"flooring reinforcements toppings"

Hoists are one of the key components of a Changing Places Toilet and there are a few essential things to consider before installing them. See below for our top 4 things to think about at the planning, design and installation stages.Installing hoists into Changing Places Toilets requires knowledge of the equipment, the relevant regulations and requirements specific to these fully accessible toilets, plus the experience to install the specialist equipment safely.Astor Bannerman have a Changing Places team who have extensive experience with the planning and installation of hoists and other specialist equipment.

Alfresco Floors were commissioned to refurbish the external terrace of a top floor apartment located on Nile Street, London. The brand new GRAD invisible fixings clip system was supplied and installed by Alfresco Floors, their first ever GRAD installation in the UK. The unique clip and groove design at the heart of the GRAD system means that decks can be installed about 30% faster than competing products. The GRAD system can be retrofitted onto existing timber joists, installed from scratch on top of a new timber sub-frame, or mounted onto the bespoke rail system.

The LPS 1175 SR1 (A1), SR2 (B3) & SR3 (C5) Platinum Bi-parting Bi-folding Gate with overhead top track is a security gate which is ideal for underground car parks and sites where there is a limited area for the gate to open and close. The gate has successfully withstood forcible attack to Security Rating 1 (A1) for 1 minute, Security Rating 2 (B3) for 3 minutes and Security Rating 3 (C5) for 5 minutes.

Around the perimeter of the school, Jacksons installed approximately 140 metres of 1.8m high Bow Top fencing, 3 metres of 1m high Bow Top fencing. To provide separate access control for pedestrians and vehicles, 4 manual single leaf Bow Top gates and 3 double leaf Bow Top gates were installed, one of which was automated to control access to the site. In addition to this, we supplied 26.6 metres of 1.8m high EuroGuard® Flatform Medium mesh, and 38 metres of 2.4m high EuroGuard®Flatform Medium , along with 1 single leaf 2m wide EuroGuard Flatform Heavy Gate.

Before the installation of the Liberty Switch system could begin, a sub-floor was constructed using timber battens to provide a completely level surface onto which the pre-manufactured Liberty Switch base panels, complete with the drives and control mechanism were installed. The Harlequin Liberty top panels were then laid and locked into place, finally being topped with a Harlequin Studio vinyl floor. The whole system is operated via a master control unit using a simple touch screen placed on the wall of the room which enables rapid transformation.  

The renovation project above the theatre in Barnsley, developed by HLM Architects and constructed by Code Building Solutions, successfully integrated the SubFloor Raised Access Floor system to meet the acoustic damping, height increase, and level installation requirements. The system's acoustic feet effectively reduced impact noise, rebound noise, and flanking transmission, creating a productive and comfortable office environment. The inclusion of fibre-reinforced screws and slow-grown Swedish pine ensured the system's compliance with load-bearing requirements. Contractors praised the simplicity and efficiency of the assembly process, reaffirming the system's suitability for architects and contractors in the construction industry. The SubFloor system proved to be a reliable and effective solution for achieving superior acoustic performance and efficiency in office renovations.Products:Wooden Joist 45 x 70 mmSubFloor Screw 300 mmScrew Foot Acoustic 25 Construction:Joist separation c/c 600 mmBuilding height: 112 – 364 mm Data:System weight: 4.50 kg/m²Acoustic damping: Up to 28 dB [rating according to ISO 717-2]Point Load 50 x 50 mm (c/c 600 mm):15.3 kN/m² - Next to screw over joist10.6 kN/m² - Between joists[According to SS-EN 1195:1998] Materials:Pine T0-C24Fibre-reinforced VitamidePolyamide + Thermoplastic Elastomer

The challenge of working at height can be a constant headache when it comes to lighting. While the shift to more reliable LED warehouse lighting fixtures has reduced maintenance requirements, the need to access fixtures at a high level remains. In this guide, we explore the top 5 benefits of fitting a warehouse lighting winch to high bay lighting fixtures.

