Flooring Magazine August/September 2021

August / September 2021

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Contents

3

vol 39 no 4

Training

Editor’s Note

8

Welcome to the August / September 21 issue of Flooring Magazine. Inside this issue you will find our annual Installer’s Guide where companies have the opportunity to showcase the very latest in floor preparation, installation and aftercare. The team at All Preparation Equipment walk us through the best practice in flooring and explain why correct surface preparation is key to the success of any installation.

Women in flooring

Company Profile 12

Connecting with solutions

Spotlight On 14

Realising a dream

Software 16

Improve your business – master change management

Feature 22

The Installer’s Guide

Safety 30

Positive pressure respiratory protection made simple

Design & Trends

In our Training section this month, Fiona Wischnewski from the FCIA looks at the difficulties installers are facing trying to attract younger people into the industry in order to fill the gap left by an aging workforce. Fiona explains why some companies have started to do this by shaking the traditional norms and hiring more female apprentices who are bringing a fresh perspective and a new approach to the flooring industry.

Please feel free to contact me regarding any news or product information that you would like us to publish by email at – michelle.cammiade@elitepublishing. com.au Don’t forget to join our online community and visit us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

44

Dulux colour forecast 2022

Until next time, enjoy your read.

Michelle Cammiade Editor

Flooring Magazine is now on: @flooringmagazineaustralia

Front Cover Andersens www.andersens.com.au

@flooringmagazine @flooringmagazine

Flooring August/September 2021

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

News

4

FAV awards postponed for 2021

T

he Flooring Association of Victoria (FAV) regrettably has had to postpone its’ 5th Annual Awards event.

The Plaza Ballroom has advised, that due to the new restrictions in place in Victoria the Flooring Association of Victoria will be unable to have their awards night this year as planned.

With the uncertainty of further lockdowns occurring whilst we have low vaccination numbers, FAV have had to reschedule their event for the 6th of August 2022.

They will announce the finalists and winners of this year’s awards later in the month and an exclusive feature of the awards will run in the next addition of the Flooring Magazine.

It is extremely disappointing as I know everyone really needed an excuse to celebrate something in these really difficult times.

Postponing the awards for 12 months gives the team at FAV greater certainty that the vaccine rollout has been implemented so lockdowns will not be needed.

They will, over the next few weeks be refunding monies paid for tickets and sponsorships.

The Flooring Association hopes for all its members to stay safe and well.

Floorcovering Association of Victoria Inc.

About FAV

The team at FAV would like to take this opportunity to thank Lauren Ellis for all of her hard work and dedication coordinating the organization over the past 18 months getting the team so close to having this event.

Once again FAV would like to thank you all for your continued support.

The principal role of the Floorcovering Association of Victoria is to represent the Interests of the floorcovering industry in Victoria.

The Association was established in 1985 to represent the interests of carpet contractors in Victoria and was originally known as the Australian Carpet Contractors Association Inc. The major areas of focus for the Association during the past two years has been industrial relations representation and services, the development of a Code of Ethics and the promotion of the principle that floorcovering should only be installed by qualified installers.

For further information visit http://fav.org.au/member-info.html

Flooring August/September 2021

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Product Update

6

New generation sanding machines The competition in the floor sanding industry has escalated. To operate successfully in this competitive environment, it is imperative for companies to utilize machines which are incorporated with pioneering technology.

Comprehending this Polivac has invented the new generation machines combining advanced technology, durability, and efficiency.

The new generation II machines are incorporated with features that save time, resources, and labour efforts. The SV25 Gen II slow-speed Sandivac sanders and SV25 Gen II slow-speed Supervac sanders are ready to be released in the market.

Above: Gen II SV25 slow-speed Supervac Sander These machines are diligently crafted and thoughtfully designed to diminish noise disturbances for quieter operation. These machines are highly beneficial when used in commercial areas and facilities where quite operations are of paramount importance.

These sanders are equipped with a triple planetary industrial gear drive and universal clutch system that helps to increase productivity. They are also fitted with extra weight to offer ideal downward pressure.

Above: Gen II SV25 slow-speed Sandivac Sander

The Polivac team has received great reviews and comments from industry experts on demo trials of the machines and they are happy to announce that these machines are available in the market now. All Polivac machines are manufactured in their Melbourne facility, following quality standards hence ensuring reliability and efficiency.

by Kenbrock

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WA-NT T 1800 674 145 F 03 9765 2233 TAS-SA T 1800 674 145 F 03 9765 2233 NSW-ACT T 1300 785 000 F 07 3881 3287

Training

8

Women in Flooring Article by Fiona Wischnewski

T

he difficulty every installer and store is facing trying to attract new and younger people into the industry, in order to fill the gap being left by the ageing workforce, has been well discussed and documented.

The industry is not only in need of young people but in need of fresh blood. People from different aspects of life who can bring with them a unique perspective to reinvigorate this industry.

Some companies have started to do this by shaking the traditional norms and hiring female apprentices. From all accounts it appears to be serving their businesses well.

I had the pleasure of speaking with these three businesses and their apprentices about the differences and benefits of hiring female apprentices and their responses were wonderful.

Above: YourWay Coatings Flooring August/September 2021

The three female apprentices are all different ages, at different stages in their apprenticeship and work in different areas but their response to the questions highlight their devotion to this industry.

How long have you worked in the flooring industry?

• I have worked in the flooring industry for 3 years now – Sasha Harrington, YourWay Coatings • I have been in this industry for approximately 3 months. – Kalysta Palmer, B&N Flooring • I started working in the flooring industry 6 months ago. – Jasmin Wilson, Cabonne Carpets What made you choose to work in the flooring industry?

• I ended up working in the industry not

because I had made the choice of which trade I wanted to do but because I was seeking an apprenticeship for a number of years and not being able to land one. I had almost given up on the idea when I got a job as a labourer for a local concreter. Long story short, that business closed down but the owner gave me a good reference and I was lucky enough to then get a job with at YourWay coatings. About 2 weeks into the job Boyd asked me if I would be interested in doing an apprenticeship and I was over the moon to finally get the apprenticeship I had been seeking. –Sasha Harrington, YourWay Coatings • An apprenticeship had become available and as I love working with timber and other products and am good at art, thought it ticked all my boxes so I gave it a go. – Kalysta Palmer, B&N Flooring • I wanted to leave school and start work and an opportunity in this industry came up so I took it. – Jasmin Wilson, Cabonne Carpets What are some of the challenges you have faced whilst working in the flooring industry?

• You could say some of the challenges have been getting used to the physicality of the job and being on the ground using heavy and powerful tools. This took a bit of getting used to and I guess you get the occasional people that see you're a female and openly question whether or not you can do the work, but they definitely haven't been challenges that I haven't been able to overcome. – Sasha 10 Harrington, YourWay Coatings

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

5 EASY STEPS TO EMPLOY AN APPRENTICE

Register your apprentice in the Certificate III in Flooring Technology https://www.fcia.org.au/apprenticeships - enrol my apprentice

Industry Driven Training Contact: fwischnewski@fcia.org.au

Phone: 03 9822 6163

Training

10 The employers seemed to be very impressed with their choice of hiring female apprentices’ and each seem to be a positive change within their business.

Above: Cabonne Carpets • Learning how to use the machines correctly. It can be quite detailed, and you do not want to damage any of them however I have enjoyed the learning process. –Kalysta Plamer, B&N Flooring • Sometimes the weight of the carpet and vinyl but there are always trolly’s etc around to assist. – Jasmin Wilson, Cabonne Carpets What would you say to other females who are thinking about a career in the flooring industry?

• I would say to any female that wants to work in the flooring industry or any trade that it's all possible if you have the drive and can handle the physical work. The flooring industry is a growing industry, you are always working at different job sites and problem solving for different things, so it never becomes repetitive or boring. All in all, just go for it I'd say! – Sasha Harrington, YourWay Coatings • If you like meeting people and learning a different and rewarding skill, then this is absolutely the trade for you! – Kalysta Palmer, B&N Flooring • It is a good fun industry and would recommend it to anyone who is interested. – Jasmin Wilson, Cabonne Carpets

Flooring August/September 2021

Why did you decide to employ a female apprentice?

• I employed a female apprentice because after she worked for me for a few weeks on her trial period I thought she deserved a chance at an apprenticeship. She was always keen to have a go and didn’t complain if it was a boring or a repetitive task, I’d given her which showed initiative and the willingness to learn. – Boyd Keenan, YourWay Coatings • From my experience, they show much more initiative and attention to detail and they also focus better on the task at hand. – Nigel Hertzberg, B&N Flooring

Above: B&N Flooring • When we decided it was time to put on an apprentice, we had an open mind and was taking applications for both males and females. We believe that jobs should not be designated to specifics genders. That being said with a lot of interest in our job opportunity, having a female was our best candidate. – Belinda Marshall, Cabonne Carpets What have been the benefits of having a female apprentice?

