FFI 121 February 2022 by Media-Pact NV / FFI bvba

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

N° 121 Februar y 2022 - Price: €8 - Published 7 times a year - (Feb, March, May, July, Sept , Nov, Dec) Of fice of deliver y 9099 Ghent X , P911092, BC 31359 - Responsible Publisher: Filip De Ridder

Special: Poland

TRUE WOOD FEEL

Advertorial Auer Metallprofile (D)

Special Outdoor floors : wood versus composite

Special: Lacquer on stain Advertorial Design Parquet (F)

RAW EXPERIENCE, TRUE PROTECTION Bona Traffic HD Raw – Creating ultra matt floors with great durability Bona Traffic HD Raw brings a uniquely true wood experience into the world of

Special How do I mix colours and apply them?

lacquered floors. Offering an ultra matt floor surface with a high level of protection, Bona Traffic HD Raw creates a soft haptic feeling of untreated wood. A pleasure to walk on with high slip safety makes Bona Traffic HD Raw great for homes with both children and pets, as well as commercial floor surfaces. Bona Traffic HD Raw - the raw experience of wood, protected.

bona.com/trafficHDraw

Installs so fast it’s like having an extra pair of hands There’s no faster way to a great finish. i4F droplock technologies are up to 30% faster to install than basic angle/angle systems. They don’t need any inserts or special tools, feature extremely high locking strength and work seamlessly with all materials, in all formats including 4-sided tiles, chevron and diagonal to create any pattern that’s fully water-resistant. Speak to your existing manufacturers, or contact us to find i4F licensees already producing flooring powered by our drop-lock technologies. And get ready to floor your competitors and reap the benefits – fast.

Content

Editorial

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

Special: Poland

TRUE WOOD FEEL

Advertorial Auer Metallprofile (D)

Kirk Roberts is Senior Vice President of Strategic Development with Bona AB and is currently based in Englewood, Colorado (US). He has been working for this family-owned, privately-held company for more than 29 years. Recently, Kirk and his wife lived for 6 years in Malmö, Sweden, the home of Bona’s global headquarters , where Kirk worked on the company’s vision and strategic evolution. In addition to his role at Bona, Kirk is a member of the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) Board of Directors, and is an adjunct faculty in the graduate programs at the University of Denver Daniels College of Business.

Special Outdoor floors : wood versus composite

Special: Lacquer on stain Advertorial Design Parquet (F)

RAW EXPERIENCE, TRUE PROTECTION Bona Traffic HD Raw – Creating ultra matt floors with great durability Bona Traffic HD Raw brings a uniquely true wood experience into the world of

Special How do I mix colours and apply them?

bona.com/trafficHDraw

Floor Forum International n° 121 February 2022 Photo Bona

Kirk Roberts

“Renovating a floor is a lot more sustainable than removing and replacing it” “Bona, which turned 102 years old this last autumn, is a family-owned, sustainably driven company that supplies products for installing, renovating, maintaining and restoring premium floors. Here at Bona, it has always been about the environment and we take that into account with the business model. The first 80 years we mainly targeted the professional wood floor contractor. Later on, we expanded to the private floor owners and commercial projects. Central to all of this is Bona’s belief that a floor can last a long time.” Senior Vice President of Strategic Development at Bona

Inside news

Advertorial Auer Metallprofile (D)

10 Special Outdoor floors : wood versus composite 13 Special Who has walk behind machines for roughening up

old tiles, scraping the screed, and removing old carpet, tiles, adhesive residue, etc? 16 Special Silan adhesives for LVT, PVC and vinyl floors 17 Special New trends in vinyl, laminate, LVT, PVC and

design floors 18 Advertorial Design Parquet (F) 20 Special How do I assess the base and which product

should I use ? 22 Special How do I mix colours and apply them? 25 Special Lacquer on stain 28 Special Versailles panels 30 Advertorial Wintersteiger (A) 31 Industry news 32 Special Poland 34 Product news

“Today, we draw on our expertise in wood floors and apply it to other kinds of flooring. Recently, the company developed a new system for resilient floors, the ‘Bona Resilient Solution’ which is an innovative solution to revive rather than replace resilient flooring surfaces.” “Before I elaborate further on this, I want to emphasize an important milestone in our sustainability journey from over 50 years ago. In 1979, we were the first to introduce waterborne products and later on also were the first to introduce dustfree sanding machines and silane-based adhesives for the professional. These early learnings inspired many of our innovations today and has helped us to encourage floor owners to renovate rather than replace the flooring which we know is a more sustainable process.” Research project by IVL “We know that refinishing and renovating wood and resilient floors contributes to a circular economy and creates added value for our customers. The last five years, there was an enormous expansion of floors made from materials such as PVC. In 2019 Bona took part in a research project, conducted by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. The focus was on the sustainability of renovating wooden and resilient floors compared to replacing the flooring surface. We were glad to see that the conclusion was as we had expected: The study proved a 78 percent carbon footprint reduction when refinishing rather than replacing wood floors and a 92 percent reduction for resilient floors. Additionally, the report found that a minimum of 90 percent savings in resources is realized when refinishing. In short: renovating a floor is a lot more sustainable than removing and replacing it.” Editing & advertisements FFI bvba PO BOX 29 9870 Olsene, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)475/44 20 77 sales@media-pact.com www.floor-forum.com

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

Publisher Filip De Ridder

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

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

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

Production: Lowyck - Oostende

Translation: Michael Robinson www.glossa.be Floor Forum International is a publication of FFi bvba.

The copyright of Floor Forum International and the articles appearing herein are retained by the publisher. By agreeing to publication of an article in this journal, the author assigns to the publisher the irrevocable and exclusive right under Copyright law to collect charges due from third parties for copying said article and to undertake legal or other action for this purpose. Editorial and advertising copy in this issue have been carefully checked and Floor Forum International bvba cannot accept any responsibility for any errors.

∂ Inside news STAUF focuses on sustainability

STAUF has developed three new adhesives which contribute to greater sustainability in construction chemistry. STAUF M2A 910, STAUF SPU 510 and STAUF PUK 410 allow significantly more square meters of parquet to be installed per kilogram of adhesive. In addition, the low-density adhesives are significantly lighter than conventional adhesives. The lower weight saves resources, has a favourable effect on transport costs and emissions, and above all is easy on the craftsman. The higher range of up to 35%, depending on the adhesive, ensures correspondingly lower consumption. The buckets of ProForce adhesives are made from 100% recycled plastic - which is post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. This material is derived from plastic packaging from consumer waste. Because PCR is made entirely from waste, it contributes to a reduction in CO2 emissions, unlike other plastics. Specifically, it saves 36% CO2 per bucket! Since STAUF has also replaced the metal handles with handles made of PCR, the recycled buckets can be easily recycled 100% after use.

Wintersteiger acquires German machine builder HEMA

Ried i.I./Frickenhausen. Wintersteiger AG is taking over the majority of Heermann Maschinenbau GmbH, in Frickenhausen near Stuttgart, Germany, with effect from January 1, 2022. HEMA has around 50 employees and develops, produces, and sells band saws for almost all materials and applications. Their portfolio also

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specializes in solutions for cutting lightweight materials and insulating materials. The products are shipped worldwide from their headquarters in Swabia, with an export ratio of around 90% depending on the particular business year. In 2020, turnover amounted to approximately 8.5 million euros. Like Wintersteiger, HEMA is also a specialist and a technology and quality leader in a niche sector. The technically sophisticated solutions from HEMA enhance the Wintersteiger product portfolio in the Woodtech Division (thin-cutting saw machines, saw blades, mobile and stationary sawmills, automation solutions, and timber repair systems). HEMA will significantly expand the Division in regard to skills and applications – other materials, besides timber, will now come to the fore for Wintersteiger. Lightweight foam, aramid honeycomb, construction and insulating materials, and technical plastics are particularly important in this regard. “With this acquisition, Wintersteiger is pursuing further growth. Firstly, there is opportunity for growth for the HEMA products in markets where Wintersteiger has a mature sales structure – such as geographically in the USA as well as regionally with automation projects. Secondly, Wintersteiger can benefit from HEMA’s sophisticated technology for its own products. Wintersteiger will retain the Frickenhausen site and the strong HEMA brand,” explains Dr. Florestan von Boxberg, CEO of Wintersteiger AG. Markus Bleher and Christoph Heermann, Managing Partners of HEMA, will also remain involved in the 100-year-old company. Christoph Heermann commented on the reason for selling the shares: “Wintersteiger and HEMA have been partners in regard to our saw bands for many years. The time has now come, for us as a family, to drive forward our global expansion more quickly and aggressively. Having Wintersteiger on board puts us in a better position to focus on our specializations and to become part of an existing structure. In addition to the complementary nature of each firm's products, we both share a similar corporate philosophy. Mr. Bleher and I will continue to remain on the Management Board.”

Mannington Introduces TimberPlus™ Hardwood Collection Featuring Välinge Technologies Välinge Innovation is pleased to announce that its long-term licensing partner Mannington is launching a collection of real wood flooring branded TimberPlus™ with Woodura® surface technology and 5G® Dry™ in North America. Mannington, partner and licensee for Välinge’s click flooring technologies since 2010, is launching a collection of hardened wood flooring based on the Woodura and 5G Dry technologies, invented and patented

Just because you can’t see it,

doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Internal Crack Detector No more hidden deficiencies. Scanning up to 300 boards per minute. Accuracy of 98.7%.

www.brookhuis.com

∂ Inside news by Välinge. Mannington is branding this line TimberPlus™ with a tagline telling the performance story: Real. Durable. Waterproof. “Mannington’s new TimberPlus™ hardwood with Woodura and 5G Dry is truly a great addition to our award winning hardwood line. We’re excited to have a real hardwood floor that stands up to the high performance standards from the American flooring customer, with durability, water resistance, and in colors and formats consumers are looking for”, says John Hammel, Sr. Dir. Hardwood & Laminate at Mannington. The Woodura surface technology is based on fusing a thin sheet of wood with a high density core through a powder mix layer, creating a significantly stronger surface and enabling 10 times more flooring to be produced from the same amount of lumber. Consumers can now choose a real wood floor with up to 3 times the impact protection of a traditional hardwood floor, while being much more sustainable. Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

H.B. Fuller Acquires Fourny nv in Belgium New manufacturing capacity to support Construction Adhesives’ growing business in Europe

BASEL, Switzerland - H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE: FUL) announced that it has acquired the Belgium-based company Fourny nv, a well-respected provider of construction adhesives with more than 70 years of experience in technologies focused on commercial roofing, construction, and other private label industrial specialties. Fourny’s position as a leader in the commercial roofing business will accelerate H.B. Fuller’s growth in Europe and allow localization of products imported from the United States. Together, with the recent addition of Apollo in the UK, these acquisitions will strengthen the company’s expertise and deep market knowledge, intimate customer relationships and local manufacturing footprint. By also sharing cultures and business models that are well aligned, these businesses will enable faster technical service and more local customer support in the UK and Europe. “This investment represents a strategic step toward our vision to expand our manufacturing, product range, and talent in Europe, particularly in growing markets, like roofing and building envelope, and increase our supply chain solutions in this region,” says Boz Malik, senior vice president, H.B. Fuller Construction Adhesives. “These levers will better position us to capitalize on access to regional production and development capabilities, while reducing freight costs and service lead-times. We will be able to fully leverage, and complement, our construction technology portfolio much more effectively in this important geography for our company.”