In constructing the new STAR Hub facility, the specification of the flooring choice would be at the very top of the agenda to enable only the very best products to be used. The ultimate decision would fall onto specifying some 320 sq m of Taraflex® vinyl sports flooring from international flooring and interiors specialist Gerflor.

Crown Paints has achieved top marks for a prestigious school in the historic city of York. Bootham School, an independent day and boarding school for 3 to 18 year olds, has harnessed the expertise of Crown Trade to protect their historic building. The windows of Fox House, which is situated on Portland Street in the city centre, were in need of attention and the Crown Paints Specification Team were called in to help. After a site survey by the team, Crown Trade Stronghold Exterior Gloss and Crown Trade Stronghold Exterior Primer Undercoat were specified for the job.

The designers for this project, SKS would be at the top of their game to deliver an interior that could meet a raft of challenges. Stepping up to this challenging remit from SKS, International flooring specialist Gerflor would be supplying two of their most iconic and stunning flooring products. Gerflor’s LVT Creation and smart-looking GTI would be the designer’s choice to grace this newly re-furbished office.

With approximately 20 children and staff onsite during open hours; ensuring complete safety for all parties was a key requisite for the project. Recognised as a leading perimeter security specialist Jacksons were identified as the right company to design and supply both a vertical bar fencing solution and timber palisade alternative for both the perimeter and internal areas of the school. Supplying over 60 x 1m high Sentry fencing, the system was mounted on top of the existing 1m high boundary wall using our bespoke designed cranked fence posts whilst also being stepped to accommodate the sloping ground.

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.

Modern Office Space Boosts the Local Economy. This new Breeam “Very Good” office space was supplied by Wilmott Dixon for Adur and Worthing Council. The Office Raised Floor System covres 2,242m2 open plan office space and is arranged over three floors with communal dining/tea point areas to accommodate around 300 employees. Bathgate Flooring Ltd were pleased to be a part of this project. The Construction Manager, Rob Douglas commented that; “THE COLLABORATION AND TEAM WORK ON THE PROJECT HAS BEEN BRILLIANT WHICH HAS RESULTED IN AN AWESOME JOURNEY AND FINAL PRODUCT…TOP JOB AND THANK YOU AGAIN!! “

Capella Development, Handyside, Kings Cross LondonDeveloper: ArgentMain contractor: Laing O’Rourke Architects: Chapman TaylorSub Contractor: InstaGroup120 newly built residential apartments received InstaCoustic's 'dry' cradle & batten system combining under floor heating & topped with Knauf GifaFloor FHB25.Original plans were to install a T&G chipboard to finish the acoustic floor system, however it was determined that there were deflection risks around the proposed large format tile finish.As a result, the chipboard was replaced by the high density, gypsum fibreboard Knauf GifaFloor FHB25. This resulted in:Quicker install & less use water than a wet screed systemImproved acoustic performanceImproved fire performanceImproved thermal efficiency resulting in reduced energy costs for the end userHigher loading performance, creating a solid substrate for the finish to be applied directly toReduction in overall embodied carbon & installation of a product that offers a high recycled contentLifetime guarantee of the buildingClick the link below to read the full case studyhttps://www.instacoustic.co.uk/case-study/kings-cross-london-n1c/

A former pub located in the heart of Taporley village, Cheshire, has been converted into a luxury health and welbeing centre, featuring a state-of-the-art-gym, treatment rooms and apartments for staff use. Instinct Gym and Wellbeing aims to help improve the health and mental wellbeing of the local community through new initiatives. When it came to selection the best floor coverings, having worked with JA Flooring on previous projects  Enigma Holdings Group, the owners of the building, called upon the flooring contractor once more. As aesthetics and durability were key objectives of the project, JA Flooring advised the use of an array of solutions from Forbo Flooring Systems’ portfolio including its Allura luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), which played a significant role in the renovation works.The natural wood and stone aesthetic, combined with the benefits of strong, comfortable vinyl tiles, meant that Allura was installed in the gym, treatment rooms, spin studios and circulation areas. In the treatment rooms where a more serene surrounding was required, Allura Wood in the Whitewash Elegant Oak colourway was used.In the entrance and reception area, a bespoke Coral Logo entrance flooring mat was produced to reinforce the Instinct Gym and Wellbeing branding – helping to create that all important first impression, whilst offering protection in extreme traffic conditions and maximum functional performance.Finally, Tessera Earthscape carpet tiles in Iceberg were installed in the apartments; and in the changing facilities and kitchens, the Surestep range in various neutral colourways helped to complement the overall sophisticated interior of the health and wellbeing centre.

