FFI 108 March

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° 108 March 2020 - 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: Kenya

Review: BUDMA (PL)

HIDDEN FASTENERS, TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES FOR TIMBER DECKING & CLADDING

Advertorial: La San Marco Profili (I)

TO FIX

TO PROTECT

Hidden fasteners and connectors

Isolation shims

FCBA N° 2010.461.1208 FCBA N° 2018.387.1177 DT FCBA N° 216.511.2348

Bituminous strip

Special: Ride-on machines

TO INSTALL Spacers Ventilation shims AIR

Special: Fastening systems for wooden and composite terraces

WATER

AIR

WATER

Step drill bits Wooden plugs

Special: Producers of skirting boards with integrated LED lights

info@novlek.com I +32 (0) 474 49 49 99

www.novlek.com

AIR

WATER

AIR

WATER

THE SECRET BEHIND

BONA GREEN 8600 CERAMIC ABRASIVE Unique composite for better sanding Bona Green 8600 Ceramic Abrasives are long-lasting and tough in action, yet gentle to the wood with very low fibre ripping. The unique mixture of ceramic and aluminium oxide enables impressive performance.

It provides 30% faster abrasion and is 50% more long-lasting than other premium abrasives. With the introduction of the new Bona Green 8600 Ceramic Abrasive, a faster, smoother and safer sanding process will be your new standard.

bona.com/greenabrasive

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° 108 March 2020 - 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: Kenya

Review: BUDMA (PL)

HIDDEN FASTENERS, TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES FOR TIMBER DECKING & CLADDING

Advertorial: La San Marco Profili (I)

TO FIX

TO PROTECT

Hidden fasteners and connectors

Isolation shims

FCBA N° 2010.461.1208 FCBA N° 2018.387.1177 DT FCBA N° 216.511.2348

Bituminous strip

Special: Ride-on machines

“If clients opt for a wood sort which can retain its beauty for 25 to 30 years, then obviously the invisible fastening system also has to cope with that length of time.”

TO INSTALL Spacers Ventilation shims AIR

Special: Fastening systems for wooden and composite terraces

WATER

AIR

WATER

AIR

WATER

AIR

WATER

Step drill bits Wooden plugs

Special: Producers of skirting boards with integrated LED lights

info@novlek.com I +32 (0) 474 49 49 99

www.novlek.com

Floor Forum International n° 108 March 2020 Photo Növlek

4 Inside news 7 Special Flame-retardant lacquers and oils:

properties & legislation 10 Special Colouring wooden floors: a summary of the various

techniques 13 Special Who has products for cleaning and maintaining

wooden floors?

16 Special Ride-on machines for roughening up old floors,

the removal of tiles, old carpet, adhesive residue, etc…

18 Advertorial La San Marco Profili (I) 20 Special Fastening systems for wooden and composite

terraces 24 Special Stair renovation with laminate 26 Special Producers of 3D decorative wood for walls 28 Review BUDMA (PL) 30 Special Who has products for sports floor lines?

32 Special The main benefits of ‘The new abrasives’:

abrasive materials geared to the single-disc machine instead of the traditional method with abrasive nets 33 Special Packing machines for the parquet industry 34 Special Producers of skirting boards with integrated

LED lights 36 Special Who has products for giving a wooden floor/

parquet a distressed look?

If you have terrace boards in a gorgeous wood sort and you’re handy enough to fit those terrace boards neatly onto a wooden beam construction, then surely you have everything to construct an equally gorgeous terrace?

When we say that to Marc Luypaert, senior worker at terrace specialist Archiwood, he invariably reacts with a frown, and rightly so! The combination of a gorgeous wood sort and a little dexterity ‘can’ yield a gorgeous terrace, at least for a while. It looks gorgeous today, but what about tomorrow? Our bold opening sentence lacks a few essential ingredients, namely a reliable producer which does constant research into systems Marc Luypaert in order to make wooden terraces more durable and Archiwood the fitter’s expertise to complete those systems with skill. Marc Luypaert comments: ‘You have clients with a limited budget. And so, they opt for a cheaper wood sort and cheaper accessories and look for that “Handy Harry” to fit the whole thing. That can yield an acceptable result for about 5 to 10 years, perhaps a little more with perfect maintenance.’ You also have clients who opt for an exotic and much more expensive sorts such as ipe, for instance. Such wood sorts can achieve a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, provided that the installation system, invisible or otherwise, can also last that long. And so, that applies to clip systems, any terrace supports, and the screws used.

Obviously, the terrace has to be fitted by an experienced professional who is thoroughly acquainted with the products and techniques. Marc Luypaert comments: ‘It’s the same story as with parquet fitted indoors. The floor fitter is familiar with the various wood sorts, the adhesives, the influence of damp, and the physical reactions of wood in relation to fluctuations in damp and temperature. Fitting terraces and wall cladding involves even more points for attention, simply because it’s done outdoors.’ Marc Luypaert doesn’t think that invisible fastening systems will result in the complete demise of the classic fitting system. Moreover, the success of those systems does vary from region to region. For instance, people in Belgium are very much champions of the clip systems, whilst that is not the case in France. Marc Luypaert says: ‘Invisible fastening systems in France have disappointed a lot of professional fitters in France who were tempted to spend a lot of money on systems which were of an inferior quality. Even though there are now some very good systems available, such as our Hardwood Clip, it’s difficult to win back those fitters.’ At Archiwood they’ve been working hard for over 25 years to extend the lifespan of terraces and wall cladding. They make no compromises whatsoever in terms of quality demands. Marc Luypaert concludes: ‘We work together with the best test laboratories and institutes in France and Belgium to guarantee that our fastening systems meet the demands of existing and prevailing standards and regulations. And we’ll continue to do so.’

39 Industry news 40 Special Kenya 42 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 Carrefour International du Bois 2020 postponed

March 17th 2020: Press release from the organisation of the Carrefour International du Bois/Nantes (F) trade fair. In view of the global health situation and the recommendation of the French Government, Atlanbois took the decision to postpone the trade fair scheduled to take place from 27 to 29 May 2020 in Nantes (F). As soon as more news becomes available, you will receive an update.

trains, and buses, guaranteeing very good accessibility for visitors.

DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR has seen a great success over its 21 year history. The upcoming edition will continue providing the international audience with the unique events and showcases, such as Treasures of the Orient - a new area featuring handmade carpet and rug exhibitors from India, Afghanistan, Nepal and other regions, and Southeast Asian Business Hub - an exclusive area with SPC and wood flooring exhibitors whose production is located in Southeast Asia. DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR will also present a complete array of high end design rugs from China and abroad. Cadex conferences will complete the design area, featuring one more time important KOLs as speakers in their design forums and conferences. Last but not least, the global market overview, including the opportunities and obstacles in the international wood and resilient flooring market will be presented at the World Flooring Forum.

For more information about the show visit: www.domotexasiachinafloor.com

MEISTER New from MEISTER: water resistant laminate floors

DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR announces the new dates: August 31 – September 2, 2020

The organizers of DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR confirm that the leading flooring show in Asia Pacific will take place from August 31 to September 2, 2020 with a total of 185,000 sqm gross space. With the new date, the exhibition gets also a new location: the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), the largest exhibition center in Shanghai. The postponement of the original date (March 24-26) was necessary to protect the health and safety of exhibitors and visitors from the recent outbreak of the coronavirus in China.

International visitors welcome the new dates since conveniently after the summer holidays and perfect restart of the second half of the year. Moreover, organizers research has shown that September is the month with most international visits to Chinese suppliers.

“Confident in the improvement of the situation in China by the end of August 2020, and inspired by the can-do attitude of the DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR exhibitors, we are optimistic of a safe and successful 22nd edition of the show,” said Mr. David Zhong, President of VNU Exhibitions Asia. “We are now resuming our preparations with exhibitors and working on the layout of the halls,” he added.

As always, Shanghai will continue to host the exhibition, but the postponement of the event has necessitated a move to the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC). The NECC is the largest exhibition complex in Shanghai, located in the immediate vicinity of Shanghai-Hongqiao International Airport and the Hongqiao transportation hub, with excellent connections to metro, high-speed

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MeisterDesign. laminate LD 250, Grey fjord oak 6847, wood effect

From 1 March 2020 onwards, MEISTER is offering laminate floors which remain water resistant for between 4 and 24 hours. This means that all MEISTER laminate floors with a minimum thickness of 8mm are suitable for bathrooms. The MEISTER laminate floor Aqua Safe system comprises several elements which protect the floor against moisture penetration: a watertight melamine surface, new Aqua Stop edge impregnation, a refined joint seal, and a swelling-enhanced base plate.

Both the LL250 (S) and LD 250 collections are 10mm thick and therefore have an exceptionally stable product structure and, according to the definition of the European and American laminate sectors, remain water resistant for 24 hours. The LD150 stands out for its price-quality ratio. The excellent technical features, combined with splendid designs, mean that this 8mm laminate floor with four V-grooves and a water resistant character for four hours is absolutely ideal for the bathroom.

MMFA MMFA, the Multilayer Modular Flooring Association is pleased to announce that the International Flooring Labs Ltd. (IFL) has become a new associate member of the organisation.

The President of the association, Matthias Windmöller (Windmöller), welcomed IFL to the association and stressed that “IFL’s decision to

∂ Inside news and Southeast Asian countries. IFL provides factory audits, on-site inspections and lab testing that aim to uphold flooring industry quality standards, improve manufacturing practices and deliver peace of mind to clients worldwide.

With the addition of the IFL, the MMFA now has 25 ordinary members (producers of MMF flooring or their European representations), 27 associate members (supplier companies) and two supporting members (scientific institutes).

HARO offers new 2-layer parquet range

join our organisation and to strengthen our ongoing efforts on standardization highlights the relevance of what we are trying to achieve for the industry of multilayer flooring to provide customers with high quality products.”

“We, at the International Flooring Labs Ltd. are very excited to be an MMFA member and we are looking forward to a fruitful cooperation with all the association’s members”, Matthias Kistler, director for Business Development at IFL, stated.

IFL - International Flooring Labs Ltd. is based in Northeast China and specialises in quality control of flooring products in and from China

Custom-made

HARO, Germany’s leading parquet manufacturer, has completely reworked its 2-layer parquet range. Here, too, the company is applying its new EASY Selling concept with its clear breakdown into four colour worlds and the structure of GOOD-BETTER-BEST. Quality that generates excitement in every way. With its completely overhauled 2-layer parquet range, HARO offers exciting solutions for professional installers in the growing and booming commercial business with multifamily construction projects or for intelligent and cost-efficient solutions in the renovation and modernisation area.

Reference projects in residential and commercial construction demonstrate the strong appeal of HARO’s 2-layer range that is based on a clear GOOD-BETTER-BEST concept in four colour worlds.

Four colour worlds for easy orientation White, nature, brown and grey are the current trend colours. They

Filling technology for wood flooring MACHINED FILLING OF KNOTS IN PARQUET before

after

LOFT PRO

PARQUET OPÉRA Chevron Oak rustic/campagne A distressed aspect on the surface and slight black patina Grade : 16 x 90 x 500 mm Top layer : 4,5 mm Varnish colourless Tongue & Groove - Square edge Semi-solid wood flooring (Birch plywood base)

www.designparquet.com

CSP Engineering bvba Stenehei 30/10 B-2480 Dessel (Belgium)

Tel: +32 14 37 77 52 info@csp-engineering.com www.csp-engineering.com

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∂ Inside news

www.lithos.it

are also the colours that shape the range structure of the new HARO 2-layer parquet line. Customers will come to their HARO partner with their desired colour in mind and will find a comprehensive line of attractive 2-layer variations among the strip classic Allegro, strip Prestige for the mid-range price segment and the strip Maxim in the trendy Plank 1-Strip format in their favourite colour in addition to the

classic longstrip and trendy Plank 1-Strip. All three strip options also now include the new Fumed Oak version. They are continuously available in the four colour worlds and offer three different solutions with PermaDur finish, the NaturalinPlus surface and the NaturaDur surface.

The new colour “Graphite Grey” has been added to the strips Allegro, Prestige and Maxim. A new type of wood, Ash, creates new design alternatives as well.

Tremendous assistance thanks to the HARO ROOM Visualizer The newly structured presentation of the range is far from the only element that facilitates easy sales. With the help of the new HARO Room Visualizer, available on the company’s website or on the HARO digital app, customers can virtually design their own rooms with the entire HARO product range. The new function is called “View in my room” and revolutionises the floor selection process – both for customers and for HARO partner, who can also demonstrate this effect on their customer assistance monitor.

HARO has once again set standards for its retail partners. It also does so with its up-to-date product range, which is based exactly on the latest trends in living and meets the highest healthy living and sustainability standards.

HARO, Germany’s leading parquet manufacturer, has completely reworked its 2-layer parquet range and began to showcase itself at the start of 2020 with a clear GOOD-BETTER-BEST concept in four colour worlds.

“THE VENETIANS” SKIRTING

INIMITABLE PROFILES CUT SAW. AN ORIGINAL RANGE IN LINE WITH CURRENT TRENDS A RANGE OF PROFILES THAT BRINGS OUT THE TRUE FEEL OF WOOD IN A NATURAL WAY.

La San Marco Profili srl Viale Europa 63 - 31010 Soligo, TV - Italy - Tel. +39 0438 980106 r.a. - Fax +39 0438 980176 info@lasanmarcoprofili.com - www.lasanmarcoprofili.com

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Special

Flame-retardant lacquers and oils: properties & legislation

FIREPROOF CONSTRUCTION STARTS WITH FIREPROOF MATERIALS THE FIRE SAFETY OF FLOOR COVERINGS IS ALSO REGULATED

LOBADUR Sealer FR, Photo: LOBA

In order to be able to speak of a fireproof building, the circle must be complete. In other words, all aspects of fire safety must be taken into account or else that safety can never be guaranteed. We can compare this perfectly to insulation: 'A little insulation' is completely useless.

When designing a building, we therefore not only take into account the flammability of materials and their potential contribution to a possible fire, but also the risk of the fire spreading to another room (compartmentalisation) or to a neighbouring building (fireproof urbanisation).

Legislation has become 'imperative’ Now that the European regulations have included fire safety among the six basic properties (in addition to stability, health, safety in use, noise pollution, and energy savings) of construction

Visit www.floor-forum.com

products through the Construction Products Directive, this topic has inevitably received more attention. Thank goodness for that!

There are still too many victims of fire incidents. The Construction Products Directive has since become a regulation. As a result, the authorities and all those involved in the construction industry will have to 'tighten things up' in a certain sense. Countries which have ignored the Construction Products Directive and largely neglected the CE marking will no longer be able to do so. The fact that the suppliers of the products will have to submit a declaration of conformity is only one of the more stringent measures. Fire safety is now one of the six fundamental requirements that buildings and building materials must meet. Specific requirements have now been set for the fire safety of materials, in both new construction and renovation, partly depending on the purpose of a building. This also applies to wooden floors.

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Special

Flame-retardant lacquers and oils: properties & legislation

Fireproof material. What is that?

