Flooring Oct-Nov 2014

Design is local.

At Shaw Contract Group we offer convenience, value and service on all jobs large and small.

With over 250,000m2 in stock from Perth to Brisbane, we have your flooring needs covered.

See page 18 >

www.shawcontractgroup.com.au 1800 556 302

See page 26 >

incorporating

FLOORS

oct/nov 2014 | vol 32 no 05 www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Industry News

Special features

Regular Reports

FrontCover

04 ProtectCrete technology proves its worth

18 Profile – Shaw Contract Group

01 Shaw Contract Group

06 New face of Carpet Court

20 Carpet & Rugs

16 Airstep Retailer of the Month: Don's Carpets, Kelmscott, WA

08 Northwest Carpetbaggers Golf Day

28 Resilient Flooring

10 Altro appointment in New Zealand 12 Melbourne design firm takes global design award 14 Domotex 2015

30 Software

37 Alternative Flooring 38 PIC – Preparation, Installation & Care 44 Product Update 47 Exhibition Calendar

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Flooring Oct/Nov 2014 3

News Protect Crete technology proves its worth Oxtek Australia recently held a two day conference at Palmer Coolum Resort, Queensland, where new testing and evidence was presented proving the efficacy of the Protect Crete technology.

Presenters Fred Land, president of Spraylock Concrete Protection, and Ariel Soriano, Materials Engineer, shared the rigorous scientific testing results that support the 16 plus years of practical evidence that Protect Crete

technology halts moisture and water movement and rebar corrosion potential in concrete.

Their results followed two years onsite testing on existing infrastructure in Florida, USA, and laboratory testing carried out by the University of Tennessee.

Oxtek Australia holds the exclusive right of the Spraylock technology in Australia and New Zealand, which, under licence, is produced as Protect Crete.

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4 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

The Sunshine Coast Hospital, where Protect Crete Densi Proof is applied at time of pour for exceptional cure and moisture barrier, with some of Oxtek Australia and Spraylock conference participants.

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Supplier Woodworking Magazine, Furniture & Bedding Magazine, Flooring Magazine Member of the International Woodworking and Furniture Supplier Magazine Associationt

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

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News The new face of Carpet Court – Shelley Craft One of Australia’s most well-known and loved TV personalities, Shelley Craft joins Carpet Court as a new flooring ambassador. Juggling motherhood, a busy work schedule and a renovation, Shelley brings a wealth of knowledge and advice for customers who are wanting to create stylish interiors to live and grow in.

Having worked on reality home renovation show Domestic Blitz and now The Block, Shelley has learnt a thing or two about style in her career and is excited to team up with interior design expert and long standing Carpet Court ambassador, Darren Palmer.

With the help of Carpet Court, she looks forward to working with Darren to discover valuable design secrets fellow

non-stylists can use to achieve a designer look.

Shelley describes her personal style as a mix of contemporary trends with a relaxed feel, heavily influenced by her coastal life.

“As a mum with two young daughters, it’s essential that my home caters to family living but I still want it to be a beautiful space that reflects my style. I’m looking forward to working with Darren and Carpet Court to help translate designer style into something that works for everyday living,” Shelley said.

Keen to share genuine findings from her renovation journey, Shelley is excited to utilise DIY and designer Carpet Court products, in-store expert advice and the Carpet Court 3D Design Studio ipad app.

Entegro incorporates Comcork into expanding group Entegro Group Pty Ltd, an Australian owned and operated rubber, plastics and cork manufacturer, acquired the Comcork Flooring product range in February of this year.

Since then, Entegro has incorporated Comcork* into its expanding group, and has invested heavily into the Comcork production facility based in South Oakleigh, Victoria, as well as new marketing and promotional material.

Many of the new architectural folders and packs have been successfully rolled out across Australasia over recent months and the updated material features various case studies for each flooring profile manufactured.

One of the recent key projects/case-study being featured is the ASIC Office at 120 Collins Street Melbourne, which features a unique and customised design using Comcork’s Walk Easy profile in five different colours.

Phil Withington,Sales Director for Entegro Group, said Comcork’s new marketing material is all about “Why Comcork”, and this has been emphasised by the new symbol selection format that architects, interior designers and builders can quickly review when considering Comcork for their next project.

Entegro has also announced the recent appointment of Jacobsens (New Zealand’s largest commercial flooring distributor) as Comcork’s exclusive distributor for New Zealand. Both Entegro and Jacobsens see their new association as a great avenue for growing Comcork throughout New Zealand. *Comcork is a sustainable, highly versatile, resilient flooring product made from 70% pre-consumer recycled cork. Comcork’s unique composition and design encompasses all the natural benefits of cork, whilst simultaneously offering a flexible and creative flooring solution for any space.

KidsCan NZ receive Kennards for Kids charity support Kennards Hire kicked off its annual charity initiative, ‘Kennards for Kids’ on 1 September. Throughout September and October, the nation-wide Kennards for Kids initiative aimed to raise both awareness and funds for a number of carefully selected children’s charities in New Zealand and Australia. The NZ charity to benefit from the Kennards for Kids campaign in 2014 will be KidsCan NZ. As a family-owned business, Kennards Hire is passionate

6 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

about providing vulnerable kids with the best start to life. It’s this belief in the potential of our kids that led the company to donate over $300,000 to various children’s charities and organisations from last year’s campaign alone.

For every hire made during September and October, Kennards Hire branches around New Zealand will donate $2 straight to KidsCan who will use the money to help vulnerable kids in the community.

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News Northwest Carpetbaggers Golf Day 2014

Color the Success in Flooring

The 19th Annual Northwest Carpetbaggers Golf Day was held in Tamworth at the Longyard Golf Course in July 2014.

The event is a three man Ambrose and draws between 80 to 90 golfers every year, comprising of both suppliers and retailers.

Whilst the last few years have been played under clear skies, this year sorted the men from the boys as the weather bought sleet and rain.

Prizes were awarded at the gala dinner held at The Quality Hotel Powerhouse, together with entertainment from Murray Hartin – Bush Poet/Comedian.

Winners on the day were Chris Peat (Quest Carpets), Shane Chillingworth (Choices Tamworth) and Neil Crouch (Premium Floors).

A raffle was held with the proceeds ($3300.00) going to Ronald McDonald House, Tamworth.

The next DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR is scheduled for 24 to 26 March 2015 in Shanghai, China. The show will present not only the latest in flooring, but also new themed areas and interesting conference topics to further support the industry development.

With140,000 m2 of gross exhibit space, DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR will include five halls dedicated to carpet and rugs, four halls dedicated to wood, laminate, bamboo and other hard floors as well as three halls (one more compared to last year) dedicated to resilient commercial and industrial floorings with LVT leading this product category.

The “World of Handmade Carpets” concept is coming back after its first launch edition in 2014 in hall W5, while the wood sector is back to the East halls of the Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre.

“Color the Success in Flooring” is the new slogan accompanying the 17th edition of this leading international trade event. Echoing the 2015 show key visual, which presents in bright and shining colours some of the main exhibit categories, “Color the Success in Flooring” refers not only to the

special atmosphere that the attendees experience at this exciting B2B event, but also to the positivity of the Asian construction and flooring markets.

As a matter of fact, the construction market in China, especially the recent trend of renewing existing buildings, is continuously increasing the demand for “Made-in-the-West” products. In China, where the upper class is growing at an incredibly fast pace, the “Made-in” is getting momentum also among the flooring industry, with health and design being the top reasons for choosing imported products.

The InnovAction Flooring campaign, running for the third time in 2015, will reveal once again the newest products developed by the industry specifically for the Asian needs but also for the global markets. This campaign has already become one of the favorite tools for manufacturers’ products launches.

GreenStep Asia Awards, organized

by FCW and hosted by the show, is also coming back in March 2015 for its second edition. This is the only awards program giving recognition to the green flooring solutions realised in Asia-Pacific.

Online registration is now open at www.domotexasiachinafloor.com.

Carpet Court launches four new concept stores The handover of the cheque to Chris Watson from RMH

by David and Joanne Russell from Choices Tamworth.

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Combining the very best in flooring and technology with a new in-store experience, Carpet Court has announced its latest concept stores in Indooroopilly (QLD), Joondalup (WA), Grovedale (VIC) and Liverpool (NSW) providing a specialty interactive offering for customers.

The four stores have undertaken extensive renovations, providing their loyal communities with improved store layouts and new technology.

As part of a national rollout across the Carpet Court network, the four showrooms feature a Design Hub with Carpet Court’s 3D Design Studio, a revolutionary design tool that allows customers to create virtual 3D rooms to see which flooring option best suits their space.

Most exciting is the addition of Carpet Court’s latest technology, the

Interactive Display Screen – an LCD screen that provides a new in-store customer experience. Through the system, customers can view promotions and offers, watch videos and access design tips from ambassadors Darren Palmer and Shelley Craft, as well as find inspiration through mood boards.

The screens integrated WiFi system delivers content straight to a customer’s smartphone as they enter the store.

Carpet Court’s national marketing manager, Natasha Gallardo, said: “Carpet Court is determined to be the leader in flooring and customer experience, and our concept stores are the next step to achieving this goal”.

National Asbestos Awareness Month 2014 November is national Asbestos Awareness Month. In the lead-up to Asbestos Awareness Day (Friday 28 November) all Australians, especially homeowners, renovators tradies and handymen, need to ‘Get to kNOw Asbestos this NOvember’ by visiting www.asbestosawareness.com.au and taking the 20 Point Asbestos Safety Check to learn how to protect themselves and families from exposure to dangerous asbestos fibres.

