WHAT’S NEW?


RICHELIEU STAIR RUNNERS


Louis De Poortere’s Richelieu Runners programme lets interior designers and homeowners design a bespoke stair or hallway runner.


When Belgian weaver Louis De Poortere transformed its Wilton rugs and carpet manufacturing programme, it did so with two things in mind, efficiency and flexibility. It knew that the traditional quality of Wilton was something revered, but that today’s consumer wants more choice and less waiting.


With 144 colours always ‘ready to go’, Richelieu Runners bring the choice and speed your customers demand with the enduring quality and unmistakable


craftmanship of wool-rich woven carpets. Richelieu Runners come in several styles, the plain of Escalier, the bordered Classic and a range of abstract and geometric patterns. Every design can be chosen in any combination of the 144 colours for a bespoke runner that complements interior schemes beautifully.


Louis De Poortere has also made it simple to choose colours through its Mix & Match tool. Retailers and customers can use Mix & Match by visiting the website, www. louisdepoortere.be, experimenting with colour combinations before downloading their final selection. Mix and Match gives a smooth and hassle-free experience to consumers wanting to harness the quality of Wilton woven runners in their home.


https://www.louisdepoortere.be/


Richelieu Runners are available in 60, 70, 90 and 120cm widths and a minimum length of 10m. In an 80% wool, 20% polyamide blend and a heavyweight woven cut-pile, they bring homes an enduring and luxurious runner.


Sales director Alan Russell said: “Richelieu Runners take full advantage of the efficiency and flexibility of our Wilton programme to give retailers a unique, added-value service. Through Mix and Match, retailers can position themselves as experts in beautiful floorcoverings by giving their customers a bespoke design service, safe in the knowledge of service and quality from a brand with a heritage dating back almost 100 years.”


www.louisdepoortere.com


ZERO LAITANCE SCREED LAUNCH


LKAB Minerals has announced the launch of Gypsol Zero Laitance (ZL), a floor screed that, the company says, cuts labour and material costs by 66%.


Gypsol ZL is an anhydrite-based screed which does not create laitance – a layer of fine particles on the surface, which needs to be sanded before a finish is applied. If standard anhydrite-based screeds are not sanded, it can cause issues for the floor.


Users of Gypsol ZL can factor in a lack of laitance and save on the labour costs associated with the sanding stage that is typical for the application of anhydrite- based screeds.


Ben Bland, commercial manager for Andricite, Gypsol Binder & Screeds at LKAB Minerals, said: “As per industry standards, all screeds require sanding. It is well-


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recognised that anhydrite-based screeds require sanding to remove laitance, which makes Gypsol ZL a game-changer for the market. This innovation comes at a critical time for the construction industry when our customers are facing economic headwinds and are looking for cutting-edge solutions to improve the efficiency of commercial and residential developments.”


In addition to labour cost savings, Gypsol ZL is effective at a thickness of only 15mm, which means less product is needed per square metre. Even if applied at a greater thickness, for example 50mm, it can dry in just 14 days, reducing time to project completion.


The efficiency gains from Gypsol ZL are supplemented with sustainability benefits; the new screed carries 88% fewer embodied carbon emissions than cementitious alternatives. Furthermore, it is designed to support efficient heat


transfer in underfloor heating, which is a key component of the UK Government’s Future Homes Standard.


Darren Meredith, sales manager at Niche Energy Solutions said: “LKAB’s range of anhydrite options has a quality, consistency and robustness that is second to none. In an industry where neglect of the correct post installation guidelines can be rife, the missing piece in their puzzle was a zero- laitance option. I’ve been really pleased to bring this to live environments in the early stages and am delighted with the results.


He said “I’m a big believer in this development, and I’m thrilled to say my enthusiasm is being shared by our customers. A faster drying, zero laitance solution using LKAB’s technology and suppliers – every box ticked, and I look forward to seeing its growth.”


www.lkabminerals.com www.tomorrowscontractfloors.co.uk


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