Gerflor Flooring UK Limited

Langford Budville Jubilee Hall was opened in October 2012 by HRH The Earl of Wessex, following 30 years of fundraising. The village lies 2 miles to the Northwest of Wellington in Somerset.

When the main floor space in the thriving community Langford Budville Jubilee village hall needed a fast-track refurbishment, the Parish Council made the forward-thinking decision to specify 200m2 of Taralay Libertex in ‘Amsterdam Light Grey’ from international flooring and interior specialists Gerflor.

Commenting on the project Chris Pursey the Specification Area Sales Manager at the time for Gerflor said, “The feedback has been exceptional and immensely positive from the users in the hall, including members of the bowls club who play on it frequently. This installation has transformed the Village Hall, and its rewarding to see that the community will benefit from its investment for many years to come.”

The installation of the Gerflor Libertex flooring would be the responsibility of Bristol-based Rudge Brothers and James (RBJ Contracts). Jim Heal, Managing Director at RBJ commented,” The Taralay Libertex flooring, which we installed at Langford Budville Village Hall, was remarkably easy to lay and went down in a noticeably shorter time. We were impressed with how quickly the refurbishment happened.”

David Brown who is a Trustee of Langford Budville Jubilee Hall said,” As a retired architect who has specified Gerflor on many occasions, I’m very confident in the quality of Gerflors flooring products. The final result is really sensational. Personally, I would specify or recommend Gerflor flooring to be used wherever possible for refurbishment and new build interior projects.”

The Friar Park Millennium Centre in Wednesbury was in dire need of a fast-track refurbishment for their leisure facility. Their existing Linoleum was unsafe, not fit for purpose, beyond economical repair and would need to be replaced with an alternative and affordable solution. Gerflor’s Taraflex® sports flooring would be specified for this prestigious project.

The client chose Taraflex® Evolution thanks to it being extremely durable and hard-wearing, whilst not compromising on delivering the necessary safety and comfort for facility users. Over 300m2 of Taraflex® Olympic pedigree sports surface was installed.

Chris Newey, Gerflor Area Sales Manager, West Midlands said at the time, “The customer is really pleased with their new Taraflex sports floor, which has totally transformed the hall giving it a fresh and contemporary look that will last for many years to come.”

The installation element of the Friar Park project was undertaken by Birmingham-based Pinnacle Flooring Ltd. Commenting on the installation Aaron Jennings, Estimating Manager, Pinnacle Flooring said, “Our client ‘Friar Park Millennium Centre’ are extremely delighted with the final result. The installation of Gerflor’s Taraflex sports flooring has surpassed the end users’ expectations. We would certainly specify Gerflor products on future projects due their high levels of quality and extreme durability.”

Julie Jones, CEO of Friar Park Millennium Centre commented, “This iconic refurbishment was absolutely necessary for all the users of the facility today and also the future generations of tomorrow. We are confident that our choice in selecting Gerflor’s Taraflex sports flooring will future proof our building interiors and we would definitely specify Gerflor products for other future projects.”

When a brand-new care facility just south of Glasgow, Scotland required a complete solution for its project interiors, the Architect at South Lanarkshire Council turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply a vast range of products that would future proof the clients building for many years to come. This included Gerflor’s world class Taralay, Tarasafe & Taraflex vinyl floorcoverings, as well as Cityscene Carpets and Gradus Barrier Matting & Accessories.

The new Blantyre facility is part of South Lanarkshire Council’s and South Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Partnership’s commitment to ‘home for life’ has opened its doors to new residents.

Maggie Smith, Scotland Team Leader, Gerflor commented,” Our initial conversations took place with Thomas Tallan at South Lanarkshire Council back in 2019 / 2020.

Thomas was looking to specify products throughout the entire building. He was familiar with Gerflor vinyl products and confident with them, however with the integration of Gerflor and Gradus, we could offer him the full package all under one roof.”

Thomas Tallan Architectural Officer South Lanarkshire Council commented, “I have specified Gerflor and Gradus products on many projects over the years, they have a good offer to fit most environments and budgets without the need to compromise on performance, durability, and aesthetics. Both Gerflor and Gradus also provide excellent specification, technical and customer service.”

The flooring installation at Blantyre LIFE would be the responsibility of a local company – McGarry Flooring near Glasgow. Craig Stockman, Contracts Director at McGarry Flooring said, “The Gerflor and Gradus products were very easy to work with and fit and are meeting and exceeding expectations for the client. We would definitely choose to work with Gerflor and Gradus products again.”

Pencoedtre High School is a large new build high school in Barry, Wales. When this busy school required a brand-new world class flooring surface for its main indoor sports hall, they simply wanted only the best! HLM Architects would specify 700m2 of Taraflex® vinyl sports flooring in ‘Maple’, from international flooring specialists Gerflor.

Commenting on the project Tony Thorne Gerflor, Sales & Specification Manager South Wales said,” We offered the client the opportunity for a free waterjet logo of their school crest within the sports floor which they happily accepted. The Architect and school were very happy with this as it really sets the sports floor off.”

On specification and the overall project Angela Sheppard Part II Architectural Assistant at HLM Architects said,” We selected the Maple colour to suit the sports hall to contrast clearly with the multi-sport markings and sit alongside the sports-recommended blue walls.”

The Interiors Team at HLM Architects said at the time, “Gerflor are our go to for a vinyl sports floor, they are affordable, multi-use and meet the necessary regulations and slip resistance which we have to consider in these situations. Alongside this their customer service is excellent and they have a great range of finishing options.”

Established over twenty-five years ago Port Talbot-based Craftsman Flooring would be appointed to undertake the full installation of the Gerflor Taraflex® sports flooring.

Gareth Lewis, Commercial Director Craftsman Flooring stated, “The Gerflor Taraflex flooring was extremely easy to lay and went down without any trouble at all. We are particularly happy with the Gerflor sports flooring as the sports marking applied on top looks stunning. We would definitely specify Gerflor products again.”

Sport Aberdeen is an award-winning registered charity committed to creating opportunities, inspiring people, and changing lives through sport and physical activity. When the hall at Get Active @ Kincorth required a world class indoor flooring finish, Gerflor’s Olympic pedigree Taraflex® sports flooring would be the natural choice for this iconic refurbishment. Over 600m2 in Light Cherry would be the specified in a Taraflex® Combi Elastic system that was finished with a Taraflex® Evolution point elastic flooring.

Euan Beggs, at Mackie Taylor Ramsay the appointed architects for the project said,” Part of this programme was the refurbishment and enhancement of the multi-purpose sport hall within Get Active @ Kincorth, by way of a replacement floor covering and general facility upgrade. By using Gerflor’s complete system of product, we were able to maintain a sprung floor under build and tie back into the existing finished floor level, which reduced the need to carry out additional work and alterations out with the hall itself.”

Maggie Smith, Scotland Team Leader, Gerflor said, “After discussions about the project requirements we proposed the Taraflex® Combi Elastic system which is a cradle and baton system finished with Taraflex® Evolution point elastic flooring. It’s lovely to see a facility bringing all ages together to enjoy an active lifestyle.”

Hugh Black, Group Estates Manager at Sport Aberdeen commented, “Sport Aberdeen is delighted with the final result. It has received exceptional feedback so far from customers, members, and sports club users alike, all noting that the floor has a softer under foot feeling. We would definitely choose Gerflor Taraflex® sports products again.”

A Warrington Youth Centre that hosted a live vocal performance forty years ago from Freddie Mercury, who would later go onto to be the frontman of rock legends Queen, has been given some much-needed help by international flooring and interiors specialist Gerflor. As part of Gerflor’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the company played a positive role by donating an Olympic pedigree Taraflex® Sports surface in ‘Silver Gray’ that would benefit the Community and support Grass Roots for many years to come.

A Doctor who volunteers and helps to run the Penketh Youth Centre outside of her busy schedule, takes up the story. Dr. Leila Dirir said, “The hall was built sometime in the early 1960's and was funded as a youth club for decades but sadly fell into disrepair in the mid -1990's.”

Dr. Leila further commented, “Back in Jan 2020 I was called by David Carter, Sports National Sales Manager from Gerflor, who had heard we were a small community youth centre that was struggling and were desperate for a new sports floor.” She added, “It was such an amazing opportunity, that they were offering to donate a brand new Taraflex® Olympic pedigree sports floor.”

Commenting on the project, David Carter said, “On this occasion, it became clear that a small hall of around 120m2 has much more importance to the community than many larger halls. The existing flooring surface was in a state of disrepair. It looked troublesome but we produced the right solution by supplying and donating our high performance Taraflex® AE system.” David Carter continued, “Its’ something that Gerflor as a company and also myself are really proud to help with. Penketh Youth Centre now have a floor from an Olympic supplier right in the heart of the community.”

The London Borough of Sutton Council wanted to breathe new life into a number of communal areas in their large municipal office building. For this iconic refurbishment, they turned to international flooring and interiors specialist Gerflor to provide an array of spectacular world class flooring that would deliver outstanding durability and incredible eye-catching designs. Gerflor supplied over 2500m2 of Creation LVT and Gradus Lunar Carpet tiles for this major renovation.

Commenting on the Sutton Civic Centre project Paul Sceats, Specification Sales Manager at Gerflor commented, “At the time the Gradus Lunar collection had recently been launched, it would be an ideal product to consider as the natural and neutral tones would blend extremely well alongside the authentic wood-effect planks of Gerflor’s Creation 70 LVT. The client Rob McNaught used these finishes to very cleverly “sculpt” a walkway through the main carpeted area of the reception.”

In supplying a superior interiors finish, the Gerflor floorings for this distinguished project would be installed by South-East London- based Specialised Flooring (Bromley) Limited. Ian Hook, Company Director at Specialised Flooring said,” Our client is extremely delighted with the finished result. Specifying Gerflor products, is for us, a natural choice as they offer a vast range of flooring in a fantastic array of contemporary colours and designs, which are suitable for many demanding applications.”

The Creation LVT range from international flooring specialist Gerflor is an extremely well established, credible, world class brand that continues to appeal to Specifiers and Designers alike. The most popular designs and colourways, are branded as the ‘Creation 55 LVT Essential Collection’. It’s an all -in -one solution delivering inspirational and exclusive finishes, and which for 2023, now includes the stunningly beautiful Herringbone designs. The collection is stocked in UK, for fast delivery, when time is of the essence for building projects.

