carpets and Upholstery in the neighbouring suburb of Chatswood. He recalls that his father, a wool broker, had no idea about work in the carpet industry. On hearing Mike had got the job, his father said, “Son, what are you talking about?” Back then a new car cost less than three thousand dollars; a house less than ten thousand and a loaf of bread, just eighteen
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cents. A young, teenage Mike Duggan was making his way in the world with a new job and a willingness to succeed. His siblings had mostly moved to Canberra to seek out opportunities and his parents moved there to retire in 1956, taking Mike with them. His brother was a motor mechanic there and his brother-in-law was working with the department of the air force after serving with them during the war.
Clockwise (from right): Circular Quay Sydney 1940; Sewing machine for narrow loom axminster; Mike at School.
He had the opportunity in Canberra to take any job he liked. He recalls, “Jobs were very easy to get in Canberra, the city was just starting to open up back then.” However, he decided to stay in the carpet industry and got a job with Anthony Horderns and Sons, a Sydney-based retail giant. Mike met a lot of good people there, amongst them Terry Mathews; Pat Quilty and Don Burrows. Unfortunately, Don is
no longer with us, but Mike sees Terry and Pat regularly. Mike says, “Those three gentlemen were legendary businessmen and we’ve remained friends for over sixty years now.” Two years after moving to Canberra Mike met Kay at a ‘pay night dance.’ Public servants were paid fortnightly and these dances were very popular. Mike recalls there
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
was nothing much else to do in the capital at the time. Kay was fifteen and Mike was eighteen and they would marry five years later in 1963, remaining together to this day. At the time Mike was working as a sub-contractor in Canberra but one day in 1968 he had a chance meeting at a friend’s barbeque in Sydney, meeting Jack Preston; at the time a legendary carpet buyer for Grace Brothers. Jack called Mike six months later and offered him a position that would lead to new opportunities.
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20 “I loved the trade, I loved the job and it was a very rare day that I went to work unhappy.” Below: Mike, daughter Sarah and Kay
Above: Brian Williams and Mike Grace Brothers were renovating three stores and opening a further seven and Mike won the job of supervising the installation of carpets throughout all the stores. And so, in January of 1969, Mike moved to Sydney to work with Jack on Grace Brothers store expansions for the next ten years and later, sub-contracting. During this period Grace Brothers was bought by Myer in 1983. In 1987 Mike won a tender with Norman Ross to warehouse and install their carpets. To meet these goals, Mike got together with Brian Williams, an accountant and they started Carpet Cutters Commercial Pty. Ltd. They employed a couple of well-known Sydney salesmen including Terry Brown who Mike had gone to school with, and Brian Sharman. The company grew over the next few years in spite of the recession that started in the US the same year. Australian shares fell 40% and Mike remembers, “We had to work a lot harder to keep our staff. We had wonderful people and it was very rare for anyone to leave us.” Mike remembers ‘thousands of metres’ of carpets often laid even over the weekends. But the situation was about to change. The often-controversial Jerry Harvey
had started Norman Ross in 1961 and by 1979 had 42 stores, but in 1992 the company went into liquidation. Brian said, “We can either pack up and go home, but with an obligation to our staff we can get into this commercial business boots and all.” And so, Carpet Cutters Commercial went right round Australia on contracts with TAB; Greater Union Cinema’s; Energy Australia and Macquarie University to name a few. One of Mike’s biggest jobs was Greater Union organisation in Marion, South Australia and also West Australia. Over the years Carpet Cutters has grown to be a force in the commercial carpet industry. In 1998 Lloyd Jeffery joined the company as a director and in 2005 Glen Bryon took over Brian’s
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
role for a full changeover of owners by 2006. Mike stayed on and retires this year, having vowed not to be working in his 80th year. He leaves Carpet Cutters knowing they will continue to grow with mature specialist staff and young, energetic people coming into the industry. One of Mike’s memorable achievements was bringing young people into the industry. In 2000 and 2001 he was elected to the committee of the Floor Covering Association of NSW and did a lot of work introducing young people to the industry. He points out Terry Stenburg and said, “Terry is a guy I started training when he was fifteen years old. Terry is a very good installer and a very good person and he’s still with us at Carpet
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Icons
21 Lisa and Dean; and his three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. One thing he’s really looking forward to is more fishing with grandson Matt who he describes as a ‘mad keen fisherman’ and maybe do a little travelling. Sixty-four continuous years working in the carpet trade is almost twenty years longer than most people work in their lifetime. Mike has seen many changes in the industry like when broadloom carpet first came in and they had to make their own tools to lay it. More recently it’s carpet tiles which he says, “Has completely swamped the commercial sector.”
Above: Mike at Kings Canyon Cutters at fifty-four.” Mike laments that these days it’s not that easy; he says, “Young people stay in school too long to get into a trade.” It’s a sentiment held by many across all trades. Mike says, “People walk on carpet and flooring every day and never think about it in terms of a job.” Another achievement is Mike’s 25 years as chairman of Carpetbaggers, a group of industry people who hold a charity golf day each year. Mike came on board with Bob
Wallace and the late Frank Keenan in 1992 and this year was their 50th anniversary. The ‘Baggers of NSW’ are now organised by Glen Bryon (Carpet Cutters), Garry Tunks (Quest Carpets) and Nathan Carroll (Intafloors NSW). While it got progressively harder to extract money from the industry over the years, Mike said, “They always came good in the end.” Last year they gave $10,000 to the cancer research foundation and this year, $7,500 to the Starlight Foundation. Mike is a very healthy (almost) 80-year old and plans to spend time with his two children,
Mike laid his last carpet at the Sheraton Hotel in Darwin in 1985 at the age of 45, marking thirty years ‘on the tools.’ He’d like to be remembered as a carpet man. He said, “I loved the trade, I loved the job and it was a very rare day that I went to work unhappy. It’s a great industry, every single day is different and even as a young carpet layer, I never knew where I would be working or even where I would end up on that day. Mike’s legacy could be the people he’s helped along the way, like Terry. Or it could be his long service; the Carpetbaggers; or Carpet Cutters but maybe it’s just his love of the industry, after all, he is the carpet man.
Technical Bulletin
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Marmoleum characteristics and useful things to know Brought to you by Forbo
Marmoleum, a natural product, is closer to timber in composition than a vinyl. Marmoleum is a truly natural sustainable resilient and modular floor that is manufactured Carbon Neutral (cradle to gate). More CO2 is absorbed in the growing phase of the raw materials, linseed, wood flour and jute than CO2 released from the production process. Simply put, as long as the sun shines and the rain falls, Marmoleum can be produced. Like timber and other natural products Marmoleum has some unique characteristics that are useful to understand and will make a world of difference when installing. In this edition we will focus on seams and welding.
