FFI May 2022 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° 123 May 2022 - 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: Uganda

Preview Carrefour International du Bois (F) Special Hungarian point and herringbone pattern in LVT, PVC, and vinyl

Wide planks in

Hardened wood Innovative floors for creative interiors

Hardened oak VIKEN Special UV finishing on site

Special Wall cladding : wood versus composite

Special The issue of colouring wooden floors

VIKEN is a natural hard wax oiled wooden floor, produced with the patented Woodura®technology to harden wood and make it stronger. The manufacturing process makes the floor three times stronger than a traditional wooden floor and that utilizes renewable raw materials optimally. The technology enables thinner surface layers to be used in production and the entire tree to be used as a raw material. It gives ten times more floors from the same log and the hardening process gives a many times stronger surface that never needs to be sanded. It will be cost-effective and sustainable for both you and our environment. See the entire collection of colors at www.bjelin.com

Bona Primers and Lacquers

A WORLD OF RENOVATION POSSIBILITIES Discover a world of renovation possibilities, discover the world of Bona. We believe in offering the widest range of lacquers and primers delivering extraordinary flooring results. You can rely on Bona whether your project is a full renovation, protection of newly installed floors or if you’re seeking new design options. We continuously increase demand and make a sustainable difference by inspiring floor owners to renovate and refinish wood floors - rather than ripping out and replacing.

bona.com/

Content

Editorial

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

N° 123 May 2022 - 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: Uganda

Preview Carrefour International du Bois (F) Special Hungarian point and herringbone pattern in LVT, PVC, and vinyl

"World-leading technology for durable and environmentally friendly floors"

Wide planks in

Hardened wood Innovative floors for creative interiors

Bjelin is a part of the Pervanovo Invest AB Group and develops and manufactures a wide product range of both traditional wooden floors and innovative floors from new materials. The development is performed in collaboration with sister company Välinge Innovation AB. The founder of Bjelin and Välinge, Darko Pervan, invented the first click floor and developed the world's first laminate floor.

Hardened oak VIKEN Special UV finishing on site

Special Wall cladding : wood versus composite

Special The issue of colouring wooden floors

20220425_COVER PAGE_2x159x250mm+3mm.indd 2

2022-05-09 13:04

Floor Forum International n° 123 May 2022 Photo Bjelin

Inside news

Advertorial Blanchon (F)

Special Pre-colouring

13 Preview Carrefour International du Bois (F) 20 Advertorial Välinge (SE) 22 Special Hungarian point and herringbone pattern in LVT,

PVC, and vinyl 25 Special UV finishing on site 27 Special Types of hygrometers 30 Special Profiles for LVT, PVC, and vinyl floors 33 Special Wall cladding : wood versus composite 36 Special The issue of colouring wooden floors 39 Special Oil for parquet 42 Special When and when do you not use (adhesion) primers

or a damp screen? 43 Special Promoting durable floors in the showroom 45 Special Training and seminars 47 Industry news 48 Special Uganda 50 Product news

Bjelin's vision is to become the world's largest and most sustainable company in wooden flooring. The flooring production is partly powered by solar panels and the company is investing heavily in solar power in its tranDominik Birt sition towards energy self-sufficiency. Our clean energy Sales and marketing director discussion has gained momentum through acquisitions Bjelin Croatia d.o.o. and expansion of new manufacturing facilities in Croatia. When all Bjelin's units are online, including the solar cell plant that is already integrated in the Swedish unit in Viken, the group will generate 4.5 MW, equal to 225 single homes' annual average consumption of electricity. Our new flooring category, hardened wooden flooring, quickly became a success in the market when it was launched just a few years ago. This popular, extra durable and ecofriendly wooden flooring is now breaking the sales record in the first quarter of the year. The patented Woodura®-technology – a revolutionizing innovation developed by sister company Välinge Innovation - plays an important part in this business success. This new flooring technology makes it possible to produce more flooring from the raw material - the oak - at the same time as the hardening process makes the floors extra strong and durable. Pervanovo Invest, the owner of Bjelin, is increasing its investments in the production facilities in both Sweden and Croatia with the objective to meet the growing demand. In addition, the company group is speeding up the construction of a brand-new factory that will be the world's largest wooden flooring factory when it is completed in 2025. This new factory is being constructed in Ogulin in Croatia. Solution found for scarcity of wooden raw materials Bjelin gets all of its raw oak from Croatia, but both Russia and Ukraine are big exporters of oak and other wooden materials for the flooring industry. Both countries have a substantial production of parquet flooring, which is now directly affected by the war and the subsequent sanctions. According to assessments by Bjelin, 25 percent of oak slats produced for the European markets originates from Russia and Ukraine. The scarcity of oak in general and parquet flooring in particular will be significant and many construction projects risk considerable delays from cancellation of flooring deliveries. However, Bjelin’s production capabilities are not affected by the general scarcity of the wooden raw materials. In order to counter the negative consequences of the general shortage of wooden flooring, the group will increase its production and work proactively with license holders and other flooring manufacturers. The production of hardened wooden flooring, manufactured with Woodura® patented technology will be prioritized. This production requires ten times less oak, compared to traditional manufacturing of parquet flooring, which in turn can result in more wooden flooring out of less raw materials. I can conclude by confirming our group has ceased all sales to Russia and Belarus. The group supports Ukraine through donations to the international Red Cross and UNHCR. 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 DINACHOC® P154 electric skirting boards are patented and meet the NF standard.

They are the only wooden skirting boards on the market in France to meet the NF electrical standards. Most wooden skirting boards on the market have inadequate safety measures. They are tolerated in very old flats, but prohibited in new flats and therefore doomed to disappear. DINACHOC® P154 electric skirting boards are entirely safe at several levels: - They can be connected twice to provide greater child safety. - They make it possible to separate high and low voltage wires for extra safety. - The wood and the wires do not touch each other. The skirting board comprises three elements: - the wire channel - the wire channel cover - the wooden skirting board. BENEFITS OF THE DINACHOC P154 SKIRTING BOARD - Unique patented system - Conceals electric wires - Electric skirting boards to meet the prevailing NF standards - PVC wire channel with four compartments which make it possible to separate low and high voltage wires - Absolutely safe: The wires do not touch the skirting board wood - Double cover for extra child safety - Easy to adjust: It can be clipped in place and unclipped without damaging the skirting board to add or remove wires. - Clean and practical: no holes to drill, no dust - The cables and electric wires are easily accessible, if necessary. - Several finishes: painted white, raw oak to be varnished, varnished oak.

INVICTUS: GREAT FLOORING - INVINCIBLE PERFORMANCE INVICTUS, AN ASSOCIATED WEAVERS BRAND Associated Weavers (AW) is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of tufted wall-to-wall carpet and a promising challenger on the luxury vinyl flooring market (under the Invictus brand). Now AW is taking up the challenge of also becoming the preferred supplier of residential & commercial floorcoverings, with its luxury vinyl flooring, carpet tiles and wall-to-wall carpet. AW’s product range, branding and in-store solutions set it apart from the competition. The Invictus luxury vinyl flooring concept and display are no exception to this rule. With its attractive branding and visuals it is the highlight in any store and immediately catches the customer’s eye. Associated Weavers has reinvented the in-store display and is offering a tool with an intuitive digital module that will undoubtedly deliver an outstanding customer experience and guide customers through an efficient and enjoyable purchasing process. This symbiosis between traditional samples and a digital journey is unprecedented in the flooring sector. INVINCIBLE In 2018 Associated Weavers launched Invictus Luxury Vinyl Flooring in the United Kingdom. The brand was quickly picked up and soon became

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a ‘trade favourite’. For three years in a row professionals and the trade press honoured Invictus with the best flooring brand, best marketing and best shop display prizes at the Flooring Innovations Awards. Consumers started to find their way to Invictus too. In 2020 there were no fewer than 580,000 visitors to the brand’s popular website. Since 2021 Invictus has also been available in the Benelux countries. It was launched onto this market with imposing branding, an impressive display and a well-balanced collection. The mix available includes Dryback & Rigid Click products, designs with a wood, stone or herringbone look and much more besides. When it comes to the finish there are two possible options: the Primus with 0.3 mm Scratchmaster top layer and the Maximus with 0.55 mm Scratchmaster top layer. With its ultra-strong coating and highly efficient top layer Invictus offers luxury vinyl floors with outperforming wear protection. Thanks to this top layer, the vinyl floor can cope with the demands of busy family life, including children and pets. This quality is also expressed in the name of the line, which, of course, was not chosen by chance. ‘Invictus’ is Latin for ‘invincible’. You can therefore be confident that these floors will live up to expectations. INVICTUS COMMUNITY Besides the brand, Associated Weavers has also developed the Invictus Community, a platform for Invictus fans. This platform is used to keep all customers up to date. There are also official Invictus accounts on all social media channels. This allows the company to bring new Invictus fans together with existing ones and further expand its community of more than 12,500 followers. Through these channels it shares the latest product launches, tips and tricks for maintaining luxury vinyl floors, inspiring room-design photos and much more. www.invictus.eu

∂ Inside news Visiogrande: Water-resistant surfaces and new designs for the special laminate tiles from CLASSEN

Baruth (Mark). CLASSEN makes very good things even better: the manufacturer of the tried-and-tested Visiogrande laminate tiles with their extraordinary decors now offers four new exciting designs and increases the suitability for everyday use with the Megaloc aqua protect quick installation system, which is now used for all decors. Protection for everyday use: Megaloc aqua protect Thanks to CLASSEN's patented Megaloc-aqua-protect technology, Visiogrande laminate tiles are water-resistant, suitable for damp rooms and even better protected against water penetration at the joints. For a period of 24 hours, no water penetrates down through the chamfer of the edge profiles. This means that Visiogrande can easily withstand frequent exposure to cleaning or splashing water and the risk of the edges swelling has been greatly reduced. The substrate is also protected. This is demonstrated by the excellent results in the standard test procedure according to NALFA (North American Laminate Flooring Association). CLASSEN carries out these tests continuously in its own laboratory and also regularly commissions external test laboratories for this purpose. The tests examine how the laminate tiles behave when installed, with the surface exposed to standing water for 24 hours. The results show that Visiogrande more than meets the NALFA requirement. The Visiogrande surfaces also show swelling behaviour of the best possible rating class 1 in the tests, which means that the CLASSEN product performs significantly better than water-resistant laminate flooring from competitors. Moreover, the Megaloc aqua protect profile not only ensures quick and easy laying of the tiles, there is also love in the detail: the angled bevels of the joints on the surface are colour-coordinated with the décor. For more details on Megaloc-aqua-protect technology, visit the Megaloc website. Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

by high stability and brilliant decors, and – like all other MEISTER floors – they are made in Germany. The surfaces have been successfully tested to ensure an antibacterial effect. The high-quality soundabsorbing cushion, which is used in all MeisterDesign. rigid variants, consists of stable and recyclable XPS foam and reliably reduces both impact sound and walking noise. Thanks to the secure click connection, the floors can be comfortably laid as ‘floating’ installations and even over tiles, for example, without any sign of the old flooring showing through. Extraordinary surfaces MeisterDesign. rigid RL 400 S (long planks) and RB 400 S (large-format tiles) are the particularly durable rigid flooring variants. The rigid polymer base board, in combination with the integrated soundabsorbing cushion, ensures a heavy design that dampens vibrations – resulting in a flooring that is both resilient and quiet. Another point in its favour is that the high-quality surface with excimer lacquering guarantees an even matt finish. Featuring planks that measure over 1.80 m in length with no decor repetition, the floors in the RL 400 S long plank collection really are unique on the market! Additional layer for extra sound insulation The compact planks in the RD 300 S collection exhibit excellent dimensional stability thanks to their special plasticiser-free, rigid-polymer base board, while an additional elastic intermediate layer dampens the footfall noise in the room. The multilayer vinyl surface with PUR coating makes the floor extremely easy to maintain. Despite their high level of stability, the short planks have a relatively low surface weight, making them particularly easy to transport and work with. ‘Indoor Air Comfort GOLD’ for healthy air in your home All MeisterDesign. rigid flooring is phthalate-free, made in Germany and bears the ‘Indoor Air Comfort GOLD’ seal of quality. The Indoor Air Comfort GOLD seal indicates particularly low-emission products. High emissions from formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOC) can lead to unpleasant odours and irritation of the eyes, respiratory system and skin. This seal guarantees low VOC emissions and compliance with the applicable laws and voluntary guidelines for the product group in question.

MeisterDesign. rigid design flooring: Extensive decor update The waterproof rigid core design flooring range from MEISTER has undergone a complete overhaul in terms of decor across all three collections. Instead of 20 products in the three collections MeisterDesign. rigid RD 300 S, RL 400 S and RB 400 S, MEISTER customers will be able to choose from 36 variants, including 25 new designs, from the official market launch on 1 April 2022. The rigid core floors are characterised

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Long planks with no decor repetition: The floors in the RL 400 S collection really are unique (here: Dark cracked terra oak 7433, wood effect).

Advertorial

Blanchon (F)

A NEW BRAND PLATFORM TO CONTINUE THE HISTORY Since it was founded in Lyon in 1832, Blanchon Group, the European manufacturer of products and services for the protection and embellishment of living spaces, has never ceased to innovate, to challenge itself to always combine beauty and performance with a particular attention to women, men and the planet.

This signature also symbolizes the group which has always defended the quality and efficiency but also the health of users and the protection of the planet. There are or more than twenty years, Blanchon Group has chosen, as a pioneer, to develop products in waterborne for the protection of interior and exterior wood more efficient for a healthier and more environmentally friendly approach. Today, «Protecting is in our nature» is a reality with the development in 2021 of a range of innovative products based on biobased ingredients reducing the dependence on raw materials made from fossil fuels and proposing ever more eco-responsible offers. Blanchon Group takes up environmental challenges in a more assertive manner by providing industry, professionals and the general public with new generation, high quality and high performance products and with perfect traceability of raw materials by relying on expertise, research and science.

To keep expertise and enthusiasm alive throughout the world. Today, the group is renewing its commitments with a new brand territory. Through a new identity platform, Blanchon Group asserts its historical values of reliability, empathy, boldness and responsibility and also articulates its commercial brands more clearly around the group's strategy, customer needs and environmental issues. A dynamic and committed way to pursue its development, to unite its teams and partners around the challenges of tomorrow, to preserve its know-how, the development of its employees and, and of course, respect for the environment.

Protecting is in our nature: a new group signature to reaffirm its commitments.

Being 190 years old is exceptional! It is in this energetic and positive spirit that Blanchon Group is approaching this new chapter with a new brand platform. This brand "canopy" carries and communicates the strategy and also has the mission to articulate and radiate all the commercial brands of the group: Blanchon, Syntilor, Carver, Ciranova, Rigo and tomorrow.

The Lyon-based company is active throughout France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland, Spain, China and the United States via its subsidiaries and organizations.

Blanchon Group is serenely building its European position and its global ambitions. The challenge of preserving know-how is also at the heart of the Group's development strategy. Maintaining expertise and enthusiasm is one of the missions of the group. It is the guarantee that the places will remain for a long time spaces of joy and conviviality where everyone feels good and safe. To keep these promises innovation, expansion and protection, Blanchon Group has an asset: its employees. They have built and consolidated the company and they are the ones who ensure its future. The security at work, fulfillment, training, recognition and enthusiasm are at the heart of the group's life... This is the key to achieving excellence while preserving the living. www.blanchongroup.com

This platform goes hand in hand with a redesigned signature for the group's brand: "Protecting is in our nature", which summarizes the company's ambitions and sends a unifying message to its employees, subsidiaries and clients around four pillars sustainable growth, operational excellence and digitalization, innovation and environmental and societal commitment.