Flame-retardant coatings and/or liquids

The terms 'fire resistance' and 'fire reaction' are of crucial importance in the language of fire fighting. In this debate, it is essential to clarify once again the distinction between the two concepts. Without a good understanding of those terms, the rest makes no sense.

When we talk about fireproof / fire-resistant parquet lacquer, we are entering the field of the fire reaction of a material. What do we expect from these paints? Unlike fire-resistant paint, a flame-retardant liquid is not intended to protect the floor (for example, by 'swelling'), but rather not to increase the contribution of that material to a possible fire. While, in principle, all floors must comply with tests specified by EN 13501-1, there are exceptions: Those who specify class F(fl) (i.e. the worst class or class indicating that the product has not been tested) are exempted, as well as those who offer a product that appears on the CWFT list (Classification Without Further Testing). The European standard for wooden floor coverings is EN 14342 ‘Wood flooring Characteristics, evaluation of conformity and marking’. This standard contains the relevant requirements for the CE marking and indicates the appropriate test methods. The list of floors in Table 1 of the CWFT (EN 14342) covers different types of wooden floor with their finish.

In order to conform to the requirements of the standard, the floor, together with its finish, must therefore correspond to the proposed class. In other words, a compliant parquet lacquer must not have a negative influence on the fire reaction class.

Fire resistance When we talk about fire resistance, this relates to the function of a building material in the total construction and to the length of time that the material actually fulfils that function. In other words, the fire resistance (today REI/formerly RF) of a building element is the time in minutes that a building element simultaneously meets the following criteria: - Stability (R): time that the element retains its supporting function (for elements with a supporting function).

- Flame retardance (E): the time during which no flames spread to the unexposed side of the wall (for partition elements).

- Thermal insulation (I): the time during which the temperature on the unexposed side does not rise above a certain thermal threshold.

Wooden floor finishes (parquet, laminate, etc.) have no real function other than a decorative one. Wooden supporting structures (beams, trusses, etc.) do, of course. These can be effectively protected by 'fire-retardant paints or coatings' which, among other things, improve their stability. These fire-retardant paints (swell paints) create a protective insulating layer in the event of a fire.

Fire reaction The reaction of a material in case of fire is, on the one hand, a measure of the flammability of that material and the extent to which that material contributes to the development of the fire. The fire reaction is expressed in seven 'classes'. The fire reaction classes are defined in the EN 13501-1 standard.

CLASSES

CONTRIBUTION TO FIRE

Class A1 No contribution at all Class A2 Hardly any contribution Class B Very limited contribution Class C Large contribution Class D High contribution Class E Very high contribution Class F Undefined

FLAMMABILITY

Flame-retardant paint The purpose of a flame-retardant paint system is to improve the fire resistance of a building material (often steel, but also wood). It consists of a primer, a flame-retardant paint, and a final coat. The specific properties of a flame-retardant paint mean that it protects surfaces which are flammable, relatively flammable, or deformable at a high temperature from the action of a possible fire within certain time and temperature limits. The flame-retardant paint prevents the continuation of flames on the surface, and has a high thermal insulation strength. We speak of an intumescent paint when it forms a noncombustible and insulating foam layer in the event of fire or radiant heat.

From the sector ...

Blanchon

Non-combustible Practically non-combustible Very difficult to burn Combustible Easily combustible Highly combustible Extremely combustible or untested

The classes can be supplemented by a classification in terms of smoke production/emission (s1 to 3) and drop formation (d0 to 2).

What products are there?

There are three important measures (means) to 'adapt' the flammability or fire resistance of materials.

Fire retardants Fire retardants are used to reduce the flammability of plastics.

This reduced flammability should significantly increase the 'escape time' (time for evacuation) in case of fire. Most fire retardants are processed into the well-known plastics: polystyrene (PS and HIPS), polyurethane (PUR), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP) and polyester. The very popular PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is already more or less flame-retardant.

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Blanchon does not sell any fire reaction lacquers in the literal sense of that term. Flame-retardant lacquers aims to make flammable materials non-inflammable or to delay the ignition considerably through the addition of certain additives. Blanchon lacquers have high grades in the European classes due to the quality of these products, not the extra additives. Blanchon operates in all lacquer ranges, including waterborne polyurethane in one or two components, traditional PU with seven products in two classes. Test reports give Belmont, Intensive, Polysolid, Polyplus, and SVP Aqua a classification of Cfl-s1 (always on oak), and likewise for the oils Solid Oil (‘Solid Oil’), Wax Oil (‘Huile-Cire’),

Wax Oil SD (‘Huile-Cire SD’), Ecological Oil (‘Huile Environnement’) Cfl-s1 (always on oak), whilst the Oceanic, Initial, and RA Aqua have a classification of Dfl-s1 (always on oak).

Osmo

Ciranova Flame-retardant coating products have the function of slowing down or even suppressing the burning process. This is achieved through the elimination of at least one of the elements (fuel-oxygentemperature) necessary for causing and/or perpetuating a fire. Since both physical and chemical effects have an impact on the fire cycle, products with different properties, compositions, and structures are often combined in the formulation for greater effectiveness. It is important to mention here that they do not use any harmful substances (e.g. halogen). For wooden floors the certification is cited in the CE label (EN14342), especially in the section ‘reaction to fire EN13501-1’. The products are divided up into classes (Euroclass) on the basis of standardised tests and according to their contribution to fire. These tests are conducted by recognised institutes, and as regards floors the most important one is the ‘radiant panel test for flooring EN ISO 9239-1’. A detail which is not insignificant in this context is the fact that the entire composite is tested, not just the coating itself. And so, the Ciranova products (UN1CO, a one-coat oil, and Fortico 2C, a PU 2-component varnish) are put in fire class Bfls1 (fl for flooring & s1 for minor smoke development) when applied according to the technical regulations and on a substrate which is produced to comply with the standard EN 312:2010-P2. FORTICO is an on-site product and can therefore be applied on site.

The world watched in dismay in 2017 as the Grenfell Tower in London was engulfed in flames. Quickly the fire spread over the timber cladding on the high-rise apartment building. As a result of the blaze, consumer demands for fire retardant wood coatings used in construction have grown. To determine the fire classification of construction products and building elements, standardized fire tests are carried out. In these tests, wooden floorboards are treated with maximum 60 g / m² of Osmo Polyx®-Oil. Due to the low amount of coating needed, adding fire retardants will not have a significant effect on the fire behaviour of the flooring. The fire rating is largely determined by the substrate itself.

Regardless of whether with or without fire retardants, flooring certified Cfl-s1 (normal flammability) as per EN 14342 and treated with Osmo Polyx®-Oil will achieve the same results.

Chimiver Chimiver offers ECOSTAR RF 15T is a two-component water-based polyurethane flame-retardant lacquer in line with the D.M. 6 Marzo 1992 following the UNI 9796 norm. ECOSTAR RF 15T is suggested for the treatment of wooden floors and wooden materials only for flooring purposes.

The class of reaction to the fire is italian 1.

ECOSTAR RF 15T has been formulated in order to meet the highest anti slip standard requirements for sportive wooden floors. ECOSTAR RF 15T is in conformity with European standards for sportive wooden floors meeting EN14904 standard's requirements.

Quality Parquet

FOR PROFESSIONALS

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Tel: +32(0)11 63 64 00 - www.parketkerkhofs.be

Floor Forum International 108

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Special

Colouring wooden floors: a summary of the various techniques

EACH WOOD SORT HAS ITS OWN COLOUR, BUT …

OIL IS THE ONLY SOLUTION WHICH BOTH COLOURS AND PROTECTS

Photo – Blanchon

It is phenomenal to note how preferences in taste and styles develop over the years. It is even more phenomenal to see how that development is almost always shaped by a common shift. Today, we all like colour and then, tomorrow, that’s no longer the case. A few years ago, the world took on a greater shade of ‘yellow’ than ever before. It was the top trend; yellow in various shades gave our homes a certain sphere indoors, but also outdoors as well. Today, shades of white, grey, and black are taking over, but colour has never gone away!

Does colouring really make sense?

Wood is a natural material ‘created’ by trees on a base of water, CO², and sunlight. It is a compact and fairly hard substance which is formed by the vessels through which the sap flows. Wood usually consists of 50% carbon, 42% oxygen, 6% hydrogen, 1% nitrogen, and 1% of other elements. If we consider the various types of wood, we see a huge variety not only of textures, but also of colours.

Colourful ‘tropics’ The colours of wood range from black to white and anything in between. Each type of wood has its own colour and that is affected by the age of the wood and the characteristics of the location where the tree has grown. The latter says a lot about the huge variations in colour of tropical wood sorts. Indeed, don’t tropical forests conceal a huge

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variety of locations which are determined by the climate conditions?

One thing is certain: We don’t need to colour tropical wood because the choice is infinite. Just think of the for many unaffordable ‘black’ of wenge, an African wood sort which charms us with its high design content. Or the red shades of wood sorts such as afzelia or merbau.

Or the scintillating brown-red of panga-panga and the startling brown colour shades in jatoba.

Oak is a different story Oak plays a special part in this story. Oak is still the most coveted and best-selling type of wood for parquet. Throughout history, oak has always been the most readily accessible type of wood in our regions and it has also offered the advantage of being extremely stable and suitable for building applications. We can be brief in this debate: Oak has a serene and gorgeous grain texture, but is limited in terms of colour. Some people think that the natural shade of oak is the ‘pinnacle’, whilst others see the limited choice of colour between ‘light or dark’ as a serious drawback. However, the colour options below lend themselves ideally to colouring oak and certain light softwood sorts.

Let’s add some colour!

We turn immediately to the star players in the world of parquet colour, namely stains and colour oil. Or perhaps a brief word about those other methods?

Thermal treatments and smoking/treating with lye

DevoNatural®

Smoking wooden planks highlights the specific grain of the wood. The process gives the plank a somewhat darker shade. Oak is still a type of wood which is ‘conducive’ to smoking. The effect is even stronger with double-smoked oak floors. Traditionally, ammonia was used to smoke wood. Nowadays, there are various products as an alternative to ammonia. Thermal treatments also colour the wood darker. They give the wood a darker colour which approximates to the effect of a smoked floor. The big advantage is that floorboards treated in this way are also immediately coloured across the entire surface, and this means that they can still be sandpapered again many times without losing their colour.

For pre-colouring parquet and wooden floors, Devomat offers clients two lines of products: DevoNatural® Easy Colour (a vegetable colour stain) and DevoNatural® Reactive (a reactive distress product with smoked effect for ‘oak’ parquet and wooden floors). In addition, DevoNatural® Floor Paint is a covering universal waterdilutable adhesion primer based on vegetables. It can be applied to various substrates such as wood, stone, concrete, synthetics, etc. DevoNatural® Floor Paint serves as a covering primer and can be finished further with any DevoNatural® varnish. Since the launch of DevoNatural® Easy Colour, Devomat has noticed that, despite the convenience of the product, more floors are once again being coloured.

There is a growing demand for unique colour combinations e.g. the floor is distressed with DevoNatural Reactive and then finished with a coloured DevoNatural® High Solid Oil. For DevoNatural® Easy Colour Devomat also offers the option of creating customised colours. Both product lines can be applied on site, in the workshop, or in the factory.

DevoNatural® Easy Colour gives a deeper colour to the entire floor, whilst a colour oil will highlight mainly the grain and only to a lesser extent the surface. DevoNatural® Reactive is a reactive product and cannot be compared to a colour oil or another colouring product. The distressing effect depends on the tannic acid content and thereby

Precolouring with stains Staining parquet can give the wood any desired colour from black and 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. In the past, most stains were available only in wood colours. And so, for instance, it was possible to give a cheap pine floor the look of oak by means of a darker oak colour. Today, the colours appear in a range of trendy colours. Any sort of wood can be given a completely different look by applying certain colours.

Colour oil protects too!

We start here with the big advantage of colour oil as opposed to the various precolouring techniques. As people often say, it is necessary to supplement some wood colouring methods with a protective treatment. With a coloured oil we apply protection and colour in one finish product. Coloured oils consist of a wide range of modern and timeless colours. They are usually prepared by adding pigments to the natural oil. And so, this transparent colouring for wooden floors can be supplied in various colours which can even be combined with each other.

What’s on the market?

Blanchon Decorative oil touch and performances of a glazer with Blanchon

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.

DevoNatural is available in original colours and contemporary finishes, which are fully in harmony with the latest trends in interior design.

Blanchon presents a real innovation thanks to its Solid’ OilTM + Intensive® concept, which makes it possible to combine oil with a glazer. The hard and single-coat Solid’ OilTM from Blanchon offers a wide range of shades which can all be mixed with each other to create an infinite number of shades for all decorative requirements. The vitrification of the oil by means of Intensive®, the polyurethane glazer for parquet in a watery phase with high resistance, makes it possible to offer all decorative options, thanks to its six finishes: brilliant, satin, matt, ultra-matt, the effect of invisibility, or the natural effect to highlight bright colours. This revolutionary process makes it possible to obtain decorated and vitrified parquet in three coats and offers an unrivalled result! It is an innovative concept which combines the depth of the oil colour with the resistance of vitrified parquet and its low maintenance.

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You want to play on your parquet floor ?

PROFESSIONAL PARQUET PRODUCTS

Makes it possible !

Discover the DevoNatural product range :

www.devonatural.be/en/ DEVOMAT IS SEEKING INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS FOR ITS “DEVONATURAL“ BRAND

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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Colouring wooden floors: a summary of the various techniques

differs from plank to plank. This gives a unique look to each parquet floor. Both products can be finished with any DevoNatural® finish product (lacquers, oils, or beeswax).

Chimiver 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. After it is possible to apply ECOSTAR 2K: two-component water-based polyurethane lacquer for wooden floors, characterized by high solid content, easy to apply, high pore wettability even on brushed woods giving a warm and pleasant shade to the floor treated.

Osmo Osmo offers different products for applying a coloured base coat to wooden flooring: Oil Stain, Polyx®-Oil Tints, Polyx®-Oil Effect as well as Wood Wax Finish. With Oil Stain, Polyx®-Oil Tints and Wood Wax Finish, different colour intensities can be achieved from transparent to intensive and even opaque; depending on the product and the application, different results are created. Shimmering gloss effects are made with Polyx®-Oil Effect Gold/Silver. Wooden floors treated with Polyx®-Oil Effect Natural look if they are almost completely untreated. The final coat should always be carried out with a clear Polyx®-Oil. The products can also be used by professional craftsmen as well as by end consumers.

Pallmann With the Pallmann Color Collection Pallmann provides a wide range of coloured oil primers. A spectrum of 24 colours encourages every opportunity for creativity and individual interior design. Each option in the Pallmann Color Collection consists of 3 components: The clear 2K oil primer Pall-X 333 A / B is given a color C concentrate as a third and final component: this combination is suitable for the priming and simultaneous colouring of

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many commercial European wood types, especially oak, ash, pine on site. The surfaces created with the Pallmann Color Collection can then be protected with the 2 component water-based wood floor coatings Pall-X 98 Gold, Pall-X Zero, Pall-X Pure as well as with the 2-component wood floor oil Magic Oil 2K Original. This clear protective finish not only contributes in the creative process, but is of course vital for the long life and great looks of the floor.