Client: Manchester Airport Group Architect: Pascall Watson Consulting Engineer: Burro Happold Main Contractor: Laing O’Rourke Specialist Contractor: Thelwell Flooring Main Products Used: Emseal SJS System and Emshield DSMThis new 9-storey car park with 3,800 spaces, was built as part of the £1 billion Terminal-2 redevelopment for Manchester Airport Group (MAG). To save time and space on site, the consultants used an innovative design, with a hybrid combination of steel delta beams and precast concrete, then on site the hollow-core precast floor slabs were topped with a 100mm thick reinforced concrete screed. To fully accommodate the anticipated levels of thermal movement and loadings in service, the engineers incorporated wide, high movement capability, structural expansion joints across the parking decks, between the different sections of the building. Given the dimensions of the deck joints (100mm) and the high movement capability required (100% = +/- 50%), with simultaneous exposure to the elements whilst under frequent heavy traffic, the joint sealing solution could only be specified as the Emseal SJS System. This unique structural expansion joint system easily accommodates high levels of movement in more than one plane, plus it has an integral coverplate to provide protection of the central movement section and the joint arrises. Importantly, the Emseal SJS is bonded into position with a structural epoxy adhesive from above, therefore requiring no access from below and enabling other works (e.g. M&E cable works etc.) to continue, plus as it is fully bonded, the SJS system requires no potentially damaging drilling into sound concrete to install mechanical fixings. In less trafficked wide joints at the perimeter, the Emseal DSM System was used, as a cover plate was not necessary.

In the three dance studios Harlequin supplied and installed a fully-floating Harlequin Activity sprung floor with Harlequin Cascade and Harlequin Standfast performance surfaces totalling over 330 square metres. Harlequin Ballet Barres and Harlequin Mirrors completed the dance studio facilities. In the Performance Teaching Space a Harlequin WoodSpring basket weave sprung floor system with a Harlequin Standfast top surface was supplied and installed to an area of over 180 square metres.

Mote Park is a 450-acre green space within the town of Maidstone, Kent. The expansive park has woodland, grasslands and rivers all surrounding a 30 acre lake. The park attracts over one million visitors a year and provides source for a range of activities such as water sports, family fun days, dog walking and wildlife spotting. To safely secure the perimeter of the new play area we supplied 230 metres of Anti Trap Bow Top fencing and a number of matching gates.

The Strand Aldwych is a busy public area well-known as a procession route between Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral. The area was historically plagued by traffic and pollution, so people were reluctant to dwell for long periods of time.The newly pedestrianised area with stone walls already in place needed public seating outside St Clement Danes Church. Coordinating the wall shape with the stone underneath was imperative, and access was needed to the lighting drivers through the platforms since the stone underneath is illuminated with LEDs. With this in mind, our design team worked collaboratively to develop a bespoke version of our modular RailRoad seating design, based on the principles where interchangeable parts can be easily removed or replaced. A RailRoad wall-top solution was created with a custom curve to match the stone walls, and the platforms have removable hatches for access when needed.The bespoke RailRoad seating solution is manufactured from our triple processed (recycled) steel and powder coated in a distinct metallic copper finish - while the iroko timbers were coated with UV protective finish in teak to maintain their natural look. This project focused on improving air quality, and our AKRI retaining planters were ideal for bringing green into the space. Their flexibility also allowed for matching the geometry of the adjacent stone benches and roads. In order to prevent damage, welded anti skates were incorporated into the solution.The project not only provides health and well-being benefits with the new public landscaped areas, it will preserve the historic character and for the first time allow people to appreciate the nearby listed buildings. The new inclusive seating spaces for people to mix in are seen to be well used as people can enjoy their lunch, meet with friends and colleagues and simply enjoy a sense of community.

