FFI 97 September 2018

INTERNATIONAL trade journal f or impor t , expor t , dis tr ibution and lay ing of par que t , laminate, cor k f loor ing and r elated pr oduc t s

N° 97, September 2018 - Price: €8 - Published 7 times a year - (Feb, March, May, July, Sept , Nov, Dec) Of fice of deliver y 9099 Ghent X , P911092, BC 31359 - Responsible Publisher: Filip De Ridder

Special: Cameroon Advertorial: Küberit (DE)

Advertorial: Devomat Industries (BE)

Great things are always worth the wait

Special: UV/LED machines on site Special: Color and hardwax oils

GOLD LINE www.adesiv.it

Special: Oil and lacquer with anti-slip properties for wooden flooring and stairs

EURO GOLD

low-environmental-impact bicomponent adhesive

MS GOLD FLEX

high-performance monocomponent MS adhesive

since 1971

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Content

Editorial

INTERNATIONAL trade journal f or impor t , expor t , dis tr ibu tion and lay ing of par que t , laminate, cor k f loor ing and r elated pr oduc t s

N° 97, September 2018 - Price: €8 - Published 7 times a year - (Feb, March, May, July, Sept , Nov, Dec) Of fice of deliver y 9099 Ghent X , P911092, BC 31359 - Responsible Publisher: Filip De Ridder

Special: Cameroon Advertorial: Küberit (DE)

Advertorial: Devomat Industries (BE)

Great things are always worth the wait

‘Parquet floor fitters are well aware of the range of parquet glues because they follow technological developments closely.

At the same time, they are generally very loyal to their brand.’

Special: UV/LED machines on site Special: Color and hardwax oils

GOLD LINE www.adesiv.it

Special: Oil and lacquer with anti-slip properties for wooden flooring and stairs

EURO GOLD

low-environmental-impact bicomponent adhesive

MS GOLD FLEX

high-performance monocomponent MS adhesive

since 1971

Floor Forum International n° 97 September 2018 Photo Adesiv

4 Inside news 8 Advertorial Devomat Industries (BE) 10 Special Suppliers of filling machines 14 Special Colour and hardwax oils 19 Special Laminate floors in Hungarian Point and

Herringbone style 20 Special Anti-slip finish for wooden and

bamboo terrace floors 22 Advertorial Küberit (DE) 24 Special Producers of skirting boards 28 Special Sanding machines : part I 30 Special Producers of elastic adhesives 36 Special Providers of structure and distressing machines 38 Special Outdoor floors: maintenance & finishes 43 Special Subfloors for wooden floors : part I 45 Special Producers of Versailles panels 48 Special Oil and lacquer with anti-slip properties for wooden

flooring and stairs 51 Special UV/LED machines on site

The adhesive market is constantly in motion due to the ongoing research and development efforts of the producers.

New forms of glue technology often emerge to complement existing systems without necessarily ousting them.

In some countries the most popular innovation currently is the silane glue, however it is a proven fact that millions of square meters of wood floors have been applied with two-component glue and even today this adhesive is very popular in many markets, According to this adhesive specialist, the ratio of floating floors to glued floors has stayed very stable in recent years. As Enrico Passerini, regards the wooden flooring market in sales & export manager at Adesiv general, you can talk of a certain growth.

‘But that growth is solely down to a general economic upturn,’ says Enrico Passerini. In the recent and less prosperous years, consumers have been compelled for financial reasons to go down the road of cheaper alternatives. At Adesiv they are also well aware that solid wooden floors won’t be dying out any time soon. ‘At least, for as long as there are still trees in European forests.’ Parquet traders are well aware of the range of parquet glues because they follow technological developments closely. However, they are not in a hurry to switch to other products, and, obviously, that’s a good thing for the producers. Some professionals have opted for our products since 1971 and they remain extremely loyal’. Any problems with wooden floors usually start with an inadequate substrate.

It’s up to floor fitters to ascertain whether or not the substrate is ready. ‘Undue haste is certainly not advisable, but that is sometimes induced by the competition.’ At all events, floor fitters can always rely on the advice of the producer or even on proper training. Adesiv offers training on the client’s premises where they give seminars on the entire range. However, Adesiv also hosts such events in its perfectly equipped meeting room. There, they combine both pleasant and essential features. Enrico Passerini concludes: ‘The Adesiv headquarters are close to the most important Grappa distilleries of Italy, we love to toast with our customers .’

54 Special Exterior wall cladding fastening systems 58 Special Floors with the best acoustic characteristics 62 Industry news 63 Special Cameroon 66 Product news

Editing & advertisements FFI bvba PO BOX 29 9870 Olsene, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)9 385 80 40 Fax: +32 (0)9 385 88 85 sales@media-pact.com www.floor-forum.com Publisher Filip De Ridder

Subscriptions to Floor Forum International: Mail to info@media-pact.com

Lay-out: Be-able Communication www.be-able.be Production: Lowyck - Oostende

Advertising & subscriptions Adriana Dascalu info@media-pact.com Hilde De Ridder floorforum@telenet.be Filip De Ridder sales@media-pact.com Editors: Jean Paul Talbot, Ludwig Janssens, Filip De Ridder Jacques Legros

Translation: Michael Robinson www.glossa.be Floor Forum International is a publication of FFi bvba.

The copyright of Floor Forum International and the articles appearing herein are retained by the publisher. By agreeing to publication of an article in this journal, the author assigns to the publisher the irrevocable and exclusive right under Copyright law to collect charges due from third parties for copying said article and to undertake legal or other action for this purpose.

Editorial and advertising copy in this issue have been carefully checked and Floor Forum International bvba cannot accept any responsibility for any errors.

∂ Inside news Interior Collection Days 2018

STAUF present problem solvers in parquet sector

Interior Collection Days takes place on Sunday 16, Monday 17, and Tuesday 18 September 2018 in the Evenementenhal in Gorinchem.

Interior Collection Days is a trade fair in the Netherlands for professionals such as project and home designers which highlights new collections in floors, soft furnishings, wall coverings, and window decoration. The focus of the event lies in networks, inspiration, and knowledge sharing. Opening the show on Sunday last time proved popular. Opening the event on Sundays brings Evenementenhal-Easyfairs into contact, for instance, with small-scale family businesses which have the opportunity to visit a trade fair only on Sundays. This also meets a longstanding demand from the sector.

Programme: Day 1: Sunday 16 September 2018 12.00 noon - 6.00 p.m.

Day 2: Monday 17 September 2018 10.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m.

Day 3: Tuesday 18 September 2018 10.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.

When parquet professionals get together at the “Interieur Collectie Dagen“ trade event in the Netherlands from 16 to 18 September, STAUF will also be presenting their adhesive technology. With the focus of this event on parquet and laminate flooring, the adhesives specialists from Germany will be presenting their parquet adhesives as problem solvers for parquet and flooring layers.

At STAUF‘s mobile trade fair stand, visitors will not only get to know a strong brand in the parquet sector but will also be able to experience it for themselves: they are positively encouraged to touch and feel the mock-ups and exhibits. Photo collages showing building sites of special interest where STAUF products were used will shine the spotlight on otherwise hidden processes – visitors can look forward to catching special glimpses of what goes on. In this way, adhesive technology will be brought to life and present a hands-on experience. For this traditional family-run company, now in its sixth generation, the Netherlands are an important international market, together with Belgium and France. This trade event in Gornichem for flooring, window treatments and wall coverings is an important indicator for product developments and trends in the neighbouring country. It also enables contacts to be forged with the Dutch trade and flooring dealers. STAUF is one more time one of the sponsors of the parquet layer competition held during the trade fair.

MR. PAOLO FANTONI WELCOMING SPEECH AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF EPF, LUCERNE 29.6.2018 EUROPE AND NON-TARIFF BARRIERS

invaluable speakers certainly will offer a vision of the new technologies, of the new competitive challenges we’re facing, and which will enrich us even further once back at home.

In my capacity as Chairman I’m however obliged to provide ideas for forming our vision of the future, seeking to urge all of us to take the responsibilities which we have in this circumstance as members of EPF. Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

Osmo Holz und Color sponsors Workcamp Parquet

Seeing the title of today’s session of the Annual General Meeting of EPF – The Future of Industry – definitely represents an opportunity.

I’m convinced that the value EPF brings its members also lies in the messages that days like these offer. Listening to truly unique and

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Floor Forum International 97

Under the motto “innovation through tradition”, an annual and international training project was held for master craftsmen and

ADHESIVE TECHNOLOGY since 1828

STAUF Klebstoffwerk GmbH www.stauf.de . info@stauf.de

Visit us in Gorinchem 16, 17 & 18 september 2018

* 49 eureoars Take advantage of our promotion and become part of the large reader family of the magazine Floor Forum International:

per y ues for 7 iss

Our magazine, that is distributed all over the world, targets professionals from the floor coverings sector and the wooden façade claddings. Floor Forum International, that from its start focussed on parquet floors both indoor and outdoor, every year aims at informing its readers about the newest trends and novelties. In it, among other things, you read all about trends and innovations for parquet floors, and this in all kind of wood species, vinyl, LVT, PVC, wooden façade claddings, glues, varnishes, subfloors, deckings,…

For more than 11 years already, Floor Forum International is appreciated by all the major players in the sector, who help determine the contents of the magazine thanks to their novelties that are accompanied by the necessary explanation. In every edition, the magazine singles out one particular country. In doing this, the readers not only discover the socio-political history of that country, but at the same time are also informed about the economic potential for what wood is concerned.

Are you an installer of parquet floors or a timber trader, an importer, a distributor, a wholesaler, a carpenter with employees, an agent, an interior architect, an interior designer, a decorator, a manager of a shop specializing in decoration, an entrepreneur in the world of construction or a manufacturer…? If this is the case, our magazine is an exceptionally good source of reference for you.

If you want to take a subscription, all you need to do is send an email to info@media-pact.com. You can also surf to the header ‘Subscribe’ on the website of Floor Forum International : www.floor-forum.com.

Subscribe right away

and become part of our family of professionals to stay informed about the trends and novelties in the sector of floor coverings and wood façades, deckings, finishing products,…

Become part of the large family of the sector of the wooden floor coverings, vinyl and PVC and the wooden façade claddings, thanks to the most popular magazine in the sector in Europe. Take a subscription right away and enjoy our promotional price of 49 euros*. * 79 euros per year for dispatching outside Europe

∂ Inside news apprentices. With 40 participants from 15 different nations, the wooden flooring at the Castle Grounds in Arcen near The Hague will be restored from 1-9 September 2018. As partner and sponsor, Osmo Holz und Color will be at this year’s project on the 4 September. In two product presentations, an Osmo wood finish consultant will be show the Polyx®-Oil products. Osmo Polyx®-Oils are based on oils and waxes and are easy to use. They provide wooden flooring durable protection as well as a low-maintenance surface.

well as any tree from which it is derived is unique.

Spačva's oak, in its annual rings, carries a hidden memory of ancient forests. As true fans of wood, we recognize that fact in the unsurpassed beauty of texture, and excellent structural strength of the Slavonian oak.

Our goal is to offer a product, which along with the quality ensures durability and longevity. The long tradition in production reflects decades of trust that our customers give us on daily basis.

Spačva: Slavonian oak – No compromise.

Renowned architects and interior designers create holistic interiors using products

Spacva’s Slavonian oak solid wood flooring known for its strength, resistance and durability – is most preferred choice among flooring.

Unique Slavonian oak, with the average age of each timber being one hundred years, contributes to the superb quality of your flooring. With its natural beauty, strong features and warm tones, it will fit perfectly in every home.

Combining quality and modern design, our collections are offering a choice for every taste. Each floor is a definition of uniqueness, just as

SLAVONIAN OAK

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Floor Forum International 97

“CREATE'N'CONNECT” – the new lead theme for DOMOTEX 2019 – shines a spotlight on the megatrend of connectivity, with particular emphasis on floors, including the myriad design options offered by them.

Floors form the basis of the rooms in which we live and work, and preparations for the coming floor coverings show (11–14 January 2019) are already in full swing. While many exhibitors are hard at work optimizing the final details of their latest products, dedicated university teams are working on visionary concepts which will be on display at DOMOTEX 2019, at the special “Framing Trends” showcase in Hall 9.

∂ Inside news This dedicated display will provide key ideas and inspiration for the floors of the future. Here, flooring exhibitors and companies will demonstrate their creative ideas in connection with the lead theme.

Featuring a series of unique presentations and product presentations, the “Framing Trends” showcase will serve as a magnet for visitors and manufacturers alike. As a global communications platform, DOMOTEX allows its exhibitors to network with trend-oriented architects, interior designers and designers in the spirit of “CREATE'N'CONNECT,” resulting in a variety of creative collaborations,as detailed in the following: The floor as a connective interior design element The innovative products created by DOMOTEX exhibitors are present in interior design projects all over the world, with renowned international architects and interior designers taking wooden floors, carpet tiles and handmade carpets and using them to create lifestyle-oriented rooms in which floor design becomes the connecting element of an overall interior design concept. Whether at the Canadian Studio Munge, the Chicago Design Network or Snøhetta from Norway: Architects and interior designers are integrating floor designs into their overall creative concept to give interiors that final touch to produce a harmonious whole. Carpets and parquet flooring from the DOMOTEX exhibitors Creative Matters, Fletco and Townfield Flooring are an important component of these trendsetting room presentations – from a hotel lobby in Toronto and offices in Chicago to a bar high above the rooftops of Oslo.

D E S I G N® PA R Q U E T F ran ce

Custom made

DOMOTEX exhibitors get connected for joint creative interior projects Canada’s Studio Munge has been part of a successful creative partnership with Creative Matters for many years, with numerous joint projects that include furnishing the lobby of the newly reopened Anndore House boutique hotel in downtown Toronto, which has an interior design characterized by Art Déco stylistic elements. The pattern and color of the rugged, handmade carpets consisting of 100% New Zealand wool correspond to the furnishing and wall design to form a unified creative whole. Creative teams from both companies developed the harmonious color gradient and attractive texture of the carpets, whose loops merge into pile cut. An octagonal carpet surrounds the reception table that is centrally located in the lobby.

A second leads visually and functionally from the elevator vestibule to the lobby bar. Both are inlaid into the dark terrazzo floor and “tie the entrance’s bold forms into a single holistic statement,” says Alessandro Munge, founder of Studio Munge. The interior designers at Chicago Design Network used Fletco carpet tiles to create connecting zones at the headquarters of HEARN, the well-known Chicago-based real estate company. HEARN, which acquired the office component of the mixed-use John Hancock building, commissioned the team to create a prestigious and contemporary workplace which would adequately reflect the building’s world-class status.

Read more on www.floor-foorum/news/en

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+32 11 63 64 00

Floor Forum International 97

7

Advertorial

Devomat Industries (BE)

ALMOST 40 YEARS OF WOODBOY SUCCESS !

TOP QUALITY AND CONVENIENCE ARE THE KEYS TO ITS SUCCESS

As a specialist producer, what do you have to make sure of if you launch a hire system for renovating and maintaining wooden floors? First of all, the tools, machines, and products in that system must be of guaranteed top quality.

Sturdy and efficient! Moreover, they have to be accessible for use by a large group of users. A combination of those elements has resulted in the Woodboy® trademark, which was launched initially for DIY users, being embraced quickly by masses of professionals.

When quality really stands out It now happens quite commonly. In plenty of sectors we see how after products or systems have been tested thoroughly at industrial or professional level, they generally filter through to consumer markets sooner or later. If the quality of a product is sufficient for industrial use, it will obviously also suffice for private use. With Woodboy, Devomat Industries has somewhat turned that economic logic on its head. Indeed, initially, the Woodboy system for sandpapering, finishing, and maintaining parquet and wooden floors was launched for the hire market. With this system, Devomat Industries has taken advantage at the same time of the growing preference for wooden floors and the thriving renovation market. For all elements of the system they have opted consciously for ‘sandpapering quality’. Moreover, that

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is precisely the reason why masses of professionals have been won over by Woodboy. The hire system still exists, but the machines, tools, accessories, and products, are now equally a part of the standard equipment of professional parquet floor fitters.

The ultimate sanding experience The new Woodboy 4000/32-3 is certainly the Devomat Industries workhorse! The new 1500W motor has 50% more power than the last Woodboy model! The oiled cog wheel yields perfect transmission. The machine has an easy fastening system for fitting various accessories. Each accessory turns the Woodboy into a different machine.

Depending on the chosen use, the Woodboy can also be fitted with a dust suction unit or a water tank for treating stone floors! Moreover, by fitting a weight of 10kg onto the machine, it is possible to improve performances even more. Moreover, the new Woodboy model is fitted with an ATC system (Automatic Torque Control). This is an electronic setting to absorb peaks and falls in current. Devomat presents various solutions in the area of dust suction!

Awesome accessories The Woodboy machine has various aids and accessories. In that area, too, Devomat Industries has always managed to keep one step ahead of the market.

Devo Gear Disc 3D

History

The Devo Gear Disc 3D makes it possible to transform a single-disc machine into a high-performance planetary sanding machine. A versatile solution, that’s for sure! The Devo Gear Disc 3D can not only be assembled on most single-disc machines such as the Devoboy, the Woodboy, and various Numatic machines, but can also be used for other applications. And so, you don’t need a second machine for other floor jobs. The results are highly impressive: The driven discs and the increased weight in combination with the rotary basic machine ensure fast and outstanding sanding quality.

The Woodboy machine and the Woodboy sandpapering system have been developed by Devomat Industries NV from Edegem and they launched them on the Belgian home market in March 1980! Within barely a year, lots of Woodboy hire systems had been sold in Belgium to DIY businesses and timber traders and, thanks to the fullness and simplicity of the system, consumers could now renovate their own wooden floors. In particular, old wooden and parquet floors, which in those days were often covered by wall-to-wall carpet, were transformed into gems by proud Woodboy users!

Devo® TriSeg turbo

The Woodboy hire system was complete from the very beginning, with extensive Woodboy instructions, accessories, a range of new grinding materials (including mesh discs), and Woodboy finish products.

By following one of the six basic work programmes, consumers so to speak could successfully complete all the finishes which were commonly requested in those days!

This is the segment plate with four diamond segments for several applications. With the diamond segments you can quickly grind and smooth levelling compounds, screed floors, concrete, tiles, etc. The segments are fastened using a magnet system.

Devo® TriSeg This is the segment plate with four PCD segments! With the PCD (polycrystalline diamond) discs you remove old adhesive residue from existing screed floors at very high speed. The plate is also suitable for removing other troublesome residue such as bitumen, jute, paint, carpet remains, etc. The segments are fastened using a magnet system.

Devo® Turbo Fiberpad 16" 406 mm The unique Devo Turbo Fiberpad has been developed recently for sandpapering parquet floors finely and thorough cleaning of various surfaces such as wood, stone, and metal. For the fine sandpapering of parquet floors the Devo Turbo Fiberpad replaces the classic sanding discs with sanding grain P80 and P100, which are used with single-disc machines.

Devo® Satellite disc with five discs The five contra-rotating layered discs of 150mm on a drive plate with dust holes ensure a perfect sandpapering result and yield on surfaces such as herringbone, mosaic parquet, and other design floors.

Woodboy also soon became an international success through participation in trade fairs abroad!

On 21 April 1981, they concluded their first distribution contract with Overmat Nederland for trade on the Dutch and German markets and Austria, Poland, and Switzerland were added later. On 14 February 2000, that Woodboy distribution contract was converted into a Woodboy licence contract for those countries. Nowadays, Devomat Industries sells Woodboy in all other countries!

The rest of the full Devomat range of machines and products for the treatment of floors (see www.devomat.be) is offered solely by Devomat Industries worldwide!

The Woodboy® machine and the Woodboy® hire system have been the pacemakers of an exciting Devomat Success Story and, after 38 years of operations, Devomat Industries has grown into an international specialist in parquet and other forms of floor technology.

You will find more information on their web sites: www.devomat.be / www.devonatural.be

Floor Forum International 97

9

Special

Suppliers of filling machines

FILLING HOLES WITH PRECISION COMPUTERISATION OF WOOD COSMETICS MEANS GAIN

Photo – CSP Engineering

Anything can be computerised! That is no less the case for the various production phases of ready-to-fit wooden floors.

From the entry of the planks and the floorboard production, application of the finish, packaging, and labelling to the collection for transport to the warehouse. Filling machines occupy a special place in that process. They generate demonstrable gains on various fronts.

Holes and cracks Whether we are talking about parquet strips or wooden planks, one or more than one strip, individual planks, or pre-assembled panels,

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wooden floorboards always show minor or major ‘blemishes’. These can be holes, splits, cracks, or chinks. These blemishes can be quite natural, and thereby they contribute to the charm of the wooden floor, or they can be the result of the fitting itself and thereby need to be eradicated. There are different products on the market, depending on the type of shortcoming ‘to be repaired’. After all, some blemishes have to be eradicated with products which are insensitive to the surrounding conditions, whilst for other (apparent) blemishes it is perfectly true to say that they ‘go along’ with the movements of the floor. For a few years now, we’ve been using the applicable term ‘wood cosmetics’ for the repair of all those blemishes. The word is exactly what it says.

Timber Repair & Cosmetics WINTERSTEIGER’s TRC stands for “timber repair & cosmetics”, is a highly advanced and established system, repairing flooring or wood panels with a unique detecting and injection system. The main advantages of the TRC injection system are: pressurized injection of the filling material, 100% seal around repair spot, no material shrinkage/ bubbling, the panels can be stacked or processed further immediately after repair (thermoplastic technology).

The TRC product range covers all capacities from semi to fully automatic machines. For special applications of the plywood or panel industry, WINTERSTEIGER also offers adapted system solutions, in line with customer requirements.

So far, more than 30 fully automated lines have been installed, and they repair approximately 20 million square meters of wood surface every year. Dozens of semi-automatic machines complete the world-wide use of TRC.