Peter Dunphy Chair of the Asbestos Education Committee that conducts the national Asbestos Awareness campaign said: “There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres. With at least one in three Australian homes containing asbestos, many homeowners, renovators, tradies and handymen are putting their health and the health of families at risk when doing home renovations, maintenance and demolition if they release dangerous asbestos dust and fibres that can be inhaled and lead to asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma*”.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that mostly affects the lining of the lungs and develops between 20 to 50 years after inhaling

asbestos fibres. There is no cure and the average survival time after diagnosis is 10 to 12 months. Inhaling asbestos fibres may also cause other diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis and benign pleural disease.

In the past, Australians diagnosed with mesothelioma have primarily been men exposed to asbestos fibres in mines and asbestos factories (First Wave) and in the work-place working with asbestoscontaining materials (Second Wave).

With the current wave of asbestos-related diseases there is a growing body of evidence linking asbestos exposure to DIY and renovations with more people, specifically women, diagnosed as a result of inhaling fibres in a non-occupational setting.

“We know that Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world because Australia was among the highest consumers of asbestos products until a complete ban of asbestos came into force in Australia in 2003,” Mr Dunphy said.

“However, there is still a high volume of asbestos-containing building products

used prior to 1987, which remain hidden dangers in homes and buildings such as garages and farm structures so it’s critical that all Australians become asbestos aware.

“Many Australians wrongly believe that only fibro homes contain asbestos.

With asbestos products still commonly found in and around brick, weatherboard, clad and fibro homes built or renovated before 1987, it’s vital that homeowners, renovators, tradesmen and handymen ‘Get to kNOw Asbestos this NOvember’.”

Asbestos could be anywhere – under floorcoverings such as carpets, linoleum and vinyl tiles, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings and ceiling space (insulation), eaves, garages, roofs, around hot water pipes, fences, extensions to homes, garages, outdoor toilets, backyard and farm sheds, chook sheds and even dog kennels.

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News

Altro appointment in New Zealand After ending a distribution partnership and offering direct purchasing with a wider range of products to New Zealand customers in 2013, Altro continues to focus on growing its offerings and support to the New Zealand market.

With this in mind, Altro has announced the appointment of Shaun Armstrong as National Sales Manager based in Auckland. Shaun comes to Altro with over 20 years experience in the flooring industry in both New Zealand and Australian markets.

Hot product at Ausclean Expo Makinex recently exhibited at the Ausclean Expo held 14 October 2014 at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG).

Co-located with the Institute of Hospitality in Healthcare (IHHC) national conference, the Ausclean Expo brought reputable cleaning consumable and equipment companies together to give contractors an opportunity to review their latest ‘hot products’.

Makinex exhibited its Dual Pressure Washer DPW-4000 combined rotary wand and pressure washer, a powerful and versatile tool that was only introduced to the market in late 2013.

The DPW-4000 is one of several product innovations that Makinex has specifically designed and developed with increased productivity in mind.

10 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

The future of flooring – Sydney event At an exclusive event held recently at Bells Carpet Court in Liverpool, Sydney, budding designers, Carpet Court representatives and media contacts were treated to the latest industry insights and technology over drinks and canapés.

Holding the event at a store allowed guests to see firsthand the developments Carpet Court is introducing to ensure customers are treated to the best in retail innovation, including the designHub and new Interactive Display Screen.

The event was also the perfect opportunity for guests to meet Carpet Court’s new dream design team, with Shelley Craft joining longstanding ambassador and interior design expert, Darren Palmer.

Alongside Carpet Court’s national marketing manager, Natasha Gallardo, the duo inspired the audience with style advice and showed attendees the benefits of Carpet Court’s in-store technology.

Retailers welcome open doors on trading hours With Australian retailers operating under regulatory regimes imposed by governments, the Australian Retailers National Association (ANRA) has welcomed the Productivity Commission’s findings on trading hours, planning and zoning and input prices in its final report on the Relative Cost of Doing Business in Australia: Retail Trade.

The release of the Productivity Commission’s report coincides with the COAG meeting in Canberra in October and is timely given the Abbott Government’s election commitments to make deregulation a standing agenda item at COAG. ANRA CEO Anna McPhee called on all state governments to “open the doors” to jobs growth and consumer choice by quickening the pace of reform and immediately acting on the Productivity Commission’s findings.

“The complexity of current restrictions placed on trading hours, such as the difference in hours for the sale of light bulbs vs. light fittings, is impacting employment growth and customer choice.

“There’s no doubt a more flexible approach to trading hours would benefit consumers, employees and the broader economy.

“Planning and zoning regulations also need urgent attention by state and local governments to remove the complexity, excessive prescription and barriers to competition,” Ms McPhee said.

It is an ongoing pressure on Australian retail businesses that input prices – to simply keep the doors open – have risen faster than final retail prices.

The Report found that labour costs and rent as a share of revenue appear higher in Australia relative to the United Kingdom and the United States.

“Retail is one of the most labourintensive industries in Australia. The sector is proud of the over 1.25 million jobs it generates and of the families that those wages support and wants an end to unnecessary regulation that restricts further jobs growth.”

ANRA would welcome a concerted effort by all governments in Australia to act on the Productivity Commission’s recommendations that support continued growth and allows for more employment in the retail sector.

“The findings follow similar findings made in 2011 and similar recommendations in numerous other inquiries. It’s about time Governments stop wasting time and money on reviews and “open the doors”,” Ms McPhee said.

Rubber revisited Three years after the initial installation of Kinetics Rubber flooring at Carey Grammar School Melbourne, the Kenbrock team were keen to follow up and evaluate it’s performance.

Input from Carey Grammar Facility Manager, Michael Calder, was more than helpful…

“When considering options for the original installation in our school we were mindful of a number of issues” he outlined.

These included: • Wear and durability for regular furniture movement and general longevity • Competitive pricing • Slip resistance for better safety • Low sound generation • Insulation as an aid to climate control • An appropriate colour fast range that suited our branding “We took a good look at competitors products and decided that Kenbrock Kinetics would be an improvement on what we had previously used.

Our assessment turned out to be astute as three years on, the floor has stood up really well” “The installation was carried out by an experienced and qualified installer which we felt was important for the longevity of the floor” added Michael.

Despite heavy use, the floor has delivered: • Superior cleanability.

After a routine clean, it comes up like new • No on-going maintenance issues • No colour fading.

This was an issue with the previous floor Overall we are more than happy with what Kenbrock Kinetics delivered in our Sports Area and will most definitely look at using it for any future works at the school”.

kenbrockflooring.com.au

News Melbourne design firm takes global design award Franics-Jones Morehan Thorp’s Melton Library and Learning Hub has been named a Shaw Contract Group Design Is…Award Global winner.

Joining four other global winners and one people’s choice winner, FranicsJones Morehan Thorp’s entry claimed victory in the Government/Civic category.

According to Shaw Contract Group Australia General Manager, Paul McCosker, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp’s win is a wonderful achievement for Australian design.

“The awards honour architecture and design firms from around the globe that are changing the idea of what design is and in the Government/Civic category the Melton Library and Learning Hub set the benchmark,” Paul said.

“Competing against 40 market winners selected from 356 entries from 25 countries, this is only second time in the nine years the Design Is...Awards program has been running that an Australian project has won a global award.

From the outset both FJMT and the City of Melton strived to deliver a building that wasn’t just a traditional storage place for books but a destination that’s design and creativity would revitalise and re-energise the community.

Since opening over a year ago the facility has enjoyed a huge increase in membership and also sets the benchmark for sustainable library design in Australia - it’s the first library in Australia to be awarded a five Star Green Star - Public Building Design rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).”

Franics-Jones Morehan Thorp’s win will see two team members attend a four-day celebratory trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee and Chicago in the USA. Joining Franics-Jones Morehan Thorp as global winners are: • Hickok Cole Architects | Washington, DC Project: NPR | Washington, DC • Studio Groen+Schild BV | Deventer, The Netherlands Project: TenneT Headquarters | Arnhem, The Netherlands • ZGF Architects LLP | Seattle, WA Project: Federal Center South Building 1202 | Seattle, WA • Nikken Sekkei Ltd | Tokyo, Japan Project: JOSAI University Educational Corporation, Tokyo Kioicho Campus Building 3 | Tokyo, Japan • RMTA, LLC | Kansas City, MO Project: Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator | Kansas City, MO In addition to the trip to the USA, Design Is...Award Global winners will be promoted through marketing materials, media promotion and an advertisement campaign in leading architecture and design publications. In addition, winning firms also receive $2,000 to donate to the school or organization of their choice.

Choices Flooring Southern Highlands Grand Opening

The Grand Opening of the Choices Flooring showroom in Mittagong (NSW) was a lavish event which attracted many notable figures.

The invitation only event was hosted by store owners, Lisa and Rod Preston, at their beautiful new Choices Flooring store on Cavendish Street. Special guests included former Premier of NSW & President of WADA, Mr John Fahey, Newfurn Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Lewis, along with alliance partners, clients, interior designers, builders, family and friends.

The evening climaxed with the official cutting of the ribbon and Mr John Fahey declaring Choices Flooring Southern Highlands officially open for business.

The team from Highlands TV covered the event, which you can view online at youtu.be/qVWOYbgBtIY

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

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

choicesflooring.com.au

Advertorial

DOMOTEX 2015 – global showcase and trend barometer DOMOTEX 2015 (17–20 January), Hannover, Germany.

The gates are opening on DOMOTEX 2015 (17 to 20 January), when some 1,300 exhibitors from more than 60 countries will be showcasing their product innovations and collections for the coming season at the world’s leading trade fair for carpets and floorcoverings in Hannover, Germany.