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Special

Pre-colouring

NATURAL BEAUTY TAKES CENTRE STAGE THE VARIOUS BENEFITS OF PRE-COLOURING A WOODEN FLOOR Dr. Alexander Wörndle and Rossitza Dimitrova (Heubach Group) “Eco-compatible pigment preparations for sustainable wood coatings” When talking about colours, you almost invariably end up with the German Heubach Group. Heubach has been a household name in the creation of colours for more than 200 years and today is a global industry leader in the field of organic, inorganic, and anti-corrosive pigments, pigment preparations, dyes and specialty materials, with a specific emphasis on sustainability. Beginning of January of this year, Heubach announced the acquisition of Clariant’s Global Colorants Business. The combination of Heubach and Clariant Pigments creates a global colorants powerhouse committed to the highest standards in manufacturing, quality and service. What are the consequences of this acquisition? And what can we expect specifically for the market of (wooden) floors? These are two of the questions we asked Dr. Alexander Wörndle and Rossitza Dimitrova, respectively Segment Head Global Key Accounts Coatings, Global Technical Marketing Coatings, and Head of Technical Marketing, Middle East and Africa for Heubach. Our interlocutors are based in Germany and South Africa. “The acquisition of Clariant’s Global Colorants Business was realised by the Heubach Group and SK Capital Partners, a private investment firm focused on the specialty materials, chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors”, says Dr. Wörndle. “The newly combined Heubach Group is a technological and quality leader and operates globally from 19 manufacturing facilities across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa, employing approximately 3,000 people and with our headquarters in Vienna, Austria.” New colorants for wood coatings The new Heubach Group recently developed new colorants and solutions for wood, thus also targeting the sector of wooden and resilient floors. Rossitza Dimitrova explains: "Sustainability and innovations are our focus, when developing products or solutions for specific applications. Our colourants are non flammable, non-toxic, and do not contain lead-chromate nor APEO, complying to the latest European regulations and suitable for the modern low VOC coatings for wood.” “Our solutions for wood colouration are based on safer colourants with improved compatibility to a wide range of customer products for wood. Customers can chose between “ready-to-use” or “tailor-made” systems. Along with providing the right colourants for the right application, we are offering to our customers technical support to create new colour formulations, latest trending shades and marketing materials, such as wood colour catalogues. In that way, customers can implement total solutions for wood and wooden flooring, with excellent, durable performance, improved compatibility and brillance, both indoors and outdoors. In our range, we provide colorants suitable for solvent-based and water-based applications, as well as UV-cured coatings, and we can support our customers to meet the requirements of the market.” “It is important to show our customers what can be achieved, especially when it comes to trend colours”, adds Dr. Wörndle. “One of the first questions customers ask is about colours: which colours do you offer, what can I do with these or can I create whatever colour I wish? To help them, Rossitza has specifically worked on a colour book for wood to demonstrate what can be done with our various product offers for wood coatings – from timeless shades to the latest trend colors. We partly draw from knowledge generated in other areas, like our recently published Color Trends 2022 for Decorative Paints or the 2025 Automotive Styling Shades Trend Book, which we launched in 2021". “One of our product ranges is compatible with aliphatic solvent-based and wax-based products for wood”, Rossitza elaborates. “These are eco-friendlier colourants for products, based on natural materials such as plant oils and waxes. Our colourants are recommended not only for colouration of wood, but also for products preserving the wood and renewing and polishing of wooden surfaces.”

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Delivering excellence that stretches back over 200 years

THE NEW GLOBAL PIGMENTS POWERHOUSE The Heubach name is synonymous with innovation, attention to customer needs and reliability in creating colors. Today’s Heubach is a global industry leader with one of the world’s most complete portfolios of organic, inorganic and anti-corrosive pigments, pigment preparations, dyes and specialty materials. With a global manufacturing footprint including 19 facilities around the globe, Heubach is committed to a reliable supply of high-quality materials to meet customers demanding production environments. Sustainability is a part of the Heubach DNA. Heubach offers innovative color solutions for virtually every application. • Corrosion protection • Decorative, industrial, automotive and wood coatings • Coloration of plastics applications • Conventional and digital printing, inks, inkjet inks, and electrophotographic toners • Special applications for home and personal care, aluminum, agricultural coatings, stationery, viscose, latex, and leather Brighter Colors – Brighter Life www.heubachcolor.com

Special

Pre-colouring

Dr. Wörndle answers our question about who the Heubach Group wants to target with its products: “This is not in the first instance the parquet installer, but rather his or her provider of raw materials. Any manufacturer of colourful wood or colour blends is our customer. They can use our readymade colour blends and apply these on their wood products, both on new floors and while refurbishing old wooden floors.” “We also target customers who are impregnating wood”, concludes Rossitza Dimitrova. “The impregnation of wood can be done by using different methods, e.g using vacuum, high pressure, high temperature, wax, chemicals, etc. In the process of impregnating the wood, along with the wax and the chemicals for preservation of the wood customers add our colorants to simulate natural wood finishes, such as rare, indigenous types of wood, which can’t be used for mass production. This has a lot of advantages, as we can meet any design demand. Connected to sustainability, this allows our customers to use pinewood for example, which grows fast and can be replanted easily. After the treatment process employing colourants, the final finish can simulate rosewood, oak, teak or other exotic species. This is protecting indigeneous or slowgrowing types of wood, which in turns is protecting our environment.” www.heubachcolor.com

Photo – DevoNatural®

One way of giving a floor a different colour is to paint it. The disadvantage of that is that you cover the wood grain completely so that you can’t see the original grain at all. Nowadays, it’s popular to preserve the natural look of the wood and this is precisely where pre-colouring comes into the picture. Indeed, you can permanently change the original colours of your wooden floor, whilst the structure of the wood and the grain remain both visible and intact.

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The most important reason to pre-colour your wooden floor is to give it a new look. It avoids the need to replace an existing floor, whilst you give an existing floor covering a new lease of life. Pre-colouring is absolutely ideal for providing a lighter or, by contrast, a darker shade. Yet there’s more than just that. Pre-colouring is also an excellent treatment to counteract the discolouration of wood and it’s also one way of providing an ‘aged’ look.

From dark to lighter What makes pre-colouring a floor so attractive is that it’s a simple way of giving a wooden floor a different effect. Is the existing floor too dark? If so, you can turn to an increasingly wider range of pre-colouring agents to make it lighter. For instance, you can opt for a whitewash treatment or a greyed finish, which also makes the floor somewhat lighter.

From light to dark (or darker) and countering discolouration

It’s just as easy to go the other way. A floor which is too light for the client’s taste can be made darker thanks to various pre-colouring agents. On the other hand, if you want to counteract discol-ouration, there are various sorts of wood lye to counteract discolouration from the light. These wood lyes are suitable for several wood sorts, but you must check in advance whether or not a wood lye is suitable for counteracting discolouration in the wood sort which you want to treat.

Aged or smoked effect On the contrary, perhaps you want to obtain a weathered or smoked effect? That, too, is possible via the use of pre-colouring agents. One producer which specialises in aged effects is Rubio Mono-coat, a firm which has introduced a new development in pre-colouring. Pre-colouring used to be done with a stain, which was usually reactive or water-based, but Blanchon has developed an agent to absorb the drawbacks of that perfectly. The traditional and multiple streaks, the overlapping, and the colour fading are absorbed by a special product (Pre-Aging), which is also easily applied using a Woodboy. What it boils down to is that they use a product which looks reactive, but avoids the burden of streaks, overlaps, and colour fading. Moreover, it works on all sorts of wood and does it better than the previous generation of reactive stains. You can go from a lighter to a darker smoked look where colours can be mixed, depending on the required end result. They have also considered the greyed (and also mixable) grey variants so that it is possible to apply a deep colouring with subtle high-lights. Another big advantage of this product is that it can also be deployed as an end finish. After all, it isn’t based on a saturation principle, but, on the contrary, on the creation of a reaction with the wood fibre. And so, you don’t apply a film with an open top layer over the floor, but you aim for a molecular compound between the wood and the oil, something which we’ve covered at length in a previous edition. What it boils down to is that the wood structure remains untouched and at the same time the floor still enjoys maximum protection. Sources: Info houtvanuwvloer.nl and Rubio Monocoat.

What’s on the market ? Bona Bona has lots of products for colouring wooden floors. For instance, there is Bona Craft Oil 2K, a 2-component parquet oil based on vegetable oils. This dries rapidly and provides durable protection. It is the ideal finish for sometimes troublesome wood sorts such as kambala, afzelia, and walnut. It can also be used on smoked oak and steamed beech. Bona Craft Oil 2K ensures a highly attractive and waterproof and stain-proof surface. It can be supplied as standard in 19 modern colours (including the two new colours added to the already rich colour range). The colours can be mixed with each other infinitely. Moreover, it is also possible to create extra colour shades with products from the same assortment, namely Bona Mix Colour, Bona Nordic Tone, and

Bona Rich Tone. Bona Craft Oil 2K can serve as a finish, but it can also be lacquered over (exclusively) with Bona Traffic HD parquet lacquers.

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 tannins inside the wood and this interface creates very unique finishes. There are endless possibilities in combination with coloured oils. (reaction time +/- 6 hours). Aquastain is a new water-based pigment stain based on micro pigments for staining all types of wood for indoor use. Aquastain provides a uniform coloring that accentuates the woodgrain. (drying times +/- 3 to 4 hours). After drying, the stains can be finished with oil or waterborne finishes, such as our new PLUS RANGE to achieve an invisible finish and natural appearance. It is also possible to finish the stains with our coloured Hardwaxoils, creating unique finishes and endless possibilities.

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

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Special

Pre-colouring

colour combinations e.g. the floor is distressed with DevoNatural Reactive and then finished with a coloured DevoNatural® High Solid Oil. For DevoNatural® Easy Colour Devomat also offers the option of creating customised colours. Both product lines can be applied on site, in the workshop, or in the factory. DevoNatural® Easy Colour gives a deeper colour to the entire floor, whilst a colour oil will highlight mainly the grain and only to a lesser extent the surface. DevoNatural® Reactive is a reactive product and cannot be compared to a colour oil or another colouring product. The distressing effect depends on the tannic acid content and thereby differs from plank to plank. This gives a unique look to each parquet floor. Both products can be finished with any DevoNatural® finish product (lacquers, oils, or beeswax).

the tannin of the wood promotes unique achievements. You can easily overcoat them with all Tover finishings to give value to the wood floor and enhance its strong personality: yours!

Plastor

OSMO OSMO OIL STAIN: ONE PRODUCT – TWO COLOUR INTENSITIES Osmo Oil Stain is a richly coloured wood stain that can be layered to create various colour intensities without any visible transitions. One coat applied with a brush, roller or trowel and buffed achieves a transparent look showing the natural wood grain. A second coat intensifies the colour. For applications on flooring, a final top coat with Osmo Polyx®-Oil is required to protect the pigments against wear. Available in warm browns, trend greys, white and black. Oils enhance the colour and grain of the wood. Oil Stain 3519 Neutral counteracts this effect resulting a raw wood look.

Tover Thanks to the water-based stain Belle Epoque by Tover, you can renovate a wooden floor on site with the possibility of changing the colour of the wood or accentuating its aged appearance. Belle Epoque is available in many shades of grey, beige, brown and black and you do not risk overlaps or marks using it, since it can be applied with a roller and then evened out with a buffing machine. You can get a homogeneous effect on all wood species and a multitude of different chromatic outcomes if you cover it with neutral or coloured oils. Water-based oxidants – Bosch Vej, Ciair, Antique, Fossil - are also available for smoked, bleached and greyed finishes. Their more or less intense reaction with

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PLASTOR, a specialist in floor protection products, offers the ‘Colour Floors’ tint for colouring and personalising all floors. This water-based product is ideal on new and old parquet floors. It colours your various wood sorts in the interior durably and deeply thanks to 15 intense and mixable colours. In practice, as soon as the surface is completely sandpapered, you start applying the product from the edges of the room along the length of the parquet planks in zones of 3 or 4m², using a flat brush. Then you roller the product for the rest of the room in a thin coat over the entire surface. Let the product soak in for two minutes, then brush off with a lint-free cloth or a single brush with a white pad, and then brush the skirting boards off. If the sides turn out lighter, you can go over them again with a lint-free cloth soaked in the Colour Floors tint. Allow the whole to dry for two hours. Then, apply the UNIVERSAL undercoat PRIM'sO directly to the dry tint, not the sandpapered tint. Allow the PRIM'sO at least 45 minutes to dry and then apply a PLASTOR varnish of your choice.

Preview

Carrefour International du Bois (F)

NEW PRESIDENT, NEW IMPETUS AFTER FOUR LONG YEARS, THE SHOW IN NANTES CAN FINALLY BRING WOOD PROFESSIONALS TOGETHER AGAIN On the last day of the Carrefour International Wood Show in 2018, no one could have imagined that it would be another four years until the next edition. Now that the fight against covid 19 finally seems to be (almost) over, the players can attempt to set new record figures during the show’s thirtieth anniversary. To remind you, in 2018, the 563 exhibitors welcomed a record 11,500 visitors.

with wood playing a major part. This show is a unique and ideal place for wood consumers and users to meet each other. It’s also a place for manufacturers, traders, institutions, and such like to find solutions for all their needs. Carrefour is undeniably a summit for sharing insights and perspectives on the present markets, but it’s also the opportunity par excellence for visitors to replenish their stocks.’

The biannual Carrefour International Wood Show saw the light of day in 1992, with Pierre Piveteau as president. The aim was to organise a show for the entire wood industry. Carrefour was designed to attract the major players from the wood industry for an exchange of views about all sorts of subjects related to wood and, therefore, wooden floors as well. The venue was the Exhibition Park in Nantes, and that’s still the venue today.

Various seminars and talks will take centre stage and wood as a raw material is the main theme.

New president: Jean Piveateau During the anniversary edition, the 16th in total, visitors will certainly notice one visible change. The familiar face of Pierre Piveteau is being replaced by that of his brother Jean. Jean Piveteau took over as president in October 2021 and led his first committee meeting on 26 October. And so, he’s ideally placed to talk about the hopes and ambitions of the show, which runs from 1 to 3 June inclusive. He’s certainly making his debut during a turbulent period, not only due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, but also and especially due to the effects of those things on the wood market, which is under more pressure than ever. On the one hand, there is an ever increasing demand for wood, but, on the other hand, there are growing tensions on the market.

Important themes for new seminar formats

Jean Piveteau concludes: ‘The sector has to reassure users of our material. There’s enough wood in the forests. For instance, each year, only 80% of the biological growth of French forests is cut. As a show, we want to offer three new seminar formats as an extension of that: round tables ‘in long format’, televised seminars on our own set, and pitchformats in the innovation area in hall 1.’

Visit the Floor Forum International booth In keeping with tradition, your favourite professional medium has a stand to welcome our clients, readers, and other interested parties. The Floor Forum and Floor Forum International stand will once again be an ideal place for an informal chat or business discussions. You can familiarise yourself with our various publications (the Franco-Benelux and international ones) and we can look ahead together to what 2022 has to offer. You are welcome in Hall 3, booth H 2 !

Jean Piveteau comments: ‘This show is an essential instrument for the industry. When my brother Pierre founded the show, with the organisation by the interprofessional Fibois Pays de Loire in co-operation with the port of Nantes, the idea was to set up a tool to enable companies in the wood industry to exhibit their products and know-how. Carrefour Wood Show soon proved a great success and took on an international dimension in terms of both exhibitors and visitors.’