• Benefits of a female worker can be

having a balanced perspective on different ways a job could possibly be sort out as Sasha thinks completely different to myself and it is good to hear her thoughts on job tasks. I receive a lot of comments from clients to myself that they say it’s great to see a female in a predominantly male industry. – Boyd Keenan, YourWay Coatings • Some of the benefits I have observed include; very polite, customer enjoy having a female around and they also focus better. – Nigel Hertzberg, B&N Flooring • Employing a female apprentice means that it encourages other females to get out into the trade work force, that being said other employers need to be willing to put on females and give them a go.

I feel as though females are more hard working and muck around less, due to having limited opportunities in the work force they commit to their job. – Belinda Marshall, Cabonne Carpets As you can see, female apprentices are bringing a fresh perspective and a new approach to the flooring industry. They can just as easily learn the tasks and deal with labour intensive aspects of the job as well as their male counterparts.

The insights these employers have given us show that neither gender is better than the other. Instead, they both bring with them a set of skills which can complement the individual business and the industry as a whole.

I can’t wait to see these three ladies complete their apprenticeship and know that they will be an inspiration to other females who are looking for a rewarding career.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

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Company Profile

12

Connecting with Solutions Article by Philip Ashley

B

io Surfaces is a family owned and operated business located in Ballarat in Victoria that has grown out of a lifetime of improving the performance of flooring in critical applications such as major hospitals and public infrastructure.

With the advent of COVID-19, Bio Surfaces Australia has become both the leading provider of technical advice and know how; and a key supplier of antimicrobial surface treatments for the flooring industry.

Bio Surfaces Australia has its roots in product development, performance testing, industry technical committees and standards development through Noel Emselle. Noel started in the flooring industry in 1983 after a long career with the Australian Wool Testing Authority. Noel’s highly technical abilities were passed to his son, Terry Emselle, who joined Noel over thirty years ago now. Terry is a technical consultant to

major property owners and more recently with some of Australia’s largest new hospital construction projects.

Terry provides consulting, problem solving and project services for Government, developers, building owners and facility managers. His key focus is on improving functionality, reducing cost, improving safety, and avoiding disruption for multiple stakeholders involved in complex projects.

His main areas of expertise include soft and resilient floor coverings, coatings, wall and door protection, hygienic and anti-microbial finishes, slip resistance, maintenance, and life cycle management.

Terry has worked in various capacities on many major PPP projects including Royal Women’s Hospital Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC),

Bendigo Hospital, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Sunshine Coast University Hospital and provide ongoing services to Honeywell, Spotless, Lend Lease and Cushman & Wakefield, the global commercial real estate services firm. Terry is also contracted to Gerflor as a technical Specialist.

Terry now provides technical support to Company Director, Jasmine Emselle, the third generation of the family business.

Jasmine possesses the drive and passion to take the Bio Surfaces business into a post-COVID world where the ‘new normal’ presents challenges to industry; commerce and retail; residential and health care providers. Jasmine is able to draw on decades of technical and practical experience to provide real and timely solutions to current and emerging problems with ethical, sustainable and industry leading products and services.

Above: The Emselle family (L-R) James, Noel, Jasmine and Terry Flooring August/September 2021

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Company Profile

Above: An office 3D render Jasmine says, “We provide antimicrobial treatments and disinfectants for both carpet and hard flooring surfaces. We’ve been in this space for over ten years now, well before COVID-19, so we are highly proficient at what we do. The pandemic has certainly created awareness of the risks, but also a fog of information and disinformation. It is our expertise that puts us at the forefront of providing solutions to support our customers manage the risks to people in public and private spaces.” It is Bio Surfaces longstanding expertise that is most relevant to the current health issue.

Terry adds, “It’s a very competitive space now, dealing with the current risk to public health. There are a lot of new players in the game, but we have been around a long time. Our experience working in the health care sector on some of the biggest projects in Australia has given us an edge that others have found hard to match. We know what works but more importantly, we are able to offer solutions for very specific outcomes, and this stands us apart from many of our competitors.”

Bio Surfaces offers a range of industryspecific anti-microbial surface solutions that are ideal for the flooring industry to support a holistic infection control strategy.

One product range is Siqura Disinfectants and Protectants. Based on Australian owned and made technology which is exported

Flooring August/September 2021

to 28 countries and incorporated in many well-known brands of clothing, footwear and foams used in underlays, cushions, and pillows. Terry advises, “Siqura is built on a technology platform that binds a common and well proven antimicrobial molecule to almost any surface creating a durable microscopic film that remains active even after regular cleaning.”

Above: Noel, Jasmine and Terry

13 Bio Surfaces has partnered with the manufacturers of Siqura to develop and distribute products to the Flooring Industry.

This partnership utilises 3 generations of flooring industry knowledge with world leading chemistry and product development expertise. Together they develop solutions for specialized flooring applications to suit individual user requirements and standards, at a fair price. Recently, Bio Surfaces Australia has been working in diverse areas of application such as mould remediation and concrete treatments. It’s about creating solutions because despite what some suppliers might say, there is not one fix for every situation.

If we have learned anything over the last eighteen months it’s that COVID-19 is a serious health risk and demands a serious approach. Jasmine said, “Nothing kills instantly; cleaning is important, as is the specific application of an antimicrobial agent designed for a particular client’s needs.

We provide a solution first, and the product, second. Our goal is for our customers to get the best value from our environmentallyfriendly product.” Bio Surfaces Australia has the know-how, built up over a decade of work in the healthcare industry, to provide meaningful, accurate and site-specific advice for all flooring applications.

Above: Bio Surfaces has partnered with the manufacturers of Siqura to develop and distribute products for specialised flooring applications.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Spotlight On

14

Realising a dream – Lee Turner of Gosford

F

or Lee Turner of Gosford, opening his own store had always been a dream.

“I’ve been an installer for 26 years,” says Lee, “So, last year, my wife Tracey and I decided it was time to start a new chapter in our lives and realise that dream. We did some research and found Andersens.

From our first interaction with them we felt comfortable and starting an Andersens store in Gosford was an easy decision to make.

“It’s our home, and we love the community here. The plan is to grow the business into a successful household name here on the Central Coast, so we can employ local staff who share our community and family values. At the end of the day, like, Andersens, this is a family run business, and our ultimate goal is to provide for our family and be able to enjoy spending quality time with our children, Jessica and Rebecca. And joining the Andersens family gives us the best shot at achieving that.

“Andersens has over 60 years of experience in flooring and, with their buying power and market leading warranties, they can offer a guarantee that no other flooring retailer can.

We also love being part of a company that cares about the environment, with initiatives like Project Green. In the past nine months they’ve planted over 75,000 trees all over the world.”

Flooring August/September 2021

But it hasn’t been the easiest time to get into business. “We opened on July the 1st this year, and, like everyone, we were hampered by the current lockdown of the greater Sydney area.

Despite this challenge, we are definitely open and ready for business. It has been a difficult time for everyone, but Andersens has been great; they’ve assisted us with financial support, in negotiating rent relief and extending the payment on our account. They also have two trainers who are always available and have a great deal of knowledge and experience. We’ve also been supported by the network as a whole.

“Even when there’s not a pandemic, opening a store is a learning curve. Despite my years of experience as an installer, there’s so much to consider. But having the security and assistance of a trusted brand like Andersens has been incredible. They offer a comprehensive training program and any questions myself or Tracey have are answered in a timely manner. We’ve also been assigned a mentor within the group who is always available to us. Andersens is just a really welcoming and friendly group. They

promote healthy discussion and cohesion amongst their franchisees, all of whom are willing to provide assistance and advice on any subject.”

It’s not just the support that Lee admires though, “They really do have the best range” he says, “they’ve got everything; carpet, vinyl, hybrid and timber flooring as well as blinds, shutters and awnings, all from quality suppliers with exceptional warranties. This gives us a competitive advantage in price and quality.

“I wouldn’t do it any other way. In the beautiful landscape of the Central Coast, with my family, Tracey, Jessica and Rebecca, and my new family, Andersens, it’s really been the best way to realise a dream.”

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

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Software

16

Improve your business - master change management Article by Chris Ogden

L

ike it or not, we are all in the business of change management. Those good at change management have a significant advantage over those that struggle with it.

Sometimes, the need to change is evident and unavoidable, such as when the pandemic forced us to change how we operate our businesses. More often, the need to change is not so pressing, and this is when we demonstrate how good we are at change management; we either make the change to improve our business, or we limp on. I’m sure most of us have changes in mind that would benefit our business. What holds us back?

Flooring August/September 2021

Often, it’s time; we have so much else on our daily plate, we can’t take the time to dedicate to the process of making change.

Other times, it might be cost; right now, making the change is outside of our budget. Sometimes there is an element of risk; the change might not result in the benefit we are anticipating, and we don’t want to take that risk.

More often, however, we don’t make even incremental changes to our business because we don’t have the energy to overcome the resistance we will get. All of us have had the experience of making a change that didn’t stick. It’s not necessarily that our staff didn’t want to support the

change (although that happens); they just keep forgetting. They have been following a particular process for so long that they can’t easily make the necessary change, so it doesn’t happen, and the change is soon forgotten. This has two significant effects; firstly, it reinforces our experience 18 that change is difficult, and secondly, it

Business owners good at change management have a significant advantage over those that struggle with it.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

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tells our staff that supporting change can be optional. Both make any future change that much more difficult for us.