Two in one: Weitzer Parkett doubles TRC system In 2014, Weitzer Parkett – the Austrian market leader in parquet flooring and wooden stairs – decided to switch to automated timber surface repair. The company invested in a fully automated TRC 3000 system with a robot, which was implemented by WINTERSTEIGER and automation expert VAP Gruber (part of the WINTERSTEIGER Group) at the Güssing site.

The 2nd expansion stage.

The rapidly increasing demand for floorboard products – especially in the striking knotted wood ranges – led to the decision to add to the existing TRC 3000 system in 2016. The system is served by a mirrored configuration in the center with the same robot, and Weitzer has been working at twice the original capacity since January 2017. The manual aspect of timber surface repair has therefore been reduced and the efficiency of the manufacturing process increased.

Technical director Martin Karner is extremely pleased with the system and confirms its strengths: “We have improved the quality of our products as a result, which means that we don’t have to rework as many imperfections. The system’s availability is very good.”

Weitzer Parkett has seen an additional quality benefit in that the filler material is injected by the TRC system at high pressure, resulting in better adherence than during manual improvement works. 24 million injections – this impressive total reflects the high performance level of the system, which has processed around 750,000 m2 of wood over the last 12 months.

Fully automated TRC 3000 system

For more information:

www.wintersteiger.com/trc woodtech@wintersteiger.at +43 7752 919-0

Special

Suppliers of filling machines

Computerised production Until recently, a fully computerised parquet production line still included a few tasks which had to be done manually. These included, for instance, checking planks for any faults, and removing, repairing, and returning planks where necessary. Nowadays, those jobs, too, can be covered by mechanical solutions which can simply be incorporated into the production line. Blemishes in the floorboards are then detected via scanning. The scanner works in 2D or 3D and processes images within seconds. Each fault, however small, is detected and assessed. Since the machine is part of the production line, it’s not necessary to remove the damaged plank from the conveyor belt for repair. The scanner measures the exact dimensions of the damage and flawlessly calculates the required quantity of filler. What’s also important here is that the filler achieves the same hardness as the wood. The filling is done under pressure. The quantity of filler is calculated exactly so that no product is wasted.

said, the scanner records the exact dimensions of the damage and flawlessly calculates the required quantity of filler. What’s also important here is that the filler achieves the same hardness as the wood. The filling is done under pressure. The quantity of filler is calculated exactly so that no product is wasted.

Two specialists CSP Engineering

A list of the gains As we said in the introduction, filling machines generate demonstrable gains on various fronts.

Working time Manual repair work after a visual inspection is a time-consuming job.

The floorboard has to be scanned precisely, the nature of any fault has to be examined, and then a professional has to decide how to repair the floorboard and with which product. All that takes time and therefore costs money.

Dosing A human being is not capable of dosing the product to be used as accurately as a computer can do it. The faults are read and recorded.

The dosing is ‘calculated’ after the scanning. And so, there is never any surplus product, in complete contrast to visual inspection and manual work. That means a saving on products which are often expensive.

Transport If the repair is carried out away from the production line, any damaged plank has to be collected by ‘somebody’ and taken to the ‘resident beauty specialist’. Once the floorboard is repaired, it has to be returned to the production line. That takes time, human resources, and operations.

Better quality In terms of recording and repairing, a machine achieves a higher degree of perfection than a human being. After all, as we’ve already

Since the development of PAR-Filler® in 2014 CSP Engineering became the absolute specialist in the field of filling machines.

The Belgian machine constructor installed the high-tech filling machine in 10 different EU countries. CSP Engineering invested on the customer journey by constructing an Experience Centre nearby the actual production site. In this manner CSP Engineering offers the opportunity to the wood flooring producers to do extended testing with their products on PAR-Filler®. From the first design until the final phase with installation and training on-site CSP Engineering is your cooperative partner resulting in an optimal integration into your production and a maximum return of investment.

Further improvement on the standard version for PAR-Filler® resulted in optimization of filling movements by a hyper fine-tuned detection and perfect filling of tiny crack to open knot. Also the capacity of the machine was raised by a more efficient feed and a focused applicator control. The internal developed software was adapted to new trends on the market. So a distinction can be made between different layers on a carrier strip for instance with 2-layer production as Herringbone or Hungarian point.

By the end of last year new types in the PAR-Filler® range were born.

Wood Filler, eco-friendly, for WOOD INDUSTRY • Economical powder 1kg = 1.3kg of paste • Ready-to-use • Application on cold or hot panels • Special formulas for planed and brushed wood • 8 standards colors or counter-typing on demand • Package from 5 to 310kg, in buckets or in barrels

Manual or automatic application

Call a specialist: 05.61.98.40.88 or www.briancon-production.com 12

Floor Forum International 97

With the Mono an entry version was developed for lower capacities and also a version for extreme long flooring boards ( > 7m).

Simultaneous with the filling machine CSP Engineering also develops and renews permanently on the field of the wood filler. The 1k ecological CosmetiWood® approaches the structure and absorption of wood.

The quality and hardness is continuously evaluated and followed by the in-house chemists.

Easy and takes up about 1.5 x 1.5m of space. The semi-automatic version without a scanner is already available for €40,000. Prices for fully computerised lines start at €165,000. Since 2009, Wintersteiger has already installed over 30 fully automatic production lines, which have been used to repair about 20 million square metres of panels per annum. Dozens of semi-automatic machines have now been sold worldwide.

Wintersteiger Wintersteiger TRC stands for ‘timber repair & cosmetics’, an advanced system for repairing wooden floors or panels by means of an ingenious detection and injection system. Wintersteiger TRC is now well established on the market. The repair filler is injected under pressure and shows no swelling or shrinking whatsoever. Thanks to thermoplastic technology, it is possible to treat the panels or floorboards further or to store them. Wintersteiger offers both semi-automatic and fully automatic machines. The existing systems work mainly with thermoplastic fillers, some with polyamide, but, strictly speaking, other fillers are eligible since this is an open and flexible system. Successful processing by brushing, sandpapering, or coating depends largely on the quality of the filler. What is also important is that the filler obtains the same hardness as the wood.

The dosing is done automatically. The scanner takes care of the exact calculation of the dosing so that no product is wasted. The Faulty Spot Eye scanner has been specially developed by Wintersteiger for detecting holes in panels. It works in 2D and 3D mode and processes the images in milliseconds. The smallest machine is the TRC-M

Filling technology for wood flooring MACHINED FILLING OF KNOTS IN PARQUET

before

after

High quality filling result Reduction of labour costs High production capacity Just 1 operator Wood filler ready for use Available in 8 colors

CSP Engineering bvba

Stenehei 30/10

Tel: +32 14 37 77 52

B-2480 Dessel (Belgium)

info@csp-engineering.com

Floor Forum International 97 www.csp-engineering.com

13

Special

Colour and hardwax oils

COLOURING WOOD IS STILL IN FASHION PARQUET OIL PROVIDES COLOUR IN THE DEPTH

Photo – Rubio Monocoat

As a rule, there are various ways of colouring wood. Some ways relate to ‘pre-colouring’ and for the rest don’t protect the wood at all. In other words, the wood still needs a classic finish e.g. lacquer, oil, or wax. That also applies to soaking in lye and smoking. The same also goes for ‘staining’, which has been the most popular way of colouring wood for many years.

However, it doesn’t apply to colour oils, which apply colour and protection in one product.

The look of wood Let’s be critical, just for once. As we’ve said above, you can colour wood in various ways. The pressing question is whether you should therefore do it. Doesn’t this create a certain discrepancy in the consumers’ pattern of choice? We note that the use of wood is all the rage in construction due to the growing preference for ‘natural’ materials. Furthermore, we should also note that sorts of wood stand out from each other by means of two visual elements, namely the wood

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grain (anatomical) and the wood colour. Both elements are crucial in determining the look and appearance of a particular type of wood.

By applying colour, we are changing one of those natural means of identification.

Identifying sorts of wood It is not very easy to identify the difference between various sorts of wood. If we are talking about a limited number of wood sorts from a small area of origin, any trained person can reasonably identify major sorts, such as forest trees from the wild in the Netherlands or Belgium.

However, identifying trees in huge countries with large forest areas such as Brazil and Indonesia is a completely different matter. The vast diversity of tropical forests and the presence alongside each other of scores of different sorts from the same genus of plant mean that in practice it is no longer possible to distinguish between the different sorts. Think, for instance, of meranti, a group of commercial wood in which it is possible, for instance, to draw a distinction between red,

white, and yellow meranti. Each of them (e.g. red meranti) still comprises dozens of sorts.

Anatomy and colour With the help of wood anatomy, it is possible in many cases to identify those sorts of groups or sometimes even one particular sort. It is possible to examine the anatomy of wood in various ways e.g. with a magnifying glass, microscope, or an electrons microscope. The structure of the wood can yield reliable data to help us identify it. The colour of wood is usually related to colouring agents in certain cells. For that matter, those colouring agents aren’t there for reasons of beauty. They are usually poisonous to a lesser or extreme degree and serve to limit the damage caused by ‘little beasts’. The volumic mass (with wood the weight is not expressed in a specific weight, but in volumic mass) is shown by the thickness of the cell walls; the thicker they are, the heavier the wood is. Often (but not always!), a dark colour means a high volumic mass.

Ways of colouring NOTE, HOWEVER! Everyone is free to decide for themselves what their interiors should look like. Colouring wood fits in somewhat with people’s urge for exclusive and completely personalised floors. Nevertheless, taste changes over the years. For many decades, lacquer producers, for instance, have had to look for ways of creating wood lacquers which don’t cause oak wood to turn yellow. People wanted to preserve the natural colour. Just take note! Oak is still the sort of wood which lends itself best to all sorts of systems and means of changing the form.

Pre-colouring and then finishing Smoking, thermal treatment, and staining are three ways of colouring wood without providing definitive protection. Smoking and thermal treatment both turn the wood ‘darker’. Furthermore, that ‘turning the wood darker’ was a technique to give wood (e.g. oak) the look of an antique floor or of a rare exotic sort of wood. Staining allows for every imaginable colour. Smoking wooden planks highlights the specific grain of the wood. It brings out the structure of each individual plank. In fact, each plank is different and has its own look. Sun, wind, rain, and soil have caused this natural distinction and smoking makes those influences clearly visible. Thermal treatments also turn wood a darker shade.

They give the wood a dark brown colour, which resembles the effect of a smoked floor. The main benefit is that floorboards treated in this way are also coloured in the mass, meaning that they can be sandpapered several times without losing their colour. Staining parquet can give wood any colour as required, from black over blue-grey to white, anything is possible. The stain penetrates deep into the wood, gives a nice contrast, and thereby highlights the specific wood structure. A stain is often a classic wood-ennobling product based on natural linseed oil.

Colouring and finishing with oil Almost all parquet oil producers now have a colour range and they have promoted it more and more in recent years. The reason for that is probably that there is still a lot of scope for innovation in that field and the colour range allows the various brands to stand out from each other, both in terms of creativity in the area of the shades themselves and in the area of the number of colours. A coloured oil protects

KING OF COLOURS

Color Hardwax-oil 2K Lanai 071

The VOC-free finishing product with fast curing and full chemical and mechanical resistance after 24 hours.

Janna 170 Denali 175 Kamet 179 Pago 770

Available in 12 colours!

Pinta 773 Tanna 776 Savo 872 Rossing 875

Easy maintenance with

Floorservice Maintenance Oil!

Koro 972 Taupo 975 Sakar 979

Overmat Industries B.V. | Scharlo 11 | NL-5165 NG Waspik | The Netherlands Tel. +31 (0) 416 31 77 88 | Internet: www.overmat.nl | E-mail: info@overmat.nl

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Colour and hardwax oils

and colours the wood in one finish product. This method is suitable for all new wooden floors or parquet in all types of recently sandpapered wood. Most colour oils are transparent. A finishing coat with these oils also provides a strong protective coat. Moreover, colour oils can still be combined with other treatments such as treating with lye and smoking to obtain quite different results. Since oil penetrates deep into the pores of the wood, the same also applies to colour oil. The benefit of this is that to some degree you achieve a colouring ‘in the mass’.

Coloured oils consist of a wide range of contemporary and timeless colours. They are usually prepared by adding dyes to the natural oil. And so, this transparent colouring for wooden floors is available in many different colours which can even be combined with each other.

What’s on the market?

Adesiv Adesiv presents Paviolio 25 WB, a colouring agent with modified vegetable oils for impregnating indoor wooden floors. Paviolio 25 WB can be painted over with a waterborne dual-component varnish. The product itself is a single-component product with outstanding colour properties and high penetration capacity. The finish can be applied in one work session. The product is suitable for all types of wood.

Obviously, the floor has to be clean and dry (between 8 and 12%) and sandpapered with a maximum grain of 150. The sandpapering must be perfect because Paviolio 25 WB multiplies the smallest imperfection.

And so, the product can be used on all types of wood, but it comes best into its own on types such as oak, larch, and cherry.

Blanchon

within a week. And so, that immediately gives clients a choice of over 135 shades, but, in fact, the possibilities are unlimited since the oil is often applied to a parquet floor which has already had some or other form of colour such as with some distressing techniques. For just about 10 years, the white and grey shades have been the most striking, but with various derived shades. Experienced floor fitters even work with a wet-in-wet technique whereby you get special effects such as marbled or with shadows. Dyes are generally used to obtain the colour because they are more resistant to light than colouring agents and also because a white colouring agent simply doesn’t exist. Moreover, dyes give deeper and more intense shades. The addition of a UV filter, certainly with water-based oils, can add value both decoratively and technically (durability).

Bona Bona Craft Oil soaks deeply into the wooden floor and improves its resistance to wear and tear, chemicals, and damp. BONA CRAFT OIL 1-component is available in six different colours.

Moreover, it is possible to obtain even more colours by adding effects with Bona Nordic Tone, Bona Rich Tone Grey, and Bona Mix Colour.

Bona Craft Oil is a 1-coat system. With superior wood saturation properties, Bona Craft Oil provides deep protection against wear and tear, chemicals, and damp. It is a natural vegetable oil with hardly any odour and a significantly low VOC content. This means that it is safe to work and walk on the surface. This oil gives a reduced yellowing effect. The formula is ecological with a high oil content and a low quantity of solvents (<4%); that also means the wood can be saturated with a limited quantity of oil. Bona Craft Oil 2K 2-components is available in 11 different colours, which can be mixed with each other to create scores of colours. The 2K version can even be lacquered over with the strong parquet lacquer Bona Traffic for the very best protection. Bona Craft Oil 2K’s unique formula, based on vegetable oils, ensures rapid drying and the very best protection. It is the ideal finish for sometimes troublesome sorts of wood like kambala, afzelia, and walnut. It is also suitable for use on smoked oak and steamed beech.

Bona Craft Oil 2K yields a highly charming surface which is waterproof and stain-proof and is ready for use after a drying time of a mere eight hours (Neutral) to twelve hours (Colour Oil).

Chimiver

For a few years now, colouring wooden floors has been a strong trend adopted by all parties in the world of parquet, from manufacturer to floor fitter. Oak is still the most popular sort and, moreover, lends itself best to a colour treatment. For over 20 years, Blanchon has presented a full range of oils, wax-oils, and hard-wax oils. Since the start of this year, clients have had the opportunity to order no fewer than 90 shades in five ranges, with 45 subtle distinctions, and these can be delivered

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LIOS BIOIL Colorato Colored natural oil treatment for wooden floors LIOS BIOIL Colorato is a colored natural oil treatment for wooden floors with easy application, very durable and soft effect on the surface.

LIOS BIOIL Colorato is available in 20 different colors, miscible together to make a wide range of new colors.

Ciranova

Colouring parquet and furniture is very much in fashion. One extremely popular practice is to re-sandpaper parquet and apply coloured oil to get a floor which looks as good as new. This is applied mainly to oak wood, but basically it can be applied to any type of wood. Each type of wood has its own special method of preparation before colour oil is applied. Ciranova presents two solutions. UNICO is a single-coat VOC-free oil of the new generation and is based on renewable natural raw materials. Thanks to this special technology, you only need to apply one coat. You need to add a hardener to the oil, which ensures rapid drying and excellent chemical resistance. UNICO is available in 16 colours. The HARD WAX OIL is a fast-drying parquet oil with excellent durability. The oil guarantees good filling and good chemical and mechanical resistance. It is available in eight standard colours. Two or three coats are applied, depending on the type of wood. White and grey are the favourite shades, followed by grey.

in with coloured stairs, cupboards, or other interior elements or precisely to break with rigid white interiors. The types of wood used most commonly are pale and neutral sorts such as oak, pine, elm, and such like. By colouring those types, you can approximate to the effect of tropical wood sorts. It is then necessary to use dyed oils with regard to solid tropical wood sorts in order to combat UV erosion. This also applies to all pale wood sorts, which go dark under the influence of UV without the protection of a dye. Apart from colour oil, Hesse also sells (coloured) oils which can be finished later with a 2K water varnish to exclude any reaction with tannic acid, to ensure adhesion with the renovation of a previously oiled or polished floor, and to ensure even greater resistance. The most commonly used colours are still white, grey, and natural colours. In their standard range Hesse offers around forty colours to give an idea of the possibilities, but they also do customised work regularly, so the number of colours which they can offer is endless.

Osmo Colouring wood surfaces

Floorservice Floorservice Color Hardwax-oil Floorservice offers different types and colours of Floorservice Hardwax-oil.

Off our 34 colours the white and brown shades are the most popular, in particular the Polar, Arctic and Brasil.

Followed by the unfinished look and the brown shades.

The Floorservice Hardwaxoil penetrates deep into the wood, without blocking the pores. This allows the wood to keep breathing and retains its natural structure, because no top layer is formed.

Floorservice Color Hardwax-oil 2K This VOC-free finishing product cures very fast; ensuring the floor to be fully operational in no time. Available in 12 different colours.

Every floor that is finished with Floorservice Hardwax-oil is guaranteed to be highly resistant to wear and is also water resistant. Besides that the floor is protected against saliva and sweat and make the floor child friendly because it meets the requirements for children’s toys.

Hesse Generally speaking, most floors are finished as naturally as possible.

Parquet and wooden floors are also coloured regularly in order to blend

Various products for colouring wood surfaces are available from Osmo: Oil Stain, Polyx®-Oil Tints, Polyx®-Oil Effect as well as Wood Wax Finish. Depending on the project, product and application, different types of colouring and effects are achieved. A nearly untreated look is created on wooden flooring with Polyx®-Oil Effect Natural. A transparent or intensive colour is achieved with Oil Stain. Polyx®-Oil Tints and Wood Wax Finish both create a transparent coloured surface on wooden flooring. The top coat should always be carried out with a clear Polyx®-Oil. Bold colouring can even be created on wood surfaces by using Wood Wax Finish Intensive Colours, but this is not suitable for flooring.

Pallmann Pallmann gets a lot of enquiries from clients who want to colour their parquet, particularly in combination with a brushed surface and a vintage look. Colouring is attractive for types of wood which lose their colour over time under the effects of sunlight. With the Pallmann Colour Collection, Pallmann offers a wide choice of coloured primers.

The range includes 24 colours, even 32 in some regions. Each option

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Colour and hardwax oils

in the collection consists of three components. A coloured component (C) is added to the clear 2K oil primer Pall-X 333 A/B. The coloured surfaces can then be finished with the dual-component lacquers Pall-X 98 Gold, Pall-X Zero, or Pall-X, or with Magic Oil 2K Original. Here, too, the most popular colours are black, white, and grey, although fashion colours do also emerge from time to time.

demand for powerful white, grey, and black shades. Since dye sags, RIGO supplies separate tins of ROYL ‘Colour for Oil’ colour dye. This guarantees users the right colour and they can adapt it as required.

RIGO has developed 23 authentic wood shades and 15 contemporary grey shades. These shades are available on oak in ranges of colour and as a wet sample as ROYL ‘Colour Sample’. Upon request, RIGO can also supply transparent and semi-transparent colour shades from the NCS range.

Stauf

Rubio Monocoat

All sorts of wood can be coloured and protected using Rubio Monocoat oil. Obviously, each type of wood has its own colour/tone, which will help to determine and affect the end colour. This makes each project different. Rubio Monocoat is a trendsetter and pioneer in promoting an oil which protects and colours in one single coat. Due to the unique technology of molecular binding, Rubio Monocoat oil contains unique properties such as application with no risk of overlapping, and all this with 100% natural ingredients (0% VOC). Furthermore, Rubio Monocoat oil is easy to maintain and restore. The top product, Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C, is available in 40 standard colours, which can be mixed and give an intense colour without affecting the wood’s natural look. If that’s still not enough, you can even get a customised colour. And so, RMC Oil Plus 2C is the ideal partner for all projects. Clients often choose natural colours to highlight the beauty of the wood even more.

Rigo Verffabriek Colouring is popular and it’s not only new floors which are coloured. Old floors, too, are sandpapered and then given a completely new look in colour with ROYL. In particular, colouring oak floors yields attractive results. ROYL BIO-OIL and ROYL OIL 2K are both completely solventless one-coat systems in which oil and colour penetrate deeply into the wood and find an anchoring in the cell structure. Light white shades are the favourite. Wood shades are still popular as well. There is also a growing

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Coloratum Oil is a single-component, coloured finish based on natural oils and wax. It is used for parquet, cork and wood floors in living areas with normal or moderately heavy use. The product contains no lead-based or cobalt-based dryers and is pigmented. The finish is multi-functional. It can be used as a stand-alone product, or mixed with other oils. The combination of STAUF Oil in One and STAUF Hardwaxoil achieves a restrained spread of colour on floors in the shades, Black, Grey, White, Wenge, Dark Walnut or Teak. The finished surface has a silky feel and is also dirt-resistant and water repellent.

The trend is currently grays that match with the vintage look in interior.