Hardened oak GRYBY GRYBY is a hardened oak floor in the select sorting finished with a grey matt lacquered surface. See the entire collection of colors at www.bjelin.com

Wide planks in

Hardened wood Innovative floors for creative interiors

Floor Forum International 121

∂ Inside news “We are very pleased to join forces with H.B. Fuller and begin a new era for our combined businesses, creating value for our customers and employees. Together, our skills, products and network will enable us to provide more innovative, sustainable, and highly specialized adhesive solutions to the construction industry and be better positioned at anticipating our B2B customers’ future requirements. We are very excited to start this new chapter”, states Jan de Vooght, Co-CEO of Fourny nv. With sales of €8 million and EBITDA of €2.1 million in 2021, Fourny will operate within H.B. Fuller’s existing Construction Adhesives global business unit. The acquisition includes one factory and R&D center based in Willebroek, Antwerp, in Belgium.

Spačva Bjelin's latest product development: Woodura® Hardened wood in herringbone pattern Following market demands and recognized benefits of our Hardened Wood, we expanded our product range with Woodura®technology with herringbone pattern. New classic herringbone patterned oak strips combine two of our unique patented technologies — Woodura® and 5G® Fold Down™ . Comes in 95 x 575 mm format suitable for quick and simple installation while patented Woodura® technology, marketed as hardened wood, guarantees its durability. Like all Bjelin products, the boards are simply clicked together, with the advantage

Filling technology for wooden floorboards

that they can be installed as a floating floor. Herringbone patterned wooden flooring is more durable and moisture resistant than conventional parquet flooring and could therefore be installed in high traffic environments such as kitchens, restaurants and active homes. The flooring is suitable for traditional environments as well as for harmonizing with the current trend of minimalistic and contemporary spaces. Its larger format gives a traditional pattern in a new and modern way.

Custom-made

MACHINED FILLING OF KNOTS IN PARQUET before

after

LOFT PRO

HAUSSMANN PARQUET, Chevron Oak : rustic/campagne Size : 16 x 90 x 500 mm Top layer : 4,5 mm

CSP Engineering bvba Stenehei 30/10 B-2480 Dessel (Belgium)

Tel: +32 14 37 77 52 info@csp-engineering.com www.csp-engineering.com

Brushed, satin varnish Tongue & groove - 4 bevels Engineered Loft Pro oak (Birch plywood base)

www.designparquet.fr Floor Forum International 121

Advertorial

Auer Metallprofile (D)

AUER METALLPROFILE, THE PROFILE MANUFACTURER FROM AUE FROM SAXONY, HAS ALSO EXPANDED ITS RANGE IN 2022

As a novelty, the Auer stainless steel specialists have transferred the successful knob embossing system to a trowel-in stainless steel stair nosing (523) with 2 rows of 5 mm knobs for butting 6 mm or 8 mm coverings. The focus is particularly on the closed stainless steel surface and the associated easy cleaning, as well as the slip resistance of a stainless steel stair nosing. One of the many areas of application for this profile can be seen in disinfection and other chemically problematic areas. For a higher resistance, this profile can also be made of stainless steel V4A. Matching side caps or other heights can be produced on request. With the new ungrooved 30x40 corner profiles, you have many new creative room design options. For profiles made of aluminum, 2 mm, 2.5mm, 3 mm and 5 mm coverings are abutted from two sides, a small decorative edge remains. These profiles are also available as

Floor Forum International 121

a notched version for bending. Radii over 40 cm can be bent on site. AMP pre-bends smaller radii according to a radius specification or template. On request, finely welded corners can also be made. In 2022, Auer's LED area has been upgraded again - an LED lighting strip with 500 LEDs per meter and thus continuous lighting has been added. The previous LED range includes two LED stair nosings and two LED skirting boards 60x15 mm and 100x15 mm, for direct and indirect lighting. In addition to their functional elegance, these impress with their simplicity and their spacious cable duct, which enables accurate, neat installation. The Auer team also offers various accessories, individually as components or, depending on the profile, as a readyto-screw all-round carefree package. These LED profiles can either be equipped with your own 8 mm wide LED lighting strips or with the lighting strips from AMP. In addition to subtle (10 LED/m) and

medium illumination (30 LED/m), the LED portfolio now also includes an LED lighting strip with around 500 LEDs per running meter for very strong, continuous, non-punctiform lighting. depending on customer requirements and lighting requirements.

anodized colors such as black, stainless steel, gold light or powdercoated according to RAL are not a challenge for the Auer team and can be implemented within a short time for any quantity and every aluminum profile at customer's request.

In the case of the 38 mm wide connecting profiles, the color “stainless steel fine honed” has also been added to the standard color range as a current trend color, so that it is available immediately. Other

The current standard range already includes over 6500 profiles for the wall and floor area, such as stair nosings, connecting profiles, skirting boards, system profiles, tile separation and expansion joint profiles, stair rods, as well as insert, special and end profiles made of aluminum, brass, PVC and stainless steel. Everything else is manufactured on customer request: creative - individual - Auer Metallprofile! This shows that the Auer Metallprofile team rightly deserves its reputation as a “problem solver”, because whether it is special length cuts, customer-specific profiles, miter cuts, profile bends or a huge selection of surface treatments, Auer offers a solution for everything. Since spring 2020, this range of services has been expanded to include a fiber laser welding system. As a result, welding products have been optimized in such a way that stronger and at the same time more inconspicuous weld seams with a higher optical quality are produced. This welding process results in an almost unlimited number of creative product ideas. From an ecological point of view, fiber laser welding also offers some advantages, such as less water and electricity consumption, less fine dust and, in some cases, less material due to product simplification. In addition, there is less thermal distortion and therefore less post-processing work. Finely welded skirting board corners made of aluminum and stainless steel, insert profiles with nose and inner stair corners made of stainless steel to match the flooring height, as well as mat frames, but also level compensation corners and double insert profiles are currently manufactured as standard items. In addition, there is a large number of customer-specific profiles according to sketch. You can find all information about new products at www.Auer-Metallprofile.de or on demand, just like the new AMP catalogs 2022. More information on www.Auer-Metallprofile.de

Floor Forum International 121

Special

Outdoor floors

WOOD VERSUS COMPOSITE ALL THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS

Photo – Denderwood

In bygone days, things were simple. If you wanted a garden terrace, you automatically chose wood. Obviously, you chose hardwood because wood which is used outdoors needs to be quite strong. However, the emergence of synthetics has changed everything and nowadays no one bats an eyelid if you say you have a garden terrace in composite. The question is: Which is better, wood or composite?

Drawbacks of wood

WOOD

COMPOSITE

In order to make an assessment, you have to set out the advantages and drawbacks of both terrace furnishings. Indeed, only then can you make a well-informed choice. And so, first of all, we consider what for many people is still the automatic choice, namely wood.

The name composite says a lot. Composite products are used in an endeavour to make the end result resemble real wood as closely as possible. In composite terrace planks you can broadly identify two main sorts, namely solid composite and composite ‘with a hollow interior’. In fact, composite consists of a mixture of wood fibres (or bamboo) and synthetics, where recycled synthetics with wood fibres are most commonly used.

Advantages of wood Wood is by nature a warm material and each plank is unique. The charm lies in the properties of the wood itself, with gnarls, differences in colour, and unevenness, and also a unique ageing process via exposure to the elements. Generally speaking, wood is cheaper than composite. Obviously, with wood you have to draw a distinction between the various sorts on the market. If you want to use wood for a terrace, almost all people will choose exotic hardwood because it simply has much more natural durability. All hardwood sorts differ from each other, and, depending on the durability class, you can assume a lifespan for the hardest sorts of 15 up to even 25 years. With wooden terraces we certainly should point out the existence of an outsider, namely accoya. Accoya is reliable wood, but not in the normal sense. Indeed, it is a fast-growing coniferous tree (pinus radiata) which grows in production forests. This tree is cut after about 30 years and the wood then passes through a modification process as a plank or beam, and that is done by means of acetylation with acetic acid. This process ensures wood which is highly stable in shape and resistant to rotting, so it does eliminate a few of the drawbacks mentioned below.

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The drawbacks of wood are well known. Possibly the main one is that it can rot and it splits or cracks fairly quickly. You also have splinter formation and the material requires regular maintenance. Furthermore, you notice that it gets slippery when it is wet, develops a green scale, has a shorter lifespan if it is in contact with the ground, and can possibly be damaged by insects or vermin.

Benefits of composite There are two major benefits to start with. The use of recycled synthetics means that the plank is obviously less harmful to the environment than wood and the lifespan is also longer. Generally speaking, you can say that composite is more resistant to chlorine and salt water (so it is much better for use around a swimming pool), it requires little maintenance, and it is easy to clean, even with a high-pressure cleaner at a fairly low speed. Other benefits include: it is weather-resistant, has good colour fastness, moves less (i.e. less warping), is anti-slip, does not suffer at the hands of vermin and rots less, has no splinters, and has an ever-improving natural look.

Drawbacks of composite One of the benefits mentioned above can also be a drawback. Not all planks look equally lifelike. Moreover, a hollow plank will break faster than a solid wood plank if something falls on it. The price is usually also somewhat higher (in comparison with hardwood!) and composite may be more difficult to fit in a special shape than hardwood. Another

possible letdown is that dark planks can get very hot when the sun shines brightly. Sources: gadero.nl, woodcomposiet.nl, tebi.nl, homingxl.nl, accoya. com, bouwinfo.be en tuinadvies.be

What’s on the market ? Denderwood A tropical hardwood deck, a warranty for success During recent months, the tropical hardwood sector has been sailing through rough waters. Supply chains under strain, fluctuating prices and diminishing stocks as a consequence. Throughout all this, one constant: demand staid extremely high. But this shouldn’t come as a surprise, thinking about all the benefits an investment in tropical hardwood gives. During the latest months, wood has been in high demand, this

www.progressprofiles.com

caused enormous price surges on the market. We are not surprised by this high demand. During the pandemic, a substantial amount of investments have been made on personal houses, gardens and terraces. But why is a wooden deck so popular? By using natural products, like wood, you can give your home a warm, charming atmosphere. Wood is a timeless product to work with. But there is more, tropical hardwood decks are not just aesthetically pleasing, they have a long longevity, are tremendously versatile and have excellent resistance against weather conditions. Off course the effective lifespan of your deck depends on the specific species of wood. But with a durability class of 1 till 3, you can easily manage 20 years. Think of Padouk, Ipé or bangkirai decking. Furthermore, we put great importance on the conservation and protection of the environment. You can opt for FSC certified wood or composite decking.

