"synthetic anhydrite calcium sulfate based flooring"

For the beautiful penthouse atop one of the buildings in South Bank Place, located next to the London Eye, the designers wanted a feature floor with a bespoke colour finish. We worked with the designers at Goddard Littlefair and decided on the timeless design of the Versailles parquet pattern. The designers wanted a show-stopping colour for this floor. We created the Belvedere colour finish; using a mixture of fumed, European Oak and pigmented hard wax oils to create a dark colour tone with red and golden highlights.To ensure a uniform and quick installation on site; we creating metre square panels with the Solid Oak Versailles pattern positioned by hand onto Birch plywood backing. Having discussed the fit-out process in detail with the fit-out team from SJ Eastern Joinery, we grooved all four sides of the panel and supplied the tongues loose. This gave the fitters flexibility to lay the boards as they saw fit on site. Once we had assembled the panels, the bespoke colour finish was applied; after completing multiple coats the panels were stored to fully cure and harden.Once the team from SJ Eastern had fitted the flooring on site, they protected it with a soft breathable cover and topped that with hardboard and taped the edges. This allowed the other trades to snag without damaging the floor. Once snagging was complete, the floor protection was removed. As anyone who has been on a building site knows, dust and debris are everywhere and sure enough the flooring needed a final clean and buff with oil to increase the lustre and make it perfect for the wow factor needed in such a stunning project.The expert team lead by Bardhyl Miskiqi of BRB Flooring came in and cleaned the floor thoroughly, removing plaster dust and other debris by vacuum and cleaning the floor down using a solution of Blanchon Natural Soap and hot water. Once the floor was suitably clean, they applied Blanchon Hard Wax Oil Satin on to the floor and buffed a coat into the floor using a buffing machine equipped with a white buffing pad. This fed the Oak another coat of oil which bolsters the protection against every day use and increased the lustre of the wood highlighting all the colours from that bespoke colour that had been applied at the factory.Once the oil was properly buffed in, the penthouse door was closed and the floor left to dry and cure. Once curing had completed the furniture was placed in the room and made ready for viewing by the client and new owner and a lifetime of happy memories.Please call 01666 504015 for more information.

March 2021 saw the first installation of Gypsol Anhydrite screed in Perth, Western Australia!The project, a 150 square metre new build home, was supplied and installed by Metsel Mortars on Saturday, 6th March. This project is a culmination of months of collaboration between Metsel and LKAB Minerals to ensure Gypsol Binder was successfully exported and installed in the new market.

DCM Surfaces installs synthetic surfacing at Butlins new pool complex in Bognor Regis.The project, which took two years to complete, accommodates almost 1,000 guests and has unique seaside and fairground-themed rides, a wave pool and a special area for toddlers.Kier was the successful bidder for the contract. Following a rigorous selection process based on quality, cost and Health and Safety, selected DCM Surfaces to install synthetic surfacing for three main areas around the complex.DCM Surfaces was in a unique position to deliver all elements of synthetic surfacing, which included the installation of an Artificial Grass safety surface, Resin Bound Gravel pathway, and Rubber Mulch, which was used to fill several tree pits. A core requirement of the installation was that each surface would be permeable, allowing water to drain through and ensure that it could be used all year round.A Rubber Shockpad was installed beneath the Artificial Grass to give children a soft, impact-absorbing layer to run and play with.The installation, completed on March 19, covered an area of over 1000 sqm.

Nike has transformed The Regal basketball court at the Black Prince Community Hub in South London, using Junckers Beech SylvaSport floor pre-finished with black oil over a New Era fully sprung sub-floor system.

When Edinburgh Gin wanted to open its latest pop-up store in Edinburgh city centre, they tasked Exhibeo VM to design a store which reinforced the company’s branding, whilst creating a lasting visual impact. Using a colourful, textured look to elevate the customer experience and entice shoppers into the store, Exhibeo VM specified Forbo Flooring Systems’ adhesive-free Modul’up range in the Coral Terrazzo colourway, to bring the vision to life. After being based at the nearby Frederick Street, Edinburgh Gin decided it was time to go all out and form a brand new, flagship-style destination shop, which prompted a move to the nearby Hanover Street. Arantxa Garcia, Creative Consultant Designer at Exhibeo VM, said: “We wanted to create a pop-up store similar to the existing premises on Frederick street, but almost step it up a bit, moving more towards the feeling of a flagship store. It would be a place where people could go for an experience. We added a mini tasting area too – a space where customers could come in, sit down and enjoy some of the amazing gins on offer. We also wanted to display the products in a zoned fashion to make purchasing easier for customers. “In line with Edinburgh Gin’s brand guidelines, it was important that the shop was colourful and that the colours used helped to evoke thoughts of the botanicals used in the gin distilling process.” With the bottles of Edinburgh Gin lining the walls, Exhibeo VM opted for a candy pink theme to run throughout the shop, with brightly lit wall-mounted shelving and extravagant designs in the glass windows.  The glossy pink theme is aided by Forbo’s adhesive free Modul’up flooring solution in the contemporary Coral Terrazzo colourway – a pattern and texture that is slightly reminiscent of the ingredients used to distil the gin. Arantxa commented on the design choice, saying: “We really liked the finish of the Modul’up sheet - it has this amazing Terrazzo pattern which goes nicely with the candy aesthetic that runs throughout the shop itself. The flooring definitely pulled the design together; it gave us the continuity we wanted. We had specified coloured LEDs to be placed behind all the shelving, to really enhance the colours of the gins and the flooring brought that whole colour palette together.” Forbo’s Modul’up range wasn’t only chosen because of the contemporary colourways it is available in, but also because of how easy the installation is. Typically, flooring is the first port of call for most projects, but Forbo’s Modul’up was installed last on this project, thanks to its quick and easy installation. Arantxa explained: “We actually did the installation in reverse; usually flooring is the first thing installed in a project, but in this case, it was the last thing we put in. It took a team of four installers - recommended by Forbo – just five hours to install in the morning of the grand opening, as it is installed using Forbo’s unique double-sided tape – another big reason behind the choice of floor covering.” Forbo’s Modul’up range can also be easily removed and is immediately ready for recycling via Forbo’s Back to the Floor scheme. The ease of removal also allows the flooring to be reused if needed, reducing waste further. And with no adhesive used, the substrate remains clean meaning the flooring can be replaced without time consuming and expensive subfloor preparation. The Edinburgh Gin shop on Hanover Street was awarded ‘Commended’ in the Forbo Escapes 2021/22 competition.  For more information about Forbo’s Modul’up range, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/fastfit or to learn more about the Forbo Escapes competition, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/forboescapes