Stands are selling fast The new president has noticed that there is a great desire from the market to meet again. Obviously, there are no definitive figures as yet, but stands are selling fast. ‘Stand sales have been very encouraging and this illustrates the need for the sector to meet again. Both exhibitors and visitors have plenty to talk about after four long years of ‘isolation’. There’ll certainly be plenty to talk about now that we’ve seen how the use of wood and derivatives is scaling great heights in all sectors and in all parts of daily life.’ ‘I’m certainly not surprised that wood is doing so well. I think it’s linked to the spirit of the age, where we’re undergoing an energy transition,

Visit www.floor-forum.com

Some exhibitors Denderwood Denderwood, 3rd generation family business based in Erpe-Mere, Belgium, is specialized in importing and processing of tropical hardwoods (Asia, Africa & South America). Quality is key: “We are

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Wood Finish: For any professional, the right product – simple surface treatment and long-lasting care with Osmo. One wood care system for all interior surfaces treated with Osmo coatings.

Maintain surface with:

www.osmo.com

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Carrefour International du Bois (F)

Design Parquet

DENDERWOOD

J.Cardijnstraat 3 | 9420 Erpe-Mere - Belgium

specialized in original products, and attach the utmost importance to T +32 (0) 53-73 74 74 | F +32 (0) 53-73 74 75 | E info@denderwood.com our customer service”. Products arriving at Denderwood are processed www.denderwood.com as much as possible in their country of origin. The company imports laminated scantlings, moldings, rough sawn timbers, solid wood floorings, terraces but can also offer planing from its stock timber. The different species are numerous: Meranti, Merbau, Yellow Balau, Teck, Kempas, Doussie, Padouk, Afrormosia, Iroko, Wenge, Ipe, Cumaru, Massaranduba, ... The use depends on the species but are suitable for a large number of applications: joinery, window frames, verandas, mouldings, floorings, wall decoration, terraces and cladding. Denderwood delivers to Europe as well as to other continents. Visit us in Hall Grand Palais, booth E5.

denderwood adv 190 x 136 mm ander logo.indd 1

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Manufacturer of solid and engineered oak, hardwood and exotic flooring. Design Parquet is able to present : solid support, semi-solid Loft Pro (multilayer support in birch plywood). The parquet floors are available in many aspects: old fashioned, structured, band saw marks ligth or strong, heavy brushed, with or without bevels. At Design Parquet, the floors are adorned with natural varnished, oiled finishes, Roc varnish for heavy traffic, or decorative design colors (white, gray and brown). With its unique collection for the bathroom and in particulary its Navylam + range, Design Parquet is a benchmark brand in the floor parquet. The ultra-modern production tool guarantees it an almost unique specificity on the market: its ability to offer bespoke panels and customizable, with more than one million combinations. In 25 years, its innovative positioning has enabled it to become a key player on the French market and to develop internationally. Visit us in Hall 3 – booth A4.

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Carrefour International du Bois (F)

Eurotec

Evertree

Building decks has never been so easy

From load-bearing adjustable pedestals to robust system profiles and fasteners to matching accessories, Eurotec offers its customers different fastening systems and tools with which all kinds of deck projects can be realised. With the help of dimensionally stable aluminum system profiles, in contrast to wooden profiles, a durable basis is created for laying and attaching the desired covering. For fixing wooden decking boards, the range includes various solutions for visible or invisible fastening. With high-quality deck screws, they can be installed quickly and easily. Eurotec's multifunctional stone system is used for laying robust stone slabs. Eurotec has many years of experience and know-how in the field of deck construction and is happy to support you in the planning phase and the realization of any kind of deck. Visit us in Hall 4 booth E9.

Green Ultimate: the Plant-Based adhesive solution the panel industry has been waiting for What are the 2 main issues UF (ureaformaldehyde) resins are facing? Their formaldehyde emissions are ten times higher than solid wood (Formaldehyde was recognized carcinogen by WHO) and their carbon footprint is high (Composite wood panels are 10-15% resin but resin is responsible for 60% of a panel’s carbon footprint). Green Ultimate, the adhesive solution developed by Evertree, can substitute UF resins for wood panel production. We use oilcakes, collected from rapeseed and sunflower oils production, to produce our plant-based resin, which gives us a solution isocyanate and formaldehyde-free, without compromise on mechanical performances and with a 60% reduced carbon footprint compared to UF resins. For a cleaner air inhouse and out-side. Visit us in Hall 4 booth H4-H9.

Custom-made

LOFT PRO

HERRINGBONE VILLAGE PARQUET Oak Rustic / Campagne Finishing : tinted matt varnish Sections : 12 x 90 x 400 mm 16 x 90 x 500 mm

Booth H3-A4

Semi-solid parquet with birch plywood base

www.designparquet.com 16

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Scan me

“From quality in product, to quality in approach.” Made for en by professionals.

T +32 11 63 64 00 M info@parketkerkhofs.be A Ambachtslaan 1013, 3990 Peer

Choose life, Choose wood

2,500 m3 certified European Oak prompt available

Photo © Dieter Dejonghe

Prompt delivery

Using timber is good Using certified timber is wonderful

Furniture, flooring & parquet industry

Contact Bergstraat 25 8511 Aalbeke Belgium vandecasteele.be

genevieve@vandecasteele.be +32 56 43 33 00 dave@vandecasteele.be +44 15 94 83 43 32

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Carrefour International du Bois (F)

Lamett Nakuru. Unprecedented, such a quiet floor.

Lamett, the parquet and parquet-vinyl specialist, is a permanent fixture at Carrefour du Bois. Anyone who wants to discover Nakuru, their showpiece, should visit the show. Nakuru is the quietest floor on the floating vinyl floor market. This Parquetvinyl collection easily reduces sound by 21dB without an extra underlay. It is ideal for projects with 22/09/2021 16:24:35 neighbours everywhere, but equally for anyone who loves peace and quiet; even with a drummer or a baby at home. Parquetvinyl unites lots of assets such as 100% watertightness, a sublime wood look and structure, low maintenance, shock resistance, etc. Now you can also add the quietest floor to the list. Nakuru comes in both planks (six references) and a stylish herringbone (four references); always in natural colours. Discover Nakuru for yourself at the Lamett stand in hall 3, stand A3. There you can also see the new Mantaro herringbone and the most popular parquet collections.

Lindura by MEISTER The wood flooring revolution

– which means it’s the first of its kind. With its wood content of more than 50 percent, the highest proportion of renewable raw materials in its category, it reflects SWISS KRONO’s passion for wood. In addition to being fully waterproof, Corepel features unprecedented durability, making it the first floor to meet the requirements of the new Durable Eco Composite (DEC) standard. Extensive tests have proven that Corepel’s joints are five times stronger than those of its rivals. Exceptionally stable and robust, Corepel withstands other extreme loads as well: it also demonstrated extraordinary scratch resistance in the MSR-A1/ A2 (EN16511:2019) test. This means that Corepel effortlessly withstands all the challenges of everyday domestic life – whether scratches and knocks from children or pets, or a fallen vase. “Our modern life is shaped by activity and change. This demands a floor that can cope with everything and endure”, says Martin Brettenthaler.

Välinge Flooring The next generation wood flooring Välinge will present its latest collection of Hardened Wood floors at the Carrefour International du Bois, stand H3-F7.

Sustainable. Robust. Practical. That is Lindura wood flooring. In addition to the two room-sized château plank formats (2200 x 270 mm/2600 x 320 mm) an elegant new herringbone format (700 x 140 mm) will be presented at the Carrefour du Bois, Booth H3 – D7. Its eight ultra-matt-lacquered surfaces can be colour-coordinated with the HD 400 collection or stand alone. The château planks of the HD 400 collection are now impregnated with AquaStop edge impregnating agent, making them water-resistant for 24 hours and suitable for humid rooms. This provides even more safety in the kitchen and hallway, and enables installation in the bathroom. All surfaces have been successfully tested to ensure an antibacterial effect. And the best: manufacturing Lindura’s surface uses only approximately one eighth of the wood that is used for conventional multi-layered parquet flooring. Lindura – the ecological alternative!

SWISS KRONO “Corepel is an absolute novelty from SWISS KRONO – and for the market as a whole” – SWISS KRONO Group CEO Martin Brettenthaler is convinced: “It embodies the end of the perpetual dilemma: offering a floor made from wood that is also waterproof and extremely durable. At SWISS KRONO we are proud to have developed such a superior product. With its outstanding features, this is a new standard in the category.” Corepel is a completely waterproof, extremely durable designer floor

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- Sustainable: The Woodura® surface technology (based on fusing a thin sheet of wood with a high density Compositek® core through a powder mix layer) enables 10 times more flooring to be produced from the same amount of lumber compared to traditional engineered wood flooring. - Innovative: Thanks to the various patented technologies incorporated into the Välinge Flooring products such as 5G® Dry™, preventing water from penetrating into the joints of the floor panels & Woodura®, creating a significantly stronger surface with a hardness three times greater than a traditional solid wood floor. - Available in large sizes: XL and XXL, up to 27.1cm wide and 2.38m long with floating installation without splitting joints up to 625 m2. - Suitable for both residential and commercial spaces (almost all of collections offer class 33).

Licensed by

Advertorial

Välinge (SE)

MODERN SOLUTIONS FOR CLASSIC MODERN SOLUTIONS FOR CLASSIC FLOOR STYLES A WHOLESALER FINDS THE RIGHT CLICK INSTALLATION TECHNOLOGY FOR HERRINGBONE FLOORS

Herringbone has long been one of the most popular flooring installation patterns in markets around the globe. Not only is it a design that has stood up to changes in styles and tastes over decades, herringbone has even seen a growing resurgence in recent years. However, while the popularity of this traditional pattern is undoubtedly on the rise, today’s DIY consumers and installation professionals are looking for solutions that don’t come with the traditional drawbacks. For sellers of flooring products, it can often be challenging to find the right modern technologies that are suitable for this classic style. We spoke to Vivafloors, one company that has recently found a proven solution to this important market demand.

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A fast-growing market leader Based in the Dutch city of Goor, Vivafloors is a wholesale supplier of PVC flooring. The company specializes in click and glue-down products available in long planks, tiles, and herringbone formats. Founded in 2010, Vivafloors has around 35 employees today and sells across Europe. In addition to their domestic market in the Netherlands, they serve Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and Lithuania. “Vivafloors is growing very fast,” says Jolanda Looman, the company’s Product Manager. “In just 10 years, we have grown to become the Netherlands number three supplier in terms of turnover. In 2020 and again in 2021, we won the Gazelle Award – a prize given to the fastest

growing companies in the Netherlands. We are very proud of this achievement.”

The right technology to meet market needs Herringbone floors are a growing trend in the Netherlands, where more people are turning to classic styles that can successfully complement contemporary interior design tastes. However, while they may find appeal in a vintage look, consumers still want all the benefits that come from modern manufacturing to ensure simplicity and ease of installation and long-term care. This duality posed a unique challenge for Vivafloors as they set about finding a new solution to expand their product range. “We were looking for a click system for herringbone,” Looman explains. “Our supplier made samples of click herringbone floors using traditional technologies, but we were not completely satisfied with either

the solution has resulted in it being used on more than one billion m2 of flooring worldwide. For resilient flooring products, like those sold by Vivafloors, the latest version of 5G Fold Down can be used on panels as thin as 4mm. “One thing that sets the 5G technology apart from other glue-less click installation systems is the ease with which it can be adapted to flooring panels for flexible pattern installation – including herringbone varieties, square basket, and more. The 5G locking tongue is inserted on the long side of the panel rather than the short side. It is as easy to assemble and to disassemble if needed, thanks to the use of a simple dismantling pin that opens up the flooring”, says Andreas Nilsson, Key Account Manager at Välinge Innovation.

Test for success Upon receiving samples of herringbone flooring with the 5G solution, Vivafloors set about conducting testing to see it would be the right solution for their market and their customers’ needs. “The test reports and results were good, we decided to start with the 5G Fold Down,” says Looman. “We chose it because all sides of the herringbone strip are clicked and fixed, so it can even be used for project markets as well.” However, for Vivafloors, the success of the project has come down to much more than just the technology itself. In implementing 5G into their flooring products, they were also able to develop a close partnership with Välinge Innovation, which has been fundamental in ensuring implementation of the 5G Fold Down system in the optimal way for Vivafloors’ products and their market needs. “We are very satisfied working with Välinge,” Looman emphasises. “If we ever have problems or questions, they help us solve them and give us all the information we need. Välinge has tested the products in

solution. So, we got in touch with our contact at Välinge Innovation, Andreas Nilsson. He recommended their 5G® Fold Down technology for herringbone.” Sweden-based Välinge Innovation AB introduced their first version of the 5G Fold Down mechanical locking technology onto the market in 2005. Thanks to a patented design that uses a flexible plastic tongue insert, the solution offers both fast installation and dependable locking vertically and horizontally, preventing gap openings and height differences to appear between the panels. The proven success rate of

Sweden, and they have also helped us in our factories by sending their own people there”. “Välinge is providing extensive support throughout the value chain. It doesn’t matter where in the chain you are, if a producer, distributor or importer, Välinge is assisting with selecting and fine-tuning the right technologies for your particular flooring products and is a partner to rely on”, says Nilsson. More information on www.5gfolddown.com

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Hungarian point and herringbone pattern in LVT, PVC, and vinyl

WHAT MAKES A HERRINGBONE FLOOR SO POPULAR? TIMELESSNESS, LOW MAINTENANCE, EASY FITTING, DURABILITY, AND MUCH MORE Patrick Versee (Invictus - B) ‘Aim to become a preferred supplier of luxury vinyl flooring.’ Associated Weavers (AW) is one of Europe’s top producers of tufted wall-to-wall carpet. In 2018, AW launched its Invictus Luxury Vinyl floors in the United Kingdom. Last year, they brought Invictus LVT to the Benelux under the same brand name. They aim to become a preferred supplier not only of wall-to-wall carpet and carpet tiles, but also of luxury vinyl flooring for residential and commercial flooring. To achieve its aim, the company pulls out all the stops to keep ahead of its rivals in product range, branding, and in-store solutions. As part of that, the Invictus luxury vinyl floor concept and the display, complemented by an intuitive digital module, are not exceptions to the rule. They bring attractive branding and visuals to the diverse sales points, and therefore also to parquet traders. The benefits of herringbone We discuss the implications of various things for the parquet trade with business development manager Patrick Versee. We discuss LVT floors and consider specifically which solutions Invictus tenders in the field of herringbone patterns. He tells us: ‘For centuries, herringbone has stood for luxury, an elegant look, and a timeless character. Moreover, it is perfectly suitable for both industrial and modern designs. That’s why we offer not only ordinary LVT floors, but also herringbone. Herringbone provides various things: motion in the interior, a 90° zigzag in the room, depth, a mix of colours, and endless possible variations. With Invictus, we offer a wide range of herringbone options both in dry-back and click, and that makes us fairly unique. In click we have three designs, Divine Oak, Highland Oak, and River Oak, all of them in three colours.’ No need for A and B planks any more Patrick Versee points out a special asset of the Invictus LVT herringbone floorboards. For the fitting you usually need an A plank and a B plank, but that’s not the case with Invictus. ‘With our click system, you only use one plank. The benefits of that are legion. There’s no trouble with the fitting anymore and you need less stock. Moreover, the floor is easier to fit and it’s also a lot quicker with a system which we could call “idiot-proof” with tongue in cheek.’ Herringbone in LVT is one of the spearheads for AW and the click version plays the lead role. ‘The many benefits of LVT mean it is well worth inclusion in the parquet trader’s range. Something which we also complement with a unique Invictus Room Visualiser depending on a number of options and images which you can use to visualise your own room or project on screen. This is a tremendous tool for parquet traders which they can use, even on a smart phone, to show clients what the final creation will be.’ ‘Obviously, I must mention here the numerous benefits of LVT as compared to solid wood. For instance, there’s its unique waterproof character, plus a remarkable dirtrepellent effect, and the maintenance which requires nothing more than a mop. For the rest, you don’t need a coat of varnish or wax, the product provides good sound insulation, certainly in combination with a specifically accompanying acoustic bottom layer for the herringbone, and it is exceptionally scratch-resistant. With regard to the latter, think especially of domestic pets. It also has a top layer of 0.55mm for both residential and commercial use. It’s also durable and can be recycled for the full 100% (certainly in our case). Finally, our LVT still meets the strictest A+ and E1 EU health and environmental standards and is extremely fire-resistant.’