Eurotec The Eurotec Stone-System –Multifunctional installation system

The multifunctional installation system Stone System from Eurotec minimizes the effort involved in constructing a patio. With this system, different products from the categories of patio supports, substructures

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

Company certified UNI EN ISO 9001:2015

Floor Forum International 121

Special

Outdoor floors

and fasteners are put together to build the optimal, individual patio. The ability to combine different patio coverings is particularly attractive. The user only needs a load-bearing substrate, the Stone System from Eurotec and the desired patio coverings. The advantages of the Eurotec Stone System are therefore obvious: enormous economic efficiency ensures time-saving and uncomplicated installation. Various combinations of stone slabs with e.g. timber or WPC boards are possible, whereby the long-lasting durability of the patio is basically ensured.

Futura Floors SOLID IS OUR DNA!

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

first according to the place where the decking is going to be installed, rather than according to aesthetical reasons. Therefore, in your decision on which type of deck you prefer, knowing the core differences between timber decking and composite decking, and the various features of both, will be helpful to avoid any problems and to make the right choice among the many different options within each of these categories. That is why we always do an accurate quality selection of materials we supply to our customers and we help them finding the right decking solution according to their needs. Among timber decking La San Marco offers the following woods: Teak, Ipe, Garapa, Iroko, Angelim Amargoso, Cumaru, Thermo Ash. All woods that could easily been installed in almost every places, of course considering all their specific characteristics and properties. Regarding composite decking after several researches we decide to propose to our customers an innovative highly resistant material made up mainly of Rice Husks and therefore 100% recyclable and eco-friendly. Another very important aspect to remember, whatever decking typology you will choose, is that the installation must be left up to experienced professionals (carpenters or parquet fitters). Choosing an inexperienced or unscrupulous decking fitter is a recipe for disaster. Therefore, we believe that the figure of the installer is extremely important for a good job result.

Vetedy

https://futurafloors.com/view-products/outdoor-decking Futura Floors GmbH Pödeldorfer Strasse 146 - 96050 Bamberg - Germany +49 (0) 951 917 888-0

La San Marco Profili At La San Marco Profili, we offer both timber and composite deck. Regardless which material you choose for your decking project, you can count on us to deliver superb quality and workmanship. The important thing to remember is that your deck choice should be done

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Vetedy is a player in the decking market for over 20 years. We have chosen quality and invisible fixation. To honor its commitments, the company selects very carefully the woods it decides to work with and controls the entire production chain. The Softline® system has already proven its performance around the world for over 20 years. For Vetedy, 2022 is synonymous of innovation with its brand new Technideck® product. A fast, intuitive and high-quality decking system on aluminum joists. Thanks to this system, Vetedy is opening up to a wider range of species such as Bamboo, thermo Ash as well as larger planks. Padouk, Ipe, Merbau, Cumaru and Teak in 96 and 100mm wide planks are of course still available and compatible with the new aluminum system.

Special

Who has walk behind machines for roughening up old tiles, scraping the screed, and removing old carpet, tiles, adhesive residue, etc?

CONCRETE GRINDERS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT SIMILAR TO PARQUET SANDERS, YET A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MACHINE In this article we consider how to grind concrete. Basically, you have two sorts of concrete grinding machines, one of which is operated manually, whilst you walk behind the other one. Here we only cover the latter one because it is mainly due to this machine that professional floor fitters stand out from better quality odd job workers.

Up to seven times

Metal with diamond

The job becomes more complex if you want to remove epoxy layers or level a concrete floor. Generally speaking, two grinding sessions will be necessary for both. Repairing a damaged concrete floor is another job all together, but it is basically feasible in two sanding sessions. This involves recasting the damaged section, but, after that, the floor will no longer form one whole (combination of old and new).

If you grind concrete, you should use diamond because that is the ideal material for stripping a floor of elements such as adhesive residue and old coatings and dealing with old marks or scuffed patches. Diamond causes scratches, and that lays a good foundation for the adhesion of a coating or adhesive which is applied later. It’s worth knowing with machines which you have to walk behind that they are usually larger rotary sanders or sanding machines fitted with planetary rotating heads with diamond discs. The diamonds are bound with metal and it is ideal if there is a specially fitted dust suction unit because this job generates lots of dust. A dustless operation might be virtually impossible, but it’s best to keep everything as dust-free as possible.

The machine ‘teeth’ We also need to mention that there are four to six segments under the rotating swivel plate. You can regard these segments as sorts of ‘teeth’ for the machine, where each segment has its own function. We can use a rough comparison to sanding machines which are generally used to sand parquet. The segments are actually comparable to the grain size of sandpaper. The range goes from very rough with a low grain size for the preparation to a very high one for the finish.

We start with the easiest job, namely removing old coatings. One grinding session with a sanding disc with a grain size of 60 can suffice for that purpose. Indeed, one session may be enough because the floor was already smooth prior to the application of the coating which you want to remove.

If you want to polish, you have to realise that this is the most labour-intensive of all operations. Indeed, not only do you have to grind the concrete, but also you then have to polish it and that can take a long time. In this case five sessions are often necessary, but even up to seven is not exceptional. Sources: Various manufacturers, schuurmachineskopen.nl, and profloorcare.nl

What’s on the market ? Bona

If you want to compare the standard parquet sander, the comparison virtually grinds to a halt with the fact that you operate them both manually. With the concrete grinder you only see two wheels which are fitted at the front and help you to move the machine. On the other side there is the rotary sanding disc enclosed in a steel cage. The concrete grinding machine works so effectively because the motor is fitted on top of the grinder so that users can exert plenty of pressure on the concrete. We can also say that it is always possible to add extra weight to increase the grinding pressure. If we consider the concrete grinders which are available on the market, you will notice that there is a considerable range, but also that there are some really giant-size machines which can easily weigh up to 400kg. It’s important to realise that not every concrete floor requires the same grinding and it all depends on the desired result. For instance, not only is there a difference between ‘normal’ concrete and terrazzo and synthetics, but also you also have to consider the end result. Will you be grinding only once or, on the contrary, are you aiming for a perfectly polished concrete floor? You should be aware that in the latter case you might have to grind up to seven times.

Roughening up old tiles, grinding screeds, and removing old carpet and adhesive residue require hard intensive labour. Bona makes a priority of user comfort and has in its range a single-disc machine, the Bona FlexiSand 1.9, which can be fitted with a drive disc specially for such intensive labour, the Bona Concrete Disc. Various types of grinding segments can be attached magnetically to this base drive disc, depending on the required result.

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Special

Who has walk behind machines for roughening up old tiles, scraping the screed, and removing old carpet, tiles, adhesive residue, etc?

They include: PCD Maxi Segments: This removes thick adhesive residue, silane adhesive, carpet foam, Paint, and epoxy. PCD Split Segments: This removes polyurethane, thin adhesive residue, jute, and paint. Diamond Segments: This removes sinter layers and epoxy and grinds concrete surfaces and anhydrite.

Lägler

New topic: Tools in action! ✔ Effortless and efficient renovation - Milling with the HUMMEL ® and the FLIP ® ✔ New installation and renovation - Subfloor treatment with the SINGLE ✔ Application possibilities - Using Lägler ® products correctly and successfully ✔ Technical questions - Lägler ® professionals answer your questions.

+49 (0) 7135 98 90 0 14

info@laegler.com

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Preparing floors for new installation or renovation - no problem with the extensive range of sanding and milling tools that the Lägler company has developed especially for its machines! The following work can thus be carried out efficiently and in a time-saving manner: RENOVATION OF OLD WOODEN FLOORS with the IGEL milling drum (for HUMMEL and ELF surface sanding machines) and the milling attachment for the edge sander FLIP: Remove: - Paint and carpet adhesive residues - Leveling compound - Carpet and cork back residues - Multiple layers of old varnish - Lubricating parquet varnishes Preprocessing: - Heavily cupped floorboards SUBFLOOR PREPARATION with the tools for the SINGLE single-disc sanding machine: Sanding and leveling: - Screeds - Sintered layers Residue removal: - Felt back - Plaster - Parquet and tile adhesive - Filling compounds - Paints - Thin bitumen layers

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

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

Professional Flooring Technology

t classes! Floor Scrapers in suitable weigh German Quality

Power-Stripper 14 kg

Ride-on ADB HS 1180 kg

COSMO IV 39 kg

MASTER MOBIL III 105 kg

Ride-on Electro 565 kg

Ride-on ADB 950 kg

JUNIOR Ride-on 420 kg

STRATO MOBIL IV 190 kg

Your projects - our equipment - your success!

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

Tel.:

+49 (0) 7034/127163

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Special

Silan adhesives for LVT, PVC and vinyl floors

THEY GO MARCHING ON MANY MORE ASSETS THAN JUST ELASTICITY AND GREAT STRENGTH People sometimes refer to silane adhesives as hybrid polymers and we’ve covered them in the past in relation to glueing wooden floors. However, they can cope with more than just wood and in various cases are also suitable for PVC, LVT, and vinyl floors.

acting as an alternative to classic water-based acrylic adhesives. The reason for that is that producers are finding more and more solutions for improving adhesion on ‘difficult’ floors such as PVC or vinyl thanks to polymerisation, which does guarantee good adhesion.

We’ve outlined the benefits of silane adhesives (MS polymer adhesives or MSP polymer adhesives) on several occasions. The main ones are flexibility, elasticity, and strength (resistance to cracks). We note that these adhesives continue to prosper on the market, but we consider mainly how they are used with PVC, LVT, and vinyl.

The price argument is now less significant

Not just for wood Perhaps the biggest asset of these items is that they offer plenty of elasticity plus great strength. They follow the dimensional movements of a floor perfectly, so they are ideal for wooden floors. Actually, such elasticity isn’t the main argument for the floors which we have in mind here, but nevertheless they have features which make them an ideal choice. For instance, they are universal, so you hardly ever need a primer, and they make it possible to glue several materials. Think here, for instance, of floors with floor heating or floors on an anhydrite screed. In additions, parquet floor fitters will certainly appreciate the cleanliness of application.

The only problem with this development is still the price. It is still rather expensive to develop polymer adhesives, certainly when we’re talking about products of high quality. However, due to a constant tinkering with the cost price of the developed polymers in combination with ongoing high quality, you can expect them to continue to gain in their market share. Moreover, that will be a market which is increasingly realising that considerably less adhesive consumption, excellent bonding power, and much faster cleaning also help to ‘save’ on costs. Moreover, producers have made a serious effort to eliminate as far as possible any harmful components so that we certainly haven’t yet heard the last word in the world of PVC, LVT, and vinyl floors.