FORBO’S INTEGRATED FLOORING HELPS TO REFURBISH FLEXIBLE WORKSPACE  Forbo Flooring Systems’ contemporary range of floor coverings were specified by Momentum, a leading furniture expert based in Cardiff, to create a warm and vibrant hybrid working space for Newydd Housing Association. Forbo’s Tessera carpet tiles, Allura Luxury Vinyl Tiles, Coral entrance flooring system and Surestep safety flooring were all used.   Founded in 1974, Newydd Housing Association is a charitable housing association that offers 3,000 affordable homes for rent and sale. With properties based around South and mid Wales, Newydd Housing Association seeks to help those with the greatest need to find a home. Momentum worked with the housing association to refurbish their existing office spaces to create an environment that inspired a new hybrid style of working.  Momentum designed the whole refurbishment and specified all the materials used, as Rhian Worgan, Interior Designer at Momentum, explains: “After securing the tender for the design of Newydd’s offices, we were asked to create a space that supported and inspired the new hybrid way of working that many offices have adopted post-Covid. Newydd really wanted to achieve a flexible and adaptable environment, so that any future changes could be made at minimal cost and with little disruption.   “One of the first things they had asked us to do was to remove any designated areas for teams or individuals. This was to encourage the sharing of information between staff in collaborative spaces. We replaced these areas with zones that supported a variety of tasks, like desk work, formal and informal meetings, brainstorming and more. The idea behind the whole design and layout of the office was that the employees would choose the area that supported the task at hand on any given day.”  However, it wasn’t just the zoning of the office that was important, Newydd desired a workspace that was warm, vibrant and welcoming for its employees. With this in mind, Rhian spent a lot of time finding the right way to subtly incorporate the branding that represented Newydd’s ethos and values, as she explains: “For me it was really important we got the colours we used right. We really wanted to make this a space that employees could explore their creativity and problem solving in and not a traditional, bland workspace. For this reason, it was key to find the right colours and materials to convey this feeling.  “This was part of the reason I specified Forbo’s flooring, there’s such a wide range of products, I knew there would be something that would fit what we were looking for.”  Forbo’s Tessera Chroma and Cloudscape carpet tiles made up the majority of the flooring space across the three-floor office building. Rhian talked about this specification, saying: “I really like Forbo’s Tessera carpet tiles, as they have this beautiful naturally inspired palette that complemented our design plan. We used the Tessera Cloudscape in Grey Dawn extensively across all three floors in the circulation areas and for one of the meeting rooms, due to their thick pile height and sound reduction qualities. It also has this beautiful mixture of greys that create a serene feeling to the floor. We used this product alongside Forbo’s Tessera Chroma in the Chanterelle colourway in the main office space, using the Cloudscape tiles to create geometric shapes embedded into the larger flooring scheme.   “We then used Tessera Chroma in the Pasture, Nautical, Blossom and Mineral colourways. These were installed in the different meeting pods and dedicated call rooms where we matched them to the paint scheme on the walls. It just added this pop of colour, which broke up the greys used in the circulation areas and main office space. Chroma was perfect for these areas, due to the sheer number of colourways available to choose from, as well as it’s underfoot comfort.”  Not only this, but Tessera Chroma has a 26 dB sound reduction, making it perfect for the meeting room pods that are connected side-by-side, stopping noise from distracting those outside or next door.   Furthermore, Forbo’s Allura LVT was specified across the refurbishment and was laid in a Herringbone pattern. Rhian continued: “We specified Forbo’s Allura planks to break-up the carpet tiles we had already used quite heavily across the scheme. We needed something that we could install easily and wouldn’t look out of place in the eating areas. We went for the Light Honey Oak colourway as it is very light and has a lovely grain embossing to it.”  Forbo’s Allura LVT was also used in the Mist Texture colourway for the ground floor entranceway.   With the hybrid nature of Newydd’s office they expected to see a lot of footfall, so it was important that an entrance flooring system was installed to protect the interior floor coverings, by preventing dirt and moisture from being brought inside. Rhian said: “We also had Forbo’s Coral entrance flooring system installed in the front entrance in the Shark Grey colourway, which complemented the Allura LVT installed in the foyer nicely. Having an effective entrance flooring system meant the rest of the office would stay looking better for longer, something which is important for an office where people are being encouraged to move around and work in a hybrid fashion.”   With its R10 slip rating, ensuring staff stay safe whilst using the onsite facilities, Forbo’s Surestep safety flooring was also specified for the ground floor bathroom and showers in the Star colourway.  Rhian concluded: “We’re delighted with the way the office space has come together, as are Newydd themselves! I’ve worked with Forbo on many projects in the past and trust the products to do what we need them to. Their portfolio on offer, alongside the customer service and technical support provided, is something that keeps me coming back to Forbo.”  Started towards the end of 2021 and finished in November of 2022, Newydd Housing Associations’ new offices have been received well by staff.  To find out more about Forbo’s offering for offices, visit: https://www.forbo.com/flooring/en-uk/segments/commercial-offices/poitcq#panel_5.  

