LVT

Building on success

Naked Blond Oak

Polyflor has added to Camaro

Building on the success of rigid-core interlocking LVT, Polyflor has introduced its Camaro Rigid Core collection, featuring 18 new designs across three formats: plank, tile and herringbone.

The collection features a rigid SPC core construction that acts as a strong and stable base for the 5G press-fit locking mechanism, which allows installation over most existing subfloors without the use of a mallet. The 5G joint is simply pressed down by hand until an audible click confirms that the joint is locked, to provide a swift and easy installation method ideal for quick turnaround projects.

Other benefits of Camaro Rigid Core include a built-in acoustic underlay, offering 18dB impact sound reduction and eliminating the need for separate underlay; polyurethane reinforcement for eased cleaning and maintenance, and the collection is 100% waterproof and suitable for use with underfloor heating.

‘We are thrilled to have extended our Camaro product portfolio with a rigidcore solution that is perfectly suited to meet the needs of busy homes and light commercial environments. Significant investment has been made to ensure the new Camaro Rigid Core range offers a collection of contemporary designs, paired with the very latest technical innovations to create a package that is both visually engaging and extremely efficient to install,’ says Thomas Rollo, Polyflor marketing director.

The introduction is supported with marketing materials including a 70-page brochure full of inspirational installation photography, a shadecard with look-book insert, a large retail presenter and tabletop retail display stand. Sampling can be ordered free of charge on the website. Visit: www.polyflor.com

Tribeca Cement Waterside Oak

F Ball’s fast-track F78 waterproof surface membrane is used to create a barrier against excess subfloor moisture The new fast-track, pressure-sensitive adhesive Styccobond F58 PLUS enables LVT to be installed from five minutes after application

Don’t compromise

Following the principles and using the right materials is key to perfection

‘A long-lasting, attractive flooring finish when installing LVT involves following basic principles of subfloor preparation, as well as taking precautions to avoid the common causes of floor failure. Selecting the optimum products at each stage of the process will also help,’ says Neil Sanders, F Ball technical director.

‘The first step in any flooring installation should be to check that the subfloor is suitably sound, smooth and dry. Any laitance and contaminants should be mechanically removed before proceeding. A moisture test should be conducted to determine if the subfloor is dry enough to receive floorcoverings. Where relative humidity levels are higher

F Ball¹s Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound can be applied directly over old adhesive residues, removing the need for mechanical preparation than 75%, a moisture management solution will be required to prevent moisture attacking flooring adhesives and causing resilient floorcoverings to blister and lift.

‘In most cases, the next step in the preparation process should be to prime the subfloor. When used over nonabsorbent surfaces, such as waterproof surface membranes, primers promote adhesion between the subfloor and the levelling compound. Applied over absorbent subfloors, they also stop the unacceptably rapid drying of levelling compounds. Priming also prevents “pinholing”: small holes in the levelling compound that have the appearance of pinholes or blisters caused by the slow escape of air from absorbent surfaces as the levelling compound cures.

‘A levelling compound should then be applied over the subfloor to create a perfectly smooth and level surface onto which LVT can be installed. This ensures that the visual appearance of the floorcovering is flawless and not compromised by imperfections in the subfloor showing through.’

Where an LVT installation is part of a refurbishment, and old adhesive residues are present after the removal of old floorcoverings, specialist levelling compounds are available. These can be applied straight over old adhesive residues, without the need to prime beforehand, removing the need for mechanical preparation.

‘Pressure-sensitive adhesives are often the best choice for installing LVT. They form an instant grab upon contact, so fitters don’t need to worry about tiles or planks moving about when they are working, making them ideal for where intricate designs or patterns are being created. The adhesive is specially formulated to reduce the incidence of trowel serrations shadowing through thin floorcoverings, a common problem, also known as “grin-through”, which will compromise the finished appearance of your bespoke flooring installation. This can be further guarded against by going over the adhesive once it has dried using a roller pre-coated with adhesive, to flatten the ridges formed by trowel application.

‘Finally, it is highly recommended that fitters check the compatibility of particular floorcoverings and adhesives by consulting the floorcovering manufacturer’s guidelines. Alternatively, F Ball produces a Recommended Adhesives Guide, which lists adhesives recommended for use with more than 6,000 floorcoverings produced by over 200 manufacturers. The guide is available as a free app or a printed booklet. An interactive version can also be found on the F Ball website.’ Visit: www.f-ball.com

Portland Cement

Combination

Polyflor has added to its vinyl offer, combining elements of Designatex and Secura

Polyflor has introduced Architex, a UK-manufactured collection of textilebacked vinyl flooring containing 18 wood, cement and abstract designs, ideal for residential settings.