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Share your #invictusflooring @invictusflooring www.invictus.eu

Special

Hungarian point and herringbone pattern in LVT, PVC, and vinyl

Why take on LVT as well? Obviously, we also want to know how many square metres fitters can fit and why professionals should include this in their range. ‘With two people you can easily fit 50m² per day, whilst if you work alone that’s about 30m². This gets done so quickly because you don’t have to look for a particular type of plank. We offer nine different slats per design, virtually with no repetition. Moreover, the most important thing is that our “herringbone” enables professionals to show off their expertise!’ To conclude, we consider briefly the diverse markets which Invictus covers with its LVT. There seems to be a remarkable development on the commercial market. ‘Over the last three to four years, we’ve sold more on the commercial market than on the residential market. In particular, we’ve had a lot of orders in hotel, care home, and retail projects. Specifically for the herringbone market, we notice that hotels are being freshened up and that they’re removing wall-to-wall carpet in favour of carpets fitted on LVT.’

Patterns like herringbone or Hungarian Point have been popular for many years. That hasn’t escaped the notice of manufacturers of such floors in materials other than wood. For instance, herringbone in LVT is gaining popularity. Why is this alternative in LVT proving so successful? Probably one of the main reasons is the pattern itself, which is simply timeless. Back in the 16th century, herringbone pattern emerged in Italian country homes and castles and it thereby acquired a reputation as a luxury product found only in wealthy circles. That luxury appearance is precisely why LVT in herringbone pattern scores well. Moreover, it suits various decor styles, from modern to industrial or plain traditional.

Low maintenance and easy fitting

The manufacturer whom we asked for more details also told us that they also offer various colours and patterns of full oak. The look of wood is still in first place by far in most interiors, but that takes nothing away from the fact that there are more options than just imitations of wooden patterns and structures. Actually, a little of anything is possible with herringbone LVT if you want a modern touch.

Floor heating Finally, we must mention one excellent quality of LVT (and therefore also when used with herringbone). This product is absolutely ideal for use in combination with floor heating. Moreover, you mustn’t forget that floor heating is an efficient and economical way to keep the home warm.

Obviously, it’s not just about timelessness. On the contrary, various other factors also play a part. Other main factors include budget limitations and the amount of available time free for maintenance during the week. There are several other practical arguments. For example, the herringbone luxury vinyl floor is really easy to maintain and is highly robust. At the same time, thanks to herringbone luxury vinyl, you acquire a quality floor which is really easy to clean, even on a low budget. Take the use of water, for instance. With wood, water can seep in and destroy the material, but with LVT you don’t have that problem. Luxury Vinyl Tiles are simply made of synthetics, and that means that you simply clean up dirt or spilt liquids without the user having to worry about the floor. Indeed, herringbone vinyl tiles are waterproof. Furthermore, in terms of cost price there’s more than just the lower purchase price of the product. The simple installation of LVT herringbone (moreover, with the Invictus herringbone LVT Click floors, you only have one type of plank, not two) not only lowers the fitting cost, but also drastically reduces the loss of material.

Source: With the co-operation of Invictus (AW)

Durability

With this product Skema responds to the increasing demand from the market to bring back this classic and stylish pattern. The chevron pattern is combined with the practicality of synthetic surface technology. With Sintesy Star.KS, LVT-SPC enriches its style with the Endless Hungarian point pattern in the three decors Nantes, Marsiglia and Nizza. Characterized by the synchronized pattern, this proposal has all the technological properties of Star.K floors: simplified laying with TLS-5G joint, integrated mattress, semi-rigid CaCo3 internal panel. All Sintesy proposals, including the new Star.KS, are eco-friendly, characterised by the exclusive use of recyclable materials, the absence of phthalates and the A+ certification attesting to the high quality and healthiness of the compounds.

Another element in favour of (herringbone) LVT is its strength and durability. Herringbone LVT claims to be as strong as stone and that’s not surprising. It’s made from polyvinyl chloride, a material which is used for drainage, water pipes, and medical apparatus. To guarantee solidity, this flooring contains an innovative and scratch-resistant top protective layer in addition to UV coating. The result is that the floor retains its excellent appearance, regardless of the volume of traffic in the room. This type of flooring even provides maximum protection from scratches from pets on the floor, whilst damp in kitchens and/ or bathrooms is no problem. This flooring can be fitted easily in damp and wet rooms, thanks to the extra top coats.

Flexibility in design

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Skema Skema offers Hungarian point with SPC technology with the Sintesy Star.KS collection.

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UV finishing on site

DON’T FORGET THE MAINTENANCE! UV TECHNOLOGY HAS STRONG ASSETS IF USED WITH THE RIGHT COATING Arjan Maatkamp (DecoRad Systems bv - NL) ‘Floor maintenance with UV light is the future for permanent and durable linoleum protection.’ There’s a huge market for the periodic maintenance of linoleum and Marmoleum. All floors wear out, including linoleum and Marmoleum, so it’s advisable to protect them permanently and durably. What does this maintenance involve? We put that question to Arjan Maatkamp, general manager of UV specialist DecoRad Systems bv from Veenendaal in the Netherlands. This company offers a full assortment of portable UV-curing equipment for this purpose. The portable UV equipment from DecoRad Systems is suitable for all UV lacquers and coatings which are currently available worldwide. Breaking a pattern ‘Heavy pressure or incorrect maintenance can cause the top layer of a floor to wear. People often use polymers or mopping wax for periodic maintenance, but regular use of polymers often leads to differences in the gloss of the top layer. Footstep marks then become visible and dirt can pile up faster between the applied coats.’ ‘Applying polymers to Marmoleum and linoleum floors means applying three coats of wax on top of each other, which then have to dry for a few hours in the meantime. You can expect that to take from 10 to 12 hours. Those coats of wax are then stripped once or twice a year using an alkaline agent to soften and remove the coats of wax, whilst the waste water goes down the drain and you discharge millions of litres of chemical waste. The day will certainly come when governments make it obligatory to take the coats of wax and waste water to a waste disposal station. To break this pattern and give floors better and longer protection, several leading floor coating companies have developed waterborne UV lacquers for flexible floors.’ Farewell to the unecological and old fashioned method Arjan Maatkamp continues: ‘This new UV maintenance really is a joint effort. In Europe, for flexible floors, we’re talking about firms like Dr. Schutz and Arboritec. Moreover, since last year, the world’s biggest producer of Marmoleum floors also has a high-quality and ecological alternative, namely 326 UV Care Shield from Forbo. This protects Marmoleum floors permanently through the application of a waterborne UV lacquer with one component and no solvents. This puts paid to the unecological and old fashioned method of polymer floor maintenance. First of all, you remove the old, soiled, and discoloured coats of polymer. You then apply two coats of 326 UV Care Shield diagonally across each other to the bare linoleum using a roller. That’s followed by the drying with a portable UV light. The result is a floor which looks “as good as new” and is much more durable. The floor can last for three to five years simply with frequent dry-cleaning and/or damp mopping.’ The DecoRad UV equipment is suitable for drying: Forbo 326 UV-Care Shield, Dr. Schutz UV PU Sealer, and Arboritec UV Elite for flexible floors. A floor as good as new ‘This new top coat with a dazzling silky gloss look dries instantly and can be walked on at once. This method saves huge amounts of time as compared to other lacquering methods, so it is attractive for floors which need to be used again quickly, such as in schools, shops, hospitals, care homes, and other public buildings. Another benefit is the less frequent moving of furniture in the room for floor maintenance. Those costs are often forgotten.’ ‘In this age of sustainability with solar panels, energy windmills, and electric cars, it’s logical for us to say farewell to a number of unecological and old fashioned techniques such as the use of polymers. That benefits everyone and the environment at the same time.’ For more information: www.decorad.com

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UV finishing on site

Any floor which is subjected to daily intensive use, whether it be a floor in wood, PU, epoxy, or concrete, is susceptible to wear and tear. The key point here is to provide the right protection so that the floor stays in good condition for as long as possible and looks as good as new for as far as that is possible. A good way to achieve that is to use UV technology in combination with the right coating.

that all products used are ecological. Apart from direct drying and curing, another plus point worth noting is the fact that this coating is alcohol-proof.

Chimiver ECOFAST UV is a single-component polyurethane-acrylic waterbased UV curing lacquer in situ for wooden floors. ECOFAST UV has high abrasion and traffic resistances allowing its use for high traffic surfaces. It's UV curing with portable UV machines where a fast walkability is required. ECOFAST UV has been formulated in order to meet the highest anti-slip standard requirements for sportive wooden floors and is in conformity with European standards for sportive wooden floors meeting EN14904 standard's requirements.

What exactly does that right coating look like? We found an interesting coating product from the Dutch firm Progenta, which has launched the innovative Aqua UV coating. They say that when this coating is used, the floor not only looks as good as new, but also it can be walked on at once.

Working method You tackle this job by cleaning and stripping the floor first before the coating is applied. You then apply the coating and cure it using a high-tech machine with special UV lamps. The use of UV light fully strengthens the coating at once and the floor is ready for use. As we’ve said above, the method of combining this coating with UV light is ideal for floors finished with wood, PU, epoxy, or concrete.

Benefits If we compare this method to classic polymer coatings, we notice not only that this UV coating is more durable and permanent, but also that there are other benefits, too. For example, the process is much faster than with conventional methods. Another attractive benefit is that there’s only limited inconvenience during the process and

DecoRad Systems bv

Forbo Eurocol

UV-CareShield

UV 26

RESILIENT FLOORS permanent protection

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DecoRad Systems bv is a manufacturer of UV-curing equipment only, we do not produce our own lacquers or oils. We do, however, take care of the distribution of 326 UV-CareShield from Forbo. UV-lacquer (clearcoat) is usually a UV water-based dispersion with a solids content of approx. 40%. This type of lacquer is of superior quality and clearly on the rise. UV-coatings, also known as 100% coatings or 100% solids, have a 100% solids content to which no water or solvent has been added. The entire coating reacts (cross-links) with UV-light. Think of pigmented heavy duty coatings, mainly used on industrial floors. UV-oil is actually more like a modified lacquer with a solids content of 100%, which makes it possible to apply thinner layers. The number of layers required differs per project and surface. Waiting between applying different layers is only relevant for water-based lacquers. Water, as means of transport, must evaporate after application, as it cannot react to UV-light (cross-linking). The time of evaporation depends on the environmental factors humidity and temperature, on average this is one hour. Whether it is UV-lacquer, UV-oil or a traditional lacquer, the preparations on site are the same. The only difference is curing with the UV-lamp, after which the floor can be used immediately.

Special

Types of hygrometers

WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE? HOW TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT LIMITS WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF SUBFLOORS Pieter Rozema (Brookhuis Applied Data Intelligence BV - NL) ‘To measure is to know: Something can be present, even if you can’t see it.’ When this Dutch company from Enschede was founded over a century ago in 1920, they concentrated on specialist measurement equipment. For the first few decades, they worked on textiles, but from 1960 they changed course with an extension towards the wood industry. Then, they launched a device on the market which set the standard in the Netherlands for wood hygrometers. Nowadays, Brookhuis is a global authority in hygrometers and wood strength meters. The company launches measuring systems on the market for measuring damp content from the time when the wood is sawn up to and including the time when a floor is made and is already fitted. They also have measuring systems to detect cracks in the wood even before it becomes an end product. Have you put your data to work? We called on Pieter Rozema, Brookhuis’ chief technical officer, to ask mainly how his company sets about measuring damp in wood. The company slogan best summarises his reply: ‘Have you put your data to work?’Basically, this means: ‘Don’t forget to use the information which you collect!’ Pieter Rozema tells us: ‘The best way to start is to outline who we are to help people understand the products better. We supply our measuring equipment all over the world, not only to floor fitters or the wood trade, but also to parquet manufacturers. In the parquet industry you can call us a big player, although most people only know us for our hygrometers for floor fitters and end users, whereas the real work is actually done beforehand.’ Mr Rozema shows us a film clip about the activities of Brookhuis in the wood industry to explain the slogan clearly. You’ve collected a lot of information, and that’s fine, but the key thing is to use that information to draw the right conclusions. Much broader than just the parquet industry ‘What it boils down to is that information is much more important than the equipment itself. It all revolves around what you do with that equipment,’ he explains. ‘We also offer much more than just hygrometers. An important point in the professional wood trade is that we can also measure the strength of the wood for construction applications and we’ve developed special scanner systems to detect cracks in the wood and to distinguish heart wood from sap wood.’ ‘In the parquet trade we’re known mainly for our “hand-held” hygrometers. We operate on the basis of two principles. Either we put the meter simply onto the wood, or we drive an electrode into the wood. And so, it’s a question of whether or not to damage the wood to make a measurement, and each device is more or less suitable in specific circumstances.’ It always has to be correct Pieter Rozema stresses that all Brookhuis measuring instruments have to comply with the highest possible standards and store a maximum of data. This data serves as the basis for drawing up a report. That is important in matters such a damage claims. ‘We’re quite proud of the fact that our meters never deviate, whatever happens to them or wher-ever in the world they are used, whatever the weather conditions. Our clients know that whatever they buy from us always works correctly,’ he explains. ‘We give a

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Types of hygrometers

different sort of reliability to the whole picture. Everything is regulated digitally within, inside an extremely stable instrument.’ Mr Rozema then tells us specifically about the in-line hygrometer. This is designed for parquet manufacturers and measures each separate plank in the production, both solid wood and composite. With this system, you send precisely the correct data to your clients so that they can process the wood into an end product with no problem at all. Literally all the details are correct, something which is vitally important in the parquet industry, which is an important industry for us.’ We also hear that Brookhuis, thanks to a recent development, is now able to measure the damp in whole pallets. Mr Rozema also briefly considers wood strength measurement, although that’s not immediately groundbreaking news for the parquet industry. What’s more interesting as a closing item is how they set about crack detection. Internal crack detection or ICD ‘With “internal crack detection”, we check to see whether or not there are any crack formations or cavities in the wood. The plank is subdivided into zones of a few millimetres thick so that you see any crack formation at the start of the process. And so, you know immediately if something is suitable for processing before any work is carried out on it and that saves considerable labour costs. The same applies for glueing. By using a continuous measuring system when the top layer is applied to the bearer, you notice immediately if there are any air bubbles, and that helps you to prevent or avoid later problems or compensation claims.’ Everything is tested ‘We also highlight these developments explicitly where we can do so with all our systems. If you use Brookhuis equipment, you must know as a client that we strongly prefer prevention to cure and that we’re already present during the production process. Moreover, all our clients can be absolutely sure that everything which we supply is tested and that we are responsible for any potential extra test, if that is necessary.’

How much damp is acceptable in a subfloor and what is now unacceptable? That’s an interesting question. We look at a number of subfloors and consider what is applicable for what. This makes it clear that the type of subfloor also affects what is acceptable and what isn’t.

A list of limits Once you’ve established which type of subfloor you are dealing with and have taken a damp measurement, the key thing is to stick to the correct limits. We consider a number of limits for some of the most popular subfloors. You will also notice at once that the presence or absence of floor heating is also an important factor: - Sand-cement covering floor/concrete floor with no floor heating: < 2.0CM% - Sand-cement covering floor/concrete floor with floor heating: < 1.8CM% - Anhydrite covering floor with no floor heating: < 0.5CM% - Anhydrite covering floor with floor heating: < 0.3CM% - Wooden subfloor: 9-11%.

