"paper and vinyl wallcoverings"

London's leading workplace caterer, The Good Eating company, has opened its first commercial Cafe in the city. Requiring an interior design that reflects its core values, the sophisticated charm of Forbo Flooring Systems' Allura Flex Wood luxury vinyl tiles, along with its ease of installation and maintenance, has helped to complement the stylish and relaxing dining environment. Giovanni Insalaco, Managing Director at Nova Design, commented: "The Good Eating Company has a history of over 20 years, and it was important that who they are, what they do and what they represent as a business was reflected in the restaurant. While it's called "Café GEC", it is in fact a restaurant, offering a bistro-style menu in relaxed and stylish dining environment to suit the vibrant area aroung Lower Thames Street. "I chose Forbo's Allura Flex LVT planks in the Grey Autumn Oak shade for its ability to replicate the look and feel of natural wood. By specifically opting for a herringbone installation, this helped to add dimension to the space and bring the floor to life. This has worked really well in contrast with the plain counter and solid coloured furniture in the restaurant. Having never used Forbo's products before, it really has been a game changer both in terms of design and ease of installation. We've had lot's of questions about what the floor is and received plenty of compliments - it's fantastic."

When Cardiff High school needed a high-quality multi-use sports flooring solution for their main hall, they chose international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 700m2 of their world class Taraflex® Multi-Use vinyl sports floor. Gerflor also supplied an Isolsport underlay and their ubiquitous Taraflex® Bateco moveable protective covering which would ensure that the Taraflex® sports floor would remain protected during non-sporting activities.The contracting responsibility for the sports floor would be undertaken by Cardiff-based Floor Furnishings Limited. Nick Jefferies, Company Director, Floor Furnishings Ltd commented, “Gerflor’s Taraflex sports floor was extremely easy to lay. The Isolsport underlay also supplied by Gerflor, enabled us to lay the Taraflex Multi-Use directly over the existing concrete floor, this was a real benefit as the project was on a very tight schedule, due to the hall being required for exams.”The Taraflex® Multi-Use is a P1 category sports flooring, designed for both sport and non-sport use making it ideal for multi-purpose areas. Taraflex® Multi-Use protects users with excellent shock absorption and impact protection of 25% to 35%. Yet it’s tough enough to protect itself against non-sport demands often found in many education environments such as the movement of tables, chairs, and exercise equipment.

Fast-Track SolutionClient: Randox LaboratoriesMain Contractor: Corramore ConstructionScreed Installed By: O'Neill Concrete Flooring LtdScreed Supplied By: Robinson ConcreteCemfloor C30F6 was chosen for this project due to the fast-tracked construction of a new laboratory to provide urgently needed Covid-19 test kits.As part of their on-going commitment to produce much needed Covid-19 test kits; Randox Laboratories Ltd invested in a new facility at its existing headquarters in Crumlin, Co Antrim.The specialised laboratory, the development of which was fast-tracked over the space of four weeks, is the first step in a wider diagnostics investment programme from the company.Given the tight construction programme; Cemfloor were contacted and asked to propose a solution for the project.Cemfloor CT C30F6 was specified and over a period of just 2 - days; 3800m2 was installed by O'Neill Concrete Flooring Ltd with the screed being supplied by Robinson Concrete Ltd.Due to the high early strength of Cemfloor C30; the screed was loaded with access lifts 3 - days after installation which ensured that the build programme was able to continue with minimal disruption.A liquid surface DPM was used to allow the vinyl flooring be installed onto the screed only 7 - days after installation.Due to the incredible amount of effort by all parties involved; the entire project finished ahead of schedule with no issues.