Plastor Plastor serves construction professionals and offers a full range to meet all the needs of traders. They recommend Plastor COLOUR FLOORS PARQUET TINT for colouring all parquet floors in endless options and personalising them. With this product you can play with several shades (wood, natural, and mineral) and give old parquet floors a new lease of life. It is easy to apply, has no overlapping, and has modern, intense, or subtle shades, grey or coloured. This product makes it easier to renovate parquet floors. They offer other high-quality shaded finishes, such as DECOPROTECT Hard Wax Oil or COLOUR FLOOR COVERING PARQUET VARNISH. For durable floor protection they recommend finishing COLOUR FLOORS PARQUET SHADES with a PLASTOR parquet varnish.

The coloured floors can also be waxed or oiled with a parquet oil or bees wax from Plastor. However, a parquet varnish is the most suitable finish for protection against wear and all forms of daily use.

STAUF STAUF sets new accents AKZENT is the name of STAUF’s new line of wood treatment products. The range includes not only primers, oils and varnishes, but also offers a joint putty as well as products for cleaning and caring for wood surfaces.

The new »AKZENT OIL IN ONE COLOR« now boasts a coloured impregnating oil based on natural oils. This pigmented product dispenses with the use of lead or cobalt drying agents and is ideal for applying to parquet, cork and wood floorings. Depending on the particular use, the drying time is 10-24 hours after application. »OIL IN ONE COLOR« is currently available in 34 shades plus a colourless version – and since they can all be mixed together, this offers even more possibilities when applying it in situ or in the parquet layer’s shop. The oils not only lend an attractive appearance, giving floors a well-groomed matt finish, but they also afford reliable protection. This results in products that meet the highest requirements when it comes to a healthy living environment, occupational safety and durability.

Special

Who has products for cleaning and maintaining wooden floors?

MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS YIELD CONSIDERABLE PROFIT FLOOR FITTERS ACT AS ADVISERS AND VENDORS Parquet is a gorgeous floor solution and wood is an ecological product with a warm look. Parquet certainly does require some maintenance, but that no longer involves the hard labour of bygone days when all floors were given the classic ‘coat of wax’. The market has realised that clients want convenience when it comes to maintaining parquet.

Floor fitters for their part can use this situation to increase their turnover considerably. The range consists of specialist products from suppliers who are associated with parquet.

Products for parquet Parquet and wooden floors are fragile. Depending on the usage and taste preferences, clients opt for a certain finish on the advice of their floor fitter. That finish affects the look, the lifespan, and the resistance of the floor to all sorts of influences. However, it also affects the way in which we will maintain the floor. The most important distinction that we have to explain to clients in this area is the distinction between a film-forming and non-film-forming finish.

Only lacquer forms a film. Other finishes are with oil or soap and they impregnate the floor.

Clients are ‘open’ to advice Anyone who opts for a wooden floor from the vast range of floor coverings knows at once that this choice has a number of consequences. In some respects you are bringing ‘living’ material into your home since wood, of all building materials, swells and shrinks the most under the influence of fluctuating climate conditions. That knowledge also means at once that clients are open to advice from parquet floor fitters. The fact that the owner of a wooden floor should best be armed to keep an eye on those climate conditions (by means of a hygrometer) and, if necessary, take action (using an air humidifier) shows that in some respects parquet gives us some concern.

A lacquered floor The standard maintenance of a lacquered floor is limited to daily sweeping with a ‘swiffer’ or vacuum cleaning and mopping lightly with a damp cloth once per week. To do that, you can basically use any cloth which absorbs dirt and any detergent whatsoever. Nevertheless, here, too, makers supply products which are ‘compatible’ with the applied lacquer. Whether or not consumers use such products will depend largely on the floor fitter’s persuasive powers.

Oil, wax, and hard wax Apart from for lacquered floors, little persuasive power is needed to convince clients. This is because maintenance products are usually based on the product used for the finish itself e.g. oil, hard wax oil, wax, or soap. Consumers are bound completely at this point to the producer of the applied finish and therefore they usually have no objections to that. On the contrary, clients who opt for an oiled floor are hesitant to use any products other than those which the floor fitter recommends.

Complete systems Brands which operate in the parquet industry present complete systems for maintaining parquet. Those systems form a wide assortment which is divided up according to the applied finish. Products for daily maintenance constitute the basic range, but the assortment also includes the so called ‘refreshers’ for giving a somewhat depleted floor a new lease of life. Then there are tools e.g. broomsticks, swiffers, mops, cloths, dusters, and such like. What is important here is the branding within all these products and accessories whereby end users are given peace of mind and know that nothing can go wrong with their floor. The assortments appear as a maintenance kit where maintenance products are usually included with the purchase of the accessories.

What’s on the market ?

Blanchon Anyone in a hurry will find the right solution at Blanchon in the form of Lagoon®. This product is sprayed onto the floor and the floor is then mopped clean using a micro-fibre cloth. Blanchon offers Lagoon® in a kit: a mop with micro-fibre cloths (washable 500 times) and the spray. Lagoon® can be used on both oiled and lacquered floors, and that’s good for retailers! For lacquered floors Blanchon has two detergents (metallic): the Satin Renovator (‘Rénovateur Satiné’) for semi-gloss or gloss floors and the Matt Renovator (‘Rénovateur Métamat’) for matt floors. Both are suitable for renovation since they can seal small cracks and restore the look to worn out lacquers. For regular cleaning there is Lisabril Cleaner (Nettoyant Lisabril®’), which is used diluted. This product has recently been given a new formula to make it even more suitable for large surfaces (e.g. sports floors). For oiled floors and floors finished with wax oil Blanchon promotes its (universal) Maintenance Oil (‘Huile d’Entretien’). For regular cleaning they recommend Natural Soap (‘Savon Naturel’). Finally, for polished floors there is Blanchon Liquid Wax (‘Cire liquide Blanchon’). Blanchon has developed a presentation display case for the maintenance range. The display case can be filled and divided up according to choice and combined, if necessary, with other products such as varnishes or oils.

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Who has products for cleaning and maintaining wooden floors?

Ciranova

Devo®

Ciranova has a complete range of products for the maintenance of oiled, varnished, laminated and LVT floors. For the regular maintenance of oiled floors we recommend Flooring Soap Ciranova®.

Flooring Soap cleans and nourishes the floor and provides extra water-resistant protection. For a dirty and dull floor it is recommended to treat the surface with Intensive Cleaner for removing stains and soap residue. After use of the Intensive Cleaner its recommended to treat the surface with Maintenance Oil. This Maintenance Oil nourishes the floor and gives extra protection and a new look. For the regular maintenance of varnished floors, laminate and LVT, Hard Floor Fresh can be used. Hard Floor Fresh cleans the floor and gives a fresh smell.

UNICARE X-MATT or Hard Floor Polish can be used for periodical maintenance. Both products provide an extra protective film and hide micro-scratches, maintaining the original look of the floor. Hard Floor Cleaner is especially developed for the removal of old layers of polish.

Hard Floor Cleaner can also be used as a degreaser to remove stains and stripes on varnished floors. The maintenance products for both floortypes are available in a convenient (useful) maintenance kit. Its the perfect way to promote the maintenance products and to stimulate sales through our distributors and parketshops.

Devomat presents the following DevoNatural® products. The DevoNatural® Soft Cleaner is a cleaner for the regular maintenance of varnished parquet, bamboo, cork, vinyl, and laminate floors. This product leaves no residue.

DevoNatural® Polish is a waterrepellent and protective maintenance product for varnished parquet and wooden floors, cork, and bamboo. Finally, the DevoNatural® Intensive Cleaner is a powerful cleaner for removing old layers of soap, layers of polymer, polishing, and degreasing heavily contaminated wooden floors, tropical wood sorts, etc. Devo® also includes the Devo® Softclean, a neutral domestic Universal cleaner and the Devo® Strongclean, a powerful degreasing universal cleaner.

Chimiver Each wooden floor, depending on the treatment receveid and its frequency of use, requires specific products for the proper cleaning and maintenance. The regular use of Chimiver Care Line will enhance even in the time the beauty of your wooden floor!

The 90% of Chimiver maintenance products contain surfactants from natural and renewable origin.

Best seller is VELUREX Cleaner Star: an intensive multiuse cleaner, recommended for maintenance of lacquered wooden floors. It also efficiently acts on PVC, linoleum, melamine, marble, etc. removing dirt, black heel mark, various stains; it doesn't leave halos and perfume the environment. VELUREX Cleaner Star is a neutral cleaner with addition of special nanoparticles which guarantee to the treated surfaces a deep cleaning and a long lasting action, even in the presence of pets.

CHIMIVER COMMITMENT TOWARDS THE ENVIRONMENT: Chimiver maintenance packagings are composed of 50% recycled plastic.

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LOBA LOBAHOME, the care line for end users – easy and reliable maintenance for beautiful floors For the maintenance of hardwood floors, ParkettRefresh Plus is highly recommended.

It is available in two versions – one for oiled floors and one for coated floors. The ideal choice for all resilient floors is ElasticRefresh Plus. These products are concentrates to clean and care in one wipe and protect against wear and wetness. FloorCleaner Plus is the outstanding solution for intense cleaning of wood floors as well as all water-resistant surfaces. It removes even the most stubborn dirt as well as layers of previously used care products. FloorCleaner Plus combines powerful results with a pleasant scent. It is gentle to the surface and pH-neutral. The concentrate yields 100 litres of cleaning solution. All four products are environmentally friendly thanks to natural ingredients. The extremely handy SprayMop Set contains a practical mop with integrated spray system especially designed for easy cleaning of parquet, hardwood, cork and resilient floors. Cleaning solution for four refills is included.

Osmo Optimal cleaning and care for treated wooden flooring Wooden flooring treated with Osmo Polyx®-Oil is hard-wearing, requires little maintenance and repels dirt and liquids. At the same time, the wood can still breathe. In this way, wooden flooring enjoys long-lasting and optimal protection. A further advantage: upkeep and care are easy.

It is essential to choose the right care product: Aggressive all-purpose household cleaners damage the Polyx®-Oil layer, and so the flooring becomes more susceptible to dirt and grime. Therefore, Osmo recommends cleaning regularly with a damp mop and the moisturizing Osmo Wash and Care. For suborn dirt and stains or for regeneration, Osmo

Liquid Wax Cleaner is suitable. It provides flooring natural hard waxes and regenerates the oil-wax layer without forming a film.

For the simple and optimal application of cleaning and care products, Osmo offers a multitude of various tools, such as Osmo Spray-Mop.

Pallmann The correct and tailored cleaning and accompanying care procedure can, in regular application, preserve the beauty of a wood floor and prolong its life for up to 5 times. For the day-to-day cleaning of wood floors Pallmann recommends Pallmann Clean, a neutral all-purpose cleaning agent for all types of floors. Pallmann Clean can be applied with

Pallmann Mop or cloth. The maintenance cleaning depends on the degree of soiling and the desired hygiene. For the thorough cleaning of wood floors Pallmann Clean Strong is available. Pallmann Magic Oil Care is suitable for the surface care of all oiled hardwood and wood floors. For the surface care of all sealed wood floors, Pallmann recommends Pallmann Finish Care.

Plastor To help you maintain and care for your parquet floor, PLASTOR offers a full professional range of parquet maintenance products (parquet cleaner, deep cleaner, and parquet renewer).

These are ideal for maintaining varnished or oiled parquet. The multifunctional cleaning products from Plastor are available in various formats, adapted to any use. Wood specialists can also count on a universal maintenance oil, which is designed to revive and renew oiled parquet floors.

Plastor presents a complete display with the correct application equipment: the Microfibre Cleaning Kit, which cleans and revives without scratching. Plastor also offers a floor care guide.

OSMO SOLUTIONS FOR PROTECTING EXTERIOR WOOD

www.osmo.de/en

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Ride-on machines for roughening up old floors, the removal of tiles, old carpet, adhesive residue, etc…

RIDE-ON FLOOR STRIPPERS FOR ‘BIG JOBS’ THE QUESTION IS: TO BUY, HIRE, OR OUTSOURCE? reasons. Carpet strippers have powerful motors (drive motors and stroke motors).

The working width, the cutting section, of carpet strippers varies from 20 to 35 centimetres. The more carpet you have to remove, the wider the carpet stripper can be. The bigger the blade, the more carpet you can strip in one cut.

From Benjamin to Goliath Tools are classified according to weight and capacity. There is a direct link between the surface to be covered and the choice of tool. Medium and larger tools have weights of 50 to 100kg, usually with an option to add more weight. In the big workhorse segment it is quite possible to find weights of 160 to 200kg. For very large surfaces there are ‘ride-on’ floor strippers. These machines are comparable to ride-on lawn mowers for large grass surfaces. The weight can be around one tonne. We found an example of battery autonomy for such a ride-on machine of about one tonne. It can operate for about eight hours with a fully charged battery. Charging for one hour gives an extra working hour.

Photo – Janser

It goes without saying that floor strippers are designed to strip floors! This means that in the room where we go to work there is a floor or floor covering which has to be removed to make way for something new. This obviously also means that we’re on the renovation market. That is an attractive and lucrative market, were it not for the fact that the figures in recent years have gone up and down like a yoyo with huge expectations one moment and depressing prospects shortly afterwards. But no complaints! The average movement is forwards. The renovation market is still growing.

Battery-powered strippers in action Using a carpet or floor stripper is the easy way to strip floor coverings (such as carpet, vinyl, and linoleum) away from concrete and wooden floors. Carpet strippers make small thrusting motions with a flat and sharp section which you position against the edge of carpet, vinyl, linoleum, parquet, tiles, and such like. In this way you use the stripper to remove the floor covering easily thrust by thrust. One of the main variations between carpet strippers is the number of thrusts per minute.

Usually, the number of thrusts per minute is around five thousand.

Most carpet strippers are powered by electricity (battery). Capacities vary greatly between 1500 and 2600 watts. As is the case for other site tools, there is a strong preference for cable-free tools, partly for safety

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Ride-on machines The really heavy machines are mavericks. Their success does not depend on the aforementioned fluctuations on the renovation market.

Indeed, when we talk about the renovation market, we usually mean assignments on the private home alteration market. The surfaces for which ride-on floor strippers are deployed do not fit into that category. We’re talking more about sports floors, gymnasia, event locations, offices, and major stores. Clients who buy these machines are major contractors or project developers or major subcontractors specialising in the renovation of large surfaces, and building machine hire companies. Here and there we find companies which strip large floor surfaces as their core business. And so, outsourcing is also possible!

Features of professional machines 1. They are easy to operate and the tools are controlled hydraulically.

2. The operate silently and have no exhaust fumes.

3. The work surface can be adjusted in height and angle.

4. There is no swivel loss and the tyres leave no marks.

5. They are easy to transport, load, and unload and they fit into lifts and pass through standard-size doors.

6. They offer an extensive choice of work surfaces.

7. They have various options for adding weight.

Janser

Two specialists Blastrac The new Blastrac ride-on floor stripper BMS-150 is ideally suited for medium and large sized applications. A powerful electric machine, with an optional automatic power cable system; the rotating cable arm makes sure there is no loose cable on the surface. This system gives the impression you are working on a cable less machine. Due to the comfortable seat, an ergonomic operating panel with two easy to control joysticks and buttons you can perform all needed operations. The BMS-150 is very maneuverable and easy to use with a zero turn radius and non-marking tires. Depending on the type of flooring material you would like to remove, you can choose from a wide range of blades or chisels.