Bona

Another nice bonus is that they are ecological adhesives (to meet the increasingly strict legislation on volatile organic compounds), which also make it possible to start using a room quickly. In this connection it’s worth pointing out that one of the major developments in recent years was that makers have been striving more and more for a total ban on the use of softeners during production. You have to regard softeners as oily fluids which are added to synthetics and adhesives to make them more flexible. Softeners have been used mainly due to their lower price, but they do have ecological and qualitative questions marks against them.

How does it work? In order to explain silane adhesives, you have to consider exactly what they are. To sum it up simply, you use these products to create an adhesive bonding by getting water to react to silane compounds (the so called polymerisation). There is a choice of mono or dual-component adhesives. They create strong and durable adhesions through their modus operandi, but they retain their elasticity. Moreover, they do so in combination with rapid setting. Obviously, the key question is why you should use them with floor coverings such as PVC, LVT, or vinyl. The reason is that their scope is widening all the time. If you consider a floor covering like LVT, then you notice that they are even making their mark there and

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In 2018, for the first time, Bona extended its range to include solutions for floor surfaces other than wood, including via the Bona Resilient Floor Programme (elastic floors). This range provides treatments for renovating elastic floors. Bona’s current range includes the fibre-reinforced 1-component dispersion adhesive Bona D750 for glueing PVC design floors in tiles or planks onto absorbent subfloors. Thanks to the great shearing stress resistance, D750 ensures that the emergence of seams is kept to a minimum. As a further extension, Bona is also going to develop an adapted silane adhesive within the range for elastic floors. Obviously, that silane adhesive will fit in perfectly with Bona’s existing range of high-quality and durable adhesives.

Special

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

SPECIAL DESIGNS ARE STILL PROVING A HIT ABOUT DURABILITY, COLOUR CONTRASTS, SKIRTING BOARDS, AND MUCH MORE It’s not so easy to write about trends now that it’s been two years since the last major flooring shows. However, extensive enquiries amongst various manufacturers have revealed that there are some clear trends for 2022. Apart from (we almost wrote ‘obviously’) fixed values such as easy fitting, the increasingly easy maintenance, and the authenticity/natural look of the decors, we do notice some main strands.

This is mainly about creating contrasts. For instance, designers often choose a play on light colours in the interior and black on the floor or the exact opposite. A dark PVC herringbone, for instance, can provide a statement from the occupant, whereby the rest of the interior consists more of tranquil and neutral colours, with walls in a light and mild shade. However, there’s more than just black. We see light beige emerge remarkably often, certainly on walls. We notice this in combination with light floors, which, in the case of wood, are untreated.

Durability

Moreover, to return to something above, anything is possible in terms of designs!

The first clear trend is one which we’ve seen before, but it is continuing. With all floors, you see how manufacturers are fully committed to durability. What stands out is how much attention they pay to the materials used to make a floor, the manufacturing process, a long lifespan, and maintenance which is both easy and, especially, ecological. If we consider the manufacturing process of PVC, a floor which did particularly well last year, we notice that there’s been an unmistakable advance by EVC, a ‘little sister’ which is characterised by exceptional durability. The special feature of EVC floors is that they can be completely dismantled and fully recycled, whilst at the same time they meet the same requirements as PVC. Indeed, EVC is made partially from re-used materials (granules, with 60% rock powder and 40% polypropylene).

Special designs are still in We see another striking trend in the form of design floors, which are still popular. For anyone who might still have doubts, all indications suggest that herringbone and Hungarian point will continue to do very well in 2022, including in all finishes which you can suggest yourself. However, there’s more than just those two designs. On several occasions, we’ve seen the approval of special fitting patterns like hexagons or tiles. Then, we could also note that (extra) wide planks continue to appeal to the market. You find these wide and very wide planks in all sorts of designs, including herringbone and Hungarian point. It doesn’t really relate to special designs, but we must also refer to the revival of the skirting board. The skirting board is completely back and fitting it has never been so easy. From flat adhesive skirting boards to high skirting boards against the wall, everything is available and in diverse materials.

Dark colours The next trend which we also think will continue in 2022 is that of diverse shades of black. We see black in all possible variants, from pitch black to matt. Actually, the fact that black is doing well shouldn’t surprise anyone when you see how this shade has done well in the interior in recent years, including in the kitchen.

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Main sources: various producers and laminaatenparket.nl, Karwei.nl, Floer.nl, and woonleven.com.

Two specialists Egger The EGGER Design Green Tec floor – sturdy, waterproof, and sustainably produced The sturdy, waterproof, and stain-proof surface withstands daily use, whilst the integrated cork bottom layer absorbs impact noise. And so, there’s no need for an extra subfloor to provide sound insulation. The innovative covering layer makes the floor durable, resistant to tiny scratches and stains, and easy to clean. Unlike vinyl floors, the EGGER Design Green Tec floor has no PVC whatsoever. The floor is waterproof for up to 72 hours, so it is suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, and such like. Moreover, the surface is anti-slip and meets the conditions for use class 33 (commercial use). You can get that little bit extra in a room by choosing the right plank size, and there are two options. Big rooms come more into their own with broad and long planks like the Large size, whilst smaller rooms will look bigger with narrower planks in the Classic size.

Meister Design flooring MeisterDesign. rigid: 25 new decors The waterproof rigid core flooring range from MEISTER will be launched on 1st April 2022 with a fully revised selection of decors. Instead of 20 products in the three collections MeisterDesign. rigid RD 300 S, RL 400 S and RB 400 S, MEISTER customers will be able to choose from 36 variants, including 25 new designs. The rigid core floors are characterised by high stability and brilliant decors, and – like all other MEISTER floors – are made in Germany. MEISTERWERKE will also offer a new return and recycling programme in conjunction with this floor type. It will allow customers to return any leftover planks and dismantled MeisterDesign. rigid flooring at the end of the product life cycle, and guarantees that products are recycled as part of a complete material cycle.

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Advertorial

Design Parquet (F)

YOUR WISHES ARE THE STARTING POINT IN DESIGNING YOUR FLOOR

Opéra

Do you want a parquet floor to suit you perfectly? Design Parquet, a French manufacturer of standard or customized solid and engineered parquet floors, decking, and accessories (skirting boards thresholds, stair nosing, etc.), offers a wide choice of ranges, aspects, finishes, and types of fitting to meet everyone’s wishes. This gives architects and interior designers a free hand to be creative!

An almost infinite pallet of solutions To meet all the comfort requirements in homes and public buildings (durability, fitting on floor heating/cooling), hard floors from Design Parquet are produced mainly from oak (but also acacia, ash, walnut, maple, etc.) and exotic wood sorts (wenge, iroko, etc.). Floors from Design Parquet are available in:

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Village

- a solid base and in durable authentic material which can be sanded to restore its gloss; - Loft Pro, a multilayer birch multiplex base which combines the durability of solid wood with the great stability of engineered parquet. Since the aesthetic look determines the character of a room, the parquet floors from this manufacturer are on offer in several aspects: distressed, structured, unfinished, brushed, band saw marks, with or without a bevelled edge, and in over 50 natural wood sorts. Parquet floors from Design Parquet form the central point of an interior and reflect its personality. They are available in the finishes blank lacquer, oiled, and Roc lacquered, or in decorative design colours

(white, grey, and brown). The exclusive Roc Varnish, the showcase of the company, is designed to withstand intensive use in restaurants, hotels, and shopping centres. Via its unique collection for the bathroom and especially its Navylam + range, Design Parquet is a reference in the sector.

Unique perspectives Whether you are looking for authenticity or modernity, Design Parquet parquet floors, which are fitted in the English or French manner, in the shape of Chevron, in herringbone, or in ship deck, offer new perspectives. They make the room look bigger, provide structure, and create unique surrounds.

Design Parquet – excellent customised work

Fontenay-le-Comte theatre, the Mucem in Marseille, the Beau Rivage Hotel in Lausanne, and the Salmiya Theater in Kuwait. In 25 years, the company has become a major player on the French market through its innovative profile and has grown internationally. In terms of competition, DESIGN PARQUET preserves its image as a small enterprise thanks to a unique know-how of customised work, a rapid reaction time, and a huge adaptability capacity to take on all the specific challenges which professionals face. To guarantee consumers parquet which comes from sustainably managed forests, Design Parquet, which is based in Torcé (Ille-et-Vilaine) in France, has obtained FSC ® and PEFC TM certificates. You will find more information on www.designparquet.com

Design Parquet’s ultra-modern production equipment guarantees a specificity which is almost unique on the market, with the option of offering customised panels (Versailles oak, Chantilly, Wagram, Chambord, Aremberg, etc.) and personalising them with over one million combinations. An example of this is the production of a solid oak parquet in line with specifications prescribed by the architect, where all strips have been numbered, marked on the assembly plan, and supplied pre-assembled to make the fitting easier. This particularity by means of which it stands out attracts scores of professionals from the sector and highlights it. This is evident from the many prestigious references in France and abroad:

Dolomites

Grange

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Special

How do I assess the base and which product should I use ?

HASTE MAKES WASTE SOME RULES OF THUMB FOR A PERFECT END RESULT

Photo – Thomsit

All substrates are different. It’s sounds like breaking down a door which is wide open. How do you assess the various substrates and what can you use to repair them? We explain various steps to help you achieve a perfect floor.

go beneath the surface, you know that the substrate is probably fine. Furthermore, you should check the thickness and cohesion of the existing substrate.

Flatness and angle

Some things are absolutely essential. For example, first of all, you must make sure that the substrate is hard, stable, and strong enough. Moreover, amongst other things, you need to check the flatness and angle and adhesion of the existing floor. You also test the stability and cleanliness of the substrate and, for cement-bound screeds, the porosity. Obviously, the substrate has to be sufficiently dry and (rising) damp must be avoided (we’ve covered dryness and damp at length in the past, so we won’t do so again here). To give just a few examples, an old tile floor may show rising damp, an old parquet or wooden floor may start to sag, or a glued covering floor or old floor coating no longer adheres very well. An epoxy or PU cast floor may be incompatible with new products to be used.

Further to what is mentioned above, you should also make sure that both the flatness and the angle of the substrate do not deviate too much. If there are any splits, cracks, or uneven patches, the substrate can get distorted in the finish. Therefore, always remember to repair any unevenness in a substrate before you apply a levelling agent.

Hardness, stability, and bearing strength

Adhesion and stability

It’s important to check for hardness, stability, and bearing strength in order to prevent possible crack formation or loosening of the end finish when the job is done. You can easily check the hardness by making scratches in several places with a hard object. If the scratches do not

You also have to check the adhesion and that means looking at floors which are glued or fitted using mortar. For instance, if you tap on tiles with a hammer, you will need to remove all hollow-sounding and loose sections. If the surface is painted, it’s best to do a scratch test. You

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If there are any static micro-cracks of less than 1mm, the application of a suitable primer will suffice. If the cracks are bigger, you should fill them with resin developed specifically for that purpose. Cracks are poured over with an epoxy resin or silicate resin with two components. What you must avoid at all costs is filling cracks with a fast-drying repair mortar.

scratch small sections away with a Stanley Knife and the paint is only considered to be adhesive if four fifths of the squares remain in place. If that is not the case, the only solution is to remove the paint. Before you apply a floor mortar, you need to check whether or not the substrate is stable enough since you don’t want any cracks. This step is particularly important for plank floors and wooden panels on floor beams. If they sag when you walk on them, you need to reinforce the substrate. To do that you apply several screws, if necessary in combination with fitted waterproof wooden panels.

