Special
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
20
Floor Forum International 108
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.