Like any skill, we get better at change management through practice. If we very rarely make changes to our business, we are not going to improve our change management skills, and our staff will remain resistant to change when it arises.

On the other hand, if constant change is a feature of our business, we get good at managing it, our staff becomes used to it, and they even become a source of suggestions for improvement.

We are not talking about big changes; instead, ongoing incremental changes to improve the business continuously. Many large and successful businesses have a culture of continuous improvement.

Of course, we should acknowledge that not all change works out as we hope. Part of

Flooring August/September 2021

18

change management is recognising that some changes must be fine-tuned or even abandoned while recognising that there is no shame in an idea that didn’t pan out as we thought it would.

In my next article, we will look in more detail at what we can do to become better at change management, but to finish, I want to share our daily experience with change management.

the transition to electronic quantifying.

Often both. This type of change is amongst the most difficult a business owner can make. Often there is resistance from staff who don’t understand why their boss has foisted this unwelcome change on them.

Even supportive staff who understand the reasons for the change sometimes struggle to unlearn the old processes to learn the new. Given this a business owner might ask if we will train new staff he might take on in the future. We will provide that service, but having done this for more than ten years, I can remember only very few instances of training new employees. In fact, our clients often tell us in amazement that new staff picked up on how to use these new tools far more quickly than the existing team did.

At RFMS Australasia, we are in the business of change. We are working with our clients to implement RFMS as their business management system or helping them make

The difference is that new employees come on board with the expectation they will learn new skills, and as a result they learn quickly. If we create an environment in which

All of us have had the frustration of making a change that “didn’t stick”.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Software

19

our staff have an ongoing expectation of continuous incremental change, they will cope with change, even big changes.

…if constant change is a feature of our business, we get good at managing it, and our staff becomes used to it.

In the next issue, we will look at what we can do as business owners to ensure that our ongoing efforts to improve our business are successful.

Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia (rfmsANZ.com), a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Chris has an extensive background in all aspects of the flooring industry, and he can be contacted at cogden@rfms.com.

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Retailing

20

Membership benefits with Australian FloorStyle

A

ustralian FloorStyle is a co-operative of independent flooring retailers.

They exist for the benefit of their members and in turn for the benefit of their customers. What sets them apart is that every store is independent and can buy and sell any product. They offer their members the opportunity to conduct their business the way they want to, while there are guidelines, there are no hard and fast rules.

Australian FloorStyle offers members exceptionally low joining costs and low membership fees. All profits over operating costs are returned to members.

As Australian FloorStyle approaches 40 years’ service in the flooring industry, the cooperative continues to grow, adding five new members over the last twelve months of often difficult trading for the industry. The group is managed

by David Wicks, Australian FloorStyle’s Executive Director and supported by the board of directors. Their combined knowledge and understanding of the industry benefit both Australian FloorStyle and their members.

Decisions are made democratically, and assets are used for mutual, rather than individual benefit.

Australian FloorStyle offers their members the advantage of great buying capacity; and great pricing through relationships with all of Australia’s major flooring suppliers. Members gain access to Australian FloorStyle’s range of bespoke products, manufactured on their behalf, largely in Australia. However, members can source product from whoever they please and so, their ability to offer any solution to their customer’s needs, is second to none.

Australian FloorStyle is different from most of the other groups in the flooring industry, especially franchise models. Their members still manage their own business and run them under their company name. They are committed to offering the best flooring service in their area and have the added advantage of maintaining their local identity. Australian FloorStyle members attest to uphold the highest level of Integrity, Ethics, Service and Standards.

Every member of Australian FloorStyle and everyone who serves on the board owns their own independent flooring business and have full autonomy in how they operate.

New members pay an extremely small joining fee to become affiliate members. After twelve months, should they have met the cooperatives business criteria, they are invited to become accredited members and shareholders.

All members are provided with support and networking opportunities, most importantly, there is always someone to talk to and offer guidance.

Australian FloorStyle has been a successful company since the beginning and thrive watching their membership numbers grow throughout Australia. Australian FloorStyle members service all types of clients both commercially and domestically in urban and regional areas of the country. Many stores have been serving their locals for generations. They are well-known in their local communities and of course, their sales mostly come through word-of-mouth references; the best reference you can achieve.

Flooring August/September 2021

If you are a flooring retailer, large or small, and want to have or maintain your own independence, however, be part of a cooperative of likeminded individuals to achieve better pricing, access to quality suppliers and the opportunities of networking with other members, please call Australian FloorStyle.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

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Flooring April/May 2020

22 Best practice surface preparation for floor covering

Feature

Article by by All Preparation Equipment

W

henever you are applying a new floor covering, such as concrete floor coatings or an epoxy floor coating, proper surface preparation is essential to ensure the covering’s functionality, lifetime and overall appearance.

Concrete floor preparation is often underestimated. Skipping or incorrectly working on this step can cause bonding failure, moisture-related issues, cracking tiles and other problems that will incur future expenses.

Following manufacturer guidelines regarding installation is critical to ensuring that the flooring materials are correctly installed. As floor layers and distributors, we know too well that if the floor isn’t properly prepared, with all the glues adhesives, carpet backings and laitance present, the new adhesive will fail to bond correctly, causing issues down the track.

Uncovering the substrate Whether you are installing floor coverings or applying an epoxy coating, the first step will always be the same. As the saying goes, “if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.” This holds true with every floor preparation job.

Often, during site assessments, existing floor coverings need to be removed. And depending on the type of covering present, tools and equipment used for this stage can include jackhammers on a trolley frame, handheld scrapers, a self-propelled R02 floor stripper or an R01 ride-on floor lifter.

Once the substrate is uncovered, you can begin to assess the condition of the concrete 24 and determine the following steps needed.

Flooring August/September 2021

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24 be called for. Old floorings may be riddled with adhesives, carpet backings and tile beddings, which should be removed before working on the new covering.

As a critical task, choosing the right tools for surface preparation is essential. With the proper diamond tooling for your machines, you can ensure that you will get the best possible outcome and shave off hours from your task.

This often includes removal of old flooring, scraping, grinding, cleaning, moisture testing, bulk-filling, and floor levelling.

What goes on top is only as good as what is below Surface preparation is the first step towards getting the flooring right because this ensures that the existing base addresses any issues that might get in the way.

No two floors are the same, and this is why some floors require a light skim coat, and some need a heavier bulk-fill to get it level.

There will also be some situations where grinding and stripping may

With the increase in demand for floor covering services, since COVID-19, for both commercial and residential markets, the industry has seen an increased demand for Schwamborn concrete floor Grinding machines and Dustcontrol vacuum systems.

When laying floors, mainly tiled surfaces, the base floor must be levelled to prevent future cracking. When it comes to timber coverings or parquetry, moisture is the number one enemy and must be appropriately prepared. Nobody wants cracked tiles or moistureridden floors because this means further work and expensive rectifications.

Concrete moisture testing Proper moisture testing can now commence once all the old epoxies, coatings, and laitance have been removed. Reliable moisture testing tools include the Tramex CMEXII Kit from All Preparation Equipment or the CME4 handheld unit. Keep in mind that different flooring types adhere to specific Australian Standards.

CONTROL DUST FROM IT’S SOURCE WHEN WORKING ONSITE DUSTCONTROL VACUUMS AIR SCRUBBERS FLOOR LEVELLING TOOLS CONCRETE GRINDING EQUIPMENT DIAMOND TOOLING DUST SHROUDS

Concrete floor grinding The Schwamborn floor grinder setups offer one of the widest range of diamond tooling available in the market and ensures that you will always have the right tool for the job. All Preparation Equipment has a diamond tooling guide that lets you compare the hardness of your concrete floor with the bonding/grit of the diamond tools needed for the job. Getting this match correct ensures the fastest and safest cutting process and extends the life of your diamond tools.

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Above: AIrCube DC1200 used with jack hammer trolley for tile removal www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Feature

25 2. Control dust easily from its source.

3. Easily remove common hazards from the floor without having to rely on multiple machines.

Compared to shot blasting or scarifying, concrete grinding is the more common floor preparation method. Grinding the floor with an upright walk behind concrete floor grinder or an angle grinder for confined spaces means that you can: 1. Alter the diamond tooling depending on the job’s requirements.

When a floor is not ground to a perfectly flat surface, various issues can arise. For instance, carpet floor coverings can cause moisture retention. Excess moisture can lead to more significant problems, such as moulds and stains that might creep onto the new floor covering weeks or months down the track.

Concrete floor levelling and topping Most contractors place their trust in the Portamix Mega Hippo Mixer for levelled floors to mix and pour the levelling products as quickly and efficiently as possible. Unlike a 20-litre bucket mix, the Hippo Mixing

Station allows you to prepare up to six, 20kg. bags of levelling compound at once and pour it directly to the floor.