The Goodwin Development Trust are an organisation committed to improving the quality of life within the communities of Hull. Their Octagon Centre provides a range of services that meets the many needs of the community which includes floor space for the Goodwin Table Tennis Club (GTTC) to practice and play on. Providing a suitable playing surface for the GTTC would involve a local flooring installer supplying 300m2 of top-quality flooring from international flooring specialist Gerflor. It would prove to be an ideal project perfectly suited to Gerflor’s world-renowned Taraflex® Table Tennis Floor.

Challenge: C-Probe's LoCem® +chase® anode mortar has been installed at the Omni Shopping Centre Car Park in Edinburgh, Scotland to 4 levels of underground car parking as part of a comprehensive corrosion management strategy. Overtime the popular car park had succumbed to structural damage and corrosion caused by the ingress of chlorides from de-icing salts from above.Solution: This system comprised of 42 ICCP zones and 7 additional monitoring zones forlevels protected using surface-applied corrosion inhibitors. In addition to this, some 6000 C-Puck galvanic anodes were used to protect newly repaired areas to 2 levels. All the anodes and monitoring could be controlled and data accessed remotely throughoutthe car park with AchillesICP and AchillesIES, helping to extend its service life for 100+ years.Outcome: This ESG compliant approach meant there was no need for demolition or extensive reconstruction using new materials, helping to reduce waste and harmful emissions. Reconstruction was also a near-impossible strategy due to underground facility and electric tram on land, meaning something non-invasive like cathodic protection was essentialto minimise social disruption. 

Harlequin's expert technical team installed a fully-floating Harlequin Activity sprung floor system in all of the professional-standard studio performance spaces, topped with Harlequin Standfast, Harlequin Cascade and Harlequin Freestyle vinyl surfaces. Harlequin Mirrors and Harlequin Ballet Barres completed the installation. All floors were completed with fully welded seams and composite edge trims.

We were privileged to be contracted by Keltbray to install 350 riser floors at The Broadway, an exclusive new development at St James’s Park.The Broadway is a vibrant new living quarter located in the heart of Westminster. Described as the epitome of British innovative design and contemporary cool, six impressive towers are home to 258 exquisite apartments with five-star facilities. While the outside is steeped in iconic architecture and a revival of Art Deco design, behind the scenes, architects specified the very latest in building techniques and safety protocols, with Step on Safety’s GRP RiserDeck™ System at the very core of each building.Providing a modern, high-spec alternative to traditional galvanised steel and ply board service riser duct flooring, RiserDeck™ comprises of GRP Open Mesh Grating supported by composite Channel, Angle and I Beam sections to provide additional panel support. Manufactured from durable fibre-reinforced polymers and available with either a closed or open mesh surface, both of which facilitate multi-directional spanning, the inherent strength of these panels is provided by alternating, bi-directional layers of glass fibre woven rovings, which distribute the imposed load throughout the panel surface. The glass fibres are impregnated with polyester resin binding agent, which also provides the necessary corrosion resistance. A silicon carbide grit is applied to the top surface to provide an effective anti-slip finish to this GRP Riser Flooring.The resulting system requires no hot works to cut and fit onsite and is light enough for manual handling – no heavy lifting equipment is needed to manoeuvre into place.The project took ten months, with timings of each riser critical to ensure the smooth running of the project with no delays to other contractors; this had to be achieved while navigating the COVID-19 restrictions that came into play throughout. Three teams of three installers were onsite for the duration, making it one of our largest projects to date.To find out more about how Step on Safety can support your next project, call us on 01206 396 446 or email us at sales@steponsafety.co.uk.

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.