Tover In the past years the market trend goes towards oiled floors to get a natural finish. Thanks to coloured oils it is possible to get on site or by machine application highly customized traditional or modern effects. Tover offers a solvent free hardwax oil, strong, applicable in a sole coat, easy to maintain and repair, suitable for toys according to the EN71-3:2013 European norm, available in more than 30 shades: L’Olio 100%. In order to improve further its resistance properties to spots and wear, it is possible to add the cross-linker Oil-Linker and even to overcoat the oil with a water-based bi-component lacquer: for an extremely natural and long-lasting finish.

Special

Laminate floors in Hungarian Point and Herringbone style

OLD GLORY WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY LAMINATE RELENTLESSLY COPIES ALL THAT IS BEAUTIFUL and fluid balance is primordial, but, apart from that, the work consists only of precision sawing. When we come to multi-layer, that’s obviously a different story. That’s all about ‘engineering’. If there is a type of floor which can be called ‘engineered’ from day one, it is undoubtedly laminate. Ever since it was conceived, the ‘discovery’, laminate has been the fruit of creative research and an urge to create. The floorboards, which look almost as attractive as a wooden floor, came from nowhere. A plank with a photograph! Who would have thought it? And even if the imitation quality in the early days was still sufficiently poor to be referred to as ‘cheap’, it was still a good idea from the start. Furthermore, as usually happens with lots of new technology, things move fast once the first stone is laid and it is precisely those teething problems which make it possible to search for perfection.

Photo – Alsapan

Relentless!

Elsewhere in this edition we give in-depth coverage of the return of classic design floors, and especially the success of Versailles panels. On the periphery of that article we note that design floors and laminate are profiting from the ‘renaissance’ of those floor types by including them in their extensive pallet of decors. This reaction from producers is quite logical since you can copy anything anyway. Along the same line as those design floors, old fitting patterns are generally attracting more attention, even with laminate.

The most popular ones are still Hungarian point and herringbone.

Solid parquet – so simple!

Let’s hope that producers of solid parquet floors don’t start protesting loudly. Let’s explain briefly. If we examine solid parquet floorboards, strips, or planks close up, we can reduce the degree of difficulty in the production to the level of good carpentry. A sound knowledge of wood

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From a technical point of view, laminate most certainly has lots of assets up its sleeve. There is the simplicity of the fitting, portability, low maintenance, and cost price.

By contrast, parquet, fitted in special designs such as Hungarian point and herringbone, immediately faces obstacles which make operations somewhat harder. The room has to be measured precisely, and then there is the glueing, sandpapering, more sandpapering, and finish. All that requires high-quality expertise which, in turn, comes at a price.

When we say that laminate copies ‘relentlessly’, we actually mean shamelessly. The ‘decor’, which enjoys worldwide renown and has grown and ripened over time, has been taken over without the costs. Clients simply get the technical assets of laminate. The fact is that, nowadays, it is perfectly possible to have a decor at home without calling upon the services of a professional. This means that the world of laminate is emerging even more as a rival to wooden floors with the extra major benefit of complete ‘independence’ of the range of wood. Is parquet in wenge expensive? Obviously, but laminate in wenge is, strictly speaking, no more expensive than laminate in pine.

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Special

Anti-slip finish for wooden and bamboo terrace floors

A WOODEN TERRACE ‘CAN’ BE VERY SLIPPERY BUT OBVIOUSLY IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT! Elsewhere in this edition we give extensive coverage to the slip resistance of floor coverings indoors. That slip resistance particularly affects the chances of slipping up on excessively shiny floors or on steps. In this article we read that scores of influences can affect the slipperiness of a wooden floor covering. Then, we still have to consider the effects of water! Wooden and woody terraces outdoors obviously come into contact with water. That obviously applies to wooden boards around swimming pools as well, even if it isn’t raining. Here, too, there are ways and means of reducing the risks.

need to clean the wood regularly to prevent the formation of algae between the ribs. And so, ribs tend to give a false sense of security.

Water makes things slippery

Measures relating to the finish

It’s a common sight; in just about all public swimming pools you will see notices on the walls every few metres displaying the warning ‘DO NOT RUN!’ That’s logical because there is a residue of water on the tile floors, and that water means a treacherous surface on which it is impossible to run safely barefoot on the underlying floor tiles. In most cases we see that in public swimming pools the tiles around the swimming pool itself are fitted with some structure or other to improve grip somewhat. Outdoor wooden floor surfaces rarely become slippery from water lying on the top, but they do become slippery usually as a result of the possible formation of algae and moss through the damp. As is the case with indoor floors, there are also solutions to make terraces less slippery. Some solutions are based on the design of the terrace planks, whilst others relate to the finish. We outline the various options below.

Most solutions which we have found for making wooden terraces rougher are based on the finish.

Measures relating to the design The slipperiness of wood arises from water on the surface (e.g. around swimming pools) and/or from the possible formation of algae or moss which is stimulated as a result. Certain measures relating to the design can provide a solution here for wooden terraces or swimming pool boards.

Drainage and ventilation People sometimes say that wooden terraces don’t necessarily need a steep slope. However, some degree of slope does help the wood to dry faster by draining the water quickly. Good ventilation of the wood is obviously also an advantage, but outdoors that usually happens naturally in any case.

Round planks A few years ago, some terrace floor producers unveiled ‘concealed’ round planks. This was a great idea because each plank allows water to drain quickly along the sides, irrespective of the degree of terrace slope.

Ribbed planks The claim that ribbed planks can help to make a wooden terrace safer (less slippery) is sheer nonsense. The ribs in the plank increase the

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Rougher surface The rougher the surface, the greater the slip resistance. And so, there are several methods which are designed to improve the slip properties of a floor by making the surface rougher. Amongst other things, this can be done by mechanical treatments such as sandblasting. However, those methods can drastically change the look of the floor. Other more subtle methods include micro-engraving using lasers or a chemical treatment based on acids, depending on the type of floor covering.

Stains Some producers present a product which serves as both a protective finish for outdoor wood and as security against slipping. For instance, one producer told us about a transparent and silky gloss anti-slip stain based on solvents. This stain feeds and protects terrace wood, but also makes it anti-slip through the presence of an anti-slip grain. This also prevents the wood from turning grey.

Anti-slip ‘strip’ We found another solution in a dual-component polyurethane product which (after the addition of a third component) is sprayed into the groove of a plank. As the product sets, the polyurethane is sprinkled with quartz sand to obtain a narrow and uneven line. The unevenness is guaranteed for a long time since the line has been sanded all over. The application of such a line every 7 to 10cm will suffice to make the terrace surface safe to walk on.

What’s on the market?

Blanchon To understand this issue properly, we need to understand the difference between ‘slipping’ (sliding sideways at the end of a particular movement) and ‘stumbling’ (falling over). There is a European standard for the former. The problem with outdoor terraces is that, apart from being walked on, they also have to cope

with the outdoor climate, UV rays, and differences in temperature.

When a terrace is dry, it is certainly ‘not slippery’. However, damp wood can be slippery, but terrace manufacturers have soon found a solution by making terrace wood somewhat ribbed (a natural solution subject to regular maintenance). Unlike an anti-slip lacquer, which has added mineral particles, oil cannot be made anti-slip in the same way. For Blanchon the aforementioned natural solution is advisable, combined if necessary with anti-slip strips.

Bona

Bona has an oil for outdoor floors, Bona Decking Oil, which is designed to protect outdoor floors completely. Bona Decking Oil gives wooden terraces long-term protection from rain, snow, and scorching sun. This oil contains a very low quantity of solvents.

Outdoor wooden floors won’t split so soon and will have better protection from UV rays and water penetration. The product is easy to use and ready in a day. Bona Decking Oil is available in four shades (neutral, mahogany, teak, and grey).

Chimiver

door frames, fences and canopies made of wood. It contains natural and synthetic oils, with the addition of UV ray absorbers and special anti-ageing ingredients against the wood decay. It doesn't crack. Also available in LIGHT version, which doesn't alterate the natural colour of wood, particularly indicated for the treatment of south-american species (i.e. IPÈ Lapacho, Tobaco etc.) and other similar types of outdoor woods painted in autoclave (usually green colour). Doesn't degrade rubbers and expansion joints. It is recommended anyway to make some tests before application.

Osmo

Non-slip wood finishes provide more safety in the garden, especially on wet decking. Osmo Anti-Slip Decking Oil is a top coat finish for timber decking, which has been pre-treated with one of the pigmented Decking-Oils. It reduces the risk of slips (R10) and extends the life of the pigmented oil finish through additional protection against weathering. The surface is water-resistant and weatherproof. When renovating, one coat applied to the clean and dry surface is usually enough, no sanding required. For private households, Osmo recommends re-coating the clean decking with both the coloured Decking-Oil and Anti-Slip Decking Oil one time before the beginning of the garden season. One litre covers approx.

24 m2 with one coat.

Tover

LIOS SUNDECK WOOD OIL NO SLIP Impregnator for outdoor wooden floors - Certified UNI CENT/TS 15676.

LIOS Sundeck Wood Oil NO SLIP is a slip-resistance oil impregnator for outdoor wooden floors.

Its particular formulation based on natural oils and polycarbonates, gives to the product particular slip-resistance characteristics both on dry and wet wooden floor decking. Certified UNI CENT/ TS 15676.

It is particularly recommended for the treatment of outdoor wooden floors (swimming pool edges, verandas, walkways), window and

Pro-Deck is the innovative water-based impregnation protection agent for wooden floorings in exterior. It is suitable for exotic woods like teak, Iroko, ipé including bamboo. It preserves terraces, walkways, garden furniture from severe climatic conditions, UV-rays, it does not turn yellow or crack. Moreover it lasts longer than a traditional oil for decking.

Last but not least it complies with the DIN 51130:2014 norm in terms of anti-slip properties (R9) to guarantee a safe walking on wet surfaces.

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Floor Forum International 97

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Advertorial

Küberit (DE)

KÜBERIT IS OPTIMISING BUSINESS PROCESSES A NEW PROCESS MANAGEMENT FOR SIMPLIFIED PROCESSES AND IMPROVED SERVICE

The Lüdenscheid-based company is exploring new horizons to achieve its business goals. Against the backdrop of the company’s three guiding principles - transparency, quality and service - Küberit is currently carrying out a complete process restructuring: All internal processes and interfaces are being put to the test. Through this measure and the new merchandise management system (ERP system), optimised delivery times are the first visible achievement. In addition to this, capacities are to be created in order to be able to better exploit future opportunities and potentials for growth.

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The reason for the thorough review of the internal processes is, on the one hand, the continued positive economic situation and the tight labour market situation, and on the other hand, the changes in the flooring market. “This complex overall situation requires solid complexity management”, says Patrick Schulz, explaining the reason for the comprehensive analysis of the processes. The process manager has been with Küberit since the end of 2017. “We want to reduce the workload of our staff, create more transparency and improve the quality of service.” It is a matter of identifying inadequate or potentially misused capacities, simplifying procedures and - where appropriate restructuring tasks.

Reducing employees’ workload, taking advantage of opportunities

Another reason for the new process management is the skills shortage. This will take the strain off employees, but if the workload increases as in previous years, this will not be enough in the medium term. At the moment, the company is looking for new employees for manufacturing, sales force and export. “We want to grow and take advantage of opportunities, and we have laid the foundations for this, in terms of both products and services. If the market situation does not worsen, we will also look for new employees in other business sectors ", Managing Director Udo Ulbrich says.

A variety of assembly situations covered by 4 profile systems

With new products such as the flexible, two-part profiles PPSChampion 4.0, PPS-Champion Star, and the silicone-free expansion joint profile Motion Star, as well as the new stair nosing profiles, Küberit’s range is better in terms of quality and technology than any other company. The builder can already cover most of the mounting situations with these profiles.

For more information please visit us on www.kueberit.com

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Producers of skirting boards

THE ‘ODD’ THING ABOUT SKIRTING BOARDS AN INTERIOR ELEMENT WITH LIMITED FUNCTIONS, BUT HUGE IMPACT

Photo – Küberit

What do skirting boards actually do if we consider it technically? From the technicality of the floor covering itself, skirting boards are an element which removes the requisite expansion joint from sight. In terms of daily use, skirting boards protect the underside of the wall from the force of swiffers, vacuum cleaners, and mops. That just about says it all, apart from technical skirting boards, which, for instance,

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can conceal wires. Yet the decorative impact on the interior is huge.

Decorative impact We’ll omit differences in taste here for a moment. Which type?

Which size? Which material? Which colour? Apart from all those questions, the immediate impact of skirting boards will express

itself in ‘some’ degree of finish. Let’s be honest here: The interior is not ‘complete’ without skirting boards. Edge finishing is still a crucial aspect of floors, that’s for sure. The skirting board of a floor has an almost unfathomable finishing capacity. In other words, if skirting boards are not fitted neatly and expertly, that reflects in the level of the floor as a whole. That goes for all floors! Whether we’re talking about ceramic tiles or natural stone, fully glued parquet or floating floors such as multi-layer parquet or laminate, or flexible floors such as cork, carpet, vinyl, or linoleum, the skirting board is the icing on the cake. Yet whilst skirting boards as a relatively ‘small’ building element greatly affect the look of the floor, that same floor as a ‘major’ building element affects the entire room even more.

Metal is the trend!

A skirting board in stainless steel might be the choice of a creative designer, but it is also a trend. All metals are a trend, for that matter. Moreover, it is a proven fact that those pioneering and edifying examples in interior books which are the preserve of the happy few also inspire the general public. Metal colours continue to do just as well. Profiles in stainless steel and aluminium go marching on. What is noticeable, apart from classic shades such as aluminium, bronze,

Wood, neutral, or perhaps metal?

The underlying debate as to whether skirting boards are part of the floor or wall still goes on quietly. Wooden skirting boards are part of the floor and stay discreet, but MDF paint skirting boards are part of the wall and the paintwork determines the discretion.

Wood or MDF With parquet in all its forms, wooden skirting boards (high, low, block, or flat) in the same wood sort and finish as the floor are still in fashion. Block skirting boards (2 x 2cm) are especially popular. Lacquered or oiled MDF skirting boards are also highly prominent. Lacquered MDF skirting boards usually leave the factory with a primer. They are usually lacquered on site in the colour of the walls. Both MDF and solid wood skirting boards appear in different styles, from rigidly modern to classic. High-glosses in black or white (lacquered or oiled) are undoubtedly amongst the biggest trends.

Photo – Progress Profiles

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MOVEMENT JOINT - MOTION STAR® · installation without any tripping hazard, due to a flush installation · maintenance-free movement joint of ± 2,5 mm · can be used for glued floor coverings of up to 6 mm · only 14 mm visible surface 25 Floor Forum International 97 www.kueberit.com

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Producers of skirting boards

silver, and a whole series of wood decors, is that ‘black’, too, is establishing an important position. Metal may well provide a modern touch, but sometimes you also get an unwanted ‘vintage’ sphere with it. Is that odd? Not at all! Just think of the car industry about fifty years ago where the bleak metal interior of the better quality cars, full of chrome and shiny metal, was combined with the entrance of wooden highlights on the dashboard, doors, and such like.

Digital print!

Digital printing makes it possible in smaller circulations to apply any image, colour, or shade to a skirting board. This option is being offered increasingly widely on the parquet and laminate markets. The minimum purchase varies from producer to producer, but is tending to go lower. This advance in customised work really does facilitate unique skirting boards! Digital printing is possible on virtually any common material and what has to be printed actually doesn’t matter. The quest is no longer to give the skirting board the same design as the floor. The quest is to put whatever one has in mind onto the skirting board. A corporate logo or colour, written texts, designs, illustrations, product pictures, it’s all possible! Wood structures and imitations of other floors are obviously no problem.

Some technical aspects Apart from these trends, we’re also seeing a number of options emerge which give skirting boards specific added value. These technical plus points can relate to fast and comfortable fitting or user-comfort for the end user.

Clip or rails systems As regards the installation of skirting boards, producers are constantly looking for more convenient fittings. Most skirting boards can be fitted using a clip system (several clips fitted at intervals) or with a rail system (continuous clip system). The big advantage of those clips, amongst other things, is the rapid fitting and therefore the element of cost saving. The benefit for the end user is mainly that the skirting board can be removed. That can be useful when it is time for painting or wallpapering or if you need access to electric or computer wires which have been incorporated into the skirting board.

LED lights LED lights have yielded added value for some years now, as they have in floors and terrace floors. That is no less the case for skirting boards. Skirting board lights can be seen as a decorative asset, but also as a useful tool. For instance, LED lights in skirting boards on landings or corridors can illuminate the floor at night to help you find your way around the house safely without switching on main lights.

Finish skirting boards These are renovation products par excellence! With alterations in old houses we can sometimes still encounter old stone skirting boards.

Cover skirting boards can offer a solution here. You fit the cover skirting board (with a clip, rail, or glue) over the existing skirting board without any demolition work and without causing damage below the wall. Moreover, there are no drying times to be respected for unforeseen plaster work. An ingenious idea!

An overview FN Neuhofer Holz According to FN, skirting boards are being regarded increasingly as a design object. They can match the floor completely or they can

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provide a highlight. ‘Anything goes’, thanks to digital print. White skirting boards are still a trend. The height of the skirting board is determined by the motto ‘the form follows the function’. The most beautiful imaginable skirting board is developed from the function.

As regards form, we go towards wider, more rigid, square, and austere. The colours are determined by the floor manufacturers, but skirting board makers can also provide ideas. FN Neuhofer Holz obviously takes account of the emergence of design floors, which are flexible, waterproof, and easy to maintain. Obviously, they also take account of the more limited thicknesses of the floor coverings.

In terms of both materials (MDF or aluminium) and finishes (anodised alu or printed paper) the possibilities are endless.

Neuhofer Holz also provides skirting boards with a groove for the inlay of vinyl, for instance. Due to the growing demand for short delivery times, customised profiles, and stock limitation, Neuhofer Holz is working on a method of producing neutral profiles, which appear to be ‘standard’, but can be printed digitally. This also enables the production of smaller orders. Generally speaking, digital printing is a pioneering form of technology for Neuhofer Holz which opens up (as yet non-existent) possibilities. The innovations include the FN Clipholder CH28 (both screws and clips) and the FN click-fix 23 (with a sealed lip for skirting boards).

Küberit For Küberit the most important trend is very high aluminium skirting boards in public buildings. The height of 80mm is extremely popular. For some regions there is talk of skirting boards with a height of 100mm and even heights of 150mm. Digital print is important to

Küberit when it comes to MDF and PVC, but less so for aluminium and stainless steel. They make customised skirting boards from an order of 125 metres. Very recently, they have seen a trend in a growing demand for powder coatings. The latest innovation as regards skirting boards is a clip version, which can be deployed up to 20mm.

La San Marco Profili

Skirting trends are generally connected to flooring trends and to architectural ideas that are continuously changing. What we notice is a strong tendency to demand more elaborate and higher skirting that contribute to the home decoration. Skirting becomes in fact a detail that perfectly completes the design of your interior. Therefore, La San Marco decided to enlarge its already wide Old Style skirting line with other high and elaborated skirting with different shapes and colors. The company presents three new typologies of skirting boards that belong to the “Old Style Line”. Edward, George and Caroline profiles all made with solid wood and with different elaborated shapes and large sizes. The result is a modern vintage look, because they combine past echoes with a touch of modern design and technique. The aim of the company is to offer a wide range of products that encounter all market demands, nowadays quite huge and various, and that are always available in stock for prompt delivery. La San Marco’s key words are always excellent quality and excellent service. All products are manufactured in Italy.

Progress Profiles

www.progressprofiles.com

www.progressprofiles.com

An elegant and functional interpretation of the concept of elevation

Metal colours are the trend in skirting boards with silver in the lead.

The new Proskirting Channel and the Proskirting Flat are available in white lacquered aluminium. The dimensions of the skirting boards are purely a matter of taste. Heights of 40-60mm are for the more modern frame, 80-100mm for the classic interior. The new Proskirting Giled is an anodised aluminium skirting board, fitted with LED lights, which diffuse a gentle, indirect light and provide a contemporary atmosphere. Here, too, digital print is a major technical step forward, not least due to the growing demand for vinyl skirting boards. Their latest investment has been in a machine which can reproduce an infinite number of wood decors and allows for completely personalised finishes. Recent innovations include Proskirting INS (for the creation of an inlay skirting board), Proskirting Chanel, and Proskirting Flat. Also new is the fact that the Proskirting 7011 and 7016 can be personalised with images or decors.

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PROSUPPORT SYSTEM PROSUPPORT SYSTEM a pedestal system developed by Progress Profiles to satisfy any requirements for raised floors. A modular and adjustable pedestal support, available with a flat stationary head or a self-levelling/adjusting head, with drain holes and anti-noise rubber.

Cornerstone of the system is PROSUPPORT PROFILE an edge profile for the protection and finishing of the external edge of ceramic, wood and composite floors. On the vertical side has inclined flaps in a swallowtail shape for the fixing of the rise with suitable adhesives. The profile is also available with a decorative side 2 cm high. Two patented design solutions, which give combine elegance and practicality.

P R O F I L E S & SY S T E M S

Floor Forum International 97

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Special

Sanding machines : part I

THE BELT SANDER IS AN INVESTMENT ‘FOR LIFE’ THE FLOOR FITTER’S CONTRIBUTION IS REDUCED TO A MINIMUM Time was when manufacturers made products ‘ for life’. The first cars were even solid enough to survive a human being and then even ‘serve’ the next generation. And what about those old Miele washing machines? Indestructible! However, manufacturers eventually realised that making products with a lengthy life cycle wasn’t profitable for them. In fact, it was suicide. Result? Everyone started making products with a predictable lifespan. However, that logic hasn’t yet dawned on sanding machine manufacturers. They still make solid and sturdy machines which are virtually indestructible.

important since a machine weighing 80kg isn’t so easy to transport.

The accessibility of parts, and especially those parts which are important for cleaning, setting, and adjusting, should promote manageability.

Machine security is also important; amongst other things, the machine should switch off automatically in the event of a power failure.

What does the market say?

Alvaket

Heavy sandpapering work For floor fitters, the acquisition of an endless belt sander means a considerable investment, but this heaviest of sanding machines is vital for obtaining a good sandpapering result within a reasonable time span.