Visitors can look forward to a highly international and innovative event.

As a global meeting place and driving force behind the industry, DOMOTEX 2015 is guaranteed to provide fresh impetus and generate business. With Innovations@DOMOTEX*, DOMOTEX offers a unique showcase to highlight selected innovations in a concise and targeted way.

In 2015, the trade fair is expanding its successful concept and will, for the first time, also feature innovations in applications and installation technology.

These will be showcased in one of the three special display areas, which will also include textile and resilient floorcoverings, parquet and laminate flooring, as well as modern hand-made rugs and carpets.

In addition, internationally renowned architects and designers such as Stefan Diez, Ross Lovegrove and Roberto Palomba will be discussing the latest developments and applications in the flooring sector at the Innovations@ DOMOTEX Talks.

“In terms of the breadth and diversity of products, innovations and trends, there is no alternative to DOMOTEX. It is both a global trend barometer and a showcase,” said Dr Jochen Köckler, member of the Managing Board at Deutsche Messe in Hannover. “Nowhere else do so many foreign trade visitors from the retail and wholesale trades, skilled trades, architecture and interior design come to find out about new products and trends in the industry.

More than 90% of these visitors are involved in their companies’ purchasing decisions.”

The world’s leading suppliers of floorcoverings will be represented at DOMOTEX with more than 85% of

14 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

the companies coming from outside Germany.

Following its successful debut this year, Innovations@DOMOTEX will be back for a second time in 2015. In November, a jury of ten chaired by internationally renowned industrial designer Stefan Diez will be selecting the best ideas from those submitted.

Matter puts innovations centre stage

Headed by André Schmidt, Berlin-based architectural firm Matter is responsible for the creative presentation of the innovations in the three special display areas.

Schmidt has developed a customised design for each Innovations@DOMOTEX area relating to the particular qualities of the product categories in halls 6, 9 and 17. As a central meeting place and highlight of the trade fair, the areas provide an inspiring overview of the product innovations and their design options.

Special guests

A series of presentations and discussion forums complete the program. With the focus increasingly shifting towards the design of striking floors, internationally renowned architects, interior designers, planners and designers such as Stefan Diez, Roberto Palomba and Ross Lovegrove will discuss tomorrow’s trends and the effects on their work at the Innovations@DOMOTEX Talks in Hall 6.

In addition, architects and designers participating in the presentation program will lead visitors on guided tours from the special areas to the exhibitors’ stands.

Rugs

Luxurious and exclusive hand-made rugs are featured in Hall 17, where renowned designers and manufacturers – including Rug Star, Floor to Heaven, Jan Kath Design, Makalu, Obetee, Reuber Henning, Hossein Rezvani, Wool & Silk Rugs and Zollanvari – will be showcasing their latest creations. Classic hand-made rugs can be found mainly in halls 15 and 16. Hall 14 will also include an exhibition space for antique rugs, which provide an exciting contrast in modern home interiors.

Carpet Design Awards 2015

For the first time, the Carpet Design Awards will be presented as part of Innovations@DOMOTEX in 2015. “Uniting the two will offer exhibitors significant added value for the presentation and promotion of their exclusive creations,” underlined Köckler. The competition is regarded as the most prestigious international award for modern handmade carpets. Chaired by Londonbased designer Michael Sodeau, an international jury will select three carpets in each of eight categories. These will be featured in the Innovations@DOMOTEX area in Hall 17.

Hands-on

A more hands-on approach will be taken in Hall 7, where parquet layers, floorers, interior decorators, painters and carpenters can find out all they need to know about innovative installation, maintenance and application techniques as well as useful information for their day-to-day professional lives. Moreover, visitors can obtain comprehensive information about parquet, wooden and laminate floors and also outdoor flooring in halls 8 and 9. *(Innovations@DOMOTEX Guide: www.domotex.de/home)

Choices Flooring Joondalup joins the

Store Evolution

The Choices Flooring showroom in Joondalup (WA) became the latest Choices Flooring members to undergo the Group’s exciting new high-tech showroom design, known as the ‘Store Evolution’.

Hosted by store owners Sue and Steve Blackwood, the Grand Opening of this state-of-the-art showroom was an impressive event which attracted over 150 guests.

Federal Member for Moore, Mr Ian Goodenough, officially opened the new showroom and presented Sue and Steve with a personal letter from the Prime Minister, congratulating them on their success.

Newfurn Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Lewis, also gave a speech in which he recognised the brave decision that Sue and Steve made over 20 years agoto open a store in Joondalup at a time when there was very little development. However, their decision has certainly paid off with years of major development in and around the surrounding areas, which has seen Choices Flooring Joondalup become one of the most successful flooring retailers in Western Australia.

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

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

choicesflooring.com.au

Retailer of the month

Friendly family service

Don’s Carpets, Kelmscott, WA

D

The late Don Britten, founder of the business.

16 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

on's Carpets has been in business serving the community in and around Kelmscott, WA, for the past 38 years.

After working in retail for a number of years with local WA businesses Zimples and William Geoffreys Floorcoverings, Don Britten decided to go into business for himself. Working from the back shed at his home in 1975, he focussed on selling carpets and providing an overlocking service to local residents.

Eventually his business outgrew the space and he invested in buying the three units that now house Don’s Carpets – the showroom, the warehouse

and the rug store, which also houses the overlocking service.

Sadly, Don passed away suddenly in July 2008, but his family has endeavoured to continue his dream of providing the friendly family service that he believed the community deserves.

The family comprises Don’s two daughters, Janine and Kelly, and their mother Maxine, who is always available to help whenever she is needed. They are ably assisted by their staff Shane, Joy and Ben as well as a team of on-call layers.

“We have a great team of professional staff and extensive stock on hand to provide all our customers’ flooring needs,” said Janine Giles.

“Our showroom stocks a large range of carpets, vinyls, laminates, rugs, mats and accessories, plus we still have the overlocking service and a large range of room size remnants, which can be turned into large mats. We also make runners to suit individual requirements and stock a complete range of professional and DIY carpet accessories from adhesives to care, maintenance and cleaning products that will satisfy the most demanding customer applications.

“With our overlocking service, any off-cuts left over when new carpets are laid no longer need to be thrown away. They can be overlocked to produce something usable such as a mat or runner for heavy wear areas.

The overlocking creates a neat seam

or edge around the cut, which looks attractive and stops the carpet from fraying or unravelling.”

The range at Don’s Carpets is broad to suit the mixed clientele they service – everything from budget to high end – and covering both domestic and light commercial.

“While we focus on domestic work we also supply and fit floorcoverings in offices, display homes etc,” explained Janine. “Kelmscott is a hills area south of Perth on the Albany Highway and our customers come to us from quite a large area. We are happy to travel up to a couple of hours to service their requirements.

“Our customers are very loyal and we pride ourselves on their return business and referrals. People around here like to shop locally.”

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Profile

Shaw Contract Group delivers.. ..... convenience, value and service Australia-wide.

No matter the size of the job or the location Shaw Contract Group is helping you get your floors down faster with no hidden surprises. With over 250,000m2 of commercial flooring in stock from Perth to Brisbane, no minimums on orders and consultants in all major capital cities, Shaw offers far more than an extensive product range.

According to Shaw Contract Group Australia National Sales Director, Aaron Martin, convenience, value and service is a key focus of the business.

“In addition to having one of the most extensive carpet tile and broadloom collections in the market and a growing collection of luxury vinyl tile and plank products, we offer further additional services to help make your job easier,” said Aaron.

“For time critical projects, we stock over 50 styles and over 250,000 m2 of carpet tile, broadloom and resilient in our Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane warehouses ready for dispatch within 48 hours of receiving your order confirmation, helping you meet your deadlines.

18 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

“The price we provide also includes free delivery to warehouses in capital cities and the minimum order required is just one box for our standard running lines meaning you don’t have to order 100 m2 to complete a 40 m2 job,” said Aaron.

Operating Australia-wide, Shaw Contract Group’s team collectively shares decades of experience within the design and flooring industries, allowing them to offer expert advice and guidance to customers to ensure outstanding results in every project.

“From specification through to installation our team of flooring experts can assist,” said Aaron. “Whether it’s a subfloor moisture issue, alternative installation options or assistance with specifying floorcoverings for a specific environment we can help.

“Our dedicated customer service team is also available to help and assists with all customers and jobs across the country,” he added.

As the world’s largest carpet manufacturer and

recycler, Shaw Contract Group has millions of square metres of product installed in commercial office, education, healthcare, hospitality, retail and public facilities across Australia and over 80 countries across the globe.

Shaw Contract Group’s carpet range includes square, plank and hexagon design inspired carpet tile and broadloom collections through to budget-focused collections developed specifically for retrofit and base build projects.

In the way of resilient flooring, Shaw Contract Group’s luxury vinyl tile and plank collections combine to deliver a full range of high performance, low maintenance resilients – manufactured in modern designs for the toughest commercial conditions.

Pacific The latest addition to Shaw’s In Stock carpet tile range.

Designed specifically for Australia and New Zealand, the collection delivers on value and style taking inspiration from the Pacific’s most beautiful black sand beaches.

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Carpets&Rugs

Rug care Over a kilogram of soil fell on your customers’ rugs and carpet this year*, the majority during winter when moisture tracked dirt in. Spots and spills stain valuable rugs and carpets while we spend more time inside during colder weather, especially entertaining indoors.

Spot and stain removal can be effectively done at home by the consumer but advise them against spoiling their priceless oriental or persian rug by using unprofessional techniques.