To weld or not to weld? Marmoleum contains ZERO PVC or plastic and will not shrink at the seams over time.
“Problems encountered with welding are usually due to either welding at the high temperature and/or speed or use of incorrect weld and trimming techniques.�
has cured to bond the linoleum in its final and fixed position. A correctly cut seam will not open or expand during the life of the linoleum and is often considered to be aesthetically nicer than a welded seam, normal cleaning routines will not affect the joins. As long as you or the installer can cut and scribe a good seam, and if the application allows, welding of Marmoleum is not obligatory and not suggested by Forbo. Marmoleum tiles and planks have a polyester backing and never need to be welded, a great option for residential.
Hessian backed Marmoleum shrinks slightly in the length (1mm per lineal metre) stretches slightly in the width (thickness of a credit card or business card) during installation. This means that a well-cut seam will close tightly by the time the adhesive
If there is a requirement to weld the sheet seams (e.g. childcare) most installers are accustomed to welding sheet PVC vinyl floors. Marmoleum is very similar with some minor adjustments. The composition of linoleum weld cable requires a different welding temperature and speed. This is because 24
Above: Example of grooving depth (blue) and steps to trim the weld. Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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Technical Bulletin Marmoleum weld is a different formulation to bond with timber/linseed as opposed to PVC. Problems encountered with welding are usually due to either welding at the high temperature and/or speed or use of incorrect weld and trimming techniques. The correct grooving tool and depth must also be used. A P groover must be used, never use a triangular grooving tool. The depth should be 2/3 thirds deep or just above the hessian backing. Marmoleum should be welded at a temperature of approximately 300-350° C. Weld guns will vary, so it is always advisable to test on a piece of waste material to match the correct air gun temperature with welding speed. The weld cable should be trimmed whilst warm using a spatula and slide, which will leave the weld cable approximately 0.5mm proud of the surface of the linoleum. A Mozart knife can also be used. As with vinyl, the weld cable will dish slightly as it cools. Wait until the material is cool before trimming the remaining surplus weld cable using a spatula angled
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slightly across the line of the seam. Where vinyl sheet floor covering meets Marmoleum always use Marmoweld weld cable. NB: Attempting to trim the weld cable flush with the floor covering in one operation will often result in the weld cable being pulled out of the seam resulting in avoidable rewelding of the seam. Seam Hints: Fit and finish one run at a time, do not pull back and glue up multiple runs as this can be hard to judge the amount of lateral width expansion gap needed. Note: Once the Marmoleum is correctly bonded to the subfloor shrinkage in the length of the sheet and lateral expansion in the width of the sheet will no longer take place. The recess scriber being adjusted with a small gap the thickness of a credit/ business card. Marmoleum seam peaking and is usually attributed to the seam being recess scribed too tight or lack of adhesive and rolling.
Above: Net fit seams no weld Flooring December 2019/January 2020
“Marmoleum should be welded at a temperature of approximately 300350° C. Weld guns will vary, so it is always advisable to test on a piece of waste material to match the correct air gun temperature with welding speed. ” The appearance, performance and durability of the installed floorcovering will be determined to a large extent by the quality of the prepared subfloor and the conditions in which they are laid.
Above: Welded Marmoleum with matching mutli-colour weld www.flooringmagazine.com.au
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CARPET – a design option that isn’t hard Flooring Magazine recently sat down with Allan Firth from the Carpet Institute of Australia Limited (CIAL) to discuss the benefits of using one of the most popular floor coving choices available today - carpet. Design versatility With virtually unlimited choice of colours and surface textures, carpet helps to make buildings more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing environments. Acoustics Carpet improves the functionality of buildings by reducing noise reverberation and virtually eliminates floor impact sounds from footfalls and dropped objects that contribute greatly to ambient noise levels. Carpet is the best flooring choice for reducing unwanted noise in the home, workplace, education and healthcare facilities. Safe, non-slip surface Carpet is an inherently non-slip and cushioning floor covering. Its use in the home and publicly accessible buildings helps to reduce the incidence of falls and the severity of injuries when falls occur. The use of carpet as a cushioning floor covering is particularly important in aged care facilities due to the greater likelihood of the elderly falling and the increased injury consequences of such falls. 28
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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It’s what you can’t see that makes the difference.
The Collection Supreme (11mm) supreme
is of higher density and thickness, delivering a superior feel and maximum performance.
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takes it to another level, offering greater luxury and softness.
classic
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Feature
28 A further benefit of carpet’s pile surface is that it absorbs common breathable VOCs such as formaldehyde emitted from a range of building products. For all of these reasons, a well-maintained carpet makes a positive contribution to indoor air quality. All in all, carpet makes buildings quieter, more comfortable and safer places for inhabitants and visitors. Carpet improves the liveability of the indoor environment.
Walking comfort Cushioning and impact absorbing surfaces like carpet reduce leg fatigue which is important for workers who spend much of their time at work either standing or walking. Indoor Air Quality Carpet acts as a highly effective indoor air filter by trapping allergen bearing dust particles that settle out on the surface of the carpet until safely removed by regular vacuuming and periodic carpet cleaning. In contrast particulate matter on hard floors is readily re-circulated in the atmosphere by vibration or movement of the air. In 2005, the German Asthma and Allergy Bund (Foundation) conducted a study of fine particle levels in more than 100 homes paying special attention to furnishings and the type of floor coverings. The study found that the average content of dust particles in the air over smooth floors was twice that of carpeted floors and exceeded the European safe limit standard.
Australian Carpet Classification Scheme The ACCS labelling scheme classifies carpets according to their durability and appearance retention properties. The yellow and blue labels identify carpets that have been graded for residential use. The gold and labels identify carpets graded for contract or commercial use. The ACCS Environmental Certification Scheme (ECS) label indicates that the graded carpets also satisfy a range of environmental performance criteria. When buying carpet, choose products that have been independently tested and graded by the ACCS and ECS.
The study commented that ‘above all for particularly sensitive persons already suffering from previous damage to airways, the selection of a flooring material binding dust and not emitting it to the air to be breathed, is an essential preventative aspect’.
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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Wonders in Wool
COOL IN SUMMER 1300 444 778 WWW.HYCRAFTCARPETS.COM.AU
H
ycraft is a stunning and versatile range of wool carpets for every home. Its natural wool properties provide cooling relief from the heat in summer. With earthy, muted tones, there’s a luxurious Hycraft carpet for every interior space. From on-trend chunky loop piles, to timeless cut pile twist, we offer a stunning selection of wool carpet that your customers will adore. If you are looking to add more high-quality wool carpets to your offering, talk to your local Godfrey Hirst account manager about new sampling opportunities.