We are talking here about residual damp when a new covering floor (sand-cement or anhydrite) is fitted and then dries out and therefore emits damp. If there is a hint of a structural damp problem due to a factor such as a leaking pipe or rising damp, there is only one solution. It is necessary to take structural measures to solve the problem. You might think that fitting a damp screen can help, but, sadly, nothing could be further from the truth! Source: Lecol

One thing which the list above makes quite clear is that it’s not permissible to glue a floor or apply a levelling agent if the damp percentages exceed the limits above. One exception to this rule concerns options with sand-cement covering floors (only in the case of residual damp) for fitting a damp screen. In that case, for instance, you can use a polyurethane or a silane primer, but, obviously, you mustn’t forget to check the technical details of those products in order to establish the possibilities.

Residual damp or a structural damp problem? You must always remember that you need to draw a distinction between ordinary residual damp and a structural damp problem.

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Photo – Brookhuis

Brookhuis. Because every process is unique.

Predict the unpredictable Detect board cupping and cracks early. Guarantee flooring board dimension and shape stability. With the correct moisture content. Thanks to Brookhuis measuring equipment.

www.brookhuis.com

Special

Profiles for LVT, PVC, and vinyl floors

THE PERFECT ‘CONNECTORS’ A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE VARIOUS SORTS AND TRENDS

Photo – Carl Prinz

We all know that profiles are generally used to absorb the swelling of floorboards. With PVC, LVT, and vinyl floors, this swelling occurs to a much lesser degree than with wood. However, it is still good to use profiles, if only because they ensure a smoother transition between the various parts of a floor and therefore guarantee a much more uniform look. In many situations it is necessary to use a profile, mainly because these items make perfect ‘connectors’. They ensure that you can move from one part of a floor in a room to another part without damage to the big picture.

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When we consider which profiles are available, you can divide them into a number of categories. We then arrive at four groups: the threshold profile, the adapter profile, the qualification profile, and the stair edge. These are deployed depending on the fitting method, closure, and the scope of a floor.

Threshold profile and adapter profile The threshold profile is probably the most well known. If you want to connect two floors of different heights to each other, this is the ideal took for the job. This profile ensures that there is a seamless transition between two floor surfaces and can also compensate for

any minor unevenness. This compensation can apply up to about 9mm. An adapted version of the threshold profile is the adapter profile. Here, you also go from one floor to another, but you use the adapter profile to create an optically smooth threshold between two floors of different heights. We find differences in height of up to 17.5mm, but obviously you have to check to see what the manufacturer says.

Clip systems work on the basis of a coil toothed hinge, which clicks into the profile like a ball joint. This gives the profile an extremely high load capacity, leaves no screw holes, and the clip can also be dismounted easily. Plugs mean there is no need for visible drill holes and screw heads. Profiles with plug fastening ensure that the profile stays in place properly for a long time and they possess the necessary elasticity for a smooth adjustment of the profile in the height and drop.

Stair edge profile and qualification profile

Trends on the market

The stair edge profile and the qualification profile are special items amongst profiles. With the stair edge profile you secure floor coverings of different thicknesses and, if necessary, adapt them to each other on the stairs. These stair edge profiles are characterised by a high load capacity and safety.

In recent years, we’ve hardly had the opportunity, if at all, to visit trade fairs to ‘get a feel for’ the market, but actually you can say that most trends which have been visible for some years are continuing. For instance, in the area of decoration you see that metal profiles continue to score well and that profiles in stainless steel and aluminium are still popular. Classic shades such as silver and bronze are being supplemented with an ever growing quantity of wood decors. One interesting development which is being further refined is digital printing. This means that profiles can be designed which fit in even more closely, if possible, with the end user’s personal wishes. Technically, we notice that flexible profiles continue to do well. In addition, we’re seeing highly committed efforts in the area of increasing durability.

Sometimes it is necessary to close a room literally. Thanks to an end or a qualification profile you create an ideal profile for connection with the wall, but at the same time you can also use it as a closure for a floor covering with balcony doors or opening doors, for instance.

Sorts of fastening Profiles can be fastened in various ways thanks to the use of screws, clips, and plugs. If you use screws, you guarantee contact around the profile by screwing a strong insertion into the accompanying skirting board. Manufacturers hereby guarantee a seamless and durable fixation and smooth adjustment in the height and drop.

Sources: Hornbach, Auer Metallprofile, and Progress Profiles

www.progressprofiles.com

The perfect system for waterproofing and draining your terraces PATE N

TED

PRODESO® DRAIN SYSTEM & PROTERRACE DOUBLE DRIP SYSTEM MEMBRANE 5LAYERS

PRODESO® DRAIN SYSTEM

PROTERRACE DOUBLE DRIP SYSTEM

Progress Profiles SpA

Company certified UNI EN ISO 9001:2015

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Profiles for LVT, PVC, and vinyl floors

Three specialists

profiles are clicked or screwed on. The narrow, flat profile puts modern floors skillfully into focus.

Carl Prinz

Profilpas

Especially for stairs Prinz offers a wide range of profiles. Profile no. 271 is particularly suitable for profiled wooden stairs. A cover strip is applied to the front of the step to create a neat and attractive shield. In combination with internal corners, steps and risers can be completely covered so that the floor design continues the stairs without interruption. Stair nosing and inner corners with an inlay offer another advantage - design floors up to 3 mm thick can also be mounted on the wall. Expansion joints with differently coloured inserts, which are glued directly to the floor, are mainly used as transitions. They are flush with the subfloor and bridge expansion joints in the screed. For floating Click floor coverings, we recommend two-part profile systems such as PROFI-DESIGN or LPS-Design. The user can choose whether the

IN LOVE WITH DECKING

WOODEN FLOORS FOR OUTDOORS

LA SAN MARCO PROFILI SRL Viale Europa 63 - 31010 Soligo, TV - Italy Tel. +39 0438 980106 r.a. - Fax +39 0438 980176 info@lasanmarcoprofili.com - www.lasanmarcoprofili.com

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Profilpas offers Profix Thin, a complete system for the floating laying of LVT floors with thickness from 4 to 8 mm. Profix Thin range includes junction profiles for same-height floors, connection profiles for different-height floors and perimeter profiles. The system is composed of a top profile in aluminium, available in different finishes (silver, sand gold, titanium, elox bronze) or covered with Alcrom Plus® film, that must be fixed to a base in PVC, allowing a quick and practical installation. A great advantage of Profix Thin is the possibility to combine the profile to the floor thanks to a wide choice of wood-, cement- or stone-effect Alcrom Plus® decors that we realise through Profilpas Digital System, the innovative digital printing technology that allows to reproduce any decor on Alcrom® Plus film with no limits to imagination. In addition to Profix Thin, Profilpas also offers other kinds of profiles for LVT, PVC and vinyl floors, such as stair nosing profiles, expansion joints, internal corner profiles and skirting boards.

Progress Profiles

Progress Profiles offers a very wide range of profiles for LVT, vinyl and PVC floors. Mostly required to cover the joint between two different types of floors, these profiles are also used to protect steps and to compensate for floors’ different heights or thickness. They are made of stainless steel, brass or anodized aluminium; moreover, to satisfy any aesthetic request from customers, the Italian company uses cutting-edge machineries that reproduce more than 100 shades of wood, among which teak, zebrano and many oak nuances. As for the application, these profiles can be laid with adhesive or with screws and anchors onto the specific area; many of them are also provided with self-adhesive. Among the several models, SOL 40P includes universal jointing profiles highly resistant to UV rays and to commonly used floor cleaning products. Thanks to the PVC insert between the base and the top, these profiles stop and remove electrostatic charges and magnetic fields transmitted between two floors.

Special

Wall cladding : wood versus composite

THE MANY ASSETS OF WESTERN RED CEDAR A LIGHT AND YET RELATIVELY STURDY WOOD SORT IS PERFECT FOR A WALL Roderik Vandervennet (Jadimex - B) ‘Also spreading out internationally.’ Jadimex, which is based in Lovenjoel (Korbeek-Lo, Belgium), is a specialist in wood, most of which is used for wall cladding. The firm is increasingly spreading out internationally, hence its forthcoming first appearance at the Carrefour Wood Show in Nantes. We spoke to Roderik Vandervennet, technical and commercial manager of the back office and responsible for marketing at Jadimex. During the interview, amongst other things, Roderik explains why wood (and its derivatives) is the most suitable material for wall cladding and why composite is actually not the best choice available. He starts by saying: ‘To make things clear, I should probably tell you something about what Jadimex is. We’re a family SME with eight workers. We started in 1996 literally with the sale of hardwood from the garage. Manager Danny Roelants sold this wood on the market because he noticed that there were no such vendors in Flemish Brabant. Gradually, the business grew and he set up a real timber trade. He tried lots of things, but it was invariably durable tropical hardwood which came to the fore. About two or three years ago, oak and thermally treated ash also joined the pack.’ Jadimex also has a link with Rumania. In the past, they made contact with someone in that country who wove hazelnuts. Roelants built up a factory there with new products. ‘Danny started production on a bigger scale, but about seven years ago, he noticed that there were more opportunities than working solely with hazelnut. And so, he bought a big saw machine for sawing tree trunks, including ash. With that ash he set up his own trademark under the name Jadiwood and business is good.’ Big demand for treated ash ‘What we’ve noticed is that there’s a particularly big demand for treated ash, which we dry and treat thermally in Belgium according to the highest standards. We still like to work with durable tropical hardwood, but we’ve found that there are two problems on the market. On the one hand, prices are rising all the time and, on the other hand, availability is a growing issue. And, let me say it before the critics intervene: Don’t forget that we work only with sustainable operators. Working with people who cut down trees completely is unthinkable for us.’ When the discussion proceeds from ash to wall cladding, Roderik refers to an essential element. For wall cladding you have to fit vertically, not horizontally. The conditions are completely different to those of a terrace, for instance. That’s one reason why composite isn’t such a good choice, plus the fact that treated wood is specifically more suitable. ‘Don’t forget that horizontally fitted wood needs to be very durable as it’s always under pressure. That’s not the case with a wall, which is “spared” to a greater degree. For wall cladding you don’t need such high durability, so the use of tropical hardwood is actually a case of “overkill”. You can also work with wood from classes two and three, such as oak and treated wood, and that camouflages the increasing insulation. I’d also like to mention that recently we’ve developed two blind fastening systems for exclusive sale in Belgium. The one system (Jadifix) has a small joint between the planks, whilst the other one (Jadeco) has no visible joint. This fits in with the circular construction narrative. If you move house, you can even simply take your wall with you.’ Composite swells in the length Obviously, we also want to know why thermally modified wood is a good choice for wall cladding and composite isn’t. ‘The main reason why we don’t use it is the way in which composite swells and shrinks. It swells along the length, and quite considerably as well. You can count on 1cm per metre of length, so that with a plank of 5m you get a difference of 5cm between the summer and winter condition. You can resolve that with wider profiles on the sides, but it certainly doesn’t look attractive.’

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Wall cladding : wood versus composite

Jadimex has been working for some time on the development of a web shop. Can Roderik tell us about that? And can he tell us about their very first participation in the Carrefour Wood Show? ‘The test phase finished by the end of April and we’ve taken orders late in April and early in May. The web shop is going online on 12 May.’ ‘The choice for Carrefour was logical because in recent years we’ve noticed how important this show is for our sector. As an importer and vendor of hardwood mainly to professionals, we have to attend because we also need to broaden our horizons internationally. Then, at the same time, we’re also thinking of our sawing machine in Rumania which has to operate as much as possible and for which we hope to concludes some contracts during and after the show.’

As you can read in the testimony, composite is not the most suitable choice for use as wall cladding. What is also equally clear in that same piece is that you don’t necessarily need tropical wood sorts for a wall. A wood in a durability class between one and even three will suffice due to the specific place of a wall. And so, which type of wood can you use? One of the candidates is certainly western red cedar, which is sufficiently durable with its class two grade. The properties of western red cedar or thuya plicata, which grows between 39° and 57° latitude mainly in the Canadian province of British Columbia, make it ideal for outdoor use on a wall. It is a light and yet relatively sturdy and resilient North American softwood sort, which is highly resistant to rot and weathering. It also makes for some unique colour variations, which range from light yellow-brown over pink-brown and salmon colour to chocolate brown, with charming slab flames. Apart from walls, you will also find this type of wood in outdoor applications like shingles and shakes, profiles, roof edges, window frames, pergolas, greenhouses and light constructions, and even terraces. What’s interesting is that cedar is very often left untreated outdoors because the wood ages beautifully and naturally. If you don’t want the wood to age, there are colourless products to treat cedar cladding which are applied in two or three coats, ‘wet on wet’.

Various qualities It’s good to realise that western red cedar is imported in various qualities. Here we draw a distinction between No 2 Clear and Better (almost faultless with rustic lines), No 4 Clear (with a number of flaws which can easily be sawn off, of sufficient quality for most applications), Factory Flitches (80% faultless items which can be sawn shorter, suitable for items such as garden furniture), Tight Knotty (sturdy gnarl quality: wood with an unlimited number of sturdy gnarls, for instance, for terrace planks), and Standard and Better (of somewhat lesser quality, but excellent for pergolas, support beams for terraces, or diverse constructions).

Fastening, finish, and treatment There are a number of points for attention when fastening western red cedar. Note: This is a wood sort which splits easily, but it can be nailed quite simply. To that end use only stainless steel because the substances of the wood react to metals, and that can cause corrosion and ugly streaks. For the finish it is good to know that paints or stains will not cause any problems if the wood has dried properly. A finish with an opaque paint or a non-transparent agent is also quite easy, although a treatment in accordance with procedure C1 is recommended in order to avoid blueing. Western red cedar is often left untreated with outdoor applications. The wood then has a silky gloss and ages naturally into a charming silver-coloured surface. Wood which faces north is likely to be susceptible to stains and algae growth. The wood also darkens quickly in areas with severe air pollution and a finish with C2 is recommended. If you want to avoid stains, cleaning the planks with diluted bleach (150ml/l water) will effectively reduce stains. The most efficient way to brush the planks is physically with a brush, using diluted bleach in the initial phase. In the second phase you should scrub the wood surface again thoroughly, but this time only with pure water. Although this cleaning process might not remove stains fully, it does nevertheless reduce the stains on the wall. In certain cases it is possible that the treatment may turn the wood a lighter shade. It is advisable to test the treatment first on a less visible section of the cladding before you treat the entire wall. Source: houtinfobois.be

Other specialists have their say Denderwood NV (B)

Drying and processing Western red cedar dries easily, especially in small cross-sections, and there’s little risk of distortions. The processing, too, certainly isn’t complicated, either mechanically or by hand. The dust which is thereby emitted sometimes causes irritation, so it’s best to provide good dust suction. Don’t forget, too, that wood early in the season is soft and that you should avoid compression by applying only moderate pressure to the work surface with a sharp tool, especially with planing and milling. In other words, you need to take care not to create a ribbed or irregular surface. You should also remember that this is a fairly brittle sort of wood which threatens to crumble at the edges.

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Furnishing & wooden walls and UPM composite solutions from Denderwood NV

Denderwood, an importer and processor of tropical hardwood, offers a high end range of wall claddings in exotic wood. In profiles of the types click plank, plank with sparrow beak, or steel cladding, the Belgian firm can also offer ‘tailored’ stock products, a range of its raw planed planks (false open-ended double or triple, gradient slats, abbreviated profiles). The invisible fastening systems which can be used for horizontal or vertical cladding are also part of the company’s entire range. The main wood sorts are afrormosia, doussie, iroko, ipe, meranti, merbau, padauk, etc. Denderwood is also the exclusive dealer for the BENELUX for UPM products in composite (terraces, clusters, claddings). ProFi cladding is available in stock in various colours.