Hush Acoustics were tasked with providing a solution to reduce an impact noise issue on the upper floor of a luxury five-bedroom detached home in Knutsford, Cheshire.Home to a professional football player, the issue stemmed from the noise on the flooring of his snooker room. Impact noise from footsteps when using the room was generating nuisance noise within the living area directly below, which was making it difficult for others in the family to enjoy this space.Working with Short Construction, building contractors based in Wilmslow, Hush supplied 167x sheets of our Hush Panel 33 to solve the issue. This is a versatile, high performing acoustic flooring which is widely used in timber construction, making it ideal for the timber separating floors in this property.With a combination of our eco-friendly acoustic felt and our rubber barrier mat, the Hush Panel 33 performs to all UK Building Regulation requirements as well as the Robust Detail performance targets for timber frame developments. Its unique composition makes it easy to install and quick to use.The product works by creating a high mass barrier and isolating the floor finish from the structure. As the nuisance noise issue in this situation was due to impact noise, it was key to introduce a high performing acoustic floor product to break the connection of the floor finish from the structure. This, in turn, improved the impact performance of noise transmission through the floor structure, giving the client the desired effect and enabling him to use the snooker room as intended.

Smet Supported Partners, Capel (CS) Ltd, completed the floor screed application of SMET LiteFlo® Lightweight Flowing Screed within the improvement works at Harold Wood Station.  A number of improvements were delivered at Harold Wood station in preparation for the new Elizabeth line service, including:A new footbridge over the tracks with new staircasesThree new lifts to provide step-free access to every platformPlatform extensions to accommodate the new, 200m long Elizabeth line trainsNew platform lightingNew station signage, help points, customer information screens, and CCTV.SMET LiteFlo® Lightweight Flowing Screed is a high-quality pumpable, factory-produced, CE marked, self-levelling screed based on calcium sulphate.German-made SMET LiteFlo® is unique because it’s the first pumpable lightweight flowing screed available. Made from specially selected aggregates - means it’s 30% lighter than conventional flowing screeds and can be laid in reduced thicknesses. The screed offers a high yield, 43kg per m2 @ 40mm.German-made LiteFlo® is unique, in that it’s the first pumpable lightweight flowing screed. Made from specially selected aggregates, makes it 30% lighter than conventional flowing screeds and therefore 70% lighter than traditional sand & cement – ultimately this means less is required per m2. Another plus is that that screed made from Calcium Sulphate has naturally substantially lower embodied carbon emissions than a sand and cement screed. LiteFlo® complies with EN 13813: 2002, is CE-marked, and is available in 27Kg bags or bulk silos.Have a look at the Northern Builder MagazineTop 5 Liquid Screeds Article.  Read about SMET LiteFlo® in the Irish Construction News.Whether your job is – self-build, retro-fit, floor renovation or repair, design floor, commercial or shop, sustainable build, historical renovation, ECO build, Lightweight, or an industrial flooring venture – SMET has a flooring compound or ready to use product suitable for your application.www.smetbuildingproducts.com or www.smet.ie

Our range of synthetic grasses and materials come in a large variety of colours and textures ideal for commercial flooring indoor and out. With our unique cutting service, we are able to customize any piece of grass with brand logos or patterns to provide eye-catching flooring that stands out from the crowd.

Appointed to design Hammerson House, Wohl Campus, a new care building, P+HS Architects specified a variety of solutions from Forbo Flooring Systems’ large portfolio, to help bring the vision of a country house hotel to life. Offering 116 bedrooms, with communal lounges, a café, and an inter-generational activity room, Forbo’s Surestep, Safestep and Allura ranges have been installed throughout the building.Hammerson House was founded in 1961 by Sue Hammerson to provide care for older members of the Jewish community. From here Hammerson merged with Nightingale House to form Nightingale Hammerson who run both homes as a joint group. Located on the Wohl Campus near Hampstead Heath, the home is based within beautiful woodlands enabling residents to enjoy the local scenery. Offering medical services, including a visiting GP, a large communal hall, an onsite shop and a hair salon, the care home is able to provide for all of its residents’ needs.Martha MacKinnon, Senior Architect at P+HS commented on the project: “We were tasked with creating a welcoming space that delivered a contemporary vision of a country house hotel, where visitors, residents and staff could feel settled. Therefore, when it came to specifying floor coverings, we had to carefully choose products that could contribute to the warm and welcoming interior we wanted to achieve.“In the resident’s area, on the lower ground floor, it was important that we specified a vinyl flooring, as it needed to be durable, but also provide a warm and homely feel. Additionally, a low-level contrast between the carpeted areas and the vinyl flooring in the bedrooms was also vital, as some of the residents living at the home have dementia.”With the above in mind, and to connect the building back to its countryside roots, P+HS Architects specified Forbo’s Allura LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) in the natural looking Steamed Oak colourway “The wooden aesthetic of Forbo’s Allura really helped us to connect the indoors to the outside, whilst contributing to our design brief, thanks to its warm shades. We mainly used Allura in the household and staff dining areas, and the lower ground floor bedrooms,” Martha explained. “Not only this, but the chosen Allura design has also been accredited by the DSDC (Dementia Services Development Centre), which means it has been approved for use in dementia-friendly environments, making it the perfect choice for this project.“In the areas where spillages are to be expected and therefore slip resistance was a factor, such as in kitchens and the residents’ ensuites, we specified Forbo’s Surestep and Safestep safety flooring. Both ranges deliver guaranteed lifetime slip resistance and are available in a variety of bright, contemporary designs.”Forbo’s Step safety flooring collection meets all the European and HSE safety norms, delivering safety with minimal compromise on cleaning and maintenance, thanks to its PUR Pearl finish, and design.Sara Glaser, Head of Marketing from Nightingale Hammerson spoke about the finished project: “We’re delighted with the work P+HS has done; it looks lovely and really fits the design we had wanted to achieve. We’re particularly happy with how safety conscious it is, as our residents are our primary concern. They like the house and how it looks, so we couldn’t be happier with the end result!”Finished at the start of 2021, Hammerson House, Wohl Campus recently achieved a rating of ‘Good’ from a CQC inspection of the home. Additionally, the building was awarded the Best Social Care development at the Building Better Healthcare Awards 2021 and ‘Commended’ in the Forbo Escapes 2021/22 competition.