ROJECT NAME: RENOVATION PRODUCT SUPPLIED SUPPLIED: INSTALLER SELFBUILD CONTRACT FLOORS AEROMIX was chosen for this renovation project thanks to its many benefits of offering warmth, smoothness of finish and speed of install. This project came with a challenging access issue meaning a long pump distance and lots of services in the floor AEROMIX was the perfect solution. This was the perfect product, providing an ideal solution for the insulation for this project. Reducing CO2 due to reduced carbon emissions within the product. The installer who completed this project SELFBUILD CONTRACT FLOORS said AEROMIX was poured as insulated ground baring slab, installed at 250mm deep achieving the required 0.11 u-value, this allowed the customer to clip the UFH pipes directly to it before being topped with a 65mm C20 liquid screed AEROMIX provided the ideal solution for the insulation on this project, compared to the normal concrete floor and other traditional methods, the speed of pumping the insulation coupled with the high thermal properties has contributed in saving the customer both time and money. 

Timbered Flooring used Bona to finish a fumed oak floor at London's new Assembly London hotel The wirebrushed blocks were finished with Bona Craft Oil 2K (Frost) buffed back for a white limed effect. Bona Traffic HD lacquer was applied as a hard wearing top coat for this busy space. The fast curing time of both enabled the team to work within a tight timetable. Maintenance involves regular cleaning with Bona Cleaner and annual resealing with Traffic HD so the floor always looks good and the expense and downtime caused by sanding back to bare wood will be avoided.

GEC Anderson stainless steel worktops were included in a recent Cornwall kitchen refurbishment, designed and installed by George Robinson Kitchens who produce hand crafted, bespoke kitchens, near Penzance. For homeowners, Mr. & Mrs. Bull, the choice of materials was pivotal to the design of their home kitchen, particularly, as their long-term plan is to use the space as a cookery school. Stainless steel was therefore a key element and was chosen not only for its visual properties and low lifetime cost but also for its ability to withstand heavy usage, to be heat resistant and to remain germ-free. From a visual perspective, the work surfaces make up a significant proportion of the colour and texture in the room. In this Georgian property in Cornwall, the materials and textures chosen make for an eclectic yet functional space. The inherent durability and unsurpassed hygienic properties of the brushed stainless steel elements from GEC Anderson will make it perform extremely well as a professional kitchen. The Tulip wood and Oak wood with its different painted finishes together with the white Silestone quartz top on the central island top provides a striking contrast to the stainless steel in one corner, giving a light and pleasant, contemporary, feel.The L-shaped brushed satin stainless steel worktop and integral sink is made to measure and benefits from being manufactured in one continuous piece thus maximising the use of space in the corner in which it is situated. Furthermore, with no joins at the sink bowl, edges and upstands, the surface remains germ free as well as being free of visual clutter and noise. One side of the L-shape includes a generously sized (500x400mm) single bowl and draining area, whilst the other, provides useful and practical work surface. A 100mm high, integral, back upstand was also specified, providing a neat, practical and watertight junction to walls.Owner Dr Matt Bull says, “My wife and I liked the toughness of the stainless steel and the fact that it can take hot and cold, doesn't stain, reflects light and provides an hygienic surface that is easy to clean. Stainless steel also gains character as it ages, where many surfaces will deteriorate, so that’s a real bonus.” He added, “We struggled to find anyone locally who could manufacture the stainless steel elements of the kitchen to a sufficiently high standard. The neatness of the welding and the configuration of the shape, drainer recess etc. were key to what GEC Anderson could offer.”GEC Anderson stainless steel worktops are supplied fully sound deadened, plastic protected 