Although it would theoretically be possible to do fine sandpapering with the belt sander, floor fitters usually have other (lighter) machines for that purpose such as rotary disc sanders. The main task of the belt sander is to level the surface once the floor is fitted. The machine is used for the first time once the subfloor is glued. With traditional parquet, the belt sander has to sandpaper the mosaic blocks completely even. Endless belt sanders easily weigh up to 80kg. That, plus the vast motor power, enables them to do excellent sandpapering. And so, the power of the sandpapering comes partly from the weight of the machine. The machines work on a rotating wheel base. A sanding belt is tightened by two rollers, the cylinder and the top roller. The second job for the endless belt sander is to level the end floor, which is glued and nailed to the mosaic subfloor. Endless belt sanders are self-driving i.e. the machine moves forward as soon as the roller touches the floor.

Technical and ergonomic requirements Manufacturers have refined existing machines in various ways in recent years to make them even more functional. Operations carried out in recent years to improve the machines relate to technical performances and ergonomics. In combination, those refinements have helped the machine to produce a perfect result on its own, with the floor fitter’s contribution being reduced to a minimum. One point for attention which has claimed more and more attention in recent years is dust suction. Belt sanders have had a more than adequate dust suction and dust receptacle for years. In recent years, however, there has been a clear preference for dust suction in connection with an external unit, a working method which is considerably more efficient. Other important topics with the new generation of machines are stability, perfect tension on the drive belts, as few vibrations as possible, adjustable pressure, and such like. These topics cover aspects which lead to better sandpapering. Other topics relate to improving the comfort of the machine operator. For the user-convenience of the machine, important aspects include accessibility of the parts, the ease with which the roller is tightened, the method of removing the suction ventilator, cleaning, and, finally, how to dismantle the appliance. The latter is extremely

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At Alvaket they believe some machines can do just about all sanding work. Provided that you use the right machine with the right grain in phases and that the planks are not too curled, you can use the Frank Spider or the Bona Flexisand, both with the driven satellite disc underneath, for virtually all sandpapering. It will then only be necessary to sandpaper the edges with the edge sander. In the area of belt sanders the Frank Cobra O9 is a classic example of innovation. This machine stands out from earlier models and most other trademarks in several areas. The handle can be adjusted in height to prevent back strain. A powerful LED light fitted low on the machine highlights any sanding faults in good time. The dust bag is now rugged and no longer juts out at the side of the machine. The voltage is indicated on the ‘dashboard’ so that it is possible at any time to adjust sanding pressure, if the voltage in a old dwelling happens to be insufficient. The machine now has one drive belt to drive the ventilator and sanding drum instead of two V-belts. The benefits: less power loss due to lower friction, faster assembly and dismantling, and less sound. The Cobra 09 is fitted with an automatic belt stretcher. The motor is encased; that looks better, but the main benefit is the reduction in sound. The motor, the handle, and the dust tube can be dismantled much faster to make the machine lighter to carry up and down e.g. when loading or unloading vehicles, working on an upstairs floor where there is no lift, etc. There are four wheels (two swivelling wheels at the back) to

provide more stability. The machine is much easier to transport and much more flexible when in use. All machines are equipped with dust suction and/or can be connected to a dust suction unit.

Bona Bona Belt Lite is a compact belt sander which yields excellent results. It is designed to achieve a perfect balance between efficiency, power, and flexibility. The machine can be dismantled quickly into three parts and is easy to assemble. The compact Bona Belt stands out for its manoeuvre comfort. The machine is easy to transport using the specially developed transport trolley. Bona Belt is extremely powerful and has two optional roller widths (200 and 250mm). The machine has a fast-start function and is reliable in all conditions. An efficient vacuum cleaning system ensures that dust is kept to a minimum. For heavy work Bona presents the Belt HD 2.2.

This machine has a unique two-speed tightening system and extremely fine tuning. This machine, too, is easy to assemble and dismantle (into three parts). All these machines can be connected to the Bona DCS 70 suction unit, which guarantees a dust-free operation.

Devomat Industries

since, after all, the output of a professional machine is directly proportional to its weight. Nevertheless, Devomat tries to offset this as much as possible, for instance, by making machines dismountable and by designing carrying handles.

Overmat Overmat offers several machines for grinding and sanding of wooden floors.

For example: the Woodboy® 4000/32-3.

This rotating single disc machine is suitable for (fine) grinding and polishing of wooden floors, before applying the finishing layer oil or lacquer with the best result.

All-in-one with the HTC DURATIQ 5 The DURATIQ 5 is a multi-functional floor grinder.

Whether the job requires grinding away a stubborn coating, smoothing a wood parquet floor or transforming a concrete floor into a high-gloss HTC Superfloor™, the grinder is up for the task at hand.

The grinding width of 515 mm (22.4 inches) is best suited for small and mid-size surfaces, and its compact dimensions enable the grinder to be used in tight quarters.

Do you prefer working with a drum sander for the coarse work?

Overmat offers you the right machine! Our high efficiency Frank grinding machines are known for their powerful motor and solid construction. Therefore they are perfect for professional use in grinding parquet and wooden floors.

Pallmann

At Devomat the Deva R & D department has been working hard on a number of new sanding machines, including the Deva Belt II endless belt sander and the Deva Handy II belt sander. These machines are now available. Although the belt sander is designed specially for ‘heavy’ work and is essential for some jobs, a good number of standard renovation jobs can be carried out using only the Devo® Master 3D. You can then work much faster and achieve a better quality finish. Dust suction is still a major point for attention here. Most Devo Machines have their own dust suction and can be connected to the Devo Finedust for dust-free work. The Woodboy machine and the Devo Master 3D are already equipped as standard for connection to the Finedust. Devomat also pays a lot of attention to ‘ergonomics’. Parquet sanding machines are obviously still very heavy tools. That is inevitable

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The Pallmann Cobra endless belt sander comes with some strong innovations. One of them is the variable handle, which can be adjusted to five different working positions. This is an ergonomic refinement so that the machine can be adapted to the user’s height. The casing ensures a quieter operation. The well equipped ‘cockpit’ offers all sorts of options. The Cobra has integrated dust suction, but can also be connected to an external dust suction unit. The vacuum cleaner does have to meet specific requirements (e.g. suction capacity = minimum 500m³). According to Pallmann, they now pay a lot of attention to the design. And so, the machines are also getting more attractive.

Floor Forum International 97

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Special

Producers of elastic adhesives

HOW ELASTIC CAN GLUE BE? THE ANSWER DEPENDS ON ALL SORTS OF THINGS!

Photo – BASF/Thomsit

The construction of the floor is a composition of several structural elements. There is the building structure itself, the screed or covering floor, the subfloor or mezzanine floor, the finished floor covering, and the actual parquet floor.

There are also nails or staples, the glue and the adhesive bond, and, finally, there is the finish. All those elements unite to form one whole which is designed to stand up to use (by people) and the surrounding conditions (including the climate) for many years. The glue plays a vital role in that story. Dare anyone say that glueing parquet is something ‘simple’?

Some key concepts In the whole process of glueing wooden floor coverings there are some points for attention which affect the process itself. One of the most important points is the fact that elements are constantly moving, so should you ‘allow for’ that movement or ‘counteract’ it?

Wood ‘curls’ Wood may be all the rage as a floor covering, but the material does involve certain risks, and this means that the utmost caution is required. We’ve often said that wood swells and shrinks. That fact alone

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results in wood warping or ‘curling’ to a greater or lesser degree. That curling is a natural process; wood inevitably curls if it isn’t fitted and maintained under constant conditions. However, since constant conditions don’t exist, the wood therefore always curls a little. That is why curling of ≤0.5% for solid wood planks and ≤0.2-0.3% for multi-layer parquet is tolerated for the fitting. There are several factors which affect the curling: - The difference in moisture content between the upper and undersides of the parquet strip is certainly one of the major causes of warping. That difference (gradient) gives rise to various degrees of shrinking or swelling inside the wood, and that immediately explains why that swelling can be hollow (concave) or round (convex).

- The way in which the floorboard is sawn also partially determines the amplitude of the curling. The distortion of wood is much greater in the tangential direction (in the width) than in the radial direction (in the length). That’s why flat-sawn wood generally curls more.

- Just like the sawing method, the type of wood also has a certain impact on the curling. Less stable types of wood will display greater distortion for the same amount of moisture content.

- Moreover, there is also the tenuity factor. This is the ratio of the width and thickness of the strips. The higher this factor is, the greater the risk of distortion. If the width is more than eight times

greater than the thickness, there is an even bigger risk of warming in moderately stable wood. With stable types of wood, that is 10 times.

- Finally, the structure of the floorboard also plays a part. Multi-layer floors are less sensitive.

The importance of the fitting method The curling of wooden floors is also affected by the fitting method.

We draw a distinction between floating, nailed, and glued fitting.

- Floating fitting: Since there is nothing in this fitting technique to stop the wood moving, even a small fluctuation of the moisture content in the parquet strips can lead to significant curling.

Indeed, the tongue and groove connections act as hinges and form peaks and depths depending on whether the distortions are concave (hollow) or convex (round).

- Nailed fitting: In this case the risk of curling is somewhat less and it depends on the tenuity of the strips or planks and the compressive strength provided by the nailing. The fact is that the thinner the wooden elements are, the less pressure they exert on the nails.

- Glued fitting: In theory, glued fitting should offer the greatest resistance to curling, since the distortion of the separate elements is hindered in this case by the fact that they stick to the substrate over the biggest part of their contact surface. However, it is necessary to take account of the intricate tensions which are created in the various layers of the floor covering through the distortions which are inherent to the wood. After all, any fluctuation in moisture content can lead to swelling or shrinking of the wood which is different from that of the substrate. The substrate usually shows greater dimensional stability (dry covering floor, wood panels such as multiplex or OSB, old floor covering, etc.).

alternate with each other. The hard segments tend to crystallise and form a hard material, whilst the soft segments, viewed separately, form a syrupy fluid. The combination of both segments ensures that the best properties of both are united. That’s why PU glue is very strong, yet still elastic.

- Epoxy: Epoxy glue is a dual-component glue based on epoxy and is used for several applications in industry, in the home, and in model aircraft construction. It can be applied as a protective layer (coating), but also in combination with glass fibres. Epoxy glue is also used a lot as a repair glue, whereby a solid substance like a filler is used. A hardener is added to the epoxy to create a strong adhesive bond.

- Silane: Silane adhesive technology was used for the first time in Japan, a country where earthquakes ranging from light tremors to ominous serious disasters are part of the everyday risks. That’s where silane technology has found its first structural application.

Kaneka, the Japanese chemical giant, has developed an ‘ingredient’ which could improve the flexibility and impact strength of glue considerably. Glue producers worldwide have been able to purchase a licence and use it on the so called ‘MS polymer’ in the development of their glues. MS polymers and silane glues in general have already found an application in ship building, which also makes special demands on glues (e.g. elasticity, moisture resistance, etc.).

Glueing is all well and good, but which one?

The range of parquet glues has varied greatly over the years.

Recently, new types of glue such as silane glues or hybrid glues (a combination of forms of technology) have appeared on the market, whilst other glues of less quality and less ecological (e.g. based on alcohol) have disappeared. We have covered the various types of glues adequately in previous editions. EN 14293 offers a simplified choice between flexible and solid glues. These two groups offer a solution for a specific expectation.

Counteracting or allowing movement?

The key question is whether you want to counteract the wood movements or allow them to some degree. A solid glue has great physical and mechanical properties, low elasticity, and great strength. For floors with straight edges (e.g. classic parquet) the idea is not to allow the wood any movement at all. If you want to allow the wood a certain degree of movement, you should use an elastic glue. Given the fact that fewer forces are at work, there is no need for such glue to have such great strength. Elastic glues mean that there is less pressure on the substrate.

Combinations In recent years, it seems that the best (safest) solutions have been obtained by combining forms of technology. Producers have taken the best of what is good or, in other words, they have created hybrids.

Forms of adhesive technology which frequently attract attention are PU, epoxy, and silane, and combinations of those elements have led to ‘new generation glues’. We summarise them briefly.

- Polyurethane: The properties of polyurethane glue are created by the composition of the substance. PU is a co-polymer which consists of hard and soft segments. These segments are created by the reaction of urethane and isocyanate, form a long chain, and

Floor Forum International 97 opm. Advertentie_FF_92.5 x 136mm_Okt17.indd 6

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Special

Producers of elastic adhesives

A selection from the range Adesiv

references in this connection are hybrid polymers. The AB 1300, which is very comfortable during the work, will suffice for all classical glueing up to 130mm wide. The AB 2000 can be used for glueing up to 200mm.

Finally, there is the indispensable sausage glue, which does not run when used vertically.

In elastic glues, the Adesiv range includes two mono-component MS polymer silane glues from Kaneka. WB Mono MS is a single-component glue specially for glueing pre-finished wooden floors securely to concrete substrates or existing non-absorbent floors (marble, tiles, Palladian, and wooden substrates). For engineered floors Adesiv recommends WB Mono MS-LE. WB Mono MS Performance Plus is regarded as a ‘universal glue’. Both glues have a different degree of elasticity. WB Mono MS Performance Plus is available in buckets of 15kg.

Bona

BASF/Thomsit The P 665 is an elastic glue for parquet which is ready for fitting. Thomsit also presents P 675 Elast (for parquet ready for fitting), P 685 Elast Universal (solid wood and parquet ready for fitting), and P 695 Elast Universal Strong (for all wooden floors). These three glues are based on the Flextec technology, which has been developed by Thomsit. This Flextec TM technology protects the wood from shear stresses. P 675 and P 685 are soft-elastic glues, whilst P 695 is a hard-elastic glue. At Thomsit, a hard-elastic glue means an extra strong and fast-action glue so that it is also suitable for more critical parquet sorts, which, normally speaking, can be glued only with a 2-component PU glue. A soft-elastic glue is not suitable for this purpose. The showpiece par excellence is Thomsit P685 Elast Universal. This is an elastic 1-C parquet glue based on the Flextec TM technology. The glue is spread lightly and can be applied to both absorbent and non-absorbent substrates. For most substrates you don’t need a primer.

Blanchon Standard forms of technology which are used in hybrid glues are vinyl glues, epoxy-polyurethane, polyurethanes (1 and 2 components), and hybrid polymers. Some major assets of these glues are as follows: They are versatile, single-component and therefore easy to use, flexible, durable, and perfect for glueing wide floorboards. Moreover, they are only moderately susceptible to residual damp in the screed and have the same consistency in all seasons. At Blanchon the three

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Bona has various types of parquet glues in its range (silane and PU glues). Within the group of silane glues (1-component glues) Bona employs a subdivision as regards strength and elasticity for each type of silane glue. This makes it possible to choose a glue specifically geared to each fitting and thereby obtain the safest and most reliable adhesion. The three Bona categories of silane glues are: Average strength, average elasticity/ great strength, low elasticity/very great strength, and minimal elasticity. Bona R850 is a real all-round glue, which can be used on virtually all wooden floors and on just about all substrates, whilst all other variants each have their own specific scope. Bona R850 T can be used in combination with the latest version of Bona Optispread, which makes it possible to apply glue from a standing position. A distinction is drawn as regards application. R848 is suitable for engineered parquet and narrow strips with a minimum ratio of 1/5 between the thickness and width of the strips. R850/R850T are excellent for glueing engineered parquet and 6mm traditional parquet 70 and 90mm wide and 9mm traditional parquet with a maximum width of up to 18cm.

Titan is the latest addition. Bona Titan is a powerful new-generation parquet glue. Some major properties: fourfold cross-linking, for ultimate durability and the fastest possible adhesion; perfect for wide solid wood planks. It contains no softeners and therefore causes no discolouration to the joints.

Bostik There are several elastic glues on the market. These may be PU (polyurethane) or SMP (MS polymers) and are predominantly single-component systems. These glues all set by means of a reaction with air humidity. For an elastic parquet glue the shear strength of the glue must have a value in excess of 1N/mm². Bostik presents a whole assortment of glues, including Parfix PU 1K, Parfix Classic, Parfix Eco

Chimiver

Plus, Parfix Elastic, Superfix 009, and High Tack. A glue which is suitable for several purposes, for instance, is the Parfix Eco Plus. The Parfix Eco Plus is based on the new AXIOS Tri-Linking technology developed by Bostik. This technology is based on a new multifunctional reaction mechanism which joins the parquet and substrate together perfectly. The strong polymerisation is also reflected in improved contact sound insulation. The glue can be spread quickly and easily.

This durable and low-emission glue does not contain any softeners and is suitable for just about all sorts of parquet and substrates. The ‘ingenious’ elastic parquet glue has very good cross-linking, so the ADVERT415_Premium_LVT_A5_ENG.pdf 12/12/17 09:25 parquet is glued strongly like the roots of 1a tree in the soil.

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ADESIVER ELASTIC is a single-component adhesive based on a silane-terminated prepolymer (MS technology). Hypoallergenic, free of any hazardous label.

Easy to clean.

Recommended for gluing any type of traditional and pre-finished wooden floors and suitable subfloors.

Extreme (superior) technology than PU systems.

Certified: EC1R Very good elasticity that last over the time. Can contribute to the achievement of QI CREDIT 4.1 according to the parameters of the GEV dated 03 March 2009, it meets the certification LEED protocol (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

UNISIL is a single-component adhesive based on a silane-terminated prepolymer (MS technology). Hypoallergenic, free of any hazardous label. Easy to clean. Recommended for gluing any type of traditional and prefinished wooden floors and suitable subfloors. Extreme (superior) technology than PU systems. Certified: EC1R, CCA, Acoustic barrier, Heat conductor. Approved by the best subfloor heating system producers. Superb elasticity that last over the time. Can contribute to the achievement of QI CREDIT 4.1 according to the parameters of the GEV dated 03 March 2009, it meets the certification LEED protocol (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

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Special

Producers of elastic adhesives

DL Chemicals

floor heating and the parquet can be walked on after 24 hours), Parabond Parquet 480 (suitable for floor heating, the parquet can be walked on after 24 hours, and it is suitable as a damp screen), Parabond Parquet 540 (suitable for floor heating and the parquet can be walked on after eight hours), and Parabond Parquet 580 (suitable for floor heating, the parquet can be walked on after eight hours, and it is suitable as a damp screen).

Devo®

The majority of elastic glues are of the MS hybrid polymer type. DL Chemicals produces these glues under the name of Parabond. A spokesperson at DL Chemicals comments: ‘You can also make PU elastic glues, but that does have some disadvantages (e.g. they contain harmful isocyanate, they take a long time to form a skin, and they have less UV resistance).’ In the area of elastic glues the company has an extensive range of MS hybrid polymer (Parabond range). This range includes glues with high initial adhesion (high tack: Parabond 600, 700, and 800), glues with rapid strength development, glues for full surface or parquet, and transparent glues (Parabond Transparent).

Specifically for parquet floors, DL Chemicals has the following MS hybrid polymer glues in its range: Parabond Parquet 300 (the parquet can be walked on after 24 hours), Parabond Parquet 440 (suitable for

Amongst other things, Devomat presents Devo® Glue MSP 150 1C, a 1-component semi-elastic, hybrid MS polymer glue (with no silicones or isocyanates) for multi-layer stabilised parquet and Devo® Glue MSP 250 1C, which is the star product at Devomat Industries. This glue is suitable for glueing all sorts of wood (solid wood up to 20cm wide) and is recommended particularly for fitting pre-finished parquet. The glue contains no water, is free of VOC, and spreads easily. Devo® Glue MSP 250 is a hard-elastic glue (about 70 Shore) with great adhesive

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Your Premium Polymer of Choice for Parquet and LVT Adhesives 34

Floor Forum International 97

strength, conforms to CSN EN 14293, and has the EC1-Plus (EC1-R) classification. Devo®Glue MSP250 is packed in bags of 5kg. Devomat also has 2-component glues in its range. Devo® Glue PU 570 2C is a waterless dual-component polyurethane-epoxy, semi-elastic parquet glue, which is specially for glueing wooden floors onto cement-bound substrates or onto existing floors (tiles, marble, wooden floors, etc.).

Devo® Glue PU 650 2C is also a waterless dual-component epoxy-polyurethane parquet glue, but it is hard-elastic.

Emfi At EMFI, too, they see how hybrid glues are gaining ground on solvent and PU glues. Emfiparquet has both PU and hybrid glues. Emfi offers as a hybrid glue EmfiParquet Pro+, a parquet glue based on silanated polymers and suitable for the full glueing of all parquet.

Thanks to a great deal of research and development, EmfiParquet Pro+ complies with the strictest environmental standards; the glue contains no solvents, silicones, or isocyanates. This glue is suitable for glueing very wide floorboards in oak. It adheres rapidly and is very easy to apply.

EmfiParquet Pro+ is a mono-component glue.

Pallmann Hard/Hard-elastic silane glues offer greater security if there is a need for resistance to swelling and shrinking in wood and to minimise distortion in parquet. They have greater scope than soft silane glues. Pallmann offers the 1-component STP parquet glue PALLMANN P5, a hard-elastic solventless and waterless parquet glue in conformity to DIN EN 14293, for glueing parquet. This glue is suitable for strip parquet (19-22mm), end grain wood-engineered parquet (16-22mm), solid parquet, and exotic wood. The mono-component STP glue combines the strong elasticity of a PU glue with the benefits of the modern STP technology. This glue contains no solvents or water, so it is very user-friendly and has no harmful effect for the parquet.

Rubio Monocoat Rubio® EasyBond is a high-quality alternative to 2K PU glue and has the same strengths such as good hardening, very strong adhesion, and a hard-elastic character, all without the inconveniences of a 2K PU glue. It consists of a single component, there are no bad smells, adhesive residue is easy to remove from the

floor, no dirty hands, and no isocyanates in the glue, so neither are there any allergic skin reactions. Rubio® EasyBond parquet glue contains no softeners, but has a high polymer content, which makes the glue more expensive, but also more durable with greater adhesion.