Cleaning and preparation Obviously, you need to clean and prepare the substrate. Indeed, floor mortar won’t adhere properly unless the substrate is clean. During this step, you remove all gypsum, adhesive, and mortar residue. After that, you remove or clean thoroughly any paint residue to leave a greasefree substrate. Once you’ve done all this, the sanding starts and you pay the necessary attention to the vacuum cleaning.

using silane Bona adhesives such as Bona Quantum and Bona Titan. Solventless - Permeable – Dust-binding. Bona D510 (for use before levelling) – A dispersion primer for the Bona levelling agents. Universal – Good adhesion on several substrates. Bona D520 (for use before levelling) – Based on an acrylate dispersion. Specially developed for use on substrates such as ceramic tiles before a levelling agent is applied. It yields very strong adhesion. Bona R590 – silane damp screen – for priming and/or blocking residual damp in cement and concrete covering floors. It blocks damp up to and including 5 CM% or 90% relative damp. Levelling agents (all suitable for floor heating) Bona H600 – cement-bound, acrylic polymer reinforced levelling agent. Self-levelling. Bona H605 calcium sulphate levelling agent – yields flat and absorbent substrates – Self-levelling.

Chimiver PRYMER SF 1105 is a two-component water-based epoxy primer developed for dusty subfloor, with a multi-layer application, it works as a moisture barrier. It is resistant to the inverse hydrostatic pressure according to the law UNI 8298 part 8. PRYMER SF 1105 is suitable for consolidation of subfloors on radiant heating. It is also recommend as a promoter of adhesion for anhydrite subfloors.

Don’t forget that a subfloor with ceramic tiles has to be cleaned thoroughly and that the difference in height between the tiles and the joints needs to be eliminated using a special filler primer. If you are going to fit parquet, LVT, or a thin tile floor, it will be necessary to degrease, remove polish, and remove adhesive residue.

Check the porosity If the subfloor is a cement-bound subfloor, you mustn’t forget to check its porosity. This prevents air bubble formation later and excessive drying in the floor mortar. You can deploy a drip test, whereby you allow a drop of water to drip onto the substrate. If the drop disappears in under 5 seconds, the floor is highly absorbent. If it takes between 5 and 30 seconds, the floor has normal absorption. If it takes longer than 30 seconds, the floor has poor to non-existent absorption. You treat it with the correct hardening primer applied once or several times, depending on the absorption. Sources: Bona, Stauf, ceramico.be, Floor Tech, and weber.nl

What’s on the market ? Bona

Regardless of the subfloor, the damp, or the unevenness, Bona has the products which you need, from primers and levelling agents to high-quality adhesives. Primers (all suitable for floor heating): Bona D500 – A dispersion primer for Parquet Glue Bona D720. Solventless - Permeable – Easy to use – Universal. Bona D501 - A 1-component primer for preparing substrates prior to

Thomsit Thomsit has solutions for various problems like damp, frailty, cracks and splits, dirt, oil, or old glue residue. These products are usually compatible to those of other brands, yet Thomsit prefers works from a one-brand system. According to Thomsit, there are certainly universal primers to solve many of the aforementioned problems, but none to cover all problems in one product. The Thomsit best-sellers are Thomsit R 729 Silicate Cast Resin for filling cracks, Thomsit R 766 Multiprimer for priming, Thomsit R 755 Damp Screen for keeping out damp, Thomsit R 790 Filler and Primer for filling joints and priming in one operation, TF 201 Thomsit Floor membrane for covering a bad floor without dismantling it, and Thomsit RS Fix for removing unevenness and differences in height.

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Special

How do I mix colours and apply them?

THERE’S NO NEED TO BE WARY MAKERS HAVE BEEN REFINING THE APPLICATION FOR MANY YEARS

Photo – Plastor

There are very few aspects of the parquet floor fitting profession which require more expertise than mixing and applying colours. After all, this is a work of precision where professionals have to take exceptional care. However, contrary to what many people think, it’s not really necessary to be wary of mixing and applying colours. We called upon Blanchon, which is a specialist in this field and, amongst other things, covers this part of the trade amply during their Technical Days. They reassured us even before we could finish our first question: ‘No, there’s no need for parquet floor fitters to be wary of applying colours.’ They told us: ‘First and foremost, that’s because the various makers, ourselves included, have worked hard for many years to make the job easier and improve results. Nowadays, professionals generally agree that it’s a lot easier and safer to apply a water-based stain (which mainly contains lightfast pigments and not the sometimes unstable colouring agents) than it was 20 years ago. Two decades ago, you had a stain based on alcohol or ‘petrol’ (in reality petroleum solvents)

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which dried almost at once. That made it extremely difficult to apply these products in rooms bigger than 15m²!’ ‘Moreover, a finish which is designed to give a parquet floor a new look and/or feel for the benefit of both potential clients and financial gain is not considered to be on the same level as a ‘classic’ colourless glaze. And so, it provides added value in every respect for specialist parquet floor fitters to present a range of shades.’

The preparation of the wood We’ll start at the beginning: What about the preparation of the wood before you colour it? ‘There are various technical options for colouring a floor. You can use a stain, a colour, a distressing agent (sometimes called a staining agent or positive stain), or a colour oil. The use of the latter is very popular because this gives the floor both colour and a finish in one operation.’ ‘In fact, the deployed procedure is exactly the same with new or old parquet. There are no special requirements, except obviously that the wood has to be prepared in line with professional standards and that the standard safeguards should be applied as regards moisture

content, temperature, and any ventilation; with the latter, you have to be particularly wary of excessively powerful air conditioning systems which could involuntarily speed up the drying process.’

Quality of the preparation Our interviewee points out that it is absolutely essential never to lose sight of the quality of the preparation. Those with a good knowledge of the work realise immediately that sandpapering is necessary. He says: ‘For a stain, a colour, or a distressing agent you have to use a fine finish (120 grain). If there are still some sanding marks, the added extra colour will cause streaks to spoil the end result. For a colour oil it is essential that the pores of the wood are sufficiently open for maximum impregnation to saturate the fibres and maximise the shade. A finish with 100 grain (sometimes 80 grain) is then recommended. In particular, don’t forget that it will be necessary to remove all dust carefully before you apply the colouring agent.’

resistance to UV. In addition, they also sell a range of distressing agents on the market. With these distressing agents we must note that they are reactive stains with a positive effect. These three series have no more than a decorative purpose. After the finish (obviously, we mean the decoration), they have to be covered with a glazer. That glazer will usually be ultra matt or invisible. What is also possible is the use of an oil, which may or may not have a shade of colour and which, in turn, can contribute to the required end finish.

Bona

Offering the classics What we also want to know is how a specialist like Blanchon decides which colours to include in its range. How do they justify that with respect to floor fitters? ‘In terms of wood shades professionals should always assume that they have to offer “the major classics”. In that regard you should refer to tradition. To be specific, we’re talking here about various shades of oak, the light orange of cherry wood, the dark orange of jatoba, and various popular shades for exotic wood sorts, such as merbau, ipe, or padauk, and also the very dark shades of ebony or wenge.’ ‘In turn, grey shades are designed more to refer to elements such as “driftwood”. They are applied either directly or by print. Then, for instance, it’s about the use of a dark or medium-grey distressing agent, followed by an oil in a light shade of grey. The diverse shades of white are always in demand, especially if the floor can be brushed before the application. Bright colours, which had disappeared completely from the range, are now back in small details, whereby they make the showrooms more vivid. Should you expect extra sales from those bright colours? No, sadly, hardly at all, but they do make it more likely that people will visit your showroom. That’s a nice bonus for professionals who want to show which systems they can apply.’

An overview Blanchon Blanchon has two ranges of wood stains which are the most important products in the assortment. They offer them for use and application on site by floor fitters in two forms. One range is mono-component and based on a colouring agent, whilst the other one is dual-component and based on a pigment. With the latter, both users and end clients will notice the excellent colour depth and remarkable

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Bona oils can be combined using a clear and simple process and adapted as required to create an infinite number of colours and effects which blend seamlessly in any setting. This gives flexibility to highlight the natural character of the wood and create simply fantastic new looks. The parquet oil Bona Craft Oil 2K comes in 19 standard colours which can easily be mixed with each other. By moistening the surface lightly (‘water-popping’), you get another shade of colour. By using 2 Bona Tones, Bona Nordic Tone, and Bona Rich Tone, you can extend the range of colours even more. These Tones should be finished with Bona Craft Oil. If you want to intensify the colours, you have the option of adding Bona Mix Colour (a concentrated pigment paste) to Bona Nordic Tone or Bona Rich Tone. Bona Mix Colour reinforces or modifies the colour of these Tones to create special effects. The surface should always be finished afterwards with Bona Craft Oil. If you want to give the oiled floor some extra protection, you can apply some lacquer to Bona Craft Oil 2K using the parquet lacquer Bona Traffic HD. This is definitely beneficial for high-traffic surfaces such as those in commercial zones.

Chimiver

LIOS BIOIL Colorato is a colored natural oil treatment for wooden floors with easy application, very durable and soft effect on the surface. LIOS BIOIL Colorato is available in 20 different colors, miscible together to make a wide range of new colors.

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Special

How do I mix colours and apply them?

Pallmann

to apply a water-based white (or very light) shade directly. Tannic acid cannot be mixed with water and will cause the colour to turn yellow as it dries. If you do opt for a white shade for these specific sorts, it is advisable to apply a solvent finish product instead (such as DECOPROTECT white hard wax oil). PLASTOR certainly also offers shaded finishes with its DECOPROTECT hard wax oil (nine colours). For COLOUR FLOORS TINT it is necessary to consider various factors, such as the application at a maximum temperature of 12 to 25°C with no breeze. It is also advisable to work in areas of 2/3m² and to apply the colour with a spatula along the skirting boards and then with a lacquer roller. Wipe the shade with a cloth soon after the application. A shade only gives the wood colour, so it is necessary to protect it (primer + varnish or oil). If the water-based finish product is like the colour and you don’t apply a universal solvent primer (PRIM'SO), you will have to wait 24 hours until the colour is dry in order to obtain a good result.

RIGO Verffabriek ROYL-OIL/SKYLT Undercoat Oil 2K With the PALLMANN COLOR COLLECTION PALLMANN provides a range of 24 coloured oil primers. Each color consists of 3 components: The 2K oil primer PALL-X 333 A / B is given a color C concentrate as a third and final component: This combination is suitable for the priming and simultaneous colouring of many commercial wood types, especially oak, ash, pine on site. The surface can then be protected with the 2 component water-based wood floor coatings PALL-X 98, PALL-X ZERO 2K, PALL-X PURE as well as with the 2-component wood floor oil MAGIC OIL 2K ORIGINAL. We provide special trainings for the individualisation and for the coloring of wood floors for our customers as well as a huge package of marketing and sales support e.g. color tester to see the color result on the wood chosen by the end customer.