Well known as one of North Norfolk’s gems, not just because of its historic setting - it’s believed to be Holt’s oldest building - Byfords is the place to go for delicious home-cooked food, from breakfast, lunch and dinner to everything in between.Busy all year round with loyal locals and visitors to the popular upmarket town of Holt, Byfords is so much more than just a restaurant. On entering, guests are shown through the store, jam-packed with savoury pastries, hot food and cakes to take-away, before arriving at the striking but homely vaulted dining-cafe. Those lucky enough to be staying the night or two are shown to a sumptuous B&B suite upstairs.January 2020 saw Byfords renovate the ‘conservatory’ area of the restaurant, adding an impressive open marble-topped serving bar, behind which are positioned coffee machines and everything needed to make the ever-popular hot drinks throughout the day. One element of this key area that also needed upgrading was the water boiler. Used almost non-stop to fill teapots and cafetieres, Byfords looked to upgrade their current boiler to ensure it could meet the restaurant’s needs.General manager Richard Knights explains: “All of our kitchen & Bar products need to be able to meet a high level of demand, along with being reliable, as we don’t want to be replacing appliances every year.” Richard selected an Instanta product after researching boilers and being impressed with the capacity options and dedication to quality manufacture.A SureFlow Counter Top Filtered (CTS11F) boiler was installed, providing the cafe with up to 162 cups of boiling water per hour, with its built-in multi-functional filtration. This filtration can be adjustable for any catering facility in hard water areas to not only ensure the product isn’t affected by limescale build-up but also to keep hot drinks tasting fresh.“The team makes numerous hot drinks throughout the day,” continues Richard, “so it was vital we have a boiler that is up to the task. The tap is at the right height for filling tall teapots and cafetieres and we never have to worry about waiting for the water to be at the right temperature. As it is in a front-of-house location, it’s also great that it looks good! The smart stainless steel styling complements our other products and looks professional.”The positive feedback from Byfords team means Richard wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Instanta to the other restaurants in the Norfolk Passport brand. “When we come across a product that works so well we always share our insights and I’ll certainly be letting the other teams know that they might be missing out on something!”

Station Square Parade is a 2018 residential development right next to Colchester train station. Originally a large office building, it has now been converted into 67 luxury apartments with private balconies all set around an internal private courtyard. Alfresco Floors supplied and installed a mixture of 600×600 and 400×1200 Rowe, Moroto and Umer 20mm thick slip-resistant porcelain tiles to create a raised seating area and private balconies for all the top floor apartments. The design, supply and installation contract totalled nearly 500 Sqm of external porcelain paving and a small area of artificial grass.