Since Rubio® EasyBond contains no softeners, there is therefore no migration and the composition of the glue doesn’t change. This means you don’t need to be afraid of damage to the finish layer later, since there is nothing present in the glue to migrate to the wood. The hard-elastic composition of Rubio® EasyBond parquet glue gives wood just enough room for manoeuvre, but not so much as to distort or curl it. Furthermore, this type of glue is easy to sandpaper and can also be used as filler paste.

Stauf There are two basic types of silane adhesives: SMP and SPU. SMP stands for silane-modified polymers.

SPU is a further development of SMP, as silane terminated polymers, and comprises the two components polyurethane and silane. The difference between hard and soft silane adhesives lies mainly in the mechanical properties and strength of the substance, i.e. a hard adhesive has hard mechanical properties and high strength, where as elastic adhesives have soft mechanical properties and low strength. The strength of the adhesives is regulated by the international standard ISO 17178. STAUF offers a range of silane adhesives: SMP 950, SMP 930, SPU 570, SPU 555, whereby the STAUF MULTILAYER and SMP 930 product is particularly elastic and the premium product SPU 570 is a hard-elastic adhesive.

Tover According to the ISO 17178-2013 norm an adhesive for parquet is considered as elastic if it combines the three following characteristics: shear strength superior to 1,0 N/mm², shear elongation superior to 1 and tensile strength superior to 1,00 N/mm².

No problem for Tover MS polymer glues: Tovcol MS and Tovcol MS Start both easily comply with the Norm. They are suitable for any species on any sub-floors including under-floor heating, cooling systems, ceramics and metallic supports.

Available in buckets, bags, sausages and cartridges, they enable two application methods: trowel or gun, inside and outside (with Sigil MS Black). They guarantee a secure bonding for engineered prefinished and raw boards of any size and for massive wood up to 220 mm wide.

Tover adhesives: strongly elastic!

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Providers of structure and distressing machines

CLASSIC TECHNIQUES IN THE FACTORY DISTRESSING MACHINES MEET A GROWING DEMAND Distressed or genuinely old floors are much coveted in all floor types. Whatever the chosen interior design, the appeal of the aged solidarity of an antique floor seems to work in all building styles. And so, there is no reason for not putting an old church tile in the entrance hall of a state-of-theart building; in fact, quite the opposite. That ‘ distressed’ element emerges in the decors of laminate and design floors and is a sign that the trend does exist. However, the emergence of special distressing machines indicates that this is much more than just a trend.

What does ‘old’ look like?

Strictly speaking, there are three types of ‘marks’ of distressing in wooden floors. Firstly, there are signs which refer to a period when woodworking had to be done manually or with the help of machines, which were far less sophisticated than the machines of today.

Moreover, we also note that wood darkens over the years as damp penetrates. Finally, there are the unmistakable marks of use in the floor, the ‘footmarks’, you could say.

Blemishes in the woodwork Industrialisation, and especially the first woodwork machines, irrevocably mark the transition from ‘antique to old’ around the year 1800. Prior to that time, wooden planks were sawn manually from tree trunks. That was done by putting the tree trunk in a rack and support structure. One man at the top and one man under the trunk had to labour away with a tree saw. Can you imagine it? The result: The planks were most certainly not as smooth and intact as they are today. If we also remember that the planks were not sandpapered, but scraped, we will realise at once that an ‘antique’ wooden floor showed (and will still show) a whole series of natural blemishes.

The dark colour In the past, houses were not heated uniformly as they are today. That meant the humidity was well above 55%. The tannic acid in the wood turned dark when it came into contact with water. And so, light yellow or honey-coloured wood is never antique. Why does all this matter?

Well, anyone who wants to restore a parquet or wooden floor to its former glory must examine it to see whether or not it is an antique floor.

An antique floor is never renovated, but restored. After all, renovating wooden floors almost always means ‘sandpapering them away’.

Sandpapering an antique floor would mean removing all its natural deviations and, therefore, the riches of the floor. ‘Restoring’ means returning something to its original state, whilst ‘renovating’ means making something ‘as good as new’.

A ‘well trodden’ floor Whilst the specific appearance is a result of technique and the colour is the result of external circumstances and age, the unmistakable look is the result of usage. Specialists define an antique floor as ‘a floor

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consisting of planks which have always served as a floor and the upper side of which is retained as the walking side’. Naturally, you can’t imitate that walking side, or can you?

How do you distress a floor?

There are various techniques. With most distressed floors we find a combination of techniques. With the so called ‘damaging’, we artificially apply marks of years of use or, by using old processing techniques, we give the impression that the floor was produced in a bygone age. We ‘damage’ a floor by flogging, beating, or thrashing. By scraping the floor manually, we give the impression that it comes from an era in which that technique was still used. Brushing a wooden floor gives an effect of ‘age’ in two distinct ways. Firstly, as with scraping or ripping, it gives you the effect of finish methods which were commonly used about a century ago. However, brushing also means a visual and perceptible reference to ‘years of use’. The effect of damp is obtained by colouring the floorboards (by actually colouring them or by ‘smoking’ them).

And then there were machines There are modern beating machines for beating. The principle is simple: The planks are put inside a drum, which is filled with bolts, nails, and such like. The drum is rotated mechanically and the loose-flying objects in the drum apply damage to the floor spontaneously to give it a distressed look. Brushing is done in a structure brushing machine, which can be integrated perfectly well into the production line. These machines are available in several widths and can be equipped with various brushes. There are various materials for the brushes, such as bronze or nylon with silicon carbide. Another means of giving planks an aged look is the ripsaw machine, which leaves the original saw motion visible. These are just a few examples of distressing machines.

Manufacturers continue to innovate and obviously they also do customised work to meet client needs.

Three specialists who send us the information in time Wood ageing machine Boere Machinefabriek bv The most important ways to give a wooden floor an aged effect are the irregular rounding of the material in length direction, damaging the surface and brushing out the soft tree rings. Besides manufacturing wide belt sanding machines Boere Machinefabriek bv manufactures a complete range of brush texturing machines which, at your choice, can be completed with cross-grain sanding unit ahead of the texturing brushes, so that a scarved, almost sawcut structure will be applied. Usually this scarving is combined with a light brush texturing. Just brush texturing will give a surprisingly rustic appeal to the floor. Structure, character, depth and rustic appeal are still aspects very much in demand within the flooring and furniture industry. With its oscillating brushes the wood grain is smoothly followed so that it leaves the surface with a stripeless, soft satin finish. When moreover, the X-Line unit first sands the surface cross the grain, the surface get

distinguished from an antique floor. They are committed not only to mechanical distressing, but also colour distressing. They give your parquet the patina, so it looks a century old. To do this, they have developed a unique production process in which the wood is chemically treated as it goes through several processes. Draw fresh inspiration and discover their distressed finishes on their web site.

Trivec

the sawcut or ‘scarved’ unique, on-trend look. The renewed structure brushing machine Select X-Line can now be equipped with a special programme. Apart from creating certain structure brushing programmes for operations which recur frequently, it is also possible to provide a programme to make arbitrary scarf patterns. This can be set on the touch screen quite simply, but you can also use a laptop to make the scarf patterns in advance which will then be applied to the processing panels. And so, the surface is styled according to the personal taste of the client or end user. In combination with a structure brushing, the result is that the product has a strong, unique, and rustic look!

The machines are apt for commissioning in a production line.

Meanwhile this machine has been successfully delivered to different leading parquet manufactures worldwide. The most important customers are parquet and solid wood flooring manufacturers, custom lacquering companies, manufactures of veneered sheet material and furniture manufacturers.

Miva Parket Since 2004, Miva Parket has concentrated on distressing new parquet in a most original manner. To that end, they have always made their own distressing machines.

This means they can offer their customers the most unique forms of distressing. They can beat parquet (just the sides or the surface and sides), weather it mechanically, and, with their latest innovation, even burn it. They use these methods sometimes separately, but also in combination to turn new parquet into an old weathered floor. The aim is non-repetitive distressing which cannot be

For distressing wooden surfaces Trivec offers various tools such as the brushing and brush scrubber machines, the cross cutter machine for carving into an irregularly fine-sawn wood surface, the scraper machine for making a ‘hand-scrape effect’, and drum machines for causing indentations and damage.

Using a reactive stain is another way of distressing a wooden surface and giving it a weathered look. For this application Trivec offers the Reactive Stain Sprayer, which is built with a special stain-proof casing.

Unique is the Trivec cross cutter which applies damage to the wood surface with the help of a special grinding belt technique. The effect is comparable to a sawn effect, but it is easier and much faster to apply.

The effect can be set up in the machine with extra accessories e.g. continuous diagonal lines or broken diagonal lines. The cross cutter can be combined with one or more brushing modules.

Machines for Parquet finishing find more info on www.trivec.eu

Solcamastraat 25, 9262 ND, Sumar, The Netherlands +31 512 510035 | info@trivec.eu | www.trivec.eu

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Outdoor floors: maintenance & finishes

THE DURABILITY OF WOODEN TERRACES RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FLOOR FITTERS, BUT ALSO OPPORTUNITIES!

Photo – Pallmann

The information which we often find on the ‘ durability categories’ of wood sometimes leads us to suppose that we can be well satisfied if wood lasts 25 years. However, that does mean that when consumers are in the process of making a choice, they might think that wooden terraces by definition have a limited lifespan, whereas professionally fitted terraces in natural stone or ceramics don’t. It is up to parquet floor fitters to correct that misconception.

This advisory task which floor fitters have can also yield considerable gain in both the short and long term.

Why protect wood?

The discussion about whether or not to treat outdoor wood has been going on for years and the fact that this discussion is going on at all is amazing in itself. Admittedly, this editor, too, was for a long time an ardent champion of untreated wood and the charm of the natural ageing process. For a long time, we have promoted water and Javel as the magic remedy for preserving the beauty of a wooden terrace and even all outdoor joinery. How naïve! When we consider that no one questions the need to treat an indoor wooden floor, it is somewhat

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strange that we shouldn’t have to do it outdoors. The mechanical pressures outdoors are just as severe as indoors and, moreover, there are also a good few ‘outdoor enemies’ as well.

What are the enemies of wood?

When we use means to protect a product, we have to define firstly what we are protecting the product against. In the cases of wooden terraces and bamboo, the enemies are more or less clear. Composite, too, encounters those same hazards, albeit to a different extent, depending on the composition. The dangers lie in nature itself. Light, air, water, and life are all necessary in order to exist, but at the same time they are responsible slowly but surely for ‘decay’. Ultra violet light (in combination with oxygen and water) causes ageing in the wood and possibly wood rot (see below). In a photochemical process the sunlight breaks down the dark-coloured lignin, one of the main components of wood.

The light-coloured cellulose, the other component, gets left behind on its own. The fact that the colour of the cellulose dominates can be seen by the ageing. With ageing (by means of UV light), water can mean another hazard. Inside the wood the cellulose can simply be washed away and then the wood takes on a frayed pattern which everyone has

seen in rotten wood. Living organisms can also form a threat. We can identify wood worm, wood rot, and polypore as the chief enemies. The wood worm is a larva of the furniture beetle. It lives mainly in the wild, especially in trees with hard wood, such as oak and fruit trees. Wood rot is a fungus which particularly affects wood which comes into contact with (too much) damp.

What do we use to protect wood?

As regards this subject, there are all sorts of tips, tricks, and myths handed down over generations. If parquet floor fitters or professional terrace fitters wish to establish a link with their clients, they can best recommend the standard solutions of specialist producers. In the extensive ranges which we find amongst producers, three products are particularly prominent: terrace cleaners, anti-ageing, and terrace oils or saturators.

- Terrace oil is applied to new or existing wooden terrace floors.

Terrace oil means effective protection against the penetration of damp and dirt since the oil impregnates the wood so that the pores are saturated and the wood is given a strong surface. You need to use coloured oil to provide protection from UV light.

- Terrace anti-ageing is designed firstly to counteract ageing or to remove the decomposing layer of wood which is causing the ageing process. Anti-ageing products remove the veil and restore the wood to its original colour.

- Terrace cleaners, finally, are an efficient means of counteracting moss formation and dirt. They can be deployed on all sorts of tropical wood. Often, (thorough) cleaning with a terrace cleaner precedes the application of terrace oil. 1 10/07/2018 12:12 HD_AP Cimethane -GB_210x146.pdf

Nanotechnology raises its head All these products are designed for a specific task. Producers are always looking for better and more efficient compositions. For instance, certain dyes can protect wood from UV light without necessarily turning the wood a lot darker. Obviously, it’s no surprise that here, too, ‘nanotechnology’ (see elsewhere in this edition) is raising its head. Nanoparticles can change (reinforce) certain properties of a product (e.g. substance or material). This technology is deployed, for instance, to improve the durability or scratch-resistance of a finish, increase fire-resistance, make a product more waterproof, etc. Some producers (see below) are including nanoparticles in their composition.

An ‘outside chance’ of extra business Offering products for cleaning and maintaining parquet gives floor fitters an opportunity for considerable extra sales. Due to the high level of the finish and the cost price, clients need advice and they regard floor fitters as advisers. That also applies obviously to terrace maintenance. After all, clients will want to enjoy and benefit from their terrace and their investment for as long as possible. They will explicitly prefer those ‘professional’ products recommended by their specialists. Selling products yields ‘easy money’ since you don’t really have to do very much. Another way of continuing to earn some money from a terrace is by concluding a maintenance contracts with the client. Clients are given products so that they can do the seasonal and periodic cleaning themselves, but the major cleaning and preparation is carried out by their floor fitter. In this way floor fitters create some extra assignments for themselves.

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Blanchon Cimethane UV lacquer is ideal for use in high traffic areas that have to be finished in double quick time. UV lamps are used for ultra fast surface hardening, and so the site is finished and back in use in 8 hours.

With its hard wearing qualities, Cimethane UV presents exceptional resistance to abrasion and chemical agents. Your professional partner Blanchon is there to help you every day.

For more information go to:

www.blanchon.com

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Outdoor floors: maintenance & finishes

What’s on the market?

Blanchon

Adesiv Adesiv offers various products for the treatment and protection of terraces. Adesiv has a full range for the treatment and maintenance of wooden floors. New Deck is specially in the picture. This is a product which prevents and eliminates ageing in outdoor floors. New Deck has a restoration effect and ensures that the wood ‘glistens’ again. Then there’s Pavidek, an impregnation product to be applied in two coats.

The idea is to protect the wood from weather conditions and to counteract ageing. Pavidek is an impregnation resin, which, amongst other things, provides protection from UV light, and Oliopro is a detergent for regular cleaning. The products can be used for all types of wood.

Blanchon offers impregnation through saturation to protect outdoor floors. This means all the wood fibres (pores) are saturated and that only a small amount of product is left on top. The wood must be cleaned thoroughly before it is saturated. Blanchon has a full range of products for the preparation, finish, and maintenance. Firstly, there is Blanchon Wood Anti-ageing (‘Dégriseur Bois Blanchon’). A high-quality gel is specially recommended for cleaning outdoor wood which is susceptible to weather conditions and the formation of fungi and moss. Blanchon Wood Saturator (‘Satureur Bois Blanchon’) is the saturator, which is based on the classic composition. For some years now, Blanchon has also offered Ecological Saturator (‘Saturateur Environnement’), which is in the Ecological Quality Line (‘Ligne Qualité

The DevoNatural range of professional parquet floor products meets the highest standards when it comes to treating parquet floors.

It is all about quality without compromise, developing products using the best raw materials and cutting-edge technologies.

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Devomat Industries PLC - Florent Geversstraat 31 - B-2650 Edegem - Belgium T +32 03 450 94 70 - F +32 03 457 94 24 - info@devomat.be - www.devomat.be

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OSMO POLYX®-OIL – FEEL THE DIFFERENCE. www.osmo.de/en

Environnement’) and scores well at all points. This product can also be applied to exotic wood sorts immediately after the fitting. In this range Blanchon also offers Blanchon Opaque Ecological Saturator (‘Satureur Opaque Environnement Blanchon’). This product is suitable mainly for softwood and makes it possible to finish the terrace in half a day, thanks to the rapid drying. For occasional cleaning there is Blanchon Terrace Cleaner (‘Nettoyant Terrasses Blanchon’) and, specially for composites, Blanchon has Composite Terrace Renovator (‘Renovateur Terrasses Composites’).

Bona Bona presents its Bona Deep Cleaning System, a powerful and professional cleaning system for wooden floors. This system ensures deep and professional cleaning to remove stubborn dirt and stains from wooden floors.

With the powerful Bona Power Scrubber scrubbing machine and Bona’s special professional formula wooden floor cleaner, Bona Deep Clean Solution, floor fitters can offer a clean and attractive surface. The Bona Deep Clean Solution is mixed, depending on the finish applied. The product is developed for use with the Bona Power Scrubber™ and other scrubber machines. For lacquered floors you pour one litre of Bona Deep Clean Solution into the Bona Power Scrubber tank and add clean water. For oiled floors you pour 0.5 litres of Bona Deep Clean Solution into the Bona Power Scrubber tank and add clean water. Never use the product undiluted!

Decking Oil is used to finish and maintain the floor. Bona Decking Oil is a concentrated mix of vegetable oils modified for better impregnation and long-term protection of wooden terrace floors and other outdoor wooden surfaces. The oil brings out the natural wood grain better, provides protection from the penetration of damp, and reduces the risk of the wood splitting or warping.

Chimiver LIOS GRIGIOFF is a suitable solvent free solution to restore the original coloration of extremal wood surfaces (floors, garden's finiture, tools, etc...). It removes completely the grey patina caused by adverse weather conditions. It does not degrade rubbers and expansion joints.

It does not contains biocides and wood preservatives, it has a reduced environmental impact. CERTIFIED BIODEGRADABLE AND ECOTOXIC OECD 301-F OECD 202:2004.

After the restoring with Lios Grigioff and complete drying, apply two coats of LIOS SUNDECK WOOD OIL. LIOS Sundeck Wood Oil is an

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outdoor wood impregnator particularly recommended for the treatment of outdoor wooden floors (swimming pool edges, verandas, walkways), window and door frames, fences and canopies made of wood. It contains natural and synthetic oils, with the addition of UV ray absorbers and special anti-ageing ingredients against the wood decay. It doesn't crack. Also available in LIGHT version, which doesn't alterate the natural colour of wood, particularly indicated for the treatment of south-american species (i.e. IPÈ Lapacho, Tobaco etc.) and other similar types of outdoor woods painted in autoclave (usually green colour). LIOS SUNDECK SOAP is a nourishing detergent to clean outdoor wooden floors. It efficiently removes dirt, traces of chlorine, salt etc. As maintenance product we recommend Lios Sundeck Soap every 15 days.

Ecofa Ecofa recommends applying three coats of Fantastic Exterior Oil (‘Huile Fantastique Extérieur’) to all outdoor wood to prevent the wood turning dark.

Depending on the exposure, that process should be repeated every three to four years. This oil can also be used for tropical wood sorts such as bankirai. It can be applied quickly and easily.

It penetrates deeply into the wood, but preserves the elasticity of the wood and prevents dehydration. Polishing after application is not necessary. This oil can also be deployed on porous tiles. One to three coats should be applied to protect new wood, whilst a little oil on a cloth will suffice for renovation after local sandpapering (grey spots).

For a full renovation all the oil should be removed first.

Floorservice The garden is increasingly becoming an extension of your home’s interior. Wooden patios with matching chairs and tables perfectly suit your indoor style. Just like the wood for indoor floors, the outdoor wood also requires attention and the right products in order to maintain the natural look!

Floorservice Decking Oil To keep the outdoor wood in perfect condition we’ve developed Floorservice Decking Oil. This oil penetrates deep into the (tropical) wood and offers excellent protection against water and dirt. The mild smelling oil doesn’t leave a film, but gives the wood a smooth surface.

Floorservice Woodwash The intensive cleaner Floorservice Woodwash cleans thoroughly and

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Outdoor floors: maintenance & finishes

restores colour of garden furniture, patio’s, garden fences and pergolas. This is an excellent universal cleaner for soft and hard wood types. The grey garden wood will be brought back to life, restoring the wood’s former glory!

Osmo

To meet the specific needs of several softwood and fine wood species, Osmo Decking-Oil was developed. It smoothens the wood surface and makes it water and dirt repellent. The oil is applied thinly and evenly with the wood grain; Osmo Decking Brush with a width of 150 mm is suitable for such applications. Hardwoods rich in extractives must weather off before the initial treatment, and then two coats are carried out on the raw wood. For renovation works, one coat is sufficient, and spot repairs are possible for small damages. To clean decking regularly, Osmo offers the Decking Cleaner. Depending on the level of contamination, one litre of the concentrate cleans 30 – 100 m².

Pallmann Thorough cleaning is the first step in maintaining a terrace. For that purpose Pallmann presents a chemical cleaning product with a brush. The Pallmann Wood Refresher is recommended for this purpose, if necessary in combination with the new polishing machine Pallmann Turbo Scrubber. For protecting the fibres there is the Pallmann Endgrain Protector. After that, the floor can be oiled with Pallmann Outdoor Oil. Points for attention in choosing a finish include that the

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surface has to be open after the treatment, resistant to UV rays, and resistant to all weather conditions. The products presented here can also be used perfectly well for wood composites. In recent years, Pallmann has gained a lot of experience in that area. One notes also that some exotic sorts of wood exceptionally require a different approach. For instance, sometimes, an oil finish will suffice.

Rubio Monocoat Rubio Monocoat offers a structured working method and the necessary products for finishing and maintaining all wooden terraces. Good preparation is crucial for a good end result. For that purpose you should use Rubio Monocoat Exterior Wood Cleaner. This cleaner removes dirt, grease, and moss completely. The cleaner can be used on all types of wood.