City of London Academy Shoreditch Park by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios forms a part of The Britannia Project, regenerating a thriving London community with new facilities and amenities including new housing, a new school and community leisure facilities. Built to cater for the anticipated expanding population, the new development forms a harmonious addition to the existing neighbourhood with new, high-quality public spaces. The new secondary school for 900 local students plus a 200 student sixth form school had complex underground constraints to take into consideration in the design process, a challenge which informed every part of the building, including the choice of flooring and its installation in the school sports hall. Proposed Crossrail tunnels beneath the building meant the sports floor had to be able to cope with a much larger amount of structural movement than what would be considered normal for a building of this kind. Junckers’ technical department worked closely with the architect exploring a number of options to finally help them arrive at a solution which could accommodate an unusually large amount of structural movement and at the same time retain the sprung quality of the floor for sports and other activities. Junckers Approved Contractor V.A. Hutchison fitted Junckers 22mm solid Ash Champion over New Era battens with 125mm insulation between battens. Line markings for four badminton courts as well as basketball, netball and handball courts ensure the sports hall will serve the school and the wider community as a hub for multiple events and activities. The floor is area elastic and fully complies with EN 14904 class A4, a high-performance sprung floor which will serve the school and community for decades to come. A 22mm Junckers sports floor can be sanded and refinished up to ten times without losing performance, and with regular sandings in 12-year intervals, a lifespan of 60+ years as set out by the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge can easily be achieved. Funding for schools issued by the Department for Education is now dependent on fulfilling strict sustainability criteria. Junckers has independently verified certification to show its flooring fulfils these criteria, In addition to the sports hall, Junckers flooring was specified for the school’s main hall, which is used for drama and other activities. The original specification was for a vinyl floor, but as a more sustainable solution, Junckers’ 22mm Nordic Oak in the Classic grade was selected. V. A. Hutchison Flooring installed the oak floor on New Era battens with 125mm insulation, including an area of 91 m2 of extra battens for support in the main hall. Jo Gimenenz, Architect at FCBStudios added: “We have worked with Junckers for many of our projects, CoLASP being one of the most recent and they always provide an excellent technical service. Particularly so on this project where we had to overcome a complex structural movement joint detail in our ground floor Main Hall, due to proposed Crossrail tunnels beneath the building. A Junckers flooring system was also installed in our Sports Hall. For this space we opted again for a solid timber flooring in lieu of a vinyl topped raised floor as it was a more sustainable solution.” 

Artform Urban provides colourful external furniture elements to a new state-of-the-art Children and Young Peoples' Mental Health Service (CYPMHS) inpatient unit for West Yorkshire. Based at the St Mary’s Hospital site in Armley, Leeds, the five-year project led by Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust opened in January 2022. The new facility comprises a 16-bed general adolescent ward and a 6-bed psychiatric intensive care unit all supported by an expert team to offer a range of therapies and support. The building wraps around central courtyards to provide dedicated access to garden spaces at all times. In total there are 4 separate outdoor spaces all have been furnished by Artform Urban Furniture. The primary products specified by Ares Landscape Architects are the Loop range of street furniture; including curving loop benches, conical picnic sets, and Hop Op 500 stools. The products are ideally suited to CAMHS units due to the minimal design and lack of any removable fixtures. The Loop range is formed of rotationally moulded Polyurethane which creates a soft and flexible surface with no sharp edges - this was a key factor in why these products were chosen. The Loop range is also lightweight and can be easily positioned and secured in place using hidden fixtures or alternatively filled with sand or water to be self-weighted units that can be moved as and when required.A bespoke element has been introduced with circular sheets of HPL (High-Pressure Laminate) being added as table toppers to achieve a tamper-proof finish. HPL is manufactured by combining sheets of recycled paper with a binding resin under high pressure - achieving a robust weather-resistant material ideal for external environments.The playful design and inviting colours create a positive and calming atmosphere encouraging time to be spent outside in the fresh air. In the larger garden space, several Stone benches have been installed - in various finishes. The pebble-like design sits naturally in the leafy garden and creates an impromptu social space.In order to facilitate client timings, Artform provided an installation service as well as advice/ guidance during out-of-usual operational hours between Christmas and New Year.For the final installations - Full coordination with the management team was required at Red Kite View as it was now a live site. It was imperative there was no interruption to the patient’s routines while the products were moved through the building and installed.The building was designed in collaboration with clinicians and young people who all contributed their ideas, hopes, and aspirations for care. They also helped to decide on the name ‘Red Kite View’ as nature is strongly associated with mental wellbeing and rehabilitation.