Popular tools used in floor levelling and coating applications can include flexible spiked shoes that allow a proper heel-totoe gait for workers, pin-level rakes and wire-gauges. Other tools floor-layers use for removing air bubbles are the Easy Squeegee, Notched Rakes and Spiked Rollers. The Sticky Level Pegs can also help set up the proper height of the levels before applying the final product.

Correct concrete surface preparation is the key to success on any job. All Preparation Equipment supplies the tooling, equipment and products to help you get it right first time.

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Installer’s Guide

26

Schwamborn DSM250 Floor Grinder & Vacuum The Schwamborn DSM250 Concrete Floor Grinder and Dustcontrol Vacuum is a popular installer’s package to help get off your hands and knees in concrete preparation.

With a wide range of tooling options you can prepare floors, grind down high spots, and remove adhesives, concrete coatings or tile bedding getting the floor ready to lay.

P: 1800 422 992

E: sales@allprep.com.au

www.allprep.com.au

Australian Flooring Supplies Australian Flooring Supplies has everything you need to get the job done. From market leading floor levellers, adhesives, primers and moisture barriers by Sika and Roberts, to all the floor installation and prep tools, to underlays, trims, TGSIs and more. You’ll find everything you need at our 22 branch locations.

P: 1300 737 155

E: afscustomerservice@qep.com

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BBS Carpet Gripper Australian made Carpet Gripper for Australian Carpet Layers. Using 7mm or 9mm plywood, in 32mm Architectural or 25mm Domestic widths. With either a 19mm wood nail, a 5/8th or 11/16th hardened concrete nail, an 18mm Dual Purpose nail or without anchoring nails (standard). Available in short, medium or long pin.

P: +61 3 9793 2244

E: info@bbsfp.com

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Installer’s Guide

27

SV30 High-Speed Supervac Sander This sander is powered with 1.5 kw, 2 pole motor and 364 rpm pad speed. Equipped with a 400-watt long life motor that is fitted into the vacuum canister along with by-pass dust separator for superior dust extraction. Fitted with extra weight that offers ideal downward pressure.

All Australian made products to deliver quality and performance.

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Roberts Generale Levelling Compound Roberts Generale is rapid drying self levelling compound with excellent flow properties formulated for self-levelling differences from 1 to 20 mm in thickness on new or existing internal concrete substrates. It develops a smooth and even surface with high levels of mechanical resistance, ensuring the subsequent installation of floor coverings.

Roberts Generale allows for: • Excellent Flow • Floor Coverings 12 • Thickness 1mm – 20mm hours after application • Rapid Drying • Pump application P: 1800 242 931

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V1-D4 Professional Moisture Meter Our V1-D4 Professional helps you to accurately determine the moisture of your substrate within seconds. With our easy-to-read Display you can see the measured values in Real-time.

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Manufacturing

28

Australian manufacturing during the pandemic Article by BBS – Australia’s local installation accessories maker

T

he Pandemic has not behaved as we had anticipated 18 months ago when early cases were being detected. From the beginning many of us were sceptical that a ‘cold’ virus could ever affect our lives, work and families.

The first of these impacts is on our people.

Nothing is more important than the health of our employees, suppliers, distributors and the customers that make up our supply chain. But until we are all vaccinated, or mostly vaccinated, the health of our people is impossible to ensure.

What we thought might happen with Covid-19 was plainly wrong.

We should not blame the virus for our poor insight because our thinking always evolves slowly. We were simply unable to imagine how a modern pandemic would unfold, how great its effects would be, and how we should respond.

Eighteen months later we still struggle to understand the future consequences of this outbreak, and what we should be doing to reduce its effects.

No one could have seen how the pandemic would change the way Australia is supplied.

For decades we have become used to importing finished products and the raw materials we use to make local products.

In better times shipping was cheap, and supply chains that stretched into north Asia, America or Europe were generally quite reliable.

The Pandemic has lasted longer than we could have imagined, and the lockdowns that we use to slow its spread also affect our families and our work. No industry has escaped these effects. Tourism is shuttered; hospitality and many services have closed, opened and then closed again; and most office workers now work online from home.

The last 18 months in the building industry has seen mixed fortunes. Commercial and new residential projects have continued, sometimes at a slower pace due to site restrictions during lockdowns, and more recently because of poor supply of some building materials.

Residential renovations have stopped then re-started over and over with every lockdown.

Flooring August/September 2021

Like most business BBS has procedures in place to limit any transmission taking place at work, but we can’t protect our people in the community where they are most vulnerable.

The Pandemic has changed this concept.

Today overseas supply is significantly more costly, slower and unpredictable.

As a local manufacturer of carpet gripper and carpet joining tape, I’d like to highlight ways the Pandemic has changed our ability to supply.

As well as possible health issues we have to consider our changing staff needs during the pandemic. How many people do we need to make our products? And will we have enough orders to keep all our people employed? The answer to this puzzle remains as uncertain as the future of the economy while the Pandemic drags on.

This highlights a second impact of the Pandemic - growing uncertainty.

The world is now less predictable than it was before the Pandemic began. We now face uncertain sales, uncertain raw materials

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Manufacturing

29

supply, and the added cost that these uncertainties have on our business’s and our cashflows.

time that the Delta variant is slowing some offshore ports and factories.

All these interacting factors – protecting our employee’s health and their jobs, the rising business uncertainty and risk, offshore shipping delays, and the need to hold more capital in your business – combine create the Pandemic most visible legacy; rapidly rising costs.

This growing uncertainty has made our business planning more complex.

Another impact of the Pandemic is how it has changed our thinking about supply. We have moved from a ‘justin-time’ approach where we ordered only what we needed at the last minute, to a more resilient approach of having enough raw material ‘just-in-case’ it is needed.

It turns out that our supply chains in an interconnected world of free trade and open boarders is more fragile and less reliable than we had assumed.

Extra costs have layered their way into our supply chains, and these are now being passed on to Floor Covering Industry as price rises.

Demand surges like the one created by the housing boom in America and equipment imbalances (when we find we don’t have the right containers where they are needed) create shipping bottlenecks at the very

This modern Pandemic is changing the way products get made and supplied in subtle ways, and these effects, like the Pandemic as a whole, are neither over nor predictable in their outcome.

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Safety

30

Case Study: Positive pressure respiratory protection made simple

A

large nickel refinery in Queensland illustrated the challenges large industrial sites have when protecting their staff from hazardous airborne contaminants in the workplace. Based in the northeast of Australia, the refinery employs 1,000 people and is a global leader in the production of high-quality nickel and cobalt. The nickel and cobalt-bearing laterite ores are dried, ground, roasted and leached before being separated for sale to a global market. Despite system controls in place, the extraction process generates rogue nickel dust emissions of soluble and insoluble nickel forms with differing exposure standards requiring control around personal respiratory protection.

Following an internal safety review, the nickel refinery’s occupational hygienist examined a broad range of respiratory options with a strong focus on high levels of protection. Trials included passive P3 half masks through to Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), including loose and tight-fitting head tops.

The Challenge The challenge at the nickel refinery’s site was maintaining compliance and productivity for staff wearing personal respiratory protection due to demanding requirements: • Long periods of wear and flexibility: Operators and maintenance staff needed protection for 6 hours (some up to 8 hours) daily wearing RPE. Meanwhile, managers and engineers required RPE for short periods but needed ease of donning/doffing as they moved through the contaminated areas on site.

• Mobility and high exertion tasks:

Flooring August/September 2021

The plant covers an area the size of a football field and has a high point of 6 levels up that can be reached via stairways. The physical layout and the vast network of kilns, conveyors and elevators needing routine checks, adjustments and sampling - meant operators are highly active and require mobility around the equipment.

• Extreme working temperatures: Industrial rotating kilns contribute to temperatures in and around the plant of 45°C. The Solution Negative pressure masks caused staff to struggle with acute discomfort from overtightened straps and heat under the mask when worn for several hours. Many of the belt-mounted positive pressure systems proved too restrictive for normal day to day tasks, were too bulky and difficult to carry when operating machinery or temporarily moving in and out of contaminated areas.

“When trialing belt-mounted PAPRs, my maintenance and operating teams complained that the battery packs made

driving forklifts difficult and head tops limited their head movement which is important when running equipment checks”, outlined one of the site managers.

At the time of the case study, CleanSpace respirators had been utilized at the refinery for over a year and worn by the staff every day. The original trial of CleanSpace respirators found it suited the team across a range of tasks, supporting staff to carry out their daily duties with ease.

The Result CleanSpace respirators ensured the high level of protection the nickel refinery management was after. CleanSpace patented AirSensit technology is breath responsive to deliver filtered fresh air on demand to the wearer, reducing the risks of heat stress and respiratory fatigue.

“The staff reported good battery life, comfort and easy transition from their traditional mask to the CleanSpace Respirator. The built-in battery and compact neck mounted unit meant it was easy to carry around and clip-on before entering controlled areas,” 32 added the site manager.

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Safety

Over time, the refinery noted additional benefits in using the CleanSpace Respirator, such as: • Long filter life and peak load filter alarm (which alerts the wearer when to change filters, ensuring the maximum usage of each filter) • Ease to clean the mask and low maintenance on the unit. Toughness and durability. Even with daily use and long wear, the CleanSpace kits remain in good condition.