INNOVATIVE OFFICE INSTALL CREATES STYLISH AND SUSTAINABLE SPACE Forbo Flooring Systems’ Allura Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) range was specified by design and fit out company, Oktra, to transform an office building into a stylish and modern workspace. It was also installed adhesive free using IOBAC MagTabsÒ, to help achieve Akoya’s sustainability requirements.  Oktra were recruited by Akoya and Brunswick Property Partners, to repurpose an office building to create a vibrant and attractive space for young professionals and entrepreneurs to work in. Formally known as Knollys and Stephenson House, the building will be rebranded as Mosaic East, a comprehensive refurbishment of one of East Croydon’s most iconic office developments.  Typically, carpet tiles or exposed raised access flooring are the go-to solution in these scenarios, however with a premium design required, Oktra opted for something different, as Danielle La Porte, Designer at Oktra explains: “Akoya wanted to create a range of category A office suites that would be memorable to tenants, while also meeting sustainability requirements. With this brief in mind, we specified Forbo’s Allura Flex LVT, which is available in range of elegant colourways and wood effect designs – perfect for this project! “We wanted to add some brand identity within the category A suites, so we decorated some of them in a light pink colour with linear LED lighting, and other suites in a light sage green colour. To complement the colour palettes, we chose Allura Flex LVT in the Light Honey Oak shade. We then asked the flooring contractors, The Commercial Flooring Company, to install the planks in a beautiful herringbone pattern to really enhance the aesthetics of the space.” However, appearance wasn’t the only area of concern, with Akoya also conscious of the sustainability requirements. Danielle addressed this, saying: “The aesthetics of the flooring weren’t the only thing we had to keep in mind, we also had to ensure that whatever floor covering we specified would meet Akoya’s sustainability aims. It was for this reason that we specified Forbo’s Allura Flex, as it can be easily installed adhesive free, using IOBAC MagTabsÒ.” IOBAC’s innovative MagTabsÒ provide a two-dimensional hold, with one side being magnetic and the other a dry-tack adhesive. This means they can be easily magnetised onto metal raised access flooring, like those at Mosaic East, and the chosen flooring simply placed on top, negating the need for traditional adhesives. Ian Spreadborough, Founder and Director at IOBAC explains further: “Our MagTabsÒ essentially allow flooring contractors to quickly place floor coverings down onto raised access flooring, without damaging the substrate or the flooring itself. The phrase we use is ‘hard to shift, easy to lift’. The idea is that the flooring is securely fitted but can then be lifted back up to be reused elsewhere, or simply be replaced by another floor covering further down the line. “Oktra approached us as they had used our MagTabsÒ on a previous project and had been extremely impressed by their performance, so were keen to use the product again. Additionally, Forbo’s LVT and carpet tiles are approved for use with the MagTabsÒ, making it the logical choice. On top of this, Brunswick, who own the raised access flooring itself, were keen to maintain the condition of its asset, so, the tabs served a double purpose, protecting both a heavy carbon embodied asset, in the raised access flooring, and Forbo’s floor coverings.” Jon Cochrane, Director - Asset Management & Sustainability at Brunswick Property Partners, commented on the use of IOBAC’s MagTabsÒ, saying: “Cleaning adhesive residue off sub-floors in between leases is often messy, expensive and time-consuming. In some cases, the raised access floor panels are so badly contaminated that they must be completely replaced, something which isn’t sustainable, environmentally or financially.  However, using IOBAC MagTabsÒ to install floor coverings removes this issue completely. This means that our asset, in this case the raised access flooring, is protected and kept damage-free for longer-term usage.” It wasn’t just the sustainability benefits that drew Oktra towards MagTabsÒ, with the installation benefits of the tabs also a deciding factor. Daniel Hassan, Operations Manager at The Commercial Flooring Company, commented on this, saying: “Thanks to IOBAC’s MagTabsÒ, it took a team of three fitters around five days to install 900m2 of flooring in a herringbone pattern, which is challenging to install and would have taken much longer to do through traditional methods. This provided a great time saving and allowed the other trades to work around us whilst we fitted the flooring.” The time saved during the installation stage meant the project as a whole was able to be completed in just 10 weeks, a quick turnaround for such a large job. Danielle concluded: “We’re really happy with the finished project, as are Akoya; the flooring looks amazing and we’re delighted to have been able to get it fitted so quickly, as well as meet Akoya’s important sustainability aims.” To find out more about Forbo’s offering for office spaces, please visit: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/offices.To find out more about using IOBAC MagTabs, please visit: Adhesive-free Flooring Installation System - IOBAC MagTabs® | IOBAC | NBS Source (thenbs.com) 

Back in 2013 when the Ipswich Basketball Academy based at Copleston Sixth Form College (which is home to the Ipswich Basketball Club) needed to refurbish their existing floor, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 700m2 of their world class Taraflex® Comfort vinyl sports flooring which was installed on top of an existing Granwood floor. By overlaying Taraflex® onto the pre-existing surface, the facility was able to quickly and cost effectively rejuvenate its floor, minimising maintenance costs whilst benefiting from long-lasting durability.Gerflor believe that supporting sports at the grass root level is imperative to ensure that every player and participant, regardless of age and ability, can become champions within their own right. To this end, Gerflor are proud to announce their 2021/22 sponsorship of the Ipswich Basketball Club. This golden opportunity will deliver a much wider social impact: it will help the players to lead healthier lives, to develop new skills for employment and to further engage with the local community in exercise and sporting initiatives.

When two top-performing Wakefield schools needed to source high quality flooring for their sports halls they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 1300m2 of their world class Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring, together with 1350m2 of Isolsport isolating membrane to complete the refurbishment project. The transformation was completed, and the client is delighted with the refurbishment.So, it’s no wonder that specifying a sports floor for both schools that could deliver both outstanding performance, comfort, and high levels of safety for all users regardless of their ages, and sporting ability would be top of their agenda.Kent Oliver Estates Manager at Queen Elizabeth Grammar Wakefield said, “We had an urgent need to refurbish our Boys’ and Girls’ tired granwood main sports hall flooring. We engaged with a number of Gerflor’s previous clients, who could not speak highly enough of the quality products installed and the fantastic levels of service provided by the Specification and Technical teams.”Wayne Andrews, Gerflor Sports Manager North UK said, “The client is extremely pleased with the final installation. A number of Gerflor people were involved, right from the Specification Team through to high-level management who all agreed how important and unique this project was.”Kent Oliver ended by saying, “We would definitely specify Gerflor again. The performance and appearance has surpassed our expectations and we have received nothing but positive feedback from the schools, and other sports hall users.”