Plastor

The colours in COLOUR FLOORS TINT PLASTOR can only be applied to untreated wood for maximum penetration into the wood. If the wood is extremely slippery and the pores aren’t open, it’s advisable to sandpaper with grain 120 before applying a colour. You can then choose your colour in accordance with the desired look. Take care! Some wood sorts have their limits: Wood sorts which contain a lot of tannic acid (oak, chestnut, exotic wood, cherry wood, etc.) do not allow you

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

Special

Lacquer on stain

PREPARATION IS HALF THE JOB APPLYING LACQUER TO A STAIN IS PERFECTLY POSSIBLE IF YOU KNOW THE FEATURES OF BOTH PRODUCTS Joeri Vervoort (Devomat Industries NV – B) ‘You have to find a happy medium between convenience and adhesion.’ During their training, professionals in our sector learn that lacquer and oil are two different substances which are difficult to reconcile. Oil impregnates, whilst lacquer creates a seal. Both products are so different by nature that they would make an unlikely combination. However, in recent years, we have seen a market trend where lacquer is increasingly being applied to oil (and therefore also to stain). How on earth is it possible to ‘reconcile’ those two substances? And how have professionals responded to this trend? We asked the advice of Joeri Vervoort, managing director of Devomat Industries NV, which, amongst other things, has launched the product Devo Easy Colour. Easy Colour is a vegetable colour stain for parquet and wooden floors. ‘Yes, but …’ Joeri Vervoort hesitated for a while before agreeing to this interview. After all, this is a particularly subtle subject where you need a good grasp of various parameters. The general tone of his reaction was: ‘Yes, it’s possible, but it’s not always feasible or even advisable. No, certainly not according to Devomat’. He begins: ‘There’s rather a lot of juggling with the philosophy of oil which can be lacquered over. In all this, I have to stress that we at Devomat adopt a cautious approach when advising clients. Firstly, you have to make it clear that it isn’t possible by nature to apply lacquer over an oil and that you could get serious adhesion problems. However, I’m not claiming in any way that it’s impossible!’ It’s not a black and white issue ‘The key issue to consider is the adhesion. There’s a misunderstanding here that this issue between oil and lacquer is black and white, but that’s not right. Otherwise, we couldn’t launch any products of our own. What you do always have to keep in mind is that there’s an adhesion test to check adhesion between the coats, and in our product development that’s something which we’re very strict about. Before you launch something on the market, you just have to be sure that it’s better than just good. Under no circumstances do we want to find ourselves in that grey area where adhesion is doubtful, but we still launch a product just because everyone else is doing it. Don’t misunderstand me: I’m not passing judgement on whether or not something should be allowed, but I’m reasoning purely on the basis of our own company’s point of view!’ ‘The dilemma which lots of producers and parquet companies face is finding a happy medium between easy application and good-quality adhesion. Take our own stain Easy Colour as an example. This product is applied by machine, but it still isn’t as easy to apply as an oil. It’s simply a fact that whenever you deviate from a pure oil base, for instance by emulsifying an acrylate binding agent in the oil to improve the adhesion between the coats, the application becomes more difficult. By contrast, you’re offering a product which aims to find the ideal mix between that same easy application and the adhesion and that’s something which all producers deal with in their own way.’

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Lacquer on stain

pores of the wood which are elevated during the staining are not ‘cut off’. It’s best to do the sandpapering before the final finish is completed. And so, this means that you sandpaper between the first and second coat if a hard primer is applied to the stain or between the second and third coat. If we’re talking about a traditional oil finish, the polishing with oil replaces the sandpapering because the polishing covers the wood fibres in any case. If you use a water-based oil which doesn’t have to be polished, the procedure is the same as for a finish with three coats i.e. you sandpaper between the second and third coat. Just as with any seal with no prior colouring, you must be sure to apply the coats quickly and this must never be interrupted in the middle of the room.

Reasons Photo – Devomat

We have covered the use of lacquers and stains in previous editions on several occasions. Our specific subject this time is how you go about applying lacquer to a stain. We’ve already explained the difference between lacquer and a stain in previous editions, but as a formality we’ll summarise it briefly once again. Lacquers and stains behave completely differently, and you need to remember that a stain adheres to the wood and that a lacquer actually seals off the wood. A stain works by impregnation and therefore tends to regulate the damp in the wood, whilst a lacquer ‘seals’ it. People choose lacquer not only for aesthetic reasons, but also and especially for the impact strength which it creates. However, you do also have to consider another property of lacquer; it doesn’t always move easily with the wood, something which a stain does much better.

Creating ideal circumstances As is often the case, the preparation is vitally important for a perfect end result. And so, first of all, we outline the ideal circumstances for staining wood. This means that first and foremost you consider the temperature and the moisture content and follow the maker’s instructions. Once again, it’s important to sandpaper the wood in line with professional standards. And so, generally speaking, it is advisable to sandpaper with a 120 grain before applying a stain because a stain will merely intensify any scratches. What you really mustn’t forget is that a stained floor is highly fragile, meaning that it is susceptible to elements such as stains, dust, or footprints. And so, as a professional you must ensure that the planned finish, which usually consists of a seal (although oil is also possible), is applied within the recommended deadline. The good news when applying a lacquer to a stain is that basically there’s no preparation required, at least not if the conditions outlined above have been met. At all events, don’t forget that it is a good idea to vacuum clean and that you do so cautiously so as not to leave any marks on the stained floor. This means amongst other things that you take extra care if your machine has wheels, since such marks cannot be removed once a seal is applied. You also need to make sure that the

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The main question which we ask is why should we apply a lacquer over a stain. The answer is mainly a question of decoration. Stains only have a decorative purpose since they aim to change the shade of a wood sort, harmonise two adjoining floors, provide a special look, etcetera. A stain has to be protected by a finish which provides appropriate resistance suitable for the place and the use.

Ecology Nowadays, both makers and users have to consider environmental requirements. This means that we also have to ask whether or not we need to consider ecological restrictions. Firstly, we can say that professionals are simply bound ethically to consider at all times the effects on the environment. That is also inextricably connected to the health of their clients. You should realise in this respect that most colouring agents on the market have been water-based for some time now, so they only use harmless colouring agents. You should certainly check to make sure that the finish applied to the stain is equally ecological. Moreover, it is also vitally important that you also check to make sure that the lacquer meets the necessary ecological requirements. Sources: Blanchon and houtcoatings.nl

Other specialists have their say Chimiver ECOSTAR 2K is a twocomponent water-based polyurethane lacquer for wooden floors, characterized by high solid content, easy to apply, high pore wettability even on brushed woods giving a warm and pleasant shade to the floor treated. ECOSTAR 2K has high abrasion and sole marks resistances allowing its use for high traffic surfaces. CERTIFICATIONS:

SURFACE RESISTANCE TO COLD LIQUIDS EN 12720 AND CHEMICALS AGENTS EN 13442. Determination of the Coefficient of Friction of floors- B.C.R.A Method (cycle ECOPRIME HS 120 + ECOSTAR 2K).

Plastor PLASTOR, specialist in floor protection products, serves building professionals. The product Colour Floors from PLASTOR is ideal for new and old floors for colouring them and providing infinite personalised options. These parquet colours can be applied on site or in the factory without leaving repair marks. This product, available in 15 colours with modern shades, means you can personalise your parquet and thereby satisfy end consumers. To give floors permanent protection, it is necessary to give parquet colours a protective finish against wear and tear. All PLASTOR finishes are compatible with the colours of the Colour Floors range: PLASTOR varnishes, waxes, or oils. We particularly recommend a varnish for the most resistant finish. After the shade has dried completely, you apply the primer PRIM’SO and then two coats of parquet varnish according to choice. PLASTOR also offers another system for colouring wooden floors indoors, namely the colour concentrate. This colour additive colours PLASTOR varnishes, lacquers, and stains immediately. It enables you to colour a product without diluting it and therefore without reducing its resistance. The addition of the colour concentrate to a product does not affect the drying times of the product.

WOOD - RESIN AND RESILIENT FLOORS EXTRAORDINARY MAINTENANCE

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PROTECTION üExtremely matt üFast-drying üNon-yellowing üDurable

VELUREX® RE-PAIR Polyurethane resin-based product suitable for the extraordinary maintenance of particularly damaged and subject to heavy traffic wood, resin and resilient flooring such as LVT, PVC and linoleum. If applied on UV varnished wooden floors it is recommended to carry out a preliminary test, and checking the adhesion. VELUREX® Re-Pair grants the treated surface a new look characterized by the following properties:

Surface hardness

Toughness

Transparency

Pontida (BG) | Italy

T. +39 035 795031

info@chimiver.com

chimiver.com

LIGNUM PURA : Extremely matt, noncolouring, single-component wood and parquet lacquer with high resistance to wear. Sustainable water-based, biobased polyurethane. BLACK LABEL BY

PROFESSIONAL FLOOR PRODUCTS

Devomat Industries NV - Florent Geversstraat 31 - B-2650 Edegem - T +32 03 450 94 70 - info@devomat.be - www.devomat.be

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Special

Versailles panels

A PRINCESS WAKES UP AFTER A KISS CLASSIC VERSAILLES PANELS STILL CHARM THE MARKET IN ADAPTED 21ST CENTURY DESIGN

Photo – Houtbedrijf Kerkhofs

We’ve often written about Versailles panels and with good reason. In recent years, manufacturers have been almost falling over each other to be at least present in this segment. Moreover, Versailles panels now go far beyond purely solid wood and also include composite pre-finished tiles.

sides. Obviously, they’ve also provided various finishes: oiled (Master Oil), bare and therefore untreated, smoked (top layer completely smoked, changing from semi- to dark brown, with lighter sap wood). It is also available brushed (for more depth-effect) and in white wash to highlight the wood structure.

The direct trigger for this article is Ply Quet Holzimport, which is based in Bremen, Germany, and well known for brands TEKA Parquet and TEKA Design trademarks. Indeed, at the most recent edition of Domotex in Hannover, just before pandemic started, we gasped in amazement at a real work of art.

We won’t mention the other words of praise which accompanied this product, but this one example makes it quite clear: Antique Versailles panels have been attracting interest on the market for a few years now. Moreover, it’s also crystal clear that these are days in which the traditional beauty of the old is blending with today’s latest forms of technology so that old and new form new alliances.

Old lives again in new forms What the company displayed specifically was a hardwood Versailles panel with various sizes in a three-layer construction with a top layer of 3,4, or 5.4mm. The scale of the panel was 19 x 980 x 980mm and, to make it suitable for this 21st century era, it was fitted with tongue and groove, suitable for floor heating and with a V-groove on the four

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In all that we might easily forget to define what Versailles panels actually are. We talk about them again and again, but what would you say to your clients if they asked you what exactly it is? Below we give a brief summary of how you can briefly present Versailles panels to interested clients.