Oriental Rug Care of Australia has published a number of professional DIY cleaning tips including: • after removing any solids with a knife or spoon gently blot the rug with paper towe; • dampen the area and continue to gently blot, never scrub aggressively; • if the stain persists then try specialised cleaning products like Masterblend OneStep Spotting Kit, which contain approved Woolsafe quality products that won't harm a wool rug; • avoid home remedies like carpet powders and detergents.

Dishwashing liquids are oily and can resoil the rug and they have a high PH that can cause permanent damage; • if the stain persists seek a professional rug cleaning service.

For a detailed list of specific stains and cleaning tips, Oriental Rug Care has created a Spot Stain Removal Chart, which is published online at http://www. orientalrugcare.com.au/Spot-StainRemoval/Rug-Stain-Chart.htm *Source: Brown, Jack. 2001. Don’t Touch that Doorknob!: How Germs Can Zap You and How You Can Zap Back. New York, NY: Warner Books, Inc.

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Ontera’s new partnership with Milliken Ontera Modular Carpets has expanded its long term association with Milliken and now exclusively offers a new range of Milliken products into the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Fueled by innovation and committed to design, Milliken is a global leader in floorcoverings providing a unique range of world renowned modular carpet products that will enrich the Ontera product offer.

Kevin Harkin, Ontera’s Marketing Manager Australia and NZ explained: “Supply partnerships with global floorcovering leaders are a strategic initiative in Ontera’s constant drive to provide world’s best modular carpet solutions to our customers.

“Milliken has some exceptional products, born from cutting edge design technology. In unison with Ontera’s locally manufactured products, the new Milliken ranges will enhance the choice for architects and designers in achieving their project design objectives.”

With stock in store from September 2014, this exciting expansion of the Milliken / Ontera partnership will initially see four new product ranges being offered by Ontera ;

• Fixate – classic precision of pinstripes with deeply saturated colours in 20 colour options; • Formwork – versatile colour coordinates with simplicity and texture in a sophisticated palette of 12 colour options; • Nordic Stories – Hidden Plains – Dynamic, modern design in muted natural tones in 12 colour options; • Consequence – Sequel – a multitude of simple lines delivers a highly textured premium carpet offering in 20 colour options.

“With an extensive Australian Made range complemented by some exclusive Milliken product, we at Ontera are confident with our comprehensive product portfolio,” said Harkin.

“And with further product launches planned for the near future, the Ontera team is perfectly positioned to provide customers with the world’s best modular carpet solutions.”

Carpets&Rugs

Design meets functionality When it comes to carpet for the education sector, innovation and design are often overlooked for functionality. However, more and more schools are investing in unique and stylish designs for their classrooms. Manukorihi School in Waitara, New Zealand is the perfect example, with the recent renovations of five tired but well-loved spaces.

Adern Peters Architects chose a range of colours from Autex Industries’ Ventura Carpet Tile range to create a custom and modern design for the classrooms’ new look. They describe their vision for the project as wanting “…to transform the dated classrooms into positive and vibrant learning spaces that would reflect the unique culture of the school”.

Charcoal, Denim and Metro were chosen from a wide selection of contemporary colours. To add an extra element to the design, the Ventura carpet tiles were laid with the pile alternating direction creating a stylish checkerboard pattern from the appearance of lighter and darker shades.

The Ventura carpet tiles provide an easy solution to the wear and tear of constant foot traffic – the durable and easy to install carpet tiles were designed for the hardest wearing environments – perfect for the busy and fast-paced setting of Manukorihi School.

Richard Protheroe, the assistant manufacturing manager at Autex Industries attributes the durability of the carpet to the manufacturing process. “The carpet is manufactured with a needle-punched, non-woven process which means any torn edge will not fray or deteriorate rapidly.”

nuway® architectural matting > readily available Australia wide > the original, genuine product > the genuine double sided matting system > first with a 20 year warranty > solid, comfortable and quiet underfoot > tried and proven since 1982

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22 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

Manukorihi School Principal Scott Walden is delighted with the outcome of the project and feels the Ventura Carpet Tile contributes to the exciting and comfortable learning environment at Manukorihi School while Adern Peters Architects feel “…the community is proud of the transformation”.

So out they’re in!

New Zealand carpet maker Cavalier Bremworth has launched the Retro Classics Collection featuring five designs that it couldn’t let go – many that were ‘retired with glory’ some years ago.

Due to high demand for products with unique textures and designs, the Retro Classics Collection has been tailored to match this trend for classic yet versatile commercial carpets.

Using the same yarn colours, the Retro Classics Collection will suit most commercial décors, with the added option of a greyscale colour for each. Hard wearing, durable and well-priced, a carpet from the Retro Classics Collection is a great choice and will stand the test of time.

The five ranges in the Collection include a bold, tri-colour textured loop pile called Marquetry; a patterned loop pile called Hardanger – Cavalier Bremworth’s interpretation of a flatweave carpet; a patterned loop pile with an authentic corporate pinstripe called Petit Point; a geometric loop pile with a unique diamond pattern called Stratford Images and a multidirectional geometric loop pile called Glenroch.

All five carpets are made from 100% pure New Zealand wool and are available in both New Zealand and Australia.

BE PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE 141 members and growing

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

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

choicesflooring.com.au

Carpets&Rugs

Case study on environmental practices

Feel the difference Cashmere Touch is Signature Floors’ answer to meet the growing consumer demand for tangibly soft carpets.

Exquisitely soft and sumptuous, these carpets are feather soft underfoot and simply beautiful to look at, but there’s much more to these than meets the eye.

Through new technologies and textile innovations, Cashmere Touch has been engineered to be remarkably hardwearing too. In fact, Cashmere Touch is so resilient it can be installed on stairs and even in heavy traffic areas

24 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

– basically anywhere in the house due to its continued high performance capability.

With stunning colours and contemporary neutrals available across five ranges, Cashmere Touch can co-ordinate with any interior style perfectly. Now your customers can have an exceptional look and feel carpet with the peace of mind of a 15 or 20 year wear, stain and fade warranty.

Cashmere Touch is sampled with a new luxe look, and offers a tactile experience to feel the difference that is particularly enticing to female consumers.

Victoria Carpets was recently asked by Sustainability Victoria to be the subject of a case study into environmental and sustainable practices.

Victoria Carpets is a leading Australian manufacturer of fine carpets for residential and commercial customers, both locally and around the world. It has a long standing reputation for not only for quality carpets but also innovation in technology and investment in machinery.

Victoria Carpets takes its responsibility for the environment seriously and is committed to ongoing improvements in its operations to reduce its impact on the environment.

Its environmentally certified products are stringently tested and those meeting a minimum Level 2 certification under the Carpet Institute of Australia's Environmental Certification Scheme are rewarded in the Green Building Council of Australia's Green Star Materials Calculators.

Not only does the company reduce and recycle the paper used in the offices and switches the lights off when not needed, it has worked to optimise its manufacturing processes to meet or exceed best practice.

The company’s woollen yarn mills are energy efficient and use less energy than synthetic yarn producers. Very few and only safe chemicals are used in the yarn production and in the carpet manufacturing plant there are programs in place to reduce waste materials.

At the beginning of 2009, Victoria Carpets established a waste yarn recycling facility at its carpet factory that will direct 60 tonnes of recyclable materials away from landfill each year.

A video has been professionally produced by Australian Industry Group and is available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=fuU2FXkWCoM.

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Carpets&Rugs

New Super-Soft carpets Beaulieu America announced the introduction of two new entries into the popular supersoft category: Bliss Vivid and Bliss Hypnotic. Both products are companion textures made of Tryelle, the supersoft PET filament fibre that is made exclusively by Beaulieu America.

“These products have a luxurious hand and unsurpassed durability,” commented Randy Sanford, Director of Residential Product Management for Beaulieu America.

“Both Vivid and Hypnotic provide the perfect aesthetic combination of superior feel and beautiful visual that's the result of our new Tryelle yarn innovation. And, I think

dealers will find they are very competitively priced to be true ‘go-to’ products for the fall selling season.”

Bliss Vivid is a solid colour offered in 30 shades of nature’s best neutrals, comfortable colours, and trendy accents. Bliss Hypnotic has 12 familyfriendly hues accented by stone-inspired points of colour to create a comfortable and inviting floor in any home.

Both products have the company’s patented Magic Fresh odour reduction technology and are treated with a proprietary formulation of 3M Scotchgard soil and stain protector formulated especially for Bliss.

An evolution in residential flooring Ontera Modular Carpets were the original Australian pioneers of the modular carpet tile concept. After many years of success in the commercial market, Ontera has announced the launch of its first residential modular carpet tile – INHOME. Beautifully plush with a luxurious, textured feel, the INHOME range brings an inherent flexibility to meet the growing market demand for creatively inspired living spaces.

With an ultra-thick residential style pile supported by Ontera’s exclusive EnvibondPlus deluxe cushion backing, INHOME tiles provide the ultimate in comfort and softness.

With a palette of six soft attractive neutral tones, the INHOME range is ideal

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for all types of residential environments including apartments, accommodation and aged care facilities.

Kevin Harkin - Ontera’s Marketing Manager Australia and NZ explained: “The INHOME range is the new frontier for Ontera and for the Australian carpet industry. Just as the commercial market has migrated to modular carpet tiles, now the residential market has the opportunity to experience the many benefits of a soft modular carpet.

“With the growth of multiresidential living plus the demand for greater flexibility and designer styling in our residential flooring, a modular carpet tile that provides a soft, plush residential feel is the perfect solution.”

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ResilientFlooring

Renovation queen champions Gerflor Gerflor products have won favour with Australia’s renovation queen, Cherie Barber.

“I absolutely love your Gerflor self adhesive floor planks,” the star of television home shows and homemaker magazines said.