When a customised interior is at the forefront of a Designer’s eye, the need to explore the world of possibilities by mixing and matching colours with specific designs really becomes crucial. With Creation 55 LVT Essential Collection Mix and Match options, Designers can combine, contrast, or mix up finishes completely for a unique and customised floor scheme.

Hannah Parkinson, Product Manager (Gerflor/Gradus) UK commented,” The addition of the new Herringbone designs in our Creation 55 LVT Essential Collection, provides a further design opportunity for Specifiers and Designers alike. Offering even more striking & beautiful new finishes, it is a remarkable enhancement to an already stunning and contemporary flooring collection. Being able to offer increased choices from our Creation 55 LVT range, is where our research and development really delivers more for our customers. It’s a collection that can adapt itself to zoning-out working areas, or to create a feature space within a building environment. An additional bonus is that these references are also stocked in UK, for a fast turnaround.”

The time has come to feel inspired with a vast variety of design possibilities. The Creation 55 LVT Essential Collection from Gerflor which now includes the sensational Herringbone Design offers a raft of boundless design perspectives, delivering first class quality, on trend, fashion-led designs that are made both accessible and incredibly easy.

When a high-end development of a new residential student accommodation building in Gloucester city centre required over 3800m2 of high-quality flooring, they turned to Gerflor for a complete solution. The world class flooring installed would include Gerflor’s Tarasafe Impression and Tarasafe Standard vinyl safety flooring, Taralay Impression Comfort heterogenous flooring, together with their stunning Creation 55 LVT and Gradus Boulevard 5000 high performance Barrier Matting Tiles.

Cityheart Living’s accommodation in Cityheart’s Blackfriars Residence is brand new and offers high specification and secure student accommodation to the University of Gloucestershire.

Midas Group, a multimillion-pound construction group with seven offices around the southwest and Wales, had been appointed by the developers Cityheart Living as main contractors but went into administration in 2022. Vitruvius who are a team of project and construction management consultants swiftly proposed a Construction Management approach to restart the project and were appointed to take over the project.

Andy Moore, Senior Project Manager from Vitruvius said,” The various Gerflor floorings, as well as Gradus Barrier Matting are performing extremely well. Gerflor’s flooring collections and Gradus Barrier Matting products are credible and well-known in the marketplace for their high quality and competitive pricing, and I have used them on many occasions”.

John Hughes, Manager, at Cityheart Living Blackfriars Residence commented, “The final finish is really outstanding and both staff and students are enjoying the new aesthetics of the installed Gerflor and Gradus flooring”.

When an Academy school in Northamptonshire needed to replace their dated and dangerous Granwood sports hall floor with a spectacular new ‘fit for purpose’ indoor sports surface, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 400m2 of their world class Olympic standard Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports floor.

At Rushden Academy, they recognise the importance of Physical Education (PE) and the role it has to play in promoting long term, healthy lifestyles and making a
positive impact on physical, mental, and social health.

Installing the new Gerflor flooring would need to be undertaken by a flooring company that could deliver an excellent finish worthy of both the school and the quality flooring specified. Darren Brown, Director Finest Floors Limited commented “Rushden Academy were incredibly delighted with the final result and the Gerflor sports floor system exceeded their expectations. We currently already specify and install a large range of Gerflor products, so are confident in the quality of their materials. Their solutions are competitively priced for all budgets and readily available for all projects.”

Lee Ward from Rushden Academy said, “We are extremely pleased with the overall performance of the Taraflex® sports product and its durability."

Taraflex® Performance is a synthetic indoor sports flooring that can be specified for a wide range of sports applications, in a variety of sectors. It delivers optimal safety, comfort, and performance for users, as well as being available in an extensive choice of vibrant designs, making it the ideal choice for a host of locations.

Specifying and installing 650m2 of Gerflor’s world class Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring in ‘Light Cherry’ would turn out to be a pivotal decision for Axminster Leisure Centre in East Devon. The refurbishment project to replace the existing flooring in their main sports hall would yield spectacular results for both the operators of the facility and the end users. The indoor sports surface solution that was specified would need to be of the utmost quality and readily available, considering how short the timescales were for the project and would need to be competitively priced for the funds available for this iconic renovation.

Chris Pursey, Gerflor Area Sales Manager at the time, Southwest & Channel Islands commented, “Leisure East Devon (LED) runs a number of similar sites for East Devon Council, and they have specified Taraflex® on other sites, so they had full confidence in our systems.”

The installation of the Gerflor Taraflex® Performance flooring by Plymouth-based Roberts Flooring would need to be of the highest quality to meet the exacting standards set by East Devon Council.

Dave Moran, Managing Director, Roberts Flooring said, “Although this project already had Gerflor specified, we have carried out several sports floor installations using Gerflor products, one of which included Torquay Grammar School for Boys, this project had both Roberts Flooring and Gerflor nominated in the CFJ Flooring Awards in 2020. I believe that the client and end users are overjoyed with the new Gerflor Taraflex® sports floor.”

Steve Parker, Area Building Surveyor, East Devon District Council said, “The new Taraflex floor is ‘outstanding and first class’ and much nicer than they had before. At East Devon District Council, we are extremely pleased with the new Olympic pedigree Taraflex® sports flooring.”

Taraflex® Performance is a synthetic indoor sports flooring that can be specified for a wide range of sports applications, in a variety of sectors. It delivers optimal safety, comfort, and performance for users, as well as being available in an extensive choice of vibrant designs, making it the ideal choice for a host of locations.

When a ‘sports enthusiastic’ family in Gloucester wanted to create a basketball court in their garden, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply their world class Sport Court® PowerGame™ Plus tiles in eye catching Black and Red colours.

This ‘back yard project’ would need the highest standards of fitting to deliver a top-flight finish. The task would be the responsibility of Birmingham-based Bradleys Surfacing Systems

Tom Bradley, Managing Director Bradleys Surfacing Systems said, “We specified Gerflor’s PowerGame™ Plus outdoor sports surface thanks to its unique construction. The Sport Court PowerGame™ tiles were exceptionally easy and fast to lay.”

PowerGame™ Plus from Sport Court ® is the safest outdoor court in the world, featuring the lowest skin abrasion of any outdoor court surface and is made of the highest quality materials and UV stabilisers to protect it from wear and tear. Perfect for a host of performance sports including badminton, tennis, basketball, netball and hockey. The patented Double-Tier shock absorbing grid and Lateral Forgiveness™ reduces joint strain and fatigue to help participants play longer and more safely than ever.

Commenting on this unique project Chris Newey, Gerflor Area Sales Specification Manager, West Midlands said, “PowerGame™ Plus provided this installation with an exceptional playing experience, together with also ensuring a high level of player safety and comfort,”

When the idyllic village of Tormarton nestled in the Cotswolds wanted to transform the main room in their village hall, the committee responsible for organising and specifying a replacement floor would choose Taraflex® Multi-Use from international flooring specialist Gerflor.

Tormarton has a population of about 350 people from a wide variety of backgrounds. At the centre of village life is the parish hall which provides a blank canvass for a raft of local community activities.

Stewart Waters, Chair of the Tormarton Parish Council commented, “We specified Gerflor Taraflex® Multi-Use indoor sports surface as it would cater for a variety of needs. The new Taraflex® sports vinyl floor is much easier to maintain and clean and so much brighter than the old, dated tiles.”

Commenting on the project Chris Pursey, Gerflor Area Sales Specification Manager, Southwest & Channel Islands said,” The existing subfloor consisted of old vinyl tiles, which although were well bonded to the substrate, presented a health and safety risk if removed due to possible presence of asbestos.” Chris Pursey added, “For this reason, we specified that the installation should ideally be over an Isolsport membrane, which left the tiles undisturbed and also enabled the installation to be done quickly with minimal floor preparation.”

Stewart Waters ended by saying, “We have had lots of positive comments and all parties are really pleased with the refurbishment. We would definitely choose Gerflor flooring again.”

Taraflex® sports flooring has been fitted at every Olympic Games since 1976. Approved by many National and International governing bodies as a world class sports surface, it is also widely installed within the education, community, leisure, health, and fitness sectors.

When Collegiate School in Bristol wanted to refurbish their main sports hall, together with revamping the stairs, showers and changing rooms they would specify a mix of high-quality flooring from international flooring specialist Gerflor. The specification would include Gerflor’s Olympic pedigree Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring and their world class Tarasafe Ultra and Tarasafe Ultra H20 safety flooring.

Simon Crossman Director of Facilities, Collegiate said, “We wanted a bright multi-sport surface and a surface which could cope with ad-hoc school activities such as assemblies, prizegiving’s and summer/leavers balls. Therefore, the floor had to be resilient, take the point loading of a high heel or a chair and not dent or deform in any way which could affect the playing surface. Another requirement was to have an indoor cricket area which didn’t involve laying additional mats. The Taraflex® indoor sports solution delivers this specification in spades.”

The installation of the Gerflor products would be the responsibility of Bristol-based Knighton Contracts. Lee Knighton, Director commented, “We had absolutely no problems laying down the Gerflor Taraflex® and Tarasafe products and everybody seemed extremely delighted with the final finish of the new flooring installed.”

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.”

When the local community hospital in Whitby, Yorkshire commissioned a complete re-development and refurbishment of the existing location and buildings, the flooring and finishing throughout the site would need to be of the very highest standards. International flooring specialist Gerflor would supply over 7000m2 of high-quality flooring, together with a selection of Gradus handrails and corner guards for this Procure 22 project.

The redevelopment of Whitby Hospital by the team at Medical Architecture has created a modern health and social care hub which supports the integrated delivery of primary care, secondary care, and community services.
Louise Drew, Senior Architect, Medical Architecture said, “We chose to specify Gerflor for their outstanding world class flooring products and were pleased that they could also assist us with the wall protection surface needs for the healthcare facility. It was refreshing to know that we could work with both businesses for this iconic refurbishment. We specified the Gradus wall protection solutions, thanks to the innovative products that would enhance the building interiors”.

