FFI 114 February 2021 by Media-Pact NV / FFI bvba

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° 114 Februar y 2021 - 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: Malaysia Special New trends in LVT, PVC, vinyl, and design floors

RISE UP! Standing edge sanding

Advertorial Habo (B)

Advertorial Chipps (B)

Advertorial

Steico (D)

NEW PRODUCT STEICOunderfloor LVT: ECOLOGICAL UNDERLAY FOR VINYL AND DESIGN FLOORS SOUND PROOF INSULATION Advertorial Steico (D) MADE OUT OF NATURAL WOOD FIBRE Modern LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) and design floorings are characterised by solidity, easy installation and a wide range of designs. Products made out of recyclable raw materials find high demand in flooring applications, and the new STEICOunderfloor LVT follows the trend to more sustainability. The insulation boards are made from natural wood fibre and are adaptable to floating installations of LVT and vinyl coverings of the MMFA sub group 2.

Bona ErgoEdge

With an impact sound reduction of 19 dB, the boards provide an excellent acoustic insulation. The special underside surface compensates punctual unevenness. The high compressive strength (>600 kPa) ensures maximum security and protects the flooring. With a thickness of only 2.3mm, STEICOunderfloor LVT is perfectly adapted to new build as well as renovations, where the new flooring can often only have a limited thickness.

Sanding just got better. With a constant focus on better work processes and results, the Bona FlexiSand range lifts sanding to a higher level with the Bona ErgoEdge for faster, upright, ergonomic sanding.

Special Terrace floors : wood versus composite

The underlay is compatible with underfloor heating systems. One pack contains 15 panels of STEICOunderfloor LVT, which is enough to cover 7m2. Thanks to their 790 x 590 mm format, they are easy to handle and quick to install. They can easily be cut with a utility knife.

The new Bona ErgoEdge enables you to sand wider and closer than ever. Thanks to its 178 mm wide curved discs you can now perform 90% of all edge sanding while standing upright, without changing machine. Together

STEICOunderfloor LVT is free from binding agents and contributes to a healthy living environment. STEICO woodfibre insulation boards are ecological and natural products. The wood used in our products is certified by the international organisations FSC and PEFC. It comes from responsible forestry to protect the forest ecosystem for future generations. We use fresh untreated wood from forest residues or by-products from the sawmill industry and transform it in high performance insulation.

with Bona FlexiSand and the wall distance wheel you can experience faster, simpler sanding in an upright, ergonomic position, with optimal control. Enjoy improved sanding with the innovative Bona ErgoEdge.

1 cubic metre of wood binds up to 1t CO2. In the form of STEICO insulation materials, the CO2 remains removed from the atmosphere over the lifetime of the product. Wood fibre insulation reduces the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. Wood fibre insulation also provides security and protection, and it remains stable and durable.

bona.com/ergoedge

REV O IN S LUTIO N AND ING

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

Special: Malaysia Special New trends in LVT, PVC, vinyl, and design floors

RISE UP!

“Bona launches the new ErgoEdge – for upright edge sanding”

Standing edge sanding

Advertorial Habo (B)

Advertorial Chipps (B)

Advertorial

Steico (D)

Bona ErgoEdge

REVO IN SA LUTIO NDING N

Special Terrace floors : wood versus composite

bona.com/ergoedge

About STEICO STEICO develops, produces and markets ecological construction products made of renewable raw materials. STEICO is the European market leader for wood fibre insulation materials. STEICO is positioned as a system provider for ecological residential construction and is the only manufacturer in the industry to offer an integrated wooden construction system in which insulation material and construction components supplement each other. The Munich-based company’s products are used in new construction and when renovating roofs, walls, ceilings, floors and facades. STEICO’s products allow the construction of future-proof, healthy buildings with a particularly high quality of living and a healthy atmosphere. STEICO’s products offer reliable protection against cold, heat and also noise, and they permanently improve the building’s energy efficiency. For more information please visit www.steico.com.

Floor Forum International n° 114 February 2021 Photo Bona Floor Forum International 109

4 Inside news 5 Advertorial Habo (B) 8 Special Terrace floors : wood versus composite 13 Special Who has adhesives for different screeds in

combination with floor heating ? 16 Special Manually operated machines for roughening up old

tiles and removing adhesive residue from old carpet 19 Special Who has silane adhesives for fitting LVT, PVC, vinyl,

and design floors?

Photo –

Sanding just got better! With a constant focus on smoother processes and greater results, the Bona FlexiSand range lifts sanding to a higher level with the introduction of the Bona ErgoEdge - created for faster and more upright, ergonomic sanding. With the Bona ErgoEdge, sanding not only becomes less demanding, but also simpler and more effective. In fact, with this innovation, an estimated 90% of all edge sanding can be covered while standing up. The wider discs enable for more surface to be covered in one go, thereby reducing the number of turns required for a perfectly abraded surface. The key to its unique performance lays in the system philosophy, expanding the scope of the Bona FlexiSand Family. The Bona ErgoEdge is developed to be mounted onto the Bona PowerDrive Connect and attached to the Bona FlexiSand 1.9, for maximum power and performance. Together, the Bona FlexiSand Family brings you the force and control needed to secure a simpler, faster and more secure sanding process.

21 Special Who has products for the preparation of indoor

wooden/parquet floors i.e. for applying oil, lacquer, or hard wax? 25 Special Colours: who has what and how are colours

applied? 31 Special How do you assess the substrate? 34 Advertorial Chipps (B) 36 Special New trends in LVT, PVC, vinyl, and design floors 37 Advertorial Steico (D) 39 Industry news 40 Special Malaysia

Like the existing Bona PowerDrive, the Bona PowerDrive Connect is using a unique directionfree sanding and brushing technique, combining excellent performance with easy operation. Its click-on mount enables you to switch between disc and brush in just a minute. It means that the Bona FlexiSand together with the Bona PowerDrive Connect can be equipped with many sorts of discs for a wide variety of flooring preparation jobs, such as edge sanding, fine sanding, coarse sanding, brushing of wood floors, as well as stripping of resilient surfaces. Having the Bona ErgoEdge equipped with the 178 mm diameter disc kit is what makes the edge sanding so great. The size makes it compatible for use with the same abrasives as with your edge sander, reducing the amount of materials needed for the job. In addition, if comparing the wider discs to the traditional 150 mm diameter, the 178 mm discs reach closer to the edge of the FlexiSand, creating a wider sanding track than before. It simply speeds up the entire sanding operation. In essence - significantly improved ergonomic performance marries work efficiency!

42 Product news

Editing & advertisements FFI bvba PO BOX 29 9870 Olsene, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)475/44 20 77 sales@media-pact.com www.floor-forum.com

Advertising & subscriptions Filip De Ridder sales@media-pact.com Adriana Dascalu info@media-pact.com Hilde De Ridder floorforum@telenet.be

Publisher Filip De Ridder

Editors: Jan Hoffman Ludwig Janssens † Jean Paul Talbot Filip De Ridder Jacques Legros

Lay-out: Be-able Communication www.be-able.be

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

Production: Lowyck - Oostende

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 Chipps (B) commemorates OSB as a trendy floor, wall, or ceiling finish The parquet market now has a new sort of floor in the form of Chipps. Chipps is based on OSB panels and commemorates this material completely, where the emphasis is on offering a trendy finished product which can be installed not only on the floor, but even against the wall or on the ceiling. What is revolutionary about Chipps is that the classic building panel makes OSB extremely trendy. The name refers to the ‘wood chips’ which make up an OSB panel. The baseline, Tasty Wood Boards, refers to the trend story of Chipps, which comprises six collections with 40 different designs in total. The new collection is designed by Roel Geraerts, the former manager of Z-Parket (Genk (B), in collaboration with his partner Romina De Giorgi. Chipps has a total of seven finish coats, has tongue and groove on the four sides, and can be fitted floating or without adhesive. This low-maintenance floor is suitable for various sorts of rooms and can even be used as a temporary structure. Extra dealers wanted The company is presently looking for extra sales points in the Benelux. They also long to sell their products abroad where they would like to invite private agents or bigger dealers to share their thoughts about the further development of the brand on the (mainly) European market. You can contact them via info@chipps.be. You will also find extra details on their web site: www.chipps.be

11th edition of the Plastor Vitrification Awards As in every year, the presentation of the Plastor Vitrification trophies is an opportunity to recognize projects carried out by parquet professionals, partners of the brand. The technical and decorative aspect of the site, but also the quality of the work and the craftsmanship are fully taken into account. The floors of these exceptional sites benefit, in terms of performance protection, from Plastor products and systems. The winners of this 11th edition are: - 1st Prize: La Grande Halle du Wip in Colombelles (14), produced by the company Les Sens du Bois (50),

- 2nd Prize: The town hall of Plourin-Lès-Morlaix (51), carried out by the company Corre ponnement SAS (29).

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- 3rd Prize: A private house in Béarnaise (64), produced by the company Esteves (64)

Chimiver

It was in 1965 when Mr. Giovanni Panseri established Chimiver, a small laboratory for the production of lacquers for wood and wooden floors. Today, Chimiver has become the undisputed leader in Italy for the manufacturing of products for glueing, treating and maintainance of wooden floors. Customer focus, an immediate response to market needs and synergy among operators are some of the ingredients which have brought Chimiver to produce different and complete ranges of products: wooden, resilient, resin and outdoor. Chimiver has always made innovation; quality and strong ecological awareness are its strong points, promoting a style of responsible corporate organization with a view to sustainable development that minimizes emissions of CO2. The production systems are powered by energy from renewable sources, just like in the R&D laboratories, the products are made with environmentally friendly raw materials and awarded with national and international certifications. Chimiver is the first company in Europe having achieved the environmental certification ”Plastic Second Life” by using packagings made of more than 90%

Advertorial

Habo (B)

HABO SUPPLIES ONE OF A KIND PARQUET FLOORING FOR SUSTAINABLE HEADQUARTERSR Many beautiful parquet floors are being installed ever y day, from simple strips to a wonderful chevron and a magnificent made to measure floor. But recently one project in par ticular completely stands out: the dozens of kilometres of Habo strips that are installed like the grow th rings of a tree in the new headquar ters of a landscape contractor. For 50 years the Dutch landscape contractor Krinkels has been known for its construction and maintenance of public and commercial properties. For the new headquarters in Breda the Krinkels Group wanted a building that perfectly blends with nature. A stress-free environment where the well-being of the employees takes centre stage. Paul de Ruiter Architects designed a transparent, energy-efficient and durable complex where inside and outside flow into each other. The circular atrium is the beating heart of the building and is defined by a monumental ficus. Around this ficus run the year rings of a tree … as an extraordinary parquet floor. Almost 40 kilometres of solid small strips were cut by parquet producer Habo in a ratio of 70% French oak prime and 30% teak. The majority are strips of 9x9mm, only for the smaller growth rings that needed to be able to bend a little more strips of 9x7mm were cut. The parquet floor is installed traditionally, pinned and glued onto a mosaic subfloor. The Dutch fitter Jakko Woudenberg designed the special floor and installed it with a team of colleagues. A daring exploit that lasted six weeks twice, first the ground floor and later the stairs and first floor. The Dutch Wood Artist was rightly awarded with a Vakwerk Award in the category interior design for this fine example of craftsmanship. All the international attention proves the uniqueness of this project. It has even appeared in several American trade magazines. This global interest is the icing on the cake for the designers, fitters and suppliers of the future-oriented headquarters. For more information visit us on www.habo.be

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∂ Inside news of recycled plastic. Chimiver wants to be a pioneer of this important project because environmental sustainability is a responsibility that lives day after day; a commitment aimed to satisfy the needs of the present without harming future generations. +39 035 795031 - info@chimiver.com - www.chimiver.com

BUZON, MANUFACTURER OF PEDESTALS

terrace. It is in this context that laying on pedestals quickly became a requirement, responding to all the constraints encountered on the sites. A veritable precursor in the sector, Buzon was able to respond to market expectations and develop solutions and products for all types of projects. Residential terraces, flat roof terraces, garden landscaping, fountain terraces… Buzon offers solutions for every implementation. Buzon floor pedestals are adjustable height, making them suitable for the construction of raised terraces up to 1120 mm in height. There is a range of levelling accessories to facilitate the arrangement of outdoor spaces. More information: www.buzon-world.com

DOMOTEX 2021 becomes DOMOTEX DIGITAL DAY

Creating a terrace in a conventional manner is not always easy. Expansion of the joints, difficulty to evacuate the water, control of the slopes, etc. All these problems strongly compromise the durability of the

Floor Forum International 114

After initially being postponed to May 18-20, DOMOTEX will no longer take place as a hybrid trade show format this year. The current global infection situation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic makes it impossible to plan and organize a physical presence on site in Hannover at the world's leading trade show

∂ Inside news for carpets and floor coverings. Instead, new digital formats will cover the topics of the international floor coverings industry in May 2021. Following the renewed rise in coronavirus-related new infections on a global scale, Deutsche Messe AG has decided that DOMOTEX 2021 cannot take place as a hybrid event as planned, after initially shifting from January to May. Currently, an alternative digital business platform is planned in form of the DOMOTEX DIGITAL DAY on May 20, 2021. The focus element of this platform is a digital conference that will address current and forward-looking topics in the international flooring industry. "Trade shows like DOMOTEX, which are characterized by a very high level of internationality on both sides, amongst exhibitors as well as visitors, have a long planning period. Following the recent surge in global coronavirus cases, accompanied by lockdowns, worldwide travel warnings and restrictions and quarantine requirements, we now have had to make this decision. Unfortunately, for the first time in its 32-year history, we will not be able to organize DOMOTEX in 2021 as a physical trade show on our exhibition grounds in Hannover. Read more on www.floorforum.com/en/news DOMOTEX Press Contact Marketing & Communications - Gülsen Akgül Phone: +49 (0) 511 89-32108 - guelsen.akguel@messe.de Marketing & Communications - Anna von Kaweczynski Phone: +49 (0) 511 89-31603 - anna.von-kaweczynski@messe.de

Renzo Borgonovo Srl and FNT-Trabattoni Stampi Srl

Renzo Borgonovo Srl and FNT-Trabattoni Stampi Srl would like to wish everyone a happy new year, hoping for everyone for a good start of this 2021. This past year made our lives full of new hard challenges, which we confronted standing tall and trying to use our passion and creativity to overcome difficulties and propose new stimulus to the market. We remind everyone that we remain, as always, completely available to perform testing on your own product, which, luckily, can be done even in these lock-down times. Simply send us your own material, which we can thus process with our technology, often live during a video-call with you, and then send back to you for your vision and eventual finishing tests by your part. To have more details, receive a machine and rollers offer and organize a testing session with us, do not hesitate to contact us!