“I have used them on a couple of my TV renovations lately and given them lots of plugs in many of the magazines I write for each month.”

Low budgets often force Cherie to source value products but she is also focused on quality.

“I only ever recommend products to the public that are genuinely good and this product fits that bill,” Cherie said.

Taralay makes a fashion statement

A couple of Cherie’s recent renovations featuring Gerflor products. All were completed inside the $1000 budget.

Karndean unveils new app Karndean Designflooring has unveiled its latest app designed specifically for architects, interior designers, contractors, retailers and consumers to use at the point of specification.

Following the success of its hardbacked product selector catalogue, Karndean has developed a sophisticated app to replicate its popular flooring guide.

The free to download product selector app for iPads displays more than 150 wood and stone designs from

28 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

Karndean’s product portfolio including full technical specifications. Each product can be viewed up close, allowing users the flexibility to select and demonstrate floor designs on-site, in store and at home.

Available now, Karndean’s app can be downloaded from the App store by searching Karndean Product Selector.

Gerflor Taralay Indiana has made its debut on the fashion scene with a recent installation at The Ark boutique in Canterbury, Victoria.

Sara Dwyer and The Ark team have welcomed the white vinyl addition to their store.

“We were looking for something light yet interesting that would complement rather than compete with the clothes. We absolutely love it! “ Sara said.

And it is evident that Taralay’s beauty is not just skin deep.

“It is so much kinder than straight concrete. It’s lovely to walk and work on,” Sara said.

Founded in 1990, The Ark is an exclusive women’s clothing label with specialist boutiques across Australia.

The new Canterbury store is just a few doors down from the original shop in Mailing Road that launched the label.

Uniquely amtico Amtico Signature. Design uninhibited. These vibrant tints and tones are designed to make statements and creating impact. Design your floor with these bespoke patterns, colours, cuts and styles to create a truly distinct look.

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Software

Technology focus Nigel Welsh, Business Development Director, Laser Measure Australia Pty Ltd If you are looking for technology that can save time and money, here are a few simple solutions that have the potential to save any business thousands of dollars a year.

Every few months I take it on myself to spend a few hours browsing the internet, reading blogs, trawling social websites, looking for innovative new technology, and every few months I find something new that replaces a process I currently use in my business.

Server storage, collaboration and back-up

Is it time to retire your storage server?

Online cloud storage and email is simple and cost effective – what once cost thousands to manage and maintain can cost as little as a few hundred dollars a year.

Cloud storage and email solutions enable staff and management to share data, share schedules, and back-up data 24/7.

VOIP telephones

For many years now, I personally have used a mixture of standard and VOIP telephone technology. In the early days internet speed struggled to maintain sufficient speeds to effectively maintain the quality of a phone call. Today, this is almost non-existent.

I make calls to landlines and mobile phones all over the world and lots of them. I had to ask myself if I pay for unlimited internet services why do I need to pay for phone calls. VOIP is worth another look ~!

Online meeting software

A great tool for any business needing to communicate over a wide area of operations or simply to improve efficiency when a meeting is required with contractors, customer, or suppliers.

Software tools

Industry specific software such as MeasureSquare estimation software is designed to save time, reduce mistakes, and improve accuracy.

Combine MeasureSquare iPad estimation software with laser measuring technology and you have a very efficient and effective way to reduce the cost of mobile estimation services.

Just a few simple solutions that can have a dramatic effect on the bottom line.

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We know how.

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What are the Benefits > Save Time > Reduce Waste > Sell More > Do more > Accuracy > Email Plans > Collaborate > Raise the Bar > Close Faster > Efficiency > Cost Effective

Step: 2

Use MeasureSquare’s extensive range of tools and functions to draw your floorplan. MeasureSquare integrates directly with the Lieca Disto D110, simply measure and watch your accurate floor-plan appear before your eyes.

Utilise, MeasureSquare’s intuitive widget functions to add openings, create room shape templates for common shapes. Add counter tops, kitchen benches anything with an elevation to remove areas not being covered. Make short work of stairways with common template based stairway widgets. Simply drag and drop products and services to your floorplan.

Step: 3

Manipulate seam locations, add cross joins, rotate installation directions, divide floor areas manage addon’s such as installation charges, underlay, pullup, adhesives with MeasureSquare’s unqiue addon functionality, simply set and forget. Utilise MeasureSquare’s powerful easy to use management functions to setup your App the way you like to work.

Step: 4

One tap provides instant costing data, make margin or markup adjustments on the fly, send your customer a quote within seconds via the integrated email function or print directly to your mobile printer.

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Share installation plans, estimation data, and customer information with your contractors, team members and customers.

The new way to plan, measure estimate and sell flooring Specifically designed for flooringsales professionals on the move.MeasureSquare iPad can handle any in home measuring situation. Carpet, vinyl, laminate, tiles, and all associated products and services. You can throw away your pencils, tape measures, scale rules and scaled graph-paper, the only tools you will need is your index finge finger, an iPad and a Disto Laser, even the laser is optional.

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Software

Bringing the pieces together Chris Ogden, Managing Director, RFMS Australasia Being in the flooring industry is not for the faint-hearted.

There are a lot of moving parts that must all work in harmony if everything is going to come together to deliver the profit you deserve for your hard work and investment.

We might have retail stores but what we do is not strictly a retail activity.

Behind the scenes we know that once the sale is made that is not the end to it; as hard as it might have been to make the sale more hard work and co-ordination is required to ensure that the job is completed on time and to a standard that will result in prompt payment of our invoice.

As the owner of flooring business you need to keep an eye on sales performance but equally you need to ensure that the installation side of your business is performing well.

The goal is to be paid promptly for your work and for your customers to tell others about the positive experience they had with you over the course of their flooring project. If things don’t go right payment is protracted, discounts are required reducing profitability and your reputation suffers.

In previous articles I have said that often the performance of the business comes down to a

small number of people: in many cases just the onethe owner of the business.

If you are the owner of a flooring business you know that you need to have eyes in the back of your head in order to catch the things that, left uncaught, would have a detrimental effect on profitability, on reputation and on stress levels.

Within most flooring businesses management of the various moving parts is done in a variety of ways but it is a time consuming process with owners and managers often, and understandably, putting out the fires first – giving priority to those things that are the most urgent. Sadly most of these urgent matters arise because there is either not consistent process in place to prevent them from arising or there is no way to ensure that the process is being followed.

A good software solution can help. RFMS, for example, is a fully integrated management system designed solely and exclusively for the flooring industry from the ground up.

It can integrate all aspects of your flooring business right from measuring and quantifying through quoting, invoicing, stock management,

scheduling, client management and through to full management reporting, analysis and financials.

RFMS provides you with the ability to automate your business to a degree that is not possible to do using manual systems or software systems that don’t fully integrate. With automation comes the ability to spend more time driving and growing your business.

The right business management solution can change the way you do business and provide you with the platform for improved profitability and growth. If the various pieces within your business are not working together to give you the best results possible then business management software might be what you need to take your business to the next level. An integrated system like RFMS will provide you with the tools that you need to create an environment where you are not spending your day putting out fires.

Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia – a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry.

He has an extensive background in the flooring industry and can be contacted at cogden@rfms.com

“If the various pieces within your business are not working together to give you the best results possible then business management software might be what you need to take your business to the next level.”

32 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

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Software

Using IT to unlock sales opportunities The secret to making sales in our industry is getting accurate and professional quotes out to our customers quickly. Okay, so its not actually a secret but we could all do it better – and technology can help.

The simple fact is that the more quotes you can process quickly, accurately and professionally the higher your conversion rate will be.

How long does it take you to get your quotes out and what is the biggest obstacle to getting them out quicker? It’s not unusual for me to see

time frames of longer than a week between doing the initial measure and getting a quote into the hands of the customer.

Experience shows that after seven days the likelihood of getting the job falls off a cliff.

The process of measuring and quantifying is a critical part of our business but apart from the introduction of calculators decades ago the process has not changed significantly since sheet, tile and roll products were first sold.

Measure by RFMS is flooring software that let’s you draw plans or upload electronic plans for quick accurate quantifying and quoting. Measure is easy to use and cost-effective – we have users who recoup the cost within a month of beginning to use Measure.

It’s not hard to work out why: if you are processing quotes in less than half the time it takes you now then you get more quotes out and you have time to follow up on the quotes that you have already sent. When was the last time you did that?

Measure is the leap forward that has to be seen to be believed and it will provide you with a 21st century competitive advantage not just in sales but in maximising profitability through minimising waste and all but eliminating mistakes.

Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry.

He has an extensive background in the flooring industry and can be contacted at cogden@rfms. com.

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www.measureflooring.com Email: cogden@rfms.com 34 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

Toll Free: 1800 229 427 Australia !

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Software

Cloud computing and the flooring industry Dave Hayward, General Manager, RFMS Australasia When it comes to flooring solutions you are confident in your expertise. When it comes to computer technology you may not have the same level of confidence.

Computer people seem to speak a foreign language and sometimes they struggle to understand the requirements of a flooring business. Fortunately, there are computer companies that provide great support and services to the flooring industry. They are very happy to talk technology in a language that can be easily understood, they proactively look for ways to improve workflows in your business, and they empower you and your staff to get the most from your technology.

If that has not been your experience, then perhaps your server has not had the attention that it needs. When was the last time you took a good look at your server?

You may have put it in the too hard basket, largely ignoring it, perhaps for years. Is it covered in dust? Is it over five years old? Is it noisy? When was the last time it had a health check? Are backups being run daily?

