Why you can’t miss The Flooring Show 2025

Contemporary Classics is a phrase that might seem contradictory at first, yet it perfectly encapsulates the appeal of timeless flooring designs reimagined for today’s interiors. So, what defines a contemporary classic? It’s the subtle fusion of tradition and innovation where familiar patterns, textures, and materials are given a fresh perspective through modern designs. The result is a look that feels both comfortably familiar and refreshingly current. We take a look at how flooring manufacturers embrace this idea with some of their latest designs. Elements London is a boutique luxury carpet brand celebrated for crafting high-quality, design-led carpets and bespoke rugs tailored for sophisticated modern interiors. Their curated collections encompass luxurious wool, elegant wool blends and silk-effect carpets; each designed to elevate spaces with timeless style and enduring charm. Melissa Budasz, Director at Elements London said, “At the heart of every Elements London collection lies an inspired narrative, shaped by art, architecture, interior design, historical cities, and culture. These influences infuse our designs with meaning, transforming interiors into spaces of depth, character, and understated elegance. We specialise in tufted loop pile wools, valued for its durability and sustainability, alongside pioneering fibre innovation such as our exclusive TekSilk technology - a robust, silk-effect material renowned for its lustrous beauty and resilience.” The 20 unique collections combine timeless elegance with exceptional functionality. Each carpet is thoughtfully designed as a versatile flooring solution: sustainable, practical, and easy to maintain, without compromising on luxury or aesthetic appeal. 

UK manufacturer, distributor and supplier, Furlong Flooring, looks forward to showcasing a fantastic line-up of products when it returns to the Flooring Show, taking place from 21-23 September 2025 at the Harrogate Convention Centre.

Richard Allen, Sales Director at Karndean Designflooring, discusses the continued boom of the LVT category.

In this article, independent flooring consultant Richard Renouf explains how a customer’s rights and obligations change depending on the method of payment. So far in this series of articles we’ve looked at the things we need to consider when we sell to customers in a shop, and I’ve promised to look at online and off-premises sales in a future article. Before I do this, however, there’s an important matter we must consider. How did the customer pay? Credit card and store card payments and finance agreements (including interest-free credit) give the customer the right to claim against the finance provider instead of, or in addition to, the retailer; and other card or bank transactions may also give the customer the ability to ask for help from their bank. The Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA) was introduced to clarify the legal responsibilities of the parties involved in a credit sale. Usually there is the customer, the retailer and the finance provider and the transaction is actually circular: The consumer offers to buy the goods and enters an agreement to pay the finance provider, the retailer supplies the goods to the consumer but obtains payment from the finance provider (usually with the provider taking a commission or percentage), the finance provider pays the retailer and then recoups the purchase price and any agreed interest from the consumer. The advantage to the consumer is that they can spread the cost and have the goods immediately. The advantage to the retailer is that they get prompt payment from the finance provider, and, of course, the finance provider also makes a profit from the sale. The CCA makes clear that even though the consumer is actually purchasing from the finance provider, both the retailer and the finance provider have legal obligations under the contract even though the provider may never actually see the consumer or the goods. These obligations continue even if one of them goes out of business. If the consumer has a valid complaint, the CCA allows the consumer to claim against the finance provider as long as the purchase was more than £100 and less than £30,000, and it allows the consumer to claim the whole cost of the sale even if they only paid a small part of this on their credit card. The legal requirements are set out in Section 75 of the CCA and so a claim made under this legislation is often referred to as a ‘Section 75 Claim’. Before such a claim could be made in court the consumer must have contacted the finance provider to give them an opportunity to resolve the complaint, and the finance provider will have a procedure to investigate the complaint by contacting the retailer for information and possibly by asking the consumer to get an independent expert’s report where there is disagreement. If this does not get the complaint resolved, the consumer can raise a Section 75 Claim in the county court against the finance provider, or both the finance provider and the retailer. A chargeback may be part of the Section 75 process, but it can also by done by any bank or finance provider if their customer raises a query about a payment they have made. The bank can withhold payment to the retailer – or even take it back from their account – until the matter is investigated and the finance provider is satisfied that it should be repaid to one of the parties. The terms of the Mastercard, Visa, Amex and merchant processors allow for this to be done without asking the retailer first. Usually the retailer is told when it has been done and is then given a limited time to explain their side of things, and if this is not done on time or to the finance provider’s satisfaction the money will be returned to the consumer. Prompt attention to any chargeback can be successful when the complaint is not valid, but a poor response or failure to respond on time would make it very difficult to challenge and reverse the chargeback through the finance provider. Chargebacks can be made even when a customer has not made a complaint to the retailer, and so the retailer is unaware of any issues. I have never known a retailer succeed in suing a finance company over a chargeback they did not agree with, but, I have known cases where finance providers have rejected consumer complaints and the consumer has then proceeded to make a successful Section 75 Claim though the County Court which then, of course, results in a chargeback to the retailer. An unhappy consumer could also make a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman and as this is costly for the finance company this is something they try to avoid and may result in them doing a chargeback because it is the cheapest option. Citizen’s Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) and Money Saving Expert (moneysavingexpert.com) have excellent guidance on their websites. www.richard-renouf.com