St Francis of Assisi Catholic College in Walsall, needed to replace their existing flooring in their main sports hall, in order to cater for the demanding needs at the facility.International flooring specialist Gerflor supplied 650m2 of their world class Taraflex® Multi-Use vinyl sports flooring in Light Grey (Concrete) to complete the refurbishment project to the highest standards.Chris Newey, Gerflor Specification Area Sales Manager, West Midlands said, “The existing sports hall floor was in desperate need of refurbishment. The new Concrete effect Taraflex has transformed the look of the hall from a dated school sports hall to a fresh and very modern look.”The management and procurement process of the new sports floor would be the responsibility of the Schools Site Manager Bernie McNally who is a former professional footballer for West Bromwich Albion and has also pulled on the green jersey for his home country Northern Ireland.Bernie McNally said, “We are delighted with the results and how less intrusive Gerflor’s Taraflex sports flooring was to fit, against digging concrete out which would have been a lengthy, costly, and messy process. Our Headmaster is really impressed with the new Taraflex sports floor, which is performing really well and also looks amazing, the before and after pictures speak for themselves.”The installation of the new Taraflex® Multi-Use floor would be undertaken by the Solihull-based FLR Group. Adam Kaid, Contracts Manager, FLR Flooring said, “Gerflor have some of the best options and varieties out there and we are always extremely confident in the quality of their products.”

We developed two engineered wood floors and advised on the subfloor build up and installation. The products chosen were initially designed by Goddard Littlefair and we worked with the designers to create two unique pallets. This is a new product and we do not have fitted pictures yet, but the images show one carton laid out.These boards were similar to some of our antique colours but the designers wanted a different hue. The TW E731 was based on our antique board but they wanted it light brushed with a matt UV oil finish rather than a lacquer.

Forbo Flooring Systems' unique and comprehensive product portfolio has brought to life a striking new refurbishment project at Leaseplan UK, Berkshire, where a wide range of Forbo's textile and resilient products have been specified as part of an exciting modular flooring solution. Flooring contractor: Crisp Designed Ltd

The 1920’s themed crazy golf course, Swingers, installed an innovative flooring solution from Flowcrete UK to create a walkway around its course that mimics a quintessential English country-side setting. Based in the heart of London, Swingers needed a floor finish that would portray this specific aesthetic at all times while also being able to withstand the scuffs, scrapes and stains inherent to a popular, inner-city visitor attraction.

SubFloor flooring was used to help renovate, raise and ventilate a 700 m² floor into a Nursery near Gothenburg, Sweden.The Subfloor ventilation system was ideal for this nursery, as it allowed for multiple floor height adjustments and for ventilation installations under the floor. Associated floor ventilation material such as ducts, air distribution strips, fans, etc. was also provided. The negative pressure the ventilation generates under the floor creates a fresh and healthy indoor environment.This simple and elegant solution raised and levelled the floor to allow for installations and insulation. The joist and screw system allows for quick and easy assembly so that the floor can reach the desired height.Products:Steel Joist 45x30x3800 mmSubFloor Screw 100 mmInsulation Bearer 45 mmHeight Variation: 46 - 100 mmJoist separation: c/c 600 mmSystem Weight - c/c 600 mm: 2.06 kg/m²Materials:Steel, Z100 GalvFibre-reinforced polypropylenePoint Load Limit (50 x 50 mm): Between screws over joist - 7.08 kNOver screws over joist - 8.78 kN

For this refurbishment project, we installed a new DYNAMIK Sprung Engineered Premium Sport Oak Floor. includes the DYNAMIK bespoke court design by partners Sportserve, who created a basketball home team feel by highlighting the surrounds and court Ds as well as the DYNAMIK and Shire Oak Academy logos. Neal Critchley at Shire Oak Academy, had a few words to say the project: "It was a real pleasure working with DYNAMIK for the replacement of our gymnasium floor, from the early discussions, through design, installation to completion the DYNAMIK team were integral to how the project evolved and ultimately looks. We are delighted with the finished product and how it fits into the branding of our sports facilities." "Having considered a range of options for the replacement of our old gymnasium floor it was clear that the passion Craig and the DYNAMIK team had to help us meet our goals, which made them the perfect partner for us. The new wooden floor looks amazing!” The school also purchased DYNAMIK Giant Carpet Tile protection to preserve the Oak during non-sporting or community events “…The protective tiles are a perfect way for us to ensure it stays that way for as long as possible. Thanks to the DYNAMIK team for all your help and all the extra time you have given to help ensure the project’s success!"