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Dunlop Flooring – 50 years of manufacturing
C
ast your mind back to 1969… the man first landed on the moon and Dunlop Flooring began manufacturing in Australia. Dunlop began producing products for the medical industry and in 1972 opened the first rebond underlay plant in Australia. Their Victorian manufacturing presence was shifted to Sunshine, Victoria in 1982 and for 37 years they produced some of Australia’s finest carpet underlays from this site as well as their NSW manufacturing plant in Wetherill Park.
most popular underlays and has been installed in millions of Australian homes.
Dunlop have achieved so much over the past 50 years and produced some of Australia’s most popular underlays, including the Springtred range, which was launched in 1990. Today, Springtred is one of Australia’s
Dunlop has always taken great pride in their environmental practices, being the largest recycler of polyurethane foam in the southern hemisphere. In 2013 Dunlop was awarded a Banksia Foundation award for Waste Minimisation, recognising their contribution to environmentally sustainable practices by way of diverting thousands of tons of foam from landfill. This would not have been achievable if it weren’t for the terrific support that they receive from their customers, for the Recycle By Dunlop program.
Dunlop took the next giant step in 2014 when they launched a range of flooring products under the Heartridge brand. Heartridge has been an enormous success and has delivered solid growth thanks again to the support of their loyal customers. This year saw the Dunlop manufacturing presence consolidated to a single supersite in Wetherill Park, NSW, which is now the largest foam underlay plant in the southern hemisphere. All of the manufacturing equipment from the Victorian plant in Sunshine was shifted up to NSW allowing Dunlop to double their production capacity from that site. This also enabled them to focus on quality control measures in a single site, from which the nation’s carpet underlay needs can be met. Meanwhile, the national head office shifted to a new Victorian site in Truganina that boasts a massive capacity for underlay and flooring stock, as well as sampling. Customers can be assured that the production lead times and the quality of Dunlop underlays are at the forefront of their priorities as they transition into this new era of Dunlop manufacturing. Dunlop Flooring would like to thank all of their loyal customers for supporting them for the last 50 years.
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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Access for all Install solutions from BBS – Australia’s own local installation accessories manufacturer. AS 1428 2009, Design for Access and Mobility came into effect in 2009 with the aim of clarifying and improving design standards for new buildings to provide better access for people with disabilities. For the floor covering industry this Standard focuses our attention on assisting people with impaired mobility and vision. Part 1 of the Standard sets minimum design requirements for walkways, doorways, ramps, stairs, landings and thresholds to enable better access for people with impaired mobility and vision.
The point to note is that any change in height on a walked on surface where two flooring surfaces meet should be no more than 3mm. This can be increased up to a 5mm height difference if the raised edge is chamfered to 45 degrees or made to a radius of no more than R5. In other words, on a flat walking surface there should be no more than a 3mm height variation where two floorcoverings meet (such as vinyl meeting tile or carpet). This height variation can be increased up to a maximum 5mm if the leading edge is chamfered or rounded appropriately. This standard is illustrated in the diagrams below.
The Building Code of Australia and Disability (Access to Premise – Buildings) Standards define where access for people with disability is required. AS 1428 is referenced by these codes to provide technical solutions to meet the deem-to-satisfy provisions.
These design parameters are illustrated in the trim section shown below that are used to ramp between different types of carpet and tile.
A trickier application of AS 1428.1 is specifically to do with stair nosings where hazards are significant for any visually impaired person. The aim of this part of the Standard is to ensure that anyone with less than perfect vision can clearly identify the leading edge of the stair while they are ascending or descending. Several specific design features are mandated for the stair tread so that the front of the stair is made clear and obvious.
What does all this mean in practice? There are several areas in the Design for Access and Mobility Standard that are worth noting. The first is very general and relates to flooring surfaces that are walked over (or in the language of the Standard “continuous accessible paths of travel and circulation spaces”. Here the critical matter is to remove trip hazards and other obstacles to enable a safe path of travel for all people, whether they are able bodied, in wheelchairs or with another mobility impairment.
should contain a gradient of less than 1: 8 (i.e. cover strips spanning two floorcoverings need to be 8 times wider than the height they step up to).
This height variation for walked on surfaces relates directly to transition strips that are used between floor coverings. These trims used should not create a raised edge greater than 3mm (or 5mm if chamfered or rounded). In addition, the trim itself
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
a) The tread (that is the flat part of the stair nosing with the grip surface on top) should be between 50mm and 75mm wide. The purpose of this is to make it easy to see and locate as you walk the stairs. b) Since the Standard mandates the size of the tread width it also implies that the tread should be one continuous width and not made up of several narrower
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sections or colours. Again, the purpose is to provide an unambiguous target for the feet of anyone traversing the stairs. c) This tread should run continuously across the path of travel i.e. from left to right along the length of the top of the step. d) It should be positioned no more than 15mm from the leading edge of the step i.e. close enough to the front edge so it identifies the leading edge. e) It should have a minimum luminescent contrast of no less than 30% to the background colour. The measurement of this contrast value is quite technical, but the effect is plain – the tread should be a contrast strip that is clearly visible against the background colour
(normally the floor covering that is going over the stair). f) If the colour contrast strip is not set back from the leading edge of the stair it should not continue down the front stair by more than 10mm. The point here is that the contrast strip should be clearly on top of the stair so it can be an obvious target for eyes to see and feet to navigate. To sum this up, a colour contrasting tread needs to be located on the leading edge of each step to clearly identify the top of the step. This tread should be visible with a 30%
luminescent contrast to the background, in one continuous colour, in a width between 50mm and 75mm, and running the full length of the step from left to right. The correct application of this standard has a very practical outcome. Conforming stair treads clearly mark the leading edge of each step, making it easier for everyone to locate the stair edge when ascending or descending. There are many possible designs for stair treads and nosings to conform to this Standard. The drawings below illustrate several of these.
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Farm to floor
T
he natural beauty of wool, stems from the inherent complexity of the fibre itself, evolved to protect sheep, no matter what the conditions. That is why we still wear wool, sleep with wool, insulate with wool and enjoy walking on wool. When it comes to carpet, wool has always set the highest standard. Wool carpets add unmistakable elegance to interior spaces. Godfrey Hirst pride themselves on making some of the most luxurious and environmentally friendly, natural wool carpet on the planet. To make the best wool carpet in the world, you need to use the best wool in the world and that is why their wool story starts with New Zealand's best sheep farmers. The farmers who grow the wool are passionate about caring for their sheep and the land they live on. They are committed to farming in an environmentally sustainable way so that New Zealand can continue to produce high-quality wool carpet for years to come.