‘Parquet de menuiserie’ You can start your story in the year 1684. At that time, floorboards which consisted of large diagonal squares became known as Versailles parquet. It’s worth knowing that it was actually known originally as ‘woodwork parquet’ (French: ‘parquet de menuiserie’). The reason for that name is fairly obvious. It was a replacement for marble floors. After all, those marble pests had to be washed constantly so that the beams under the floors tended to go rotten. In 1693, these ‘parquets en losange’ floors in the Palace of Versailles and in the Grand Trianon caught the eye of a Swedish architect called Daniel Cronströmn. The conquest of Europe had begun. What exactly was this sort of parquet which entered into a palace designed and furnished by the renowned ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV? First of all, we note that only exclusive and high-quality materials were used to construct it. On the floors of the magnificent ballrooms our Swedish architect admired the first impressive varieties of this traditional and high-quality craft of the parquet of Versailles.

Diagonal wickerwork The essence is that fine and delicate wooden strips appear to be ‘woven’ to each other. It’s about a constant repetition of a square and baroque design in the shape of a tile with diagonal wickerwork and therefore always a square frame made of oak. All this gave the rooms a unique atmosphere and, after its further dissemination in Europe, it was known for its elegance and for true craft. That’s why it soon made its way into stately villas and impressive buildings.

Two specialists have their say

offer customised work ‘on request’. The designs can be personalised or can revert to the old classics such as Versailles, Normandy, Aremberg, and such like. They offer a choice of wood sort, size, and finish. That’s exactly why panel floors are less attractive as ‘standard’, something which leave little scope for creativity. At Design Parquet these panels are produced by specialist teams, professionals with the qualities and experience required to make these design floors.

Houtbedrijf Kerkhofs

Design Parquet

Panel floors continue to charm people even today due to their history and appearance. Although panel floors are usually associated with prestigious projects such as hotels, companies, and shops, Design Parquet has noticed a growing demand from private customers. Here, too, oak is the absolute champion. Since Design Parquet produces customised work, they can also offer lots of other wood sorts and in all finishes, such as distressed, brushed, or structured. And so, they

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In recent years we have found Style panels are gaining popularity. We at Houtbedrijf Kerkhofs have had increasing demand and received many commissions for this product. Mostly commercial projects, think hotels, bars, restaurants and other public spaces. There is also growing demand for these Style panels by private customers who have a larger budget. People like to create a traditional atmosphere combined with a modern twist. When a specific request comes for something bespoke, we first do design drawings. After approval our highly skilled factory team starts production. Houtbedrijf Kerkhofs is very flexible when offering Style Panels. This can be done in several dimensions, pattern and wood species. Material can be smoked, brushed or aged (distressed) before the panels are assembled. Finishes such as staining, oiling or lacquering will be done on site. Houtbedrijf Kerkhofs produces Style Panels with great precision care and quality.

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Advertorial

Wintersteiger (A)

TRAJECT PARKET INVESTS IN 3 THIN-CUTTING BAND SAW MACHINES WINTERSTEIGER SUPPLIES CUSTOMIZED SYSTEM

The team from Traject with the new WINTERSTEIGER system: The 3 thin-cutting band saws DSB Compact XM are connected and produce precisely fitting parquet lamellas.

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At Traject Parket in Barneveld, the Netherlands, 3 new thin-cutting bandsaws DSB Compact XM work inline. The compact system fits perfectly to the parquet flooring manufacturer – in terms of capacity and limited space availability at the production site.

The new thin-cutting band saws from WINTERSTEIGER replace a band saw and a frame saw from a competitor. In future, Traject Parket will work with WINTERSTEIGER machines only.

Martijn Dijkstra, Co-owner and Head of Sales and Development, explains: "We looked at different brands and types and discovered the DSB Compact XM at EE-Stairs, a company we know. We were impressed with the quality and ease of operation, so we chose this model."

With the 3 DSB Compact XM, Traject Parket produces about 800 m2 of engineered flooring per day in dry cut. Oak wood mainly is processed. "The speed and cutting accuracy, the super thin cutting kerf, as well as its user-friendliness in combination with the utmost work safety are what make the DSB Compact stand out. The machine is very easy to operate," says Martijn Dijkstra, listing the advantages of his new bandsaw line. Beside the advantage of the semi-automated feeding magazine, Martijn Dijkstra also appreciates the remote maintenance option, which allows WINTERSTEIGER customer service to connect directly to the machine via remote system: "Everything worked perfectly, cooperation with WINTERSTEIGER is great – from consultation ics“ in to delivery, commissioning and osmet c r d training." o o „w ntial fo

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∂ Industry news EPLF : Natural to the eye and to the planet: the ‘Japandi’ way of living

MMFA : Purity, simplicity and sustainability for a longlasting interior

Brussels, 21 December 2021 As we reach the end of 2021, the trend towards authenticity and naturalness continues to go unabated, with increasing demand towards a more authentic and sustainable way of living. Our members have continued to invest in new solutions to provide laminate floors that can withstand challenging uses while also protecting the environment. Warm, natural, oaky colours for an exceptional realism Authentic designs continue to be the most attractive amongst customers, with new designs borrowing the best from nature while preserving resources. Warm colours reminiscent of honey and fine wood with natural characteristics will trend in 2022. Natural beige and sand shades are also trending, as are light grey shades. Overall, customers demand tend towards more ‘Scandinavian’ and ‘Japandi’ designs that combine functionality with rustic minimalism to create a comfortable, natural, and protective home against the external challenges of everyday life. Manufacturers have therefore created laminate flooring with different nuances to provide a particularly natural feel. New designs offer bright and accentuating warm colours, coupled with historically charming patterns. A combination of traditional mineral building materials and tiles in various formats. In terms of feel, mat nicely structured surfaces are still the favoured trend in most European countries, with Herringbone and Chevron being the most in demand when it comes to patterns. Regarding format, while European countries prefer standard plank sizes, Nordic countries tend to prefer longer and wider planks. And while design is a key aspect of flooring, customers are now more than ever looking at the quality, functionality, and safety of their flooring. Sustainability will fuel innovation As we spend more and more time in our homes, using our living space for more varied activities, customers are looking for a flooring that is both practical and durable. Laminate flooring is no longer simply for the bedroom or living room. It is also increasingly found in kitchens, hallways, and bathrooms thanks to its sturdy features. On top of moisture-proof flooring with impermeable top and bottom surfaces, new technology allows for a new and uniquely tight-fitting click system that facilitates the installation process, while also preventing water ingress. Providing customers with a floor ready to withstand the challenges of time. Aside from new functional properties, our members are committed to a flooring that is both durable and sustainable. CO2 emissions can be considerably reduced thanks to regionally sourced products containing a lot of wood -a renewable raw material- and therefore guarantee both a high indoor air quality and an unbeatable lifecycle advantage. With growing demand for flooring that is both natural to the eye and to the planet, this will be our members’ main focus for 2022: to enhance their contribution to climate protection through eco-conscious production, sustainable processes and certified materials, all the while providing high-quality floorings that promote natural designs in line with nature.

Brussels, 21 December 2021 While the pandemic continues to create uncertainty across markets, there is one thing the flooring sector knows for sure: consumers want natural, sustainable, and hard-wearing interiors, in the hope to reset and create a more circular economy. Ultra-realistic design and surface texture combined with tough and robust materials Design trends have increasingly shifted towards natural organic style in the past year, with earthy colours and materials being at the forefront. The pandemic completely turned our lives upside down. People have found themselves doing more activities at home. This created a growing need to create a cocoon of calmness amidst the external chaos. Additionally, growing concerns around hygiene and healthy living translated into customers choosing floorings that are both natural and easy to clean. In response to this, our members have worked to improve the realism of their products’ imitation, to provide customers with ultra-realistic design reminiscing of nature. Consumers want purity and simplicity to create a calm and harmonious home. They tend to look for warmth and a palette of earthly tonalities, from sand to beige, green moss and calming nude nuances. When it comes to materials, natural materials like terrazzo, concrete, cement, oaks and some pine tend to be top of the list. Cork has also made a comeback. On one hand, iconic Herringbone with nostalgic elegant touch is making a comeback; on the other hand, larger format natural wood planks and calm stone tiles are highly popular for minimalistic yet luxurious modern interior. Additionally, from the design of their flooring, consumers also look for durability, practicality, and safety. Therefore, our members constantly invest in developing new technologies for tough, sturdy, waterproof materials that offer perfectly water-repellent properties, making it the ideal choice of flooring for bathrooms and kitchens. Floorings have also become easier to install and longer lasting, thanks to a new floating floor system with click that allows for a smoother installation process. The key word for 2022: resource conservation The global pandemic led us to reflect our relationship to nature. Building a more circular economy, keeping the valuable material & resources within the economy and out of the environment should be our common task across the industry. Our members have listened to consumers’ desires and invested in innovative solutions that ensure sustainable processes and recycled materials. Thanks to a new special design layer made of Tinyl, there is no need for plasticisers or PVC anymore. Cork, which promises to become a growing trend, is a 100% natural and recyclable material that can be sustainably sourced. Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

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Special

Poland

WHERE WOOD IS A STRATEGIC AND NATURAL RESOURCE FORMER EASTERN BLOCK LAND IS ALSO CONSIDERING A BAN ON WOOD EXPORTS OUTSIDE THE EU A few years ago, the Polish wood timber harvest was 40 to 42 million cubic metres of wood a year, mainly from state-owned forests (96%). Coniferous wood dominates timber harvesting (75%), whilst 88% of rough wood material is meant for industrial processing, 53% of which is pulpwood and 47% sawing and veneer trunks. If we go back to 2015, for instance, we note how over 6% of the harvested wood was exported, whilst wood imports came to about 6% in proportion to the harvesting.

Wood sector The wood processing industry certainly forms up a major portion of the Polish economy, with a share of 2% in the GDP, 3.3% of the total production of Poland, and 2.2% of the gross added value (2015-16). The sector represents over 62,000 business units, mainly small and very small timber companies (92%, mainly saw mills and furniture companies).

If there is a country in the European Union where wood plays a major part, it has to be Poland. Wood is a strategic and natural resource in this former Eastern Block land and you can regard the forestry-wood sector as a flagship of the economy. Poland has considerable forestry and raw material reserves on both a European and a global scale. The country has a particularly large forest acreage (seventh place in the European Union), a wealthy base of raw materials (fourth place), and a relatively large volume of wood production (fifth place). These factors make Poland one of the most important producers on both the European and global markets. It’s also important to mention that the country enjoys considerable prestige in Europe because it is striving for sustainable use and rational management of its resources.