Howe Green has supplied around 400 bespoke access covers to the £150 million National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC) being built on the University of Warwick campus. The floor access covers were required to provide safe and easy access to building services concealed under the raised flooring. The bespoke 7500 Series Medium Duty Stainless Steel covers were specified by award-winning architects Cullinan Studio. A reduced depth was required to enable the access covers to be infilled with the same flooring used elsewhere in the raised floor system - calcium sulphate floor panels, with the stone pre-bonded

Marketing Rooms and Apartments for the Wood Wharf Development in Canary Wharf. However they wanted a more select floor which we were able to do by supplying 20% to 25% more than required to create a stunning near virtual Prime Black American Walnut floor at a fraction of the cost.A lot of other trades were also completing work at the site including the fit out of show apartments for the Wood Wharf Development. This meant that the floor had to be covered to protect the surface.The product was our E515 which is a 15mm thick oiled walnut.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) continuously strive to provide better education for the next generation of medical professionals. As such, with help from NTW Solutions they wanted to create a modern learning space for their medical education centre in Gosforth. Forbo Flooring Systems' Flotex, Modul'up and Allura Flex ranges all played a key role in bringing this project together .NTW solutions was established in 2017 by CNTW NHS Foundation Trust to provide a range of important services, across a variety of teams. They work alongside stakeholders such as NHS Foundation Trust to provide high-end project outcomes. Offering a variety of foundation placements, the medical centre will provide young nurses and doctors with a good base level of education to then move forwards in their chosen speciality. To do this there was a variety of factors to review when looking at designs.

For the beautiful penthouse atop one of the buildings in South Bank Place, located next to the London Eye, the designers wanted a feature floor with a bespoke colour finish. We worked with the designers at Goddard Littlefair and decided on the timeless design of the Versailles parquet pattern. The designers wanted a show-stopping colour for this floor. We created the Belvedere colour finish; using a mixture of fumed, European Oak and pigmented hard wax oils to create a dark colour tone with red and golden highlights.To ensure a uniform and quick installation on site; we creating metre square panels with the Solid Oak Versailles pattern positioned by hand onto Birch plywood backing. Having discussed the fit-out process in detail with the fit-out team from SJ Eastern Joinery, we grooved all four sides of the panel and supplied the tongues loose. This gave the fitters flexibility to lay the boards as they saw fit on site. Once we had assembled the panels, the bespoke colour finish was applied; after completing multiple coats the panels were stored to fully cure and harden.Once the team from SJ Eastern had fitted the flooring on site, they protected it with a soft breathable cover and topped that with hardboard and taped the edges. This allowed the other trades to snag without damaging the floor. Once snagging was complete, the floor protection was removed. As anyone who has been on a building site knows, dust and debris are everywhere and sure enough the flooring needed a final clean and buff with oil to increase the lustre and make it perfect for the wow factor needed in such a stunning project.The expert team lead by Bardhyl Miskiqi of BRB Flooring came in and cleaned the floor thoroughly, removing plaster dust and other debris by vacuum and cleaning the floor down using a solution of Blanchon Natural Soap and hot water. Once the floor was suitably clean, they applied Blanchon Hard Wax Oil Satin on to the floor and buffed a coat into the floor using a buffing machine equipped with a white buffing pad. This fed the Oak another coat of oil which bolsters the protection against every day use and increased the lustre of the wood highlighting all the colours from that bespoke colour that had been applied at the factory.Once the oil was properly buffed in, the penthouse door was closed and the floor left to dry and cure. Once curing had completed the furniture was placed in the room and made ready for viewing by the client and new owner and a lifetime of happy memories.Please call 01666 504015 for more information or click the product image details below.

Bespoke resin flooring for luxury stablesTattersall Race Course (Ireland) required a bespoke resin flooring solution that could offer a very specific blend of outstanding durability, slip resistance, ease of maintenance and visual appeal. It was also crucial the new floor would be equally fit-for-purpose internally and externally, without losing its safety properties when exposed to weather changes.Tattersall is an international firm offering 10,000 thoroughbred horses each year at 15 sales at either its Newmarket headquarters in England, or at Fairyhouse outside Dublin, in Ireland.As a premier facility that offers only the best horses to the most discerning customers, Tattersalls takes immense pride in maintaining immaculate premises. This focus requires regular maintenance and refurbishment projects, and Degafloor is proud to have been involved in one of the most recent.Working in conjunction with approved partner Larsen Contracts (Ireland) Ltd, we were invited to assess the current floor finish within one of the stable blocks at Fairyhouse and recommend a bespoke resin flooring finish, based on Degafloor’s slip-resistant Full Broadcast System.To achieve the best and most consistent finish possible, the heavily tamped concrete was diamond ground, then shot blasted. The bespoke resin flooring was applied in 6 layers; first a primer, next a scratch coat was applied to create a smooth and even finish. The main system layer was then installed and a full broadcast of bauxite applied. The system was finished with 2 x coats of clear Degafloor MMA seal.Speaking on behalf of Larsen Contracts, Contracts Director Eddie O’Brien said, “It is an honour to have been involved in this project and to work for Tattersalls and, in a small way, play a part in maintaining Ireland’s rich horse racing heritage.”

An elegant, seamless grid ceiling and innovative LED lighting solutions from Durlum, specially developed for the mezzanine floor at Munich Central Station let the modernized underground city shine in new splendour. The perfect staging of the ceiling and light creates an extraordinary spatial experience with a feel-good character for the 200,000 daily passengers.The Munich architecture firm Auer Weber transformed the mezzanine floor into a space for movement based on the design principle of the “street” and relocated the existing shops to the edge of the basement. Clean colours, transparent materials and intelligent LED lighting systems create clear walkways and a new sense of space.The modern and jointless GEO ® wide grid ceiling from Durlum forms the basic structure of the mezzanine storey. 4600 PUNTEO ® -Q50 LED light points integrated into the grid ceiling create ideal brightness conditions in every area and avoid dazzling passers-by. Artificial suns with automatic light control at the staircases create a smooth transition from daylight to artificial light. A highlight on the barrier floor is the 132 m long light wall, which reacts to visitor flows and times of day with different light scenarios using intelligent lighting control from Durlum and creates unique lighting moods.The perfect interplay between the metal ceiling and modern LED lighting technology as well as the lighting control from Durlum make the mezzanine floor a real eye-catcher in downtown Munich and a showcase project in terms of sustainability.