Inspiration: Royal Holloway UniversityProduct: Gustafs Panel SystemArchitect: Associated ArchitectsInstaller: Rosguill Developments LtdProduct: Gustafs Panel System for Walls and CeilingsSpecification: Natural and Pigmented Oak and Stained Ash Veneer SM5 PerforationsQuantity: 4,000m2LSA Projects Ltd are pleased to share with you our case study of Gustafs Panel System at Royal Holloway University which was installed in addition to 2,000m2 of Linear Ribs.Alongside an abundance of books and other historical and academic literature the library was designed with student life in mind with a wealth of quiet, individual, and group study space in addition to informal social breakout spaces looking out over the founders square.The statement library is part of a bigger expansion and improvement project for the Top 25 University; beginning with the Emily Wilding Davison library in 2017 the University has recently opened The Beatrice Shilling Building for Electronic Engineering and new Music and Media facilities are planned for the near future.Sold exclusively in the UK by LSA Projects Ltd, Gustafs Panel System is the leading product on the global market for timber veneered (as well as painted and metal or laminate faced) panels and acoustic panels. The panel system has a recommended 50 Year Design Life and a track record in the UK alone of 20 year old projects (and counting) owing to the unique solid panel base provided by the gypsum particleboard which eliminates the risk of panels moving and warping over time as you would expect to see with a solid timber or MDF cored product. The panels are also completely non-combustible achieving Euroclass A2,s1-d0 for Fire Resistance (exceeding the criteria for Class 0) for the whole product build-up from the paper panel backing to the facing veneer and lacquer.Across the space 3 different timber finishes were specified to the project: white washed Oak, natural Oak and black stained Ash. The range of timbers helps to add to the depth and texture of the material and to break-up the finish between spaces and floors whist keeping a consistent theme across the library’s cladding. A mixture of plain and SM5 mini slotted acoustic panels were used to give some acoustic absorption to the atrium space, SM5 perforations mini slot perforations at 5mm x 20mm provide 15% open area and achieve acoustic class C which is perfect for light acoustic control across all frequencies.In addition to the traditional wall and ceiling Gustafs cladding, panels were used to cover pillars and beams within the library. Each piece was made to measure at the factory to ensure a perfect fit using Gustaf’s unique CAPAX profile system for invisible installation.

Built in 1957, St Cuthbert’s is one of the oldest Secondary Schools in St Helens, and was the first Catholic Secondary Modern to be built since the war. The distinctive main elevation of the school appears largely as it did nearly sixty years ago, but over-all the school’s buildings have increased over the last half century to accommodate increased pupil numbers and more facilities. Last year, Twinfix were approached by BPL Construction to design, supply and install an enclosed free-standing mono-pitch canopy at the school, which would provide additional space for dining, a popular choice for schools looking for a cost-effective alternative to traditional extensions, allowing them to utilise their outdoor areas and provide additional covered space. The canopy covering a total of 129 square metres, manufactured from rust-resistant aluminium and powder coated to RAL 9004 signal black comprises of our innovative Multi-Link-Panel NF roof-glazing system, glazed with 25mm opal polycarbonate. Coloured vinyls were attached to some of the side panels to brighten up the structure and tie in with school branding. Mrs Twist, Head Teacher at the school commented: “We are extremely impressed with the quality and design of the canopy. The onsite team have worked in close proximity to our students and have taken full account of their health and safety.” The addition of the side glazing and doors add extra protection from the elements, making it a usable space throughout the year and a secure area for storage of equipment.

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.”