Most importantly, the refinery has seen no reduction in compliance with staff wearing the CleanSpace Respirators. The management contributes this to the additional comfort of fresh air and ondemand airflow when staff have high exertion work or working in hot temperatures. Since issuing CleanSpace respirators to its staff, other sites that experienced high dust loads and developed blocked half masks have since converted CleanSpace.

Flooring August/September 2021

32

CleanSpace Australian made respirators When looking to protect yourself or your staff from airborne contaminants, PAPRs offer high and reliable protection, far exceeding disposable masks. CleanSpace Respirators, proudly made in Australia for over ten years, outperform other respirators when it comes to comfort and ease of use.

CleanSpace respirators are a revolution in the area of respiratory protection. They provide all the protection of a PAPR and are free from belts, battery packs and hoses, making them more comfortable and easier to deploy.

When used in hot or humid conditions, CleanSpace Respirators provide cool, clean air to the user and eliminate fogging and moisture. CleanSpace respirators are light, easy to put on, reliably safe and comfortable.

These smart powered devices are easy to operate using a one-button system. These unique features mean more workers wear these respirators for a full shift every time.

CleanSpace assists miners and their staff to be safe in the workplace and compliant when working around silica dust.

Compared to disposable masks, CleanSpace Respirators are high protection reusable devices with economic advantages, as the annual cost of replacing disposables stacks up.

Disposable masks are well-known for causing fogging and discomfort, leading to low compliance, frequent stopping, or mask changes.

CleanSpace ULTRA Powered Air-Purifying Respirator is IP rated 66 and water-tolerant, perfect for stonemasons carrying out wet-cutting. www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Safety

33 that have up to eight hours of run time and fast top-up charging.

High protection: CleanSpace Respirators are AS/NZS 1716, NIOSH and CE approved.

CleanSpace Respirators offer 99.95% filtration efficiency.

Comfort equals compliance: CleanSpace offers both half-face and fullface masks with assigned protection factors of 50 and 1000 respectively. The full-face mask also has a high impact rating.

CleanSpace Respirators are compact systems

“The feedback we get from teams wearing CleanSpace Respirators with the full-face mask for mining, is that the mask is comfortable to wear all day, and the cool fresh air on the face is a dramatic improvement on disposable or reusable half masks,” said CleanSpace CEO Alex Birrell. They have also told us there is no fogging or hot moisture on their face.

Product Range: CleanSpace Respirators have four models depending on the requirements of the industry.

• CleanSpace EX is intrinsically safe so that it can be worn in potentially

explosive environments such as mining.

• CleanSpace ULTRA is IP rated 66, making it water-tolerant, perfect for stonemasons carrying our wet-cutting • CleanSpace 2 can be used in a variety of industrial applications where water tolerance or intrinsic safety is not required.

Customer Support: CleanSpace Technology, an Australian company based in Sydney, assists in product training, fit testing and instructions on maintenance and care with attentive customer support.

Contact us for more information or request a demonstration.

Safety

34

High-traffic entrance mats for commercial use Enhance the safety and lifespan of your floors with Classic Architectural Group's range of commercial entrance matting for high-traffic applications.

Discover Classic’s versatile commercial entrance matting options Classic offers two categories of architecturallydesigned, commercial entrance matting – based on application method and project specification. For application methods, they provide both recessed and surface mounted entrance matting. For format and project specification, you can choose from customised, roll out and modular tile entrance matting.

Integra Verse Entrance Mats – high traffic applications A fully reversible, aluminium matting, Integra Verse is durable and hard wearing for a longer lifetime use. Offering optimum dirt and moisture retention to maintain your building’s visual appeal, this architecturally designed entrance mat is also resistant to fungal and bacterial growth. Perfect for interior and exterior use, Integra Verse is suitable for foot traffic, wheelchairs and heavy trolleys.

Integra Vantt Entrance Mats – medium to high traffic applications One of their most popular entrance matting options due to its versatile customisability, Integra Vantt is an architecturally designed, roll up, aluminium matting. Suitable for curved applications, this entrance matting comes with a flexible interlocking system and rubber cushioned back to reduce noise.

Easy to transport and install, Integra Vantt is designed for interior use.

Above: Classic Integra Zone

Above: Classic Tredfx Verse Integra Link Entrance Mats – medium to high traffic applications Available in modular tiles with a simple interlocking system, the Integra Link entrance matting system is durable and hard wearing in high traffic applications. Highly effective for retaining dirt, grit and moisture, it’s easy to clean and a low-maintenance solution for interior use.

Above: Classic Integra Vantt Flooring August/September 2021

Integra Zone Entrance Mats – high traffic applications With special texturing and a thick, nonstatic pile, Integra Zone is a roll up, carpet style entrance matting option for high traffic applications. Available in a wide colour range for interior use, it is resistant to fungal and bacterial growth with high water absorption as well as a high fire-resistant rating.

Integra Zeal Entrance Matting – medium to high traffic applications Simple to clean and crush resistant, Classic Zeal is a carpet style entrance matting solution that comes in a low profile, looppile design. Suitable for medium to high traffic applications and wheelchair friendly, Classic Zeal is a great option if you’re looking for commercial entrance matting that’s easy to transport and install.

Integra Shield Entrance Matting – high traffic applications Designed for interior and exterior use, including snow and wet areas, Classic Shield is a roll up, scraper entrance matting that is UV resistant, durable and hard wearing.

Withstanding extreme temperatures, this commercial entrance mat comes with resilient vinyl coiled construction, trapping and hiding dirt in high traffic applications.

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Safety

35 Integra Premier Entrance Matting – medium to high traffic applications With a unique reinforced chevron pattern for effective scraping action, Integra Premier helps to arrest the spread of moisture, dirt and grit to maintain the life and safety of your floors. Enhancing interior aesthetics and acoustics, this crush resistant, carpet style entrance matting is a great addition for high traffic and high-end corporate entrances.

Above Classic Integra Shield

Integra Tough Entrance Matting – medium traffic applications Effectively trapping dirt, particles and moisture, Integra Tough has been specifically engineered with a unique pebble pattern to maximise scraping action.

Reducing your floor maintenance and cleaning costs, this carpet style entrance matting can be installed recessed into mat wells, wall-to-wall lobbies and/or atriums.

Integra Urban Carpet Tile Entrance Matting – high traffic applications A proven solution in high traffic environments, Integra Urban is an architectural entrance matting that can be used at both primary and secondary levels.

Complete with a luxurious look and feel, the modular carpet tile format is designed to achieve unlimited size combinations of colour and design, including patterns and borders.

Find the best high-traffic entrance matting solution for your commercial project To learn more about the Classic Architectural Group’s product range and how they can help you achieve your project’s public access and safety goals, please visit their website. www.classic-arch.com

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Safety

36 The key to dust control on your worksite

Article by All Preparation Equipment Dust has always been a hazard on construction sites. A large volume of dust is created when you cut, drill, grind or treat building materials such as concrete, stone and, timber. The larger particles are heavy and fall to the floor while the smaller particles can stay volatile in the air for a long time with the most harmful dust barely visible to the naked eye.

problems due to being exposed to hazardous dust. The best protection is to remove the dust at the source and never allow it to reach the air. Ensure your tools, such as grinders, mixers, jackhammers, tile cutters, and drills have an effective suction casing or shroud to enclose the dust and allow it to be captured by an effective vacuum system.

The smaller a particle is the deeper into the pulmonary system it penetrates. Respirable dust, the dust we inhale, is made up of particles smaller than 5 thousandths of a millimetre. Because the particles are so small, they can penetrate into the deepest parts of the pulmonary system where the air moves too slowly to be able to breathe them out again.

Above: Dustcontrol Air cleaner to help

The lungs way of protecting themselves is to wrap the foreign particles in nodules of connective tissue, which, in time, leads to

By having proper dust control measures onsite, you and your team can work safely without worrying about developing health

control dust and dirty air onsite. serious respiratory diseases. Some types of particles, such as silica and asbestos dust, cannot be broken down by the body and are also sharp, which is why they continue to cause damage long after they have become lodged in the lungs.

Vacuums or Dust extractors are utilised to improve the work environment and eliminate unhealthy particles in the air.

This places considerable demands on the dust extractor’s capacity to separate fine dust. To ensure that the dust extractor meets the requirements outlined in the relevant work environment provisions, it is classified in line with a standardised test. There is a detailed description of how the tests are performed to a vacuum and there are three classification levels and tests in accordance with IEC 60335.2.69 for each class, to verify the efficiencies of the machine unit and its filter elements.

L Class (light hazard) has an efficiency of >99% MAC suitable for separating dust with a limit value of occupational exposure of greater than 1mg/m³.

M Class (medium hazard) has an efficiency of >99% suitable for separating dust with a limit value of occupational exposure of greater than 0,1mg/m³.