La San Marco Profili Decking, with its very natural effect, is ever more popular for both floors and wall cladding, and offers designers and furnishers outstanding solutions for indoors and outdoors walls, for an elegant finish in the most exclusive areas. La San Marco Profili provides everything you need to install even the most complex installation solutions. From screws to clips and jacks, as well as for creating the “full wood” effect, where the clips are concealed. Both oil and aluminium joists are available on request. La San Marco Profili provides all the products required to treat and maintain your floor, such as San Marco oil, always required before installation, and the restoring detergent, which keeps the material as good as new. Furthermore, the company adds to its already wide offer some special materials such as Duro - not just for flooring but also for the ventilated walls - up to the new SMarc Bamboo composite: ultra-resistant and eco-friendly, because 30% made with recycled material. SMarc Bamboo is the brand new product of La San Marco Profili ideal for outdoors: it is a composite made up of 60% Bamboo fiber, 30% of recycled material and 10% of additives. It is a product very resistant to climatic variations, temperature and stains and it is not subject to major color variations. SMarc Bamboo is supplied in two decorations: Walnut, which can be used laying the classic nonslip side at sight or the more refined side with saw cut effect, and Teak, that can be used by laying the side with the modern squared grooves at sight or the particular side with a rustic effect. If you like the appeal of real wood cladding, but do not want to have to deal with all the maintenance concerns and issues, then this product it is the best solution.

Woodface® by Outdoor Wood Concepts®

available in several standard widths (90-140-190 mm) and a range of lengths. The fasteners can be visible or hidden. Composite has a fixed length and width and is sold in various colours. The cleaning process is similar for both materials. Simply allow soft soap to soak in, then scrub the cladding with a stiff brush until it sparkles. There are also special cleaning products available for wood or composite. Demand for engineered wood cladding has risen sharply. This wood has undergone thermal treatment, reducing the moisture content. Bear in mind that mould can still grow on the surface. It is advisable to apply a hydrophobic coating and ensure sufficient ventilation if you install it.

Product-Proof In Japan they have used a special technique (Shou Sugi Ban | Yakisugi) for centuries to make wood more durable. Since the 18th century, they have literally burnt a native tree, the cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cypress). This tree then serves as durable wall cladding, which protects the typically wooden houses in Japan from both wildfires and the weather. Wall cladding in burnt wood is much coveted. The wood sorts which you mainly encounter are douglas and larch and sometimes even oak. Some thermally treated wood sorts are also suitable, and it is also possible, for instance, with thermowood or accoya or simply with recycled wood. The five main benefits of burnt wood for wall cladding are: its durability, it is flame-retardant, it is waterproof, it counters insects, and it also counters moss and mould. Visit www.flamewood.be for more information, references, and examples.

Outdoor Wood Concepts® What are the differences between composite and wood cladding? Various materials are suitable for creating a sleek look with cladding. Wood and composite are the most common. Appearance is one important difference. Wood is a natural material, and even boards from the same type of tree may vary in colour. The grain's warm, lively character is another asset. Composite, on the other hand, is synthetic, with barely any colour variation. Wood cladding is

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Recently, at the request of the architect and contractor (Revo bvba), Product-Proof was able to burn a small section into the wall cladding (house number).

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Special

The issue of colouring wooden floors

CERTAINLY NOT A SINECURE AVOID THE VARIOUS PITFALLS WHEN COLOURING A WOODEN FLOOR Han Dorenbos (RIGO Verffabriek - NL) ‘For colours you have to come to us, whether you turn left or right.’ The Dutch family business RIGO Verffabriek has made paint, oil, and lacquer products since 1938 from Ijmuiden, a port town in the Dutch province of North Holland. Over the years, the company has built a sound reputation, certainly when it comes to colouring wood. We have an appointment with master parquet trader Han Dorenbos, who has been technical adviser for floor finishes at RIGO Verffabriek since early in 2018. Before Mr Dorenbos joined the company, he had gained a wealth of experience in both parquet floors and furniture making and he now advises and assists professionals at RIGO in the Netherlands and Belgium. For him, colour is more than a job; it’s a passion which means that no two days are alike. Only oil or finish with two coats of transparent lacquer ‘For colours you have to come to RIGO,’ he laughs, before he explains how his company have two options for colouring wood with oil. ‘We can turn both “left” and “right”. What I mean is that on the one hand we offer the option of colouring solely with the use of oil, whereby you colour and protect in one coat. On the other hand, obviously, you can also apply colour with oil and then finish with two coats of transparent lacquer.’ Mr Dorenbos then explains why clients can sometimes opt for one and sometimes for the other. The low maintenance plays the lead role in this narrative: ‘All products apply some protection, but the great thing is that there are now so many more options than with traditional forms with primers and finishes for parquet in oil, wax, or lacquer, each with their own perspective. That doesn’t happen anymore. If you choose a colour oil which can be lacquered over, you apply a lacquer recommended for that purpose. You can put both options next to each other and you don’t see any difference anymore. Actually, that gives you a lacquer floor, but with the look of oil, so that modern consumers have the option of exceptionally low maintenance. You vacuum clean and/or mop and that’s it. You don’t need maintenance oil anymore.’ 45 standard colours When we ask how RIGO Verffabriek goes to work with regard to colour, the first thing which they tell us is that they offer a pallet of colours in which 45 standard colours have been developed. Those colours are displayed via ranges of colour with a choice of a wood shade range and a grey shade range. These ranges can be recognised by their brown or grey handle. ‘On the site you finish those colours yourself by adding a colour dye to a base. All our colour dyes can be mixed with each other and there’s nothing to stop you from dosing more or less dye. What it boils down to is that you can make anything. If that’s not enough, then obviously you can also pre-colour. Traditionally, that has been done via bleaching or smoking with ammonia, but we offer a way of doing it in a controlled manner via our ROYL reactive stains. Thereby it is perfectly possible to pre-colour even large wood surfaces without leaving streaks. That, in combination with colour oils, gives you an explosion of options for colouring new wood to make it look old. And so, you make your own colours and create a smooth image.’ Latest development: Original Oak or colour C30 One interesting development which RIGO Verffabriek launched on the market not so long ago is the so called colour C30. This is called Original Oak. ‘This most recently added colour oil has been developed in such a way as to preserve the shade of unsanded wood on pale oak wood. And so, you preserve the highly popular untreated look and don’t notice that the oak changes its colour and appearance.

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The addition of C30 means it is now also possible in our oil line to guarantee the protection which we’ve offered for over 50 years when it came to a deep and impregnating protection.’ Han Dorenbos concludes with a reference to the RIGO line which can give wood a covering finish. ‘This is logical; after all, we were originally a paint factory. Apart from a complete line of covering paints, we also have a colour primer. This can be mixed with all RAL and NCS colours and is available in four standard colours: white, black, light grey, and dark grey. You apply the product (Rainbow Colour Primer) to provide two transparent coats of lacquer. You can also vary the degree of gloss. For those who want it, you can also apply decorative elements in the primers. Think, for instance, of the application of two contrasting colours, something which provides a very special effect.’

In previous articles we’ve stressed that colouring a wooden floor is certainly not a sinecure. This time we consider the pitfalls to be avoided if you want to apply oil-based primers and then we consider the colours themselves and the wood sorts. There are always various things which you have to consider.

When light, when dark?

We consulted specialist Lecol and they referred initially to three points. Firstly, you must take extra care to ensure that the relative humidity isn’t too high. Then, you check that the primer is polished into the wood in the correct manner. Finally, later on, you make sure that you have allowed ample drying time before you apply the coats of lacquer.

It is advisable in communication with clients is to ask them how they would best describe the colour of their floor. It is vital to mention that light shades make rooms look bigger, whilst dark shades make rooms look smaller. In a room painted dark, for instance, you can best opt for a pale floor to reflect the light. You thereby make the room look not only lighter, but also bigger. And so, dark floors make an ideal base to

The good news is that our number one favourite wood, oak, is absolutely ideal for colouring, as are various other European wood sorts. Even when it comes to a dark oak floor, this can still be given a lighter colour after thorough sandpapering.

Which colour to expect One essential observation which is made is that you should consult properly with your clients in advance. To avoid possible misunderstandings, you have to consult on the sort of colour which you can expect. In that connection it is always advisable to use samples. This means you show your clients a colour sample which has been made either on exactly the same new wood which will be used on the floor or on the same wood which has already been fitted, but has to be renovated. Remember that you have to consider all parts of the room, so don’t forget to make a sample, for instance, in a corner or under a sofa. There are also a number of guidelines which you should follow when making samples. For instance, you have to do this on wood which is sandpapered and, if necessary, pre-treated in exactly the same way as the final wooden floor. In other words, you do this precisely as it will be done on the final floor. Another good idea is to get clients to sign for the sample so that there’s no argument later. Moreover, don’t forget that wood is a natural product, so you should mention both the benefits and the drawbacks to your clients. Wood may well be charming, warm, and so much more, but with this product not everything that glitters is gold. And so, amongst other things, that means that it is tricky when applying colour and it is well worth stressing that colour deviations are always possible.

Oak is most suitable We’ve considered it before, but it’s important to come back to it again. Which wood is suitable for colouring, which wood isn’t suitable, and which wood is less suitable? Remember here in particular that it’s best to avoid darker (i.e. tropical) wood sorts. That’s also logical because the wood already has a shade of its own and the use of coloured products will often have little effect. You also have to consider that it’s very difficult to make tropical wood sorts lighter and that the wood stays darker with an oil finish than with lacquer. Moreover, remember that you can forget about a ‘white’ floor.

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The issue of colouring wooden floors

create contrasts. These floors do this perfectly well if combined with walls in a light colour or with other dark colours used as highlights or accessories. Take care, however. Too many dark colours give a sombre result and that undermines the light and the atmosphere. Sources: Lecol and houtlet.nl

times +/- 3 to 4 hours). After drying, the stains can be finished with oil or waterborne finishes, such as our new PLUS RANGE to achieve an invisible finish and natural appearance. It is also possible to finish the stains with our coloured Hardwaxoils, creating unique finishes and endless possibilities.

Chimiver

What’s on the market ?

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, enhancing the softness and the natural look of the wood. It's available both in two versions: NATURAL (transparent treatment to keep natural the color of the wood) and COLORED (colored treatment to stain the wood).

Bona

Bona Pure Colour is a hard-elastic and wear-resistant dual component and water-based PUR coating for renovating elastic flooring in high-traffic commercial and industrial rooms. However, Bona Pure Colour can also be used on wooden floors, such as for marking zones on sports floors. When it is used on a wooden floor, it is necessary to apply a Bona primer (e.g. Bona Intense) first. Bona Pure Colour is heavily pigmented and the slightly dark to dark colours are applied in only one coat. Thanks to the rapid drying qualities, a second coat, if necessary, could be applied after one hour. Bona Pure Colour is available in a wide range of RAL and NCS colours. • Heavily pigmented for excellent cover • Ultra-fast drying time • Rooms out of use only briefly • Wide range of popular standard colours.

Tover

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 tannins inside the wood and this interface creates very unique finishes. There are endless possibilities in combination with coloured oils. (reaction time +/- 6 hours). Aquastain is a new water-based pigment stain based on micro pigments for staining all types of wood for indoor use. Aquastain provides a uniform coloring that accentuates the woodgrain (drying

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The major difficulties when you want to colour a wood floor are: overlaps, roller marks and lack of uniformity of the colour over the entire surface. To avoid these drawbacks and guarantee a perfectly homogeneous colouring, Tover can offer Belle Epoque, a water-based stain to be applied with a roller and subsequently spread with a buffing machine. For a coloured effect in the wood vein, we recommend the Tintoretto Design oil base, available in 30 different colours and directly overcoatable with a two-component water-based lacquer. Here again, its great ease of application with a spatula or directly with a buffing machine allows you to obtain flawless results. These pre-colouring systems are simple to use thus representing an important added value for professionals and strongly enhancing their work.

Special

Oil for parquet

THE NATURAL MAKES A COMEBACK AN OIL FINISH SATISFIES TODAY’S CONSUMERS Trendy matt If we look at it from a trendy perspective, you can make a case for oil by referring to its natural beauty and the matt exterior which it gives the wood. What’s attractive about this is that oil, unlike varnish, doesn’t seal the wood. The wood retains its vitality and becomes richer in colour with the years so you retain an attractive floor which will surprise you year after year. Moreover, you can vary things with oil. Colour oil gives your floor a different shade (note: colour oil isn’t so suitable for darker wood sorts) and you can also opt for an aged wood look. It’s worth knowing when you colour a wooden floor that you realise that the latest generation of wood oil not only colours in one coat, but it also protects at the same time. With the better brands, you hardly get any overlapping, if at all.

Rules of thumb for maintenance

Photo – Osmo

You simply cannot deny that parquet oil is making a great comeback. That’s not only due to the unique look which oil gives a wooden floor, but also and especially due to the development which this finish product has undergone. Just like other finishes, oil is now extremely ecological and no longer emits chemical substances. This, coupled with an organic look and a bountiful appearance of the wood, satisfies today’s consumers perfectly. The question is: Why choose oil for parquet rather than lacquer? The answer lies mainly in the look of the end result. Oil highlights the authentic and natural aspects of wood, and those are precisely the elements which typify the modern interior. Moreover, another aspect in line with today’s trends is that you can’t get many finish products more ecological than oil. It penetrates deeply into the wood, feeds the floor, and provides a protective and non-fatty film to prevent stains and streaks.

What about maintenance? Here, too, oil has lots of trumps, but there is more maintenance than you might expect. Oiled floors require somewhat more maintenance with special soaps and detergents in order to preserve the look and the initial protection. Make sure you don’t forget to tell clients that regular maintenance is necessary, although a micro-fibre cloth will usually suffice to clean the floor. This is also best done in combination with one or two full oil treatments each year. You can certainly point out in favour of oil that it forms a film which protects from daily wear and tear and that stains are easily cleaned up with a natural soap. Minor scratches can also be treated. To deal with light streaks, you apply oil to the damaged area, whilst for deeper scratches it’s advisable to sandpaper lightly before you apply oil to the place in question. Sources: Xyladecor, Rubio Monocoat, and Bona.

What’s on the market ? Bona

Versatility Another nice thing about oil is its versatility. You can use it on a new parquet floor or to renovate an existing floor. Obviously, in the latter case don’t forget to sandpaper the surface to remove the previous finish, and do tell clients that it’s virtually impossible to change the finish of oiled wood because oil penetrates deep into the wood fibres. It forms a molecular compound and penetrates deeply in one coat to make the floor highly durable. The end result is a very matt look and the feeling that you’re walking on pure wood. And so, think carefully before you start is the message.

Many parquet floor owners find an oiled wooden floor irresistible, with its warm look, natural colours, and all the lines, gnarls, and grains.

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Oil for parquet

To meet demand, Bona has two types of finish oils in its oil range: Bona Craft Oil parquet oil is available in both a 1-component and 2-component version. Both versions have modern shades. The Bona Parquet Oil range is durable, made from raw vegetable ingredients, and has an exceptionally low VOC content. The high oil content and the minimal solvent content ensure a high degree of saturation, healthy floors, and long-term protection. Bona oils are odourless and can even be used on children’s toys. Bona Oil is better for the environment, better for the home and the consumer, and better for the floor fitter. Bona Craft Oil 2K can, if necessary, be lacquered over with Bona Traffic HD for even more protection. The complete Bona range of oils and effect-creating solutions, combined with Bona machines and easy to follow steps, ensure the best possible end result.

Ciranova Ciranova has a detailed range of different oils. The oiled floor gives a matte, natural finish that maintains the natural appearance of the wooden surface. The oils are providing natural protection to the wood and have excellent chemical and mechanical resistances, easy to maintain and to protect. The most popular oils are the Hardwaxoil TITAN, UN1CO and Hardwaxoil MAGIC. Hardwaxoil TITAN is especially developed for onsite application with a roller providing natural protection. Its also possible to finish our Hardwaxoils and UN1CO with the Hardwaxoil TITAN as a finishing coat for a perfect protection. UN1CO is our 2-component, 1-coat oil of the newest generation to colour and protect the wood with just one coat. The combination of oil with hardener ensures quick drying and excellent chemical durability. UN1CO can be finished with Hardwaxoil TITAN (matt, silk, satin). Hardwaxoil Magic gives the wood a good filling, a natural colour and very good chemical & wear resistance and is available in 16 trendy colours for onsite and industrial application. Please contact Ciranova for more information or if you want to order samples : info@ciranova.be or tel +32 (0)51 30 11 40.