Andy Gordon, Gerflor Key Account Manager, Healthcare North commented, “There was approx. 7000m2 of Gerflor products specified to all areas of the building, along with a number of Gradus Wall Protection solutions for the corridors, clinical areas, stairways, wet areas, toilets, together with storage rooms and X-Ray areas. Overall, it was a significant project that would require innovative solutions.”

When a Manchester-based interior design company needed to source high quality flooring for their client’s office premises, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor for a fit for purpose solution. For this major refurbishment, Gerflor would supply over 1100m2 of Gradus Lunar Carpets, specifying ‘Rook’ and ‘Moretus’ as the colour choices.



M1NT Studios, on behalf of their client, Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (M.A.D.E), would, through the appointed contractor, FK Restorations - be responsible for the final overall look of the finished project.



Mathew Fleming, Commercial Director, FK Restorations said, “As the designs were being developed the Gradus Lunar carpet collection from Gerflor, had just been launched and M1NT Studio strongly felt it had a lot of synergies with our design intent.”



Stephanie Taylor, Director, and Interior Designer M1NT Studio commented, “We loved how the Gradus Lunar Carpet Tiles were unique by taking inspiration from the surface of the moon, it was very much forward thinking like our client. The range of colourways and the competitive price point also made it stand out from the crowd.”

Lewis Leadeatt, Area Specification Manager, Gerflor Flooring and Gradus Accessories commented,” It was a great pleasure working with the M1NT Studio on the M.A.D.E project. You can clearly see their fun energy and positive spirit infused in their design.”


Stephanie Taylor concluded,” We would definitely specify Gerflor products again. The support from their specification and technical teams and ability to react quickly to queries was world class.”

When Colchester Academy in Essex required a new sports floor for their main hall and their dance studio, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor for an Olympic pedigree solution. For this prestigious education establishment, Gerflor would supply a total of 552m2 of their world class Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring for the sports hall, and 258m2 of their Taraflex® Combi 85 System in Evolution for their dance studio.

The responsibility for delivering the design and finish for the school’s sports halls would fall to Braintree-based architectural practice- Barker Associates. Ben Jeapes, Senior Building Surveyor at Barker Associates commented, “I have specified Gerflor products in the past and know that they provide excellent quality safety flooring. I am also aware that Gerflor specialise in world class sports flooring and have the option of numerous systems for different levels of performance, or to accommodate different types of sub-floor construction found in refurbishment projects such as Colchester Academy.”


The installation of the Gerflor products was undertaken by Ipswich-based Cadman Flooring. Kieran Cadman from Cadman Flooring said, “We find Gerflor’s flooring products so easy to install and the support from the specification and technical teams is first class. We have specified Gerflor floorings before and we will continue to do so moving forward.”

Dan Bowen, Area Sales & Specification Manager, Gerflor said, “Taraflex Performance was chosen for the main sports hall. The school wanted a floor that could be used for sports that require good levels of ball bounce, which Taraflex achieves due to its unique construction. They also wanted a high-quality sports floor that would protect the students from injury. Thanks to the high levels of impact resistance that Taraflex delivers, this requirement was easily met.”

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PRESS RELEASE:
Bangor University specify Gerflors Taraflex for two of their main sports halls

At Bangor University in North Wales, they are proud of their sports facilities. So, when the university had a necessity to replace the flooring in two of their main sports halls, they naturally turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply over 1300m2 of their world class Olympic standard Taraflex® sports flooring in ‘London Light Blue’ and ‘Maple’ to complete the flooring aspect of the refurbishment project.

The replacement indoor flooring surfaces would include both Taraflex® Comfort and Taraflex® Evolution from Gerflor, they would prove to be a perfect fit for both halls. The improved Taraflex® Evolution product, of which approx. 625m2 has been installed in the Hall 1 facility at the university, is safer, better performing and offers even more protection than the previous flooring that had to be replaced

Commenting on the project Sam Wallwork, Head of Sport, Bangor University said, “We have previously used Gerflor before and have always been really impressed by their high-quality products and high levels of customer service.”

David Hebblethwaite, Specification Manager (North), Gerflor commented, “Specifying both the Taraflex® Comfort and Taraflex® Evolution surfaces for the desired locations, delivered the optimum choice for the client in terms of comfort, performance, and safety.”

Overseeing the installation of the indoor Taraflex sports flooring in both sports halls would be tasked to Llandudno-based flooring specialists Linney Cooper. Lance Haldane, Office, and Accreditation Manager, Linney Cooper commented, “From the beginning of the installation and right up to the very end, the project ran very smoothly. Gerflor’s Taraflex sports flooring is a prestigious product, and our installation team had no problems when installing it. We now recommend it to our customers when and where applicable”

Brynteg School in Bridgend, Wales had an urgent need to refurbish their incredibly tired and dated linoleum floor in the main sports hall. The project would be a perfect ‘fit’ for international flooring specialist Gerflor who supplied their Olympic pedigree Taraflex® Performance sports flooring, together with their Taraflex® Bateco protection system.

The installation of the Gerflor flooring would be the responsibility of Cardiff-based Puma Floors Ltd. Matthew Graves, Commercial Director, Puma Floors Ltd, commented, “We have previously installed both Taraflex and Bateco before, they are extremely easy products to work with. The final result and the sports hall look amazing, and the client is delighted with the final finish. We would certainly choose to specify and install Gerflor again.”

The main sports hall at Brynteg School also provides sporting facilities for a host of wheelchair sports which makes Gerflor’s Taraflex® the ideal choice when it comes to comfort, safety, and performance. Taraflex® sports floorings are recognised all over the world for all types of sports. cushioned floors, with high IPI values, are key features for sitting volleyball and other sitting sports.

Commenting on the Brynteg School project Tony Thorne, Gerflor Specification Manager, South Wales said, “This has been a formidable project to be involved in and hugely fulfilling to see our first-class sports surface really delivering on both performance, comfort, and safety.”

Taraflex® sports flooring has been fitted at every Olympic Games since 1976. Approved by many National and International governing bodies as a world class sports surface, it is also widely installed within the education, community, leisure, health, and fitness sectors.

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 Tara?ex® 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.”

The University of South Wales (USW) has recently installed 900 m2 of Taraflex® Area Elastic (AE) System vinyl sports flooring in ‘Maple’ from international flooring specialist Gerflor. This high-quality installation was for a replacement floor in the USW Fitzone at their Treforest campus.
“USW were looking to replace their existing timber sports floor due to damages caused by flooding. As they had an installation at USW Nantgarw Sport Park One of our Taraflex Combisport system they wanted costings to install a similar system at the Treforest site.” Tony Thorne added, “We specified 900m2 of our world class Taraflex AE System, as there was existing equipment which included bleachers and doors. As part of the rigorous specification process, we had to meet the same height as the existing flooring. At Gerflor we have timber sports floors within our portfolio, however following conversations with various stakeholders on the project and due to factors, such as non-sport use and high life cycle costs due to the repeated maintenance needed for timber, we specified Taraflex as the floor finish.”
Richard Lewis, Capital Projects Manager at USW said,” We decided to replace the existing sports surface due to a previous roof leak that damaged the floor. The Taraflex sports flooring has only recently been installed, but it is already exceeding our high expectations.”
The installation of the Taraflex® sports system would be the responsibility of Swansea-based Artisan Flooring who have installed Gerflor products on previous projects.
Lewis Williams, Contracts Manager, Artisan Flooring said, “We would choose Gerflor’s Taraflex again as it’s always been a reliable brand, especially when it comes to sports flooring. It’s a great product to work with.”
Taraflex® AE systems are area elastic floors consisting of undercarriage construction topped with Taraflex® Surface. Taraflex® Surface is a compact vinyl sheet sports floor covering consisting of a D-Max™ surface - Gerflor’s own complex made up of calendered polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets reinforced with a fibre glass grid for high durability and outstanding dimensional stability.

Beaconsfield High School, in Buckinghamshire have been delivering a highly successful academic culture for more than over 50 years. Creativity and physical activity are just some of the additional life skills and behaviours that are taught to pupils. When the school wanted to refurbish their main sports hall, the natural choice was to turn to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 635m2 of their world class Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring, in Light Blue, to successfully complete the project.

Chris Stopp, Contracts Manager, Folkspur Flooring Ltd, commented, “Gerflor’s Taraflex sports flooring has really met and surpassed our expectations. The school and sports hall users have passed on outstanding feedback about the final look and feel of the floor. We would definitely specify Taraflex® again, as it’s always our ‘go to’ sports flooring product of choice.”

Taraflex® Performance is a synthetic indoor sports flooring that can be specified for a wide range of sports applications, in a variety of sectors and is available in an extensive choice of vibrant designs, making it the ideal choice for a host of locations. With a complete range of outstanding sports surfaces that can meet specification requirements for compliance with P1/P2/P3 shock absorption Taraflex® sports floorings are perfect for delivering optimal safety and protection for users, regardless of their age and sporting ability.

Steve Wilson, Gerflor Specification Manager, South Central said, “Beaconsfield High School are extremely delighted with the outcome of the sport floor refurbishment. The finish is striking and the Taraflex® cushioned sports floor is delivering consistent comfort, safety, and performance on a daily basis for all pupils, students, and teaching staff.”

On 24th-26th May 2022, world-class leading flooring, and interior finishing solutions manufacturer Gerflor looks forward to exhibiting their spectacular design led flooring collections, as well as Gradus wall cladding, LED architectural lighting and other interior finishing solutions at Clerkenwell Design Week.

This year will see Gerflor highlight several of their highly acclaimed flooring ranges and creative solutions aimed at providing designers with a myriad of inspirational design choices that also deliver outstanding durability and safety.

On show for 2022 will be the MyTaralay and, MyTaraflex® Digital Printing services for floors, together with the Gradus SureProtect Design® Wall Cladding digital printing service for walls. In addition to this, the new architectural lighting LED systems and finishing solutions will also be showcased at this iconic event.

Nav Dhillon, Marketing Manager, Gerflor UK commented, “It’s great to see Clerkenwell Design Week back. Exhibiting at this high-profile design show provides us with a tantalising opportunity to showcase our MyTaralay and MyTaraflex digital printing services, together with our Gradus SureProtect Design Wall Cladding systems, as well as other finishing solutions. Nav Dhillon added, “The event also provides a remarkable platform for us to meet designers and key specifiers who are looking for something stunning, yet different, complete solutions for all interior spaces.”