Custom-made

Quality Parquet

FOR PROFESSIONALS

SOLID

Promoting sustainable forest management

“Every product you need for a perfect �loor.” Tel: +32(0)11 63 64 00 - www.parketkerkhofs.be

IPE PARQUET Solid : 14x90 - 17x85 - 14x125 - 19/20x130/140 mm. Satin Varnish, Natura oil or ROC Varnish satin. Tongue and groove.

www.designparquet.com Floor Forum International 114

Special

Terrace floors : wood versus composite

BEAUTY WITHOUT BOUNDS COMPOSITE INSTEAD OF HARDWOOD FOR THE CLASSIC TERRACE

Photo – La San Marco Profili

Clients want an attractive outdoor terrace and wood probably springs to mind first. Yet several alternatives do exist which have been on the market for many years now, so the choice does extend beyond tropical hardwood. Broadly speaking, we can also tell clients that a composite terrace is certainly worth considering. Alternatively, they can even opt for thermally treated wood, which is basically a soft sort of wood artificially ‘upgraded’ by means of a treatment. In this article we consider particularly the benefits and drawbacks of composite terraces as compared to wood. We hope this will help parquet fitters to determine the ideal outdoor floor for their clients.

What is composite? Obviously, we need to make it clear what a composite material for use as a terrace actually is. In short, you could say it’s a material which reconciles the positive features of wood and synthetics. Composite is a mix of synthetics and wood or bamboo fibres. This means there are two sorts of composite planks, namely WPC (wood plastic composite) and BPC (bamboo plastic composite). What this amounts to is that during production the wood or bamboo fibres are mixed with synthetic grains before the mixture is sprayed into a cast under heavy pressure.

Floor Forum International 114

WPC consists mainly of wood fibres and recycled polyethylene. The wood fibres usually come from saw mills, furniture factories, or other woodwork industries (e.g. laminate or parquet makers). The principle is that the more wood fibre is used, the harder and stiffer the end product will be. BPC is produced in exactly the same way as WPC, but, obviously, bamboo is the main component instead of wood fibre. Using bamboo makes this product a little more expensive since bamboo fibres cost more than wood fibre. However, BPC has the advantage of being both harder and stronger than WPC.

Benefits and drawbacks Generally speaking, a composite terrace can stand up better to natural tensile forces. This is because the synthetics keep the fibres together and ensure that the material can withstand pushing forces. Moreover, you also have the obvious benefit that a composite terrace preserves the warm and natural look of wood and requires much less maintenance than wood. Sweeping, brushing or spraying with the garden hose from time to time will suffice to remove leaves, sand, and dirt. Other big advantages of composite are that it doesn’t go mouldy or rot, it is insect-proof, it has a long lifespan, and it can often be fully recycled. For the rest it is splinter-proof and, thanks to a special finish, the surface can be made anti-slip in all seasons. Finally, you also have to consider

the price. In comparison with wood (and certainly tropical hardwood), composite is sometimes cheaper, partly due to the usually rapid fitting, often with invisible fastening. On the other hand, a drawback of composite is that it can become discoloured over time under the influence of sun and rain. If you put heavy items on a composite terrace, this can cause scratches and, unlike with wood, you cannot sandpaper scratches away. Note: Composite planks, too, can swell and shrink considerably under the influence of sun, rain, air humidity, and temperature. And so, make sure you leave enough space between the planks to create a natural air stream to ensure rapid drying and counteract warping.

Thermally treated wood As a compromise, you could opt for thermally treated wood. If you do so, pay attention to the following points: Don’t forget that thermally treated wood will also age. An advantage is that a thermal treatment often means less expense than with composite. Finally, something not to be underestimated, thermally treated wood swells and shrinks less than composite.

Terrace in tropical hardwood All this takes nothing away from the fact that tropical wood is still a much coveted choice of wood for fitting terraces. Exotic wood (preferably certified wood, of course) does have lots of benefits. It has a long lifespan, requires little or no maintenance because you don’t have to treat the wood with varnish, it ages nicely over time, and has greater natural resistance to rotting and mould. Yet perhaps the best of all is obviously the guaranteed natural look.

Note that not all sorts of wood are equally suitable for use with a terrace. Note in particular that you use wood which shrinks or pulls as little as possible and which is quarter sawn (this means the wood will have had ample opportunity to dry thoroughly after cutting, and that ensures the right degree of moisture). As regards ideal wood sorts, there are a number of safe choices and afzelia and teak appear in just about every list. Afzelia and teak score highly because they are particularly resistant to the biggest enemy of all wood, namely damp. The fact is that damp accelerates the swelling and shrinking of wood. Add to that other benefits, such as Asian teak which gives you a beautiful brown to orange shade after planing and turns a smooth shade of brown after a few weeks in the sun. Other commonly used wood sorts are padauk, afrormosia, ipe, massaranduba, azobe, bilinga, and bangkirai. With those other wood sorts you do need to take care that you don’t just fit any wood haphazardly. For instance, with bangkirai, which is popular with consumers due to its price-quality ratio, you have to take account of shrinking and pulling (bangkirai is processed in ready-for-use products when has been wet sawn) and it also contains the less coveted sapwood. A nice choice in this row is ipe, originally from Latin America and with a typical fine grain. It doesn’t have any splinters and is thereby popular for use around swimming pools. Are you looking for quality at a somewhat more favourable price? If so, the highly stable African wood sort padauk is a choice well worth considering. With padauk, the attractive coral red to purple-brown heartwood ensures a unique look.

DENDERWOOD

Specialized importer in high-end exotic woods J.Cardijnstraat 3 | 9420 Erpe-Mere - Belgium T +32 (0) 53-73 74 74 | F +32 (0) 53-73 74 75 | E info@denderwood.com

www.denderwood.com denderwood adv 190 x 136 mm ander logo.indd 3

Floor Forum International 114

19/01/21 09:29

Special

Terrace floors : wood versus composite

What’s on the market ? Burger & Cie

Photo grad-2019-1

The best-selling wood sort at Burger & Cie is kebony, a gnarl-free sort of wood which becomes harder, more durable, and more stable through the injection of vegetable ingredients. Thermo-wood also accounts for a good proportion of turnover. As an alternative to wood, Burger & Cie offers the composite NEKKO, which is available in chestnut brown and grey. As this is in the classic co-extrusion segment, the price is comparable to that of a top quality wood sort. Due to the basic concept which Burger offers for terraces, any professional (carpenter, parquet floor fitter, landscape specialist, swimming pool fitter, etc.) can do the fitting. The wooden terrace and composite market is thriving and studies suggest this will continue in the next five years with forecasts of about 17% growth.

System from Eurotec and the desired patio coverings. The advantages of the Eurotec Stone System are therefore obvious: enormous economic efficiency ensures time-saving and uncomplicated installation. Various combinations of stone slabs with e.g. timber or WPC boards are possible, whereby the long-lasting durability of the patio is basically ensured.

FUTURA FLOORS SOLID IS OUR DNA!

Denderwood Are you also dreaming of a nice terrace in your garden? You can’t make up your mind because there are so many wood species suitable for decking? There are indeed a lot of possibilities. Denderwood can help with high-end tropical hardwoods: Ipe, padouk, afrormosia, teak … or maybe you are looking for decking in WPC. As exclusive distributor of UPM for the Benelux, Denderwood is also your partner for WPC material. Features of UPM: Low maintenance, scratch resistance, recylcled and recyclable, quick to install, splinter free. Don’t look any further and contact Denderwood to discover their large product range in tropical hardwoods en WPC.

Eurotec The Eurotec Stone-System – Multifunctional installation system The multifunctional installation system Stone System from Eurotec minimizes the effort involved in constructing a patio. With this system, different products from the categories of patio supports, substructures and fasteners are put together to build the optimal, individual patio. The ability to combine different patio coverings is particularly attractive. The user only needs a load-bearing substrate, the Stone

Floor Forum International 114

Our solid exotic wood for terraces comes as raw material and in finished form from Bolivia and Brazil. Cumaru, Ipe, Garapa and Marfil are the core of our program. Our customers have a choice between various surfaces, including smooth, rilled and rough rilled. We offer a custom made special profile (Wechselfalz), so the under construction cannot be seen. To guarantee the highest quality, all our decking is sanded twice. We also offer the possibility to oil every plank to highlight the long lasting deep color of the precious exotic wood. Rounding off our outdoor decking assortment is WPC, a wood plastic composite which is very popular in heavy-traffic areas. We offer these in a variety of popular colors for you to choose from. Futura wants to satisfy all your under construction needs so we offer advise and material to build this very important base structure for your terrace. We supply all the items you might need including wood or aluminum for under construction, pads, bases, clips, maintenance oil etc. Please call us! www.futurafloors.com

La San Marco Profili At La San Marco Profili, we offer both timber and composite deck. Regardless which material you choose for your decking project, you can count on us to deliver superb quality and workmanship. The important thing to remember is that your deck choice should be done first according to the place where the decking is going to be installed, rather than according to aesthetical reasons. Therefore, in your decision on which type of deck you prefer, knowing the core differences between timber decking and composite decking, and the various

features of both, will be helpful to avoid any problems and to make the right choice among the many different options within each of these categories. That is why we always do an accurate quality selection of materials we supply to our customers and we help them finding the right decking solution according to their needs. Among timber decking La San Marco offers the following woods: 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. Regarding composite decking after several researches we decide to propose to our customers an innovative highly resistant material made up mainly of Rice Husks and therefore 100% recyclable and eco-friendly. Another very important aspect to remember, whatever decking typology you will choose, is that the installation must be left up to experienced professionals (carpenters or parquet fitters). Choosing an inexperienced or unscrupulous decking fitter is a recipe for disaster. Therefore, we believe that the figure of the installer is extremely important for a good job result.

NOVOWOOD THE ITALIAN WAY Novowood is a wood plastic composite developed by Iperwood s.r.l., an Italian company with a 15 years experience, that has become a veritable point of reference for the market. The material has been studied with the collaboration of the Italian University of Ferrara, in order to achieve a great quality which has been proven by many installations in more than 30 countries in the world. The R&D department continuously looks for new solutions in order to provide a material which is strongly appreciated by designers and final users for its quality and also for its sustainability. Novowood is in fact recyclable and can be produced in different sections and lengths, allowing a strong waste reduction. Novowood has many advantages against natural wood, especially a better durability, dimensional stability, the possibility to be produced in different colours and no need of maintenance. These features make it a great material to be used in the outdoor, for applications such as terraces, wall cladding and louvers.

Five generations of timber trading

Our investments for engaged partnerships

Post Brexit: we set up a company in the UK – Vandecasteele Timber LTD to facilitate our collaboration with UK partners

New website – with online portal for customers.

We continue to build our story in 2021 and hope to have a fantastic cooperation with you! Contact Bergstraat 25 8511 Aalbeke Belgium vandecasteele.be

genevieve@vandecasteele.be dave@vandecasteele.be

Special

Terrace floors : wood versus composite

Jouplast®

Ravaioli Legnami – Rhinowood™

JOUPLAST® provides for outdoor design projects thanks to a complete range of bearers for fitting terraces in wood or composite material. The range is in conformity to DTU 51.4 and is designed in such a way that heights from 10 up to over 460mm are possible without any disruption in the height. The company does all types of projects e.g. renovation or new construction. Due to their manual adjustability without using tools, the design of the JOUPLAST® pedestals makes it possible to carry out precise adjustments. Apart from an ingenious system for furnishing the sides of the terrace, JOUPLAST® has completed an innovative solution for the invisible fastening of wooden terrace planks. It’s called FIXEGO® and it has been designed not only for the embellishment of wooden terraces with no visible screws, but also to extend the lifespan of terraces by providing the installation with good ventilation. As a universal product, it makes it possible to fit a durable wooden terrace.