Take a look and you might be surprised what you’ll find. Often overlooked, the server is only noticed once something goes wrong. You service your vehicles and your equipment; failure to service your technology is a mistake. Your computers, particularly your server, fulfil

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Call Victor Brushe 0408 729 849

36 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

a pivotal role in your business and you will sorely miss it should it fail.

If it is time to look at upgrading your server you will hear some new technology buzz words that will potentially make on-site servers a thing of the past – like carpet tacks and felt underlay. Cloud computing....

Having your server located in the building previously made sense because any other solution ended up being very expensive. With internet speeds getting faster; with internet prices falling dramatically; with cloud computing improving, getting faster, and more affordable and people becoming comfortable with having their data offsite, cloud computing or remote hosting is becoming the preferred solution.

The benefits are considerable.

Servers need specialist support staff.

In a data centre, they’ll get that 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They get a temperature controlled, dust free environment, power that never gets turned off, and safety measures that cannot be provided in a retail store.

If an upgrade is required to add a little more capacity or capability – no problem, and often it is as simple as restarting the server.

So will my data be secure and safe?

Cloud computing isn’t new. Let’s face it – if we were worried about our data being safe we wouldn’t have a Gmail, iCloud, or Outlook email account. Think about how much personal data you are already saving to the cloud– Facebook and Twitter, along with photo and music collections can now all be cloud based. Cloud computing is part of everyday life and we are comfortable with the access it brings us – listen to a song on any device, read a document on any device, or check and send email from any device. Similarly with your data – it will be secure and you will have access to it no matter where you are.

Cloud computing relies on good access to the Internet. How fast is your Internet connection? How reliable is it?

If you think this could be a problem, often you can switch to a faster plan, get more data, and actually pay less than you’re currently paying just by talking with your internet provider (or their competition).

Back-up is another key area that will benefit. You are backing up your data, right?

Traditionally, someone in the organisation gets the responsibility to take home the tapes or hard drives each night. What happens when that person is sick? Or on vacation? Or they leave the business? While using tapes and hard drives has its place, automation of this entire workflow can also bring peace of mind.

Some good housekeeping when it comes to back-ups: (1) are the back-ups running at least once a day?

(2) will the back-up be accessible in case of total loss of the server or building?

(3) is the back-up actually good enough to be able to get your business back up and running quickly and have the right files been protected?

(4) do you have a disaster recovery plan in place that includes a plan for the back-up files to be restored so your business can quickly be operating again?

Typically you should be able to perform a full restore and be operational within a couple of hours.

Once again, the cloud can help. Backups should be automated and not rely on someone remembering to change drives and take them off-site. You have plenty of choice when it comes to choosing a cloud back-up service partner, and pricing can be found for only a few dollars per month.

Dave Hayward has been in the IT industry for over 18 years, both as an engineer and a consultant for international brands. In his role as GM for RFMS Australasia, Dave is working closely with the NZ and Australian flooring industry.

Alternative

panDOMO shows its credentials The newly refurbished Faculty of Engineering and IT at University of Technology, Sydney, has featured Ardex panDOMO heavily throughout the multi-million dollar project. panDOMO is a range of advanced cement finishes suitable for the floor, wall and ceiling from Ardex Australia, which give a stylish and robust design and can be used to open up a wealth of exclusive design options.

Over 5000 m2 of Ardex panDOMO FloorPlus was installed to fourteen levels of lift lobbies as well as promenades and walkways throughout the Faculty at

Broadway giving a truly unique finish to the campus.

The overall project, which was led by Lend Lease and designed by Denton Corker Marshall, cost $200M and took more than three years to complete. The panDOMO installation took six months and is one of the largest projects in Australia to date.

“Due to significant irregularities in the structural concrete substrate, this job proved to be quite challenging,” explained Fabian Morgan, Sales and Marketing Director, Ardex Australia. “We firstly had to correct all the floor heights and spent two

months shaving high spots in concrete and filling up to 40mm of Ardex k80 in the low areas.”

The UTS refurbishment was also the first installation in Australia where a continuous pump was used to install panDOMO. “Importing a specialised pump from Germany made it possible to install 500 m2 of panDOMO in two hours and ensured that Honestone, the projector contractor, could meet the very tight schedule

for this project,” added Morgan. “Honestone has vast experience and unsurpassed quality in commercial flooring making them the natural choice for this project.

“Ardex Australia was pleased to be part of this project and help create an iconic, pedestrian friendly university,” said Morgan. “The overall finish of this project is second to none and will stand the test of time for generations of academics to come.”

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Flooring Oct/Nov 2014 37

PICFloors

Preparation, Installation & Care

Moisture in concrete – the flooring contractor’s responsibility

By John Daymond, Protect Crete Recent specifications have placed the responsibility and cost of ensuring that the moisture content of the subfloor is compliant with AS 1884-2012 on the flooring contractor. Therefore, if a moisture suppression system is not allowed for at the time of submitting a quotation, the successful contractor may be liable for the cost of supplying and applying.

The fact is most slabs will not be compliant with the 75% RH required in the Australian Standard according to information in a paper released by the Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Association in April 2007.

A new slab 100mm (or four inches) thick, with ideal concrete, mixing and placing practices, in well ventilated conditions and favourable weather conditions, takes four months to dissipate the water or achieve equilibrium of 75% as required by AS 1884-2012. A slab of 150mm (or six inches) doubles this time to eight months and a slab of 200mm (or eight inches) doubles it again to 16 months.

These timeframes are with ideal concrete with a maximum mix water ratio of .50, at least 10% cement content, potable water as mix water, properly mixed (minimum of 100 revolutions in the agitator truck) and no extra water added while rotating. Any of these and other variations from ideal will increase the above researched drying times even longer.

In practice few of these ideals are achieved.

38 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

The placement and surface finish will also lengthen drying of water and vapour in the concrete not used in the hydration process. Vibration and compaction of the wet concrete is important and the overworking of the surface creating a burnished surface will impede water and water vapour loss.

A burnished slab is now

the surface works in the reverse and inhibits water loss thus the concretor, and his surface, have absolutely ensured that the slab will have no chance of reach equilibrium with the atmosphere in time for an impervious covering.

Knowing all this as a fact with today's concrete we still see many specifiers, architects, builders and

“A highly finished burnish is virtually waterproof and inhibits moisture’s penetration into the surface of the concrete. This is a necessary function required by acrylic technology for a proper mechanical key, meaning that water based primers and adhesives will not function properly and will more than likely be unserviceable.” regarded as a cure regime and is a non-compliant finish for the flooring industry as stated part of AS 18842012.

A highly finished burnish is virtually waterproof and inhibits moisture’s penetration into the surface of the concrete. This is a necessary function required by acrylic technology for a proper mechanical key, meaning that water based primers and adhesives will not function properly and will more than likely be unserviceable. Naturally the water impeded from entering

owners shocked by high readings. They often regard the contractor as an opportunist trying to extract a variation from the project.

There is no defence for a specification not to have a moisture suppression system allowed for.

Many ask why wet slabs seem to be a problem today when for many years vinyl and coatings were successfully laid over concrete floors that were installed over 28 days after placement.

The answer is that much has changed over

the last 10 to 15 years.

We did not see the rideon troweling machines we have today that, while providing an excellent finish for a warehouse floor, are non-compliant for the flooring industry or for most water based coatings and coverings.

Cement content has dropped with pressure from limiting energy use in its production and the high use of supplementary cementitious materials, such as silica fume and fly ash, giving varied and different traditional performance outcomes.

Criticised and pillared 15 years ago, water reducers and super plastersizers are now commonplace and in virtually all but specialist mix designs. The concrete we were dealing with today is very different in character and form from what we were used to a decade or so ago.

Concrete and it's behaviour has changed and so must our thinking on how we now deal and approach the challenges of this old but now changed medium.

The conclusion must be that all concrete less than two years old should be presumed wet and a moisture suppression system be allowed for and used.

As a flooring contractor all new floors must be deemed as "wet".

References: • "Moisture in Concrete and Moisture-sensitive Finishes and Coatings" – Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia, April 2007.

• AS 1884-2012

■

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1800 331 012

PICFloors

Preparation, Installation & Care

Dustless angle grinding It’s tough on site and earning respect starts with using the right equipment on every project. That’s why All Preparation Equipment keeps contractors up-to-date to make their tough jobs easy.

When using a concrete grinder, either water suppression or a dust extractor is required to eliminate any airborne particles and remove all excess dust to get the maximum life out of the diamond consumables.

Water is effective but many areas have water restrictions and environmental constraints that really don’t make it practical to use water. The dry grinding method means there is no dirty runoff, messy equipment/workplace and

reduced risk when water is used with electrical tools.

Grinding or cutting without a dust shroud or cover increases the chances of dust damaging both your lungs and your equipment.

Working with Silica Dust – what is the harm?

Silica dust is a hazard and is a high risk of developing a lung disease (Silicosis), which is caused by the accumulation of silica dust in the lungs.

Silica is a component found in sand and rock materials such as sandstone, concrete, granite and some marbles.

When dry grinding, cutting or drilling into these compounds, fine particles of silica are likely to be inhaled and, as a result, often lungs become stiffened or obstructed making it hard to breath.

When concrete is ground dry, it is essential to capture all airborne dust with a dust extractor using appropriate filters, such as the StarMix Ispard vacuum. Meeting on site standards, these dust shrouds comprise a strong metal housing with a flexible rubber skirt to ensure maximum removal of dust when connected to a dust extractor.

Any angle grinder can be dustless, safe and easy to use when fitted with one of these dust shrouds. Each dust cover shroud is complete with a flexible rubber skirt enabling the shroud to follow any contours in the floor, solid robust steel/aluminium construction and a dust port so you can connect directly up to your dust control vacuum.

by Kennards Hire Concrete Care we were able to meet the deadline.”