Corner Block is a high quality and prominent multi-let office asset located in the bustling centre of Manchester. When the design studio AXI required the highest quality flooring for the workspaces within the office areas, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to assist with the much-needed refurbishment. Gradus new Lunar Carpet tile collection in the ‘Moretus’ design was specified, with over 300m2 installed suiting the complex and its users perfectly.

Sarah de Freitas, Creative Director, AXI Studio commented, “We chose Gradus Lunar carpet tiles from Gerflor because the style was just right, the colour was a perfect fit, and the product was priced competitively and within budget.”

Inspired by the natural landscape of the moon, Lunar is a perfect choice for commercial offices, a host of education applications and many other contract environments, providing outstanding levels of performance and comfort.

Lewis Leadeatt, Specification Manager, Gerflor, North-West said, “This was a fabulous project to be involved in. The Lunar carpet tiles look absolutely superb and I’m confident that the product installed will deliver longevity, many years of great service despite the busy footfall.”

Sarah de Freitas also said, “The Gradus Lunar carpet tiles are easily meeting the clients’ expectations and we are extremely delighted with the final look of the flooring in situation.”

Gradus Carpets is a brand of the Gerflor Group, manufacturing premium quality carpet tiles and planks, broadloom, and impervious backed carpets.

When Base Architects wanted to re-develop their Shrewsbury office, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply a mixture of their Gradus carpet products. The project would include Gradus Latour2 Howden and Dovedale, together with Gradus Emphasis Orange and the Gradus Boulevard 5000 range in colour Moorhen.

Lewis Leadeatt, Specification Manager, Gerflor North-West said, “We created a design plan for Base Architects through their fit-out contractors Forster Tullet. We had partnered with Forster Tullet on previous projects, and they recommended our solutions to Base Architects.”

Harry Reece, Managing Director, Base Architects said, “Our contractors recommended the Gradus Carpet collections as it’s soft enough to dampen sound, yet hard wearing enough to be able to withstand heavy furniture and cope with wheeled chairs moving across the floor. The Gradus Emphasis range that was part of the specification comes in ‘Base’ Orange which matches our branding perfectly.”

In conclusion Harry Reece said, “We are extremely delighted with the Gerflor Gradus products installed at our offices. The final result looks absolutely stunning.”

Gradus Carpets is a brand of the Gerflor Group, manufacturing premium quality carpet tiles and planks, broadloom, and impervious backed carpets. Using a range of high-performance yarns, Gradus’ extensive range of carpets are suitable for a wide variety of contract applications.

Gerflor’s Creative Design Service is a unique value proposition for architects, interior designers, and specifiers alike. It allows clients to unleash their creativity and truly customise floor designs, to create a bespoke finish through Gerflor’s advanced water jet cutting technology.

A vast swathe of sectors can benefit from using the MyFloor Service from Gerflor which includes Education, Healthcare, Offices, Retail, Industry, together with Sport and Fitness.

It’s a simple process for the designer or specifier, they imagine the design and Gerflor create it with their high-quality, precision water jet technology.

When Falkirk Council required flooring for Carrongrange School in Scotland they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 4000m2 of flooring products that could deliver stunning looks, durability, and performance. By using Gerflor’s water jet cutting service the school was able to have their new logo incorporated into the Gerflor Mipolam flooring installed. Jack Aitken, Education Design Co-ordinator, Falkirk Council commented, “The staff and pupils are absolutely delighted with the flooring design which perfectly matched the flooring concepts designed by our pupils.”

David Collins-Lafferty, Marketing Manager, Gerflor UK commented, “By utilising and accessing our innovative MyFloor digital water jet cutting service, designers and specifiers across the contract markets can transform their designs into a stunning and striking reality.”

The former Boothen Neighbourhood Centre in Stoke has been given a new lease of life thanks to the MESC Table Tennis Club (MESC TTC) who have taken the facility on as their new base. The club, which has been in existence for over 60 years now boasts 90m2 of world class beating Taraflex® Table Tennis Sports floor from international flooring specialist Gerflor in ‘Red’ for their main sports room.

MESC TTC is a Table Tennis England “Premier Club and it has members of all ages ranging from 8-80+ years of age.

Malcolm Dawson, Chairman, MESC TTC commented, “The Gerflor Taraflex Table Tennis Floor has completely surpassed our expectations, it not only looks superb but also performs excellently. We are extremely delighted with the final result and would definitely choose Gerflor’s Taraflex Table Tennis Floor again

Lewis Leadeatt, Specification Manager, Gerflor North-East said, The Taraflex Table Tennis Sports floor is extremely easy to maintain and as there is no need for strong cleaning products or cleaning machines, and because there is never a need re-polish all these elements contribute to its low life cycle costs. It provides outstanding levels of shock absorption and impact protection.”

The former Boothen Neighbourhood Centre in Stoke has been given a new lease of life thanks to the MESC Table Tennis Club (MESC TTC) who have taken the facility on as their new base. The club, which has been in existence for over 60 years now boasts 90m2 of world class beating Taraflex® Table Tennis Sports floor from international flooring specialist Gerflor in ‘Red’ for their main sports room.

MESC TTC is a Table Tennis England “Premier Club and it has members of all ages ranging from 8-80+ years of age.

Malcolm Dawson, Chairman, MESC TTC commented, “The Gerflor Taraflex Table Tennis Floor has completely surpassed our expectations, it not only looks superb but also performs excellently. We are extremely delighted with the final result and would definitely choose Gerflor’s Taraflex Table Tennis Floor again

Lewis Leadeatt, Specification Manager, Gerflor North-East said, The Taraflex Table Tennis Sports floor is extremely easy to maintain and as there is no need for strong cleaning products or cleaning machines, and because there is never a need re-polish all these elements contribute to its low life cycle costs. It provides outstanding levels of shock absorption and impact protection.”

Gerflor is at the forefront of innovation by offering its customers a range of digital printing services, one of which includes MyTaralay Impression. This design service allows specifiers and designers alike to be totally unique with a host of projects, where floors can be customised to bespoke needs.

With Gerflor’s MyTaralay Impression service, clients can make bold design statements, unleash their creativity, and can stand out from the crowd by personalising the floors they are specifying. It’s a design service where designers can enter a world of one atmosphere, one style, one floor, but endless incredible possibilities.

Clients can customise their flooring designs according to their specification. They can either recolour an existing design from the Taralay Impression collection where there are 20 references to choose from or can choose from 50 exclusive designs, designed by the Gerflor Creative Team in the spirit of the major current and prospective trends in design, architecture, and fashion.

Finally, clients can go even further if they are looking for a completely unique floor, by sending in their own bespoke design for a totally distinctive finish.

When the Tunstall Trade Park complex near Stoke-on-Trent had a requirement for over 700m2 of flooring they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply a mixture of Creation 55 Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and Gradus Lafite Connect Space carpet tiles to provide a stunning finish for the project.

For permanent installations Creation 55 Dryback provides the perfect solution on prepared subfloors and is ideal for new projects. When an installation needs to be removable, then Creation 55 Looselay with its exclusive construction is the answer.

Gradus Lafite Connect Space features a linear design and is available in both tile and plank format offering variety and the opportunity to produce unique floor schemes.

Jason Judges, Regional Sales Manager, Gerflor commented, “This was a high calibre project and is an excellent example of what can be achieved when working in partnership with flooring contractors and end users.”

The installation of this prestigious project would be the responsibility of Sylk Flooring. Matt Hopley, Director, Sylk Flooring said, “We would definitely install Gerflor and Gradus products again. Gerflor’s Creation 55 LVT is a world class product available at a competitive price as are the Gradus Lafite Connect carpet tiles.”

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 Tara?ex® 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.

In completing the £21M Park Hill Flats restoration project on a Sheffield housing development Kier Construction and architects Whittam Cox specified 4000m2 of high-quality vinyl flooring from international flooring specialist Gerflor.

The project would provide a showcase for two of Gerflor’s signature flooring products -the Taralay Impression Compact heterogenous collection and their slip resistant Tarasafe Standard safety range. Both these innovations would prove to be the ideal solution for Beton House which is the third phase of the Park Hill Flats estate.

In choosing both Taralay Impression Compact and Tarasafe Standard from Gerflor the rigorous specification standards set by Whittam Cox and Kier Construction would easily be met.

Andy Gordon, Gerflor Area Sales Manager, Northeast commented, “We collaborated with the architects Whittam Cox in the first instance and wrote a specification which included three thousand square metres of our Taralay Impression Compact flooring for the communal areas and one thousand square metres of our slip resistant Tarasafe Standard for the student bathroom areas. The client is absolutely delighted with the final outcome of the Gerflor flooring, and we understand the flooring is performing exceedingly well and meeting all the clients’ expectations.”

When Gloucestershire NHS Commissioning Group decided to replace an existing healthcare facility in the centre of Gloucester, over 3000m2 of flooring from international flooring specialist Gerflor was specified to complete the project to the highest standards. The project would demand high quality flooring that could meet and exceed the rigorous demands of this new healthcare facility head on.

The main contractor Kier Construction would, through Newcastle-based ADP Architecture, specify a mixture of Gerflors’ Taralay and Tarasafe flooring solutions to produce the final high-quality flooring finish that the new build healthcare project would require.

Gerflor have an enviable history in designing and manufacturing high quality flooring for the healthcare market. It’s a reputation built on expertise, knowledge, and innovation. With over 60 years’ credible healthcare experience, Gerflor is a respected manufacturer of innovative, high performance, design-led, and sustainable solutions for flooring, and interior finishes.

Andy Gordon, Healthcare Specification Manager - North commented “This was a greatly prestigious project to be involved in, alongside our architectural and installer partners. The client is absolutely delighted with the outcome, both in terms of the fast turnaround of the project and the technical performance of the products installed.”

Gerflor is pleased to announce the launch of Lunar, a brand-new collection to the Gradus Carpets portfolio. Inspired by the natural landscape of the moon, this stunning carpet collection has a distinguished design and is available in celestial decors that will help to create an extremely stylish and modern interior.