The Audley Stanbridge Earls retirement village is an exclusive residential development of 155 luxury retirement apartments and cottages designed around a Grade II listed Tudor Manor house on a 32 acre site near Romsey, in Hampshire. Underfloor Heating had been specified as part of the design and the large floor areas now needed to be finished with floor screed that could be installed quickly and efficiently within the operating windows provided by the main contractor.TOPFLOW Screed A Thermio + offers a higher thermal conductivity than conventional sand-cement screeds, can be laid thinner and fully encapsulates heating pipes without leaving any voids. This makes it ideal for use with underfloor heating systems where it helps to improve the thermal performance and energy efficiency of buildings. All TOPFLOW Screed A products are made from gypsum and are completely cement free, with a binder made from 98% recycled material. This gives it a lower carbon footprint than a conventional cement-based screeds, saving up to 20.45kg CO2e per m2, making it a more sustainable choice.

BackgroundWe were contacted by a well-known gym franchise who specialise in functional training, which is a mixture of circuit and HIIT style workouts orientated around everyday movements. This style of training includes a variety of activities (e.g. Slam Balls) which can cause substantial vibrations and airborne sound to transfer through the floor, which can in turn affect the neighbouring properties.They required an acoustic gym flooring system that would reduce the overall environmental impact and noise pollution associated with these types of gyms, the owners of the property had some acoustic tests carried out by an independent acoustic consultant who specified the level of acoustic requirements.We put forward a range of our MuteMat® Gym systems, to be tested against various competitors. From these tests, we understood which of the systems would perform to the required impact reduction as specified by the acoustic consultants. We continued by providing the client with a range of quotations for the appropriate MuteMat® Gym acoustic flooring systems.Supply and InstalliKoustic was selected to supply and install the MuteMat® Gym 15-B68 system as we could offer a high-performing solution with a short lead time for a fully installed system at a very competitive price. This system consists of our MuteMat® Gym 15 as a top layer which has a dual density make-up with a base layer (B68) consisting of two layers of MuteMat® USP 625-17 and one layer of MuteMat® Gym B34. MuteMat® Gym systems provide unrivalled acoustic performance due to its multi-composite layers of various densities, thicknesses and material types – going to impressive lengths to reduce a wide range of impact noise issues that cause significant concern for gyms, areas that include cross-fit activities, heavy free-weight areas and stack.This project was over 148m2 of our MuteMat® Gym 15-B68 system which consists of 13.86 recycledtyres per m2  resulting in the entire project preventing over 2051 tyres from going to landfill.Acoustics in GymsDue to our ever-growing urban population, there are more and more urban or boutique gyms being constructed in commercial buildings that share their space with neighbouring properties, businesses and/or companies. Unfortunately, the environmental impact of untreated gyms can result in severe noise pollution in the surrounding areas. Fortunately, we have a wide range of acoustic gym systems and products that can dramatically reduce the acoustic issues associated with urban gyms.If you are interested in talking through a project that requires acoustic gym flooring or some of our acoustic gym products, please give us a call.

Sustainability was a key consideration when British Sugar decided to create a new headquarters to replace its old, tired office.Once the designs were finalised, our floor fitting teams installed RMG600 raised access flooring across the ground floor, first floor and top floor of the building, totalling an area of 4,800m2, utilising our PSA MOB PF2 PS/SPU Medium Grade RMG600 panels.Around the central atrium, we fitted our innovative Attiro architectural finish over the steel-encapsulated RMG600 access flooring system. Attiro is an innovative overlay engineered timber flooring solution that is designed to enable quick and easy access to a raised flooring void at any point in that floor.

he University of South Wales (USW) has recently installed 900 m2 of Taraflex® Area Elastic (AE) System vinyl sports flooring in ‘Maple’ from international flooring specialist Gerflor. This high-quality installation was for a replacement floor in the USW Fitzone at their Treforest campus.“USW were looking to replace their existing timber sports floor due to damages caused by flooding. As they had an installation at USW Nantgarw Sport Park One of our Taraflex Combisport system they wanted costings to install a similar system at the Treforest site.” Tony Thorne added, “We specified 900m2 of our world class Taraflex AE System, as there was existing equipment which included bleachers and doors. As part of the rigorous specification process, we had to meet the same height as the existing flooring. At Gerflor we have timber sports floors within our portfolio, however following conversations with various stakeholders on the project and due to factors, such as non-sport use and high life cycle costs due to the repeated maintenance needed for timber, we specified Taraflex as the floor finish.”Richard Lewis, Capital Projects Manager at USW said,” We decided to replace the existing sports surface due to a previous roof leak that damaged the floor. The Taraflex sports flooring has only recently been installed, but it is already exceeding our high expectations.”The installation of the Taraflex® sports system would be the responsibility of Swansea-based Artisan Flooring who have installed Gerflor products on previous projects.Lewis Williams, Contracts Manager, Artisan Flooring said, “We would choose Gerflor’s Taraflex again as it’s always been a reliable brand, especially when it comes to sports flooring. It’s a great product to work with.”Taraflex® AE systems are area elastic floors consisting of undercarriage construction topped with Taraflex® Surface. Taraflex® Surface is a compact vinyl sheet sports floor covering consisting of a D-Max™ surface - Gerflor’s own complex made up of calendered polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets reinforced with a fibre glass grid for high durability and outstanding dimensional stability.