The incredible resource of wool, pure, biodegradable and renewable material is at the heart of the Godfrey Hirst Farm to Floor story. For most of the year the sheep roam free on farms in the most incredible natural landscapes that New Zealand has to offer, then, when they no longer need their woolly coats, it is off to the shearing shed for a haircut. Skilled shearing hands shear almost a quarter of a million tonnes of wool annually. These shearers love their work and handle the sheep with the utmost care.
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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35 The wool from these New Zealand sheep is then scoured, cleaned, dyed, and spun before it is turned into yarn. These cones of yarn are then tufted into carpet. Experts use huge tufting machines to stitch the yarn through a backing fabric to create loops. This tufted carpet is then finished by adhering it to Godfrey Hirst’s 100% natural jute backing which creates a strong and resilient natural flooring product. The incredible resource of wool, pure, biodegradable and renewable material is at the heart of the Godfrey Hirst Farm to Floor story. You can see their wool carpet story come to life in a new video at www. godfreyhirst.com. Natural stain resistance, easy maintenance and flame retardancy make wool carpet a practical floor covering that is sure to enhance the look and feel of any space.
From on-trend chunky loop piles, to timeless cut pile twist, Godfrey Hirst offer a stunning selection of wool carpet that consumers will adore.
Retailer of the Month
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Side by Side
activities. There’s less staff in the stores than there used to be, and the outlets are far more efficient.
by Philip Ashley
S
outh Adelaide Flooring Xtra in Morphett Vale, just south of Adelaide and Mount Barker Flooring Xtra stores are the twin retail stores owned by Trevor Dingwall. They operate with a simple but very effective philosophy; everyone works together to achieve a solution the customer is satisfied with. Trevor has been in the industry for over 30 years, first as an installer and now sales, so he knows both sides of the business. He knows how adversarial the two sides could be and so, right from the very beginning, their installers are involved as the customer and salespeople interact. At South Adelaide Flooring Xtra, this is something that’s practised as a fundamental way of business.
about customer relations, and because the installer is the last person our customer may see, the right impression is very important.” Trevor started out as a carpet layer by trade and spent fifteen years on the tools before deciding to go into business himself. He is now the director of the two stores in Morphett Vale and Mount Barker, about 50 minutes apart. He also operates a flooring insurance business using the two retail outlets and warehouse as resources and has spent recent years focusing on getting bigger contracts, building relationships with builders and streamlining the businesses day to day
The twin Flooring Xtra stores are mostly run by family but even those not related are regarded as just as important to the business. Trevor’s son Sean is Genivieve’s partner but she’s not there for that reason. Genivieve studied interior architecture, not ever considering a career in the flooring business but Trevor saw what a positive outcome that could be for the business and asked Sean and Genivieve to join the company. Sean was an installer himself, doing about five years on carpet and five years on timber floors and is now their ‘trouble-shooter’ and consultant. It’s his job to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Ben and Daniel perform sales roles at Morphett Vale; Mike runs the Mount Barker store and Marie, a long-time salesperson, works between the two stores and does some onsite consulting. Sean’s sister maintains the considerable stock in the warehouse and co-ordinates the purchasing of product. Genivieve says, “In the past we’ve had a large stock of product but we’re starting to reduce this. For our retail sales, it’s unrealistic to gamble on what our customers may want.” Their commercial work requires them to hold fairly large amounts, but that range of colours and styles is small.
Genivieve manages the store at Morphett Vale and says, “Trevor created the backbone for the way we operate where everyone who will work on the job is involved from the start; the customer’s needs are always fully understood by everyone. We don’t ever want our customers to feel like we’ve sold them a product, taken their money and then left them to an installer they’ve never spoken to before. It works well for our installers too because they feel like they’re on top of things. They also understand a lot more
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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Retailer of the Month The business has a long history. Recently going through old day sheets, Genivieve was surprised at how many familiar names were there; people keep coming back. Genivieve says the Flooring Xtra group is very contemporary, not behind the times and that their guidelines are set up with a lot of thought behind them. She has always thought that it feels like they are running the business the way they want to and said, “We’ve never found anything Flooring Xtra wants us to do is anything other than beneficial for our business.” This year they’ve noticed a slight downturn in foot traffic due to the economy with some sales focused on short-term solutions. Genivieve says people often install their own flooring to fill an immediate need at low cost. One area she feels is interesting is the online shopper. Flooring Xtra’s website provides customers with considerable information about product and pricing. She says, “We need to be close to where the price will sit to avoid losing credibility.” The flip side of the customer having knowledge about the price is they’re not surprised anymore. Genivieve can spend time with the customer making sense of it all. Genivieve is very focused on what the flooring retail business might look like in the future. She believes that customers will always have a need hold and feel the product
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South Adelaide Flooring Xtra, NSW but there may be ways to accommodate this. Perhaps its smaller satellite stores supported by a central warehouse. Customers are doing a lot more online these days and this will only increase over time. When it does, Genivieve will probably have a plan to take advantage of the possible reduction in warehouse space, taking advantage of more efficient business practices; automated systems; streamlined stock management and new ways of interacting with customers. Outside the business, Trevor likes to travel as he approaches eventual retirement. Genivieve says, “If Trev is in Australia, he’s working.” Trevor likes travelling to destinations in Asia like the Philippines and Cambodia. Sean on the other hand is a keen surfer and enjoys Adelaide’s surf beaches whenever he can. And Genivieve’s creative personality has led her to photography with
a Canon camera she received some time ago for her birthday. She photographs intimate wedding shoots at the beach, in a forest or park and is quite accomplished. With twin four-year old boys, Genivieve and Sean have plenty to do. South Adelaide Flooring Xtra service mainly residential clients and age care facilities and this is mainly due to their geographical location. They’ve got an excellent understanding of what their customers expect and how to achieve this but they’re not resting on past successes. Genivieve and her people are attuned to the changing face of retail sales and are well-placed to take the business into the digital age and beyond, while maintaining that personalised service, from the time they’re contacted through to the last metre of carpet or flooring laid by their on-site professionals.