Its unique designs reflect the mountain ranges of the moon. From the ethereal ‘Janssen’ through to ‘Jura’ and ‘Moro’ the myriad of colour choices stimulated in design by our nearest celestial body will both inspire and delight designers and specifiers alike.

David Collins-Lafferty, Marketing Manager, Gerflor UK commented, “I am delighted to be involved in the development and launch of this very unique carpet collection. Lunar is inspired by the Moon’s landscape and the realistic finish in warm and calming colours are perfect for creating a contemporary and calming interior. David Collins-Lafferty further added, “Lunar also provides the required comfort that many flooring scenarios require.”

Lunar is perfect for commercial offices, a host of education applications and many other contract environments.

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.

Gerflor has recently refreshed and expanded its ever-popular Taralay Initial vinyl flooring range.

The refreshed Taralay Initial Compact and Comfort collections now have extended colour and design options that are a perfect choice for a host of building interior applications. It is a completely new and unique offer from Gerflor that delivers the latest design innovations coupled to multi formats and multi layering techniques.

Nav Dhillon, Marketing Manager, Gerflor UK commented, “The recently refreshed Taralay Initial Comfort and Compact collection now provides an even wider choice of stunning designs and colours. Whether it’s the authentic wood or mineral finish required or something more energetic in bold and vibrant colours with specific patterns, this collection is a new force to be reckoned with.”

The collection now boasts 49 designs and colours available in both compact and comfort formats. A cross section of the portfolio includes stunning, eye-catching spectrum of hyper realistic colours and designs that take their influences from Gerflor’s phenomenally successful Creation LVT and world class Saga2 ranges. The newly extended striking colour palette reflects the enormous success enjoyed by the ‘wood designs’ from the Gerflor Creation LVT collection.

Swansea Council has transformed the support it delivers to pupils either outside or at risk of leaving mainstream education by building a brand new £9.64M school. When ‘scoping-out’ the project Swansea Council in conjunction with the contractor, would specify over 2000m2 of Gradus carpet tiles for the flooring element of the project. They would ultimately opt for the ‘Streetwise Design and Stratus designs for the school’s classrooms, corridors and communal areas.

Cockett (Pupil Referral Unit) PRU school now provides staff and pupils with attractive and functional facilities all on one site.

Gradus Carpets is a brand of the Gerflor Group, manufacturing premium quality carpet tiles and planks, broadloom, and impervious backed carpets. Utilising a range of high-performance yarns, Gradus’ extensive range of carpets are suitable for a wide variety of contract applications including commercial office, healthcare, and education environments.

Tony Thorne, Sales & Specification Manager, Gerflor for South Wales said, “The project at Cockett PRU School provided us with an opportunity to not only supply a high-quality solution with our Gradus carpet range but also enabled us to showcase some stunning designs and colours.”

When Dundee-based architects Jon Frullani wanted to refurbish their own Grade B listed office they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 250m2 of their Creation 70 LVT Dryback vinyl flooring in ‘Deep Forest’.

Creation 70 LVT is a synthetic, decorative, flexible, antistatic abrasion group T floorcovering available in tile or plank, with bevelled edges. It consists in a 0.70 mm thick transparent wear layer, a design film, and a Resilient Comfort Core to provide softness and comfort surface.

The LVT flooring has been used throughout the practice including the offices, communal areas including corridors, staff break-out areas, recreation space and the kitchen.

Jon Frullani, Architect, and Company owner commented, “We specified Creation 70 LVT from Gerflor as it was the most suited product for our bespoke requirements. In fact, there is not one level floor in the entire building and the Creation 70 LVT has coped very well in this challenging situation.”

Maggie Smith, Gerflor Specification Manager, Scotland said, “This was a fantastic project to be involved in. It was clear to me that our Creation 70 LVT Dryback would provide the best-in-class solution for the areas concerned.”

On 18th-22nd October 2021 world-class leading flooring manufacturer Gerflor will be exhibiting at Healthcare Estates, Manchester Central. The UK’s largest event for Healthcare Estates, Engineers and FM Professionals.

This returning show, post COVID, provides international flooring and finishing specialist Gerflor with the perfect platform to display an array of healthcare-related solutions.

Showcasing at the exhibition will be the well-established Mipolam collections which already have an outstanding reputation for their performance in healthcare buildings and settings. The collections include Mipolam Symbioz and new to the family, Mipolam Planet™ and Mipolam Affinity.

Nav Dhillon, Marketing Manager, Gerflor UK commented, “I am delighted to see the Healthcare Estates Show back on track for 2021. Exhibiting at Healthcare Estates provides us with a fantastic opportunity and platform to meet a cross-section of key healthcare professionals. We will be showcasing our latest Mipolam flooring collections, as well as other unique innovations from within the portfolio which can be used across all areas of a healthcare facility.”

Come and meet the Gerflor Healthcare Experts, plus discover the latest innovations at Healthcare Estates 2021, Manchester Central 18-22 October on Stand C14.

Over 4700m2 of Gerflor high performance sports and safety floorings have been installed at Marr College, Scotland. The client required an Olympic pedigree sports floor for their main sports hall to serve a multitude of uses – Taraflex® was the chosen innovation. A trusted, high-quality safety flooring was also required to ensure the safety of pupils, staff, and on-site visitors. Tarasafe Ultra was the natural choice.

Taraflex® is available in 17 colours and four wood-effect designs and has been used by the largest international sports federations for decades and has been present at the Summer Olympic Games since 1976.

Tarasafe Ultra is a specialist slip-resistant vinyl safety flooring inlaid with mineral crystals particles, as opposed to carborundum giving a brighter appearance. It also comes with a tough PVC wearlayer and meets HSE guidelines.

Steven Lees, Gerflor Area Sales Manager, Scotland said, “Our Taraflex Evolution sports flooring was the natural choice for the college when it came to their sports hall. The college sports hall is used extensively for a host of different activities. It’s an environment that’s perfect for Taraflex as it delivers outstanding performance and high levels of safety, protection and comfort for pupils and staff.”

When South Bromsgrove High School in Worcestershire underwent a refurbishment and expansion programme back in 2007, they turned to international flooring specialists Gerflor to supply over 200m2 of their world class Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring for their main sports hall. It’s a huge testament to the quality of Gerflor’s high manufacturing standards that after fourteen years the Taraflex® sports flooring is still delivering optimum levels of safety and performance and continues to provide users with outstanding amounts of comfort.

Wayne Andrews, Sports Specialist North for Gerflor commented, “the Taraflex Performance at South Bromsgrove High School is really standing up to the test of time due to its durability, ease of maintenance and use of a multi-sports capability.”

Taraflex® technology delivers long-lasting high-performance of the products for the lifetime of the floors…a massive boon when long-term planning and budgeting are perceived as being two key considerations for specifiers.

Gerflor, a world leading manufacturer of flooring, has added a brand-new range to their already highly acclaimed Mipolam legacy collection of homogeneous flooring

The Mipolam Planet™ range from Gerflor is a fully flexible, healthy, and sustainable homogeneous flooring innovation, perfect for superior specifications in a vast array of commercial high-end traffic areas. It is ideally suited for busy healthcare and education applications as well as many other contract hard working markets.

Nav Dhillon, Marketing Manager, Gerflor UK commented, “This brand-new addition to Gerflor’s Mipolam legacy collection enables specifiers to create inspiring interiors that deliver on both looks and performance. The new Mipolam Planet range now also offers Mipolam BioPlanet which is made up of seventeen percent organic materials”.

In addressing the most rigorous of industry applications the Mipolam Planet™ range is also complemented with a series of ESD EL7/EL5 solutions that provide both static-dissipative and static-conductive floors that meet all ESD control standards.

The new Mipolam Planet™ range comes with an R9 slip resistance rating as standard, but also available upon request is an R10 option.

When the Regent House office space in Blackburn needed to refurbish the whole of the second floor, they chose Gradus Carpets from Gerflor.

The flooring element of the Regent House refurbishment project would require installation of the highest standards to enable the intricate design to fully ‘shine.’

Kevin Green. Partner at KG Flooring said, “The flooring, although an intricate pattern, went down in only two days which is rather exceptional.”

Jason Judges, Gerflor Regional Sales Manager Northwest & West Midlands commented, “The Regent House refurbishment has been a world class project to work on and I'm proud to have played a valuable role in bringing the clients vision and passion to life.”

Kevin Green added, “Gerflor’s products are outstanding, they also offer excellent value for money with a vast range of designs and colours to choose from. We would highly recommend them every time.”

Gradus Floorcoverings is a brand of the Gerflor Group and is a UK manufacturer of premium quality carpet tile and plank, broadloom and impervious backed carpets which excel in terms of functionality, aesthetics, and ease of maintenance.

When Whitmore High School in Barry, Wales were undergoing a massive £30.5M transformation that required over 6000m2 of new flooring they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor for their specific project needs.

The contractor for the project would specify a mix of Gerflor’s Taralay Impression Compact and Comfort flooring, together with their pedigree Taraflex® sports flooring, alongside their world renowned Tarasafe flooring products, together with their Mipolam ESD EL7 dissipative flooring.

Steven Birchenough, Project Manager for the Main Contractor Morgan Sindall said, “Gerflor have a wide selection of flooring products to choose from. We needed a single supplier to provide us with the best-in-class flooring for many areas of the facility.”

The installation of such prestigious and large flooring project would be the responsibility of CS Flooring, Cardiff. Anthony Mynett, Director, Carpet Services (Cardiff) Ltd commented,” This was a huge project for a new build school installation and the specification of Gerflor products for the vast amount of flooring needed was absolutely the right choice due to the high quality and performance they deliver every time.”

In a recent refurbishment of the Sea Life centre in Brighton, international flooring specialist Gerflor supplied 670m2 of vinyl flooring. The project included a fusion of their GTI Max Technical Tiles and Tarasafe Ultra Safety flooring collections.

Neil Harris, General Manager, Sea Life Brighton commented, “We chose Gerflor’s GTI Max and Tarasafe Ultra products because we needed a fast-track solution for a unique and challenging environment, which sits within a 150-year-old grade two listed building. Gerflor specialists were on hand, having visited the site, they offered the best solution for our unique building and considered all the various environmental factors that we manage.”