The ProjectAlbion Mills is a high-end, purpose-built office complex near Willerby Shopping Park in Hull. It is a two-storey building, with numerous office suites for businesses to utilise.The custodians of Albion Mills planned to revitalise the interior of the offices. The new-look space would need a design with an understated colour scheme, which would be suitable for a working environment. This would include resilient flooring in parts, with carpet tiles adjacent to it. To link the vinyl and carpeted areas, a flooring transition would be needed.The flooring transition would need to bridge the gap between the two floorcoverings, incorporating the different thicknesses of the resilient and carpeted flooring without creating a trip or slip hazard. The design of the new offices called for the transition to be curved into different shapes, meaning that they would need to be suitable to curve on-site.The ApproachFloors Hull were appointed as the flooring contractor for the refurbishment. After deciding on the floorcoverings they would use for the project, they needed a flooring transition that would link the two together. Floors Hull decided that Quantum Flooring Solutions’ TopClip transitions range would offer the best option.TopClip is a range of flooring transitions which consists of 4 uPVC tops, which can fit into 6 different bases; 2 aluminium and 4 uPVC. All of the uPVC bases can be curved to a radius of approximately 750mm. Between them, the TopClip range can transition between practically any different gauge or type of floorcoverings.For the Albion Mills project, Quantum’s QTC42R top was used with the QVB1 uPVC base. This meant that the profiles could be curved into the necessary shapes. In order to get around tight curves, it can help to gently heat the profile with a hot air gun. This would have to be done skilfully by Floors Hull, so the profile would not become distorted.The OutcomeSteve McDonald from Floors Hull fitted the flooring in Albion Mills, along with the TopClip transition profiles. The end result looks fantastic, with the QTC42R and QVB1 curving well. As Steve says: “A very small amount of heat was used to create this tight radius, but the product itself was very flexible and went round with ease. Fantastic transition profile.”TopClip tops have 3 “teeth”, which allow them to be pushed flush to both floorcoverings which they transition between. This ensures that TopClip fits snugly on both the carpet and vinyl in Albion Mills, minimising the risk of trips. The tops are also slip resistant and durable, for extra safety.The flint coloured QTC42R tops look great with the dark and light grey carpet tiles. They fit perfectly with the aesthetic of the refurbished offices. Floors Hull, with the help of Quantum Flooring, have ensured that Albion Mills has a modern, professional design scheme for prospective tenants.

The Nantgarw student Campus is part of Coleg y Cymoedd (College of the Valleys) in Wales. When the campus required a fast refurbishment of their Library, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply Gradus Carpets for the much-used library. This successful renovation, then resulted in the specification of a vast selection of other Gerflor products for other areas of the campus.The project provided Gerflor with the perfect platform to showcase a raft of other high-quality flooring solutions ideal for the demands of the modern-day education environment. The project would amount to an immense 5300m2 of Gerflor products being specified.Commenting on the project Tony Thorne, Specification Manager, Gerflor, South Wales said, “The end user was so pleased with the final result they chose to work with Gerflor and Carpet Services for other areas of the refurbishment programme across the entire campus.”The installation would be the responsibility of Carpet Services Flooring, Cardiff. Ray Gallivan, Contract Manager at Carpet Services said, “The Gerflor flooring products that were specified for this iconic project are really meeting the high standards required for the end user. We would continue to use Gerflor on a weekly basis. The final result at the college is extremely impressive.”The design and specification of the Nantgarw Sports Centre of Excellence would fall to Cardiff-based architects Austin-Smith: Lord. Jonanthan Jones, Associate at Austin- Smith: Lord commented, “The Gerflor flooring products specified are absolutely meeting the high specifications set for the education project and client’s brief. We would definitely specify Gerflor again.”

60 London Wall is an icon mixed use office & retail building in the dynamic heart of London’s City, with 328,500 sq ft of grade A office accommodation situated over ten stunning floors. It was recently completely renovated and Alliance Bernstein now occupy space within the building. The existing raised access floor was overlaid with Knauf GifaFloor FHB18 making it the ideal substrate to receive a combination of ceramic tiles & micro-screed cement

SubFloor flooring was used in a conversion of an industrial premise for youth gaming activities. This allowed insulation to separate the cold floor from the main area and for wiring installations under the floor.This simple and elegant solution raised and levelled the floor to allow for installations and insulation. The joist and screw system allows for quick and easy assembly so that the floor can reach the desired height.95 mm Rigid insulation was positioned on the insulation bearers and a 22 mm chipboard was placed on top.Products:Wooden Joist 45x45x3600 mmSubFloor Screw 200 mmSubFloor Screw FootInsulation Bearer 95 mmHeight Variation: 105 - 236 mmJoist separation: c/c 600 mmSystem Weight - c/c 600 mm: 2.82 kg/m²Materials:Pine T0-C24Fibre-reinforced polypropylenePolyamideCold Galvanised Sheet SteelPoint Load Limit (50 x 50 mm):Load next to screw over joist edge - 9.72 kNLoad between screws over joist edge - 15.85 kN

SubFloor flooring was used to help renovate and raise a 250 m² floor into an office with a large void in Stockholm, Sweden.This simple and elegant solution raised and levelled the floor to allow for installations and insulation. The joist and screw system allows for quick and easy assembly so that the floor can reach the desired height.Products:Wooden Joist 45x45x3600 mmSubFloor Screw 300 mmSubFloor Screw FootHeight Variation: 65 - 314 mmJoist separation: c/c 300 mmSystem Weight - c/c 300 mm: 3.99 kg/m²Materials:Pine T0-C24Fibre-reinforced polypropylenePolyamidePoint Load Limit (50 x 50 mm):Load next to screw over joist edge - 9.72 kNLoad between screws over joist edge - 15.85 kN

The Curzon Cinema in Oxford, part of the Westgate Shopping Complex, features a unique Arturo Performace Resin Floor in its bar area. Installed by 3D Royal Floors, the 271 m² floor combines aesthetic appeal with durability, essential for heavy foot traffic and furniture movement. The dark grey 'concrete look' created a unique and attractive floor. The seamless flooring enhances the venue's contemporary atmosphere, providing patrons with a stylish and comfortable environment.