Australia's only complete underlay company Residential • Commercial • Hard Flooring Underlays
www.airstep.com.au 1800 803 545
Software
38
Can you google your business data? Story by Chris Ogden
A
lmost all information is now at our fingertips. Most of us carry a device in our pocket that can access even the most obscure information in a matter of seconds. For those of us who remember investing in sets of encyclopaedias, or having to visit a library, our access to information today has been an extraordinary development in our lifetime. For most of us, the improved access to information has become the norm; there is almost nothing we need to know that is not accessible right now. As a business owner, have you seen the improved access to information extend to your business? Sitting at your computer (or any other device for that matter), what information can you most quickly access – the rainfall days last month in Santa Barbara Ca., or your average gross profit margin last month. (In case you were wondering, the number of rainfall days in Santa Barbara last month was 3.8). Very likely, most of us could find out our average GP for last month reasonably quickly, but how long would it take for us to find out how that compares to the same month over the past three years? What if we want a report that shows us the sales performance of a single product over the past 12 months? The number of quotes on that product, the number of sales made, the amount of each colour sold, and the average GP achieved? You might ask why we would need that level of detail, and on a day to day basis you very likely don’t, but the situation will very arise where that information would be valuable. Maybe you want to rationalise the number of products
you have on display but are unsure about which should be culled. Or maybe a supplier has offered you a stock deal on a product, but you want to know how well the colours have been selling before committing to a purchase.
To make the best decision, we want accurate and up to date information about how the salesperson is performing; it’s an opportunity to coach and to set targets so that if we agree to pay her more, both she and the business benefit.
Possibly we don’t see the value of data because we have never had access to it. If we did have access to it, however, very likely we would use it.
The reality is most flooring business owners cannot quickly access the information needed to make business decisions; in place of good information, we rely on gut feel. As entrepreneurs, our gut feel is important, but it’s more effective when supported by data.
A fully integrated business management system such as RFMS gives users the ability to report on every aspect of their business; samples, products, colours within product ranges, salespeople, customers, business performance; these few only scratch the surface of what can be analysed and reported on. Another example. What happens in most businesses when a salesperson asks for raise? Most of us have a feel for how well a salesperson is performing, but no discussion about remuneration should be based on a feeling; we will either over-compensate the employee or run the risk of losing her because we didn’t truly appreciate her value.
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
If you would like to see how RFMS might help you access your business information, we would love to hear from you. I can be reached at cogden@rfms.com. Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Go to RFMSanz.com for more information.
Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Go to RFMSanz.com for more information.
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Go Mobile
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salesau@rfms.com
Software
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Improve sales by avoiding budget shock Story by Chris Ogden
When we fail to win a job, our first thought is the job has gone to a competitor. Often this is the case, but if we are not following up on quotes, we might be surprised how many jobs don’t go ahead at all. There are many reasons why a job might not go ahead, but one of the most common reasons is budget shock. Our customer might have done their online research and have a good idea about the price of product, but they often have only a rough idea of how much they need (especially when it comes to roll goods), and no idea as to installation costs. If floor prep is required, the total cost can be significantly greater than expected; at the lower end of the product price range, floor prep and installation can be more than the price of the product.
It takes time and effort to measure and quote a project, and if the client has no understanding of where the price might end up, we might be wasting their time and ours. As salespeople, if we find out after submitting our quote that the price was significantly more than the customer expected, then we didn’t do our job very well.
“…at the lower end of the product price range, floor prep and installation can be more than the price of the product. ”
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
At the car sales yard, we expect to hear the question, “What’s your budget?”. Neither we, nor the salesperson, want to spend time looking at vehicles outside of our price bracket. It should be no different in a flooring store, except our job is somewhat more difficult, because, at the early stages at least, we have no idea how much area is involved in the project and we don’t know what sort of floor preparation might be required. Most people enter a flooring project with little or no idea what the cost will be. It’s our job as salespeople to find out what they expect the cost might be, and then to gently educate them on some of the costs they may not have anticipated. Best possible outcome is we give them a realistic estimate, eliminating the shock they feel when they get our quote.
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Software Good salespeople have long been employing budget questions to qualify customers and to establish realistic expectations.
“…if we find out after submitting our quote that the price was significantly more than the customer expected, then we didn’t do our job very well.”
41 New tools available to salespeople to help manage price expectations are tablet-based quantifying apps such as Measure Mobile. On Measure Mobile the salesperson can draw up room sizes to the approximate shape and size of the client's rooms, apply a product, and then use the checklist feature to calculate all the possible costs that might apply to the project. This is going to give the customer a realistic estimate as to the cost they might expect, and if it’s too much, the salesperson can use the app to switch out products that might better meet the budget. Where there is a difference between what the customer had budgeted and what they will likely need to pay, the salesperson can use the tools within Measure Mobile to calculate payment over an extended period to improve affordability. We can even take photos of the
various products the customer is considering and attach the images to an estimate that can be emailed to the customer. A process like this not only ensures everyone is on the same page in terms of price expectations, but it’s an engaging process your customer will likely not have got when visiting your competition. If you would like to see how Measure Mobile can help your salespeople do a more effective job of working with your customers, an online demo can be arranged if you send an email to cogden@rfms.com.
Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Go to RFMSanz.com for more information.
Be Accurate. Be Efficient. Be Profitable
MEASURE MOBILE • Draw Scale Plans • Add, Delete and Move Seams • Include Doorways and Stairs • Calculate Material Quantities • Create and Email Quotes • Take Signed Acceptance on Tablet • Take Payments Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012 measureflooring.com measuremobile.com
Software
42
Software for installation management Nigel Welsh believes the estimation software he helped to develop can make life easier for tiling professionals and provide their clients with an efficient service Virtual reality (VR) and 3D visualisation technology can enhance colour selection processes for tiling businesses. Imagine clients attending appointments to select tile décor, and promising to put them in the actual room before it’s even built. VR, 3D visualisation and MeasureSquare estimation software can provide them with a seamless experience, potentially revolutionising the home building and renovation process. According to Nigel, MeasureSquare is a global brand of estimation software specifically created for residential and commercial flooring companies, installers and contractors. It is capable of estimating floor and wall products, as well as services. The computer-aided software and application is designed to run on Windows IOS and Android operating systems, giving the user the ability to measure, plan, and estimate any flooring product and line item or service associated with a flooring project.
their work, explains Nigel. It is capable of estimating any flooring or wall-based product and service.
connect a Leica Disto with Bluetooth to MeasureSquare, point and shoot then watch the plan being drawn on the app.
The commercial version of the software makes estimating tiling projects quick and easy. Profiling is one unique tool designed specifically for tiling. Users create a design on one wall and apply it to all other walls if required. They can create profile standards for shower recesses, splash backs, calculate in square metre or lineal metre, install complex tile patterns or even create their own custom tile patterns.