Kennards Hire Concrete Care supplied Cleantech1 with four walk behind scrubbers, four hot water pressure washers and two ride-on scrubbers as well as a range of cleaning pads.

The walk behind scrubber features an onboard tank,

which introduces a water, detergent or degreasing mix into the rotating brushes.

Suitable for cleaning most hard surfaces such as tiled areas, factory floors, workshops, car parks, building sites and concrete drives, it also has a squeegee vacuum that sucks-up and discharges waste into a dirty water recovery tank.

Quiet, fume-free operation for cleaning in noise and environmentally sensitive areas is a main feature of the ride-on scrubber. Battery powered with hydraulic power steering adds to its manoeuvrability and a one-button, easy-to-operate control panel simplifies operation.

“There’s a lot of scrubbing machines available on the market,” said Alan. “Kennards Hire are the pioneers in supplying market-leading cleaning machinery, which is why we continue to hire from them.”

Clean-up on Platform One Long after Friday night commuters were home, commercial cleaning company Cleantech1 were hard at work cleaning over 1000 m2 of tiled floors at two of Sydney’s largest and busiest train stations. To complete this massive task, Kennards Hire Concrete Care supplied a fleet of floor scrubbers.

40 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

“The floors of the stations received regular mopping but hadn’t been ‘deep cleaned’ for some time,” explained Alan Merheb, Director of Cleantech1.

“We had a limited timeframe of 48 hours to complete each station and have them ready for peak commuter traffic Monday morning. With the range of equipment supplied

The Polygiene additive within the Flowfresh resin eliminates germs by emitting powerful silver ions that destroy grampositive and gram-negative bacteria. This natural solution doesn’t utilise harsh or toxic chemicals to achieve its germ killing property and as it is incorporated throughout the hard wearing Flowfresh mixture its effectiveness won’t fade over time.

The installation of the patient catering facility’s floor was completed over a 6-week period and was applied in both 4mm and 6mm thicknesses to match the demands of the environment.

The client awarded the project to Antiskid Industries Pty Ltd, which is the exclusive applicator of Flowcrete products in Western Australia.

Flowfresh floors flagship hospital The $2 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital had an ultra hygienic floor installed that meets its ethos of utilising state-of-theart technology to provide a world-class medical facility.

The 783 bed tertiary hospital is equivalent in size to four city blocks, making the medical campus in Murdoch the largest construction project ever undertaken by the State Government. It will also become Western Australia’s new flagship hospital when it begins a four phase opening sequence in October 2014.

Throughout the project, pioneering construction ideas have been embraced alongside advanced scientific, technological and medical innovations to ensure that patients and the medical community have access to a wide range of clinical, research and education services.

As part of this commitment to meeting world-leading standards, 1,120m2 of the innovative antimicrobial floor Flowfresh SR was installed in the patient catering facility.

This solution was chosen to ensure a sanitary environment that would minimise the risk from

harmful contaminants.

Flowfresh includes the antimicrobial agent Polygiene, which actively assists on-site cleaning regimes by inhibiting the growth of up to 99.9% of bacteria on the floor surface.

The MD of Flowcrete Australia, Sean Tinsley, said: “Hygiene is a paramount concern in both medical and food environments, and so is doubly vital within an area such as patient catering.

“Flowfresh is the ideal solution for locations such as this thanks to its ability to retain a smooth, hard wearing finish, which is not only easy to clean but which works to eliminate unwanted and potentially harmful pathogens before the cleaning routine even starts.”

Made from cementitious polyurethane, Flowfresh is a durable and reliable flooring material that is able to withstand abusive environments without failing.

It has been formulated to resist chemicals, wear, heat and hot water so that the floor’s surface remains level and crack-free, a vital consideration for ensuring a hygienic environment, as contaminants can accumulate and thrive within gaps in the floor.

Flooring Oct/Nov 2014 41

PICFloors

Preparation, Installation & Care

GECA releases new adhesives standard Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) has announced the release of its newest standard for adhesives, fillers and sealants, which now covers a wider variety of products and sets a new environmental benchmark for the industry.

The new standard, which replaces GECA’s previous adhesives standard, now includes recognition for joint sealants and fillers, plus a stronger focus on industrial and commercial adhesives.

GECA chose to expand the scope of the standard in response to increased demand from industry professionals for greater certification options.

Products can be certified under the Adhesives, Fillers and Sealants standard to demonstrate that they meet

GECA’s strict criteria for lower environmental impact, human health and safety, and ethical working conditions for workers.

Key criteria in the updated standard include: • products must not contain substances which have been classified as known carcinogens, toxins, mutagens, or toxic to reproduction; • heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic and others, must not be intentionally added to the product; • products which may lead to the release of respirable powders/ dust (e.g. products such as fillers which may be sanded) must not contain any added crystalline silica (quartz) or mica. If used, effective measures must

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42 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

be in place to control exposure of workers; • the final product must only contain limited amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Formaldehyde, or formaldehyde-shedding substances, must not be intentionally added to a product; • emissions to air and water during the manufacturing process must be effectively managed and documented.

There must also be waste minimisation and energy management procedures in place; • limits on substances toxic to aquatic life.

This new standard has been submitted to the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). Once approved, products certified under it can contribute to achieving points under the relevant GBCA’s Green Star tools.

Ardex tiles iconic Emporium De Fazio Commercial Tiling has recently completed the tiling of all common areas at The Emporium, a premium retail space in the heart of Melbourne CBD. The overall project took three years to complete with the tiling taking 12 months.

Ardex Australia supplied a complete system for the tiling installation including waterproofing, adhesive and grouting products to all public areas. The tiling covered an enormous area of more than 21,000 m2.

Ardex S16, the main tiling product used, was chosen for its rapid drying and reduced risk of water-staining. Early access to the tiled area was viable, which helped to fast track the installation. Ardex A38 rapid set cement screed was also supplied. It produces a screed that improves on-site efficiencies by allowing traffic shortly after application and the laying of the floorcovering on the same day.

The project presented a number of challenges with much time spent on-site assessing the various areas

for tiling and undertaking quality assurance for the Ardex system. Tiling was specified above 2.7 metres, which required particular attention and utilised the Ardex WA100 epoxy.

The central CBD location made deliveries more challenging with Ardex having to adhere to very exact delivery times. The centre contains 225 stores over five levels so product had to be distributed throughout the entire centre.

“Ardex Australia was thrilled to be involved with the overhaul of such an iconic building,” explained Fabian Morgan, Sales and Marketing Director, Ardex Australia. “The project demonstrated the scope of Ardex tiling products and combined with quality and skilled workmanship, has achieved an outstanding result.”

Surface preparation solutions Coast. After years of heavy foot traffic, the epoxy on the concrete began to fail and deteriorate, therefore required re-coating.

Dreamworld had three requirements before the new epoxy could be applied: remove all of the remaining coating, clean the surface and prepare it for the new application.

Due to the scale of the job, Dreamworld enlisted the expertise of Kennards Hire Concrete Care to provide the right solution. After an initial consultation, Kennards provided a diesel ride-on shotblaster capable of blasting up to 350 m2 per hour, a smaller 240V walkbehind unit, which was used to detail edges and areas of

Surface preparation is the most important step in any flooring process and can become an expensive problem if done incorrectly.

Every flooring project is unique and there are a number of surface preparation options available depending on the requirements. However, one of the most efficient surface preparation methods on hard or brittle surfaces is shotblasting.

Shotblasting removes, cleans and prepares flooring surfaces all in one

restricted space, with a mini loader and power grinder attachment to grind an exposed aggregate surface.

The use of the diesel ride on and 240v walk behind shotblasters permitted the removal of the existing coating and achieved the required concrete surface profile for the new coating in one application.

Kennards Hire Concrete Care specialises in a range of surface preparation solutions and encourages the use of shotblasters for resurfacing jobs such as the case at Dreamworld. Without the shotblasters, the project would have been labour intensive, making it timeconsuming and significantly more expensive.

pass. This efficient method of surface preparation maximises site production time by minimising additional cleanup and allowing faster recoat or material application rates. Additionally, a newly shotblasted surface will increase the coating adhesion and bond prolonging the life of any coating system.

A recent example of the benefits of shotblasting was the resurfacing of concrete pathways at Dreamworld, Australia’s biggest theme park, situated on the Gold

Flooring Oct/Nov 2014 43

ProductUpdate

Give new life to tiles For Davco, being part of the ParexGroup provides access to new technology from around the world, supporting the company’s mission to make tiling easier and more efficient for both the professional trade through to DIY users.

Davco is now launching a completely new, innovative product: Davco Rejuvenation Grout, which allows you to give new life to almost any tiled area.

Replacing old grout in existing tile installations traditionally involved scraping out all of the old grout, before mixing and applying the new grout. Alternatively, using grout colourant pens requires meticulously following all grout lines, while the finish may not have the resistance to wear and cleaning of true grout.

Davco Rejuvenation Grout can be applied over the existing grout, providing a fresh, new, true-grout finish.

Advantages include: • pre-mixed; ready to use straight from the pail; • available in a choice of six colours selected to complement tile colour trends;

• applied in a similar manner to traditional grout – that is, spread over the grout joints then simply wipe from the tile surface (not having to avoid the tile surface during application), making application easy and fast; • a tough, wear resistant finish resilient to foot traffic and normal cleaning.

This allows the product to be used in almost any tiled area, internal and external, wall and floor, showers and other wet areas including pools and spas; • special biocide formula resists the formation of mould and bacteria.

However, there are some limitations.