Above: Dustcontrol Air cleaner h Class unit to control airborne silica dust on site when mixing and levelling

Flooring August/September 2021

H Class (High hazard) is the class with the most stringent criteria, stipulating a filtration efficiency of 99.995% for particles measuring from 0.1 to 5.0 μm. The machine is capable of maintaining a MAC (maximum 38 workplace concentration) of <0.1 mg/m3.

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Since anything containing Asbestos, Hexavalent Chromium and Silica is considered to be equally harmful to the human body, H class vacuum units seem to be the only viable choice. After all, there is silica in building materials used onsite daily, such as concrete, mortar, and bricks.

In most situations, a H Class Vacuum and dust shroud are not sufficient for capturing all of the dust particles created, in particular those that originate from other diffuse dust sources. In this case, it is also necessary to use an AirCube with your vacuum as a further measure to control dust onsite.

The AirCube units capture airborne dust and draw them through a fine filter and H13 HEPA filter before returning clean air to the room. This separates dust particles even smaller than 0.3 micrometres resulting in a cleaner and safer working environment with close to zero dust.

Most units also allow you to attach flexible ducting or an exhaust hose to create negative pressure in a sealed room, which is particularly useful in sensitive environments, such as during hospital refurbishments.

Finally, ensure you wear an approved respirator with a particulate filter as another measure to protect from airborne dust particles. People’s faces vary in size

Flooring August/September 2021

38

and shape therefore it’s important your respirator has been fit-tested. Fit-check regularly to ensure there is a tight-seal on your face and your respirator is providing sufficient protection based on the levels of air contamination onsite.

Better ways to control airborne dust onsite Anyone working in construction is all too familiar with how poor indoor air quality can be. This is especially true for contractors in the construction space doing concrete surface and floor preparation work. Concrete floor grinding equipment and machines create a high volume of crystalline silica dust which is highly hazardous and must be controlled correct.

By running an air cleaning system, you help to control any airborne dust and ensure a safer, cleaner worksite meaning less time to clean-up.

What happens if we inhale concrete dust?

Various airborne and breathable dust types, such as silica dust, can cause severe health damage, leading to silicosis and lung cancer.

Breathable dust means dust particles that have a size smaller than 5 micrometres.

They can end up in the lungs, where they can cause severe harm. These are the most dangerous particles, and they are also more challenging to separate than larger particles.

Is a good vacuum system good enough?

Handheld grinding, cutting, polishing or demolition tools are the major contributors to dust spread in the worksite. While a source dust extraction system or compatible vacuum should always be used, these extractors cannot always capture all the fine particles; not to mention dust coming from other sources around the area. The best approach is to use vacuum and dust shroud or casing connection to control the dust from its source alongside an industrial air scrubber to create a full clean air filtration system for silica.

Which air cleaner should I use?

The general guideline is to multiply a room’s cubic metres by 10. For example, if you have a room measuring 50 cubic metres, you will need commercial air cleaners with a capacity of 500 cubic metres.

Dustcontrol DC AirCube Options The most dangerous type of construction dust are the particles you can’t see. Highefficiency air cleaners are designed to separate dust and particles smaller than .3 micrometres. Despite their small size, these particles can pose significant health risks when they find their way into the lungs.

Each unit is H Class and fitted with a H13 HEPA filter.

DC AIRCUBE 500 Developed with durability and ease of use in mind, the DC AirCube 500 boasts a radial blower capable of building high pressure across its entire flow range. This innovation translates to the unit generating a large volume of airflow during its entire lifetime.

Using an exhaust hose, this unit can also create negative pressure inside a sealed room. The fan has two speed settings, translating to an economic advantage when running for extended periods. 40

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Safety

40 silica dust in construction sites, can be encountered in the course of routine work.

To protect your team against such particles, you should utilise commercial air purifiers with a HEPA H13 filter, with a higher degree of separation.

DC AIRCUBE 1200 This robust air cleaner is highly efficient in cleaning the air within large rooms. At a rate of 1600 cubic metres of air per hour, the DC AirCube 1200 will be your perfect companion for larger rooms and amounts of dust.

Its variable-speed encapsulated fan is housed in a robust, stainless-steel chassis for maximum durability and efficiency.

Its ergonomic design makes it easy to set up and transport wherever it’s needed. It can also operate even when positioned horizontally.

Its encapsulated fan housing cradles a radial blower-type fan that continuously builds high pressure across the entire flow range. This feature allows the unit to provide adequate air purification for the whole lifetime of the filter.

Largely air cleaners are being used in bathrooms where tiling and tile removal is required along with cabinetry installation, cutting, fitting, sanding or sealing onsite.

In any jobsite application where dust is present Dustcontrol Air Cleaners work in this application to help create a negative air pressure drawing the dust to the floor or to the inlet where the unit is positioned to help ensure workers are not breathing it in.

The DC AirCube 1200 is fitted with both a pre-filter and an H13 HEPA filter for optimal dust control. It also features an integrated light that alerts the user whenever the filters need replacing.

On residential jobsites where people are still living and working or have kids and pets around the health and safety of any project is critical.

DC AIRCUBE 2000 Moving 1800 cubic metres of air per hour, the DC AirCube 2000 will be your most powerful air cleaner. This unit steps up to the task of cleaning dust from the most extensive areas.

The DC AirCube 2000 industrial-strength air purifier is equipped with a pre-filter and an H13 HEPA filter, giving it optimum airborne dust control capacity. It also has an integrated light to indicate when the HEPA filters need replacing.

Why do we need a HEPA H13 filter?

Dangerous airborne particles, including

Flooring August/September 2021

Why construction and flooring projects need air cleaners onsite?

In all construction environments whether your preparing concrete floors, grinding off old glues, paints or epoxy coatings or chipping up tiles, carpet, vinyl or even demolishing concrete for a new concrete slab, dust is present.

Tough Jobs Made Easy All Preparation Equipment has been working with Dustcontrol SE in Sweden, a leading manufacturer of vacuums, air cleaners, dust extraction shrouds and casings for many years by supplying the industry with these machines. As there are no 2 projects the same there are a few things to consider when purchasing a Dustcontrol Air Cleaner.

All Preparation Equipment can help guide you through this with a quick phone call or by reading through the tips and tricks on their website, www.allprep.com.au

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Retailer of the Month

A Name for History Story by Philip Ashley Jacqui Thomson represents the third generation of the Thomsons flooring and furniture dynasty in Northeast Victoria.

Jacqui says, “We care about our customers, meeting them at the supermarket, or at the bakery, gives us plenty of motivation to keep our service spot-on.”

Choices Flooring by Thomsons is located in the historic town of Euroa, half-way between Melbourne and Albury, at the foot of the Strathbogie Ranges. The local National Bank was robbed by Ned Kelly in 1878. Since the Hume Highway bypassed Euroa in 1992 the township of a little over three thousand people has become a lot quieter. Euroa is the only town that has three Victoria Cross recipients to its credit, and there is a memorial to their service in a park near the town centre. Euroa is one of those places where everyone knows everyone else.

In 1959 Cyril and Lena Thomson, Jacqui’s grandparents, established Thomson’s Home Furnishers, also selling electrical goods and floor coverings. Cyril was active in promoting quality floor covering sales and installation and was a founding member of Newfurn. Of their seven children, their six sons worked at the store over the years until in the mid1960’s two of the brothers; Tony and Xavier went out on their own with the floor covering side of the business. They purchased a vacant shop a few doors down the street that today is Choices Flooring by Thomsons Euroa.

the business. Tony had left school at 15, like so many young men did at the time, to work in his parents store. After almost fifty years in the industry, Tony had reached the point where it was clear he needed to call it a day.

He and Christine are now retired; it is said Tony reads the paper a lot, and has an interest in horse racing, something Euroa is wellknown for. He still helps out when needed, though they will often be away for extended periods in their caravan.

Above: Jackie and Frankie

42 Jacqui now owns two Choices flooring stores; the one in Euroa and one in Seymour about a half hour’s drive away. The family had purchased this in the early 1970’s and until only a few years ago, Tony had managed the Seymour shop, and Christine managed Euroa. Carpet Choice buying group was formed in 1993 and in 2011 the group was rebranded to Choices Flooring. All through these changes, the Thomson family have remained loyal to their roots, servicing mostly residential clients with some commercial work in local hospitals and the army base at Puckapunyal.

Jacqui had worked for her mother and father for some years but had not given much thought to taking over the business.

At one time she travelled to Queensland with some friends, had run out of money like so many young people tend to do, and ended up in Port Douglas for a few years, a place she still visits. She returned in 2009 to work in both stores, quickly picking up the knack to help Tony with the measures; cutting of carpet and vinyl; unloading trucks and also helping out with the administration.

Below: (L-R) 2 Jacqui, Frankie, Meg and Klay

In 2001 Xavier eventually sold out to Tony, Jacqui’s father, and he and Christine ran the company until July 2018 when Jacqui bought

Flooring August/September 2021

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Retailer of the Month

43 apprentices and now, most young people are pressured into going to university. She says it’s hard to get good apprentices but plans to do her part by putting on a new apprentice every year. Jacqui said, “Over the last eighteen months we’ve been pretty lucky as a business, but it’s been a little harder this year. Like most other flooring outlets, we haven’t seen a drop in sales, and I don’t expect to see a lull when COVID finally ends. We’re one of the lucky trades.”