During the cleaning, the pores of the wood open up to yield a smother result during the oil treatment (Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector, which colours and protects in one coat). Due to its innovative technology, this oil is suitable for colouring and protecting all types of wood, both in and outdoors. The simple application and simple maintenance are part of the convenience of this product. Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector is available in 13 contemporary natural wood shades and eight popular colours. The product contains no solvents, water, or VOCs. For interim cleaning there is a mild soap, namely Rubio Monocoat Exterior Soap. An outdoor floor treated with Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector is easy to maintain using the same product, with no sandpapering!

Tover To protect wooden terraces, walkways and decking, garden furniture, what is better? A natural oil or a water-based impregnation agent? With Tover you can finally choose your favourite finishing product! Oil4sun, easy to apply natural oil, very strong against severe climatic conditions and mold, main reasons of wood degradation, it penetrates in depth into the wooden pores, feeds it and grants a homogeneous aspect to the whole surface. Or Pro-Deck, water-based treatment, extremely innovative for outdoor wood; it is simple to apply, to renew, extrastrong against water, freeze, UV rays and guarantees a uniform surface finish. Moreover it really lasts longer than an oil. And for WPC terraces?

Relax! With WPC Cover, water-based protection agent, composite floorings will perfectly resist to their major enemy: oil and grease spots.

Choose Safety, choose Tover.

Special

Subfloors for wooden floors : part I

GLUED OR FLOATING WOODEN FLOORS GLUED WOODEN FLOOR SYSTEMS When it comes to wooden floor systems, it is necessary to draw a distinction between floors which are glued and floors which are fitted floating. The latter type need to have at least a tongue and groove joint so that no problems arise when the floor is subjected to heavier loads. With glued systems, you can also basically draw a distinction between floors glued immediately to the substrate and floors fitted with a subfloor. The fitting method in Europe differs from country to country, but for parquet floors glueing onto the base floor is the most commonly applied technique. One important reason for that is certainly that wooden floors are more expensive and are usually fitted in living rooms on the ground floor. Furthermore, a subfloor is practical in functionality with the biggest advantage that, due to the contact sound insulation, the neighbours below experience no noise nuisance.

There are two fitting methods with systems with glued subfloors. The first method is the most labour intensive whereby the subfloor is applied manually with two coats of glue between the base floor and the wooden floor. One coat glues the base floor to the subfloor and a second coat sticks the subfloor to the wooden floor. In addition, there are subfloors which already have a coat of glue and a cover film on both sides. These subfloors reduce the fitting time, but, at the same time, they are also somewhat more expensive. These types of systems are fitted mainly in the USA and are not so popular in Europe.

An essential criterion for subfloors is that they provide durable protection against heavy pressure for a number of reasons. The long-term preservation of the contact sound insulation function is proportional to the preservation of the thickness of the material over time under brief pressure (CS), long-term pressure (CC), and also repetitive pressure (DL) and is more

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Special

Subfloors for wooden floors : part I

than the protection from the click joints with thinner laminate floors.

Due to the lack of coats of glue, the above features are obviously even more important with a floating fitting because the floor can move more.

coverings. It is also easy to cut and fit. The subfloor is not affected by damp or fungi.

Parkettfreund

In contrast to subfloors for laminate floors, there is no sign of a standardisation for subfloors for wooden floors, but most producers are now paying more and more attention to the quality of the subfloor.

With wooden floors, too, certainly due to the higher price, it is vitally important to deliver a good floor system, and a good choice of subfloor based on the use in a specific room is then vitally important. Here, too, the floor system has to be considered in its entirety, depending on where the floor is fitted and what the client expects of it.

Obviously, it is also important with wooden floors, perhaps even more so than with laminate, to stress the importance of a damp screen once again. With laminate the EPLF requires a minimal SD value of 75m, but in some countries such as France they often go even further and a PE foil of 200Âľ in good quality must guarantee an even higher SD value.

However, subfloor producers are increasingly giving a real SD value rather than a thickness of a foil because a foil does not always guarantee the same SD value because that depends on the raw material used. Sometimes, much thinner high-tech types of foils can guarantee a higher SD value, but the fitting has to be done exactly as prescribed in order to ensure that no damage occurs in those layers during the fitting.

Two specialists who send us the information in time Bona

Bona U300 is a subfloor of bound cork and rubber granules. It can be used as a subfloor for parquet, laminate, and other floor coverings. The material has a sound insulation effect. When it is glued with a parquet floor, the tensions generated in the parquet are reduced and diverted to the subfloor. Bona U310 is a polyester felt to be glued to glued parquet and laminate to reduce tension. This subfloor is a problem-solver for technically doubtful subfloors. The U310 is easy to cut and fit, damp-proof, and isolating. The extra Construction height is a mere 1.5-2mm, including the glue thickness. Bona U340 is a polyester subfloor of fibre-plate and reduces tension for the final floor covering such as ceramic tiles, natural stone, wooden floors, etc. The high pressure strength means that it can cope with heavy loads (up to 5.0kN/m²). The subfloor is suitable for private and commercial uses.

Moreover, the floor provides acoustic sound insulation for all floor

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Parkettfreund presents a range of 20 different subfloors and some new ones are being launched after the summer. The major difference between subfloors for wooden floor coverings and those for vinyl, for instance, is that the latter requires a subfloor with greater pressure stability. In terms of subfloors there are ongoing technological developments at Parkettfreund. An important product group is that of acoustic subfloors, which help to reduce the sound of footsteps and impact noise.

Special

Producers of Versailles panels

VERSAILLES – THE PERFECT MARRIAGE OF OLD AND NEW GROWING POPULARITY YIELDS A WIDER RANGE more or less for all eternity. At all events, today’s parquet floor fitters still have a mastery of the technique of those days.

The Palace of Versailles In 1624, near the hamlet of Versailles, 19km south of Paris, a hunting lodge was erected for King Louis XIII. The building was erected in red brick and sandstone, so it was nothing glamorous. King Louis XIV developed the lodge into a park of 800ha with a charming palace. The first architect was Louis Le Veau. Major expansion came in 1680 under the leadership of Jules Ardouin-Mansart. The interior was designed by Charles Le Brun. The palace is on the UNESCO world heritage list and is appreciated as a symbol of the ‘ancient regime’. Every day, 3000 to 10,000 courtiers stayed there during the reign of Louis XIV. The ‘Hall of Mirrors’ is the most well known room in the palace and presently the most visited one as well. The hall is 73 metres long, 10.5 metres wide, and 12.3 metres high. It is located on the first floor on the west side and was originally an outdoor terrace. The floors are made of panels of 1 x 1m and are world famous. And so, the system of designing floors in panel shape is also named after the palace: Versailles panels.

Sorts of design floors They may well be the most well known design floors, but they are certainly not the only ones. Other design floors which have conquered the world also date from that period. Let’s compare them.

Versailles pattern The Versailles panel looks like a diagonal interweaving framed by a square edge of parquet strips. In the palace the panels are exactly 1m² (100 x 100cm). They are separated by three strips of 8cm which come together in a corner where they form a point. Nowadays, Versailles panels are available in several dimensions and are adapted to the room in which they are fitted.

Photo – BJ Parket

Chantilly pattern Baroque was launched in the 17th and 18th centuries and it still lives on. In the history of art it has certainly been one of the most ornate and bombastic styles. It’s a style which stands in stark contrast to the sometimes minimalist contemporary interior styles, and yet Versailles panels, solid wooden floors named after the similarly named palace in France and paragons of baroque, suit a modern interior perfectly. You do need some ‘room’ and perhaps also a somewhat higher budget. Mind you, you do then have a floor

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The Chantilly pattern is a pattern which is often used in bobbin and in clothing design. It is less well known than the Versailles pattern, but is also found in the renowned palace.

Chantilly is a somewhat more intricate variant which consists of several small panels, which also form an interweaving. In the palace this is in panels, but it can also be stretched out over the width of the floor.

Hungarian point Hungarian point is one of the oldest parquet patterns. This pattern, too, is normally fitted separately, but can be applied in panel form. In this

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Producers of Versailles panels

pattern the strips are fitted against each other in herringbone design at an angle of 30 to 45°. Sandpapering creates a subtle difference in colour to yield a three-dimensional effect. Hungarian point is sometimes (wrongly) confused with herringbone.

Herringbone Herringbone, too, is a classic fitting pattern for parquet and this can also be the pattern for a panel design. The French call this pattern ‘à baton rompus’ (small talk). The slats are fitted in herringbone bond, the upper sides straight against each other, to create a zigzag pattern. Here is a good method for remembering how it differs from Hungarian point. With the herringbone design each strip is a geometric right angle, whilst with Hungarian point each strip is a parallelogram is (sawn diagonally).

Extension of the range Versailles is becoming more and more widely available, both in the dimensioning and in the wood sorts, even in the type of floors.

Customised work but also standard The final production of Versailles panels is preceded by a lot of customised work. After all, the idea is that these floors are a perfect fit (to fill the room) and that nothing has to be sawn on site. This means that the dimensions of the panels are harmonised to the dimensions of the room.

There are standard dimensions, fewer with Versailles and Chantilly due to the complexity of the pattern and the special visual effects, but more with other panel or design floors. This means that if you want to keep panels intact, you have to adapt the room (e.g. by means of horizontal boards all round). Very common standard measures are 600 x 600mm, 700 x 700mm, 800 x 800mm, and 1000 x 1000mm.

in the range in which the plait is made up of friezes of 55mm (panels of 49.5cm or of 55 to 73cm wide), friezes 72mm (panels of 65cm or of 73 to 95cm wide), and friezes of 90mm (panel 102cm wide). The size is adapted precisely for each floor by altering the size of the square blocks. BJ Parket can put up excellent references such as the parquet floor for Cumberland Terrace in London (125m² of Versailles panels in afrormosia, hand-scraped, and finished with 4 coats of oil), Hansbeke Castle in Nevele (+/- 55 m² Large Versailles in oak/rustic, distressed, stained, and soaped) and Champagne Taitinger Castle in France (200m² XL Versailles distressed, finish unknown).

Coswick

Oak but also other sorts Obviously, here, too, oak is the type of wood most in demand. French oak was also used in the Hall of Mirrors in the palace of Versailles. And so, historical precision should prompt the use of oak, but since just about all wood sorts are available nowadays, producers offer a wide range of choice. The fact that expensive tropical sorts are often included need not surprise anyone, since these floors are usually chosen by people with a fairly sizeable budget. Teak is one of the most commonly used sorts after oak.

Parquet but also other types of floor Whenever a particular type of floor or a particular ‘decor’ tends to enjoy success, producers of totally different forms of floor technology generally follow. As regards Versailles panels and other old fitting patterns, we have seen a reaction from both the world of laminate and from producers of flexible floor coverings such as LVT, PVC, and linoleum. Here, too, these old patterns are emerging in what we benignly refer to as ‘design floors’.

A selection from the market range BJ Parket Versailles panel floors have always been a permanent fixture at BJ Parket. Demand has risen as the company has enhanced its reputation with these floors. Oak is still the most important wood sort, but a number of tropical sorts are also used. The panels are offered both distressed and untreated. The standard pattern which BJ Parket has chosen is that with twelve blocks and five diagonal plaits. This pattern has a stylish appearance without coming across as too lively. The highly prominent designs such as those in Polish and Russian palaces are not so popular in Western Europe. Adapting the size of the panel to the size of the place means it is possible to work towards a more natural harmony between floor and space. That’s why BJ Parket has three sizes

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At Coswick they make panels under the name of Coswick mosaic hardwood flooring. These floors have been created for modern interiors. They combine the beauty of top class floors with the reliability of modern production methods. These Coswick mosaic hardwood flooring panels are much coveted by a diverse target group all over the world in equally diverse applications such as houses, cottages, offices, castles, and many more. Those projects often include ambitious restorations. At all events, these floors suit any interior, whether residential or commercial. The panels can trace their origins back to the great French palaces such as Versailles, Trianon, Lageais, and Cheverny to name but a few. The look and elegance is therefore also in proportion. Here, too, the Versailles panel is still the most well known and in demand. Distressed floors are possible, but they are not a trend.

The Coswick mosaic hardwood flooring panels are engineered floors.

The company recommends glueing the floors. Each collection has five to eight designs in oak, maple, or walnut or a combination of oak and walnut.

Design Parquet

MANUFACTUROR OF SOLID AND ENGINEERED WOODFLOORS Style panels, end grain, distressed floors (different ageing techniques ‘sanded, brushed, tumbled, smoked and structured’): Customised work on simple request!

Design Parquet believes that these floors belong in palaces and large houses and mansions, but also in new dwellings which are looking for a contemporary design. Oak is the most commonly used wood sort, but other wood sorts such as wenge and merbau are possible. The oak can also be coloured in various shades in accordance with current trends.

The panels are offered in both distressed and non-distressed. As standard, Design Parquet offers the panels in 1000 x 1000mm, but customised work is possible (600 x 600mm, 800 x 800mm). The panels are nailed onto a framework or glued to a screed.

Flamingo Parket

Versailles panels are sold regularly at Flamingo Parket even though it remains a niche market. All those panels are produced in oak, both in light rustic and refined oak. They are usually supplied in the distressed version (60%). This means that the panels are finished and only have to be fitted, so the floor fitter only has to apply the final coat of oil. The panels are produced custom-made. The most popular sizes are 80 x 80 and 100 x 100. Nowadays, fitting is a lot simpler since design floors can be made as a whole tile. Whilst there was often talk in the past of separate elements in traditional parquet form, panels are now offered in traditional parquet, twin plank, and whole tiles.

B.J. Parket

BVBA

INDUSTRIESTRAAT 44 9240 Z ELE – B ELGIUM TEL: +32 52 44 45 57 FAX: +32 52 45 06 71 EMAIL: INFO@BJPARKET.BE WWW.BJPARKET.BE

Special

Oil and lacquer with anti-slip properties for wooden flooring and stairs

SLIPPING OVER CAN BE (MORE THAN) PAINFUL ANTI-SLIP MEASURES ARE ALSO USEFUL FOR PRIVATE HOMES

Photo – Blanchon

Safety in a more or less public environment is assessed and regulated completely differently to safety in the private sphere. There are strict rules in places where trade is done and people are employed. Whilst employers have to make sure that their employees and clients are protected as much as possible from the dangers of slipping over in the workplace, there is no legislation at all for private dwellings. That is ironic, since the risks in private dwellings are perhaps even greater than in the workplace. However, thankfully, there are some measures for avoiding slips and falls.

Slip resistance There is a direct link between the risk of slipping and the slip resistance of a floor. In the past, we have reported on the research done by the Belgian Building Research Institute (BBRI) into the slip resistance of floors. For the purposes of clarity let’s remind ourselves of some significant concepts.

Slip tests done by the BBRI The slip resistance of floors depends on several factors, such as the roughness of the surface, wear and tear, dirt, and how well the floor is maintained. The BBRI has conducted research into what exactly can affect the slip resistance of a floor. The BBRI has tested the slip

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resistance of floors in their ‘Structure and finish materials’ laboratory using the SRT pendulum (Skid Resistance Tester). This test has been developed by the British Transport Research Laboratory and involves a pendulum with a ‘shoe’ with a rubber sole being hurled across a test surface. Depending on the slip resistance, the pendulum gets blocked to some extent so that it no longer reaches its maximum height. The loss of height is read on a scale, which thereby yields the SRT value. A second method which has been used by the BBRI is to determine the dynamic rubbing coefficient with an FSC2000 appliance (Floor Slide Control). This appliance consists of a carriage which tugs a ‘shoe’ with a sole over the floor covering. The recorded value, the rubbing coefficient, says something about the slip resistance of the floor.

What affects slip resistance?

Partly on the basis of these two test methods, the BBRI has verified the major factors which affect the slip resistance of a floor.

Roughness of the floor surface The roughness of the floor surface is vitally important for slip resistance. The rougher the surface, the greater the slip resistance.

And so, there are several methods which are designed to improve the slip properties of a floor by making the surface rougher. Amongst other things, this can be done by mechanical treatments such as sandblasting. However, those methods can drastically change the look of the

floor. Other more subtle methods include micro-engraving using lasers or a chemical treatment based on acids, depending on the type of floor covering.

Displacement space Another important element for slip resistance is the so called displacement space. This is the amount of material (e.g. dirt, oil, or water) which can be applied to a floor surface without covering the tops of the profilings. This is expressed in cm3/dm2.

Finish level of a floor tile The finish level of a floor tile also affects slip resistance. The more a floor is polished, the less the slip resistance becomes. However, this does also depend on the structure of the material.

Wear and tear

Technical features: - Two-component water-based polyurethane - Solvent-free - Extremely resistant to pedestrian traffic - Fireproof : Class 1 reaction to fire according to the UNI 9796: 2014 standard with only 120gr/ m2 - Anti-slip for sports floors according to the UNI EN 14904: 2006 and UNI EN 13036-4: 2011 standard with 180gr/ m2 - High coverage - No overlaps Application area: - Flooring wood in general - Hotels, showrooms, shopping centers - Public spaces (theaters, sports halls, etc...)

- Gyms and playgrounds

Floors which were originally fairly rough can become extremely slippery through wear and tear. This wear and tear can be due to a combination of usage (footsteps) and (fine) dust. Whether or not a floor becomes more slippery through wear and tear depends largely on the surrounding conditions. Over time, floors in a coastal region are usually less slippery than floors in regions with loamy soil.

Surface treatments and slip resistance Test results show that impregnation agents and pore fillers merely have a negligible effect on the slip resistance of floors. However, a treatment which leaves a film on the surface of a floor to protect it can have significant consequences for the slip resistance.

Classification methods for slip hazards The standards DIN 51130 and DIN 51097 include an outline of the method used to assess and classify surfaces with a potential risk of slipping and to assess the possibility of using them as a floor covering. The classification for the standard DIN 51130 is intended for floor coverings which are designed to be walked by people wearing shoes and the moistening agent used for the test is motor oil.

The classification for the standard DIN 51097 is intended for floor coverings which are designed to be walked on barefoot and the moistening agent used for the test is water (source: BBRI). During this test, the surface to be tested is fastened to the testing apparatus and ‘dirtied’ with a certain quantity of normalised mineral oil. After that, a test person runs over the surface wearing safety shoes with normalised soles. In the meantime, the gradient of the running surface is adapted. This is done for as long as the test person has the feeling that he or she can still run safely. The slope is then recorded and the classification is given in the relevant R Group, the total average assessment group (source: Hesse). from 6 to 10° R9 from 11 to 19° R 10 from 20 to 27° R 11 from 28 to 35° R 12 Above 35° R 13

What measures are there?

Adesiv ICE SPORT FIRE Bicomponent water-based paint and anti-slip waterproof paint wooden floors.

Matte Easy-to-apply two-component polyurethane water-based varnish with excellent resistance to abrasion, hardness and chemical resistance.

Bona Parquet lacquer Bona Traffic HD Anti-slip is a 100% polyurethane, 2-component, and waterborne lacquer which gives wooden floors extraordinary durability and protection. It has all the features of Bona Traffic, plus the fact that it is developed to meet the highest slip resistance standards on work floors and in other situations where damp gets onto the floor.

With its greater friction, Bona Traffic HD Anti-slip is the ideal choice for stairs, kitchens, nursing homes, and similar locations.

Features - It offers greater protection against stumbling by accident (R9) - It has very low VOC content - It is easy to apply and levels the surface well - It does not turn yellow - It has outstanding durability and chemical resistance - It is not vulnerable to shoe marks - It has ideal adhesion Important: Parquet oil Bona Craft Oil 2K (2-component oil) can, if necessary, be lacquered over easily with the 2-component parquet lacquer Bona Traffic HD Anti-slip.

Bona Craft Oil 2K is available in tins of 1.25L and 400ml.

Blanchon To understand this issue properly, we need to understand the difference between ‘slipping’ (sliding sideways at the end of a particular movement) and ‘stumbling’ (falling over). There is a European standard

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Oil and lacquer with anti-slip properties for wooden flooring and stairs

for the former. It is assumed that finishes for parquet and stairs are non-slip and that real anti-slip treatments are designed for sports floors and for some high-traffic public places. The anti-slip effect of finishes is obtained through the addition of tiny particles with a prescribed grain thickness. The heap of grains should lead perfectly to a uniform spread (that’s why thorough shaking is necessary). For some industrial applications it will be necessary to ‘sprinkle’ grains onto the initial layer, which is still wet. The durability of these finishes comes partly from the fact that qualitative products are used for the base. Since a renovation also means full sandpapering, you will obviously want to give those finishes the longest possible lifespan. For an ordinary sports floor (not used for competitions) Blanchon estimates that renewal will be necessary in seven to ten years. At university level (a floor used for competitions) that will probably be six to eight years. Sports floors used for professional sports will have to be renewed even sooner.

Chimiver Ecostar 2k is a two-component water-based polyurethane lacquer with high solid content. High abrasion and sole marks resistances allowing its use for high traffic surfaces.

Certifications: surface resistance to cold liquids EN 12720 and chemicals agents EN 13442. Determination of the Coefficient of Friction of floors - B.C.R.A. Method.

Osmo

Spray-Wax must be applied, and when renovating one coat is generally enough.

Pallmann There is anti-slip legislation for floor coverings in public buildings such as schools, hospitals, and such like. That is not the case for private dwellings. Lacquer can be made slip resistant by means of the ingredient properties or by adding an anti-slip product. The dual-component products Pallmann Magic Oil 2K Ergo and Pallmann Magic Oil 2K Original already have R10 slip resistance. To get the same resistance from the Pall-X 98 Gold you have to add the special structure powder coating Pall-X Grip. The lifespan of the slip resistance is closely linked to maintenance and frequency of use. Depending on those factors, you should reckon on renewal every two to three years.

Stauf In many countries, there are clear regulations regarding the slip resistance of floors in workplaces, such as for examples kitchens and counter areas, where liquids can expected to be found on the floor. In Germany, the anti-slip classes regulate slip resistance: R6 – R13. R6 stands for slightly or traditionally rough floors and R13 for extremely rough surfaces. STAUF offers two products here: STAUF OIL IN ONE, which requires no further mixing and has an anti-slip rating of R9, and AQUA GRIP, a grip powder which is used as an additive to increase slip resistance in accordance with German standard BGR 181. With the addition of this grip powder, the final coat of STAUF AQUA AURUM two-component finish can be made significantly rougher and achieve an anti-slip rating of R11. This is required primarily on stairs in working areas.