The Blastrac BMS-150 floor stripper can remove easily and quickly all kinds of flooring, such as: - hardwood / parquet flooring / ceramics / linoleum / vinyl / carpet / adhesives / glue / tiles / etc…

Available from August 2020

Adhesives for floor coverings have been improved regularly over the past years. This has meant that the removal of floor coverings has become more difficult and in many cases, conventional handheld or electrical strippers could not be used efficiently. This was the reason why JANSER had already started 15 years ago to offer ride-on strippers, first the 230 V cable version and later the battery version. Today, a few hundred of these large ride-on strippers are used every day in Europe in order to remove various glued floorcoverings with maximum stripping performance. Because of their weight and dimensions, these machines are mainly used by larger floor laying companies, contractors and specialists. JANSER introduced in 2018 with the JUNIOR ride-on a smaller ride-on machine to fill the existing gap in the market. The JUNIOR is significantly lighter and smaller and above all more affordable. Smaller and medium sized companies in our industry are now able to use this machine efficiently with maximum effect.

Professional Flooring Technology

t classes!

Floor Scrapers in suitable weigh German Quality

Power-Stripper 14 kg

Ride-on ADB HS 1180 kg

COSMO IV 39 kg

MASTER MOBIL III 105 kg

Ride-on ADB 950 kg

STRATO MOBIL IV 190 kg

Your projects - our equipment - your success!

Ride-on Electro 565 kg

JUNIOR Ride-on 420 kg

Janser GmbH Böblinger Straße 91 Tel. 07034/1270 D-71139 Ehningen Fax 07034/8838 www.janser.com info@janser.com 17

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Advertorial

La San Marco Profili (I)

A COOL TOUCH OF NATURE IN THE SPACE YOU LIVE WHO LOVES NATURE AND BEAUTY, LOVES LA SAN MARCO PROFILI MADE IN ITALY PRODUCTS

La San Marco Profili is the expression of its two generations of management, dedicated to innovation. Our unwavering commitment, our research into and passion for wood, together with our latest generation processing equipment, have enabled La San Marco Profili to evolve with new technologies and offer high quality products and efficient service. Nowadays, the company is a benchmark in the Italian and foreign markets for the supply of skirting and profiles for the home and office, as well as wood flooring for outdoors installations.

All-round full service Our principal product born from our capacity to produce whatever the customer needs following his requests and desire. Passion, Experience and Innovation. These key words together with our production’s flexibility and fast deliveries distinguish our company. We have a wide range of skirting that easily fulfill all markets’ demands, but we could also produce skirting ad hoc for customers and adapt any outdoor flooring according to installation’s place and customers’ needs.

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In fact, one of the primary aim of La San Marco Profili is offering its customers an all-round full service. At proof of that, the company is continuously renewing its production with new profiles, in MDF, solid wood, veneer, with attractive design, different finishing and veneer surfaces that will satisfy the entire world markets.

The love for wood Furthermore, the company during the years has developed a project of Decking prompt delivery thanks to its strong purchase network gained in several years of experience in this market. Among timber decking La San Marco offers different woods such as Teak, Ipe, Garapa, Iroko, Angelim Amargoso, Cumaru, Thermo Ash. All woods that could easily been installed in almost every places, of course considering all their specific characteristics and properties. The company proposes some of these woods also as exterior wood claddings. Facades can add warmth to a building and provide a sustainable option over brick or alternative finishes and nowadays are becoming very popular among customers who are searching for harmony between nature and artificial elements.

The natural choice In recent years, in fact, the natural choice for interior and exterior decoration of our homes is becoming more and more popular. We strongly support the same choice since we believe that wood is the best natural element that represents the aesthetics, the warmth and harmony that born from the environment that surrounds us.

of wood or paper. It is an International Forest certification system that ensures that the raw material used to make a product made of wood or paper comes from forests where they met strict environmental, social and economic standards. The place where we live is important and that is why our mission is to harmonize the place without overcome it.

Made in Italy

A touch of natural elegance

This is the reason why La San Marco focus its production on a harmonious match between wood quality, nature and a touch of elegance, all characteristics that well represent what we call MADE IN ITALY. The company invests all its experience and knowledge of wood to provide ad hoc working process and accessories for easy decking and cladding installation without compromising the results. The aim is to create the impression that the structure has grown organically out of ground.

This philosophy applies equally for all our products. La San Marco is specialized in working with details. Well knowing that small particulars make the difference, we are accustomed to search for perfection in details that however stand out. Following this thought we created all our skirting and accessories, both veneer, solid and MDF, in different woods and colours. We made a recent Line of products such as Basolino, Quadro (see picture), small Frames and our Piattina model in order to offer an ideal solution to preserve the space where we live and giving it a touch of natural elegance.

Respect for nature The respect for the environment is an integral part of our way of doing business. We try to reduce continuously our environmental impact. The company considers sustainability as a strategic, longterm approach, which seeks to find a balance between commercial opportunities and social, economic and environmental responsibilities.

Efforts toward increasingly efficient technologies are made with respect for nature and encourage the commitment to preserve and improve people’s life.

For more information, please visit us on www.lasanmarcoprofili.com

Forest Stewardship Council® With this regard, from 2014 La San Marco Profili owns the FSC® Chain of Custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council® in accordance with FSC-STD-40-004 and FSC-STD-50-001 standards.

FSC® certification is the main mechanism for guaranteeing the origin

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Fastening systems for wooden and composite terraces

INVISIBLE FASTENING TERRACES ARE BREAKING THROUGH THE WHEAT IS NOW SEPARATE FROM THE CHAFF

Foto – ArchiWood

‘The systems themselves continue to move in the direction of technical refinement. It’s clear that there are differences between systems, but the systems still on the market today are all of high quality. Lots of players have left the market.

Those who supply proven quality and offer something extra for the market have survived.’ We encountered this gem of wisdom during an interview with Quentin van Winckel of B-Fix and it appeared in the editorial of our previous edition. Yet where do the differences actually lie?

Some history About twenty years ago, there was nothing special about fitting a wooden terrace. The ribbed bangkirai planks were just as easily available from the average DIY store as from a professional timber store.

The idea of screwing those same planks onto a beam is as old as it is

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simple. The end result after a professional fitting might have been a little better, but it was still hard to compete with the extensive range of available terrace tiles, ceramics, concrete, and natural stone. In terms of aesthetics, maintenance, and lifespan, those rivals did considerably better. Floor fitters had only a minor role to play in this story.

Wood sorts The extensive transport possibilities have paved the way for economic globalisation. This globalisation has resulted in all products, raw materials, or ingredients being available to everyone, whatever their location on the planet. Wood sorts are coming to us from all corners of the globe. The result: an endless pallet of wood sorts, each with their own grain, colour shade, density, and level of durability. Traditional outdoor floors suddenly found themselves in stiff competition with a wide range of wood sorts in durability classes 1 and 2.

concept terrace to clip. invisible fixations. perfect finishes.

Special

Fastening systems for wooden and composite terraces

Invisible fastening Invisible fastening systems have been developing for a long time, but over the past decade we can certainly say that things have moved up a gear. The principle of fixing wooden floors without using screws immediately made the comparison between a wooden terrace and a parquet floor much more realistic. It opened up a new world to parquet floor fitters. They found that the combination of irresistibly attractive wood sorts with the modern (concealed) fastening systems made it possible to create real gems. ‘Garden parquet’ or ‘outdoor parquet’ became new concepts. Obviously, that was perfectly suited to parquet floor fitters.

Fastening systems As a rule, you can summarise invisible fastening systems as a system in which the terrace boards are not fastened to each other directly, but via a clip on the beams (support structure). This usually means that the terrace plank has to be fitted with a groove into which the clip fits perfectly. All clip systems are designed to absorb the movements of the floorboards. They are designed in such a way that the wood can swell and shrink if proper account is taken of the correct intervals between the boards. To do that it is necessary to take account of the humidity level at the time of the fitting. Most clip systems draw a distinction between wood dried in an oven and wood which is air-dried in a natural manner.

One benefit is that fitters no longer have to take account of the wood swelling. The clip indicates the correct distance between the planks. Existing systems require a groove (notch) in the side of the planks, a groove underneath the plank, or no groove at all.

The latter case has the advantage that all planks in all sizes are suitable. That is not the case with systems with a groove.

synthetics, composites, or metals) and the type of metal from which the screws are produced, the components have been the subject of years of research and tests. That considerably reduces the risk of fitters having to cope with substandard products. As we’ve said, substandard products and systems have been driven off the market, so the choice now is from the qualitative ‘survivors’.

Advice from suppliers and references will have to prove the decisive factor in the choice of the most suitable system because there still isn’t an official standard. Manufacturers work constantly on new technical possibilities, products, and systems. They should listen to the demands of wholesalers, fitters, and end users.

What’s on the market ?

ArchiWood / NÖVLEK®

Why invisible fastening?

From an aesthetic perspective The benefit is patently obvious from an aesthetic perspective.

We can compare it perfectly to the difference between a classic wooden floor nailed onto beams of yesteryear and a fully glued parquet floor. With old wooden floors the nail marks might evoke nostalgia for some people, but nowadays when we opt for a wooden floor we strive for absolute perfection. The same applies to terraces.

From a technical/qualitative perspective A terrace with invisible fastening is not only more attractive at the start, but also it retains its beauty for much longer. The forces which play upon the wood in outdoor conditions can be extremely powerful and will invariably lead to cracks around the screws over time. Moreover, the curling of the wood (something which is inevitable in outdoor conditions, but is also tolerated) is hardly noticeable with invisible fastening systems.

From a safety perspective The swelling and shrinking of the wood with the traditional screw systems also involves an additional risk. Possible damage or traces of wear and tear can be felt. Splinter formation cannot be excluded.

With swimming pool boards, in particular, this can result in injuries if people run on the terrace barefoot. With invisible fastening systems the risk of splinter formation (apart from as a result of accidental damage) is virtually non-existent.

Technical perfection has a price Fastening systems have visibly reached technical maturity. Both as regards the materials of the clips themselves (usually selected

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HardWood Clip® is the invisible fitting system which ArchiWood has developed for wooden terraces. The stainless steel fastening clip (in a top-quality synthetic casing) is fitted into the grooves (sides) of the floorboards and screwed into the beams through the floorboards at an angle of 45° with self-drilling screws (SPAX in high-quality A2 stainless steel). HardWood Clip® is available in three types (3mm/5mm/7mm) to guarantee the correct distance between the floorboards, irrespective of the type of wood, the degree of damp at the time of fitting, and the weather conditions. This system is particularly discreet thanks to the black matt finish (non-reflective) and the antique brown colour of the screw (coloured all over).

HardWood Clip® can be combined with the ventilation spacer NÖVLEK®, which ensures perfect ventilation for the planks and also reduces the risk of warping, swelling, and shrinking.

SoftWood Clip™ is virtually the same fastening system as HardWood Clip®, but it is meant solely for Thermowood or thermally treated wood sorts. The SoftWood Clip™ is available in two sizes (5 and 7mm).

Square Clip™ is a simple and efficient system for fastening terrace tiles invisibly. The system is efficient and universal. The Square Clip™ can be fitted or screwed onto any flat base. There is not a single special tool required. The system also enables you to dismantle the tiles, change the tile configuration, or replace a tile. The tiles never come into contact with the base. An integrated system of discharge channels on both sides of the base ensure good drainage and ventilation, and that is obviously good for the lifespan. Square Clip™ is designed to allow the wood to behave naturally. The clip adapts to all wood sorts, dimensions, and composite. The system is completely invisible.

B-Fix

ITALPROFILI

B-Fix presents a range of solutions for terraces and swimming pool boards. Since the launch of the system, it has already been used for millions of square metres. The assortment includes several types of invisible fasteners e.g. B-Fix One, B-Fix Black One, and B-Fix Border.

Furthermore, the assortment also includes various accessories. The system itself is designed in stainless steel with memory effect so that the wood can act naturally and yet still stay perfectly in place. Each plank can be removed individually. The fastening system can be mounted onto different profiles and can be deployed on a wide range of wood sorts and composite. Thanks to the screws, the system adapts to various types of structures e.g. wood, aluminium, and layer structure.

B-Fix can be fitted horizontally and vertically. These systems can be fitted much quicker than a classic system.

Our adjustable paving support systems for decking systems are divided into two ranges: the SPECIAL JOIST and the SPECIAL LIGHT JOIST. Our Special Joist range has the self-levelling or the fixed head, specifically designed to allow the installation of joists from 40 to 100 mm. The innovative system allows to keep the joist always centered in the head, distributing the load evenly. The joist is fixed sideways in the appropriate holes with self-tapping screws.

Instead the Special Light Joist range has only the fixed head, suitable to accommodate any type of joist for decking systems.

They are the paving supports with the highest certified load capacity available on the market, from a minimum of 1100 kg up to kg. 3000.

Vetedy

Burger

crédit photo@LNP-grad

The Grad concept: four aluminium rails fitted with clips in advance on computerised lines. The Grad clip is the first invisible fastening for wooden terraces and the only system that the FCBA acknowledges as meeting the demands of the DTU 51-4 standard (fitting standard for wooden terraces). It ensures alignment almost to the millimetre for clips and floorboards. With each installation, the rail, with its functionalities and accessories, must cope with all the required configurations thanks to their Grad 3D software. The four rail profiles enable the terrace to reach heights of up to 400mm thanks to the Top Lift® pedestals and their load boards. The terrace is now more durable because there is no contact whatsoever with the ground and planks, so it’s impossible for water to infiltrate. Their system is aimed at all sorts of professionals. The benefits: big time saving in the fitting, no anchorage points, the non-alignment of the screws, and the option of removing each floorboard individually.

Visit www.floor-forum.com

The Softline® system from Vetedy consists of a clip in composite material allowing installation with hidden fasteners with a memory capacity. Due to the composition of the clip, its durability over time is extremely high. Our system is unique in its kind because it has been studied as a whole, that is to say that we offer a complete system, boards and fixings. You are therefore serene by proposing it to your customers because the durability of the system has now been proven and approved for 20 years. Among the advantages of Softline®, we find in particular the fact that the system allows a 100% invisible fixing pose in any imaginable configuration. It also includes an invisible tongue & groove at the end of the boards which are already mounted in our factory. We offer the best species of wood on the market and make sure we mold them according to the rules of the art with a humidity percentage which is ideal for outdoor use to ensure the stability and longevity of the decking.

Floor Forum International 108

23

Special

Stair renovation

STAIRCASE RENOVATION WITH LAMINATE THE STYLE AND LOOK ARE JUST WHAT CLIENTS CHOOSE! We don’t really need to dwell on the choice between furnishing an existing staircase and demolishing it.