The well known traditional British cheese producer, Long Clawson Dairy, required dairy flooring renovation at their Melton Mowbray site. The refurbishment areas included a number of production areas, including the Cheese Room floor. The client needed a hardwearing, slip-resistant, hygienic flooring to cover areas of approximately 200m².Having previously worked with The National Flooring Company on other projects, the client contacted the Degafloor Approved Installer to ask for advice on the best solution for the upcoming works. As the factory is in constant production, attention to detail was required regarding dust and fumes.Drainage was another consideration for the dairy flooring. The drainage was required to be fully operational after the installation, so for best results the contractors recommended using the Degafloor Quartz Trowelled with Aggregate resin flooring. QTA is a trowel-applied system with a quartz scatter finish that will not run into the drains upon application.Long Clawson Dairy needed a flooring solution that could be installed quickly and deliver long-term performance. Degafloor resin systems are based on ultra fast curing methyl methacrylate technology that enables rapid installation and cures as fast as two hours after application.The dairy flooring project was completed in just 6 days over 2 separate shifts. The fast curing properties of Degafloor MMA resin flooring enabled production to commence just 2 hours after the new floors and coving were installed. The Operations Director of Long Clawson Dairy was extremely happy with the end result.

FORBO’S PORTFOLIO HELPS CONNECT RURAL UNIVERSITY TO COUNTRYSIDE ROOTS Situated in the countryside near Milton Keynes, Cranfield University recently added five new blocks, including a new central hub for the students, to its campus. As the communal area was the standout aspect of the project, Magna Designs Interiors utilised Forbo Flooring Systems’ Flotex planks and Allura Flex luxury vinyl tiles to help connect the university to its countryside heritage. Speaking about the project, Emma Barnes, Interior Designer at Magna Designs Interiors, said: “While the five new blocks were a new part of campus, the university didn’t want them to stand out too much from the existing buildings. Everything had to fit in and look like it belonged, whilst still having a contemporary feel. I worked with the contractor Watkins-Jones to form a basic design idea and then we got to work. The brief the client gave to me was for a modern space, one that gave a nod to the nature around them but also prioritised comfort.” Magna Designs Interiors went with what Emma described as a soft industrial design with exposed pipework in the ceiling and metal framework detailing, but then opted for something to slightly soften that look for the flooring: “We needed something that was comfortable but also hard-wearing and Forbo’s Flotex ticks both those boxes. It almost doesn’t look like a textile floor covering, especially with the designs we used for the project, but it provides great underfoot comfort. We went with this soft industrial look in the communal area, using Flotex Concrete in the Storm and Cloud colourways. This provided a really neutral look. While we combined the Storm and Cloud colourways to break up the design, I knew I wanted to mix this up even further.  “It’s for this reason that I also used Flotex by Starck. It has this nice neutral base which fits with the soft industrial theme, but then transitions from the base grey shade to a crazy and colourful pattern, which I really enjoyed. I’ve worked with Flotex before as it’s been around for years now, but it’s exciting to see how Forbo has reinvented it with their new designs, especially with their designer ranges like Flotex by Starck.” Alongside creating a comfortable and homely feel, Emma was also tasked with giving a nod to the open green spaces that surround the campus. She commented: “We wanted to link the project back to nature, as the university is situated in this beautiful, peaceful countryside area. I used Forbo’s Allura Flex planks in the areas where students could sit together on these sofas, which had earthy tones like browns and greens. It really brought the outside in and we felt it grounded the place in nature, which the campus obviously is! The Allura Flex planks have this lovely wood grain look, which fit in with the overall design but also helped to break up the greys of the Flotex tiles. I even used bark from the surrounding trees on some of the walls, which linked in with the grain of the planks.” Conscious that sustainability is high on many specifier’s agendas, this was another reason behind the specification of Flotex. Flotex is made using 100% renewable energy and the normal Flotex planks are made of 49% recycled content by weight, making it a good sustainable choice. Allura Flex is also made using all renewable energy and contains 24% recycled content by weight. What’s more, both ranges have a long-life cycle – key for education design, where products are needed that can survive for many years with minimal maintenance or upkeep. Emma concluded: “I’m really happy with how the place looks; I feel we definitely captured the essence of what was requested. Everything came together very nicely, and I cannot recommend Forbo highly enough. Elizabeth Bushell, the Account Manager I worked with, was so helpful and had some constructive ideas, suggesting products for me to use. I’m still hearing good reports about the new student central hub now, a year on from completion of that area of the project, so it’s stood the test of time so far!” The final handover of the project was completed in April 2022, but the communal area was completed over a year ago. Magna Designs Interiors’ work on the communal student hub saw them win ‘Highly Commended’ at Forbo Flooring Systems’ 2021/2022 Forbo Escapes competition.All images were produced by Cranfield University  For more information about Forbo’s solutions for the education sector, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/education or to enter the 2022/23 Forbo Escapes competition, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/forboescapes

Few people realise that it is possible to clad old stairs with our engineered herringbone parquet floors. It is a specialist skill and you should only employ trusted professionals who have the specialist equipment. The parquet blocks used here are unfinished so that you get perfect square edges. They are then oiled after all other works are completed so that you get your perfect floor. There is no separate stair nose piece as the top layer of solid Oak is a good 4mm thick and this allows the fitters to create an accurate mitre join.

Kingspan RMG600 Raised Access Floor panels are being utilised across multiple state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities including specialist laboratory spaces.The flooring solution provides the facility management team with a great deal of flexibility – rapid access to the void, enabling reconfiguration, fault-finding or simply maintaining the many metres of cables and pipework that are required to service such a leading-edge education building.