Rhinowood™, Ravaioli Legnami’s new 2020 decking product, for which is Europe exclusive distributor, has an exceptional durability and dimensional stability, gained through the innovative and patented production process consisting in impregnation by means of a blend of waxes. Thanks to it, a material such as pine, which is slightly durable and stable in its natural state in the outdoors, acquires the typical characteristics of exotic woods. The special treatment changes its physical and mechanical properties without altering its aesthetics. The maintenance of Rhinowood™ is fast and cheap, as wood turns grey over time, it is sufficient to clean the flooring or cladding with the pressure washer in order to restore its original aesthetics. Rhinowood™ does not contain toxins nor other volatile organic compounds, it is produced using pine originated from sustainably managed forests, and has some improved technical and mechanical characteristics compared to traditional exotic woods, keeping the aesthetics of resinous woods unaltered.

IN LOVE WITH DECKING

WOODEN FLOORS FOR OUTDOORS

www.q-ﬂoor.com • sales@q-ﬂoor.com • +32 16 90 45 15

O-Floor O-Profile O-Panel Multilayer Parquet

Floor Forum International 114

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

Special

Who has adhesives for different screeds in combination with floor heating ?

CAN WE RECONCILE WOOD WITH FLOOR HEATING? YES, WE MOST CERTAINLY CAN! USING THE RIGHT ADHESIVE IS A MAJOR FACTOR FOR A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT

Photo – Blanchon

One of the biggest challenges for parquet floor fitters is undoubtedly to fit a wooden or parquet floor onto floor heating. To do that job, it is essential to consider carefully all the phases of the work to ensure that the end result is immaculate. One of the main things to consider is the use of the right adhesive in combination with the type of subfloor or screed used.

Glued fitting

In the past, we have extensively covered relative humidity and temperature, the right wood choice, floorboard sizes, fitting method, and the substrate. Yet what do you look out for when glueing a wooden or parquet floor? To help answer that question, we consulted specialists from the BBRI, namely BBRI (WTCB) Contact no. 43 (3-2014) entitled: ‘Can parquet and floor heating be reconciled?’

The BBRI instructions could not be more clear. We literally read the following: ‘Only a glued (or glued-nailed) fitting is recommended to allow the best possible heat transfer through conduction of the heat via the floor to the indoor surrounds. Glueing with adhesive wires is not recommended due to the presence of air layers under the floor, which increase the thermal resistance of the complex.’

As all professionals know, wood is a very hydroscopic material which adapts to the surrounding hygrothermal conditions and at the same time is subject to dimensional changes. All this isn’t just a matter of avoiding things like extreme and rapidly changing relative humidity and temperatures. It also involves using the right type of adhesive during the fitting.

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Special

Who has adhesives for different screeds in combination with floor heating ?

Rigid or elastic adhesive? It is advisable to use either a rigid or an elastic adhesive specially for fitting parquet onto floor heating. Obviously, the type of adhesive is chosen to suit the conditions. With rigid adhesives (e.g. dispersion adhesives or dual-component polyurethane adhesives), the BBRI notes how these types of adhesives make it possible to limit the movements of the wood, but they do put more pressure on the substrate. That can result in the parquet coming loose and/or a breakage in the substrate in extreme conditions. And so, the use of this type of adhesive requires a strong substrate (minimum cohesion of 0.8N/mm²). If you opt for a flexible adhesive (e.g. STP adhesive or MS polymer adhesive), you should realise that this restricts the pressure, but the wood will move a lot more. The more elastic the adhesive, the more pronounced the movements and distortions of the wood, whereby, according to the research centre, a certain aesthetic annoyance can arise. In the absence of planks of a large (> 10) slenderness factor (width-thickness ratio), you should therefore remember that a highly elastic adhesive can result in distortions (editor’s note: this refers to the joints curling or opening). These exceed the permissible criteria on the technical sheet TV 218 without the distortions necessarily being irreparable. To put it more simply, as soon as the indoor conditions become more favourable again, the planks return to their normal position.

Good advice Some good advice to conclude: If you use this type of adhesive, it’s best to tell the project manager that the wood movements may be quite obtrusive. For the rest, they say that the rigidness or elasticity of the glue will have less effect if the wooden floor used has more dimensional stability.

An overview Blanchon

These are available in pliable aluminium bags of 6kg and packed in pairs in cardboard. These adhesives are flexible and elastic, they offer excellent adhesion, they are easy to apply, and they provide a firm adhesive groove. They are in class AC1R.

Bona

Glueing a wooden floor requires not only skill, but also reliable products and durable tools. To fit a wooden floor you need an adhesive which is suitable for the task in hand. This requires the right balance between strength and elasticity to lay the ideal base to be sure of a firm foundation and an ongoing high-performance floor. Regardless of the subfloor, damp, or unevenness, Bona has the products which you need, from primers and levelling agents to high-quality adhesives. The choice for a particular adhesive depends on the subfloor and working method. Bona has developed various products for various situations which are all designed solely for wooden floors. Reactive silane adhesives: These include Bona Quantum, the Bona all-round parquet silane adhesive with an integrated damp screen. Bona silane adhesives are long-lasting and reliable glues with strong adhesion and they can generally be used without a primer. They set quickly and contain no isocyanates or solvents. They are compatible with floor heating. Primers: These include Bona D501, a primer for preparing absorbent and non-absorbent substrates prior to using Bona silane or polyurethane adhesives. Applying a primer improves the condition of the substrate or prepares it perfectly for the next coat of levelling agent or adhesive. Damp screens: These include Bona R590, which block the rise of damp from the subfloor, and that’s essential since the presence of residual moisture can cause untold damage to wooden floors.

Chimiver

Blanchon strongly endorses the warning that there are clear rules (the steps plan) for using floor heating with parquet. Over time, an adhesive can lose its ‘plastic’ under the influence of heat (through gradual evaporation), something which can be a health hazard. The adhesive can then become breakable and the floor can come loose. Hybrid polymers possess few softeners and that is an advantage. Moreover, these adhesives adhere to any healthy screed and possess the necessary elasticity. The hybrid polymers AB 1300 (traditional glueing up to 130mm wide and 260mm for multilayer) and AB 2000 (up to 200mm and 400mm for multilayer) are adapted for floor heating.

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ADESIVER 501 EP is an odorless, free of solvents and water two-component epoxy-polyurethane adhesive. This adhesive is classified as "HARD-ELASTIC" according to ISO 17178. Destinations: suitable to lay all kinds of wood and in any size including strips, without requiring the pre-laying of wood joists and with previous suitable treatment onto not absorbing preexisting subfloors (ceramics, tiles, marble, palladian, gres, etc). Suitable for gluing onto heated subfloors.

Dinachoc

The DTU 51.2 recommendations for preparing the bearer must be respected. The room temperature must be above 10°C, the humidity of the bearer must be under 3% for a concrete screed and under 0.5% for an anhydrite screed. You must also ensure that the bearer is clean, sufficiently interlinked, and adapted for fitting parquet. The adhesives which we recommend for fitting onto floor heating are the same as those recommended for fitting floors with no floor heating. The composition is the same. Finally, to ensure that you use the right adhesive, you must make sure the product is not past its expiry date. You will find that information on the packet.

Thomsit

DINACHOC C901 – THE PROFESSIONAL HYBRID ADHESIVE They offer DINACHOC C901 adhesive for use in combination with parquet and wooden floors when the whole structure has to be compatible with floor heating at high and low temperatures. They recommend this in combination with the Dinachoc S801 subfloor to ensure excellent acoustic insulation. And so, the fitting is done with double glueing. If we consider the preparation for application on site, their DINACHOC C901 adhesive is used without an adhesive primer and it adapts to all types of bearer (tiles, concrete screed, anhydrite screed, wood, ceramics, natural stone, etc.), all widths (even extra wide), and all sorts of wood. Remove all grease and dust from the bearer for the best possible adhesion. Their adhesive composition is the fruit of years of progress in the search for the ideal formula and includes no isocyanates, silicones, solvents, or formaldehydes. Moreover, VOC content is also very low. The adhesive is graded as A+ and its EMICODE® class is EC1PLUS, the highest EMICODE® grade.

Emfi

All Thomsit parquet adhesives are suitable for glueing wooden flooring onto floor heating. Both elastic adhesives (such as the Thomsit Flextec glues) and non-elastic adhesives can be used in combination with floor heating. It is more a question of the floor fitter’s personal preference whether to use an elastic or non-elastic adhesive. We tend to recommend elastic adhesives because they usually offer a little more comfort, such as, for instance, Thomsit P 675, P 685, or P 695. These glues have permanently strong adhesion, are easy to apply, and are highly elastic. These products do not contain any water or solvents and any stains can be removed easily. The Thomsit primers and adhesives hardly affect the heat resistance, and the type of screed doesn’t play any further part here. For more information you can visit their web site: www.thomsit.be.

Bostik

For glueing wooden floors onto floor heating we recommend full glueing with EMFIPARQUET PRO PLUS and/or EMFIPARQUET PRO ECO.

Hybrid adhesives are the most universal of all parquet adhesives. Their strong elastic properties make them absolutely ideal for use in combination with floor heating. Bostik has several types in its range. The WOOD H 550 ECO PLUS is based on the unique AXIOS TRI-LINKING technology and combines a good adhesion with fast setting. And so, this adhesive is absolutely ideal for fitting wide solid wood floorboards and composite parquet safely. When fitting wooden floors onto floor heating it is important to respect the maximum surface temperature for the covering floor, namely 27 to 28°C. If the temperature is too high, the wood will show cracks, which lead to ongoing damage.

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Special

Manually operated machines for roughening up old tiles and removing adhesive residue from old carpet

PREPARATION IS MORE THAN HALF THE JOB POINTS TO NOTE FOR MACHINES WHERE THE OPERATOR WALKS BEHIND THE APPLIANCE Imagine that you as a parquet floor fitter face an existing tile floor (ceramic or natural stone), an old carpet, or stubborn adhesive residue on a floor onto which you want to fit another floor. What is then your best choice of tool if you are looking for a machine which you can walk behind to operate it? If you consider the essence of the work, you have two choices. You either remove the entire structure or use the existing floor as a subfloor to glue parquet on top of it, for instance. The latter is perfectly okay on tiles as long as you meet a number of conditions, including roughening up the tiles.

Another choice which you have is to retain the existing floor and, for instance, fit floating laminate on top of it or even glue parquet onto a subfloor. In this case this is usually a tile floor, and that means you want a diamond-disc machine. Remember here that a diamond disc is necessary if you want to glue the floor, otherwise the parquet adhesive will not stick to the floor properly, if at all, since the surface has to be rough. Obviously, don’t forget to remove any grease before and after sanding!

Some specialists

Removing existing flooring

Janser

You want to remove the floor and you realise in advance that you don’t want to make this chore any more labour-intensive than it already is. And so, you basically rely on two sorts of machines, namely floor strippers or rotary disc machines. It’s important here to remember that most appliances are designed to loosen items such as carpet or linoleum, but you can also use them to remove tiles or old wooden floors. Above all, with these machines there’s one thing you shouldn’t forget: Since they require so much commitment, it’s best not only to consider the capacity, but also to ask some critical questions about the ergonomics of your preferred appliance.

In addition to an extensive assortment of sanding machines, Janser also offers an impressive range of strippers. The range includes hand machines, walk-behinds and ride-on giants to tackles large surfaces with no problem at all. The COSMO Stripper – a powerful stripper for small and medium-sized areas. Works on wooden or concrete surfaces and will remove virtually any substance adhering to the floor. The handle and wheel adjustments allow different settings of the blade to fit the floor, while keeping the handle in a proper operating position. Also foldable for easy transportation. The machine runs virtually silent with reduced vibrations. The COSMO Stripper has the ideal specifications for rental! The MASTER-MOBIL III is self-propelled (forward and reverse) with unparalleled performance due to its high torque German designed electric motor. The powerful motor combined with the revised HYDRAULIC-DIRECT-DRIVE system ensures high output with an extremely low noise level (105 kg and a maximum speed of 16m/min). Front weight and center weight can be easily removed for transportation. Wheel hubs with freewheel option for easy handling and easy

Strippers and rotary disc sanders Strippers always work basically in the same way; they have a flat section at the front, which presses against the existing flooring. Then, they make small thrusting motions to remove whatever is in their way. The speed of this operation depends on the number of thrusts per minute which your machine makes. The average machine can do about 5,000 thrusts. The various types of rotary disc sanders deploy a completely different removal method. These disc machines use various abrasives. Heavier abrasives are used if you need to remove things like adhesive residue. A tip: Look at how the drive discs are fastened. If the abrasive segments can be applied magnetically, that is undeniably a major asset.

The best choice And so, how do you choose the best tool? With walk-along strippers, the appliances start at a low weight, but they can go up to 50kg or much heavier, depending on the work. In each case, you look first at the blade width. The principle is simple: If there is a lot of material to remove, use a wider blade with a cutting width of 20-35cm. You then choose the knife in turn depending on the type of floor which you want to remove. Another tip here: You definitely want to avoid ‘messing around’ when changing work pieces, so make sure that this change proceeds as easily and safely as possible.