Demolition is the very last resort due to the cost price and its impact on the building. Furnishing a staircase results in very little inconvenience, even in an occupied home. Moreover, clients can choose from an equally large number of materials as there are floors. For various reasons laminate lends itself ideally to the job. Nowadays, several producers offer full staircase renovation kits with everything included.

Super strong building element Cabinet makers regard staircase manufacturers as top professionals.

That’s quite right, too, because making a staircase involves a whole series of challenges in terms of aesthetics, design, and construction.

A staircase has to allow the occupants to go up and down stairs safely, but, apart from that, a staircase is usually expected to make an important architectural contribution to the building. And what exactly is the great merit of these staircase manufacturers? That even stairs which were built several decades ago still have all or virtually all of their stability today. Stairs have been a solid fixture of the home from way back. They are designed in solid materials and can usually even rival the lifespan of the building. Outstanding types of wood fashioned by outstanding professionals i.e. those stair makers. And if it’s not in wood, concrete is possible, too. Obviously, there can be scores of reasons for giving a staircase a new look. It may be purely for interior design reasons, but it can also be because the wearing surface (top coat or steps) is worn or depleted.

Laminate is a big hit Laminate is an excellent solution for renovating stairs quickly, cleanly, and quietly. That is due primarily to the material’s own intrinsic qualities. From a decorative perspective, we know that laminate allows for an infinite range of decors; and when we say ‘infinite’, we mean ‘infinite’. All types of wood or stone, all structures, all other decors, all fitting patterns, classic or modern, and endless colour options to yield, if necessary, the ‘perfect match’ with adjoining floors. Embossed in register and digital print have given even more variety. And so, it’s no surprise that more and more buyers, architects, and designers are being lured to the decorative versatility of laminate, even for staircase furnishing for concrete stairs in new properties. Besides those decorative options, laminate is also ideal for staircase renovation due to its exceptional technical assets. Let’s consider them.

The mounting height The limited thickness of laminate floors usually comes out nicely in renovation where there are often limits as regards differences in height between adjoining floors. That applies no less to staircase steps where the height of the sections affects safety and comfort. If we want to use solid (or multilayer) wood to furnish staircase steps, we will always have to look out for thicker floorboards.

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Scratch and wear-resistant The top layers of laminate floors have always been an important point for attention. After all, the scratch and wear-resistance of the top layer is decisive for the lifespan of a floor, certainly if that floor cannot be renovated. The latest innovations refer to the use of nanotechnology which makes it possible to improve the properties of lacquers (e.g. scratch resistance) via nanoparticles.

Anti-static Just about all A-brands offer laminate floors which have undergone a permanent anti-static treatment. This virtually eliminates the possibility of annoying electrostatic discharges, which can occur, for instance, where computers are in use.

Resistance Laminate floors are impact and chip resistant. That is the result of the base itself (density of HDF) in combination with the extremely resistant top layer. Most floors are even cigarette-burn resistance so that a cigarette which falls to the floor for a few seconds will not leave any marks. A lot of laminate floors are completely resistant to light and sun in compliance with the standard EN 348-2, so they do not become discoloured under the influence of sunlight.

Anti-slip Whilst a slippery floor normally means there is a risk of slipping, most laminate floors are equipped with an anti-slip top layer.

Anti-allergic The fact that it is possible to keep a laminate floor dust-free means it is suitable for allergy patients. Yet there’s more. For a few years now, some brands have even been offering floors which actively kill bacteria by means of the addition of certain substances to the top layer.

Relatively damp-resistant The damp-resistance is also the result of various technical features.

The top layer makes a contribution to that, but not only the top layer.

The waterproof glued HDF boards, combined with the excellent click systems, play a major part in this. Some producers apply another special coating to the laminate floor so that damp no longer constitutes a problem.

Fitting kits We already know that laminate producers (themselves or in co-operation with profile manufacturers) offer all accessories in the same decors as the floor. The same applies to the finish of stairs. All accessories as regards profiles, boards, subfloors, Stair nosing, and such like are provided. LED lights are one of the possibilities here as well. Nowadays, a number of producers offer full stair renovation kits with everything included. Good idea!

Three specialists

Progress Profiles

Auer Metallprofile

Auer Metallprofile, which is situated in Aue, Germany, is a manufacturer of profiles for the floor area. This profile specialist has its product spectrum expanded since 1990 in the fields of aluminum, brass and stainless steel: These includes stair nosings, connecting profiles, skirtings, stair rods, corner protection angles and much more. The product range was this year supplemented with two new insert profiles for 3+5 mm flooring input with 44mm coverage down and a 30x60 mm stair nosing for laying with a 50 mm anti-slip insert at the top and on request a 23mm insert on the riser. In addition, Auer Metallprofile is characterized by fast delivery times as well as custom-made products to customer requirements, because individual living requires individual solutions. This means a special service beyond the normal profile that Auer Metallprofile offers, such as bending profiles suitable to sketch or radius; various surface finishes like burnished, engraved, special coatings like anodizing, powder coating or enamelling. There are endless possibilities.

When talking about stair renovation, longer performance of the floor is ensured using high-quality materials, protecting the edges highly exposed to wear, finishing the perimeter. All Progress Profiles’ profiles, coming in different widths and depths, provide infinite solutions for indoor and outdoor space and can be even subjected to heavy loads and frequent traffic. The firm doesn’t have a proper renovation system but, in 2019 it patented Promultifix System, the latest laying system composed by a special TOP with adhesive, covered with wood-effect film or in anodized aluminium, to join floors at the same level, to connect the ones at different levels, to cover joints and to finish the flooring along the perimeters. The TOP can be fixed to the floor with the hotmelt self-adhesive peel; with nylon anchors inserted into the TOP; with a support provided with removable spacers in the desired height; inserting a “flatten down base” into the TOP.

www.progressprofiles.com

www.progressprofiles.com

PATE NTED A workmanlike tiling anywhere, everywhere for any type of outdoor raised flooring.

Küberit Smart and clever: The Küberit stair nosing profiles with round corners Time-saving installation and more security Safety first, high quality and comfy workmanship - these are three principles under which Küberit develops its innovations such as the stair nosing profiles with "round corners". The complete elements enable an installation without edges.

Where safety-relevant aspects and a fast processing technique play a significant role, the Küberit stair nosing profiles "round corners" are a preferred choice. In addition to the already known product highlight 845, the new stair nosing profile 847 for LVT/SPC floorings and laminate expand the range from now on. For both, external corners and end caps have been added to the range. The type 846 has also been completed with round corners. The corner elements with and without connectors shorten assembly times, as mitre cuts on the construction site are superfluous. This installation method avoids sharp edges and substantially reduces the risk of injury. Küberit also realizes customized profiles on request. The process is protected by a utility model.

PROSUPORT TUBE SYSTEM

PRORAIL SYSTEM

PROSUPORT SLIM SYSTEM

ANTI-NOISE AND ANTI-SLIP DISK FIX SIDE

SELF - LEVELING SIDE

PRORAIL PROFILE

PRORAIL RET

LEVELLER

PRORAIL RING

PRORAIL RUBBER BASE WITH FLAPS 2 mm

PRORAIL SPACER 02

PRORAIL SPACER 04

BASE WITH FLAPS 4 mm

P ROFILES & SY STEMS

Floor Forum International 108

25

Special

Producers of 3D decorative wood for walls

WALL COVERING IN ‘THREE DIMENSIONS’ 3D IN THE INTERIOR CAN BE REAL OR AN ILLUSION

Photo – Futura Floors

It is remarkable how, even in architecture, we often return to styles from long ago. One such element that comes and goes with varying success is ‘relief ’. Things which need to look straight and smooth today will probably be preferred with some irregularity tomorrow. 3D wall design is a return to the desire for the irregular. Not too austere, not too straight, but just nice and bumpy. It can be achieved by physically adding height (a beam) to the width and length of a shape (a rectangle) or indeed by creating the impression of height.

Relief as an illusion Perspective in the art of drawing is the technique used in visualising spatial proportions and three-dimensional objects on a flat surface in order to give the spatial effect as perceived by the human eye. We have known this for years, perhaps even without realising it, in both interior design and floor coverings. Digital print technology has brought many changes. At some point, wallpaper producers realised that they needed to shake off their old-fashioned image by adding value to wallpaper.

They added ‘depth’ to wall coverings. A 3D effect can be created by playing with the size of the motifs and angle of light in a floral pattern.

An illusion, of course! Yet, it is also being used by some laminate manufacturers to create the ‘impression’ that there is a bevelled edge on the laminate floor without that actually being the case. The benefit?

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It looks like the floor of a real country home, but is easier to clean as there is no actual groove to trap dirt.

Perspective is now relief In ancient times, there were periods when wall painting was popular.

Let's be honest. These works of art created depth even then. After all, the artists were true masters. For example, the old walls uncovered in ancient Pompeii are sure to leave you speechless. Or those in the Sistine Chapel. masterpieces. Until then, certain designers expressed their desire for even more depth in so-called ‘bas-reliefs’, works of art that ‘sank’ into the plasterwork. Sculptures in the wall. Depth! It never stopped. People from a particular generation (my generation) will remember how ‘Japanese grass cloth’ began replacing traditional wallpaper. The 1970s. Everyone had it i.e. thick paper covered in reed stems which aimed to provide warmth and movement. It died out after only a decade. Standard wallpaper soon became ‘rice paper’, with a grain. Structured paper, or early ‘embossed in register’.

Second generation wainscotting In the past, wooden wainscotting or panelling was a common wall covering in both majestic town houses and typical family homes. In the former, wainscotting served as artistic wall decoration, commonly featuring sculptures and mostly made of oak. In standard homes it was

generally built using cheap wood varieties (pine) or board. In principle, the primary purpose in both cases was ‘insulation’. These days, wooden wall panelling can be found in both new and renovated building projects. The main purpose has become 'mainly decorative'. Design, and above all 3D, are becoming extremely popular.

Futura Floors

The move to 3D Traditional wainscotting has certainly not disappeared, on the contrary in fact. Many clients still appreciate both the functional (technical) and decorative benefits. There is, however, a drastic development in the architectural application and particularly from the perspective of interior designers. As with traditional wainscotting, wooden wall coverings with 3D effect are also available as ‘prefab’ or can be realised by the workman on site (starting with the bare wall).

Different types of wood

Varieties in colour are one thing, however, in thickness, it's entirely different. By combining strips or blocks of a different thickness, it is possible to create relief and depth, and above all shadows. These shadows also create the effect of colour differences, even when working with just one type of wood. Combine different wood varieties and thicknesses and such nuances are enhanced even more.

Futura, Organic World Spaces.

The unique character of Eye-catching wall solutions What better material to have in your home than real solid wood?

Modern trends show a spirited flavour of wood coverings that are wall mounted instead of laid on the floor.

Futura Floors offers a wide range of ideas for modern living with these and other bespoke made-to-order interior designs for every home or public space. We love natural materials and decided that it was time to experiment. In our production facility Xylon Corporation, we combined pieces of oak by hand in varying dimensions to get a special look and natural style. Each one is textured and lacquered, the sides are carefully shaped and fit together perfectly. On the backside the pieces are glued together on large backings – providing stability and durability.

These coverings can vary in colour and direction laid according to personal taste. What better way to admire the bold textures and deep hues of real oak?

What’s on the market ?

Proligna

Different types of wood differ not only in terms of pattern (variation in wood grain and selections) but also in terms of colour. The range of tints is as wide as the infinite choice of wood varieties themselves.

Depending on the client's and /or architect's particular taste, a whole range of combinations can be used and a colourful harmony created.

Dark (wenge) combined with light (oak or teak) or identical colours with only subtle differences in tone, create very special decorative effects.

Different thicknesses

Finex ArteTech wooden tiles These beautiful, prefinished tiles are designs of Finex, winner of the prestigeous 'Innovations product award' of UK's largest flooring distributor.

These patterns are produced

by Finex with a technologically verified geometry, unique colour collection, obtained by smoking and colouring with natural pigments. Perfect for floor, ceiling and walls decoration. Each tile element is precission machined, with microbevel all around and easy to install. The patented ArteTech engineered design prevents deformation during temperature & humidity fluctuations. A wide choice of colours, textures and patterns for creating your individual interior design.

- Technologically verified geometry - Wide selection of colors - Optional inlays of brass, stone, or concrete - WildWood surface: natural shrunken aged surface with 3D knots, cracks and random saw marks - Original surface: slightly brushed to accentuate the woodgrain - Wax oiled finished - Can be ordered as 'commission'

The use of wood in your interior is totally hip again, so you increasingly see natural products as the basis of an interior. The trend is clear: the covering of walls in 3D wall panels is completely in! It makes the room a lot livelier and immediately brings atmosphere. With its many variations in structure, surface and drawing, wood appears to be the ideal material to create a creative and individual look.

This decorative wood paneling not only gives the wall its very own look, but also offers excellent acoustic results. They ensure good sound insulation and wood is also a natural heat insulator. Wooden wall panels can be installed in the living room or bedroom, in offices and ....

They are beautiful in the hall, in hotel lobbies, restaurants, airports, schools, kindergartens, cinemas and theaters, etc. As a producer of oak parquet and panels, we have opted for our 3D Wall Covering (Q-Wall) in oak and oak thermally treated. We strive for ecological products and reuse our saw residues for this. Do you want to know more about our 3D wallcovering or other options?

Then take a look at our website www.q-floor.com

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Floor Forum International 108

27

Review BUDMA (PL)

THE BUDMA INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTURE FAIR THE CONSTRUCTIVE MEETING FAIR

In the first week of February 2020, the entire construction industry came to Poznań at the 29th edition of the BUDMA International Construction and Architecture Fair. From February 4-7, 46,000 professionals - professionals, investors, trade representatives, general contractors, engineers and architects sought new products, knowledge and new business opportunities among nearly 1,000 exhibitors from over 30 countries. It was an intense time of building meetings, sharing experiences, establishing cooperation, but also conversations about challenges for builders and architects, also in the context of social changes and care for the environment.

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On February 3, the day before the ceremonial opening of the fair, the Economic Forum for Construction Build 4 Future began, during which positive changes in the new construction law and the digitization of the industry with it were discussed, as well as the need for innovation and investment in this sector. The inaugural speech was given by Robert Krzysztof Nowicki, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Development, paying attention to the 40% rent gap. Professor Witold Orłowski analyzed external factors such as a slowdown in investments, increase in labour costs, as well as encroaching robotics and inflation, however, he did not forecast a "severe winter" on the real estate market. On the second day of the forum, the conditions for construction development in 2020-2030 were discussed, as well as the priorities

for the development of infrastructure projects in 2020, also in the context of public-private partnership.

All attention on gold During the ceremonial opening gala of the BUDMA Fair, companies and products that received the most attention, as well as engineers and architects, were honoured. Awards of the Minister of Development went to the authors of the best publications, diploma theses and doctoral dissertations in the fields of architecture and construction, spatial planning and development, and housing. 43 MTP Group Gold Medal statuettes were collected by the exhibitors of Budma, Intermasz and Kominki Fairs. For the first time, the jury awarded two products exceptionally among gold medalists. The Budma Fair Grand Prix was won by reinforcing bars and meshes made of TROKOTEX composites. The Eco Prize award for the most ecological solution was given to Lammi Thermoblock - hollow blocks with thermal insulation used in a passive construction. The winner of the Architecture Budma Award 2020 Competition was also announced, which was the office of CDF Architects for the reconstruction of the "Żelazko" tenement house in Poznań.