ServiceX This is a messenger-style app designed for flooring businesses, allowing users to connect across desktop and mobile devices, and uses familiar features such as groups, image sharing and chat. It can offer fast, straightforward and effective collaboration and communications between users.
Mobile For those who want to measure onsite, the MeasureSquare iPad app has been developed to allow a user to quickly measure, plan and estimate all types of flooring and wall products. Measuring is made almost effortless with the use of an integrated laser that measures functionality. Users can just
Commercial MeasureSquare Estimation PCbased software editions can make short work of large commercial estimations. Users simply import an architectural plan in a PDF, image or CAD file format, scale it within seconds, and start
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
ServiceX connects the entire MeasureSquare suite. It can also link many useful tools – that are free – related to flooring businesses, such as purpose-built window blind measuring tools and M2 AR augmented reality. Customers can be shown what the product will look like in their homes with their own furniture and fittings in a matter of minutes. Instant access to industry organisations and tools can give users and their customers the answers immediately. MeasureSquare web-based tools are a free set of website calculators that can embedded in websites used by tile contractors and installers. This can give their customer an uncomplicated way to supply diagrams for flooring, measurements for blinds, and estimations based on their own input.
Nigel Welsh is managing director of Measure Square
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Training
44
WoodSolutions Campus addresses an industry need
R
ecognising the need for training in the timber flooring sector, WoodSolutions (an initiative of Forest and Wood Products Australia – FWPA) has added a new module to their WoodSolutions Campus. A collaboration with professional and industry associations and the University of Tasmania, WoodSolutions Campus (www. woodsolutions.com.au/campus) is a free resource, offering online timber education to people in the industry, material specifiers, designers and builders. The latest course, Flooring Training Modules, was developed in partnership with the Australasian Timber Flooring Association (ATFA), with the aim of ensuring the appropriate and successful use of timber and timber products in different flooring situations.
Floorcovering Association of Victoria Inc.
FAV would like to thank all its sponsors for the 2019 awards night held on the 10th August at the Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne. Looking forward to 2020.
Randy Flierman, CEO at ATFA, said that while timber is a popular flooring choice, education is required to optimise physical and aesthetic benefits. “Timber flooring can be a beautiful, enduring asset for homes, workplaces, sporting venues and other locations. However, to get the best out of wood as a flooring material, it is essential that it is correctly installed and maintained,” Mr Flierman said. Eileen Newbury, Program Manager of WoodSolutions and National Marketing and Communications Manager at FWPA, said WoodSolutions Campus is becoming the first choice amongst the construction supply chain, design and build industry as the go-to for timber education. “We are delighted to have added another important aspect of timber construction to our expanding and increasingly popular online training resources,” Ms Newbury said. Through the seven modules of the new course, participants will learn about the properties of various types of timber flooring and how each should be installed. The importance of preparation before installation and how features of the site can affect the flooring will also be covered. The WoodSolutions Campus was developed in response to a perceived lack of knowledge about the nature and performance of wood and wood products. There was a recognition by the industry that sales opportunities were restricted by this lack of knowledge, resulting in customer dissatisfaction where inappropriate products were specified, recommended or supplied. Since launching, the WoodSolutions Campus courses have been well received. During the previous financial year alone, there were 251 enrolments across all courses, from a variety of professions, including education, trade, built environment, industry and sales. Alongside the new Flooring Training modules other topics include; mid-rise timber construction, building regulations, timber inspection, managing moisture, designing for durability, designing for bushfire, environmental characteristics and more. All WoodSolutions Campus online training modules are available at no cost from www.woodsolutions.com.au/campus
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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DISCOVER A NEW ELEGANCE IN FLOORING
WATER
EXCLUSIVE TO CARPET COURT
SISTANT RE
kronotex-aust.com.au
Safety
46
Safety standards in public spaces
C
lassic Architectural Group is a trusted brand across Australia, with safety being the key focus in public spaces. Adhering to Australian Safety Standards and listening to their customers, regulators and partners for over 30 years, the products are developed to be versatile in terms of design, colour and application. Knowledge of the safety standards and what is required to deliver exceptional results for Classic’s customers places their innovative strategy of access solutions at the front of the pack, supported by an enduring commitment to quality and service that allows space for individual excellence, success and fulfilment. Let us look through a building example and what safety standards apply to the visual diagram: 01: Entrance Matting - Mat size is critical. People entering a building don’t often stop to wipe their feet so it is important that an entrance mat is deep enough to ensure there are enough contacts between the entry matting and the soles of shoes to minimise the amount of dirt carried into the building. The Australian Building Code’s recommendation is that a mat should have a minimum dimension of 1.8m from front to back which allows for 2 contacts from each foot. However, studies have proven that fitting an entrance with 6m of an effective entrance matting system can stop 94% of all walked in dirt and moisture. Entrance mats are not always a standard shape, that is why it is important to have all sites measured and cut into any
shape or form providing the solution for architecturally shaped entrances and revolving doorways, which adhere to code standards. 02: Stair Nosing - Australian Stair Nosing Standards (AS 1428.1:2009) state the following requirements are mandatory to fully comply to all public access stairs (2 or more): • to be fitted with stair nosing that have a fully non-slip horizontal surface • each tread shall have a strip not less than 50mm and not more than 75mm deep across the full width of the path of travel. The strip may be set back a maximum of 15mm from the front of the nosing • not project beyond the face of the riser and the riser may be vertical or have a splay backwards up to a maximum 25mm • have stair nosing with a luminance contrast of at least 30% against the surfaces These standards are compulsory in new construction, however existing stairs in any publicly accessible areas should also comply to ensure a duty of care compliance is met.
than 5mm and a top diameter of 25mm. Directional / leading tactile indicators incorporate rows of parallel bars with rounded ends spaced 50mm apart, end to end, and at 75mm centres side by side. They also have a chamfered side with a base of 35mm by approx. 285mm long and 5mm high. Colour Requirements Tactile Indicators must have a luminance contrast to the surrounding ground surface. For example, light grey tactile indicators installed to light grey concrete will not achieve a luminance contrast. 30% minimum luminance contrast to the surrounding ground surface is required where the tactile indicator is in the form of a precast concrete paver or tile or mat with a uniform colour (defined as being integrated). 45% minimum luminance contrast to the surrounding ground surface is required where the tactile indicator is an individually drilled and fixed stud or bar (defined as discreet).