Diamond disc

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pushing of the machine without power connection. The STRATO MOBIL IV stands out at once in the upper range of walk-behinds, a heavyweight amongst the hydraulic pusher machines (190kg and a maximum speed of 23m/min). The powerful motor is equipped with the hydraulic-direct-drive system achieving high performance at a low noise level. The machine is self-propelled both forwards and reverse. Weights can be removed for transportation. 1. Easy operation and low maintenance due to hydraulic technology. 2. Low noise level without fumes. 3. Adjustable in height to operator size. 4. Machines are easy to transport, load, and unload, fit in lifts and go through standard doors. 5. There are various options for additional weights.

Husqvarna Husqvarna launches a new series of floor grinding machines In November 2020, the Swedish company Husqvarna is launching a brand new range of floor grinders. Specifically, this involves no fewer than eight new floor grinders. Producer Husqvarna Construction Products is aiming to reinforce its position on the global market in this segment. End users have taken centre stage in the development of this new range because the company is aiming to offer them a more ingenious way of working. The key concepts are the redefining of performances, reliability, and user-friendliness. The machines come in three different sizes and are fitted with several options. The new planetary range of floor grinders starts with the compact PG 540. This machine is really easy to transport, load, and unload

because it is fitted with a dismountable motor unit so that the machine can be loaded in two parts. This is the perfect solution for smaller jobs and it offers exceptional mobility. Then there is the versatile PG 690, which is also available with remote control (PG 690RC). The star of the show is the PG 830/PG830RC, the biggest and most powerful model. The PG 830 RC has a remote control and motorised control for maximum performance. Finally, the range is complemented with PG 830 S with a single drive mechanism, which makes it a simple and straightforward and affordable ‘work horse’. The new range is equipped with the renowned Dual Drive Technology™. This is a licensed design with two separate motors whereby the planetary head and grinding heads work independently of each other.

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 Electro 565 kg

Ride-on ADB 950 kg

JUNIOR Ride-on 420 kg

STRATO MOBIL IV 190 kg

Your projects - our equipment - your success!

Janser GmbH Böblinger Straße 91 D-71139 Ehningen www.janser.com

Tel.:

+49 (0) 7034/127163

Emai: daniel.buscaglia@janser.com 17 Floor Forum International 114

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Manually operated machines for roughening up old tiles and removing adhesive residue from old carpet

This unique function ensures an almost unlimited number of settings and combinations and excellent process management. The new series stands out for its more powerful motor options, which pave the way for even greater productivity. The top machines PG 830 and PG 830 RC have a 15 kW/20pk motor, to give up to 36% more power than with previous models. Other interesting features include the fully sealed grinding head, the electric receptacles, and Dual Drive transmission. This means that the most critical components are protected from dust and dirt. Furthermore, the new and compact design means a better field of vision during work. Moreover, the adjustable handles ensure optimal user ergonomics. Other interesting details include optional LED lights, good suspension, big wheels for easy transport, and a newly designed control panel. Husqvarna Fleet Services Maintain complete control over your machinery. For each machine you can see the length of use and the maintenance planning via our very latest Husqvarna Fleet services app. This is now available on all floor grinding machines.

Overmat Industries Various machines from Overmat Industries offer a solution for preparing and stripping an old floor! National Flooring Equipment 5280 This hydraulically driven, forward self-propelled scraper reduce operator fatigue while optimizing time and labor savings. The compact design makes it ideal for use in tight spaces.

National Flooring Equipment 6280 (HD) The Commander 6280 is a self-propelled walking scraper. The compact design makes this machine ideal for use in confined spaces. Wolff Turbo Stripper This machine is used for the professional removal of all refined floor coverings, but also for rubber floors and sports floors. Wolff Durostripper The Durostripper is used for the professional removal of textile floor coverings, PVC and Linoleum. HTC Start & Grind With this new line of floor sanders from HTC, the emphasis is on user-friendliness and ergonomics. Repex 4D This multifunctional sander is suitable for the preparation of the subfloor and the removal of old glue to sanding wooden floors.

Repex

TRIO with LED Work Light With the robust LED work light, the entire working area in front of the TRIO can be illuminated. This makes it possible to inspect the condition of the floor or the quality of a previous sanding step before each subsequent step. The assembly and disassembly of the LED work light is extremely quick and easy. For running the LED work light there ist no external power supply needed! Power is supplied via an easy to disconnect plug connection on the machine. Any TRIO can be retrofitted with the work light. For safety reasons, retrofitting of the LED work light may only be carried out by us at the factory or alternatively by a qualified electrician!

Technical data: • Power: 30 Watt • Luminous flux: 3.480 lm • Number of LEDs: 32 pieces • Pivot range of the lighting unit: 70°

+49 (0) 7135 98 90 0 18

info@laegler.com

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As manufacturer of sanding machines for woodfloors since 1946, Repex Floor launched a multi-disc sander in 2017: the Repex 4D. It is a powerful machine, with a 2200W engine and particularly versatile. Equipped with a tray of 4 motorized discs, it is particularly effective. The first set rotates at 150 t/mn and the 4 discs driven by gears rotate at 350 t/mn. Thus, it can sand wood as well as concrete and plane damaged soils. It has tools to remove glue, polish or clean all kinds of floors. With diamond segments, it can easily plane tiles such as irregular concrete, glue and wood or plastic residues. The Repex 4D weighs 52 kg and can be equipped with two additional weights of 10 kg each. It has two plugs: one can receive a suction kit with a 1100W vacuum cleaner and the other allows the use of a magnetic LED lamp. In addition, with its suction skirt, connected to an industrial vacuum cleaner, it performs a work of exceptional cleanliness, without dust. With this new machine, Repex enters the market for the renovation of concrete and mineral floors. (www.repex.fr)

Special

Who has silane adhesives for fitting LVT, PVC, vinyl, and design floors?

A ‘SWINGING’ FLOOR? IF YOU DON’T WANT A TIGHT-FITTING FLOOR, SILANE ADHESIVES ARE IDEAL

Photo – Bona

When it comes to elasticity, more and more professionals are turning to silane adhesives (or MS polymer adhesives or MSP polymer adhesives) for glueing the floor. This adhesive has various assets: It is clean to use, ecological, and, in particular, much more elastic than the average PU adhesive. If we consider what a silane adhesive actually is, we have to say that it’s a glue which consists of modified silane (SiH4) molecules. The adhesive bonding is created by water (damp in the air) which reacts (polymerises) with the silane compounds. That can be in both one component or two components. If you want a glue with faster bonding, you choose a 2K SMP adhesive.

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Chemical reactive compounds What happens during the glueing is that the silane modified polymers consist of chemical reactive compounds which allow the polymer to make an elastic adhesive bonding via contact with humidity. In this way silane glues yield excellent and durable adhesion, yet remain elastic at the same time. That is a huge asset if the flooring still swells and shrinks after the fitting. Moreover, we also see that the adhesives set rapidly so it’s possible to sandpaper the floor and apply a finish barely a day later. The type which is easiest to use is obviously the mono-component adhesive, which can be deployed for the direct and elastic glueing of

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Special

Who has silane adhesives for fitting LVT, PVC, vinyl, and design floors?

parquet floors consisting of various sorts of wood onto cement-bound or wooden subfloors. With this adhesive it is also possible to glue parquet onto tiles or other non-absorbent, degreased, and soap-free substrates such as, for instance, natural stone or glass. MS polymer adhesives give a permanently elastic adhesion, even when glueing onto floor heating.

Several applications If we consider what most producers recommend the adhesive for, we notice that they recommend it inter alia for solid wood and wide strips, system floors, anhydrite floors, and sand-cement floors with high residual moisture (up to 4%). However, we also note the warning that you need to take care when fitting a pre-lacquered floor with a damp screen. In that case, you cannot use dispersion adhesives, 1K PU adhesives, or MS polymer adhesives.

A handy aluminium 6kg bag keeps the waste to a minimum and each supplied box contains two bags. AB 1300 is a highly efficient polymer adhesive for fully glueing large solid parquet floors up to 130mm and up to 260mm with laminated parquet. The adhesive is flexible and elastic and offers strong adhesion on most floors. It is recommended for flexible floors, with a use of 250 to 400 or 500gr/m². AB 2000 is an ultra efficient hybrid polymer adhesive for fully glueing large solid parquet floors up to 200mm and 400mm with laminated parquet. It is suitable for use with floor heating. The adhesive is flexible and elastic, offers excellent adhesion on most floors, and is very easy to apply.

Bona

No harmful substances Apart from the elasticity argument, what we particularly like about silane adhesives is that they respect both public health and the environment and they are very convenient to use. It is good to know that these adhesives do not contain any substances which are harmful to human beings or the environment, and that’s obviously good news for both floor fitters during the fitting and end users thereafter. Also not to be underestimated is the fact that you can certainly describe silane adhesives as clean. For instance, you can wash them off your hands easily after use and, if you happen to spill some glue, it’s easy to clean up using water. By way of a drawback it is sometimes said that silane adhesives are rather pricey in use. That’s true if you look solely at the purchase price, but that drawback diminishes completely when you see what you get in return: considerably less glue consumption, excellent adhesive strength, and much faster cleaning than with classic adhesives. And so, are there any drawbacks? We had to search hard to find one, but we did nevertheless discover the following claims: They are less colour-fast and not as resistant to UV rays.

What’s on the market ? Blanchon

Silane adhesives are highly versatile in use. There is certainly a difference in price, but on the other hand one top quality adhesive will suffice and there are major benefits for parquet floor fitters: resistance against loosening, flexibility, and elasticity. We offer polymer-hybrid adhesives which contain no solvents or isocyanates and respect public health and the environment. AB 2000 and AB 1300 are classified as EC1R (GEV-EMICODE) and optimised packaging.

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In 2018, Bona extended its range for the first time with solutions for floor surfaces other than wood, including the Bona Resilient Floor Programme (elastic floors). This programme offers treatments for the renovation of elastic floors. As a further extension, Bona is also planning to develop an adapted silane adhesive within its range. This silane adhesive will relate perfectly to Bona’s existing high-quality and durable assortment of adhesives. The current range includes the fibre-reinforced mono-component dispersion adhesive Bona D750 for glueing PVC design floors in tile or plank format onto absorbent subfloors. Thanks to the high shearing stress resistance, D750 ensures that the emergence of seams is kept to a minimum.

Bostik

Bostik has a ‘silane adhesive’ in its range, namely STIX H995 ELASTIC XTREM. This adhesive will be introduced shortly on the Benelux market. STIX H995 ELASTIC XTREM makes it possible to fit PVC flooring, rubber flooring, and LVT design floors safely. This type of adhesive is used mainly whenever extremely high demands are made of the floor e.g. in damp rooms or floors with high mechanical or thermal stress. STIX H995 ELASTIC XTREM is based on the unique AXIOS TRI-LINKING technology and contains no solvents or phthalates. The fitted floor is ready for use after 24 hours.

Special

Who has products for the preparation of indoor wooden/parquet floors i.e. for applying oil, lacquer, or hard wax?

SUCCESS IS OFTEN THE RESULT OF GOOD PREPARATION PREPARATORY PRODUCTS GIVE THE END RESULT AN EVEN MORE INTENSE LOOK

The same UN1CO (1-coat oil) Wenge used on these three oak planks. On the left is the pre-moistened plank, the middle one was sandpapered with grain 100, and the one on the right was brushed. The difference in the finish is so obviously clear. (Picture: Ciranova)

David Verrue from Ciranova Belgium explains: ‘The real preparation consists of sandpapering or brushing the wood. You do have to draw a distinction between either pre-colouring or the use of a coloured oil,’ replies David Verrue of Ciranova. ‘With pre-colouring, you’re not applying any extra protection, and this means that you should apply an oil or a varnish for the protection after the pre-colouring. By contrast, coloured oils provide both protection and colour in one and the same product. I would also point out here that pre-colouring usually gives the wood a more intense colour. The combination of pre-colouring finished with a coloured oil obviously also offers more options for colours. Using a coloured oil means you retain somewhat more transparency and you can see more of the wood through the oil.’

David Verrue, International Sales & Marketing Manager Ciranova (B)

‘The various elements of preparation provide various looks afterwards,’ David Verrue adds. ‘And so, you get other effects if you brush, sandpaper, or moisten. For instance, with that latter, you mop the wood lightly in order to open up the pores somewhat. The result is that the wood absorbs more oil and colour and thereby takes on a more intense colour.’

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Special

Who has products for the preparation of indoor wooden/parquet floors i.e. for applying oil, lacquer, or hard wax?

The secret of a perfect end result lies once again in ideal preparation. It’s a good thing to give the wood a preparatory treatment, certainly for parquet or wooden floors finished with a colour, oil, lacquer, or hard wax. There are several products on the market for that purpose, which ensure that the final floor not only looks great, but also enjoys extra protection. It goes without saying that the most important part of the preparation for colouring with oil or lacquer or the application of a hard wax, for instance, consists of sandpapering the wood with the correct grain and removing any grease and dust. After that, you should mix the colour or oil well before the application, certainly if you are using colour dyes.

Easy application The application of such detergents doesn’t have to be difficult. For instance, you will discover that a sponge and a micro-fibre cloth should suffice for the application.