A complete rework of a postmodern office building (60 London Wall), situated in the heart of the City of London. The project aim was to extensively refurbish, reconfigure, reinvent and reposition the building.Due to the addition of a composite metal deck floor extension and additional steel frame for the top floors, Tarmac’s Toplight C lightweight structural concrete was seen as the perfect solution as it could be pumped and ensured a weight loss of 30% whiel maintaining the necessary structural performance.

Floor Painters Limited, have used UltraFloor to complete a 2,100 sqm industrial flooring project at a historic steel forge.Experienced industrial flooring experts, Floor Painters Limited, have used a number of UltraFloor materials to complete a 2,100 sqm industrial flooring project at a historic steel forge in Lincoln.BackgroundBuilt over 100 years ago, the existing floors in the steel forge were damaged and unsafe. After careful consideration, it became clear that replacing the original concrete floor was not a practical option in terms of time and cost.The ChallengeThe steel forge remained fully operational throughout the project and so the challenge was to find a range of flooring materials perfectly suited for industrial use and that could be trafficked quickly so as not to disrupt any work being carried out.The SolutionWith decades of expertise, Floor Painters Limited knew UltraFloor materials were key to a successful outcome.After removing the damaged concrete floor, the concrete substrate was sealed using UltraFloor Prime IT Multi-surface Primer. Formulated to promote adhesion to all UltraFloor smoothing underlayments, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer is pigmented pink for excellent coverage control and is proven to reduce pinholing, minimising the risk of costly failures. With a coverage rate of 200sqm at 3:1 dilution, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer is a must-have product for all flooring installation projects.The following day, Level IT Base was applied, via pump, at an average depth of 50mm. Level IT Base is a heavy duty, deep fill smoothing underlayment, formulated to build depths of up to 50mm thickness. Level IT Base also boasts a high compressive strength – an important requirement for all industrial flooring applications.Once Level IT Base had cured, Level IT Top was pump applied to an average depth of 10mm and left to cure. Ideal for use with Level IT Base, Level IT Top is a heavy duty, abrasive resistant surface finish, designed for use as a wear surface, and can receive forklift traffic after only 36 hours – the ideal product for warehouses and manufacturing facilities where downtime is not an option!Both Level IT Top and Level IT Base can be pump or trowel applied for ease of application, are moisture tolerant, have a 30-40 minute working time and can receive foot traffic after just 3 hours.To complete the installation, the cured floor was then prepared by industrial grinding before the application of two coats of a solvent free epoxy coating – resulting in a flat, hard-wearing, safe and fit for purpose floor.ResultsThe project was completed in six stages, over 36 days, carrying out between 300 and 500 sqm a day, depending on the work space made available. On completion of the project, Terry Rossington, Director of Floor Painters Limited, commented: “Our client was very happy with the standard of the finish and the upgrades made to their working environment, which has improved both visual appearance and functionality of the floor.”

Trade Access Panels are often contacted by customers who have been wrongly informed or have themselves ‘Googled’ certain construction or DIY problems and received totally incorrect information and advice.

Bilco UK's CS-50TB Roof Access Hatch provides the perfect solution for roof-top access at Blair Castle, Scotland. The Category A listed building is said to have been constructed in 1269 and has been extensively added to over the years. Maintaining such a historic monument is a massive task. The Atholl Estate employ an army of staff to ensure this iconic property is preserved for future generations. One of the many problems in looking after such a building is the fact that it was not designed with ease of access to the roof in mind.