Knowledge and exchange of experience During BUDMA, nearly one hundred thematic training, conferences and lectures dedicated to various professional groups took place. Distributor's Day, Construction Engineer's Day, Urban Planner's Day - these are traditional points of the program. The two-day D&A Design and Architecture Forum, dedicated mainly to architects, was focused around the topics of architecture friendly, accessible and conducive to the development of cities. Innovative ideas for the building industry were also discussed in a special Start-up zone.

Masters of professional assembly The new edition of MONTERIADA attracted crowds of professionals who could see, touch and check how to properly mount new products and use materials from the field of joinery. The roof salon and the Polish Young Roofers Championships located in it were impressive. In the zone of the Polish Parquet Layers Association, masters of the trade presented the most difficult techniques, created with great precision the complicated patterns of wooden floors. High school students tested their skills during the Golden Trowel tournament.

The scale of exposure and foreign contacts The impressive exhibition of the BUDMA fair was complemented by new products presented at the INTERMASZ Fair - the Fair of Construction Machines, Vehicles and Auxiliary Equipment, INFRATEC - the Fair of Solutions for Infrastructural Construction and the FIREPLACE - the International Fireplace Fair. Among the several thousand foreign contractors who came to Poland in search of new products, there were also over 500 buyers representing retail chains from 38 countries around the world, as part of the HOSTED BUYERS Program implemented by MTP.

The next BUDMA Fair 2- February 5, 2021 The next year will be the unique edition of BUDMA because in 2021 the 30th anniversary of the International Construction and Architecture Fair and the 100th anniversary of the Poznań International Fair will be celebrated! The 30th edition will be accompanied by the Fair of Machines for Production Tools and Components, Windows, Doors, Gates and Facades WinDoor-tech!

Visit www.floor-forum.com

Floor Forum International 108

29

Special

Who has products for sports floor lines?

LINES FOR SPORTS FLOORS – THAT’S HIGH TRAFFIC! SPORTS FLOORS HAVE TO UNDERGO JUST ABOUT EVERY IMAGINABLE SORT OF AGGRESSION

Photo – Pallmann

At first sight, in the eyes of a layperson, a sports floor looks just like a parquet or wooden floor on a bigger surface and scale. Nevertheless, behind just about all sports floors lies an ingenious system which ensures that the sports floor is ‘suitable’ to comply with a number of sporting and technical requirements. We’re talking about shock absorption capacity properties which are essential to both the sporting performance and health of the athlete. And so, a sports floor is a system and you can say the same about the finish.

In other words, don’t just call a sports floor finish a sports lacquer.

Sophisticated finish system A sports floor finish comprises various operations, various products, and, especially, a sequence or procedure determined in advance by the maker of those products. At the end of the cycle, we end up with nothing more than, yes, a lacquered floor. Obviously, this floor has several specific properties. The official European standard EN 14904:2006 sets demands for the structure of the floor, but also the finish. These floors are subjected to more than just high traffic; athletes jump on them, slide on them with rubber soles, and such like. Even the required slip resistance is obtained through the floor finish. As we’ve said, various producers have developed a finish system specifically for sports floors. Most systems are a compound of a primer, a special lacquer, line paint, and a maintenance product specially

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developed for that purpose. Differences in procedure can occur between existing systems. For instance, with one producer the line paint is applied at the end, whilst with another producer this is done between two coats of lacquer.

The primer Sports floors always have large surfaces. And so, most systems start with a primer to give the floor the same regular colour everywhere and guarantee good adhesion for the lines and the final finish.

The finish Lacquer on sports floors has to undergo severe stress. A good sports floor finish has a strong adhesion and correct slip resistance. Together with the primer, a film is formed which is only lightly porous. This has a soothing effect on the floor because it makes the floor less sensitive to changes in the air humidity in the sports hall. A sports lacquer has to be strong not only because of the huge stress to which the floor is subjected, but also because of the natural movements of the wood mass.

The lines Sports floor lines are applied using fast-drying paint. This is usually a dual-component lacquer which is available in a good number of RAL colours so that it is perfectly possible to adapt to requirements laid down by the sports federations of the respective sports. The lines

are applied between the two finish coats (i.e. primer, finish, lines, and finish). Intermediate sanding is usually not necessary, but some producers do recommend it.

There is no denying that a sports floor needs maintenance.

Professional maintenance extends the floor’s lifespan. Generally, makers present two products. The first product is meant for cleaning lacquered wooden floors frequently. This is usually a concentrated (sometimes alkaline) detergent. A more powerful variant is deployed for cleaning sports floors occasionally. This powerful variant is usually tailored specifically to removing stronger contaminations, body fats from the athletes, and shoe marks and black marks from rubber soles.

treated with SPORT LINE range of products (follow all the informations reported on the ECOSTAR 2K SPORT, see relative technical data sheet).

ECOSTAR LINE COLORS has to be applied on previously varnished floors with ECOSTAR 2K SPORT: a two-component water-based polyurethane lacquer for sportive wooden floors. ECOSTAR 2K SPORT has been formulated in order to meet the highest anti slip standard requirements for sport wooden floors. ECOSTAR 2K SPORT is in conformity with European standards for sportive wooden floors meeting EN14904 standard's requirements, DIN 18032-2 for slip resistance and it's classified as EN 13501-1. Hardness, distension, chemical and mechanical resistances put ECOSTAR 2K SPORT on top of range's quality. It is recommended and certified by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA Approved Equipment).

What’s on the market ?

Pallmann

What about renovation?

With a full renovation of sports floors we basically start from scratch.

Although there are known cases where new coats of lacquer and paint have been applied to the existing coats, the only professional way to renovate a sports floor, just as with all lacquered parquet, is to sandpaper the floor completely pale. In fact, the entire start procedure is repeated.

Maintenance products

Blanchon Blanchon believes it is important that sports floor lines are marked out after the second coat of lacquer, and not between the two coats. For a number of years now, Blanchon has presented a dual-component polyurethane paint which can be applied to parquet lacquers perfectly well.

This applies to both waterborne dual-component parquet lacquers such as Sport® Blanchon and to traditional dual-component PU lacquers such as Poly Solid® Blanchon. Both of those lacquers have a certificate of suitability for sports floors. The lines can be applied to those finishes with the paint ‘Peinture Thixo Tracés Sport®’, a traditional and fast-drying polyurethane lacquer. This paint is supplied in two dosed kits (lacquer and hardener) which have to be mixed when they are used. The lines are applied in one coat. The Sports Parquet Lacquer (‘vitrificateurs parquet Sport®’) is also a waterborne dual-component PU lacquer. Both lacquers have a certificate of suitability for sports floors. Finally, Sports Surfaces Paint (‘Peinture Sports Surfaces®’) is a waterborne mono-component lacquer which is extremely easy to apply and has outstanding coverage capacity.

Chimiver ECOSTAR LINE COLORS is a pigmented single-component polyurethane water-based paint for the line marking of sportive wooden floors. The paint can be used also to complete court borders and zones. ECOSTAR LINE COLORS has high coverage, adhesions, leveling and no sanding is required before overcoating. ECOSTAR LINE COLORS is available in several bright colors all possible to blend with each other to achieve an array of custumized colors. It is recommended and certified by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA Approved Equipment).

ECOSTAR LINE COLORS has to be applied on wooden floor previously

To mark lines on wooden sports floors Pallmann offers the waterbased 2-component Sport-Color 2K according to DIN 18032. Sport-Color 2K is fast drying, has a high filling capacity, very good resistance to mechanical and chemical stress and corresponds to the Technical Rule 617.

Available colours are yellow, orange, red, blue, light blue, green, white and black. Sport-Color 2K is applied one to two times by using the Pallmann Application Roller Color. After applying the yard lines, the adhesive tape has to be removed immediately, latest 6 hours. Sport-Color 2K can be recoated after about 3 hours, within 24 hours max. with the suitable topcoat Pall-X Sport 2K.

Plastor Plastor offers a range of products designed for sports halls and developed by professionals to give you solutions to make all your projects a success.

This range comprises the high-quality PU35 floor paint with anti-flaking capacity for large surfaces, a marking paint, PUR-T Sport parquet varnish which complies with the anti-slip requirements of the standard EN 14904 (indoor floors), and a parquet cleaner for regular cleaning. The Plastor marking paint is a product specially developed for marking sports hall lines on the ground. The thixotropic texture ensures attractive lines with no drops under the adhesive strips. The French Basketball Federation recommends Plastor products for floor and marking paints, floor varnishes, and maintenance products for sports halls.

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Floor Forum International 108

31

Special

The main benefits of ‘The new abrasives’: abrasive materials geared to the single-disc machine instead of the traditional method with abrasive nets

ABRASIVES HELP TO DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF THE WORK CONSTANT RESEARCH ON THE USE OF NEW MATERIALS We have often explained how the various disc sanders can be used. The possibilities are still impressive. The deployment options remain highly extensive partly due to developments in the abrasives which can be used with these sanding machines. Equipped with very hard abrasives (brushes or heads), the machines can, as it were, ‘scrape’ the screed. This means it is easy to remove old carpet or adhesive residue, putty, and such like. We do all that in the preparatory phase.

The secrets of sanding One of the hardest tasks in fitting solid parquet is the sanding. The execution of the various sanding sessions largely determines the quality of the end result. Let’s be honest here. That’s precisely why fitting solid parquet, and certainly traditional parquet (with no tongue and groove), is still the pride and joy of professional parquet fitters. Perfect sanding requires a combination of elements: It requires a certain force, a certain motion, and a specific grain. All three elements have to be perfect and, to that end, the worker’s skill, the machine used, and the abrasive play a major part.

You can also add an active abrasive as a top layer. This top coating ensures that the sanding dust is discharged properly during use and provides cooling. However, as the title says, the bearers, abrasives, structure, and the entire sanding technology are constantly subject to research and development. We will let the players themselves say who offers innovative bearers or abrasives.

Materials In the world of parquet there has been an improvement in the quality of abrasives in the direction of zirconium and ceramics. Glass is not used in the world of parquet and diamond even less so in view of its cost price. The four most important materials are corindon, carborondum, zirconium, and ceramics. Each of these materials has specific assets and drawbacks. The key is to choose the right material for the right application. For parquet and wooden floors, and certainly for the application of certain specific designs such as ‘distressed’, the market offers scores of new and innovative brushes and other fairly hard moving tools. These, too, are developing constantly.

Two specialists

Certain force

Blanchon

Wood (even hard wood) can be eroded if the necessary force is exerted.

The force exerted on the wood during sanding comes from the quality of the machine and the way in which it is used. The machine affects the sanding force in two ways, firstly through the speed at which the abrasive passes over the wood and, secondly, the downward force exerted by the weight of the machine.

In the world of parquet there has been an improvement in the quality of abrasives in the direction of zirconium and ceramics. Glass is not used in the world of parquet and diamond even less so in view of its cost price.

The four most important materials are corindon, carborondum, zirconium, and ceramics. Each of these materials has specific assets and drawbacks.

The key is to choose the right material for the right application. Blanchon strongly recommends three sanding sessions (with separate grains) and (usually) a polish with a single-disc machine. Blanchon offers an assortment of various abrasives and bearers such as endless sanding belts, rolls, discs, etc. An important trend which is noticeable here is the increase in the use of the multi-disc sander. These machines are extremely efficient, but due to their relatively low weight they cannot be deployed for some heavy tasks (e.g. the removal of old coats of lacquer).

Specific abrasive Traditional abrasives, namely sandpaper and emery cloths, consist of layers. The ingenious construction of the diverse layers determines the technical features and the final quality of the end product. The shape of the abrasive is designed for the sanding machine for which it is meant i.e. endless belts for a belt sander, round discs for a rotary machine, smaller discs for a multi-disc machine, abrasive pads for the orbital sander, etc.

Structure The ‘bearer’ A conventional abrasive basically consists of four or five layers. The bottom layer is the bearer. The various bearers largely determine the flexibility and strength of the abrasive.

Adhesive layers and grains An adhesive layer is applied to the bearer. We then sprinkle the abrasive grains onto the adhesive layer. An ingenious technique ensures that the grains always have the sharpest edge upwards in the adhesive layer. The various possible grain materials determine the scope of the abrasive. A layer of adhesive is applied on top of the grains in order to anchor the grains fully on the bearer.

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Pallmann Aluminium oxide abrasives have been virtually obsolete in woodfloor sanding and technological progress has moved on from zirconia alumina to ceramics and finally to diamonds as the current cutting materials for sanding wood flooring. Diamonds are becoming more and more important for the sanding of wooden floors, because it is possible to remove extremely hard coating systems, such as UV-hardened lacquers or DD lacquers. Pallmann abrasives are optimally adapted to Pallmann sanding machines and the intended use. So Pallmann recommends ceramic abrasives for coarse sanding, zirconia alumina for subsequent sanding and silicon carbide for fine sanding. With the new abrasives, it is possible to replace almost all the work of a belt sander with the Pallmann Spider triple disc sanding machine. In addition, the brushing technique for the Pallmann Spider offers the possibility to structure existing floors as well as to renovate already structured surfaces without having to sand the structure.

Special

Packing machines for the parquet industry

COMPUTERISATION IN THE PARQUET INDUSTRY PACKAGING IS AN IMPORTANT FINAL PART Large-scale operations should lead to greater output in the production of parquet and wooden floors as well.

Producers are enlarging their markets, concentrating on exports besides their own markets, and therefore working via importers, agents, parquet wholesalers, and such like.

At the end of the process, professionals also want to leave their mark on the end result. That customary mark is often the result of years of expertise passed down from generation to generation. Computerisation is breaking through with major wooden floor producers, but also amongst smaller and medium parquet traders. Machine producers are offering solutions on both fronts.

Who provides solutions?

CSP Engineering presents Line packing solutions – tailored to the client!

As regards computerised packing, CSP Engineering offers a number of modular systems which can be integrated into a line in diverse combinations.

Type of product

Packing type

PAR-Scan® Variabel length

PAR-Strap® Straps

PAR-Pack® Fix length

PAR-Cardboard® Cardboard strips

Logistic handling PAR-Collect® Automatic collection

Production phases in short Generally speaking, you can divide up parquet production into three major parts. We’re not talking here about forest management and tree cutting, but operations which take place in the parquet producer’s factory.

Internal transport The raw material has to be transported to the production line and is retrieved at the end of the process. The feed table is positioned in line at the machine entry point. The work items are placed manually onto a diagonally placed chain or belt, lined up automatically, and then fed into the machine one by one. Feed tables are available in diverse variants for different process speeds and are suitable for long and short work items with a rough or smooth surface. Retrieval systems are used with lower processing speeds on planing machines, sawing machines, packing lines, etc. The operator at the entry point to the installation is responsible for both feeding items into the machine and stacking the (retrieved) processed products.