Neil Harris further added, “We would absolutely specify Gerflor flooring again. In fact, some of our on-site partners immediately reached out to Gerflor to highlight their interest in having similar work carried out in other parts of the building. Gerflors’ customer service was also brilliant, with incredibly open and honest communication, with a desire to achieve our needs as a customer at all times.”

Gerflor is looking forward to exhibiting a comprehensive range of design-led, cost effective, decorative, and fit for purpose flooring on Stand B15 at the upcoming CIH Housing event taking place at Manchester Central, 7th to 9th September 2021. The event is Europe's largest and most inclusive housing festival.

Kenny Miller, National Sales Manager, Gerflor UK commented, “It’s great to see the CIH Housing Show back. This hugely popular event provides us with an excellent platform to showcase several of our new collections and to demonstrate our knowledge and expertise in helping Housing Associations and Local Authorities to make an informed decision on their flooring requirements.”

Gerflor has a dedicated technical and specification team for the housing sector with over 70 years' experience in social housing and new build projects. They will be at the show, ready and on hand to speak to customers about their specific service support needs and any other enquiries.

Almost 600m2 of Gerflors’ World class Taraflex® vinyl sports flooring has been installed at Loughborough University. The badminton performance centre decided to bring forward the like for like replacement of Taraflex to ensure they stayed at the top of their game when it came to facilities.

Originally constructed in 2003, Loughborough University’s Badminton Centre was built with Olympic specification in mind and upgraded in 2011 with Gerflor’s Taraflex® as part of the specification.

When it came to refurbishing the Badminton Centre once more, Taraflex® was the automatic flooring of choice. Tim Oakey, Project Manager for the Facilities Department, Loughborough University, explains: “As Taraflex® is a very good, approved surface for badminton with the right amount of flex and grip for our players, it was simply a case of ‘why change’.

Gerflor’s complete Taraflex® Combi 85 System proved to be the ideal solution. This is an ultimate combination comprising a fully height-adjustable cradle and batten substructure overlaid with plywood, finished with a 7.5mm Taraflex® Evolution playing surface. The perfect duo provides one of the highest specification sports floorings available with optimum safety and ball bounce.

As Covid has ravaged the UK, updating sports facilities with fit-for-purpose sport flooring solutions that can provide speedy results has never been more important says Wayne Andrews, Sports Manager - North, Gerflor.

It has never been more important to stay fit and healthy. For decades, health care professionals have cautioned people about the dangers of obesity. Until recently, too many Brits viewed exercise and visits to the gym as the ticket to a beach body and not the first line of defence against deadly diseases. COVID-19 is finally changing that mistaken belief.

With the current pressures the need to keep UK citizens as active as possible implies that sports facilities need to make their premises inviting.

Suitable flooring can be a cost-effective way of rejuvenating these sports facilities as replacing the flooring, which is typically a 600sqm area, really does make a big impression and can provide a much-needed facelift even simply from a change of colour. As renovating is currently more likely than re-building or extending, the refurbishment market in this sector is prospering and offering fast-track product solutions which save time and money.

In July 2010, The University of South Wales (USW) in Treforest had the foresight to install 923 m2 of Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring in ‘Maple’ and ‘Blue’ from international flooring specialist Gerflor. This high-quality installation was also partnered with a Gerflor Taraflex® Combisport system for a new building located at their Sports Park. It was a vision that would prove to yield fantastic results for the next eleven years.

Taraflex® Performance is available in 17 colours and 3 wood-effect designs as standard with an addition of 110 solid colour options available. It offers a P2 category shock absorbency of 35% to 45%. and is also treated with the Triple Action Protecsol® surface treatment so that no polish is ever required for the lifetime of the floor. The Taraflex® Combisport system is ideal for installations requiring a low-profile floor for a vast range of new build and renovation projects.

Over 100m2 of Gerflor’s newest loose-lay innovation Taralay Libertex has been installed at Alverton Woodland Nursery, Cornwall. The refurbishment solution was a fast-track product that saved the End User significant install time with minimal disruption on site.

Taralay Libertex provides installers with a rapid, high quality, easy-to-lay flooring product. It’s where practicality meets creative flair head-on to provide a harmonious union. Taralay Libertex is the ideal flooring choice when time really is money, providing up to a 30% saving on installation costs for new builds and renovations as it can be laid directly onto most existing or uneven subfloors.

Taralay Libertex features a new generation of textile backing across the sheet vinyl range, specifically developed for commercial applications such as education, hospitality and shops, offices, care homes, together with housing and common areas.

Chris Pursey, Gerflor Area Sales Manager for the Southwest & Channel Islands commented “I was delighted to be involved in this project; this is a great success story utilising our newest innovation which has exceeded the expectations of the nursery”.

Over 360m2 of Attraction® interlocking tiles have been installed in the main assembly hall at Mary Immaculate High School, Wales.

Delivering an outcome that would be both visually stunning and practical for this extremely busy school was a challenge well-met by Cardiff-based Trefoil Interiors, who turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor. Peter Incledon, Senior Estimator at Trefoil Interiors commented,” We chose Gerflor’s Attraction flooring tiles as it can be easily overlayed on a Granwood composite floor. After speaking with our Gerflor representative we were confident in the Attraction product, as it has been successfully installed in several other locations where an existing Granwood floor required a fast-track covering solution.”

Tony Thorne, Sales & Specification Manager, Gerflor commented,“I am absolutely delighted to have worked on this project alongside Trefoil Interiors. This project has been a great success for such a prestigious educational facility”.

Peter Incledon also added, “we always recommend Gerflor flooring whenever we can, we trust their tried and tested solutions for all markets.”

Gerflor's Attraction® range is a perfect solution for renovation, it is a fast track loose lay vinyl tile with interlocking edges which allows for rapid installation and replacement.

Over 800m2 of Gradus Latour2 carpet tiles have been installed in the prestigious offices at Argyle House, Edinburgh, Scotland.

The overall management for the transformation of Argyle House would be the responsibility of Edinburgh-based real estate consultants Hollis. When specifying new flooring for the refurbishment programme, Hollis chose 825m2 of Latour2 carpet tiles. Designed from a floor plan service supplied by Gradus based on the client’s inspiration, the project would include Gradus Latour2 in Howden and Alston colours.

Maggie Smith, Business Development Manager at Gerflor commented, “The design scheme needed to be of a neutral palette which would appeal to potentially any new tenant in the building, so we proposed a modern and contemporary grey theme and alongside this added a vibrant splash of colour around the perimeter. The final finish is impressive, and the client is delighted.”

Gradus Carpets is a brand of the Gerflor Group, manufacturing premium quality carpet tiles and planks, broadloom, and impervious backed carpets.

Gerflor, a world leading manufacturer of flooring, has recently updated and expanded its ever-popular Griptex range of residential vinyl flooring. Griptex is a warm and comfortable slip resistant vinyl flooring that is specifically designed for housing & renovation.

The Griptex range now boasts 13 new spectacular designs some of which include Opera Medium – an intricate patterned design for a unique finish. The introduction of some European warmer colourations for woods with added realism in the design and knot of the grain, as evident in Hudson Grey, Empire Dark Brown and Savannah Clear, in addition there are 5 new mineral and tile striking effect designs perfect for inside the threshold for residential kitchen and bathroom applications and any other areas in the home.

Kenny Miller, National Sales Manager at Gerflor comments, “I am delighted to announce that our world class Griptex collection has been expanded further with the addition of some new and contemporary designs. These latest introductions will appeal to both tenants and housing specifiers alike who require the latest design trends”.

As a world leader in resilient floor coverings the Gerflor Group is heavily committed to the future generations who will inhabit our World, and are now taking progressive, positive action to reduce their environmental footprint through a strong CSR policy.

Gerflor are no stranger when it comes to eco-driven policies and manufacturing procedures. For many years Gerflor has been acting positively at every stage of their products’ life cycle and developing sustainable production methods. This new initiative now heralds a new era in future-proofing our planet.

The Gerflor We Care, We Act programme is a five-step process to be achieved by 2025. Through this programme, Gerflor is committed to progressively adopting ever more virtuous processes in line with a circular economy approach, applied at every product life cycle stage: design, production, use, and second life. It’s a huge environmental challenge for this major player in the PVC floor covering market, but a task that Gerflor relishes.

When St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff instigated a recent project to fit-out a new gallery, they needed a flooring innovation that was not only durable but would also look stunning and stand the test of time.

Specifying 190m2 of Gerflor’s Attraction® range of fast track flooring in ‘Paraiba’, enabled the museums budgets to work hard for them as they needed a flooring product that was going to be durable over the long term, coping with the processes of exhibition installation and take down, and the daily use of the gallery by a stream of high volumes of visitors.

Tony Thorne, Gerflor Sales & Specification Manager, South Wales commented, “supplying the museum with samples that they could then examine on site, allowed the team to consider them in the context of the intended design and colour scheme for the space and their aim to create a system that could act as a backdrop for a range of planned exhibitions. The colours and designs are a critical factor for their galleries and affects how their visitors experience a space.”

Award-winning International flooring specialist Gerflor’s Creation range is an extremely well -established credible, world class brand constantly delighting designers with a host of vibrant, stunning designs that both inspire and stimulate the senses. The most popular designs and colourways have now been selected for UK customers, and branded as the ‘Creation 55 LVT Essential Collection’.

Gerflor now has an even wider LVT portfolio for the market, in terms of extensive designs, installation methods and accessories, which are all backed up with a customer dedicated package. With market demand predicted to be growing the Creation 55 LVT Essential Collection is held in stock for fast delivery at Gerflor’s brand new modern Winsford distribution centre, providing an ‘essential’ service when a quick turnaround is required for projects without compromising on quality.

­­­The new Creation 55 LVT Essential Collection from Gerflor now offers endless design perspectives, delivering top quality fashion-led designs that are made simple.