DevoNatural® The DevoNatural® product range includes both a series of different oils and a series of varnishes. Devomat specialises in both areas and can offer clients the most suitable product for the relevant application. For years there has been a certain balance between the numbers of lacquers and oils sold, and that balance is still more or less the same up to the present time. This is because both finish systems have specific advantages and drawbacks. And so, the extensive DevoNatural® assortment always has the right product. Amongst

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other things, Devomat offers DevoNatural® Hard Wax Oil and DevoNatural® High Solid Oil. This is a matt setting single-coat oil with a high coverage capacity and based on natural oils. It is for all sorts of parquet, wooden floors, and other wood, both in and outdoors. DevoNatural® High Solid Oil can be used for both commercial and domestic floors with intensive use. The product is easy to apply and spreads well into open wood pores. DevoNatural® High Solid Oil can be applied to all types of wood. Recently, they have added two new colours to the range. DevoNatural® Extra Hardener is unique. This additive inserted into DevoNatural® High Solid Oil triggers the oxidative drying process to ensure better and faster drying. Parquet floors treated with DevoNatural® High Solid Oil + Extra Hardener can normally be walked on and used 12 hours later. This makes the combination highly suitable for finishing parquet floors on building projects, public buildings, catering businesses, reception rooms, industrial finish companies, etc.

Chimiver LIOS HARD WAX BIOIL is a product containing vegetable and synthetic oils and beeswax, which gives the wood a natural and uniform appearance, giving excellent water repellency, hardness and softness to the touch. Thanks to its high coverage and its excellent penetrating power, is recommended for all wooden products. LIOS HARD WAX BIOIL complies with EN 71-3 (it's suitable for toys: the contact with the hardened film is safe for people and animals), DIN 53160 (resistance to saliva and sweat) and EN 13342 (resistance to chemicals, detergents, coffee).

Osmo

Tover

Osmo Wood Wax Finish Clear Extra Thin: the optimal coat for resinous and oily woods Osmo Wood Wax Finish Clear Extra Thin deeply penetrates wood, preserves its natural characteristics and intensifies the wood colour. Therefore it is especially well suited to the clear coating of hardwoods rich in extractives, such as Meranti, Wengé, Merbau etc. The surface is resistant to dirt, stains and wear as well as extremely water repellent, so it can be used to treat wood in wet rooms like kitchens and bathrooms. Additionally Osmo Wood Wax Finish Clear Extra Thin can be used for spot repairs. This natural coating achieves a harmonious appearance and can be applied with a brush, roller or pad. One litre covers approximately 24 sq m with one coat.

Subfloor Preparation with the tools for the SINGLE single-disc sanding machine: Sanding and leveling: ✔ Screeds, ✔ Sintered layers.

Tover can offer several oil-based finishing systems: first of all, L'Olio 100% which, as the name recalls, is a 100% dry residue oil, composed of oils and hard waxes of vegetable origin, highly resistant to stains and traffic. L’Olio 100% is solvent and isocyanate-free in respect of the environment and the users’ health. Available in more than 30 colours, in just one coat it allows to create coloured wood floors with an extremely natural appearance. With Maxi Oil and Oil Pro, hardwax oils applicable in two coats by roller, you can choose the gloss degree of your finish, from glossy to extra-matt, and the wood is durably protected against stains, scratches and wear. To each his own oil!

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Special

When and when do you not use (adhesion) primers or a damp screen?

OPTING FOR SAFETY WHEN DO YOU DO IT AND HOW DO YOU START? There are various reasons for fitting a damp screen or using a primer. For instance, you might want to reinforce the subfloor or bind dust residue. Obviously, you also endeavour to bind adhesive and solid residue in the subfloor and isolate residual damp. To sum it up briefly, the aim is to eliminate risk as much as possible and opt for safety. Fitting a damp screen or using a primer is an option if there is still too much damp in the subfloor after you have applied a sand-cement covering floor and you cannot afford to wait. You can also opt for extra certainty with a dry subfloor and thereby avoid long waiting times. Remember that a primer will not actually be necessary with a non-absorbent substrate. Checking to see whether or not the substrate is (strongly) absorbent is relatively easy. Rub the surface with a damp sponge or wet cloth. If the substrate absorbs the water quickly, you know at once that you need a primer. However, if the water is absorbed only gradually, you don’t need to use a primer.

How to apply The question is how to apply such products. We asked the advice of a specialist, the Dutch company Lecol Chemie BV, which is based in Waalwijk. Lecol products are sold in Belgium and the Netherlands via recognised wholesalers. In the area of primers, they use products under the Wakol umbrella. They explained what their best products are under various conditions. They also told us that they consider the expected lifespan of the floor when they develop products. The applied principle is that what you use has to be at least equal to the lifespan of the floor which will be fitted.

Polyurethane primer Amongst other things, Lecol mentions the product Wakol PU 280 Polyurethane primer. This can be applied using a Wakol primer roller, which is a short-haired velour or foam roller. They also suggest applying the product using a flat trowel as an alternative. You need to allow for a drying time of about 45 minutes for the top layer, and, after that, you can fit a wooden floor within 72 hours directly with a Wakol PU or MS parquet adhesive. On the other hand, if you are going to fit a flexible floor, levelling will always be necessary first using a levelling agent. In the case of Lecol they refer to the special primer Wakol D 3045, which is applied as an adhesion primer.

Silane primer In addition, they also drew our attention to the product Wakol MS 330 Silane primer. That, too, can be applied with their own primer roller, i.e. a short-haired velour or foam roller. If the product is applied as a damp screen, one thick layer needs to be applied, and that can be done with the Wakol MS Special roller or a fine notched trowel TKB A2. If you apply the product with a notched trowel, there is also a solution for doing this from a standing position. In practice, you need to allow for a drying time of about one hour. After that, you can fit the floor within 72 hours directly with a Wakol MS parquet adhesive. Once again, they obviously refer to the fitting of a flexible floor covering. In this case, it is always necessary to level first with (their own) levelling agent. First of all, you need to apply the special primer Wakol D 3045 as an adhesion primer. Source: With thanks to Lecol Chemie BV.

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Some specialists Bona The prior use of primers is determined by the condition of the subfloor and the chosen work method. For this reason Bona has various primers. Bona D501 - 1-component primer for the preparation of weak substrates (e.g. sandy cement covering floors) prior to using silane Bona adhesives. Suitable for absorbent and non-absorbent substrates (not for magnesium industrial floors), chipboard, panels, and similar substrates. Bona D515 Multiprime – A solventless and low-emission primer concentrate for multifunctional use. The primer can be used to prepare absorbent and non-absorbent substrates and on old, solid, and waterproof adhesive residue prior to the use of Bona levelling agents or Bona dispersion adhesives. Bona R540 – a versatile primer/damp screen for both absorbent and non-absorbent subfloors. Also suitable for reinforcing the building floor. Can be used as a damp screen on concrete or cement subfloors. Bona R590 – a 1-component silane primer for priming and/or blocking residual damp in cement covering floors and concrete floors before the fitting of a wooden floor. Can also be used to reinforce weak substrates. Compatible with all Bona silane parquet adhesives and Bona levelling products.

Chimiver "PRYMER SF 1105", a two-component water-based epoxy primer for subfloors preparation 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. PRYMER SF 1105 is suitable for consolidation of subfloors on radiant heating and it is resistant to the inverse hydrostatic pressure. It is also recommend as a promoter of adhesion for anhydrite subfloors.

Osmo Osmo Primer:ideal wood finish for the first coat prior to installation Osmo Primer is ideal for the first coat before the installation, in other words directly in the workshop. Ideal for timber cladding, balconies, fencing, carports and other dimensionally stable and unstable elements. Osmo Primer has been optimized for a professional and especially quick application. It has non-drip formula and dries extremely fast. For high-quality long-lasting protection, a white or light-coloured top coat with either Osmo Country Colour or Osmo Garden Colour is recommended. One litre covers approximately 12 sq m with one coat.

Tover Professionals have to face multiple issues related to subfloors: for instance, a too high humidity level of the screeds or even powdery, crumbly and cracked subfloors. Tover can offer a wide range of primers whose action allows a safe and durable installation. To create damp-proof membrane and consolidate the support, the single-component polyurethane PRIMER PU100, and two-component epoxy ADEBLOK T19 primer, both solvent-free, are particularly indicated, including on heated subfloors. They can also be used as synthetic mortars by mixing them with sand to fill cracks and make repairs. NANO-FIX is an excellent solution for fixing dust and even out the absorption of screeds. On the ground floor, in the event of rising damp, we strongly recommend to apply the three-component primer IDROBLOK C3, capable of permanently blocking the migration of water into the wood, even on a non-absorbent subfloors.

Special

Promoting durable floors in the showroom

SUSTAINABILITY ISN’T A UNIFORM NARRATIVE KNOWING ALL THE PROPERTIES OF THE MATERIALS WHICH YOU SELL IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE Sustainability has been one of the words used most in recent years. We’ve all realised that we need to reduce our ecological footprint, so the floor industry also has to do its share. However, the question is: What exactly is a sustainable floor and what should you display or not display in your showroom? It’s not so easy to answer that question. Giving a black and white answer is simply impossible. What it boils down to is that you need to weigh up the benefits and drawbacks of the various types of floors and thereby make a conscious choice. Generally speaking, we can say that wood seems to hold the most trump cards, but to proclaim that as absolute truth would be a step too far.

Environmental impact mainly before the fitting To get straight to the point, you particularly have to question the course which the floor has completed before it is fitted for the client. Think here of the energy necessary merely to obtain and process the raw materials and think of the transport. This can create air or soil pollution, the landscape can be destroyed, etc. Obviously, it doesn’t stop there; environmental damage can occur on the client’s premises, through the type of maintenance, for instance. Moreover, one sort of general rule is that floors which are made using renewable material are the most environmentally-friendly. For instance, wood is often a good choice, as are cork and bamboo, provided that the wood comes from a sustainably managed forest. The renewability of the material is far from being the only criterion; you have to consider the entire lifespan of a floor.

Wood-based floors When it comes to wood, the most sustainable choice in many cases is solid parquet. Those floors simply last much longer than composite parquet and certainly longer than laminate because you can sandpaper a solid wood floor several times. Another benefit of solid wood is that little processing is needed for the production and the energy costs for the production remain fairly modest. That is certainly the case if you compare this with the production costs for composite parquet and laminate. A solid wood floor can also score excellent results through its fitting, but that fitting does have to be floating and not fully glued. Indeed, with floating glueing you can easily give the floor a new life later on and recycling does not present a problem because solid wood, unlike composite parquet and laminate, does not contain any adhesive. Are there any drawbacks? Yes, there are. For instance, solid wood is not such a good choice for use with floor heating. Indeed, solid wood allows less heat through than other floors. You also have to take care with the sort of wood that is used. You don’t trade sustainably if you sell wood which originates from a ‘doubtful source’. Always check to

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make sure that there is an FSC or a PEFC certificate which guarantees that the raw material originates from a sustainably managed forest. Remember, too, that this also applies to composite parquet.

Sustainable finish and maintenance Sustainability goes beyond the raw material wood itself. In particular, don’t forget to point out to clients that not all particular finishes and types of maintenance are the same. The finish and maintenance are best done using water-based products, and not with products which contain VOC.

PVC, vinyl, etc. We talked about wood and its derivatives above, but what about PVC, vinyl, and related products? Indeed, these products are not created on a biological basis, but petrochemically. Does this mean that they aren’t sustainable at all because makers use a polluting and exhaustive source of material? A certain balance is needed here. Yes, the production is more contaminating, but, on the other hand, there are also some assets. Some of the elements which you must take into account are the high durability, the possibility of combining these floors with floor heating, and a waterproof character of a much higher degree. Moreover, you also need to see what manufacturers do in terms of recycling and even circularity. More and more attention is being paid to these aspects, so these floors also have something to say in a sustainability narrative. If we sum up various aspects, we can set out a number of criteria. We thereby give you a brief manual to help you assess for yourself how sustainable a floor is. Look at the material, find out about the production process, ask yourself what the floor will be used for, and ask yourself whether or not the materials can be used again at the end of their lifespan without harming the environment. Sources: milieucentraal.nl, Tarkett, and evimvloeren.nl

Two specialists SKEMA Lumbertech for showrooms In a context like showroom, where the trample of the customers is elevated and where are continually moved stand and exhibitors, a wooden parquet is not the optimal answer. But if you love wooden floor, your solution is Lumbertech, an authentic wooden floor strengthened in resistance. The attitude of Lumbertech to provide high-performance answers to showroom spaces is supporting by 5 features: Patented, Emotional, Natural, Performing and Resistant. Lumbertech is a certified natural wood floor, combined with Wood Powder (patented) that makes it impact resistant, perfect for high-traffic places. It has an excellent reaction to fire in class Bfl

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Promoting durable floors in the showroom

and above all for it resists to shocks and dents. It’s versatile, good for covering floors or walls. The surface has been structured with deep brushing and It is realized in two sizes with different finishes, oil or varnish. A true revolution of classic parquet, with a romantic look but also with an ultra-technological heart.

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Special

Training and seminars

IT RESOLVES AROUND SYMBIOSIS COMPANIES AND PROFESSIONALS ARE INCREASINGLY JOINING FORCES AND LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER Mathieu Meulenaere (Ciranova - B) ‘The reflex is always: What do clients need and how do they benefit?’ In the professional world the players are paying more and more attention to education and training. That’s certainly the case at Ciranova, which is based in Roeselare in West Flanders (Belgium). Just before the start of the pandemic, the company was ready to open a giant Ciranova Academy. This Academy is housed in a brand new building designed more or less solely for education and training. We spoke to Mathieu Meulenaere from the Blanchon Group. He is the business unit manager for the Benelux and responsible for everything related to sales in the Benelux for professionals and dealers. Mathieu starts the interview with some surprising news. Ciranova had already been incorporated into the French Blanchon Group, but now it appears that the Dutch company RIGO Verffabriek has also joined the group. Learning from each other ‘That takeover by Blanchon didn’t surprise me,’ he says at the start of our interview. ‘Blanchon only takes over businesses which fit in with the company’s know-how and is always looking for new recruits to open up certain markets. Now the Dutch market has opened up, whereby the addition of Rigo and their brands creates a very good spread.’ Obviously, we want primarily to discuss Ciranova’s approach to education and training. ‘We employ technical trainers, who provide training courses both in house and on location. We also pay a lot of attention to supporting sites, something which is equally attractive for us as for parquet traders. From our side we support parquet traders and help them, but in addition we also learn from professionals. It’s about an interaction whereby we are there to arrive at the best possible solution and get the best result. We, too, learn from interaction and absorb those experiences into our knowledge.’ Entering into dialogue Central with all our brands is that we enter into dialogue with all our clients and look for possibilities to provide joint customised training. The Ciranova Academy plays a crucial part in that. ‘The Academy is housed in a specially constructed building. We have deliberately chosen the word Academy because it is a broad concept. Not only can you update your knowledge, but also you can come along for a full training course from scratch. The Academy is also often a meeting place.’ ‘About 70% of the training courses take place in house. We can identify five distinct groups. The first group comprises invited professionals whom we try to inspire with new or existing products. Then there are dealers from our client database. Obviously, they aren’t experts and we treat them differently with technical and commercial training which is broader. Third in line are architects, interior architects, and the purchasing market in all its facets. They receive training which is mainly about the technical aspects and the DNA of a product. We also take them to our own showroom where we can inspire them and answer any questions in more depth. The fourth group comprises industrial clients. These are people who make parquet and fit a finish onto a raw plank. In our Academy they encounter a Technical Area where they see machines which they can find in their market and which we can use to make and simulate any type of parquet. The fifth group is diverse. This can be a school, but can equally be a professional association or even a novice professional.’