03: Tactile indicators - There is a very extensive document on the safety standards of AS1428.4.1:2009 relating to tactile indicators, but below is a basic summary relating to size, shape and colour:
60% minimum luminance contrast to the surrounding ground surface is required where the individually drilled and fixed tactiles have a different colour top than the side - the 25mm diameter top must exhibit the minimum 60% luminance contrast. If two colours are being used, the 60% rule also applies.
Size and Shape Requirements Warning / hazard tactile indicators incorporate a grid pattern of studs at 50mmcentres. They are raised, truncated cones with a base diameter of 35mm, no higher
04: Trims & Expansion Joint Covers In accordance with the definitions of DIN 52460, the Australian Standard defines these joints as: “...discontinuities in the tiled surface, filled with permanently deformable
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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48
Safety
48
material, which are intended to perform the following functions: • separation of the tiled surface from fixed elements such as columns, walls etc • subdivision of large areas of tiled surface into smaller sections to compensate for induced strain from various sources • to interrupt the tiled surface to match discontinuities in substrate such as construction joints and movement joints 05: Bollards - Bollards may be used to control or prevent vehicle access to public places or to provide visual enhancement to a space and their style should be compatible with other street furniture in the area. Bollards that form the sole means of preventing vehicular access should be spaced at 1.6m centres. This should prevent most cars sold in Australia from driving between them. They should be approximately 1 metre in height and include a reflective panel if sited in a vehicle domain such as a car park. The space between a bollard and a gutter or kerb should allow for pedestrian movement (including people with disabilities) and for vehicle overhangs and door openings. Bollards must be visible to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Bollards should not be a hazard to people with disabilities. They should not be located in the natural desired pedestrian path. They should have sufficient foundation strength to resist being pushed by a large 4x4 vehicle. 06: Speed Humps - The Australian standard that regulates the design and use of speed humps for use in off-street parking in Australia is AS2890.1:2004 parking facilities.
comply with the standard as they exceed the maximum height.
AS2890.1 identifies four main criteria in the design of type 2 speed humps. • Height: Must be between 25mm and 75mm. • Ramp angle: Must have a ramp angle 2:1 • Markings: Must have alternating parallel yellow or white stripes 250mm wide. Road humps shall be spaced at no less than 10m for type 2, along any one aisle or roadway. Maximum spacing where required to control speeds continuously along a roadway should be about 50m, speed hump should be located clear of intersections and curved roadways. Speed humps shall not impede pedestrian or wheelchair traffic on any accessible travel path provided for people with disabilities. 07: Wheel Stops - Use and placement of wheel stops according to AS2890.1:2004. Wheel stops shall be between 90 and 100mm in height and 1650 + 50mm in width. Distances are measured from the front of the parking space to the point of contact with the vehicle tyre. If wheel stops are provided to restrain vehicle contact with a kerb higher than 150mm or a wall, a further 200mm shall be added to the wheel stop distance. The maximum height of wheel stops is 100mm. Most concrete wheel stops do not
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
08: Bike Racks - Available in a wide range of applications, they can be surface mounted or below ground. Unless the frame and both wheels of a bicycle can be locked to a facility, it cannot be regarded as secure and will not therefore meet the requirements of the Australian Standards. 09: Height Bars - To comply with AS2890.1-1993, height bars need to be powder coated high visibility safety yellow, have reflective red/white panels, display and specify the required clearance and be manufactured from durable galvanised steel tube. 10: Corner Guards - Corner guards are designed to prevent damage to both vehicles and property, particularly in areas of restricted space. Ideal for loading docks and car parks. Made from recycled rubber with reflective panels. 11: Safety Mirrors - Convex safety mirrors are a great resource for traffic and security solutions. They provide a greater field of vision and can assist people in seeing hazards and thus preventing collisions, making it safe for pedestrians and other traffic, especially in areas where forklifts are used. They are durable and weather-proof, suitable for road and pedestrian traffic applications, warehouses, distribution depots and car parks. 12: Skate Deterrents - At almost every commercial building and streetscape, external public areas and piazzas are at the mercy of those who use them. Property and facility managers spend hundreds of thousands of dollars every year in time and money on costs associated with clean up and repairing damage caused by skateboarders, in-line skates and bikes.
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Overseas News
50
Wood and Resilient Flooring Hosted Buyers Program The organisers of DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR invite wood and resilient flooring professionals to become Hosted Buyers at the next edition of the show and meet 60 of the top wood and resilient flooring manufacturers from the region. Selected Hosted Buyers will enjoy free hotel accommodation for 4 nights, VIP status, an exclusive invitation to the VIP International Party and many more benefits. Over the past two decades China has become one of the major producers of wood flooring in the world. With roughly 3,000 wood flooring manufacturers in China, the demand is still rising, especially due to the appeal the products have abroad. Resilient flooring is also gaining momentum after a spectacular year of growth in both sales and production. Much of the success in this sector is due to the performance of subcategories such as SPC rigid core flooring. Considered a revolutionary product, SPC flooring is in its infancy and many industry leaders are located in China. The 2020 Wood and Resilient Flooring Hosted Buyers Program will take place on March 23rd at the Sheraton Hotel as part of DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR. To apply email Hassan Ahmad at hassan.ahmad@vnuexhibitions. com.cn for details.
IHGF Delhi Fair connects the world with a new take on Sustainability The recently concluded IHGF Delhi Fair, in its Autumn 2019 edition, drove home a thought-provoking message on sustainability and responsible manufacturing. In keeping with the theme of ‘refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle’, inspiring installations of flora and fauna, made from 50 tons of industrial waste including plastic, metal, wood and fabric, amalgamated traditional Indian lifestyle values and practices with reimagined creativity using everyday waste materials. The recent IHGF Delhi Fair, built on workmanship, artisanship and innovative use of raw materials, endeavored to highlight traditional Indian values whilst moving towards building a consensus on practicing sustainable trade and living. Eco-friendly home lifestyle displays made from recycled materials including an assortment of fair trade product exhibits further affirmed this. Over 7000 trade visitors from 110 countries attended the fair to engage with the 3200+ exhibitors spread across 197,000 square metres. A substantial number of products at the show were influenced by the world around us. As climate change envelops the world at a much faster pace than can be contained treasuring the environment becomes a top priority and ethical design gains momentum. Responsible manufacturing takes centre stage and the idea of zero waste spurs many to think outside the box. Several displays reflected a trend towards simplicity, nature, home, family and authentic experiences.