FORBO’S CONTEMPORARY PORTFOLIO HELPS TO CREATE INSPIRATIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE STUDENT ACCOMMODATIONArchwood House, a new purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Peckham, was commissioned by the University of the Arts London (UAL) to house its students. Tasked with creating proactive and forward-thinking spaces for residents to live and study in, architects Nelson and Long specified an array of solutions from Forbo Flooring Systems’ contemporary portfolio to make this happen. Forbo’s Coral entrance flooring, Allura Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT), Tessera carpet tiles, Eternal de Luxe Decibel general purpose vinyl and Surestep and Safestep safety floor coverings were all installed throughout the building.Comprising 343 bedrooms and 50 studios, Archwood House provides students with accommodation close to UAL buildings and is designed to provide students with the creative and inspirational spaces they need, to enhance their university experiences. Nelson and Long worked closely with UAL to develop a design that would create spaces which were flexible and would allow residents to flourish in their surroundings.Alicia Nelson, Co-founder of Nelson and Long commented on the brief they received: “Our client’s brief was to create innovative and inspiring spaces for UAL’s creative students to learn and grow in. It was also important that the spaces equipped students with the tools they needed to have a successful time at university, from studying to socialising. Sustainability was top of the agenda too, so we needed to carefully consider the materials we specified to ensure we met the requirements.”With the project brief in mind, Alicia set about sourcing materials that reflected the needs of the building: “Due to the variety of high-quality and sustainable products available within Forbo’s portfolio, as well as its reliable customer service, we opted for a variety of Forbo floor coverings for Archwood House, including its Allura LVT and Tessera carpet tiles.“We specified Forbo’s Allura LVT in a variety of colourways for a few different areas of the student accommodation, including the games room and common room which are situated in the street building – a separate part of the accommodation. The warm colours that Forbo’s Allura LVT are available in helped to provide a stunning backdrop for each space which then enabled us to build out, incorporating different textures and colours to the overall design. For example, we used the Smoke Cement shade for the ground floor corridors, games room and study room, to elevate the design and provide a nice neutral finish. As well as the beautiful designs available, Forbo’s Allura LVT is also easy to clean, which was an important factor for this project, given that lots of students would be using these spaces.“We then opted for various designs from Forbo’s Tessera collection, which are lovely, elegant and durable loop pile carpet tiles. Forbo’s Tessera Layout in the Graphine colourway was the perfect solution for the stairs, cluster corridors and other high traffic areas, thanks to its hard-wearing nature. The understated grey shade also complemented the neutral colour palette we were using for these areas.”Alicia also specified Forbo’s Tessera Chroma carpet tiles in the Pathway and Tuxedo colourways, which were installed in the bedrooms and the cinema room respectively to create a homely feel to the rooms. Not only this, but Forbo’s Tessera Chroma carpet tiles are made with 62% recycled content by weight, aiding in creating a more sustainable scheme.This was combined with Forbo’s Eternal de Luxe Decibel vinyl floor covering in the communal and studio kitchens. This solution served a double purpose: It reduced impact sound by 17 dB and provided an R10 slip rating, both of which were key to creating healthier and safer spaces for residents to live in.With safety in mind, Alicia also specified a range of Forbo’s safety flooring, as she explains further: “For the staff kitchen areas, toilets and prayer room, we needed to ensure maximum slip protection and that’s why we chose Forbo’s Surestep and Safestep floor coverings. The prayer room, in particular, which contains a wudu sink, needed to be a safe and neutral environment for residents to use, and Forbo’s Surestep offered the perfect solution. As a genuine safety flooring with guaranteed lifetime slip resistance, as well as an R10 slip rating and a 36 PTV score, it was the ideal solution to ensure the safety of residents. Not only this, but it comes available in a range of stylish colourways, such as the neutral wood décor we specified, which complemented the overall design.”In addition to this, to maintain the condition of the interior floor coverings, Alicia opted to use Forbo’s Coral Classic entrance flooring system in the Mouse Grey colourway. Alicia explains more here: “We wanted a solid barrier matting, that would reduce the walked-in dirt that you’d expect to see in a city centre university accommodation. With students coming and going all day, it was key to install an effective entrance flooring system to reduce cleaning and maintenance. Forbo’s Coral was just the solution we needed, with the Mouse Grey colourway matching the other grey textile carpets we’d specified, whilst also helping to reduce the amount of dirt and moisture from being brought in on the soles of shoes and treads of wheels.”Having opened in September 2022, Archwood House has been positively received by both staff and residents, who are delighted with the overall design and feel of the building.To find out more about Forbo’s offering for student accommodation, visit:WWW.FORBO-FLOORING.CO.UK/STUDENTACCOMMODATION