Furniture production and fibre boards If we consider matters from an industrial perspective, we note that Poland occupies sixth place worldwide and third place in Europe in furniture production. Exports from that same furniture sector represent no less than 6% of the total on the world market. Moreover, the country is also a major producer of wooden boards (seventh biggest producer in the world and the second in Europe). Within Europe Poland is mainly a major exporter of fibre board, especially porous board with a wet production process (first place). The country itself has expanded both its forest acreage (9.2 million hectares) and its resources (2.5 billion cubic metres) in recent years. Forests cover over 30% of the country and the proportion of hectares of forest per head of population is currently 0.24. Polish forests are the main source of wood for the national wood industry and the wood supply does not really depend on foreign trade.

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The extremely diverse Polish wood sector generates 9% of the value of commercial production and creates 12% of jobs in industry as a whole. The furniture industry also constitutes the flagship, with 35% of commercial production, 49% of employment, and a representation of 41% of the business units. In fact, the furniture industry has earned the status of ‘national industrial specialisation’ and stands out amidst the national industries which have already become prominent or could become prominent on the global market in the future. As regards its development, the wood sector, like the Polish economy, rests largely on industries like pulp and paper, paper processing, wood panels, and joinery and woodwork for buildings. The wood sector has been one of the few sectors in Poland to achieve a positive trade balance in recent years, and that has invariably reduced the Polish deficit in foreign trade. For instance, five years ago, the sector’s share in national exports was 9% and in imports 4%, whilst about 70% of wood was exported in the form of products with a high added value. Poland’s foreign trade in wood and wood products has targeted the European market, which has received 83% of Polish wood and Polish wood products, whilst at the same time almost 82% of the wood and wood products imported into Poland has come from the European Union. It is absolutely clear how important the forestry and wood sector is in Poland as a stimulus for local development and enterprise, especially in less developed regions.

Parquet sector How does the parquet sector relate to all this? We haven’t found very much recent data, but based on general European trends in recent years we can reasonably assume that the parquet market in Poland (where oak plays a major part) is continuing to grow, as it is in other European countries. For instance, figures from 2017 show that 65,603,120m² of parquet were produced in Europe in that

year. Poland, with 20.08%, was the clear leader amongst all parquet producers ahead of Sweden and Austria. It was also clear at that time that the production was destined mainly for export.

A ban on wood exports? It’s also worth noting that in recent years Poland, too, has felt the growing shortage of raw materials, with astronomical price increases for wood. And so, there have been more and more calls for a ban on the export of wood. Janusz Komurkiewicz, chairman of the Polish Window and Door Association, expressed it like this in August last year: ‘The solution to the situation is a ban on wood exports, something which the wood industry has been striving for since 2017. The rules for the sale of wood which restrict the export of wood apply in most countries which safeguard their resources economically, but also as a result of environmental issues.’

Campaigners also point out that 13,695 European wood companies, including 735 Polish operators, have signed a petition organised by the French National Wood Federation (Fédération Nationale du Bois) calling for a ban on wood exports outside the EU. They also point out that industry representatives from other countries, including Hungary, Croatia, Rumania, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine have also expressed a desire to impose restrictions on wood exports. Rafał Szefler, director of the Polish Chamber of Trade for the wood industry, adds: ‘It has reached a point where (unprocessed) oak wood is leaving Poland for factories in Ukraine. It is processed in Ukraine and shipped onto the world markets as a finished wood product. This means that Polish forests are becoming a basic source for western companies.’ Sources: forestplatform.org, Forestry and Wood Products in Poland (USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service, and World News Today, 9 August 2021)

TECHEM MATS

Leader among the manufacturers of flooring matting systems We are part of BP Techem Sp. z o.o. with the initial capital of 4 million euro. It was established in 1991 by Zygmunt Lada as a multiple business units company. Our products, delivered with co-operation with European partners, represent the latest technological know-how and top quality, thanks to which we are a supplier to such corporations as VW, FIAT , VOLVO, MAN or IKEA. We have been manufacturing and distributing system mats for over 15 years. With clearly defined objectives such as products quality and customer loyalty, we have achieved a leadership position - we are currently the largest manufacturer of aluminum mats in Poland. We sell directly /e-shop/, through distributors and to networks of shops. Our customer base includes also some of the biggest construction companies, appreciating the quality and durability of our products, Skanska, Strabag, Hochtief, Porr or Warbud among them. In 2012 we started exporting our entrance mats. At the moment, our mats are present in 29 countries, but we are still looking for new business partners in Germany, France and the UK. For 15 years of our activity our aluminum mats have been installed in thousands of modern facilities in Poland and abroad, including the biggest shopping centers, offices complexes, sport stadiums, aqua parks, hotels, apartment towers, as well as buildings of the lower and upper chambers of Polish Parliament. We possess all necessary certificates: ISO 14001, ISO 9001, Fire Classification, Anti-slip properties certificates, CE marking and durability report. Our latest product which we will added to our range in the beginning of 2022 will be mat fully manufactured from recycled raw materials. Entrance Mats Division of BP Techem Sp. z o.o. www.techem-wycieraczki.com.pl/en - maty@techem.com.pl - 0048 22 244 14 67

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Floor Forum International 121

∂ Product news HERRINGBONE, WATER-RESISTANCE AND INNOVATIVE ULTRA MATT LACQUER: NEW MEISTER LINDURA RANGE MEISTER announces the launch of its new Lindura range, which will be put on the market on 1st April 2022. Even the rigid core flooring range has been expanded with new additions! The resource-efficient Lindura wood flooring has been visually and technically upgraded with numerous new product features. The château planks of the HD 400 collection (12 naturally oiled, 12 ultra matt lacquered) are now impregnated with AquaStop edge impregnating agent, making them water-resistant for 24 hours and suitable for humid rooms. This provides even more safety in the kitchen and hallway, and enables installation in the bathroom. All surfaces have been successfully tested to ensure an antibacterial effect. Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

OSMO : MAINTENANCE AND CARE FOR TIMBER DECKING The right care extends the life of decking and provides higher durability; plus, it is really easy to do. For a quick scrub up, clean decking with a mixture of water and Osmo Decking Cleaner. If your garden deck is weathered and grey, Osmo Wood Reviver Power-Gel will restore it to its natural wood colour. To protect timber decking optimally, the wood specialists at Osmo recommend applying Osmo Decking-Oil. It has been formulated to meet the specific needs of countless fine and softwoods perfectly, smoothens the wood surface and makes it water and dirt repellent.

STAUF : PARQUET AND SUBFLOOR HEATING: A FIRM, LONG-LASTING CONNECTION While the combination of parquet and subfloor heating systems used to be quite problematic, today it is a matter of course. Decisive for the success of the connection are the use of the right parquet adhesive and the correct installation of the parquet. The adhesives specialist STAUF, for example, only has parquet adhesives in its range that are suitable for bonding to underfloor heating. Two of them - STAUF SPU 570 and SMP 950 - can even be used as vapour retarders on residual moisture cement screeds! It is important that the parquet floor is firmly bonded to the professionally prepared subfloor over its entire surface. In this way, no layer of air can form between the screed and the wooden floor, which would inhibit the flow of heat into the room. Glued parquet conducts heating energy faster and better, and its lifespan is usually several decades. Once the parquet floors are firmly bonded to the subfloor, they can be sanded several times. Thus, this connection easily lasts a lifetime.

PROGRESS PROFILES PROHEATER is a wall porcelain stone tiled design heater that warms your bathroom with elegance and style Essential lines and a design that blends with your wall. Ceramic is a material that accumulates heat and radiates it evenly. PROHEATER by Progress Profiles is our new range of tiled heating systems with a modern design, to furnish your bathroom with elegance. A unique product on the market, thanks to the latest generation programmable WIFI thermostat, it is possible to switch on the system even remotely and your environment will always be warm and comfortable. PROHEATER is definitely an elegant piece of furniture heating your bathroom or any other part of your house.

Floor Forum International 121

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The concept of decking to clip

Review: Domotex Hannover (D)

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Special: Rwanda

Special: Producers of wooden/composite wall cladding

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concept terrace to clip. invisible fixations. perfect finishes.

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Subscribe right away and become part of our family of professionals to stay informed about the trends and novelties in the sector of floor coverings and wood façades, deckings, finishing products,… Become part of the large family of the sector of the wooden floor coverings, vinyl and PVC and the wooden façade claddings, thanks to the most popular magazine in the sector in Europe. Take a subscription right away and enjoy our promotional price of 49 euros*. * 79 euros per year for dispatching outside Europe

170 rue de la Roque�e 75011 Paris contact@dinachoc.com - www.dinachoc.fr Contact : +33 7 83 02 03 14

Votre Spécialiste Acoustique

100% rubber TOP CLASS TECHNOLOGY - THE FRUIT OF RECYCLING Dinachoc S801 is the ﬁrst rubber underlay to emerge from the circular economy. It is produced from recycled and re-used car tyres. These used products are not naturally biodegradable, so giving them a second life helps to protect the environment.

INSULATION FLOORS AND WALLS

OFTEN IMITATED, NEVER ECLIPSED Special binding agent and special granula�on of Dinachoc S801. This formula is the fruit of long-term technological research, including tests both in the laboratory and on site under extreme condi�ons. This gives it an excep�onally long life span and at the same �me it also guarantees you the best quality of air in the interior.

Thickness

INSULATION AND DURABILITY PERFORMANCES S801 is in classes A+ and EC1. It also complies with the criteria of the LEED and EUROFINS Indoor Air Comfort labels and makes it possible to aim for the HQE label. Guaranteed to provide 50 years of excep�onal insula�on with the use of already available raw materials makes Dinachoc S801 an excep�onal product.

FILTERS NEIGHBOUR NOISE

2mm 3mm 5mm 10mm

50-YEAR GUARANTEE

Tested (and approved) S801 technology for over 10 years

MUFFS ANNOYING SOUNDS

Long-lasting performances Shared serenity!

- Available thicknesses : 2 mm , 3 mm, 5 mm et 10 mm - Acous�c insula�on : from ΔLW 19 dB to ΔLW 22 dB - Highly resistant to cracks, even at extreme temperatures (-40°C to + 110°C) - Unchanging : It does not shrink or distort - Compa�ble with ﬂoor hea�ng at both high and low temperatures

LABORATORY TESTED

ADDITIONAL DINACHOC RANGE

UNFINISHED

DINACHOC C901 ADHESIVE

VITRIFIED

WHITE

ELECTRIC DINACHOC P154 SKIRTING BOARDS (NF STANDARDS)

SCAN ME

FFI 121 February 2022

Articles inside

Special Poland

Industry news

Advertorial Wintersteiger (A

Advertorial Design Parquet (F

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

Special Versailles panels

Special How do I assess the base and which product should I use ?

Special Who has walk behind machines for roughening up old tiles, scraping the screed, and removing old carpet, tiles, adhesive residue, etc?

Special Silan adhesives for LVT, PVC and vinyl floors

Special How do I mix colours and apply them?

Advertorial Auer Metallprofile (D