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
Carpets, rugs and flooring manufactured in craft clusters from different regions in India showcased colour, design and construction, with a trend towards the use of organic fibres, dying and printing. Among initiatives to minimise waste, the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, replaced bottled water with metal flasks that could be refilled at water stations situated throughout the venue. Renowned globally by the international buying community, IHGF Delhi Fair has been the charismatic face for the work of millions of Indian artisans involved in making distinct world class products for buyers and consumers across the world. This iconic show, now 48 editions old, continues to be a promising resource for global chains. The 49th edition will be held from the 15th to the 19th of April 2020 at the India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida Expressway, Delhi NCR.
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Prep Install & Care
52
Saving your floors with Self-Adhesive films
D
on’t wait until it is too late. Paint, coatings and glue damages new carpet, vinyl and tiles. Temporary floor and surface protection options allow you to protect your floor areas from dust, damage and debris saving you from damage to the existing surfaces.
It is important to note that it is not recommended to leave the adhesive floor films including products similar to Polystick plastics for long periods of time. It is also essential they are not exposed to direct sunlight or heat as this may cause the adhesive to come away from the plastic backing.
Temporary floor protection solutions, including self-adhesive reverse stick rolls, for carpet and hard floors allow you to effectively and economically protect newly laid commercial carpets, vinyls, timber and tiles from any dust, damage or debris during reconstruction. Hard and carpet self-adhesive film can be used to: • Inhibit damage to the existing floor or concrete surfaces • Reduce costly repairs to the existing floor surface • Reduce cleaning or servicing fees prior to hand over Because the film has been designed as a reverse roll, once removed from its packaging, the self-adhesive film can be put in place and rolled out working forward.
Floor Protection Tips In a larger commercial fit-out or reconstruction project self-adhesive floor protection rolls are often used around the external floor areas beside the walls to hold down other temporary plastics including; Corflute, MDF, Ramboard or SupaBord style products that don’t have a self-adhesive sticky backing.
Let us help you protect Over the years All Preparation Equipment has had experience with protecting the floors in major projects along with offices, residential areas, workplaces, schools, hospitals and heavy traffic areas during reconstruction projects. Recently they have worked with the Brisbane Airport Corporation, Myer’s, David Jones, Kmart, Westfield Shopping Centre and many more to help ensure no damage is made to the floor coverings while other works are taking place. To discuss your specific floor protection requirements, talk to one of the experts at All Preparation equipment today.
Used in a recent office fit-out project the 1m wide rolls held down Polyweave and the temporary woven plastic provided a waterproof, dust proof, cleanable surface. This had the added benefit of being easily vacuumed or broomed down as required. Being adhesive, the film will hold itself to any surface ensuring it does not become a trip hazard when walked over. The product adheres tightly when equipment including trolleys and frames are rolled over it, meaning it is kept in place longer.
Flooring December 2019/January 2020
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2020 Exhibitions
MARCH 2020
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CASA Salzburg, TexBo, Ambiente and Mobel 2020 International trade fair for interior design, furniture and lifestyle Salzburg, Austria https://10times.com/casa-ambientemobel
24-26
PUBLISHER Vicky Cammiade Email: vicky.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au
27-30
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JANUARY 2020
5-7
Domotex USA 2020 Leading international floor coverings show Georgia, USA https://domotexusa.com/
10-13
Domotex 2020 Leading international floor coverings show Hannover, Germany https://www.domotex.de/en/ 22-25
The International Surface Event TISE Exhibition for flooring, stone and tile industry Las Vegas, USA https://www.intlsurfaceevent.com/en/ home.html
Domotex asia/Chinafloor 2020 The leading flooring exhibition in the Asian-Pacific region and the second largest flooring show worldwide Shanghai, China http://www.domotexasiachinafloor. com/
EDITOR Michelle Cammiade michelle.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Philip Ashley philipneilashley6@bigpond.com
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4-7
Budma 2020 International construction and architecture fair, including wood flooring Poznan, Poland https://www.budma.pl/en/
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Ad Index Airstep Australia
11, 36, 37
Amtico Flooring
Inside Front Cover
Australian Flooring Supplies
25, 45
Australian Select Timbers
5
IHGF Delhi Fair
49
Intafloors 13 Kenbrock Flooring
Inside Back Cover
Kevmor Flooring
Front Cover, 9
BBS Flooring Products
33
Laser Measure Australia
43
Classic Architectural Group
47
Mapei Australia
17
Domotex asia/Chinafloor
51
Polivac International
21
Dunlop Flooring
27
Preference Floors
7
Forbo Flooring
23
RFMS Australasia
39, 41
Floorcovering Assn of Victoria (FAV)
44
RLA Polymers
53
GMK Logistics
35
Signature Floorcoverings
31
Godfrey Hirst Australia
29, Back Cover
ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD (established 1985) All rights reserved – No part of this publication maybe reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Viewpoints, opinions, claims, etc expressed in articles appearing in this publication are those of the authors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the information supplied or for claims made by companies or their representatives regarding product performance, etc or for any errors, omissions, misplacement, alterations, or any subsequent changes, or for any consequences of reliance on this information or this publication. ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Supplier Woodworking Magazine, Tile Today Magazine, Discovering Stone Magazine, FB Magazine, Flooring Magazine, Finishes & Surfaces Magazine
Sika 15
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Kenbrock launches new product category
- MODULAR HYBRID Introducing ECLIPSE This product is a cross over between LVT Modular (loose lay) and Hybrid flooring. Using hi-tac pressure sensitive adhesives it eliminates the need for a click system yet retains all the traditional benefits of a Hybrid floor. This product was developed over a 2 year period and successfully launched in the USA, now it is available in Australia. Benefits include: •
Faster installation without the worry of damage to the click mechanism.
•
Superior indent resistance to LVT Modular.
•
Enhances Stability with rigid SPC core
•
Comfort backing - Quieter underfoot
•
No need for climate control
•
Family and pet friendly
•
No scotia required
•
100% Waterproof
•
Phthalate Free
•
Competitively priced
www.kenbrock.com.au www.kenbrock.com.au www.kenbrock.com.au www.kenbrock.com.au
Photographed: EL08 Washed Blackgum
Modular Hybrid
Add A Spark To Your Office Interior
WITH PROMINENT M E TA L L I C H I G H L I G H T S Our new skinny plank range enables flexible design and encourages creativity on the floor. Made here in Australia, Waypoint will withstand exceptionally heavy foot traffic and the extensive demands of a commercial office environment. Waypoint creates layers of dimension and texture through its deviating and indirect pattern. This striking range features a prominent metallic highlight on the side of the tile, adding a layer of complexity to the range.
Contact your local representaitve to order sampling and discuss your next commercial project. PH AU: 1300 444 778 PH NZ: 0800 500 210
W W W. G H C O M M E R C I A L . C O M