Many primary, secondary, and further educational establishments need safe, cost-reducing flooring solutions that can help lower the risk of injury to pupils says Wayne Andrews, Sports Specialist, Gerflor.
Education budgets continue to be tight and with fewer new schools being built. Schools that are being built tend to be in accordance with a standard Department of Education template. The notion of every sports hall design being based on its needs is eliminated by having standard specifications copied and pasted from previous projects.
Point elastic floorings are well suited to both the new building and refurbishment of educational facilities. However, as specialists in flooring for education, we are seeing a great deal more refurbishment with safe, yet cost-effective solutions being needed.
Point elastic vinyl floorings have been designed by flooring manufacturers to provide shock absorbency but perhaps more importantly impact protection.
It’s worth noting that Sport England maintain that the floor is the most important part of any facility.

At Yealmpton Primary to the East of Plymouth in South Devon all children are encouraged to be more active during break and lunch times with sports and fitness at the forefront of that focus.

When the school implemented a refurbishment programme for their multi-use hall and kitchen servery area, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply their world class Taraflex® Multi-Use vinyl sports flooring and their Tarasafe Ultra safety flooring. An Isolsport underlay was also supplied by Gerflor, enabling the installer to lay the Taraflex® Multi Use directly over the existing Granwood floor.

The specification and installation would be the responsibility of Plymouth-based Moss Eco Flooring Limited. John Moss, Managing Director, Moss-Eco Flooring said, “we chose Gerflor’s Taraflex Multi-Use sports flooring as we were laying over an existing Granwood floor.”

John Moss further commented, “we also specified Gerflor’s Tarasafe Ultra safety flooring in the school’s kitchen area, so a safe flooring product that can deal with spills was paramount in our specification.”

Design-driven sports floorings that deliver safe solutions for schools coupled with great value are today’s winners, says David Carter, Sports Specialist Gerflor.

It is not impossible that the COVID-19 pandemic might ultimately be judged as a period which allowed school sport to reboot itself, adjust priorities and emerge stronger and more relevant… and of course sports flooring surfaces will play a huge part in that revival.

The importance of the school environment in pupil and staff care has been widely recognised in infection prevention and control (IPC). Keeping their communal sports areas clean is not just an aesthetic, but with the current pandemic has now of course become a huge safety issue and sports flooring plays a huge part in that on-going battle.
Cost-effective flooring solutions in this current coronavirus climate becomes even more relevant as they can play a major role in helping both private and public funded sport and physical activity premises to attract more customers by offering better facilities. The floors need to be adaptable to accommodate different tastes in exercise and sports.

The UK flooring market has for some time been embracing new challenging concepts and fully endorsing an ethos of innovation and creativity.

At the very forefront of this ‘design freedom’ is international flooring specialist Gerflor who has responded to this creative challenge by producing a brand new looselay flooring range for 2021.

Gerflor’s brand-new Taralay Libertex range is an ‘enabler’, allowing designers to be brave and unfettered with designs without having to delve deeply into their wallets. Taralay Libertex provides installers with a rapid, high quality, easy-to-lay flooring product. Taralay Libertex features a new generation of textile backing across the sheet vinyl range, specifically developed for commercial applications such as education, hospitality and shops, offices, care homes, together with housing and common areas.

Nav Dhillon, Marketing Manager, Gerflor UK commented, “our new Taralay Libertex range represents a step forward for 2021 in terms of our fast-track looselay offer.”

When time means money and the project has no time for stoppages, then Gerflor’s Taralay Libertex is the perfect answer, providing a spectacular looking fast-track solution that delivers freedom of expression without compromise every time.

With the current Coronavirus climate, the importance of healthcare environments is playing a contributory role in fighting off this pandemic. Healthcare floorings with inbuilt clean-ability and disinfect-ability qualities are now improving their response to infection control says Nick Egan, Technical Services Manager, Gerflor.

Our NHS is currently fighting a pandemic which has taken more precious lives since our huge losses in World War Two. Controlling contamination within healthcare buildings is therefore of upmost importance to healthcare providers. The highest possible standards of flooring that helps stop the march of disease and viruses must continually be met, if not exceeded, to ensure that flow and transmission of infections are kept at bay.

Surely in this current COVID-19 climate we must utilise all the weapons in our armoury to fight the spread of the pandemic on every front possible...and the correct specification of resilient vinyl flooring that will help is arresting the transmission of diseases and viruses has a big role to play in this battle.

The new DLW Linoleum range is proudly manufactured by international flooring specialist Gerflor. DLW Linoleum Inspired by Nature is boldly designed and offers a large selection of breath-taking hues and colours, providing architects and designers with a palette of naturally stimulated colourways. From education through to healthcare, retail, hospitality and corporate spaces, the new Inspired by Nature collection offers beautifully crafted designs that are not only varied and stunning in style, but also environmentally sustainable and deliver impressive performance with reduced maintenance costs.

Gerflor are the first company worldwide to utilise the Neocare™ high performance surface protection system for linoleum. Neocare™ is a new solvent-free surface protection developed exclusively for DLW linoleum, ensuring that the range has outstanding technical features for healthy and durable use, with easy cleaning and maintenance. The manufacturing process of the new DLW Linoleum range from Gerflor also offers high quality sustainable solutions by using 98% natural (bio-based and mineral) components, 76% rapidly renewable materials, together with up to 40% recycled content.

Nav Dhillon, Marketing Manager, Gerflor Flooring UK commented, “our new DLW Linoleum collection for 2021 delivers an unparalleled opportunity for both architects and designers to release their full creative flair with our new enhanced range of colours and designs.” Nav Dhillon added, “Our innovative Neocare protection system applied to DLW Linoleum also offers a fantastic shield against dirt and stains.”

The Les Ormes holiday resort in the St Brelade area of Jersey in the Channel Islands has converted its soccer dome into an activity centre called ‘Jump Jersey’.
It’s an extremely impressive project which saw international flooring specialist Gerflor supply 1250m2 of their innovative GTI Max interlocking technical tile solution which was used throughout the activity centre as well as the café and reception areas.
Gerflor has a wide range of products that assist with enabling new and facilities to open as soon as possible, or for premises being refurbished to continue to remain open whilst the work is being completed.
Steve Le Galle, General Manager at Les Ormes said, “I was very impressed with how quick and easy the GTI Max product was to fit, and the finish is fantastic. We would certainly choose Gerflor products again.”

When Les Ormes which is Jersey's premier self-catering holiday and sports centre wanted to refurbish an old tennis building by transforming it into four new netball courts they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 2000m2 of their world class Taraflex® sports flooring.
Nathan Maguire, Les Ormes Sports General Manager commented, “the Jersey Netball Team who train and play on the new surface are extremely delighted with its performance.”
Taraflex® Performance provides excellent co-efficient of friction meaning that twists, turns, stops/starts can be carried out without fear of slipping or gripping and subsequent injuries. The shock absorption qualities of Taraflex® Performance also helps players gain even more enjoyment from the sport.
Chris Pursey, Gerflor Area Sales Manager, South West, and Channel Islands commented, “it’s excellent to see one of our sports floors being given a second life after it was used at the Island Games tournament five years ago. They can now play a multitude of different sports in the hall and the variety of colours used makes this project so unique.”

St David's Catholic College in Cardiff enjoys a unique position in educational terms as it is the only Catholic sixth form college in Wales.
In a recent refurbishment of their main sports hall the choice of the playing indoor surface underwent a rigorous specification process. The hugely important decision would demand that only the best products be used and the final specification would settle on some 610m2 of Taraflex® vinyl sports flooring in ‘Maple’ from international flooring specialist Gerflor.
Taraflex® is available in 17 colours and 4 wood-effect designs. The improved Evolution product is now even safer, better performing and offers even more protection than before.
Anthony Mynett, Director, Carpet Services (Cardiff) Ltd commented, “we are the preferred flooring contractor at the college and chose Gerflor’s Taraflex sports flooring as it conformed perfectly to the college’s requirements.” Adding, “Taraflex Evolution is unique as it covers a Granwood floor surface which no other sports floor can achieve.”

The Glasgow Science Centre’s vision is to empower people through learning and engaging with science. With over 350K unique visitors every year, the centre needed to replace the existing flooring throughout the facility.
During a recent refurbishment international flooring specialist Gerflor would supply a mixture of their hardwearing GTI Max, Attraction® and Taralay Premium flooring that would total 1800m2.
Graham Rose, Creative Director, Glasgow Science Centre commented, “the Gerflor products had the benefits over their competitors in terms of the high technical specification and an extensive choice of contemporary colours. Being able to lay tiles over our existing sheet vinyl flooring very quickly was a big advantage for a busy visitor attraction.”
Gerflor's Attraction® range is a perfect solution for renovation, it is a fast track loose lay vinyl tile with interlocking edges which allows for rapid installation and replacement. Gerflor’s Taralay Premium range is unique in delivering a mass coloured design flooring which offers outstanding performance for extremely high pedestrian traffic areas where high footfall is expected.

Situated within the city of Leeds is the recently refurbished Kings House, which is now a prominent multi-tenanted office building. When it came to the finishing phase of this prestigious structure the look of the flooring would play a pivotal role in the overall aesthetics and performance of the common areas used by the tenants.

The interior design aspect of the refurbishment would be the responsibility of Wetherby-based Design Tonic Limited. In specifying the crucial flooring aspect of the project Design Tonic would turn to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 400m2 from their award-winning Creation 70 Looselay LVT flooring range.

Amanda Cook Director at Design Tonic said, “we chose Gerflor Creation 70 Looselay LVT products for the common parts of the building because the quality is extremely high, and the competitive pricing of the product suited our scope.”

The Creation 70 Looselay LVT collection from Gerflor is available in either a tile or plank format with bevelled edges for added realism and over 20 unique and realistic mineral, wood, and stone effect designs, many of which are exclusive to Ger?or. 100% recyclable and is also Phthalate free.