Tover

With Polyx®-Oil Anti-Slip and clear Spray-Wax (3009 Anti-Slip), Osmo now offers more safety for hardwood flooring and stairs. Both products are suitable for use in private homes as well as public buildings and have a slip resistance rating of either R9 or R11 (Polyx®-Oil Anti-Slip Extra). A surface treated with Spray-Wax is very robust, hard-wearing, tough and also easy-to-maintain. The wood finish is suitable for cup spray gun, Airless/Airmix and HVLP applications. Polyx®-Oil Anti-Slip produces an extremely hard-wearing, long-lasting and non-slip wood surface. On raw wood, two coats of either Polyx®-Oil Anti-Slip or

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Tover is always looking for innovative products to improve people safety; Uniqua Antislip is the self-linking water-based lacquer for high traffic certified R10 according to DIN 51130:2014 norm. Suitable for stairs but not only, for public places and everywhere this particular request is needed. It does not need to be repeated periodically to maintain its anti-slip characteristics and the finish is strong, natural and matt.

Special

UV/LED machines on site

‘IT IS A SMALL STEP FOR A MAN, BUT A GIANT LEAP…’ UV DRYING ON SITE IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE LANDING ON THE MOON

Photo – Blanchon

What we’re saying here is that from time to time mankind reaches a point which was previously unthinkable. Any form of progress starts with human curiosity and the longing ‘to improve things’ and ‘to break new ground’. Our knowledge of the light spectrum has taught us that some types of light possess ‘special’ powers. The use of the power of UV light to cure certain substances or to dry liquids quickly is no longer so new. What is new, however, is the use of that power in a non-industrial and strongly controlled setting.

Revolutionary and evolutionary steps Progress is characterised by steps forward. The scenario is always the same. Firstly, there is the discovery that a certain possibility ‘exists’ and is even helpful in practice. Once an innovation comes into use, a technological race starts to look for improvements. The end is hardly ever in sight. Drying is by definition a phenomenon in which fluid has to disappear so that something more or less liquid becomes solid.

However, ‘becoming solid’ is not necessarily ‘drying’. Light, too, can make something ‘solid’ or, rather, can ‘cure’ it. Once we’ve grasped that, surely we want to look for the right lamp?

From drying to curing Drying is a process in which fluid escapes from a more or less liquid material. That ‘escaping’ can be accelerated somewhat by means of

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ventilation. Ventilation discharges damp air to make more room for ‘escaping’ damp. This can be illustrated best by the working or effect of a hair dryer. That’s called ‘air-drying’. In the case of finishes for parquet or other building products the second step consists of isolating the substances which were in the liquid substance so that they enter into a reaction with each other under the influence of the ambient air.

And so, that’s called ‘curing’ and in this way a classic lacquer provides solid protection. With curing by means of light (e.g. UV), there is no need for damp to ‘escape’. If a paint consists of monomers together with a photo-initiator, the coating will dry within a few seconds after it is applied and dried with UV light. Since monomers are of low viscosity, there’s no need to use solvents or do any dispersions in water. This means there is no evaporation of solvents or water. Monomers are the basis of most binding agents used in the paint industry.

From the factory to the site In the initial phase, since the use of UV light was strongly connected to an industrial setting, it didn’t seem like an activity which floor fitters could do themselves unless they had a well equipped workshop. That meant that UV drying stayed within the factory walls of parquet and laminate producers or, fairly soon, was taken on by the now renowned coating contractor companies. The investment seemed reasonable for them as they could use the technology for various clients/fitters.

Several parquet floor fitters, however, swear by their own secret finish,

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UV/LED machines on site

certainly when it comes to colouring parquet, and don’t really want to outsource that job. It is obvious that the development of possibilities for applying UV drying on site provides a solution.

From UV lamp to LED lamp As we’ve said, once we use an innovation, we see the start of a quest for improvements. In the application of UV light that relates primarily to the type of light source with which UV light can be produced. As we’ve often explained, UV light (ultra-violet light) is an electro-magnetic ray which falls just outside the part of the spectrum which can be perceived by the human eye. Due to its shorter wavelength, UV light is richer in energy than the light which is visible for us. This means that UV light can cause chemical reactions, such as the curing of gel or lacquer.

LED lamps are also UV lamps, because they give light which falls within the UV spectrum (mainly UV-A). The light is emitted via Light-Emitting Diodes instead of via a fluorescent lamp. The light which LED lamps emit has a smaller reach of UV light wavelengths than UV lamps which use a compact fluorescent lamp. However, LED lamps do emit a higher concentration of UV light and more energy.

field has been the Euralille shopping centre with a surface of 10,000m² lacquered on site without interrupting the activities of the centre itself.

Since that job was completed, no repairs have been necessary, in spite of the 55,000 visitors per day.

Arguments in favour of LED

DecoRad® Systems

The road from classic UV lamps to LED UV lamps is a logical step.

DecoRad® Systems B.V. has been a member of Radtech since 2011. BASF has referred to ‘on-site UV curing for flooring in emerging and new segments’ as the major growth market (source: Radtech). That’s one of the reasons why, in 2018, DecoRad has once again launched its latest refined Floormate Generation 6 on the market, available in stainless steel or lightweight aluminium.

The end result of UV drying on site is always somewhat similar to any 2K system whatsoever due to the high extent of cross-linking, but usually the end result is better.

With a LED it is only possible to dry LED hard wax oil. A traditional UV machine is suitable for drying all UV lacquers and coatings currently available worldwide. DecoRad® Systems makes both LED and traditional UV machines so that it can serve everyone.

All DecoRad machines for on the site can be connected to a normal socket (1-phase) and the user is given basic how-to-operate training

by DecoRad or one of its partners in order to guarantee safe and efficient use when working with UV apparatus.

DecoRad floor machines (Floormates) are always provided with adjustable power because the Photo-chemical process is a combination of giving the correct dose of UV to the lacquer or oil. Only this fine tuning of lamp height and speed guarantees the correct curing (hardening of the lacquer or coating). As support for the floor machines, DecoRad has various hand lamps in its range for sides, edges, skirting boards, stairs, and other places which are difficult to reach.

Energy-saving The essential difference from UV drying is the vast energy saving.

Drying with LED light yields a direct saving of 60% in energy consumption. And that’s only a start! LED lamps, unlike UV lamps, don’t need to warm up. Production can start at once. Moreover, LED lamps do not emit any infrared light which is converted to heat. And so, the wood no longer gets hot, so roughening up and problems with glueing are kept to a minimum. The minimal development of heat also reduces the risk of fire (e.g. during delays in the production process) to almost zero.

Constant quality Apart from all these practical benefits, there is also a huge quality benefit in using LED lights as opposed to UV lights, namely the constant quality of the LED. Whereas a UV lamp fades in quality over time, the light from the LED lamp remains top quality throughout its usage lifespan. You will never have any more problems with a covering layer which is not completely cured.

Ecological Drying with LED light is highly ecological. For example, the lamps don’t contain any mercury or calcium, but certainly just as important is that LED lamps only transmit energy in the UVA reach. That means that no ozone is emitted. And so, expensive suction machines are a thing of the past. The essential difference from UV drying is the vast energy saving.

What’s on the market?

Blanchon Blanchon is keen to point out that the quality of UV lacquers varies.

Depending on the components, composition, and production process, the lacquer, when applied, will offer better or moderate protection from elements such as abrasions and chemical influences. You can get some exceptionally strong lacquers thanks to the latest developments, which also make use of nanoparticles. With the Ciméthane UV, Blanchon has made steps towards curing on site. In recent years, partly thanks to new machines, they have achieved very satisfactory results (75,000m² since 2014). The most impressive project in that

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Floorservice The immense popularity of oiled flooring demands for an increasingly faster production possibilities. Within the Floorservice product range,

Rubio Monocoat

youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll therefore find our UV-curing oils for mechanical application.

Floorservice UV-Oil is suited for industrial application as well as for on-site curing with a mobile UV-curing device.

This new VOC-free finishing product from Floorservice is fully cured directly after exposure to UV-lamps and therefore immediately stackable, packable and sandable. These features make it highly suitable for fully automated production lines.

All flooring finished with Floorservice Profiline UV Oil ensures a high resistance against wear-and-tear, scratching and moisture influences. The floor is also resistant to saliva and sweat, and meets all the demands of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toys.

Benefits Floorservice Profiline UV Oil: - Characteristic natural look of the oiled surface; - Obtainable with a matte or silk gloss appearance; - Standard available in a wide range of colours, in consultation we develop a customized colour collection; - Fast industrial curing possibilities is available when combined with all regular UV drying tunnels; - High production rate; - The same cleaning and maintenance as for oxidative drying oils with Floorservice Parquet Cleaner and Floorservice Maintenance Oil; - The fully dried surface is free of rest emissions of organic solvents and physiologic completely safe; - Eco-friendly; - Excellent protection against discolouration; - To be combined with our Floorservice primer products.

An alternative for on-site UV curing is our Floorservice LED Oil which cures by using a mobile LED-curing device.

In 2005, RMC Oil was launched on the market and in those days the unique molecular binding technology was a real revolution. The product is applied in one coat, with a wide choice of colours and 0% VOC. In 2017, Rubio Monocoat once again took on the role of pioneer with the launch of RMC LED Oil. The benefits of LED speak for themselves e.g. much less energy consumption, a longer lamp lifespan, no ozone emissions, and no unpleasant smells. Yet the main asset is that wood treated with LED oil is cured instantly with LED light, so it can also be stepped on and packed at once. That means huge time savings for the project market, stair and furniture makers, and industrial finishers.

Apart from RMC LED Oil, Rubio Monocoat also offers professional LEDdryers for use both on-site and in the factory. It is possible to install an optional LED-drying unit on an existing industrial finish machine. This can be done very quickly and easily with no need for large investment.

Since there are no ozone emissions, there is no need for a suction system. The following machines will satisfy demanding floor fitters who like to move with the times: a professional machine for drying floors and two hand dryers for furniture, skirting boards, and places which are difficult to reach. The investment costs for these machines are minimal, especially if you include the savings in time and money.

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Exterior wall cladding fastening systems

WOODEN WALL CLADDING GOES HIGH-TECH POINTS FOR ATTENTION ON THE SUBSTRUCTURE DETERMINE THE LIFESPAN

Photo – Eurotec

The benefits of invisible fastening systems for exterior wall wood are the same as for terraces. They include faster fitting, no nails or screws in the wooden planks or boards, no splinters, a longer lifespan, and, finally, a much more attractive result with no visible fasteners. Although wooden wall cladding is subjected much less to mechanical pressure, many of these systems are nevertheless recommended in one breath for both terraces and walls. The range on the market is growing.

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Wood has conquered the home Wood has always been prominent in construction in the course of history. In recent years, wood has taken centre stage in a sort of ‘fresh conquest’ of the home. It all started with the wholesale switch to wooden terraces instead of paving or natural stone. No one need be surprised by that. When you set foot on a wooden terrace, even barefoot, you establish a link with nature. Wood charms us and is light and warm. The switch to wooden terraces was just one step. Wood charms us for much more than just terraces. The growing preference

for natural materials has also seen the disappearance of the plastic and metal accessories with which we furnish our outdoor habitat. PVC garden furniture has been largely replaced by teak and other wooden furniture. Wooden enclosures are becoming commonplace in the garden. Woven, rigid, with a design, all styles. Some are wind-proof, others are not. Enclosures have been followed by garden gates, fences, and flower and plant summer houses. Flower boxes are made of wood or are ‘put away’ in a wooden case. Swimming pool edges once seen as the death of wood are increasingly being designed in tropical hardwood sorts. Today, it’s amazing how many project managers and buyers finish the home itself with wood. Just look around you!

With closed planks

Assets of wall cladding

Invisible fastening systems

The functional and decorative assets, the natural and ecological nature, these are all strong assets which are persuading more and more people to convert to wooden wall cladding. One important aspect is certainly that planks can be deployed for both new buildings and renovation.

The benefits of invisible fastening systems for exterior wall wood are the same as for terraces. They include faster fitting, no nails or screws in the wooden planks or boards, no splinters, a longer lifespan, and, finally, a much more attractive result with no visible fasteners.

Although wooden wall cladding is subjected much less to mechanical pressure (you don’t walk on it), many of these systems are nevertheless recommended in one breath for both terraces and walls. The range on the market is growing.

For new buildings For new buildings wooden wall cladding is one of the options for building a ‘wooden’ home. Strictly speaking, there are three ways of building. A solid wood building speaks for itself. The building, both the support structure and the walls, is erected in solid wooden beams.

The walls are usually formed by beams with tongue and groove joints (multiple joints nowadays). The timber frame construction technique is completely different. A frame is put in place made of construction wood. That frame is furnished both in and outside with wooden panels.

The insulation comes between both panels. Anyone who opts for a traditional brick building (or concrete) can still get the look of a wooden home by furnishing the walls with wooden planks or sidings. These planks can be deployed for all or part of the building. And so, in this case the wall planks are not a timber construction, but a type of finish.

For renovation You can see wooden wall cladding as an ecological alternative to the many wall claddings which the building sector offers e.g. brick, plaster with a colour finish, plaster covered in colour all over with or without a structure, or panels. Wooden wall cladding can be chosen on the basis of a purely aesthetic preference or for ecological reasons, but it can be prompted as ‘the most practical’ solution with wall renovation because it can eradicate some damage and signs of age without much demolition work. That doesn’t necessarily have to equate to ‘glossing over’, since some signs of wear and tear on an existing wall can be limited to a visual problem with no structural consequences.

Technical points for attention For technical aspects there are a number of urgent distinct points for attention since the (decorative) nature of the fitting dictates the underlying technique. These points relate to protection from damp.

With ‘closed’ planks we need to draw a distinction between ‘vertical’ and ‘horizontal’ planks in order to determine the consequences for the ventilation. With vertical planks, the supporting framework (the rafters) obviously run horizontally. And so, with continuous rafters there should hardly be any connecting cavity behind the wall planks, which would render the ventilation inadequate or even non-existent. Solutions include a single trellis which is interrupted at regular intervals, a double trellis (first vertical, then horizontal), or the technological solution of Ventiwood, which provides notches at regular intervals in the rafters themselves.

The specialist for fastening technology

FaçadeClip For hidden fastening of façade wood

Advantages • For façade timbers with a profile height of 57–95 mm • Hidden fastening • Perfect constructive timber protection

• Ventilated façade system with spaced installation • The façade timber‘s surface that is exposed to the weather remains undamaged

With open planks Two elements are vitally important in the context of protection from damp, namely the creation of an air cavity and the provision of a water screen. Ventilation isn’t really a problem with open planks, whether they are fitted vertically or horizontally. The water screen, which is mandatory with most types of fitting, must be fitted continuously onto the insulation along the side of the air cavity. The screen has to be watertight, airtight, and damp-proof. The damp screen must have an md value (also called an sd value) of 0.5m. In the case of open planks you should choose a damp screen which can withstand UV rays, frost, and wind.

www.eurotec.team E.u.r.o.Tec GmbH • Unter dem Hofe 5 • D-58099 Hagen Tel. 0049 (0) 2331 62 45-0 • Fax 0049 (0) 2331 62 45-200 • e-mail: info@eurotec.team

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A selection from the range B-Fix

For B-Fix it seems that the wooden wall fastening market is in a constant state of flux. There is great interest from architects in the many possibilities. The B-Fix fastening system is deployed for both terraces and wooden walls. That is a conscious choice; after all, it simplifies the work of both traders (e.g. with stock) and fitters, who only have to work with one system. For wooden wall cladding it is possible to fit the planks vertically or horizontally. For fitting with B-Fix there are no special points for attention, but, as with all wall cladding, you have to consider the structure, damp, and ventilation. The B-Fix system will mean higher purchase costs for the material, but, on the other hand, the system does offer huge time savings on the fitting and it does yield a much more attractive finish. B-Fix can be deployed for various materials.

Eurotec

A FAMILY COMPANY FOUNDED IN 1883 120.000 M³ OF SAWN TIMBER IN STOCK COMPANY SPECIALITIES TEAK | SIBERIAN LARCH | IPE | IROKO | MASSARANDUBA JATOBA | MERBAU | WESTERN RED CEDAR DECKING – FLOORING – CLADDING – UNDERCONSTRUCTION – ROUGH SAWN IMPORT AND EXPORT OF SCANDINAVIAN & RUSSIAN SOFTWOODS, AMERICAN SOFTWOODS & HARDWOODS, TROPICAL HARDWOODS

BERGSTRAAT 25 | B-8511 AALBEKE | BELGIUM T. +32 (0)56 43 33 33 | F. +32 (0)56 43 33 34 GENEVIEVE@VANDECASTEELE.BE | DAVE@VANDECASTEELE.BE WWW.VANDECASTEELE.BE

At Eurotec they have noticed a strong rise in the demand for wooden wall cladding. The company presents the FaçadeClip system for invisible fastening. The terrace products differ from the wall cladding in

Special

Exterior wall cladding fastening systems

terms of sizes and materials. In the development of new products they always focus on product application. With the fastening system for planks, the behaviour of the wood plays the major part, together with the ventilation. Here, too, the cost price of the fitting is somewhat more expensive with the invisible FaçadeClip system, but that system does offer lots of benefits e.g.: - The constructive advantages which extend the durability of the façade - A ventilated façade system with spaced installation - The façade timber´s surface that is exposed to the weather remains undamaged - Efficient and easy installation In the long term, the FaçadeClip is cheaper than a classic fastening.

The system can also be used with composite materials, provided that you use adapted screws.

La San Marco Profili be delivered on site. The vertical wall cladding system Woodface®, developed by designer Roel Vandebeek, offers the possibility to personalise a wall completely by making use of nine different wooden profiles (three thicknesses and three widths). These are fastened using an aluminium profile specially developed for that purpose. This means completely invisible fastening. Moreover, the aluminium profiles can be supplied in all RAL colours or anodised. This system makes the whole somewhat more expensive but in comparison with open wall cladding (with planks/strips fixed at regular intervals) where the underlying damp screen is visible, this system gives you a much more attractive wall and the damp screen cannot be damaged by the closed wall cladding. Furthermore, it’s not possible for leaves and such like to get under the cladding. The aluminium profile is part of the wooden profiles which have been developed and should also be seen as an integrated concept in order to arrive at a personalised wall.

Vetedy

The demand of wall cladding is continuously growing, maybe because there is more attention for the natural element in architectural projects. In facts, nowadays, because of the constantly careful attention to nature, the construction industry is finding new options in order to create an harmoniously cohesion between structural elements and the environment. That is why wood is always the best solution. You could use wall cladding for any kind of projects. What we recommend is to choose the right installation method according to the environment and material. For example, if the planks are very wide and long, or the wood is less stable, you should adopt a traditional fitting. La San Marco Profili adapt any outdoor flooring according to installation’s place and customers’ needs, so also for wall claddings the company gives many solutions for installations. Among them there is also the patented invisible system and a new installation system called I-fly system. A new and innovative system based on the use of I-fly clip. This particular clip could be installed as the traditional one of the conventional installation, but in addition, it allows to replace or simply lift for inspection, any plank at any point in the floor with just the help of a key that turns the clip. Furthermore, it works with any kind of joists (wood or aluminium) and you could use it with both hardwood and composite.

Outdoor Wood Concepts In the area of wooden wall cladding, at Outdoor Wood Concepts they have noticed the growing demand for wall cladding finished with oil to

Techniclic® patented system is a revolutionnary system. Designed for wall and ceiling covering in wood, without visible screw, it allows an assembly which guarantee product durability and a perfect result. This very easy concept will save a lot of time. The wooden boards, available in several wood species and in 3 widths are fixed with Techniclic® clips, whose are then insert into special bases. Those base precision provide a perfect level of finishing.

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Special

Floors with the best acoustic characteristics

FLOOR COVERING AFFECTS THE ACOUSTICS SOUND REDUCTION IS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE STRUCTURE

Photo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Aspecta

The standard NBN S 01-400-1 plays the main part in the debate on the acoustic criteria for floors in the home. An important aspect of this norm is certainly the fact that the impact sound insulation of a floor must be guaranteed by the construction itself (e.g. concrete panel + screed)

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and not by the finished floor covering. This means that if we look at floors which show favourable acoustic properties, we will have to investigate which finished floor coverings can improve the acoustic performance of the structure or, preferably, not make it worse.

Sound – what is that?

Obviously, you have to be acquainted well with a problem in order to present a solution. After all, there are various sorts of sound, which each have to be counteracted in a different way. In the past, little or no attention was paid to the sound comfort of homes. With a number of European directives and, nowadays, also a number of standards, legislators are working to regulate the use of materials in structural facilities from an acoustic point of view. The standards draw a distinction between impact sound and airborne sound. In order to know how to conquer sound, it is important to know what sort of sound we are talking about.

Airborne sound Airborne sounds or airborne noises are vibrations which are reproduced by the source of sound in the air e.g. the human voice, the radio, music, an engine ticking over, and such like. Airborne noise is transmitted to adjoining rooms via floors and walls. Airborne noise goes from outside to inside and vice versa. The airborne noise causes a vibration on the walls (or floors) and the walls (or floors) reproduce that vibration on the other side (or underside). The heavier the wall is, the harder it is for the wall to vibrate. And so, a heavy wall always has better airborne sound insulation (= ‘law of mass’).

which is produced by a guitarist. The sounds which the guitar produces are airborne sounds. The sound that the guitarist makes by stamping in tune with his or her foot on the ground, however, is impact sound.

Sound pollution There is a fine line between sound (a pleasant sound) and noise (unwanted and unpleasant sound) and it is also personal to some extent. With interior acoustics it is important that there is a pleasant sound climate in the room, so that noise has no chance. Good interior acoustics are important for the welfare of everyone in the room, irrespective of whether it is a working room, living room, or lounge.