Above: Airstep fishing trips

Jacqui left the business in 2015 for 18 months but returned early 2017 with the desire to purchase the stores off her parents. She said, “The 18 months away from the business really made me want it more and made me realise that it’s what I actually wanted to do.

I’d bought a house in Euroa a few years before that and didn’t want to go anywhere else. I wanted to follow on the family tradition and so we started getting things in place, taking over July 2018.” Looking back Jacqui admits it wasn’t easy. She recalls, “I would often start

at four in the morning to get a few hours in before anyone else came in and going home at ten in the evening. I worked a ton of hours!”

Jacqui continues, “The floor covering industry sure is one of a kind with so many variables it’s actually not even funny. I’ve been directly involved in the industry for 12 years and still learn something new every single hour of the working day. It’s actually hard to believe the complexity and issues that come with the industry, but I knew about those well before I took over the business. As a male-dominated industry, Initially the men were unsure of me as their new boss, but that’s all over now and we have a great team that includes two apprentices.”

Jacqui says that the previous generations of floor covering outlets did not put on enough

Above: The three VCs of Euroa “I had such a great opportunity in buying an established business that had been around for over fifty years, but to purchase both stores and continue our family name into the 3rd generation; well, that’s pretty special and not something you see every day. I hope I do the entire Thomson family proud,” she said.

Outside of ‘work’ Jacqui spends time with friends, and because of her new daughter Frankie, works a lot from home, thanks to her willing and professional people. There’s no reason to think that the Thomson name could not go into a fourth generation and beyond.

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www.airstep.com.au 1800 803 545

www.imaginefloors.com.au 1800 803 545

Design & Trends

44

Dulux Colour Forecast 2022 Colours for a new era As we gradually emerge from another difficult year, we find that the world has changed, and our outlook has changed with it. With our future normal still to be decided, the old rules and accepted norms no longer seem to apply. We find ourselves asking the questions: What do we really need to live well and what could we happily live without? In response to this challenge, Dulux Colour Forecast 2022 palettes will reflect our desire to simplify our lives and boost our connection with nature and the people and experiences that matter most.

Dulux conducts year-round research into the latest international andlocal interior trends set to influence Australian design and the wayAustralians live. With international travel off the agenda for now, theDulux Colour Forecast 2022 – led by Dulux Colour and CommunicationManager, Andrea Lucena-Orr, in conjunction with Colour Forecasterand Stylist, Bree Leech – has been informed by virtual seminars suchas Future Laboratory UK and Colour Hive, the Colour MarketingGroup workshops, forecast reports and engagements with local andinternational brands.

“Living through a pandemic has made us feel even more connectedto our homes,” says Andrea Lucena-Orr, Dulux Colour andCommunication Manager. “When it comes to future trends, comfortis key. We want our living spaces to calm and nurture us, so we can process everything we’ve experienced over the last year, and at the same time, help us rediscover our zest for life looking forward.”

After months of restrictions, there’s a desire to be bold, expressive andtry new things.

Flooring August/September 2021

Above: Dulux Colour Forecast 2022 – Restore Palette. Stylist: Bree Leech, Photographer: Lisa Cohen, Colours: Stowe White, New Penny At the same time, the lingering sense of uncertainty around what the future holds makes us seek comfort and security fromour homes. With prolonged days indoors, we have a new appreciation for good design and functionality and look to surround ourselves with things that are not only beautiful but also enhance our wellbeing and improve our quality of life.

“Having spent so much time isolated and on devices, we find ourselvescraving authentic connection. In our homes, we desire textured, natural materials and

finishes that ground us and provide those tactile experiences we’ve been missing.

We are excited to spend time with friends, family and colleagues, and find ourselves viewing the simple and mundane parts of life – things we once took for granted – with a new sense of wonder and excitement,” says Lucena-Orr. The Dulux Colour Forecast 2022 comprises three exciting palettes drawn from the landscape that feature warm tones, sensual, deep decadent hues and joyful, natureinspired pastels.

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Design & Trends Restore The Restore palette consists of gentle, earthy neutrals alongside more rugged, natural tones; buttercream, pumice, airy blue, clay, rich forest green, moss and purple black. These colours speak of restrained minimalism, soothing our senses and providing the soft backdrop needed to adjust to constant changes in our lives. Furniture is chunky and reassuring, with curves that follow the lines of the body, accessorised with simple, handmade décor pieces in interesting and often imperfect shapes. Detailing is kept to a minimum, with the focusfirmly on form and function.

“This palette is inspired by our innate need for authentic connection and experience,” says Lucena-Orr. “Interiors have become our cocoonand a place where we can practice wellness and self-care rituals.We’re choosing less, however, focusing on more quality items that last and provide comfort above all else.”

Flourish With ripe, bolder colours such as petrol blue, desert red and dusty rose alongside

45 pops of vintage gold, the Flourish palette captures our new-found sense of adventure and passion for life. Interiors are layered, expressive and unapologetically individual, with decadent fabrics such as velvet, silk and buttery-soft leather, paired with one-off vintage finds. Furniture with exaggerated curves evokes a ‘70s disco vibe, whilst luxe marble nostalgically adds an unexpected elegance.

“It’s a look for those who want to re-write design rules,” says Lucena-Orr. “As we move towards more freedoms, these colours enrich ourfeelings of empowerment and spark our imagination. With this comes unrestricted expression, inclusivity and a celebration of the diversity in our community.”

Wonder Wonder is a palette of unbridled joy, featuring light pastels and playful, summery hues such as cornflower blue, lilac, lemon, green quartz and rose gold. Together, they evoke a cheerful and optimistic feel with a strikingly clear message: better days lie ahead.

Above: Dulux Colour Forecast 2022 – Wonder Palette, Stylist: Bree Leech, Photographer: Lisa Cohen, Colours: Sandpaper, Vivid White

“These colours set the stage for regeneration and growth, with unexpected tones drawn from the natural world around us,” says Lucena-Orr. “As we add more colour to our interiors, our imaginations are rekindled.”

Surprising combinations highlight the whimsical nature of this look; think quaint florals with eclectic colours and checks paired with sleek, contemporary furniture; needlepoint cushions and fluted glass; or woven rattan furniture set against a wall of candy stripes. Furniture issustainably sourced or made from recycled materials, underpinning the belief that we all share the wonders of our beautiful planet with a hopeful vision.

Above: Dulux Colour Forecast 2022 – Flourish Palette. Stylist: Bree Leech, Photographer: Lisa Cohen, Colours: Basic Coral, White Dune Quarter

Flooring August/September 2021

“Now that we are spending more time in our homes, it’s important that each space feels different – particularly if you are working or studying from home,” says LucenaOrr. “Viewing room by room, consider the appearance you want to achieve as well as ensuring the right mood and ambience is suitable for the function of the space.”

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Overseas News

46

Uzin Sigan 1 dry adhesive on historic floors Fast replacement of floor covering at Neuschwanstein Castle Neuschwanstein is one of the most visited castles and palaces in Europe. Every year around 1.4 million people visit the fairytale castle of King Ludwig II of Bavaria in Schwangau in the Allgäu region. That means the floor covering on the walkways has to withstand a lot of use. The substrate and the adhesive also have to handle extreme loads. The local building authority wanted a quick, safe and clean solution for the current renovation of the worn floor coverings in corridors and on walkways.

After extensive consultation, the decision was made to install flooring with Uzin Sigan 1 dry adhesive on foil backing – on stressrelief matting and stainless steel sheets. This solution provided optimum protection for the historic stone floor and, if necessary, the new coverings can be removed without leaving any residue.

"The substrates in renovation projects are old stone or wood floors", explains Robert Weckerle, Uzin's technical consultant in charge of the project. "If you need to bond a new floor covering without damaging the

existing floor, we recommend installation using our Sigan 1 dry adhesive on patented micro-perforated special backing".

The double-sided high-performance adhesive comes with the advantage that coverings can be installed quickly and dust-free on existing floors. The floors are then immediately ready for foot traffic again. The special adhesive technology also means that the covering can be removed without leaving any residue, even years later. The original floor can then be used again directly or as the substrate for a new floor covering. The ability to remove the covering was specifically requested by the client.

Installing floor coverings with Sigan 1 The smoothed substrate according to DIN 18365 must be firm, flat, permanently dry, free of cracks, clean and free of materials that could impair adhesion. The ready-touse Planus special primer is then applied undiluted, uniformly and thinly with a fine-pored Uzin foam roller. With good ventilation, it needs to dry for approx. two hours. Trial bonding is then recommended.

Above: Neuschwanstein is one of the most visited castles and palaces in Europe. Every year around 1.4 million people visit the fairytale castle of King Ludwig II of Bavaria in Schwangau in the Allgäu region, which is currently undergoing extensive renovation.

Flooring August/September 2021

After rubbing in, you can immediately check whether the Sigan 1 has optimum stability.