What’s on the market ? Blanchon

More than dusting Preparatory cleaning, however, includes more than dusting and even more than removing any grease. Using a preparatory detergent not only removes the last residue of sawdust, but also the ideal product minimalises any sandpapering errors and scratches, regardless of other benefits. Moreover, tests show that wood which is pre-treated can later take on a more intense colour because the use of a preparatory cleaner can also provide for better absorption of a colour dye. Moreover, the adhesion is also stronger, certainly if you use sorts of wood which are naturally greasy and oily. For the rest, it is a nice bonus if a detergent reduces the tannic acid in the wood so that there is less chance of discolouration later. Wood must be prepared according to ‘professional standards’. The bearer has to be sandpapered fine (finish grain 120) and dusted meticulously. If it is an old floor, it is absolutely essential to fit the parquet rustically and to remove fully all traces of previous floor coverings. If the wood is new, the sandpapering makes it clean and flat. If you are dealing with parquet with a structure (e.g. brushed or mechanically distressed), delivered without a finish, simple ginning will suffice. That will remove any contamination caused by the transport, treatment, and fitting. The products which are used to fit the finished products are of vital importance for hard primers and pore fillers or sealers. The most important functions of these are as follows: - The opportunity to apply an initial coat which dries quickly (to save time). - The capacity to insulate the future finish of a wood with properties which could damage the end result. This involves: - ‘blocking’ the tannic acid (oak, cherry, certain exotic wood sorts); - insulating acidic wood sorts (douglas, certain exotic wood sorts); - insulating anti-dryers (most exotic wood sorts, especially iroko, merbau, and ipe); - ‘blocking’ certain wood sorts (walnut, afrormosia) with completely unpredictable reactions (colouring, local glue adhesion). - The opportunity to colour the parquet or, on the other hand, preserve the original colour in full. Of all those items, the first one is the most important by far. In terms of protecting the wooden floor and the parquet, it is noticeable how primers with a ‘hard base’ do not reinforce the hardness of the wood or the parquet, despite what you might think. On the contrary, in a system with one plus two coats, they provide the same result in terms of strength as glazing in three coats. They are not recommended at all in a system of one plus one and a coat of glaze. The advantage with the use of a hard primer for the professional is twofold, namely the time saving and the application of a first coat in which less product is necessary. We could also add technical benefits which we have previously outlined.

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Bona

the gloss and the defence mechanism of the floor. You can clean it thoroughly with the Bona Power Scrubber, sandpaper lightly with the Bona Flexi Sand 1.9 and the Bona Diamond Abrasives, and apply a thin coat of Bona parquet lacquer (e.g. Bona Traffic HD). Renovation If a wooden floor is severely damaged or a client just wants a new look, a restoration treatment is the ideal solution. You sandpaper the floor to the bare wood with our professional Bona sanders, Bona abrasives, and Bona dust suction systems and then finish with the look and protection which it needs.

Chimiver

You can use the Bona system in various ways to treat an existing wooden floor which looks worn out before you apply a fresh coat of oil or lacquer: Freshening up The Bona Power Scrubber together with the Bona Deep Clean Solution detergent clean the floor thoroughly and remove the most stubborn dirt, grease, and stains. You can then apply a new coat of Bona Polish, Bona Oil Care, or Bona Hard Wax Oil, depending on the type of floor finish. Recoating If a coat of lacquer on a wooden floor gets stained or scratched lightly, Bona Recoating treatment is an effective way of quickly restoring

LIOS BIOIL Natural is a natural oil treated for wooden floors. LIOS BIOIL Natural is very durable, protects the wood, giving a smooth effect enhancing the natural look of the wood grain. LIOS B 100 is a natural oil treatment for wooden floors, it has 100% solid content so it can be considered VOC free. LIOS B 100 protects the wood,

EVEN WHEN THE WORLD IS

UPSIDE DOWN 96 IS STILL 96!

THE WORLDS FAVORITE 1K WOOD FLOOR LACQUER www.good-for-wood.com

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Special

Who has products for the preparation of indoor wooden/parquet floors i.e. for applying oil, lacquer, or hard wax?

enhancing the softness and the natural look of the wood. LIOS HARD WAX BIOIL is a product based on natural oils ad waxes. It gives to the wood a satin and uniform aspect with excellent characteristics of water repellence, hardness and soft touch. It keeps the wood with its original tone. It is suggested for treatment of wooden floors in commercial premises. The product can be mantened easily.

Osmo

The protective layer of a lacquer makes the floor extremely resistant and very easy to clean. 2-component lacquers provide an extra strong protection and are recommended especially in highly frequented areas. Lacquers exist in different gloss-values. When oiling or waxing, the parquet floor is treated with a mixture of different natural oils and waxes. The mixture is worked into the wood floor after installation and sanding. This makes the wood waterrepellent and keeps it breathable. A natural, open-pored surface with a unique natural touch and matt look is the result.

Plastor

In comparison to many other wood coatings, the surface preparation before an application with Osmo coatings does not require much effort. Untreated flooring just has to be freed from any dust and dirt and if desired, lightly sanded. Through sanding, the oil can penetrate the surface and be absorbed into the wood better. As soon as these steps have been completed, the surface is ready for treatment. Stir the Osmo product well and apply to the untreated surface with appropriate tools. Follow the correct application for each product.

Pallmann

There are several ways to prepare a parquet floor before you apply the finish. It depends primarily on the condition of the substrate (raw wood, old wood, varnished wood, etc). With a raw parquet floor, it will be necessary to sandpaper the surface with grain 120. In the case of varnished, oiled, or waxed parquet, it is advisable to sandpaper the surface ‘thoroughly’ in a professional manner in at least three phases. Once you have sandpapered the floor, PLASTOR recommends applying a primer before you apply the finish (e.g. oil or varnish) for better adhesion and to reduce the rise of tannic acid. The oiled finish retains the feel of wood and is easy to maintain because local repairs are possible, depending on the wear and tear of the finish. By contrast, a varnished finish creates a film on the surface to give the parquet durable protection. PLASTOR offers various oiled and varnished finishes. For parquet varnishes there are levels of performance, depending on how frequently the floor is used (irregular to extreme use). These products make it possible to retain the beauty of parquet floors by protecting them from the pitfalls of daily use (e.g. stains, chips, etc.).

Hardwax-Olie Anti-Slip As a professional in the field of surface finishing for wood floors with a tradition of more than 100 years, Pallmann offers a wider range of products for surface treatment. They can basically be classified in lacquers and oils. Before applying lacquer or oil products, a preparation of the wood floor with a filler or a primer can be required.

Floor Forum International 114

Special

Colours: who has what and how are colours applied?

COLOUR IN THE INTERIOR NOT EVERY FLOOR IS EQUALLY SUITABLE FOR EVERYTHING

David Verrue from Ciranova Belgium explains: ‘‘With pre-colouring, we advise clients not to sandpaper any higher than with a grain 120,’ replies David Verrue from Ciranova (B). ‘In this connection I refer to two products which we offer: lye stain and Aquastain (de successor to Aquapad which Ciranova is launching soon). Both products are used as pre-colouring on wood. After that, you should finish with an oil, a varnish, or wax.’ ‘Lye stain is unique because it reacts in the wood. It reacts to the tannic acid in the wood and that gives you a natural and distressed finish. The difference with the Aquastain or a lot of other stains is that they colour the wood much more evenly through the use of a dye and that they penetrate less deeply. The choice depends on the clients. If they want a unique and distressed finish, they should opt for lye stain. For more even and more intense colour, Aquastain is the better option.’

David Verrue, International Sales & Marketing Manager Ciranova (B)

How should parquet floor fitters choose? Earlier in this article we discussed lye stain or Aquastain. But which is the best option for parquet floor fitters? David Verrue comments: ‘It’s worth knowing that lye stain is used a lot with pre-finished parquet. And so, lye stain is more suitable for parquet manufacturers, but that takes nothing away from the fact that more and more parquet floor fitters all over the world are also using it on site. As a parquet floor fitter, never forget how important it is to apply a product evenly and that you have to allow the product to react to the wood for at least six hours in order to obtain the desired effect; Aquastain can be applied easily on site using a brush, but it can also be sprayed in the factory.’

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Floor Forum International 114

Special

Colours: who has what and how are colours applied?

Colouring wooden floors is in fashion. Yet how do you make a start on it? For instance, is any preparation necessary or can you apply colour to the pale wood? One thing is for sure: Applying colour requires the necessary knowledge and that’s why we’re giving this more in-depth coverage from this edition of Floor Forum International onwards.

Sandpapering or polishing It seems a good idea to us to answer the most pressing question first: Yes, preparatory operations are certainly necessary before you apply colour to a wooden floor. There is one golden rule for this: Before you can apply a colour, it is always necessary to sandpaper or polish the floor. Various experts immediately add one good extra piece of advice: Not every sort of wood is equally suitable for colouring afterwards with oil or lacquer. For instance, it is good to know that in our part of the world oak is by far the best option. By contrast, the job becomes more difficult with soft and tropical wood sorts, so beech, pine, fir, ash, and maple do not absorb colour easily. Generally speaking, it is also the case that when it comes to changing the colour on an existing oak wooden floor, you can make this change from lighter to darker, but also in the opposite direction as well. As we’ve already said, the first step is always sandpapering or polishing. There are various reasons for that. For instance, it is obviously necessary to remove old coats of wax, lacquer, or stain so that the oil or varnish applied later will adhere better. Moreover, it is also necessary to erase superficial damages and to make the floor flat.

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Floor Forum International 114

Oil and hardwax oil Then, you have to know the way in which you are going to apply colour to the floor. Oil is an obvious choice for that purpose. That’s logical because oil not only provides a different colour, but also it preserves the natural colour of the wood if you use a transparent oil. In all cases, parquet oil highlights the wood grain better to preserve a strongly natural look, something which has been very popular for a few years now. As a variant to the normal oil, you can also opt, of course, for hard wax oil which, as the name suggests, consists of wax and oil. With hard wax oil, the oil penetrates inside the wood, but there is still a thin coat of wax on the floor. The finish is almost identical to that of oil, except that oil yields a matt finish, whilst hard wax oil leaves a satin gloss. It is possible to add colour pigments to the hard wax oil so that almost all colours are an option.

Lacquer Obviously, apart from oil, lacquer is also an option. You should bear in mind that this is the better option for renewal. When we mention lacquer, most consumers think immediately of gloss, but clients need to know that several matt parquet lacquers have been on the market for some time.

‘Paints’ If you don’t want to apply oil or lacquer to your wooden floor for some reason or other, there is still another option, namely ‘paint’. Here you can obviously use a covering paint, but that’s often a shame for the existing floor. An alternative is to go back to a stain, transparent or otherwise. With a transparent stain, you ensure that here, too, the wood is still visible. If you opt for the covering variant, you should make it clear to end users that this will highlight the joints between the planks.

What’s on the market ? Blanchon You only colour rustic wood. The wood fibres absorb the tint, thereby making it possible in this way to achieve the desired effect. That effect can be a different shade of wood (very often on lighter wood sorts which contain resins or where the original colour is of little importance), a shade with a distressing effect, or a specific colour where the white and ‘washed’ shades of grey make up the vast majority. Obviously, the wood should be sandpapered first or prepared using another mechanical method and sometimes even ‘made worse’, for instance for a distressed look. Blanchon makes its colours in various ways. Either they notice a good number of returns from clients, conduct field surveys (e.g. at sales points), rely on tradition, or consult trendwatchers to find out new trends. As for traditions, they give a brief clarification: What they see often leads towards ‘50 shades of oak’, so it boils down to having a feel for choice. Generally speaking, attractive colours should always be included in an assortment. Those colours don’t have to account for the bulk of the sales, but they do certainly attract the attention of clients.

Bona

The Bona Oil system gives you the freedom to create an almost infinite range of colours. The complete Bona oil assortment is made from vegetable materials and contains an exceptionally low level of VOCs. The high oil content combined with a minimum content of solvents ensures a greater degree of saturation and thereby healthy and long-lasting floors. These natural resources for protecting wood have outstanding drying properties. The dual-component parquet oil Bona Craft Oil 2K yields the naturally ‘soft’ look of an oiled floor, but if extra surface protection is required, you can also apply a lacquer on top from one of the Bona Traffic parquet lacquers for extra durability! It is suitable for most sorts of wood, even difficult types such as jaboty, cherry, and walnut. Floors treated with Bona Craft Oil 2K are ready for light use after just eight hours and, if necessary, can be lacquered over 12 hours later. 2-dimensional effects: Bona Nordic Tone helps to highlight the unique character of the interior with the traditional Scandinavian colour treatment. Bona Rich Tone gives the floor the deepest colours and gives the interior an unmistakable touch of elegance. Bona Mix Colour can intensify those effects even more. For the exact working method for the listed products, please refer to their technical sheets on their web site: www.bona.com

Ciranova Ciranova is the reference when it comes to color your wooden floor with water-based color stains for on-site use or industrial application. Reactive Stains interact chemically with the natural ©Annick Vernimmen 093 Reactive stain Ciranova tannins inside the wood and this interface creates very unique finishes. There are endless possibilities in combination with coloured oils. (reaction time +/- 6 hours). This year Ciranova is launching a new stain: Aquastain. Aquastain is an updated version of the current Aquapad. Aquastain is a water-based pigment stain that provides a uniform coloring and accentuates the woodgrain. (drying times +/- 3 to 4 hours). After reaction time, the reactive stains should be finished with oil or waterborne finishes, such as our new PLUS RANGE products, with an invisible finish and ultra matt and natural appearance. It is also possible to finish the colour stains with our coloured Hardwaxoils, creating unique finishes and endless possibilities.