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Special

Training and seminars

Lured by the Technical Area In Roeselare they have noted that clients from the Benelux are flowing in. That applies equally to international clients, who are lured mainly by the Technical Area. ‘We involved the Academy in October 2019, when we were ready to invite all clients at Domotex. Then, the pandemic broke out. Thankfully, we’ve been able to start it up after a two-year delay and we’ve been working already with smaller groups for a few months. What we’re now seeing is that there is a big need for such an initiative.’ Finally, we’d like more clarification about their approach ‘in the field’. Mathieu Meulenaere explains: ‘We go on location in about 30% of cases. For that purpose we have dedicated technicians, some of whom specialise in parquet production. In addition, we also have people who set up and supervise sites. On the site, if necessary, we provide training or site assistance and, if clients so wish, we can also provide information sessions on their premises.’ ‘It’s important to remember that here at Ciranova we aim mainly to make a difference with our technical expertise. A product has to look nice, but that’s not all. You need to use and fit products properly. It always comes down to the same reflex: What do clients need and how do they benefit?’

The parquet profession is a splendid craft and is actually a perfect example of how professionals can make a difference with their knowledge between an ordinary gifted craftsman and someone who is top class. Long gone are the days when professionals completed their training and required just occasional extra training. The real learning starts after the initial training and that means that, in order to be successful, you have to train continually on the job and elsewhere.

Other specialists have their say

These days, professionals have to know much more than just how to fit a wooden floor. For instance, they also have to be professional operators who not only work hard, but also do so with the required insight. At the same time, the market is developing at break-neck speed and you have to keep up to date with all the latest (product) developments. And so, various things mean that you have to look much further than just your own workshop and the site on which you work.

The market never stands still and is constantly in motion and in development with new finish products, refined machines, better fitting methods, new tools, etc. Bona has been represented worldwide since 1919 and, with its own laboratories, Bona has a wealth of knowledge and experience in house. Early in 2020, Bona BeNeLux developed a varied training programme which was aimed at professionals (parquet fitters, painters, shop and company personnel, etc.) who work with floors on a daily basis and related works and products. Due to covid, this programme didn’t actually start, but now that conditions are better, there will be opportunities to organise live product training sessions. For more information you can contact Bona (Belgium) directly.

In-service training has various forms In-service training can take on several forms. Certainly now that the pandemic has clearly lost its force, it’s a good idea to visit a specialist trade fair or preferably more than one, and to pay attention to more than just wooden floors. Think of the emergence of LVT and related products, for instance, with which you can earn lots of extra income. In the field it is noticeable that just about all companies which supply items to the parquet industry offer extra education and training courses. Those courses are held in both the producer’s own buildings and elsewhere. We advise and urge you to use these opportunities, which, moreover, are frequently offered free of charge (or virtually free of charge) and which give you much more than just knowledge about (the application of) new products.

Learning from each other In the adjoining testimony you can read why it is good to take such courses. We discuss this with Ciranova (part of the French Blanchon Group and based in Roeselare, Belgium). To cut a long story short, in today’s world suppliers and professionals are engaging with each other more and more in a symbiosis. You learn from the provider, but the opposite also applies as well.

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Bona

Lägler Always close to the craftsman Lägler has been manufacturing floor sanding machines for more than sixty years. They know exactly what is required! Knowledge and support for craftsmen, with the following seminars: Premium-Sanding-Technology PST® – the application concept for better surfaces Quality, economy and work safety are essential for the sanding of wooden floors. Lägler considered all these points and developed the PST® concept based on decades of experience. Machines, abrasives and application technology are optimally coordinated with PST. The ideal tool for customers to create premium surfaces. Surface Treatment – together with renowned partners In addition to the PST, the system solutions of renowned lacquer and oil manufacturers offer outstanding creative possibilities for wooden floors.

Tover

Lägler TV live - online and interactive seminars Customer can take part without leaving home. Lägler application professionals show and explain the products live and answer corresponding questions interactively. Competent advice in twelve different languages! LÄGLER TV live is offered regularly. Topics and dates can be found on social media and website.

The training activity is a priority for Tover and as soon as we have been allowed by the pandemic restrictions, we started the technical update days again at our factory in Turin, in our Italian branches and at our partners’ showrooms. Why ? Because a professional always needs to test the products, to get advice from technicians on their features and use, to compare his own experience with his peers. If you can create a climate of real trust during a workshop, that will lead that same professional to apply products and systems confidently, to avoid problems due to misuse and to give skilled advise to others like him.

∂ Industry news FN Neuhofer is Austria’s Leading Company in Upper Austria

f.l.t.r.: Helga and Franz Neuhofer, Caroline Schön. Photo credit Peroutka/DiePresse The FN Neuhofer family-owned company is awarded “Austria’s Leading Company in Upper Austria” in category International. This renowned business award confirms the internationally successful commitment of this

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company based in Zell am Moos, growing dynamically and ready to relocate into its new buildings to complete the realisation of its structural vision. Franz Neuhofer, on 30 March 2022 in the festive settings of the Lentos Museum in Linz, received the trophy and certificate for pride of place in the “Austria’s Leading Companies” competition in category International in Upper Austria. Dignitaries present and warmly congratulating the family business on this special award included, among other, Governor Thomas Stelzer, Doris Hummer, President of the Chamber of Commerce, and Axel Greiner, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries. This business award is given by the three ALC partners “Die Presse”, KSV1870 and Pricewater-houseCoopers (PwC) and is regarded as the country’s most important. What distinguishes these Leading Companies is their sustained success – as objectively and transparently examined in the course of comprehensive checks, also allowing fair cross-industry comparisons. Twelve key performance indicators were here calculated, analysed and evaluated over a period of three years. “We are elated to receive the ‘Austria's Leading Company’ award and are proud that the daily commitment of our staff, in cooperation with our customers and partners and our ensuing joint success have been acknowledged in this special way. The award moreover underlines the correctness of the path we have chosen and the commensurate high investments we made in our invaluable location in Austria,” enthuses Franz Neuhofer.

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Special

Uganda

DEPLETION OF WOOD SUPPLIES IS A THREAT LONG-TERM PLAN VISION 2040 AIMS TO RESTORE FOREST COVER TO THE LEVEL OF 1990

In this article we visit the Republic of Uganda. This country is situated on the Equator in East Africa and, starting from the north, borders on South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in that order. Uganda, which has a surface area of 241,037km², has been a republic since 1963. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom on 9 October 1962. The name is derived from the Kingdom of Buganda, which covers part of the south of the country and includes the capital Kampala. Apart from Buganda, there are four other

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kingdoms in Uganda, namely Ankole, Bunyoro-Kitara, Busoga, and Toro. The country is subdivided politically into 77 districts spread over four geographical regions. Uganda has had the same leadership for several decades and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (now aged 77) has been president since 29 January 1986.

Geographical and other features Before we turn the subject specifically towards wood, we would point out that you can meet about 40 peoples and tribes in this country. It’s worth mentioning that the south-east of Uganda houses the biggest

lake in Africa, the renowned Lake Victoria (over half of this lake is located within the territory of Uganda, whilst the rest belongs to the neighbouring countries of Tanzania and Kenya). The capital Kampala is the unmistakable industrial (and administrative) centre of the country and the city has the unusual feature of being spread over seven hills (the name literally means ‘the hills of antelopes’). A second important centre is Entebbe, a suburb of Kampala about 40 kilometres from Lake Victoria where the international airport is located. Other cities of note include Lira, Mbale, and Soroti and a special feature is that the most densely populated areas are found around Lake Victoria. When we talk about Uganda, we cannot ignore the various (wild life) parks. The biggest one is the Murchison Falls National Park, which has a surface area of 3,860km² and is sometimes called Kabalega Falls. Then there are other areas such as the 766km² Kibale Forest National Park, the snowy tops of Mount Rwenzori ('Mountains of the Moon') which provide 3% of the population with water thanks to their melt water, the almost 2,000m² Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the south-west on the border with the Virunga National Park in Congo.

Uganda wood asset and forest resources accounts To cover the wood narrative, we refer to a document from June 2020 called ‘Uganda wood asset and forest resources accounts’. This document was drafted under the Natural Capital Accounting programme (NCA), a venture between the Ugandan government and the Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services’ (WAVES) of the World Bank, and it paints a rather bleak picture. This report primarily makes it clear that Ugandan forests are a major cherished possession with several environmental, social, and economic benefits. They provide for the country’s need for wood fuel, wood, and posts, offer habitats for flora and fauna, and help to limit climate change. The forest eco systems are Uganda’s major source of energy, since woody biomass accounts for 78% of the energy production. Several rural communities depend heavily on forest eco systems, whilst Uganda’s nature reserve tourism is largely dependent on the integrity of the tropical high forests and forests which sustain a rich biodiversity and form a habitat for wild animals.

Vision 2040

the wood supply for all classes of ground cover indicate a reduction of 45% of the nationally aggregated wood supply between 1990 and 2015, from 355.5 million tonnes to 197.1 million tonnes. After an initial increase in wood biomass by 4% between 1990 and 2000, the national supply fell by 42.5% between 2000 and 2005. Despite a modest recovery of 3% between 2005 and 2010, the total supply fell again by 9% between 2010 and 2015. After a slow decrease of supplies before 2000, the subsequent faster decrease in supplies led to a drop of 53% between 2000 and 2015 of the wood available for supply, from 224.6 million tonnes to 91.5 million tonnes. The shortage of wood during this period was 22 times greater, from a relatively small shortage of 1.6 million tonnes in 2000 to 35 million tonnes in 2015. This growing shortage in the supply has led to initiatives to reduce the shortage, with forestry programmes and larger-scale programmes for forest restoration. A combination of state and private investments have ensured a doubling of the wood stock in plantations, from 858,000 million tonnes in 2005 to 1.7 million tonnes in 2015. Despite these useful additions, the wood supply still fell by a much greater 14.4 million tonnes during the same period. One interesting finding is that two thirds of the decrease in the national wood supplies between 1990 and 2015 took place on private land. Despite this considerable loss, 40% of the total supply of wood was still located on private land in 2015.

Long-term drop The long-term drop in wood supplies can be explained partly by a reduction in forest cover, but a comparison of trends in forest cover and wood supplies leads us to assume that other factors are involved. Those factors include forestry sector policy, legislation reforms, and the increased demand for wood products, which has yielded a growing shortage. The particularly drastic reduction in the supplies between 2000 and 2005 was probably the result of reforms in forestry governance. This has led to less technical and legislative support for forests on private land and for more remote central forest reserves. To sum up, you can say that the greater share of the production of wood fuel and sawn wood and transport takes place without a permit, so it is actually unlawful.

Wood supply threatens to run out

National statistics currently show that the forestry sector contributes 4% to Uganda’s gross domestic product, but research suggests that this contribution is closer to 8%. This is because, according to the report, the various findings often seem to be based on unreliable extrapolations of case studies.

After our visit to the country, if we put together the various findings, it has to be said that the wood supply will simply run out if there is no new investment in wood sources. Moreover, the supply and consumption charts also show that Uganda’s trade deficit in wood products (the difference between export and import) decreased by a factor of 8.8 between 2000 and 2015.

It’s important to remember that the country has a long-term plan, the so called Vision 2040. The aim here is to restore Ugandan forest cover to the level of 1990 when 24% of the country was forest.

The report also states that national demand for wood will more than double by 2040 as compared to 2015 due to growing demand for wood products as a result of population growth and urbanisation.

Five classes of forest land cover

We’re talking here about a rise from 48 million to 105 million tonnes per annum. Forecasts suggest that the sustainable wood supply from areas defined as forest area will be completely exhausted by 2025 so that by 2030 there will be an annual wood shortage of 72,600 tonnes. Wood available for supply from forests will decrease to just three million tonnes by 2040, less than 3% of the total demand in 2040. As a result, the biggest share of future wood production will have to shift to areas which are reserved for forest and wild life conservation.

The country’s available stocks are accommodated in five classes of forest land cover: hardwood, hardwood plantations, softwood plantations, tropical high forest, and forest areas. There are some extra supplies of wood in the vegetation outside the forests such as the bush lands, grasslands, wetlands, farmlands, and built-up areas. The supplies are subdivided into wood stocks which are available for supply and those which are not available for supply. The calculations of

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∂ Product news BJELIN - WIDE PLANKS OF HARDENED WOOD Bjelin develops, manufactures and sells a broad product portfolio consisting of both traditional wooden floors and new innovative floors in new materials. The development is performed in cooperation with our sister company Välinge Innovation AB, mostly known as the inventor of the click floor. The manufacturing takes place in our own state-of-the-art factories in Sweden and Croatia. Bjelin’s wide planks are manufactured with a patented technology to cure wood and make it stronger. It’s an innovative wooden floor with a genuine wooden feel that is several times stronger than other wooden floors and utilises renewable raw materials in an optimal way. 21 cm is wider than most on the market. 27 cm is completely unique, especially in this price range. Even the length is generous at just over 2.3 metres. Innovative Swedish technology and top modern production provide you with stable floors that will stay beautiful for a very long time. The raw material used to make Bjelin’s parquet floors comes from the world renowned Slavonian forests in northern Croatia. The timber is sawn in Bjelin’s local sawmills and is completed in our own state-of-the-art parquet factories to parquet floors in a great variety of designs. The high quality of oak allows for plank widths up to 20 cm and can be obtained in categories with almost no knots to vibrant and rustic planks.

CLARIANT’S BEYOND COLOR ADDITIVES ELEVATE POSSIBILITIES FOR HIGH-PERFORMING SUSTAINABLE COATINGS Reduce fossil-carbon: new renewable carbon-based ingredients with lower CO2 footprint − Choose effective bio-based waxes to enhance performance of wood & powder coatings − Non-halogenated flame retardants extend fire resistance time & shelf life of intumescent coatings for steel At American Coatings Show (ACS) 2022, Clariant is prioritizing sustainability Beyond Color to support the creation of more sustainable innovations for industrial and consumer coatings products. Visit Clariant at Booth 2846 to explore the latest multifunctional additives that are driving the industry’s transition, from new renewable carbon-based ingredients to nonhalogenated next level fire protection. “Supporting a sustainable transformation is wide-ranging and application-specific. Impacts such as improving the environmental and health profile of a coating, reducing emissions throughout the value chain, or boosting efficiency in production, transportation and handling go hand-in-hand with enhancing functionality and protection capabilities,” comments Jörg Rüger, Head of Competence Center Paints & Coatings. Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

TOVER With Lympha, the 2-component Tover lacquer, customers will be satisfied: a natural effect, raw wood to the touch on all wood species. Never seen before! Contact us to receive a wood sample at +32 475753367 – email: k.vandyck@tover.com

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Review: Domotex Hannover (D)

Advertorial: Belgiqa (B) Special: Outdoor floors: wood & composite

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Special: Rwanda

Special: Producers of wooden/composite wall cladding

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Articles inside

Product news

Special Uganda

Special Training and seminars

Industry news

Special When and when do you not use (adhesion) primers or a damp screen?

Special The issue of colouring wooden floors

Special Wall cladding : wood versus composite

Special Profiles for LVT, PVC, and vinyl floors

Special UV finishing on site

Preview Carrefour International du Bois (F

Advertorial Välinge (SE

Special Hungarian point and herringbone pattern in LVT PVC, and vinyl

Inside news

Special Types of hygrometers

Special Pre-colouring

Advertorial Blanchon (F