Parquet production The actual production line covers all operations which are necessary for producing parquet floors from raw wood or panels. The structure of a production line obviously depends on the sort of parquet produced. It is clear that a production line for 6 and 9mm traditional parquet will be less intricate than, for instance, for three-layer engineered floors. The main operations are planing and sanding, milling of tongue and groove, glueing the multilayer parquet sections, applying the various finishes (lacquer, oil, hard wax, etc.), and drying.

The packaging to round things off Measuring, labelling, registering, and packing; the operator who has fed the raw floorboards into the system receives via the retrieval system neatly packed floor packets which are ready for the stores. In this phase, traders will use the packaging, for instance, to make their brands visible. The packaging becomes a carrier of information, both information about the quality of the product (number of square metres, thickness, dimensions, finish method, etc.) and information which is required by law such as CE marking.

Visit www.floor-forum.com

PAR-Colli® Colli-fix packages

PAR-Film® Shrink foil

PAR-Return® Automatic return

PAR-Stack® Automatic stacking

PAR-Scan® For measuring, registering, labelling, and packing parquet of fixed or variable lengths, CSP Engineering has launched the PAR Scan® concept on the market.

PAR Pack® This machine is the ideal basis for the fully computerised packing of your fixed length parquet.

PAR Colli® This PAR Colli® has been designed specially at the request of clients to create automatic packaging in fixed lengths of floorboards of variable length.

Packing methods PAR Strap® The PAR Strap® fits in seamlessly with the aforementioned options and is an automatic strapping machine for parquet.

PAR Cardboard® New in their range since last year is the PAR Cardboard®. This machine folds a monochrome or pre-printed Cardboard strip around the packet of floorboards. The packaging result has such a professional look and it gives your brand name extra coverage.

PAR Film® The PAR Film®, too, fits in seamlessly with the aforementioned machines. Your product is fully protected from dirt, dust, and damp.

After this, you can fit the required system (see diagram) for further logistical handling.

Visit their web site www.csp-engineering.com for more information.

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Producers of skirting boards with integrated LED lights

ALL SKIRTING BOARDS CAN GIVE LIGHT TO SEE OR TO BE SEEN - THAT’S THE QUESTION

Photo –FN Neuhofer

Skirting board and profile manufacturers are collectively playing the ‘ illuminated skirting board’ card. This has been going on for a few years and anyone who faithfully attends Domotex each year could hardly have missed it this time.

Some things are the result of the technical possibilities offered by LED technology, which, for instance, makes it possible to integrate lights into the skirting board with little mounting height. Those who don’t produce illuminated skirting boards find an excellent alternative in the much discussed LED strips, which can be fitted to just about all skirting boards or profiles.

Safety or design?

It often happens that techniques, products, or systems are developed for a practical/technical purpose, but they gradually attract the attention of designers and architects due to their decorative look. Actually, that applies just as well to ‘cross-cut wooden floors’, which are covered extensively elsewhere in this edition. They, too, were designed initially as workhouse floors, but now they are part of the world of top class design. With LED, lots of developments started in the area of ‘safety’.

Evacuation lighting: MILS The MILS system has been developed as ‘low location evacuation lighting’, as required on cruise ships and in air travel. In this application the MILS strip is put on the floor in gangways, for instance. The system offers an advanced solution for the creation of evacuation direction lighting in tunnels and buildings. When the lights are switched on, they indicate the evacuation route and by means of a running light they give

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the recommended direction to the fire exit or exits. This system consists of a flexible strap of about 22 x 2mm with integrated LED lights at average intervals of 40mm, with good visibility. The MILS strip can be supplied from two sides to guarantee functionality in the event of a power failure. A smart power management means that the direction to be followed is indicated for each strip segment. This can even be adapted, depending on the place of the disaster. It can also be combined with emergency lighting and fire exit lights for full management of evacuation routes.

Built-in sphere lights By now, we are well aware of the safety aspect of illuminated skirting boards and staircase steps. An extra benefit is the fact that such lights can also provide sphere and solemnity. Staircases can be fitted step by step with sidelights and even floorboards (both indoors and on terraces) can be illuminated with built-in fixtures. That possibility exists because the relevant fixtures are extremely thin, so you don’t need much built-in depth. In this way illuminated skirting boards are sold by a number of skirting board manufacturers with built-in fixtures, but the job doesn’t require any particularly special skills, so parquet fitters could fit the lights themselves.

LED strips – it’s all possible!

An alternative to built-in spots (or spots to be built in) can be found in the LED strips which have emerged recently on the market. A major argument which pleads for these strips is the fact that they can be applied universally. These strips with the accompanying diffusers provide an even light beam in white or colour (RGB). Since everything

operates on low voltage, anyone can install these strips. It is advisable to fit an aluminium strip first. This provides good heat discharge and extends the lifespan of the LED lights considerably. After that, the LED strip is attached to the wall at the height of the underside of the floor so that the skirting board is always 5mm higher. There are some handy connectors to link the strips to each other. When everything is ready, a synthetic finish strip is added to make the bright LED light diffuse and pleasant. The system can be extended with an accompanying dimmer and a remote control.

Three specialists FN Neuhofer Skirtings with LED lights are trendy and can ensure safety too.

They are used to generate special moods in a room or to spend small light on your nightly way to the bathroom The FN LED-track is placed near the floor so it will highlight the wood grain in brushed floors. The FN LED light system offers a combination of fixing rail and LED ducting. Any Neuhofer skirting up to 90 mm in height and fitted with a clip groove may be plugged on. You find many solutions on the market, for stairs and for skirtings. But the main application will be the skirting. On stairnoses it`s a little complicated to get the electricity to each stairnose. Therefore you need a little more than common DIYskills. But the application in the skirting is very easy, so most people use it there. The floorboard thickness does not have an effect on the type of LED-light. The installation is easy, so floor fitters can fit this skirtings by themselves. Such LED-lights are normally connected to the electricity circuit with a transformator because they are powered by low Voltage energy (12V or 24V).

when stronger parquet is laid floatingly, the PRINZ LED channel “LUXline” with a floor covering width of 22 mm can be used. “LUX-line” can be installed either individually or with skirting board on top. The Prinz LED skirting boards are basically installed like any other skirting board.

Progress Profiles Skirting boards with LED lights are a real trend representing a creative solution to decorate spaces in a way far beyond traditional lamps and lights. The reason for using them depends on the space in which they have to be used. In hotel’s hallways, for example, Proskirting GILED or Proskirting LED are suitable to show the way in the dark, giving at the same time great aesthetic value. Otherwise, in hospitals and public spaces, these skirting boards can be installed down the hall and in rooms to light up and reassure patients. Skirting boards with LED lights can be installed everywhere and our Proskirting GILED can also be fitted along the ceiling as contemporary fitting-out or to decorate walls; Prostair LED, instead, is a non-slip stair-nosing profiles with an integrated LED lighting system.

Progress Profiles skirting boards with lighting system are connected to the electricity circuit.

Prinz Especially as emergency lighting or for orientation, LED skirting boards are ideal because they primarily illuminate the floor area. By using different colored LED strips or warm color tones decorative use is just as popular. Staircases are more likely to be illuminated by stair nosings like Prinz's profiles no. 218 / 219, which suit perfectly to illuminate the step below. Mainly LED skirtings are used along the wall. Thanks to its indirect lighting, the universally applicable Prinz skirting board no. 358 can be installed along the ceiling, thus it can function as a modern wall lamp, a ceiling washer or illuminated ceiling strip. The illumination has no influence on the floorboard thickness because the skirting boards are mounted on top of the flooring. For particularly large expansion joints, for example,

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Who has products for giving a wooden floor/parquet a distressed look?

OLD WOOD HAS RUN OUT! WHAT NOW? THE RIGHT PRODUCTS CAN GIVE NEW WOOD AN OLD LOOK

Photo – Williams & Koch

Why should we distress wooden floors? The answer to that question is relatively simple: Real old floors or old wood from cloisters, castles, old train wagons, old and weathered bollards, cheese boards, and such like are now so scarce that prices also reflect that shortage. The ‘real stuff ’ is for the happy few. Yet demand for those floors is no less great, so what do we do? To answer that question we need a solid dose of creativity and technique. ‘Chemistry’ invariably lends a hand as well.

Imitating years of use

Mechanical distressing

Chemical distressing

In general, there are two ways to make new wooden floors look older, namely mechanical distressing and chemical distressing. Strictly speaking, we have two goals with mechanical distressing. Firstly, we want to give the impression that the floorboards have been produced using antiquated techniques from a century ago (brushing and scraping) and, secondly, give the impression that the floors have undergone years of use (by beating, drumming, and lashing).

Chemical products or interventions can affect the colour of the wood. With colour distressing we use special pigments or colour oils to give the impression that a new parquet floor is really an old one.

Shades of white and grey are extremely popular for doing that. This is commonly called white wash or even super white wash. With the latter, the floor is brushed lightly first. If you apply a white wash, you get a floor which is matt and a little chalky. Extremely dark colours can also help to give an antique look. We also achieve dark colours by ‘smoking’.

Imitating old techniques We all know that technology is making great strides. Machines from about 10 years ago did not yield the same quality as those of today.

That’s to say nothing about machines from 100 years ago! A century ago, it was not possible to saw straight without the sawing blade moving visibly. The same goes for planing! Likewise sanding. Whereas nowadays we can sandpaper to perfection by deploying various abrasives in succession, in ‘the good old days’ we had to rely on brushes. If we apply these old materials and techniques to a brand new oak wooden floor, we largely give the impression that the floor originates from ‘a different era’.

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Another way of distressing floors is to give the impression that they have been in use for decades. This can be done by creating marks of use. By beating and drumming, we give a floor certain damage which looks like traces of high traffic or consumption of floorboards by insects or micro-organisms. By making some small holes we can imitate woodworm damage, a frequent occurrence in older houses on floors in pine or pitch pine. Beating reinforces the used effect of the floor.

Smoking Smoking wooden floors is one of the most popular and most attractive distressing techniques. Smoking is a process in which a reaction is generated with the tannic acid in the wood. A lot of wood sorts have either no or insufficient tannic acid to evoke an aged colour. Oak does have enough tannic acid, especially in the form of European oak and American oak. Russian or Chinese oak has much less tannic acid and can only be smoked lightly at best.

Reactive stains When we apply a reactive stain, the stain enters into a reaction with the tannic acid to bring about a discolouration in the stained wood.

The discolouration is highly intense since it occurs in the cell wall of the wood. The final colour is affected by the amount of tannic acid in the wood. And so, that is the key to a unique floor covering. The tannic acid in wood is never identical in two different trees. Makers can present dozens of colours, but the end result will always depend on the tannic acid. An example of a reactive stain is the lye stain, which is widely sold. It gives a comparable effect to that obtained by the classic ‘leaching’. Oak wood, in particular, gives you the look of an aged floor.

What’s on the market ?

Blanchon The range of distressing products such as powders, synthetic tints or positive tints, pigments in powder form, and several chemical agents for wood is endless. This is where professionals look for the fastest, simplest, and most economic solution.

Blanchon offers parquet traders two ranges of wood tints in water phase. One (1K) is based on colouring agents, the other (2K) on pigments. There is also a range of reactive stains for distressing.

All these products decorate, but they don’t protect. The durability in the lifespan of these products varies between ‘colouring agents’ and ‘pigments’.

The latter are less sensitive to UV light.

making techniques to obtain these finishes with only one treatment also suitable for the industrial user. The unique interface between carefully measured reducing chemicals that react with the components inside the wood, typically tannins and a sophisticated choice of fibre-coupling dyes combined with the unique Ciranova signature of a natural finish, form the basis of this New Technology.

The most popular Ciranova product suitable for aging floors is our Reactive Stain New Technology. This stain is easy to apply and gives the wood an authentic look, an effect similar to the natural oxidation process. There are 4 inter-miscible Fumed colours from Light

Ciranova Consumers and designers are looking away from uniformly stained, high-build, floor finishes and are looking for floors as though created by nature itself.

Techniques, such as ammonia fuming, torching and chemical staining are well known and traditionally used to achieve these looks.

In order to avoid those complex and hard to control manufacturing processes, Ciranova has invested heavily in

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Who has products for giving a wooden floor/parquet a distressed look?

Fumed to Deep Torched giving a sustainable alternative to fuming.

This new product line in Reactive Stains is complimented by 4 interesting and desirable shades of Grey which are also intermiscible. Factoring in the natural variations of the wood and utilising correct finishing methods, this new technology enables the manufacturing of reproducible, stable, high quality and desirable wood floor finishes.

Chimiver OLD WEST

The R&D laboratory in CHIMIVER has developed a new and innovative range of reacting solutions for ageing your wood: OLD WEST. The use of OLD WEST allows to obtain a large variety of effects imitating the old weathered woods. OLD WEST is different from classical stains or dyes which are coloring the wood hiding its grain structure; OLD WEST enhances the natural beauty of wood standing out color differences into the wood grain.

The OLD WEST reacting solutions are clear and pigments free; the natural wood color is changed through the reaction of the solution with the tannin or resins contained in the wood.

Consider that the final results can change based on: - Quantity of product - Possible dilution of product - Reacting solution overlap - Humidity and temperature during working and drying.

- Drying conditions in between the coats - Wood preparation (sanding, scraping, brushing etc..)

- Application method - Tannin and resin content - Country of origin of the wood - Chemical nature (water or solvent-based) of the fixing prymer

DevoNatural® Reactive 300-600-1200 is a reactive distressing product with a smoked effect for ‘oak’ parquet and wooden floors, doors, windows, furniture, etc.

The product is an ecological mix of hexa hydrates and does not contain any harmful or irritating substances or ammonia! Reactive 300-6001200 can be applied only to oak! DevoNatural® Reactive is a distressing product which is available in three

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concentrations, namely 400, 600, and 1200. The higher the figure, the stronger the reactive distressing. On oak wood DevoNatural® Reactive gives the wood a naturally aged look. The effect can vary, depending on the area of growth, the sort of oak, and the diversity of the oak wood. The tannic acid content of the oak determines the colour effect!

Plastor To give your parquet an aged and trendy look, Plastor offers HARD WAX OIL DECOPROTECT. This ready-for-use parquet oil preserves the natural look of parquet. Nine colours are available for giving parquet a more or less aged appearance. The number of coats applied can affect the final look of the parquet: the more coats, the more satiny the finish. This finish does not absorb the wood fibres and penetrates deeply without leaving a film on the surface. The oil makes parquet floors more resistant to stains and simplifies maintenance. Plastor is a dedicated brand and innovates to improve air quality to preserve traders’ health. That is why this product is graded as A +, which guarantees that only a small quantity of chemical particles are emitted into the air.

Williams & Koch

Williams & Koch is the top specialist in distressing products. New is the combination of PRM 60 with SMP 1230 and SMP 1260 which can instantly produce smoked and double-smoked effects without ammonia. Moreover, these products are not toxic, irritant, or harmful to the environment. The Linochrom grey-ageing products from the range have proved themselves for years through their unique operation and convenience. They are used both in the factory and on site. Branton B and Branton E are used to achieve extreme distressing effects. Here Williams & Koch offers fully fledged systems. Fumicolour (formerly Branton C3) consists of two base products with six special colouring agents and is the first distressing stain which can be fully coloured. Effects such as intense antique French cognac shades or oak liquorice, swamp oak, and tropical wood are within reach thanks to Fumicolour.