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. ECOSTAR 2K COLORATA is a two-component water-based polyurethane colored lacquer for wooden floors with high elasticity, hardness and high chemical and mechanical resistance. ECOSTAR 2K COLORATA has to be over-varnished with ECOSTAR 2K. ECOSTAR 2K COLORATA is available in RAL, NCS colors and on request.

Pallmann With the Pallmann Color Collection Pallmann provides a range of 24 coloured oil primers. Each color consists of 3 components: The 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 many commercial wood types, especially oak, ash, pine on site. The surface 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. We provide special trainings for the individualisation and for the coloring of wood floors for our customers as well as a huge

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Floor Forum International 114

Special

Colours: who has what and how are colours applied?

package of marketing and sales support e.g. color tester to see the color result on the wood chosen by the end customer.

Plastor

The colours in the PLASTOR COLOUR FLOORS TINT can only be applied to untreated wood for maximum penetration. If the wood is extremely smooth and the pores are not open, it is advisable to sandpaper the wood first with grain 120. You can then make your choice of colour in accordance with the required aesthetics. Note that some wood sorts have their limits. For instance, wood sorts with a lot of tannic acid (e.g. oak, chestnut, exotic wood, cherry wood, etc.) do not allow direct application of a waterborne white (or very light) shade. Tannic acid can mix with water and will turn the colour yellow as it dries. If you do choose a white shade for these specific sorts, it is advisable to apply a solvent-based finish product instead (e.g. DECOPROTECT white hard wax oil). PLASTOR certainly also offers tinted finishes with its DECOPROTECT hard wax oil (9 colours). For COLOUR FLOORS TINT, it is necessary to consider various factors such as application with a maximum temperature between 12 and 25°C, with no draft. It is also advisable to go to work in surfaces of 2-3m² and apply the colour with a small brush along the skirting boards and then with a roller. Wipe away the tint soon after the application with a cloth. A tint only applies colour to the wood, so you still need a protective coat (primer + varnish/oil). If the finish product is water-based like the colour and you don’t apply a universal solvent undercoat (PRIM'SO), you have to wait at least 24 hours until the colour is dry in order to obtain a good result.

RIGO Verffabriek ROYL-OIL/SKYLT Undercoat Oil 2K The ROYL-OIL (2K) from RIGO Verffabriek penetrates deep into the pores of the wood and gives the wood a matt natural look. The oil can also include colour pigments so that the floor can be coloured and protected in a single process. The finish is so strong that a single layer is sufficient.

Floor Forum International 114

RIGO Verffabriek displays the standard colours in two colour swatches with a letter/number combination. The letter refers to the base, the number to the colour pigment (W10 Livid = base White + colour pigment 10). The ROYL Wood Tone Range features 24 colours from Basis Clear. The ROYL Greyscale Range contains 18 colours from Basis Clear, White, or Black. As the bases and colour pigments can be blended with one another, the colour possibilities are endless. The most popular colours are also available ready-mixed in a half-litre container. Convenient for furniture craftsmen and interior designers. Would you like the appearance of an oil floor, but with the power of a varnish? Use SKYLT Undercoat Oil 2K. The colour options are identical to the ROYL-OIL line. SKYLT Undercoat Oil can be varnished directly with SKYLT after it has been wiped dry. As SKYLT varnish is truly invisible, the wood retains its natural appearance. You’re free to vary with colour shades thanks to SKYLT Undercoat Oil 2Kl. Floors are easy to maintain after being finished with SKYLT.

Williams & Koch

Williams & Koch is a decade ahead in development of eco products for wood coloring and -ageing purposes. In a growing market that is extremely demanding when it comes to special effects in wood finishing, our flexibility and expertise combined with creativity leads to results beyond imagination. Products as Linochrom, Fumicolor, Branton C and many others provide a wide range of effects on different wood types in both industrial and domestic application. Together with new technologies in the field of color fixation, Williams & Koch products are the new generation: easy to use, versatile, eco-friendly and safe. Find us at www.facebook.com/ Williams-Koch-Europe-3130648390322169/ e-mail: info@williams-koch.com or call +32-473 340 207

Linochrom is a one of a kind reactive dyeing system with a built-in retarder. This product allows a stress-free on-site application, eliminating overlaps. Therefore, Linochrom is also absorbed better by the wood to react much deeper. Whether you are looking for a distinct uniform modern grey or a deeply weathered rustic aspect, Linochrom does it all. Even more, it provides a variety of results beyond imagination, and stands out by its unique properties as a basis for more elaborated techniques like bleaching or distressing.

Branton B is the solution when it comes to creating driftwood effects without using white oil finishes. Branton B combines the reactive aspect with the white grain in the first application. Used together with PRM C 24 as A/B bleach component, it offers endless possibilities in ageing processes.

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Floor Forum International 114

Polyx®-Oil Original

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Special

How do you assess the substrate?

A CHECKLIST IS NO LUXURY CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRODUCTS TO IMPROVE THE SUBSTRATE

Photo – Thomsit

The success of an attractive parquet floor stands or falls with the fitting preparation. The approach to the substrate is crucial for the fitting. And so, it will be necessary in advance to inspect meticulously the substrate onto which the parquet is to be fitted and a number of steps must be respected.

The main thing to realise is that the available substrates are highly diverse and each one can have specific problems, such as rising damp, warping planks, or poor adhesion. An existing tile floor, a new screed, an anhydrite floor, or an old plank floor each require a unique approach. To ensure the right preliminary treatment follows, a (non-exhaustive) checklist must include the following: flatness and

Floor Forum International 114

Special

How do you assess the substrate?

angle, cleanliness and impurity, cracks and bursts, solidarity, porosity, dryness, and damp.

recorded precisely. Do not drill this sample from the floor because the heat thereby generated will give a distorted picture.

Flatness and angle

Damp

You absolutely must avoid excessive deviation from the flatness and the angle of the substrate. This means that you must eradicate any unevenness before you smooth the surface. For instance, you must fill in any major unevenness and slits, remove any loose-fitting sections, and ensure that the surface is free of dust before you apply the correct primer.

If the moisture content exceeds the prescribed moisture percentages, a damp screen can be fitted. Note: You can only seal a watertight screed. A damp screen is usually applied with a roller in several coats onto a new and clean substrate with no adhesive, primer, or levelling agent residue.

Cleanliness and impurity You must remove completely elements such as residue of oil, wax, paint, grease, mortar, or gypsum and then clean the surface thoroughly. You need to take particular care if the substrate consists of ceramic tiles. In this case you not only have to clean the surface thoroughly, but also you need to eradicate the difference in height between the tiles and joints and you must never forget to degrease the surface before fitting parquet. Adhesive residue, too, must certainly be removed.

Generally speaking, there are two types of damp screens. Firstly, there are the ready-for-use dispersion damp screens, which consist of polymer dispersion, additives, and water. Then there are also epoxy damp screens available with a polyamine hardened epoxy resin and two components. Source: Floor Tech

Some specialists Bona

Cracks and bursts Cracks and bursts can cause equally serious trouble. If you see that the subfloor shows static micro-cracks of less than 1mm, it will suffice to apply a suitable primer. If the cracks are bigger, you have to fill them in. First of all, you should grind the cracks open, then remove the dust, and then fill them in with a 2K epoxy cast resin sprinkled with quartz sand or with a dual-component silicate resin. You fill in bursts with an epoxy resin or a dual-component silicate resin. However never use a fast-drying repair mortar because that allows for a tiny hairline crack after pouring, just like a horizontal motion.

Solidarity For the rest, the substrate needs to be solid enough. And so, the compressive strength has to be 8N/m² or more and the tensile strength 0.5N/m² or more. At the same time, the subfloor must not be powdery or gritty or bendable or flexible from an old wooden floor, for instance. You check the solidarity by means of a scratch test. To do this you make a grid of scratches with a grid scratch tester. If the subfloor crumbles, it is not ready. Moreover, you can use a wire brush to check whether or not the substrate shows excessive wear and tear. Finally, you carry out a hammer blow test. To do that, you use the hammer to tap gently on the surface sideways.

Porosity If the floor isn’t porous enough, that can lead to adhesion problems. You check for porosity with a drop test. First of all, let a drop of water fall onto the surface. If the drop disappears in under five seconds, you can conclude that the subfloor is highly absorbent. If this takes 5 to 30 seconds, the subfloor is absorbent. If this takes longer than 30 seconds, the subfloor is weak to non-absorbent.

Dryness It is absolutely essential for the subfloor to be dry enough with no risk of rising damp. Watch out for sultry damp when fitting on soil without a crawl space or onto an old tile floor. A new cement or concrete floor might well contain too much residual moisture. First of all, you record the moisture content with a non-destructive meter. If you are in any doubt, use a calcium carbide meter. This leads to a sample from the substrate reacting to calcium carbide to form gas. Since this is done in a pressure bottle, the moisture content is

Floor Forum International 114

It will be necessary to inspect the condition of the substrate before fitting parquet. The substrate should be stable, level, dry, clean, and free of cracks and dust. The surface should be rough to some extent. If applicable, the subfloor must meet the requirements of local standards or practical guidelines. If you use Bona silane adhesives, a primer is usually not necessary. If the subfloor is a problem, a primer such as Bona D501, R540, or R590 can help. You will need to fill in any unevenness and holes with a stable levelling agent such as Bona H600, H610 (for filling holes) or H660. Damp covering floors? Bona R590 is suitable for priming and/or blocking residual moisture in cement or concrete covering floors (up to 5% CM/90% RH) before a wooden floor is fitted. You can also use it to reinforce weak subfloors somewhat. It is compatible with all Bona silane adhesives and levelling agents. Obviously, it’s always also important to choose the right adhesive. This depends on the subfloor and working method. Bona has designed various parquet adhesives for various situations.

Chimiver PRYMER SF 1105 is a two-component water-based epoxy primer developed for dusty subfloor, with a multi-layer application, it works as a moisture barrier. It is resistant to the inverse hydrostatic pressure according to the law UNI 8298 part 8. PRYMER SF

1105 is suitable for consolidation of subfloors on radiant heating. It is also recommend as a promoter of adhesion for anhydrite subfloors.

Thomsit

Bostik

Thomsit has solutions for various problems like damp, frailty, cracks and splits, dirt, oil, or old glue residue. These products are usually compatible to those of other brands, yet Thomsit prefers works from a one-brand system. According to Thomsit, there are certainly universal primers to solve many of the aforementioned problems, but none to cover all problems in one product. The Thomsit best-sellers are Thomsit R 729 Silicate Cast Resin for filling cracks, Thomsit R 766 Multiprimer for priming, Thomsit R 755 Damp Screen for keeping out damp, Thomsit R 790 Filler and Primer for filling joints and priming in one operation, TF 201 Thomsit Floor membrane for covering a bad floor without dismantling it, and Thomsit RS Fix for removing unevenness and differences in height. There are six essential criteria for preparing a substrate: The substrate must be flat and stable enough, free of shrink cracks, permanently 100% dry, without any risk of rising damp, and normally porous. Bostik has several products for use on difficult substrates. For instance, there is RENO P520 EASY. This is a solventless and 2-component repair resin for filling and repairing shrink cracks. HYTEC E336 XTREM is a 2-component epoxy damp screen for use with any moisture content and also with rising damp. To strengthen the top layer of fragile covering floors, Bostik offers HYTEC P510 RENORAPID, a fast-drying 1-component PU primer which is easy to apply. After repairing/cleaning up the covering floor with these products, you can level the covering floor provided that you use the correct primer (GRIP A500 MULTI for porous substrates and anhydrite covering floors, GRIP A936 XPRESS for sealed substrates, and GRIP X910 FILL&WOOD for wooden substrates). The choice of leveller depends on the purpose of the floor and the potential stress to which it will be exposed.

Emfi Before you fit parquet to an existing bearer, the bearer must first be clean, dry, and sufficiently interlinked before fitting. To refine the bearer you can sandpaper and extract dust (this is obligatory for anhydrite screeds), apply a PU primer EMFIPRIM PU MONO, which reinforces the bearer surface, or use an epoxy primer EMFIPRIM EPOXY in one or two coats (you need to sandpaper after the last coat). Whilst you must respect the DTU 51.2 in France and other fitting rules in countries like Germany and Belgium, you can use a polyana film under the screed or apply an epoxy primer EMFIPRIM EPOXY to the bearer in two crossed coats (you need to sandpaper after the last coat). In the EMFI range we use EMFIPRIM PU MONO to reinforce the bearer surface and EMFIPRIM EPOXY to apply a damp screen.

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Floor Forum International 114

Advertorial

Chipps (B)

CHIPPS: TRENDY BENEATH, BESIDE, AND ABOVE YOUR FEET ROEL GERAERTS AND ROMINA DE GIORGI: ‘IT IS HIGH TIME TO GIVE OSB A RETHINK!’ You are familiar with the material OSB, but you have probably rarely, if ever, fitted it as a finished floor. Now, however, there’s Chipps, which proves that this versatile semi-finished product or building material has lots more up its sleeve. Chipps has literally given OSB a rethink with a trendy design look, which gives centre stage to the values of love of nature and wood in particular. Chipps even believes it is ideal not only for floors, but also for ceilings and walls. The name Roel Geraerts, who, together with partner Romina De Giorgi, is the driving force behind Chipps, might ring a bell. Until a few years ago, the man from Zonhoven (B), Limburg, was the owner at Z-parket for the development of a drying process for wood top layers for the parquet industry, but his love of parquet and wooden floors remains as strong as ever.