THE PROJECTThe Safety Letterbox Company has collaborated with the high-end housing developer, Mulberry Homes, to install a succession of its intelligent parcel management systems across five of their sites. Futureproofing their developments by lowering carbon emissions to hit the UK goal of net-zero by 2050.Established in 2004, Mulberry Property Developments is a privately-owned company that builds both residential and commercial property across the wider Midlands.THE PRODUCTMulberry has recognised a need to future proof their developments and provide parcel boxes to both lower carbon emissions whilst offering a convenient facility to their new homeowners. The intelligent parcel boxes will bring peace of mind to those living on the Mulberry sites by knowing they no longer need to wait at home for a delivery, and that they have a 24/7 facility to inform them their parcel is safely stored.The myRENZbox app allows those living at the Mulberry Homes sites to experience streamlined management of deliveries and returns at a centralised location. The systems are situated outside in a purpose-built area at the entrance of the housing developments to allow easy access for delivery personnel to deposit packages. The location is also a convenient passing point for residents on their way home.Both sites have opted for the modula system, therefore, can add additional parcel boxes overtime when the demand increases.myRENZbox has worked with Mulberry Homes to offer a finished product that is in line with its marketing guidelines and that fits with the overall look of its high-end developments. The system was powder-coated with their signature green and the logo design finished in gold vinyl. It is a striking addition to the housing developments that helps to enhance the company’s brand.

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.”

Hush Acoustics provided an effective solution to ‘noise break-in’ at a newly built primary school in Chester to ensure the internal acoustic environment was supportive of learning goals.The Huntington Primary school was designed by Cheshire West and Chester Council to cater for 420 primary age pupils and a 26-provision nursery. The former primary schools it replaced had a capacity of 120 children, but to cope with the demand of 1,200 new houses being built nearby on the former Saighton Army camp, the decision was made to build a new school to meet the requirements.An acoustic concern highlighted was ‘noise break in’ which is caused by issues such as the sound of rain falling onto the roof, which in turn would detract from the learning environment. In order to resolve this potential issue and to guarantee the children a healthy setting free from noise disturbance, we specified our Hush 10kg Barrier Mat to be installed in the roof of the building.Hush Barrier Mat is a vinyl sound barrier mat loaded with naturally occurring minerals. The product is free of lead, unrefined aromatic oils and bitumen. Designed to improve the sound insulation of existing panels of metal, wood, plastic etc., at all frequencies. The mat is normally fixed in intimate contact with the original panel. Hush barriers are particularly effective in overcoming coincidence dip resonance found in stiff lightweight composites such as plywood sheets and hollow core panels.Working alongside Kier, were Delta Group, who we supplied with 1100 sheets of our Hush 10 kg Barrier Mat. They then applied this to the roof of the school in 3x layers, to give a mass of 30 kg/m2 and improving acoustic performance across all frequencies.