Obviously, it’s not entirely true that the moment when we experience ‘sound’ as ‘noise’ is one of personal perception. There are also objective decibel limits, which apply to everyone.

Under 75dB(A) It is generally true that sound at a level below 75dB(A) cannot cause permanent damage. If you exceed that limit, the safe period halves with every increase of the sound volume by 3dB. This means that you should not be in a room with a sound level of 78 decibels for more than four hours per day, and only two hours per day with a sound level of 81dB.

Impact sound

From 80 - 85dB(A)

Impact sound occurs between materials. Typical impact sounds in buildings, for example, are footsteps, the movement of a chair, and the sound of hanging a frame. A good illustration to help us understand fully the difference between impact and airborne sound is the sound

Damage will occur at this level if a person is exposed to that sound for long enough. In a working environment the exposure limit in Belgium is 85dB(A) for a maximum of eight hours per day for 40 hours per week. A person should only be exposed to higher levels for shorter periods.

Harder sounds Since sound is a logarithmic quantity, exposure soon diminishes. It is generally accepted that exposure halves with a doubling of the dose of sound, namely 3dB(A). If we assume an acceptable exposure of 85dB(A) for eight hours per day, this means that with a sound level of 90dB(A) there is a chance of damaged hearing after about three hours of exposure. For a sound level of 100dB(A), the exposure time is a mere 15 minutes.

What about floor covering?

According to the standard NBN S 01-400-1, the impact sound reduction must come from the structure and not from the floor covering. We would remind you that parquet is a floor covering and not a floor, since it doesn’t have a load-bearing function. A wooden floor, however, is a ‘floor’. The BBRI has carried out specific tests into the extent to which floor coverings affect impact sound insulation. Below we set out the results.

A tile floor The classic glued tile floor provides little or no improvement in the impact sound insulation of the floor itself. By fitting a disconnection membrane under the tiles, we do improve the results from 78dB to 67dB, a considerable improvement therefore in comparison with the performances of traditionally glued tiles.

Glued parquet For glued parquet it is possible to lower the recorded performances by several decibels by means of a well considered choice of glue type.

It emerged from the tests that mono-component polyurethane glues achieved the best results (Ln,w = 67dB) and that the poorest results (Ln,w = 73dB) were recorded with an MS polymer glue. The performances of dual-component polyurethane glues and dispersion glues are between those two extremes and fluctuate around 69dB.

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Special

Floors with the best acoustic characteristics

Floating laminate Floating fitted laminate floor coverings produced very good results in the laboratory (Ln,w from 58 to 52dB; source: BBRI). However, those performances are not feasible in real situations since the impact sound insulation in the laboratory was helped by the fact that the specimen was too small and that no pressure was put on the floor covering.

Flexible floor coverings Flexible floor coverings and wall-to-wall carpet can bring about a considerable improvement in the impact sound insulation. There is a simple rule which holds good for these two sorts of floor coverings: the more flexible and thicker they are, the greater their contribution to the impact sound insulation. Moreover, cork has exceptional acoustic properties, something which is being increasingly appreciated by builders of both private dwellings and commercial premises (e.g. offices and care homes). Thanks to its structure and composition, cork absorbs sound and counteracts reverberation. Moreover, cork also slows down the speed of the sound so that the sound fades away.

are glued with the silane glue Coswick SPU 303. At Coswick they are convinced that all successfully emerging floor coverings have their assets, but they are nothing compared to the feel of walking on a real wooden floor. Therefore, the company invests constantly in new technology in order to make floor coverings more compatible with all climate conditions or, for instance, to fit them on floor heating or even on boats. Coswick also offers wall panels for rooms which are subjected to high acoustic demands, such as concert halls, recording studios, or meeting rooms.

Junckers

What’s on the market?

Aspecta To assess a floor, you have to consider not only acoustic performances, but also the entire package, including a combination of acoustic properties, design and comfort, and daily use.

For example, the 2mm thick polyolefin rear side of the ASPECTA TEN offers 18dB insulation from impact noise and the sound of footsteps.

At the same time, the 5mm thick ISOCORE base ensures excellent stability. This means the floor can be fitted in rooms up to 400m² with no expansion joint. Stability is retained up to 80°C. Moreover, this click floor can be laid on top of any existing floor due to its levelling capacity. Finally, these floors are 100% waterproof and, thanks to the Ultra Fresh, insensitive to microbes.

Coswick Coswick Ltd produces hardwood floors and has over 25 years of experience on international markets.

Product quality is a spearhead and acoustic quality is part of that.

Three-layer floors from Coswick (with the Coswick subfloors) offer excellent acoustic features. A sound reduction of up to 50dB is possible if both parts

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With regard to floor coverings there are two types of sounds: the transit sounds to rooms below and the sound of footsteps in the room itself. Junckers believes that a floor covering should reduce both types of sound in order to be called acoustically favourable. A solid parquet floor will yield only a feeble sound of low volume due to its thickness.

Wood scores well at this point, even if it is fitted onto beams with the spaces between the beams filled. The extent of reduction depends on both the material and the structure. Junckers achieves reductions of up to 25dB. According to Junckers, laminate and tiles score poorly. The high amount of orders from the higher class hotel world proves that parquet floors from Junckers are doing well in terms of acoustics.

Kurkfabriek Van Avermaet Cork floors offer the best acoustic properties. Cork in rolls can also be used as a subfloor in order to make a floating floor, which normally offers less sound insulation, ‘quieter’. The acoustics of a floor covering depend on both the type of floor and the structure. Due to the physical properties of cork (each cubic centimetre of cork contains about 40 million cells), the sound is absorbed efficiently and cork floors ensure that noise does not reverberate. Moreover, the speed of sound decreases considerably in cork, which absorbs dominant sounds. Cork also has a great absorption capacity, which helps to reduce vibrations

and the accompanying sounds considerably. All this can be optimised acoustically by glueing the cork tiles. The ‘silence’ together with the ‘warmth’ are the two biggest assets of cork floors.

Parqueterie Berrichonne

Carpet scores best acoustically, followed by LVT, parquet, laminate, and tile floors. Parqueterie Berrichonne believes that the fitting method and the choice of subfloor are also extremely important. For instance, a glued fitting will yield better results for all floor coverings than floating fitting. The material of which the bearing floor consists obviously also plays a part. To meet the growing demand for floor coverings with good acoustic properties, Parqueterie Berrichonne now has a solution which is recognised and tested by the FCBA. Soft-Sound is a subfloor which is integrated into the parquet floor for floating or glued fitting. The secret consists of a natural fibre with a unique design, which contains the sound better. A shock sound is spread and retained over the fibre system. The cells, which are full of air, mitigate the sound frequency considerably. This non-allergen, solventless, and completely natural subfloor guarantees a saving of 20% in fitting time.

offers a wide range of flooring products with cork technology, with different decorative materials protected by the upmost resistant finishings. The uniqueness of Wicanders was achieved by using a prime quality core layer of cork, which provides superior comfort, noise reduction and warmth. An integrated cork underlay reinforces thermal and acoustic properties, resulting in a silent environment and important energy cost savings. The Corktech technology present in all of Wicanders products provides four main benefits: Silence; Natural Thermal Insulation; Walking Comfort; and Impact Resistance.

Regarding the Silence feature, cork is an extremely efficient natural sound absorber because its cells work as an acoustic insulator.

Wicanders floors can easily cut noise within a room (walking sound), and act as a noise buffer between the floor and the rooms underneath (impact sound), making it exceptionally efficient to use in residential or commercial spaces. Comparing the walking sound between cork and laminate floors, tests confirm that cork floors have an exceptional result reducing the sound up to 53%. Wicanders products provide a peaceful and quiet environment with higher comfort and relaxation.

Preverco

Ziro/Vinylan Tex Hydro

Preverco believes that engineered wooden floors usually have excellent acoustic properties. Their integration into the building and interaction with the other components are usually perfectly harmonised. And so, it is also clear that both the material and the structure play a part. One multi-layer floor performs better than another. Preverco offers Flex 16 and Flex 19. The latter, in combination with the right subfloor, offers the best results.

Wicanders Corktech Over the years, Wicanders has developed sustainable floor and wall coverings with exclusive properties due to its innovative Corktech technology. By using a unique engineered multilayer structure, which combines state of the art technology with the exclusive natural properties of cork, a higher standard in flooring is achieved, providing the perfect match between beauty, comfort and durability. Wicanders

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For impact sound it is essential to disconnect the floor layers, whilst for ambient sound the fitting is the main factor.

The acoustic comfort of a floor depends on various factors. On the one hand, soft floor coverings score better than hard ones. Carpet is silent, but it does have other drawbacks (e.g. hygiene) which cork doesn’t have. Cork has some excellent assets at this point, quite apart from the generally pleasant feel and health aspects. Then there’s the advance of vinyl. This is due not only to the easy maintenance, but also the design and user-comfort. We find really quiet floors in the range of Ziro Cork flooring. A maverick in the range is the digitally printed CORELAN cork floor, which gives an incomparably good feel. However, Cerelan and Vinylan Tex Hydro also score very well, the former for its exceptional stability and the latter for its fascinating look and feel.

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∂ Industry news MEISTER

Residence PS 500 Longlife parquet, authentic white oak 8563, brushed, naturally oiled Rediscovering old laying patterns: Residence PS 500 Longlife parquet Back to the future: Residence PS 500 Longlife parquet is a completely new interpretation of a classic laying pattern. Thanks to the strip format (effective measurement: 710 x 142 mm) the flooring looks classically elegant yet homely and modern at the same time. The new patented Quadroclic Plus click system is used in the PS 500 line. This fold-down system makes it possible to work easily, quickly and safely.

In addition to the classic herringbone pattern, other laying patterns such as cube, ladder or braid are also possible.

Wintersteiger saw factory expanded

Arnstadt, Ried i.I./ Wintersteiger Sägen GmbH, a subsidiary of the Wintersteiger group, is growing: Three million euros have been invested in buildings and equipment to enlarge the production plant in Arnstadt, Thüringen by 2000 m2. The new facilities were formally opened on June 15.

The increased capacity that has become possible as a result of the construction work will pave the way for growth at the saw factory. Along with expanding the machine park, processes in both saw production and support services are being optimized. The result for customers is

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that lead times are being reduced. Covering a total area of 6,800 m², the newly enlarged production facility can now produce more than 20,000 meters of saw blades per day.

With its 60 employees, the Arnstadt site manufactures blades for Wintersteiger thin-cutting sawing machines, for joineries and mobile saw mills, resawing band and log band saws, as well as for the food industry. 85 % of the factory's blades are exported to over 50 countries – from Europe and the Middle East to Russia, Asia, and the USA. Matthias Hengelhaupt, CEO of Wintersteiger Sägen GmbH, emphasizes the need for the highest level of quality: “Our focus is on producing premium-quality saws and we want to add more value to our products.”

Turning to the expansion of the site, he continued: “Our goal is to be the market leader in many of our various product groups. There is still 4000 m2 of land that could also be developed on our premises, so there’s nothing holding us back on that front.”

Mutual growth over decades Saw manufacturing has been part of the Wintersteiger group since 2004. The relationship began in the eighties under the company's earlier guise of Banholzer GmbH, who produced saw blades for Wintersteiger frame saw machines. The ability to offer both machine and sawing tool from a single source is still a unique selling point and has enormous quality benefits for the customers.

Change of ownership at Parador HIL Limited acquires flooring manufacturer The leading Indian building material manufacturer HIL Limited, a subsidiary of the CK Birla Group, will acquire Parador from its previous main owner, NORDHolding Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft mbH. This process was initiated with today's contract.

"We are pleased to have with HIL Limited a strategic investor by our side who wants to continue the long-term growth course and the successful business model," explains Lubert Winnecken, CEO of Parador. HIL Limited is the market leader in the building material segment in India for more than 70 years.

Now it wants to expand its global footprint. "With Parador, we have found a strong brand with international repute and great potential.

The synergistic combination of complimentary portfolios will create a stronger global business for Parador and all our brands. We are pleased to welcome this premium brand to HIL family", said Dhirup Choudhary, CEO of HIL Limited.

"This partnership enables us to continue investing and expanding and exploit our growth potential in the long term. With a strong partner like HIL Limited, we will have further growth prospects. We are making a strong commitment to the future," says Lubert Winnecken.

"The decision for Parador is clearly to be understood as a strong decision for the brand and its successful business model."

Special

Cameroon

CAMEROON CONTINUES TO GROW STEADILY WOOD CONSTRUCTION IS STILL A MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME

The Cameroonian economy depends heavily on the primary sector, especially forestry, agriculture, and fishing. In 2013, those activities yielded at least 20.6% of the GDP and provided almost 70% of employment. The services sector provides work for 17% of the population. It is estimated that a third of the GDP comes from the informal sector, which provides up to 75% of employment in urban areas. Since the late 1990s, the economy has grown fairly constantly by about 4% per annum. However, whilst the economy is fairly stable, the population remains poor.

The country itself Location Cameroon is located on the border between Central and West Africa. It borders on Nigeria in the west, Chad to the north, the Central African Republic to the east, and Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville, and Equatorial Guinea in the south. The population of Cameroon is estimated to be around 25 million (in 2017). There is a mountain plateau in the northwest on the border with Nigeria. Mount Cameroon (4095 metres high), the highest mountain in Cameroon and in West Africa for that matter, is in the south-west. The dense rain forests are located in the east and

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Cameroon

south. The plains along the coast are swampy. Cameroon has a coastline which is 400 kilometres long.

Geography Geographically, Cameroon can be divided up into three areas. In the north there are the savannas. Both the wildlife and natural beauty are protected here in national parks, the Waza National Park being the most renowned. Lake Chad is situated in the arid and dry north. The River Logone, which is on the border with Chad, discharges its waters here. The River Benoue flows into the River Niger in Nigeria. In the middle of the country the River Sanaga flows towards the Atlantic Ocean.

Climate The climate of Cameroon is tropical on the coast and hot and dry in the north. The average temperature is 25°C. The temperature hardly ever falls below 20°C, whilst the highest temperature is 40°C. Most rain falls at the coast. The further you go inland, the less the rainfall.

In the mountains in the north-west the dry seasons are in July and August and from December to March inclusive. The dry season and at the same time cooler period lasts three months for the entire country in November, December, and January. Severe sandstorms can occur in the north during those months.

Politics Politically, Cameroon has a stable, but stifling climate. A number of human rights organisations are active in the country and church authorities, too, are trying to denounce and rectify abuses. At the same time, they want to make people more aware and ready to take action. The press has more freedom than in the past, but still has to mind its steps. Journalists have heavy-handedly discovered the importance of self-censorship.

President Biva President Paul Biva has been the head of state since 1982. In October 2004, he won a new term in office of seven years, with over 80% of the votes. Most international observers declared that voting had proceeded correctly, but the opposition claimed that the election was not fair.

The following elections were in October 2011. Philémon Yang has been prime minister since 2009.

Old power structures Although Cameroon is a republic with a parliament and government, old power structures are still in existence, as in so many African countries. In the case of Cameroon this means that the old tribe kings (called the Fons) possess a great deal of informal power, and often a minister will consult with them first before taking some policy measures.

Widespread corruption One of the problems in Cameroon is the ongoing corruption. This occurs not only at government level, but also at all levels of society.

In 2009, Cameroon was in 146th place on the list of 180 countries according to the annual Corruption Perceptions Index 2009 by Transparency International. Russia also shared the 146th place on that list. The Netherlands occupied 6th place, the United States was 19th, and Belgium was 21st.

Economics Like many other African countries, Cameroon is facing growing poverty. Over 50% of the population live below the poverty line. The economy depends largely on agriculture. Apart from food crops such

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as maize, beans, and sorghum for their own use, they also grow coffee, cotton, rubber, bananas, and cocoa for export. Yet prices for those goods are falling at the moment, so the economy is declining.

Oil reserves, which once provided a major source of income, are also exhausted.

Foreign debt Cameroon is also in the grip of foreign debt, albeit to a lesser extent than other African countries. Obligations towards creditors and the unbalanced internal distribution policy have largely caused this impoverishment. Nevertheless, there is talk of a slight economic growth.

That growth is based on forest exploitation, but the numbers of people who can profit from this are very limited.

Exports Oil production accounts for 40% of export yields. Other major export products include cocoa (19%) and tropical wood (10%). This means that economic development depends largely on fluctuations in world markets.

Imports The main import products are machines, electronics, means of transport, fuel, and food. Belgium was the fourth biggest importer of goods into Cameroon in 2011 with 5.3% after China (16.8%), France (16.6%), and Nigeria (12.3%).

Implications for the population The GDP per head of population is 640 dollars (in Belgium this is 25,820 dollars). 17% of the population lives on less than one dollar per day. Each year, Cameroon is given about 632 million dollars of development aid, and that corresponds to 7% of the GDP. Many people in Cameroon cannot pay for health care and there is no social security.

That’s why traditional medicine is still highly prominent. Moreover, in most hospitals you have to pay in advance before a doctor or nurse checks your health. 63% of the population has access to drinking water. That figure rises to 84% in the cities, but in rural areas drops to 41%. The government arranges free vaccinations for all children.

What about forests?

Cameroon has one of the most diversified forests in the so called Congo Basin, but it is also one of the most endangered forests.

Apart from the Amazon Basin, the Congo Basin is the biggest continuous area with a tropical rain forest in the world and has a total surface area of 200 million hectares. About one million of that disappears each year due to deforestation. Over 18 million hectares of the Cameroonian forest patrimony consists of tropical rain forest. The south of the country consists of forest for 40%, the rest for 30%. The most important commercial types of wood are ayous (triplochiton scleroxylon), sapelli (etandrophragma cylindricim), and azobé (lophira alata). Cameroon has only a fairly limited number of wood plantations (about 80,000 hectares). Over 6% of the forests are protected.

Processed wood One of the most contested provisions of the new forest legislation was the prohibition from January 1999 on the export of round wood.

Opinions have been divided for years on the ecological and economic effects of this measure. The government’s motive for announcing this export prohibition was firstly to stimulate the woodwork industry in their own country. Of a total production of sawn wood of 1,150,000m³, 727,000m³ is destined for export, good for 301 million dollars. The destination differs from that of round wood: Italy (20%), France (13%),

the Netherlands (12%), Belgium (8%), and the U.K (5%). A good 12% is divided between other countries and the destination is unknown for 30%, something which strongly suggests that there is vast illegal wood trading. Cameroon also produces veneer and multiplex. Of the 80,000m³ of veneer wood, 32,000m³ are destined for export. Italy

is undoubtedly the biggest purchaser of veneer from Cameroon. Of 35,000m³ of multiplex, 21,000m³ are destined for export, but their destination is completely unknown. Finally, it is strange that Cameroon doesn’t produce any pulp, paper, or cardboard, but imports it (over 43,000 tonnes with a turnover of 26 million dollars).

Photo – Steven Hermans

TDC

TDC was formed in 2016, but the company is undergirded by 15 years of market experience in the person of the owner, who had worked on the wood market as a purchaser for other companies. It was his numerous business links and the fluctuating market which led to the formation of TDC. The company specialises in sourcing and sawing tropical hardwood for global export.

Their ongoing endeavour for quality yields satisfied clients and guarantees long-term links. TDC processes various types of wood, including iroko, padauk, sapelli, tali, sipo, and such like. All products are customised in accordance with client wishes. In its first year of production, the company achieved a turnover of €1,000,000 with forty workers. For 2018 the company is continuing to invest in its machinery. Apart from Belgium and its neighbouring countries, TDC also concentrates on a number of Asian markets. + 352 26 30 61 1 (ext: 9175) - www.vetedy.com

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∂ Product news CHÊNE DE L’EST OFFERS NEW FINISHING IN GAMME NATURE, NO VISIBLE The tones of the new finishes No Visible are natural tones, very close to the raw wood floor. Those colors will sublimate your interior.

The natural color of the blades of this parquet catch the light and give the room a warm touch.

Available in special choice, the knots on the floor remind that it is a natural material.

No Visible smoothes and softens the decoration.

Installation in Chevron pattern bring lots of character to the room. It gives movement and energizes the decoration.

In solid in 14 & 21 mm and multilayer plywood TOP4.

CHIMIVER LED systems are the future for the curing process of coatings. Chimiver®, always moving with the time, offers you LED OIL, an efficient and performing product which embraces this technology.

Characteristics of product: - It cures instantly under LED light and wood can be walked on immediately - Very high chemical and wear resistances - Solvent free, no ozone emissions, no unpleasant odour

CIRANOVA NEW PRODUCT HARDWAXOIL TITAN Hardwaxoil TITAN is a special oil suitable for oil finishing of wooden floors. Good filling properties, very natural colour, extreme high chemical and scratch resistant. Hardwaxoil TITAN has a long open time which makes it very appropriate to apply by roller and rollercoater. The durability can be improved by adding a hardener UA 5% (optional). Available in matt – satin – silk.

COSWICK Here is a New Parquetry collection from Coswick Ltd. that gives the broad capabilities to create hardwood flooring with neat patterns in different variations. Well-considered composition is able to emphasize the interior focuses and matches perfectly various styles of rooms’ design. One can also create a three-dimensional mosaic effect (3D, isometric projection).

Patterns’ dimensions: Tile: 19.05/4×190×220 mm Pyramid: 19.05/4×190×440 mm

PALLMANN First solvent-free oil from Pallmann that can be roller applied Eco Oil 1K – natural and sustainable Würzburg, June 2018 – Up to now a parquet layer only had solvent-based hard wax oils to choose from, but thanks to the wood flooring specialist Pallmann who has developed a hard wax oil without solvents the situation has changed. The new Eco Oil 1K is ready to use without mixing, and can easily be applied with an application roller. The process is as easy as with conventional hard wax oils and Eco Oil 1K is also available in three color variants.

Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

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Floor Forum International 97

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