‘We stress mainly the design of this rewarding, ecological, 100% reusable, noble, and versatile product. Moreover, it’s easy to fit, has tongue and groove on four sides, and can be fitted floating or with floor adhesive. If we add that there’s protection with seven coats of varnish applied using a specific procedure to yield more UV and scratchresistance, professionals know the score.’

Various applications Chipps is supplied ready for use and is meant for all sorts of commercial and domestic rooms. What's more, it doesn’t have to be used ‘permanently’, but is also ideal for temporary structures. ‘A good example of that is our coming cooperation with Ecohuis in Herentals. The company is launching ‘Brensj’, tailored mobile units. These are adaptable mobile ecounits tailored to suit everyone. Inter alia, providing for the trend of working at home by fitting personalised office units in employees’ homes or gardens.’

Roel and Romina comment: ‘The parquet industry is fairly traditional and, in all honesty, it was good to come aside for a while and consider whether there was another approach to the phenomenon of wooden flooring. Romina and I started to experiment with OSB and we soon realised we could turn a well known and popular product into something very trendy with splendid designs. We explored the limits of OSB, took our time to perfect the new idea, and rounded off the organisation for launching it on the market. We launched the result of our efforts last year in September under the name Chipps. We’ve divided up Chipps into six collections with over 40 designs all together.’

‘This goes far beyond merely working from home. We’ve noticed, for instance, that this application is also attractive for the residential care sector. Or for events or pop-up bars, where stands can easily be erected and removed. The furnishings can also be fully personalised. Why not put a photograph on your floor or wall or even your ceiling? No problem! Chipps ensures creativity without bounds.’

Tasty Wood Boards

Web site, web shop, Facebook, Instagram, etc.

In the prospectus we read that Chipps (with the baseline ‘Tasty Wood Boards’, which stresses the link with wood) can be used for floors, walls, and ceilings. Obviously, the key question is how and where parquet floor fitters come in.

Do you want to know more? If so, surf to www.chipps.be. The web site outlines all the options and you will also find scores of sample decors from the various collections. In the meantime, they have set up a web shop (the site has a list of dealers) where private individuals can easily make their choice on the basis of various photographs. You will also find more information on Facebook, Instagram, and Linked In.

‘We’re convinced it can complement any parquet range. Our product is a floor covering somewhere between parquet and laminate, but much more attractive than the latter. We explicitly target people with not only an eye for sustainable enterprise, ecology, expertise, co-operation, and innovation, but also with

the audacity to try something different from the traditional.’

Floor Forum International 114

For more information visit us on www.chipps.be

Special

New trends in LVT, PVC, vinyl, and design floors

DURABLE, NATURAL, AND LOTS OF DESIGNS ADVANCE OF ROUND AND MORE FEMININE SHAPES IN THE INTERIOR IS UNMISTAKABLE cork have to offer. Since they are less expensive than real wood (where, by the way, oak still leads the field by a long way), traders can offer special fitting patterns such as herringbone or Hungarian point at affordable prices. There’s also the consideration that just because you fit LVT in one place doesn’t necessarily exclude the option of fitting wood right next to it. In fact, we notice how people are bringing those different worlds closer together.

Durability and the environment

Photo – BerryAlloc

There was no Domotex this year, so that means a certain amount of conjecture as to emerging trends in the flooring world. What is clear, however, is that 2021 seems to be starting in more or less the same way as 2020. This means that durability is still important, the natural aspect plays the lead role, special fitting patterns and designs continue to do especially well, and that light sorts of wood are in. Obviously, some new elements are emerging as well. It is generally noticeable in the interior that the straight and rigid shapes which have dominated floors for so long seem to be increasingly a thing of the past. Instead, round and more feminine shapes are growing in prominence, even under our feet. Moreover, we must refer to some striking colour trends in which mainly shades of brown and grey, shades of red, yellow, and ochre, and also tints of blue and green are doing well. And so, there are good reasons why the colour institute Pantone has declared the colours ultimate grey and yellow illuminating as the defining shades of the year 2021. First of all, particularly in relation to floors, we can say that special fitting patterns continue to take centre stage. That is partly due to the many options which LVT, PVC, vinyl in general, laminate, and even

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What particularly stands out with floors is the maximum commitment to durability. This stresses the durable and ecological aspect of the production, together with a growing use of natural materials and recycling of old floors and waste substances. Manufacturers are only too pleased to highlight their efforts. We found a good example of that at Aspecta, a division of HMTX Industries, which, since the summer of last year, has been issuing a so called Declare Label. This is comparable to a food label, but is applied to the construction industry. That Declare Label shows the amount of carbon in a product so that architects, designers, and fitters are perfectly aware of the ecological footprint of the items which they prescribe or fit before they use them. With laminate floors, we also notice that they are still selling quite well. It is noticeable how producers are still committing themselves to increasingly better technical features and fitting convenience, which apply equally to LVT, PVC, and vinyl. With laminate, as is the case with the floors we are considering here, a lot of attention is still paid to the most authentic possible reproduction of the look and feel of real wood.

The personal aspect takes centre stage Apart from laminate, we see particularly with vinyl and PVC floors that innovative print and imprint techniques make the difference because they facilitate any decor at all e.g. wood, stone, metal, etc. The point here is that this meets the requirements and wishes of demanding consumers, who want the most personal style possible for their interiors. The fact that they also want extra features such as, for instance, a low-maintenance product, a waterproof floor, or sound insulation as part of the deal only makes these floors all the more attractive for both residential and commercial applications.

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STEICO (D)

NEW PRODUCT STEICOunderfloor LVT: ECOLOGICAL UNDERLAY FOR VINYL AND DESIGN FLOORS SOUND PROOF INSULATION MADE OUT OF NATURAL WOOD FIBRE Modern LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) and design floorings are characterised by solidity, easy installation and a wide range of designs. Products made out of recyclable raw materials find high demand in flooring applications, and the new STEICOunderfloor LVT follows the trend to more sustainability. The insulation boards are made from natural wood fibre and are adaptable to floating installations of LVT and vinyl coverings of the MMFA sub group 2. With an impact sound reduction of 19 dB, the boards provide an excellent acoustic insulation. The special underside surface compensates punctual unevenness. The high compressive strength (>600 kPa) ensures maximum security and protects the flooring. With a thickness of only 2.3mm, STEICOunderfloor LVT is perfectly adapted to new build as well as renovations, where the new flooring can often only have a limited thickness. The underlay is compatible with underfloor heating systems. One pack contains 15 panels of STEICOunderfloor LVT, which is enough to cover 7m2. Thanks to their 790 x 590 mm format, they are easy to handle and quick to install. They can easily be cut with a utility knife. STEICOunderfloor LVT is free from binding agents and contributes to a healthy living environment. STEICO woodfibre insulation boards are ecological and natural products. The wood used in our products is certified by the international organisations FSC and PEFC. It comes from responsible forestry to protect the forest ecosystem for future generations. We use fresh untreated wood from forest residues or by-products from the sawmill industry and transform it in high performance insulation. 1 cubic metre of wood binds up to 1t CO2. In the form of STEICO insulation materials, the CO2 remains removed from the atmosphere over the lifetime of the product. Wood fibre insulation reduces the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. Wood fibre insulation also provides security and protection, and it remains stable and durable.

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Special

New trends in LVT, PVC, vinyl, and design floors

What’s on the market ? BerryAlloc A floor can make or break the look of your home. Selecting a floor depends on the area you’re working with: in rooms made to entertain, people tend to opt for an elegant floor that matches their personal style – timeless designs with a certified wow-effect. Smaller, more private spaces enable more daring, eye-catching designs for an outspoken look. In the BerryAlloc LVT range, there’s something for everyone when it comes to characteristics and colour ranges: herringbone, extra-large planks and tiles, beige and terracotta shades, and terrazzo patterns. As a result of the unexpected crisis in 2020, people tend to fall back on more sober trends with neutral colours – a typical phenomenon to want a feeling of safety and security. Concrete and cement remain popular colours when it comes to tiles, and the number one choice for planks will always remain oak. Discover all the trendiest styling possibilities for your interior through our website: www.berryalloc.com

MEISTER MEISTER Vinyl flooring without the vinyl: The ecological 4-in-1 floor MeisterDesign is the new “vinyl flooring without the vinyl”, making it the safe and healthy alternative to conventional vinyl flooring. It offers all the advantages of vinyl flooring, without the major ecological and technical disadvantages. This makes it odourless, free from plasticisers and heat-resistant – unlike many types of vinyl flooring. It has been awarded the Blue Angel ecolabel and is 100% made in Germany. The ecological 4-in-1 floor Natural English oak 6893, wood effect concept is simple; there are 18 modern decors, which are available in four different technical equipment options. This makes it easy for customers, as they first select the design and can then decide which technical design is most appealing or appropriate for their budget. There are 14 modern

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wood effects available, from sophisticated dark wild oak to harmonious golden brown shades, and even light Scandinavian polar oak and four modern tile effects – you’ll find the perfect flooring for any style of living.

objectflor GmbH EXPONA Commercial - Digital in new dimensions

From 2021 onwards, with the relaunch of the successful EXPONA COMMERCIAL collection, Objectflor has renewed its commitment to digital presentation and multimedia tools. The collection includes popular classics and new decors which bring authentic craft back to life. In more than ten years, the EXPONA COMMERCIAL collection has built a reputation as the ideal floor for offices and commercial premises. With the 2021 relaunch, not only does the selection of decors get an update, but also Objectflor has gone down a different road with the collection presentation. The dividing line between the collection book with original samples and the presentation in interiors has gone. Each decorative image has a QR code, which takes you to the Objectflor web site where you can obtain more information, image material, and all technical specifications using the visualiser tool Live! My space can present the chosen decor in any interior image in just three steps and ‘Live’! Open my space, take a photograph with your smart phone, and fit the required floor digitally. Designing a floor was never so quick and simple. Good design – visible and perceptible The relaunch is starting under the motto PROFESSIONAL. AUTHENTIC. DIGITAL and focuses on the perfect surfaces with authentic structures from EXPONA COMMERCIAL. Special structures take on the features of the print visibly and perceptibly. This is how the decors take on even more radiance and provide more atmosphere in projects with intensive use. 30 designs have been newly and exclusively designed for the relaunch of the collection. Very special are the wood decors which highlight the old craft even more. Examples include Versailles tiles with diagonal plait work or short parquet planks for stylish herringbone patterns. In addition the new terrace decors make a real highlight, even very slender micro-terraces. All together, the new EXPONA COMMERCIAL collection includes 53 authentic wood decors, 18 modern brick decors, and 9 effect decors. The most popular classic and modern designs which are in great demand are still in the assortment. Objectflor Art und Design Belags GmbH Objectflor is one of the leading vendors of high-quality flexible floors for business and domestic premises in Europe. 55 million square metres of fitted EXPONA floors prove the unique competence of LVT design floors. The company was formed in Cologne in 1989 and is a subsidiary of the British company James Halstead Flooring. Within the corporate group, Objectflor manages 19 countries in Central Europe. A special plus point is the modern logistical centre of Objectflor with plenty of storage space which guarantees rapid deliveries.