The ProjectIn aiming to create a facility capable of accommodating 55 million passengers a year, the Manchester Airport project became one of the UK’s largest airport development projects to date.An integral consideration for Manchester Airport Group (MAG) in their decision-making process was ensuring that any solution aligned with their overarching sustainability goals. These goals aim to consistently reduce their carbon footprint and uphold their carbon-neutral status, which they have maintained since 2016.Not only this, but MAG also had to consider a wider variety of objectives, including the long term operational performance of the whole building, lifetime costs and customer approval ratings, amongst many other factors.Finding a solution for over 100 washrooms, that aligned with these numerous, sometimes conflicting objectives, was imperative. Fortunately, the Diamond Dryer proved to be just the solution MAG was looking for.The SolutionSustainability: The latest generation of hand dryer technology, utilised by Diamond Dryers, uses a powerful brushless motor, ensuring that electricity consumption is minimised. Thanks to a low 300W rating, this, in turn, saves 90% of energy compared to conventional hot air dyers.For MAG, using hand dryers instead of paper towels immediately reduced waste generation too, and the need for waste collection/removal. This allowed for an immediate carbon reduction, delivering environmental and cost-saving benefits alongside.Reliability & Maintenance:The brushless motor technology that these Diamond Dryers use is super-reliable and the units are backed with a seven year warranty to offer long-term peace of mind.To minimise downtime, these dryers have just three replaceable parts, which on-site engineers hold in stock. This means that the units can be installed by them easily in minutes.Speed:In busy public buildings with significant peaks in traffic, washrooms must be able to manage sudden influxes of people to prevent congestion. Since airports face this challenge, a rapid drying solution makes a major difference. The Diamond Dryers specified by MAG meet this challenge, taking just 10 seconds to complete the hand drying cycle.Aesthetics:The aesthetic appeal of each washroom is an important issue. Unattractive or poorly coordinated hand dryers can detract from the overall ambiance. This aspect was particularly crucial for MAG.The sleek, contemporary design of the new Terminal 2 applies to every aspect of the building. Opting for the compact Diamond Dryer units, in colours and finishes to match the décor, provides a seamless sense of unity and cleanliness. This integration contributes positively to the overall impression of the airport complex.The ResultsIn considering all these factors as part of its washrooms strategy, MAG has been able to arrive at a specification that will deliver the best solution long-term. The process they have adopted here shows the potential for any other public building operator to benefit from advances in hand dryer technology and work towards a more sustainable future.*Please note that images on this case study are for illustrative purposes only, to demonstrate the Diamond Dryer in action in the washroom. These are not photographs of the Manchester airport washroom facilities.

When the Coleg y Cymoedd (translated meaning is the College of the valleys) in Wales needed to totally refurbish the flooring element of their campus in Ystrad Mynach (near the town of Caerphilly), they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply over 1000m2 of flooring for numerous areas and spaces throughout the campus. It was a project that provided Gerflor with the perfect platform to showcase a raft of high-quality flooring solutions ideal for the concerned demanding education environment.Tony Thorne, Gerflor Sales and Specification Manager - South Wales commented, “This project started at the specification stage with the Architects Austin-Smith: Lord. Over several meetings, we looked at a number of products to be used in various areas of the building scheme. The installation at the Ystrad Mynach campus is an outstanding example of how a mix of Gerflor innovations can achieve world class results. Mixing gym tiles with sheet vinyl, safety flooring and LVT, yielded incredible results for this college refurbishment project.”Kate Thomas, Director Austin-Smith: Lord commented, “The refurbishment project, part-funded by the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme, formed part of the college’s plans to continually invest in new facilities and equipment that will allow learners across its catchment area to have access to the latest training opportunities and career paths.”Mark Bond, Estimator and H&S Manager at Floor Furnishings commented, “The client is extremely impressed with the end results. We regularly work with Gerflor products and recommend Gerflor where suitable, in line with our client’s requirements and expectations. Gerflor’s staff are particularly skilled in being able to work in collaboration and alongside both the end user clients, as well as contractors in achieving an excellent final result that is pleasing to the client and meets the complicated design brief.”

High performance resin for mortuary flooring areasAs with many high-care environments, mortuaries and post-mortem rooms require high performance flooring to cope with extremely demanding conditions. Any floor finish must be slip-resistant, hygienic, totally impermeable and incredibly durable.Traditional mortuary flooring specificationTraditionally, mortuaries and post-mortems rooms have utilised vinyl sheet or terrazzo floor tiles. However, both have inherent problems such as failed joints, cracks and poor slip resistance making them less than ideal. The failure of these traditional finishes can allow water and other contaminants to penetrate into the substrate below, which creates significant hygiene challenges.In addition to hygiene challenges, failed floors can create health and safety issues such as trip hazards and any repairs will be time consuming and disruptive.High performance mortuary specificationDegafloor have developed an alternative, high performance flooring specification, ideal for post-mortem and mortuary flooring. The Full Broadcast and QTA systems are ultra durable, seamless and highly slip-resistant finishes that can be easily cleaned.Both offer a profiled surface finish that provides outstanding slip-resistance and durability. Despite the surface texture, Degafloor flooring systems are easy to clean and and the seamless nature of these floors results in outstanding durability, avoiding contamination issues.Degafloor high performance flooring systems can bond to a variety of substrates, and cure both chemically and physically within 2 hours of installation. This ensures that every solution we deliver can be installed extremely quickly and cost effectively, resulting in minimal disruption.Our mortuary flooring projects include; Peterborough City Hospital, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Barnsley General Hospital, Luton and Dunstable Hospital and Basingstoke & North Hampshire hospital.

Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound and F46 pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive have led the way in refurbishing floors at Heythrop Park, near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, following its acquisition by Warner Leisure Hotels, as part of a four-year, £40 million renovation.Flooring contractors were commissioned to install a range of floorcoverings throughout the site’s public areas, including in the 300-year-old, Grade II-listed manor house, which is set in a 440-acre country estate, as well as the adjoining hotel complex.The project included work in the reception, two ground-floor theatres, bar, restaurant and lounge areas, as well as connecting staircases and corridors, in the modern part of the hotel.Stopgap 1200 Pro high-performance levelling compound was used to raise subfloor levels so that LVT floorcoverings and inlaid carpet would sit perfectly flush with previously installed ceramic tiles, with areas divided by custom-made CAT brass edging strips. Stopgap Micro Rapid fast-setting, fast-drying floor finishing compound was used to address minor subfloor imperfections.Stopgap 1200 Pro was also used to create a perfectly smooth surface for grey loose-lay Forbo Coral carpet tiles in the entranceway of the reception, where heavy-duty made-to-measure Newhay grid entrance well matting was installed.Behind the reception desk, Plusfloor concrete-effect luxury vinyl tiles were installed with Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive adhesive, which provides a high bond strength that increases as it is trafficked, as well as strong initial tack, meaning that tiles or planks won’t move around while working. The indefinite open time offered by the product negates the risk of late placement, another advantage when there’s complex designs and patterns.Contractors installed bespoke Brintons carpet in a small seating area on one side of the reception and in front of the entrances to the larger of the hotel’s two ground-floor theatres and Late Lounge Bar, as well as on the steps and accessibility ramp leading from the reception to the 120m2 area, using a dual bond system. This involved using Styccobond F3 to create a permanent bond between carpet and underlay, with the Styccobond F40 providing a peelable bond between the underlay and subfloor.In the theatre, where guests can enjoy live music, drama and comedy performances, Stopgap 1200 Pro was used to patch repair existing subfloors, including where stanchions had been removed, before installing custom-made dark black and blue Newhay carpet.Bespoke Newhay carpet was also installed in the Late Lounge Theatre, which was also furnished with an Amtico wood-effect LVT dancefloor adhered with Styccobond F46. Styccobond F46 was used to install Harlequin Standfast high-performance vinyl sheet on both of the theatres’ stages.Amtico Signature basketweave, wood-effect LVTs were installed in the Late Lounge Bar up to seating areas with bespoke Newhay carpet and ceramic tiles around the bar, as well as on the steps leading to the Late Lounge Theatre. A feature was created in the centre of the room with a large area of herringbone wood-effect LVTs and a border of Amtico Signature Cirrus Twilight grey planks.Similarly, in the first floor ‘Pub and Kitchen’, Karndean ‘Van Gogh’ salvaged wood-effect LVTs were installed up to the bar area, where a border was created using Karndean ‘riven slate’ grey ‘Knight Tiles’, and areas with tables and chairs, where Alternative Flooring ‘Anywhere Rope’ natural carpet was installed. The LVTs were installed up to ceramic tiles around the bar and seating areas with bespoke Newhay carpet.Plusfloor wood floorcoverings were installed on the main staircase leading from the reception to the first and second floors, extending onto the first floor landing and lounge area, using Styccobond B95.Where there were steps in the areas being renovated, including the main staircase, Stycco Flex rapid-curing, flexible tube adhesive was used to affix custom-made CAT brass stair nosings.