In keeping with tradition, the Williams & Koch products contain only harmless chemicals.

∂ Industry news FN Neuhofer The lifetime achievement award goes to... …Franz Neuhofer senior

As part of this year’s Domotex trade fair in Hanover (10–13/1/2020), Franz Neuhofer senior., the retired head of the family-owned company FN Neuhofer, was awarded the “Parquet Star 2020 for his life’s work”.

The successful family business, based in the Austrian town of Zell am Moos, celebrates its 370th anniversary this year, and Franz Neuhofer senior (9th generation) his 80th birthday.

These wonderful events were topped off right at the beginning of the year with the lifetime achievement award, presented by Parkett Magazine. During a festive event at the Domotex 2020 in Hanover, Franz Neuhofer senior was presented with the “Parquet Star 2020 for his life’s work”, with Peter Hamberger, the honorary recipient of the prize from 2016, giving an emotional laudation.

“This prize is a great honour for me and I am delighted to receive it. I’d like to express my thanks to Parkett Magazine for the award, and especially Peter Hamberger, with whom I’ve been doing business for many decades”, Franz Neuhofer senior said. And furthermore: “When I look back on “370 years of Neuhofer”, I’m proud and also a bit humble. Only a few family-run businesses can look back on such a long history. I’m very pleased that our children have found their way both in their personal and professional lives. Our grandchildren are also doing wonderfully well – that gives me high hopes for the future”.

So a good start to a new year, in which our family company – true to our slogan “WE. KNOW. WOW!” – hits the ground running, and will again be able to earn this “Wow!” of enthusiasm from our partners and customers.

Domotex asia/CHINAFLOOR NEW DATES! NEW VENUE! New show dates: 31 August – 2 September, 2020 Why these new dates: - The beginning of September marks the end of holidays for Europe and USA. - Statistically, September is one of the most productive months, as the industry awakes, the innovations go out, the business start.

- Timewise in what concerns the global situation with the novel Covid19, those dates are within what is considered a “safe” period for business to resume in China.

Why National Exhibition and Convention Centre: NECC is the largest exhibition complex in the city and is considered one of Shanghai’s newest landmarks with its distinct four-leaf clover design.

Located in the immediate vicinity of Shanghai – Hongqiao International Airport and the Hongqiao transportation hub, with excellent connections to metro, high-speed trains, and buses, guaranteeing very good accessibility for visitors.

Facilities at NECC include exhibition halls, the commercial plaza, office buildings and a high-end brand hotel. These four facilities are linked together by an 8 – meter- high elevated Exhibition Boulevard so that people can easily traverse these functional areas.

Where to stay: The venue is directly connected to the 5-star Intercontinental Hotel Shanghai NECC. Other hotels in the vicinity are: Primus Residence/The QUBE Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao – 10 min walk Holiday Inn Shanghai Hongqiao West - 10 min by shuttle bus Why DACF will still be successful in 2020: The show postponement to the second half of 2020 ensures the effectiveness of the exhibition and the health and safety of exhibitors and visitors. According to national authorities’ expertise, by August the industry will recover and the environment will be ‘healthy’ once again.

Business in China will go on and we want to offer a perfect platform for it. Many of our exhibitors have already stated that they are grateful to have a postponed (Virus free) opportunity to return to China for business.

The show will provide the industry with better and more suitable conditions to conduct business some of which can be attributed to a new, modern fairground, which allows the show to grow both in terms of space and in terms of visitors’ reception. DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR 2020 Highlights: Carpet Luxury Brands Carpet Show: A Contemporary High- End Carpet Show featuring an exquisite hand-made design rug collection of renowned contemporary carpet designers.

International Buyers Carpet delegation: A delegation of carpet and rug buyers and dealers from all around the world co-organized with Cover Magazine Treasures of the Orient: A dedicated area promoting oriental carpets and rugs in a space of more than 650sqm.

Wood Hosted Buyers Program: The perfect opportunity for wood flooring professionals to meet top wood flooring manufacturers from China in a professional B2B setting.

World Flooring Forum: Promoting for the 6th time the high-end developments, seeking new practices and innovations, the conference will gather global industry leaders and KOLs to present and discuss the transformation of the wood flooring industry.

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

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Kenya

KENYA PROVES THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU SQUANDER YOUR ASSETS

We’ve known for a long time that Africa has a large storeroom with by far the most charming wood sorts on the planet. Obviously, this knowledge added an extra dimension to a trip to the ‘Horn of Africa’ for the editor of this trade journal. We can now launch a new album under the title ‘Floor Forum in Kenya’. Was the journey fruitless? In terms of forests it certainly was, or at least what is left of them.

Against a background of reckless abuse of raw materials, the country is permeated with terrorism, criminality, poverty, and a population explosion which exceeds economic growth.

Taking photographs is more or less prohibited.

Geography Kenya lies on the equator and has a surface area of 582,646km². The country has a border with Ethiopia (830km) and Sudan (232km) in the north, Somalia (682km) and the Indian Ocean to the east, Uganda (933km) and Lake Victoria to the west, and Tanzania (769 km) in the south. There is a series of coral reefs and a number of islands off the occasionally jagged coastline, including the Lama archipelago and Mandu. From the coastline, which is up to 200km wide and 150m long, the country gradually ascends towards a parallel located plateau between 150 and 300 metres high. In the north and north-west this merges into an upland plain (300 to 1500 metres high). This is part

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of the East African plateau, which runs in the south-west into the Kenya Highlands (1500 to 3000m high). The Highlands are dissected in a northern-southern direction by the East African Plain, which is a branch of the north to south running Great African Plain or Great Rift Valley. This valley lies 600 to 900m lower than the surrounding area and is flanked by high volcanoes. Near Lake Naivasha the plain lies about 2000 metres above sea level. Here we also find the second highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kenya (5199 metres). This area is the most fertile part of the country and the lower-lying parts of the mountains are used intensively for agriculture. This valley hosts a number of lakes, including Lake Rudolf, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Lake Magadi, which are all largely within the territory of Kenya between the two valleys. The west of Kenya consists of an undulating hilly landscape which stretches from the Sudanese border in the north to Tanzania in the south.

Economy Kenya has a more modern economy than other East African countries.

However, the disappointing economic growth is a major problem.

Average annual growth is a mere 2% as opposed to population growth of around 4% (in 2017 this was 5%). This is due to the stunted agricultural production and the unfavourable results of an industrialisation policy which was geared to curbing imports. The country is heavily

dependant on foreign capital. Foreign debt amounts to 54% of gross domestic product (2017). Another serious problem is unemployment (about 40% in 2017), which is caused mainly by the rapid population explosion.

Agriculture In 2017, over 60% of the working population was employed in agriculture. However, the contribution from this sector to the gross domestic product (GDP) was a mere 34.5%. The vast majority of Kenyans live in a region with good or reasonably good arable lands (20% of the total surface area). However, almost half of the rural population lives on the poverty line. Nevertheless, agriculture is the main source of foreign exchange (half of exports consist of agricultural products, namely coffee and tea), followed by tourism, which is growing rapidly. The constantly recurring periods of drought are a major problem for the agricultural sector.

Industry Industry (about 17.8% of GDP in 2017) and trade and services (about 47.5% of GDP) are based mainly on private enterprise. The industrial, agricultural, and tourist sectors are largely in the hands of foreign companies. Although the government wants more Kenyan participation in the economy, it also encourages foreign companies to invest in Kenya.

Mainly food Another hindrance to economic progress is a lack of minerals and energy sources, such as petroleum, gas, and coal. About 40% of all industrial production comprises food and luxuries. Other notable industries are the chemical, metal, textile and leather, and paper and graphic industries. Most big industrial enterprises are owned by foreign companies. Most companies are located around Nairobi and Mombasa, but there are some smaller industrial centres in Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Thika. Filip De Ridder (Floor Forum) says: ‘Besides big companies which yield the lion’s share of production, there are scores of smaller traditional companies in Nairobi.’ Only 20% of industrial production is destined for export. The annual production growth is based entirely on the rising national demand.

Wood and parquet Forests in Kenya Kenyan plant growth along the coast and around the river estuaries consists of coconut palm trees, mangrove forests, and tropical woods.

It is a fertile region where mangoes, lemons, oranges, and many tropical flowers grow. Further inland the greenery turns into a savannah landscape with thorn bushes, screen acacia trees, and baobabs. This vegetation is found in the eastern and northern parts of Kenya. On the plateau you find highland woods, which, depending on height and climate, vary from the very heavy wood of the wild olive tree to the very light wood of the gyrocarpus jacquinii. A lot of mountain forests also have a bamboo belt. You will find some splendid woods on the volcano hills (up to 3300m). A lot of screen acacias grow at the foot of those hills.

economically. Moreover, the expansion of agriculture and the growing demand for wood have reduced forest resources from 30% to 3% over a period of 50 years. An ecological catastrophe threatens because 25% of the country is already desert-like. The bamboo forests are certainly important for the large paper factory in Webuye.

Nevertheless top class wood!

Kenya has various top class sorts of beautiful yet sometimes unknown wood sorts. We mention here two sorts which are used for parquet.

Panga-panga ‘Panga-panga’ has many of the same features as ‘wenge’, but it has a light brown colour. The drying process and the sunlight make it increasingly darker. This durable type of wood comes from a tree which only grows 18 to 20 metres high with a cross-section from 50 to 60cm and grows mainly on the east coast of Kenya and Mozambique and near the lakes of Tanzania. The wood’s positive features make it suitable for all sorts of applications (e.g. parquet and strip floors, door and window frames, wooden wall cladding, and stairs and staircase steps), but also wood carving, sculpture, and solid and veneer wood for the furniture industry.

Muhuhu Muhuhu has become renowned in Europe as parquet wood. Trials in Great Britain have shown that both flat-sawn and quarter-sawn wood is not only highly durable, but also wears evenly with no splinters or roughening on the surface. Since the wood cannot be nailed, people mainly apply the mosaic-type of parquet, which can be glued directly onto stony substrates. Muhuhu parquet is suitable not only for use in private houses, but also in buildings where there is heavy traffic or in companies where fork lift trucks are used. Muhuhu is strong and durable and is popular in Kenya and Tanzania for hut stakes and beams and for construction purposes on bridges, ports, and such like.

Sustainable forest management reaps rewards The fact that the forest area for exploitation has decreased from 30% to 3% of the surface has resulted from years of poor management. Filip De Ridder concludes: ‘That shows all the more the need for sustainable forest management initiatives from organisations which supervise these matters such as the FSC, PEFC, and many others.’

Agriculture versus forestry ‘In Floor Forum and Floor Forum International we’ve often talked about sustainable forest management and initiatives such as FSC and PEFC,’ says Filip De Ridder. ‘Here we get a stark reminder of why those organisations are so valuable.’ Here in Kenya people have been cutting wood recklessly for a long time, with all the associated consequences. The facts do not lie. The forest cover, which lies mostly between 1800 and 3000m above sea level, is largely protected, so it cannot be exploited

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Floor Forum International 108

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∂ Product news RENZO BORGONOVO / FNT-TRABATTONI STAMPI Renzo Borgonovo Srl and FNT Srl would like to present here their new 2020 design. The Naguri pattern, as it has been named, has a distinct Oriental atmosphere, and its original shape has been hand-carved by a Japanese artisan, who took inspiration from the shapes and colors of his home country. The Naguri pattern is simple and elegant, allowing the ennobling of the wood without getting a too much complicated result. Perfect to brush the environment with a Far East atmosphere, with mysterious and adventurous shades. Renzo Borgonovo Srl and FNT Srl would like to invite you to discover all the endless possibilities you can achieve with their hot embossing and finishing solutions: from ancient to modern patterns, from slightly brushed to geometric looks, our technology, simple and reliable, is what it takes!

MEISTER

Bäckeralm oak 8834

Alpine flame planks: Parquet flooring for all the senses MeisterWerke expands its parquet flooring range to add a plank collection with a spruce middle layer: The brand is Hain by MEISTER. Pure nature. Pure parquet. The name of the new parquet flooring collection, alpine flame, represents a return to the natural and the pristine, and a focus on the essentials. The alpine flame planks feature a room-sized format of 2200 x 195 mm and a thickness of 14 mm – made of 100% naturally grown wood. With a thickness of 3.6 mm, the covering layer can be sanded down many times. The alpine flame planks are available in 12 natural oak shades, in the gradings “vital” or “harmonious”.

Every plank is finished with a natural, high-quality oil finish. The valuable natural oil dries oxidatively – without any fuss. It forms a protective and simultaneously breathable surface and, due to its soft and matt touch, particularly highlights the natural wood feel of oak planks.

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

DINACHOC, THE ACOUSTIC SPECIALIST This means choosing for efficiency and quality with due regard for the environment.

Dinachoc’s universal acoustic solution is specially adapted to most floor coverings and puts paid to noise by looking after your loved ones. The Dinachoc S801 underlay, which is the product of the circular economy, transforms used tyres into a useful raw material. With its A+ class, it takes its place amongst the most healthy solutions in the field of volatile organic compound emissions. The material retains its shape and quality and does not fall apart. It has a 50-year guarantee and yields a pleasant and powerful long-term solution via insulation with professional performance levels!

Use Dinachoc C901 adhesive to optimise your floor installation. It is a mono-component hybrid and odourless adhesive, which contains no solvents, no isocyanates, and no formaldehyde and is also in class A+. It helps you give the floor a maximum lifespan and you also add an acoustic insulation of 3dB. Enjoy the peace and quiet and the freedom to live in your own interior.

Dinachoc – 170 Rue de la Roquette, 75011 Paris – 07 83 02 03 14 contact@dinachoc.com - www.dinachoc.fr

PRIMACOVER: UNIVERSAL SELF-ADHESIVE PROTECTION FOR FLOORS AND STAIRS Protect the floor from damage during maintenance, painting, and renovation. In the PrimaCover range, PrimaCover Standard is the most universal all rounder. It is suitable for most substrates, in-cluding floors and stairs. PrimaCover Standard is a re-usable, universal, self-adhesive, and solid pol-yester cover with a top layer of impenetrable PE foil.

Protector PrimaCover Standard protector is suitable for substrates which do not need to dry out (any more) and therefore where no damp needs to evaporate. Examples include existing floors and stairs in wood, ceramic tiles, synthetics, or laminate. PrimaCover Standard can withstand debris, grit, water, paint, climbing gear, wheelbarrows, and falling tools. The adhesive coat offers sufficient grip on the substrate and can be removed without leaving any residue.

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

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Floor Forum International 108

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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 sociopolitical history of that country, but at the same time are also informed about the economic potential for what wood is concerned.

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170 rue de la Roque�e 75011 Paris contact@dinachoc.com - www.dinachoc.fr Contact : +33 7 83 02 03 14

Your specialist in acoustics

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