∂ Industry news FN Neuhofer presents innovations at the digital trade fair BAU online The internationally successful family business FN Neuhofer, manuPhoto : FN Vision 2025 front view facturer of accessories for floors, walls and ceilings, successfully participated in the first digitally implemented BAU trade fair from 13 to 15 January 2021, where it presented its innovations and Vision 2025 via an online press conference. Streamed with the latest media technology, participants were able to see the innovative products presented live and online and watch the construction progress of Vision 2025 in an exciting video with interviews with the persons involved. FN Neuhofer is currently investing heavily in the Zell am Moos location. The start of construction for the new production facilities and the modern, multi-storey office building including a representative showroom was as early as 23 November 2020, and completion is planned for 2025. The following structural measures are included in Vision 2025: - two "hall ships" - here an additional production area of 8,800 m² is created - new solid wood hall with 1,050 m² - 3-storey office building with a total area of 2,750 m² - modern canteen 380 m² - representative showroom 685 m² - this will make it possible, among other things, to optimally display entire shelf assemblies, as known from DIY stores. There are also plans for an event area and a chronological presentation of the impressive 370-year company and family history. - Social and equipment rooms 885 m² The total area of this construction project is 14,550 m² But a lot has already been invested in 2020 as well: - Plastic extraction system (for a production capacity of 26.4 million running metres of plastic skirting boards/year, allows plastic slats to be produced entirely at FN, enables the waste to be processed into new raw boards and thus an "ecological round trip" of the waste) - Weinig Powermat 2400 high-performance system incl. full automation (Max. feed rate 100 m/min, this enables an additional 20 million running metres of solid wood skirting boards per year) - New aluminium and plastic packing line (Industry 4.0 robot packing permitting faster production, automatic quality scan) - New paint shop (Lower paint consumption because of spray application; RAL and NCS colours may be used) - New shrink tunnel (Can process all sustainable films (from maize starch etc.); can use thinner films than before) - Multi-family house near the company Priority for employees Read more on www.floor-forum.be/en/news

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Pallmann A broad base for the new year Full-range supplier Pallmann sets the tone in these in-stallation categories: lacquers, machines, and fillers for wood floors Würzburg, January 2021 – Under the motto: “Even if the world is upside down, you can rely on Pallmann“, the German company wants to further enhance it’s image as a reliable partner for customers even in challeng-ing times. Pallmann relies on easy-to-process products, powerful user-friendly machines, and comprehensive services on construction sites. Pallmann will start the new year with 3 focus topics from the installation product areas of: coatings, machines, and wood floor filling. In 2021, the Wurzburg-based manufacturer will focus on the global leading single component lacquer Pall-X 96, enhanced upgrades to the revolutinary wood floor sanding machine the Pallmann Spider, and a new fiber-rein-forced wood filler titled Pall-X Filler. 1K wood floor lacquer Pall-X 96: Easy application, fast drying, and excellent filling capacities have made Pall-X 96 the choice of craftsmen worldwide for over 20 years. This benchmark single component waterborne lacquer is the spotlight of the International Campaign Pall-X 96 Wood Floor World Cup which began mid year 2020. Pallmann called on their craftsmen from around the globe to compete in a competition featuring wood floors coated with Pall-X 96. The grand finale will be held on 09.06.2021 in Wurzburg and feature projects and national craftsman champi-ons from all over the world. One winner will be crowned the Pall-X 96 Wood Floor World Cup Champion! A revolution in sanding: Pallmann Spider features new enhanced up-grades: The Pallmann Spider which revolutionized the wood floor sanding industry, now will feature new features to further optimized the user experience. In Jan-uary onward a new power LED light with 360° illumination and improved wheel hubcaps will be standard on the equipment. The integrated light illuminates the working area and clearly makes visible the sanding pattern and remaining ir-regularities left in the floor. This new LED light will enhance working conditions especially in poorly lit areas and ensures the optimum result in sanding pat-terns. The light ring will also add additional weight to the machine to ensure a smooth operation during padding and polishing. A new enhanced hubcap de-sign will protect door frames, walls and baseboards from unwanted scratches. Further upgrades to the machine will follow in later 2021. Pall-X Filler - strong partner for wide joints: Pallmann brings it’s innovation of flooring installation material to the next gen-eration of wood filler. Pall-X Filler is a fibre reinforced wood filler with ample working time, and excellent stability in joints. Low shrinkage, non-clogging for-mula when abraded, and neutral colour round out Pall-X Filler key features that ensures success for any wood flooring project.

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Special

Malaysia

PIONEER IN CERTIFIED WOOD IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA EXPORT OF SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED WOOD CONTINUES TO GROW

If we talk about hardwood in Asia, you probably think spontaneously of Malaysia. Malaysia, which is mainly an Islamic country and borders on Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, has a surface area of 330,3434km² and is thereby about eleven times bigger than Belgium. In South-East Asia the country is by far the leading producer of scores of wood sorts, many of which are destined for export.

As regards surface area, you notice that Malacca covers about 40% of the country’s surface area; this is precisely where most of the estimated 32.7 million people live. Over 85% of the population lives in Malacca. Moreover, it is also noticeable that over 70% live in towns and cities, as the population exploded after 1950. By comparison, in 1950, the country had barely six million inhabitants. That population explosion has been slowing down for some time, mainly due to a falling birth rate.

Before we consider what this country and its tropical climate (temperatures here are always between 27 and 34°C and the climate is humid) mean for the wood and parquet industry in our part of the world, we need to have a brief look at the country itself. The first thing which stands out is how this nation actually comprises two parts, which are separated by the South China Sea. On the one side you have Malacca (or West Malaysia), which abuts Thailand in the north and envelops Singapore in the south. There is also East Malaysia, which comprises Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan, and the northern part of Borneo, which borders on Indonesia in the south and surrounds Brunei in the north.

Malays, Chinese, and Tamils

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The population itself is reasonably diverse. By far the biggest ethnic group is that of the Malays, who comprise about 60% of the population. Then you have the Chinese (24%), a major second ethnic group. The latter are much fewer in number, but they do have considerable impact. Indeed, these Chinese occupy a dominant position in trade and industry and, together with the Indians, the biggest part of the non-farming working population. This leads us to the third group, the Indians, who comprise mainly Tamils and make up 8% of the population.

To complete the picture in full, the Federation of Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy. The leader (or Yang di-Pertuan Agong) is the head of state. Actually, you can also call this head of state a king, except for the fact that the Kings of Malaysia are chosen for terms of five years from the nine sultans of the states of the peninsula of Malacca. The present king is Sultan Abdullah of Pahang.

Economy: mining, oil, and, yes, wood Obviously, what we are mainly interested in is the economy. It is noticeable that the major branches of industry are mining and trade in petroleum (and natural gas), and not forestry. The major mining products are bauxite, gold, iron, and manganese. Oil is produced on Sarawak and off-shore at Sabah, but large stocks of petroleum and natural gas have also been found near Kuantan (West Malaysia). If we look specifically at the wood sector, the main observation is that Malaysia is one of the world’s biggest tropical suppliers of sawn hardwood, triplex, and other sheet materials, terrace boards, floorboards, furniture, panels, finger joint and/or laminated products, doors, and planed wood (skirting boards and profiles). The wood sector share in the economy is fairly large, as illustrated by the somewhat more than 3,500 wood businesses. The most recent figures are not yet available, but the fact that the total turnover of those companies in 2017 amounted to over 10 billion euros give you some idea. Moreover, half of that 10 billion was earned from exports. There is a particularly wide range of wood sorts since the country numbers over 2,600 types of trees. They include well known names such as dark red meranti, bintangor, gerutu, jelutong, keruing, sepetir, merbau, nyatoh, (red) balau, kembang semangkok, kempas, and rubber wood. It is worth noting here that Malaysia itself has started to import wood from other countries all over the world, mainly because of its own decreasing stocks. That wood is processed and re-exported all over the world. The rest of the world in this case means primarily Japan, the USA, the European Union, India, South Korea, Australia, China, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.

the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme, the first certification system for tropical wood in Asia. This is based on the ITTO standards, certifies the forest management and the Chain of Custody, and was approved in 2009 by PEFC International.

Certificates for 22 sorts of wood products The certificates cover 22 sorts of wood products and thereby the country trades globally in sustainably cultivated wood products, including with Belgium and, obviously, the Netherlands. We close with an interesting fact. At the start of this year, Malaysia was striving to reach 375,000 hectares of plantations. To achieve that, the country would need to plant 25,000 hectares of tree sorts each year to yield high quality wood over a period of about 15 years. The idea is that makers of floors, planed products, veneer, and furniture can start to benefit from this from 2021 onwards. Major sources of information: Malaysian Timber Council, www.maleisie.be and the trade journal ‘Houtwereld’.

Certification getting more and more important Deforestation, illegal cutting, and the climate are real issues. When it comes to forests, you invariably think of the Amazon region. Nevertheless, South-East Asia, and certainly Malaysia, have problems of their own in this respect. Environmental issues haven’t fallen on deaf ears in Malaysia and they’ve been working for several years to offer more and more certified wood, with the Malaysian Timber Industry Board being one of the driving forces. Moreover, that same MTIB has proposed that in the near future the country should aim for a division of 40% sawn wood for the export volume. The portion of wood to be processed further would therefore come out at 60%. They are responding here to forecasts, which suggest that the demand for sustainable certified wood and semi-finished products will continue to rise. As we’ve mentioned above, Malaysia is committing itself increasingly to certification. For a long time, the country had a reputation for an attitude of ‘anything goes’, but they have obviously made serious attempts to bring about change here. In their own Asiatic region, the wood producing countries have started to take serious import and export measures in recent years in relation to illegally cut wood. Malaysia is most certainly one of the pioneers within this group because the country has been working for much longer to combat illegal wood cutting and is striving for responsible forestry and certification. For instance, in 2001, the country introduced

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∂ Product news RENZO BORGONOVO SRL AND FNT SRL Renzo Borgonovo Srl and FNT Srl would like to propose here again the new hot embossing machine Borgore 500/ITI, which sent the old Borgore 800/ITI into a well deserved retirement. The new model reaches a working width of 500 mm., allowing more room for the embossing of small to medium panels and parquet boards. As per our other smaller and bigger hot embossing machine models, Renzo Borgonovo’s Borgore 500/ITI is available in both gas or fully electrical heating systems, and can be equipped with teleservice module for remote troubleshooting, external chiller, and roller’s changing device, for its smooth and satisfactory use! Talking instead about new patterns, the “Wide Criss Cross” design has been designed and came to light at the very end of last year. The new pattern is a band sawn style one, defined by a main direction of cut plus a second cut, which intermittently crosses the first one, creating thus a scenic country style look! For more info, make sure to contact us! www.borgonovo.com / www.trabattonistampi.com

NEW THIN CUTTING BANDSAW RHINO SAWYER 400XL Rehomy BV from The Netherlands is introducing a new single thin cutting bandsaw 400XL. This new model is equipped with bigger saw wheels and 2 inverters for both sawblade speed settings and feed speed. With this you will have a higher cutting speed and more flexibility with both soft and hard wood. This model can cut up to 400 mm wide lamella, starting from 2 mm. The upgraded model will also have standard a touchscreen and new IE-3 energy efficient sawmotors. More information : www.woodworkingbandsaw.com Rehomy BV, Drachten, The Netherlands Phone +31 512 519465

TRADITIONAL HABO PARQUET FOR LISTED BRASSERIE “LE CIRIO” Next to the Bourse (Stock Exchange) of Brussels you will find brasserie “Le Cirio”, an architectural gem in typical Belle Epoque style. The history of this elegant cafe begins in 1886 when Italian businessman Francesco Cirio, famous for his cans of tomato paste, opens a delicacies shop with a tearoom. In 1923 it will become a cafe-brasserie. Of all the celebrities that liked to frequent “Le Cirio” Jacques Brel was the most famous. The original beautiful chandeliers, wall panelling and stained glass are preserved. But the interior and glass canopy were in need of a thorough restoration. The brasserie is partially listed heritage and so the interior was restored according to the techniques of 1923 and in consultation with the Department of Conservation. Eurobel Projet replaced 175m² of linoleum flooring with a solid 9mm herringbone in French oak bis from Habo that was glued and pinned onto a mosaic subfloor. A traditional way of fitting that perfectly matches this historical cafe.

LEPLANG (SAW MILL) The Leplang family (B) has been sawing oak wood for over 60 years. Today, the family business has an extensive sawing capacity (30m³ per day) and the enterprise is one of the last industrial saw mills in Wallonia. With its headquarters in Alle-Sur-Semois in Southern Wallonia, the business draws its stock from regional forests. After selecting the raw material thoroughly, the Leplang family saws, dries, and treats only local oak with fine cuts. Its brighter colour and the delicacy of the fibres make it possible to produce sawn wood which is particularly well suited to completing homes with a warm and modest atmosphere. They offer the following: sawn wood of 15 to 100mm, sawn planks, floorboards, wood blocks, and finger-jointed wood from first choice to rustic; parquet, planks, and indoor furnishing, with tongue and groove, oiled; beams up to 9.5 metres long, garden wood, edging, terrace planks, etc. Furniture and slabs for the catering sector, but also for design and interior design.

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DINACHOC S801 The insulation underlay Dinachoc® S801® offers a solution to neighbour noise and other noise which you might possibly cause. It absorbs both incoming and outgoing sounds and stops them spreading. Thanks to its composition of 100% rubber (from recycled used tyres), it provides insulation properties and an acoustic comfort which is unique in its sort. The S801 underlay is one of the few which can boast the classification A+, GEV EMICODE EC1, LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN LEED 4-1, and EUROFINS CERTIFIED PRODUCT INDOOR AIR COMFORT. In short, this is an underlay with very low emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), and that ensures ideal air quality in the interior. It ensures peace and quiet for your neighbours, a considerable improvement in the acoustics in your interior, and at the same time ideal ecology because the DINACHOC products form an integral part of a circular economy with use of materials which are recycled infinitely. Nor should we forget a price/quality ratio which puts paid to most other solutions on the market because it unites performance, stability, immutability, and convenient fitting. The Dinachoc experts advise you to fit the S801® underlay on your floors and walls. It absorbs the sound of footsteps and airborne noises (floors and walls), circumvents sound boxes and all impact sounds of low frequency (the most frequent disruptive sounds), and improves the acoustics of your rooms considerably.

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FFI 114 February 2021

Articles inside

Industry news

Product news

Special Malaysia

Advertorial Steico (D

Advertorial Chipps (B

Special Who has products for the preparation of indoor wooden/parquet floors i.e. for applying oil, lacquer, or hard wax?

Special New trends in LVT, PVC, vinyl, and design floors

Special Who has adhesives for different screeds in combination with floor heating ?

Special Who has silane adhesives for fitting LVT, PVC, vinyl, and design floors?

Special Manually operated machines for roughening up old tiles and removing adhesive residue from old carpet

Special How do you assess the substrate?

Special Terrace floors : wood versus composite

Inside news

Advertorial Habo (B