Polyflor has become a leading provider of residential vinyl flooring, delivering high-quality designs in multiwidths with reliable stock availability.

Designed to sit alongside the Designatex and Secura ranges, Architex has been developed to include a unique hybrid backing that combines the comfort of Secura with the textile

Oxford Basket Weave Tan Bowman Oak

backing of Designatex.

Architex includes features such as R10 slip resistance, 19dB sound impact reduction and a PU reinforcement for eased cleaning and maintenance. Architex can also be loose laid in most residential interiors up to 20sqm, making it quick to install as no adhesives are required, plus the addition of the textile backing means the floor can be installed over damp subfloors where a relative humidity of 90% is not exceeded.

‘Architex offers an impressive collection of beautiful trend-led designs as well as an outstanding set of performance benefits to enhance residential spaces. With the launch of Architex we also took the opportunity to refresh the look and feel of our UK-manufactured offering and align the collections with an extensive sampling package, including a new retail display presence,’ says Tom Rollo, Polyflor marketing director.

The sampling package includes a new brochure and retail display unit which combine the three collections, in addition to Architex-specific shade cards and presenters. Sampling can be ordered free of charge on the website. Visit: www.polyflor.com

Celebrations

Fibreline has a 90,000sqft factory in Keighley

Fibreline is celebrating 40 years of innovation

Fibreline was founded by John Prudhoe in 1982 and has grown to be the largest independently owned upholstery cushion fillings manufacturer in the UK, known for its products across a broad range of cushion seat fillings, often combining different fillings to achieve specific results.

Prudhoe had a long history in the upholstery market and could see the potential for carded synthetic fibres in upholstery. Fibreline became a pioneer in the use of polyester fibre in the UK furniture industry. Initially based on Marley Street in Keighley, West Yorkshire, the company soon outgrew this location and in 1992 moved to the town’s former Waddingtons playing card factory.

Over the following decade Fibreline diversified into feather and foam cushion fillings, so offering a ‘one-stop-shop’

for all cushion fillings.

Innovations came thick and fast and in 2003 Fibreline became one of the first foam convertors to install a fully integrated foam cutting line.

One of the main problems with 100% fibre seat cushions is that they go flat over time and require strenuous plumping. Fibreline sought a remedy for this problem with Encore. In 2010 Fibreline started to develop the Encore range. Initially this was Encore Fibre, which had the look and feel of a fibre cushion but recovery characteristics more like foam. Encore Fibre was quickly awarded the FIRA GOLD seal of approval and become a great success story.

Encouraged by its success, Fibreline went on to develop Encore Feather and Encore Foam. Encore Feather has the look and feel of a feather cushion but with much improved recovery when compared to a traditional feather-filled seat cushion. Encore Foam provides the clean lines of a foam seat cushion but the snugly feel of a fibre seat.

While all this innovative development was going on Fibreline also introduced a number of industry production process firsts, pioneering robotic drilling of foam components in 2015, for example, and installing a robotic fabrication line in 2019. These improvements and innovations help it to be competitive in both pricing and delivery.

The latest product from Fibreline is Fibrefill Blue. Fibreline recognised the need to offer cushion manufacturers an environmentally friendly solution using recycled plastic. So it found a way to convert the equivalent of 100 plastic bottles into a comfy cushion. Visit: www.fibreline-ltd.co.uk

ALL STEENS AHEAD TO FTG!

All in stock for next day delivery with no MOQ!

The recent acquisition of Steens furniture into our partner factory Tvilum, has enabled us to build on our strong supply offer. Tried-and-tested ranges like Steens for Kids, Baroque, Tromso, and Sandringham, to name a few – all under the FTG one-stop-shop umbrella. We can offer you 1200 + UK Commercial products available for same day dispatch from our UK warehouse. Great products, great images, great marketing material, 97% stock availability, e-commerce support, and a modern thinking customer service approach – all fused together to delivery a great customer proposition.

ALBA

STEENS FOR KIDS

More than 60 unique collections. All in stock for next day delivery. No MOQ. Ecommerce support.