Given customers’ high expectations for luxury vinyl tile (LVT) installations, it is worth taking the time to ensure optimum results when installing them. Certain adhesives can help with this, including achieving precise alignment. Tim Green, Head of Training at the F. Ball Centre of Excellence, provides a guide to adhesive selection, including formulations with a range of additional features. Pressure sensitive adhesives are ideal for the installation of LVTs because they form an instant grab upon contact, so, once positioned, tiles or planks won’t move about as contractors work. They also offer an extended open time, reducing the risk of late placement and making them ideal for installations where more complex designs or patterns are being created. Some pressure sensitive adhesives are also formulated to reduce the incidence of trowel serrations showing through thin vinyl floor coverings, referred to as “grin through”, affecting the appearance of the finished installation. Temperature tolerant requirements There are specific applications where additional performance characteristics will be important to maintain the long-term aesthetic appearance of an installation. For example, when installing floor coverings in areas subject to extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations, it is recommended to use a temperature tolerant adhesive. High temperatures or extreme temperature fluctuations can cause floor coverings to expand and contract significantly, which may lead to unsightly tenting in floor coverings and gapping at the edges of LVTs over time. This can be the case in conservatories or rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, which are subject to “solar gain”, such as extensions with bi-fold doors. Temperature tolerant adhesives develop the high bond strength required to hold floor coverings securely in place in such environments, ensuring a long-lasting flooring finish. However, temperature tolerant adhesives have traditionally been “wet-lay”, and contractors requiring this type of adhesive have had to forgo pressure sensitive benefits. Hybrid solutions Advancements in hybrid polymer adhesives have enabled the development of high-performance vinyl adhesives with revolutionary combinations of properties, including combined pressure sensitive and temperature tolerant characteristics. For example, F. Ball’s Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS is a water-based, pressure sensitive vinyl adhesive that develops the extremely high bond strength and dimensional stability required to hold vinyl floor coverings firmly in place in areas exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations (from -20°C to +60°C). Whilst providing high initial tack, the adhesive allows contractors to lift and reposition floor coverings in the initial stages of drying, making it a great choice for installing tiles and planks, intricate patterns and bespoke designs that need precise alignment. Styccobond F49 is also resistant to moisture, meaning it is suitable for use in areas subject to water and high humidity, including kitchens and bathrooms. Checking floorcovering compatibility As well as selecting adhesives suited to the requirements of a particular project, it is always advisable to check the compatibility of particular floor coverings and adhesives. For these purposes, F. Ball produces its industry-leading Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG). It’s available on the F. Ball website and as a free app, as well as a printed booklet. So confident is F. Ball in the recommendations featured in the guide that it guarantees the resulting bond performance for the entire lifetime of the flooring installation, as long as the advised subfloor preparation and installation procedures are followed. Alternatively, F. Ball’s technical service department are on hand Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 5.00pm, to answer your questions about F. Ball products and how to use them via phone and email. The F. Ball Centre of Excellence training and demonstration facility at F. Ball’s Staffordshire headquarters hosts training courses on achieving optimum results when installing LVTs that are free to attend for both flooring contractors and retailers. You can find details of upcoming courses and book a place for yourself or colleagues on the F. Ball website. F Ball & Co • www.f-ball.com

The Jumpax family by Unifloor is a fast-track floor preparation system designed to provide a super smooth subfloor to receive most glue down and loose lay floorcoverings. It provides excellent sound reduction, is easy to lay and reduces installation time and costs. The two self-adhesive MDF components of Jumpax instantly smooth over typical irregularities and eliminate the need for screeds, primers, ply boards and nails. It is not necessary to remove old floor coverings, loosening screeds or surface contamination. Suitable for domestic and contract installations Jumpax offers the ideal solution for problem floors. Whether it be underfloor heating systems, damaged, cracked, painted and contaminated subfloors, over raised access panels and to protect an existing antique floor Jumpax by Unifloor has the ideal solution.

Top quality flooring deserves proper subfloor preparation: not only for the aesthetics of an installation but for its longevity too! Several things can go wrong at the subfloor stage, from an uneven surface to excessive moisture, and any of these issues can be disastrous for the final installation.