For example: • r equires at least 1mm of depth between the face of the tile and the surface of the existing grout. If this depth is not available the top 1mm surface of the grout can be raked out prior to use of Davco Rejuvenation Grout, which is still easier than raking out the full depth of the grout joint; • very high binding strength makes the product unsuitable for very porous and some highly textured tiles as it can be difficult to remove from the surface of these tiles during the clean-up process; • acidic cleaners should not be used on the product; • when used in pools the pH must be maintained between 6 and 8.

Due to the variability in both the job-specific conditions and the ability of applicators in using a rectification product, Davco Rejuvenation Grout comes with a one year warranty. It has been successfully tested to provide a much greater life.

Underlayment for tiles POSITIONS VACANT Account Managers / Sales Representatives Queensland & New South Wales Based As a leading Queensland based, family owned & operated wholesale flooring distributor since 1961 situated between Brisbane and the Gold Coast QLD, we seek interest for 2 full time sales representatives based in Queensland and New South Wales to further promote, grow and service our valued repeat and new customer base whilst creating and growing new opportunities throughout metropolitan and country QLD & NSW areas. The successful applicants will require the following attributes.

• • • • • • • • •

Self motivated Previous sales representative and account management experience Customer Service and Complaints Handling Customer relations Personal presentation Work alongside management, fellow sales team and internal staff Time management skills & well organised Able to work efficiently unsupervised.

To efficiently manage and organise marketing materials for maximum sales returns.

• Territories (TBC) QLD & NSW With a friendly working environment and a generous starting package including, salary, vehicle, phone, country travel expenses and 5 day working week will be offered as we look forward to a mutual long term business relationship and positions with the successful applicants.

Please address all applications and resumes to: Sales Director, PR Floors PTY LTD, PO Box 6013 Yatala QLD 4207 Fax: 07 3807 2400 Email: danielp@prfloors.com To find out more about us please visit www.prfloors.com

44 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

STRATA_MAT from Laticrete is a next generation high performance uncoupling underlayment for tile and stone floors.

It is designed to ensure the lasting beauty and functionality of tiled floors and prevent the main cause of cracked tiles.

Suitable for exterior applications over concrete for

patios and walkways, it can also be used on decks and terraces over unoccupied space.

A lightweight, fast to install alternative to cement backboard and other underlayment boards, STRATA_ MAT is easy to handle and transport and cuts with a utility knife or scissors (no saws and no dust.)

Responsibly sourced Hakwood is a Dutch manufacturer of high-end innovative hardwood flooring, specialising in wide-width, long-length flooring.

“Architects and designers want to work with the best materials, but they don’t want to be limited in their choice of colour and finishing. That’s why we specialise in custom made flooring. We have the skills, the machines and the top quality product, so we welcome the opportunity to work with creative professionals to produce the perfect flooring to fit their design intent,” commented Edwin Hak, product design and development for Hakwood.

“Hakwood has a vast collection of unique flooring to choose from and cater to a range of requirements and specifications. It prides itself on reliability and all products are made

from the best, responsibly sourced wood.”

Hakwood is the inventor of the Duoplank, a wide width, long length engineered flooring product. The wood top layer is adhered to the highest grade Baltic birch multi-ply to produce a dimensionally stable product. This enables Hakwood to offer the look of solid wood flooring, combined with the installation flexibility of an engineered floor.

The Duoplank is available in planks or herringbone with various installation methods possible. It can be used with both underfloor heating and cooling and is available in multiple grades and two thicknesses.

“In the beginning we saw the need for quality engineered flooring in the large format of traditional Dutch planks.

New underfloor heating range Thermogroup has announced the release of its new Thermofoil Pro Underfloor Heating mats.

These mats are designed for use under carpet and floating floors. The installation is the similar to the Thermonet Floor Mats allowing for a quick and easy installation.

To meet this demand, we created Duoplank. Now, we take this platform further by applying innovative and exclusive textures and finishes. It is our passion for wood flooring and technical expertise that continuously drives us to advance our products and stay ahead,” said Mark Hak, owner of Hakwood.

Hakwood is available in Australia from Salvage.

Graboplast are a leading European manufacturer of commercial vinyl sheet flooring.

Our products include vinyl flooring suitable for • Aged Care • Sports Surfaces • Education • Anti-slip • Health Care • Transport

We currently seek a commercial flooring

distributor and stockist

to service our range of products in Australia and New Zealand.

Interested parties please contact our Australian and New Zealand representative:

Jeff Hayward | 0419 804 106 All contact will be treated confidentially

The new mats complement the existing Thermonet, Vario and ThermoDuo ranges allowing Thermogroup to offer underfloor heating for nearly any type of flooring including polished concrete.

Flooring Oct/Nov 2014 45

ProductUpdate

All shapes and sizes As architects increasingly use entrance areas as a space for creativity, the shape of the entrance matting invariably also becomes creative. In turn, this often makes the flooring contractors job complex. That’s when you need a resourceful and innovative entrance matting supplier.

The sales team members at Classic Architectural Group are all trained in best practise solutions and have

the expertise needed to make your job easy. They’ll be able to demonstrate how their range of entrance matting – from aluminium matting to carpet-style matting – can be customised, shaped and fitted to not only look great, but also perform well.

Their templating and shaping service will remove your risk of inaccuracies, ensure a perfect fit every time and continue to enhance public space.

Reduce costs, time and labour with a Makinex Mixing Station A Classic entrance mat recently installed at a hospital project.

DuraCore announces improved Densi Crete Concrete protection systems company, Duracore, has announced an improvement to its Densi Crete range.

Andrew Mcleay, the company’s founder said: “Penetrating colloidal silicas like Densi Crete have been around for over 15 years and are now becoming the ‘go to’ method for waterproofing concrete. They work by penetrating deeply into the capillary voids of the concrete and creating a permanent waterproof barrier.

“One of the key benefits of Densi Crete is that it can be applied at the time of pour and double as a curing compound. This saves a huge amount of time and money”.

46 Flooring Oct/Nov 2014

Duracore has now improved Densi Crete by making it 100% pure colloidal silica. Andrew explained: “It is our philosophy at DuraCore to never become complacent: we are constantly looking at opportunities for improvement.

Densi Crete is now 100% pure colloidal silica. In doing this we have achieved even greater depths of penetration and, by lowering Densi Crete’s pH content, we have made a product that is less corrosive and safer to use”.

DuraCore has developed a free guide on how to prevent moisture problems on your next project, which you can download from the website www.duracore.com.au.

The Makinex Mixing Station MS-100 makes mixing and applying floor levelling compounds easier and quicker with contractors claiming the efficiencies gained pays for the unit in no time.

Contractors can significantly improve efficiency by using the Makinex Mixing Station MS-100 made up of a 100 litre bucket, lightweight aluminium frame and stirrer.

The MS-100 can mix a 100 litre batch of levelling cement consistently allowing contractors to confidently take on jobs up to 1500 m2 without the need for a pump.

For larger jobs up to 6000 m2, multiple Mixing Stations can be used.

With a built-in timer, the MS-100 can mix up to 100kg hands-free in only three minutes, freeing up contractors to prepare surfaces and undertake other tasks while mixing.

The portable and lightweight MS-100 mixes self-levelling cements, compounds and epoxies quickly, and then easily

tilts to give control, speed and precision when pouring.

John McKenzie from Ideal Floor Topping in Strathfield, NSW said: “We had a job that required 240 bags of bulk compound to be applied. I anticipated the job would take about eight hours but we got hold of the Makinex Mixing Station and finished the job in two and a half hours with one less staff member than I would usually use. “ I have worked in the flooring industry for over 20 years and would say the Makinex Mixing Station is a definite time saver for contractors.”

The MS-100 was designed in 2009 by contractors for contractors and has since been distributed globally by Makinex. International Sales Manager, Paul Weaver said: “The feedback we continually receive is that this product is a genuine time saver. It gives us great confidence that Makinex can provide a product that greatly benefits contractors in the industry”.

Advertisers Index

Exhibitioncalendar

2014 Exhibitions

DECEMBER 2014 12-15 MaDecor Expo 2014

International decoration, furniture, home textiles & carpet exhibition

Casablanca, Morocco http://www.madecorexpo.com

JANUARY 2015 14-17 Heimtextil Frankfurt 2015

International Trade Fair for Home Textiles and Commercially used Textiles

Frankfurt, Germany http://heimtextil. messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/ en

17-20 Domotex Contractworld 2015

World trade fair for carpets and floorcoverings

Hannover, Germany http://www.domotex.de 18-22 LVM Las Vegas Market 2015

Furniture Show & Decorative Accessories Market

Las Vegas, USA www.lasvegasmarket.com 21-23 Surfaces 2015

Floorcovering and surfacing industry show

Las Vegas, USA www.tisewest.com

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

Agnews Water Putty 41 Airstep

16 & 17 All Preparation Equipment

37 BASF

35 Carpet Court

11 Choices Flooring 13, 15 & 23 Classic Architectural Group

2 Con-Treat 32 & 43 Embelton

5 Flooring Concepts

26 Gibbon Group

27 GMK Logistics

37 Graboplast

45 GTP Australasia 8, 20 & 36 Kenbrock Flooring

12 Kennards Group

9 Laser Measure

31 Laticrete

39 Leister

30 Ontera

21 PR Floors

44 Proline Floors

7 Protect Crete

Back Cover QEP

25 & 29 RFMS Australasia

33 & 34 Shaw Contract Group Front Cover & 19 Spectrum Floors

22 & 42

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THE NAME  



 



   







    





iendly y Fr • all 0 nt

r

ee

nt

• G

•

VOC g/L .0

  

Environ me



li nS tar C o m p

a

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









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

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