For enhanced adhesive strength in the edge zones of the installation surface, the supplied tape needs to be applied first along walls and projections. The Sigan 1 sheets can then be installed abutting in the direction of the floor covering or the overlap of the sheets can be cut back to the joint and the acclimatised floor covering then fitted. Half of the covering is then folded back and the protective paper from the Sigan 1 is pulled off horizontally and straight, all the way up to the folded back floor covering. The floor covering is then pushed flat onto the Sigan 1 foil backing without open time and rolled onto the floor. The process is the same for the second half of the floor covering. The floor covering is ready for foot traffic and can be used immediately after adhesion.

The products from the Sigan range have Emicode EC1 Plus and Blue Angel certification and are LEED-certified, so they are very environmentally friendly and nonhazardous to health.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Overseas News Below: The patented micro-perforated special UZIN Sigan foil backing has adhesive on both side. It is suitable for installing textile and resilient floor coverings that can be removed later without leaving any residue.

47 Below: Neuschwanstein is one of the most visited castles and palaces in Europe. Every year around 1.4 million people visit the fairytale castle of King Ludwig II of Bavaria in Schwangau in the Allgäu region, which is currently undergoing extensive renovation.

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Overseas News

48

DOMOTEX 13th - 16th January 2022 DOMOTEX 2022 opens its doors in Hannover from the 13th to the 16th of January with numerous innovations. Deutsche Messe has used the pandemic timeout to adapt and strategically develop the world's leading trade show for carpets and floor coverings to changing market conditions.

The most important aspect is the 2-worldconcept with the division of the trade show structure into the two labels 'Carpets & Rugs' for carpets and mats (Halls 2-7) and 'Floor & Wall' for floor coverings and wall products for the parquet, carpet and resilient LVT segments (Halls 11-13). In addition, many new formats await exhibitors and visitors alike in the halls.

"There will be lots of new elements to discover at the next DOMOTEX. We have used the last year intensively to develop new participation opportunities for companies and to create a new brand experience for visitors. The exchange with all market participants was and still is extremely valuable for us. Several discussions and roundtable talks with exhibitors, as well as visitors and our media partners have supported and accompanied us in this conceptual phase.

The 'new' DOMOTEX offers everyone involved plenty of scope for experience, orientation, innovation and inspiration, but

Flooring August/September 2021

also, of course, access to new customers, partners and suppliers," explains Sonia Wedell-Castellano, Global Director DOMOTEX, Deutsche Messe AG. New space for inspiration The upcoming DOMOTEX will offer new formats and new places to be in all product areas. These include the new Mood Spaces, six booths designed by interior designers that represent current trends and express the interaction between floors and walls on the one hand and interior design on the other.

The Spaces are a source of inspiration for furniture trade and contractors and, in the spirit of the concept store formats, show which products in combination can form a themed world. The Mood Spaces for the residential sector will be located in Hall 7 and in Hall 13 for the contract sector.

Also new on board are the Material Selections, which provide an overview of the most important application and trend topics for architects, interior designers and contractors, but also for trade and industry partners. The Material Selections for wall and floor coverings offer orientation and inspiration and, thanks to corresponding manufacturer's references, make it easier to find products at DOMOTEX. These material collections are available for the topics of healthy living, recycling, hygiene and health, outdoor, acoustics and colour.

The Retailers' Lounge is the new meeting place in which to enjoy the exchange among experts. It is also a source of inspiration for retail visitors, as the lounge will be directly integrated into the Mood Spaces.

Practical knowledge, new technologies, tools and materials are what counts in the Application and Installation Technology (FloorTec) area. The new Craft Attack Guide provides a well-structured overview of offerings and live demonstrations for the craft industry.

One of the highlights in this part of the show is the Workcamp Parquet - an association of internationally experienced parquet masters who are committed to the topic of promoting young talent. The Workcamp Parquet is dedicated to the reconstruction of old parquet flooring and emphasizes the use of original techniques. During DOMOTEX the international team will be demonstrating this traditional craft in various live demos over the course of three days (from January 13 to 15) in Hall 12.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Overseas News

49 international trends and designs in the product segment of fitted carpets. In addition to and surrounding the CDA other special events will take place such as the CDA Forum or a special event for oversized carpets organized by Iranian designer Lila Valadan.

New Nominees - New Winners For years, the international Carpet Design Awards (CDA) presented by COVER and HALI Magazines, as well as the Parkett Star and Carpet Star presented by SN-Verlag, are part of DOMOTEX. This tradition will continue next year, as designers and manufacturers will be honored with these awards.

For the first time, the CDA will also include carpet designs from non-exhibitors. This gives visitors an even broader overview of

"We are delighted to offer so much inspiration in all areas of DOMOTEX after this long period of abstinence. Even the development of the formats has been hugely enjoyable together with our exhibitors and partners, we can thus offer an eventful and innovative DOMOTEX 2022," explains Wedell-Castellano. "Digitalisation - in the industry and also for us as trade show organisers - enables many new, exciting approaches. But one thing is certain, there is no substitute for face-to-face meetings at a trade show."

DOMOTEX 2022 will take place as a hybrid event in Hannover from the 13th to the 16th of January. The new hybrid concept offers numerous digital services and participation opportunities for exhibitors and visitors, whilst also providing a digital platform for everyone who cannot attend live.

DOMOTEX Worldwide DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR (Shanghai, 25–27 May 2022), the international trade show for carpets and floor coverings in the Asia-Pacific region, will be held in May instead of March due to an overlap with official government dates. The venue will be the NECC exhibition and convention center in Hongqiao, Shanghai. DOMOTEX Turkey (Gaziantep), the leading trade show for carpets and floor coverings in Middle East, is scheduled to take place in spring 2022.

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PRE-PRESS Prominent Digital PRINTED BY Prominent Group Pty Ltd ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD (established 1985) All rights reserved – No part of this publication maybe reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Viewpoints, opinions, claims, etc expressed in articles appearing in this publication are those of the authors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the information supplied or for claims made by companies or their representatives regarding product performance, etc or for any errors, omissions, misplacement, alterations, or any subsequent changes, or for any consequences of reliance on this information or this publication.

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FLOORWORLD WELCOMES

FRANKSTON (VIC) AND COLLIE (WA)

M

att Findlay, the new store owner of Frankston Floorworld in Victoria jumped at the opportunity to open his second store with Floorworld.

Matt has over 20 years experience in the flooring industry and has owned Narre Warren Floorworld since 2018. Matt and his team of 4 full-time staff members and a team of subcontractors supporting the business pride themselves in ensuring the highest level of consistent customer service from Parkdale to Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.

“We were taken up with Floorworld’s impressive business model. The low fee structure with a strong support system in place that can be adapted to suit our local market along with a great network of suppliers, has been a deal-breaker for us.” remarked Matt.

“Floorworld still feels like a small family. I have had a lot of support not only from head office but other store owners. To be able to pick up the phone and chat to some of the directors has been invaluable to me and they genuinely want to see me succeed and are happy to help.” added Matt.

“To be able to operate in and give back to the community through sponsorships is something I’ve always wanted to do. I am excited about growing with the Floorworld brand which has over the years added substantial value to my first store in Narre Warren.” says Matt.

J

ared Spiers and Chris Black, directors of Collie Floorworld already own Bunbury Floorworld in Western Australia.

“We identified an opportunity to grow the Flooroworld brand and service the Collie region as the only flooring retailer in the area.

Once again we selected Floorworld to partner with considering their strong support system, a great network of suppliers and low fee structure that is ideal for businesses like us.” Jared continued.

Jared and Chris along with Simon Bolland (manager) and Lisa Malatesta (sales) at Collie, collectively have over 20 years experience in all aspects of the industry. The reason behind their success and their unique selling proposition has been the product ranges from the Floorworld Group and being the only Floorworld retailer in Western Australia.

“We always advise our customers of the best type of floor coverings for their particular requirements, for residential and commercial applications, and guide them through the installation process for each product.” Chris commented.

“By being the only flooring store in the town, people can rely on us for the right advice and selection for the most suitable products for their needs. We offer exceptional customer service from our experienced sales and installation teams.” Simon at Collie concluded.

Collie Floorworld service a very large area including the south west region of Western Australia.

Floorworld’s philosophy is to improve your business by providing a support mechanism for small business with our proven model of operational success.

Intrigued by the possibility of joining a retail group with tangible benefits then Floorworld may be the perfect solution for you. If you are interested in the Floorworld model please contact Bob Crotty (03) 9761 5235 or info@floorworld.com.au for a confidential discussion.

At Floorworld, we offer more than just flooring.

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Proudly made in Australia and measuring 4m wide, Concourse II offers maximum coverage with fewer joins resulting in a more seamless look on the floor for your next commercial project.

Commercial broadloom patterns can provide a great visual aesthetic, often enlarging spaces. Made from our quality Statron Plus ® solution dyed nylon fibre, Concourse II provides wall-to-wall texture, durability and incredible value. Featuring an ACCS Contract Extra Heavy Duty & Stairs rating and a Level 4 Environmental Certification Scheme (ECS) rating by the Carpet Institute of Australia, this commercial broadloom can withstand the toughest of foot traffic.

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