SEALING THE DEAL


Howard Morris, Managing Director at Trade Fabrication Systems, explains how contract flooring experts can bolster the supply chain to ensure safe installation and protect profitability.


The challenges of recent months have impacted the traditional methods of installing contract floors with projects slowing down and reduced numbers of contractors allowed onsite at any given time. Consequently, some contract floorers have sought a solution to embrace offsite processing to increase site efficiency even when operating a reduced workforce.


For many commercial and contract projects, the flooring specification typically carries additional health and safety performance requirements. Traditionally coated and finished onsite, ensuring a floor meets the required standards is essential – usually resulting in prolonged drying times, which can in some cases delay site programmes.


Installed prior to building completion, with follow-on trades conducting finishing works, floors are subject to high levels of traffic from contractors onsite which runs the risk of additional damage to the floor before handover or contract floorers being called back for snagging.


For these reasons, some flooring contractors have been enhancing the supply chain by embracing offsite processing solutions for panelled flooring. Benefiting from speed of application and simplifying the sequencing of following trades, offsite processing is also supporting contractors to adhere to social distancing requirements by limiting the number of people onsite at a given time.


PROCESSING POTENTIALS FOR


PANELLED FLOORING Offsite processing provides contract flooring specialists with an array of different application solutions that can be completed to exact specification. Factory applied under quality controlled settings, offsite processors can ensure floors are finished to a detailed specification and a high quality.


Furthermore, taking flooring finishes offsite is an opportunity to provide contract floorers with peace of mind when installing health and safety compliant solutions. For example, slip-resistance coatings that have been independently certified can be applied to the exact approved specification when tested, reducing the risk of installation error onsite.


ADVANCED FLOORING SOLUTIONS Offsite processing solutions that have been specifically developed for contract flooring applications can help projects to meet different specifications.


Factory applied performance coatings include:


● Smooth or textured surface ● Highly durable coatings supported by independent certification for wear resistance ● Slip-resistant coatings


● Wax, oils, stains and UV cured coatings can be applied in a clear or coloured finish


36 | FLOOR SEALS & FINISHES


These solutions also mean that flooring contactors need not compromise on aesthetic appearance when installing a performance flooring panel.


PICKING A PROCESSOR Offsite processors should act as an enhancement to the supply chain for contractors, being able to meet the needs of projects to scale and within the required time frame. Working under ISO 9001:2015 quality assurances with independent certification on finishes will guarantee performance whilst also ensuring coatings are applied consistently and to a high standard.


Partnering with an offsite processor that can hold stock and work towards JIT installation is also an opportunity for contract floorers to improve overall quality by ensuring panelled boards are installed at a suitable time for the project, reducing the risk of damage.


For the contract flooring industry, being able to complete a wide selection of flooring finishes offsite allows for an effective installation that will help sites to operate safely and efficiently. Moreover, working collaboratively with a processing partner who is committed to quality will help to increase competitive advantage by delivering a cost effective service which seamlessly integrates into site sequences.


www.tradefabricationsystems.co.uk


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