When a new-build community centre in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire needed a high-quality floor for their main sports hall they would turn to a key supplier to deliver a surface that would not only provide increased levels of safety for all its users… but also deliver great performance.
The Neyland Community Hub project is on the site of Neyland Athletic Club and includes a new home for the town council and the local library. The scheme was launched in 2014 in response to the loss of county council facilities such as the town's swimming pool, youth club and day centre. A spokesman for the CIC said the hub - now due to cost £2.76m - represented the biggest-ever investment in community facilities in Neyland. Therefore, ensuring that a superior quality flooring was specified for the new facility would be paramount.
The ideal choice of sports flooring for the Neyland Community Hub would be provided by international flooring specialist Gerflor who would supply some 725m2 of their world class Taraflex® Performance sports floor in ‘Teal’ for the main hall which sees a number of sports activities including indoor cricket.
The installation and line marking of the Taraflex® flooring would be the responsibility of Swansea-based Artisan Flooring who had used Gerflor products on numerous previous projects. Artisan Flooring Limited opened for business in 2005 as a Specialist Flooring Contractor covering South Wales. The installer has a credible experience of delivering projects in various contract sectors including Schools, Universities, Student Accommodation, Hospitals and Offices.
Nick Healings, Manager at Artisan Flooring commented, “Gerflor flooring is always easy to work with and install. We had absolutely no problems with the installation.” Nick Healings also added, “the Taraflex® flooring is performing really well and very popular with users and players”.
Taraflex® is the most widely specified indoor sports surface in the world. Chosen by top international athletes for its unique construction and technical performance, it has been fitted at every Olympic Games since 1976. Taraflex® is an approved surface by many National and International governing bodies of sport.
Taraflex® is widely recognised and used within the education, community, leisure and health and fitness sectors. Over 6 million children everyday enjoy the benefits of Taraflex® sports flooring. It is a versatile range that can be used for various multi-specialist applications and is sensibly priced for new build projects and refurbishments. It is extremely durable and cost effective to maintain. User benefits include reducing injuries from bumps and falls and offering a feeling of comfort and protection so that both children and adults can enjoy their sporting and exercising experience.

Taraflex® Performance itself is available in 17 colours and 3 wood-effect designs as standard with an addition 110 solid colour options also available. It offers a P2 category shock absorbency of 35% to 45%. and is recognised for providing durability, safety, and comfort without impairing performance. Taraflex® Performance is treated with the Triple Action Protecsol® surface treatment, therefore no polish is ever required.
Nick Healings ended by saying, “we would certainly choose Gerflor flooring products again, we are impressed with the quality and the ease of installation.”
Learn more about Gerflor solutions, ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01926 622 600, emailing contractuk@gerflor.com, or visiting gerflor.co.uk for the latest innovations.

As the need for the general population to become fitter increases local government and charitable organisations in England now provide a range of leisure services, including swimming, gym and other sports facilities. The provision of these facilities promotes social inclusion, community well-being and public health. It’s a real nod to future-proofing the health of the nation.

In East Lancashire, the local community benefit from a range of leisure and fitness activities supplied by the Pendle Leisure Trust who are the major provider of sport, arts, entertainment and health and community programmes throughout the Pendle area. The Trust is responsible for operating three leisure centres, a spa, golf course, athletics and fitness centre, a theatre and an arts, culture and enterprise centre.

When the main sports hall floor at the Pendle Leisure complex in Colne near Manchester needed replacing, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 540m2 of their world beating Taraflex® Evolution vinyl sports flooring in ‘Blue’ to deliver the looks, safety and performance they would ultimately demand. Gerflor is well-known as an official supplier for Olympic Games but also synonymous with sport and wellness since 1947.

The overall management of the new flooring installation would be the responsibility of property services company Liberata who have a satellite office in Nelson, Lancashire. Liberata offers a full range of award-winning property services to both the public and private sector. With over 35 years of experience, they provide cost effective solutions strengthened with design excellence to ensure property assets are of the highest standard, together with delivering the best possible return for the client.

Bruce Corden, Facility Manager, Liberata Property Services commented, “Pendle Leisure Trust secured grant funding from Sport England with match funding from Borough of Pendle to refurbish the ‘dryside’ facilities at the centre.” On the main challenges surrounding the project Bruce Corden added, “there was a real need to complete the works around the current use of the facility, and with minimum downtime.”

Taraflex® is available in 17 colours and three wood-effect designs. The improved Evolution product is now even safer, better performing and offers even more protection than before.

The greater protection has been obtained thanks to a total re-engineering of the CXP-HD™ foam technology that provides cushioning for exercise and sports play. Gerflor’s Taraflex® Evolution continues to be the market benchmark in sports floors with outstanding durability, improved comfort and protection offering a P1 category shock absorbency (25% to 35%) and a new 7.5mm thickness.

As the need for the general population to become fitter increases local government and charitable organisations in England now provide a range of leisure services, including swimming, gym and other sports facilities. The provision of these facilities promotes social inclusion, community well-being and public health. It’s a real nod to future-proofing the health of the nation.

In East Lancashire, the local community benefit from a range of leisure and fitness activities supplied by the Pendle Leisure Trust who are the major provider of sport, arts, entertainment and health and community programmes throughout the Pendle area. The Trust is responsible for operating three leisure centres, a spa, golf course, athletics and fitness centre, a theatre and an arts, culture and enterprise centre.

When the main sports hall floor at the Pendle Leisure complex in Colne near Manchester needed replacing, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 540m2 of their world beating Taraflex® Evolution vinyl sports flooring in ‘Blue’ to deliver the looks, safety and performance they would ultimately demand. Gerflor is well-known as an official supplier for Olympic Games but also synonymous with sport and wellness since 1947.

The overall management of the new flooring installation would be the responsibility of property services company Liberata who have a satellite office in Nelson, Lancashire. Liberata offers a full range of award-winning property services to both the public and private sector. With over 35 years of experience, they provide cost effective solutions strengthened with design excellence to ensure property assets are of the highest standard, together with delivering the best possible return for the client.

Bruce Corden, Facility Manager, Liberata Property Services commented, “Pendle Leisure Trust secured grant funding from Sport England with match funding from Borough of Pendle to refurbish the ‘dryside’ facilities at the centre.” On the main challenges surrounding the project Bruce Corden added, “there was a real need to complete the works around the current use of the facility, and with minimum downtime.”

Taraflex® is available in 17 colours and three wood-effect designs. The improv

The majority of the Independent schools across the UK fully understand the importance of providing world class sporting facilities, as they are a major attraction for prospective pupils and parents. As such, schools across the country are completing or embarking on major additions to their sporting infrastructure – often with immediate and striking benefits. It’s a policy that’s reaping benefits in pupil fitness and cognitive development when it concerns studying and exams. The adage of a fit body equals a fit mind cannot be ignored… a sentiment wholly embraced by an independent co-educational day and boarding school in The Cotswolds.

Kingham Hill School near the idyllic Cotswold village of Kingham was originally built by the Christian philanthropist Charles Edward Baring Young in 1886. Today, with just over 340 pupils, it caters for both girls and boys aged 11-18. There is a five-day teaching week and once lessons have finished, there is time for sport and activities every afternoon.

When it was decided to replace and re-develop the main sports hall at Kingham Hill, the aspects of quality, performance, looks and durability would be pivotal in the final flooring specification. The school turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 770m2 of its world renowned Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring in Blue and Pink to provide the high performing, multi-use solution it was seeking.

Catriona Thompson, Bursar at Kingham Hill School commented, “as part of the School’s development strategy the Governing body decided that the sports hall built by our founder was no longer fit for purpose.” Catriona Thompson went on to add, “the building of a new sports centre began with the main hall within the new sports centre being one of the main focal points of the building. The floor needed to meet the needs of a range of activities including cricket, netball and football, gymnastics, badminton, fencing and social events. After researching the benefits and constraints on many products, Gerflor’s Taraflex® Performance flooring best met the criteria with the added benefit that it would bring colour and life to the space.”

The overall responsibility and flooring specification would fall to the Swindon HQ of Beard Construction who would in turn appoint a high quality flooring installer. Simon Gannon, Site Manager for Beard Construction commented,” Beard has carried out several previous prestigious projects for the school and have had a long-standing good relationship.” On matching up to the specification requirements Simon Gannon added, “the Gerflor vinyl sports flooring is perfect for the school’s requirements. It’s a well-layered floor with great flexibility and strength and feels firm underfoot with enough give for sports activities.” Simon Gannon concluded, “the Gerflor Taraflex Performance sports flooring is an outstanding high quality product and we would certainly specify it again if given the opportunity.”

Taraflex® Performance is available in 17 colours and 3 wood-effect designs as standard with an addition 110 solid colour options available with a 500sqm minimum order quantity. It offers a P2 category shock absorbency of 35% to 45%. and is recognised for providing durability, safety and comfort without impairing performance. Taraflex® Performance is treated with the Triple Action Protecsol® surface treatment, therefore no polish is ever required. It contributes to easy maintenance and is anti-friction burn whilst maximising both slide and grip. Taraflex® Performance is an ideal solution for renovation works as it’s available with the Dry-Tex™ System perfect for new construction or refurbishment projects with damp subfloors.

Richard Darby, Director from the appointed installer Reflex Sports commented, “The school wanted a flooring that could handle a large variety of sports but also offer a safe and sound feeling for participants. They were looking for a product that had a proven track record in both high level sport and for educational facilities. The client was particularly interested in point elastic flooring to prevent injury to participants and provide a comfortable feel.”

On the installation process Richard Darby said,” Gerflor’s Taraflex® products are very easy to lay, and on this project were delivered to the correct specification and on time and in budget. Gerflor even provided advice on how to get over subfloor issues without compromising the system.”

The eventual look of the Kingham Hill School was also to play a vital role in providing the best sports environment possible. Catriona Thompson went on to say, “with limited natural light within the hall, we were keen not to have a traditional single coloured floor, but to complement the neutral colours used in the rest of the building with a vibrant, statement floor – in pink and blue. The flooring also enabled us to countersink the fixing points for badminton, netball and volleyball posts removing trip hazards and k

In 2018 South Ayrshire Council appointed main contractor Portakabin to build a proposed new state-of-the-art Early Years Centre in Ayr, Scotland. The now completed £2.2 million Cherry Tree Early Years Centre development provides the largest modular modern learning environment in Scotland.

Cherry Tree Early Years Centre believes that education and care are indivisible, that the early years curriculum offered should be appropriate for children aged up to five years and should recognise the central role of play in early learning.

To support this aspect of the curriculum the Cherry Tree Early Learning Centre has since Autumn 2015, become a ‘partner’ school in the South Ayrshire Council Attainment Challenge Project. The Attainment Challenge aims to address one of the key national priorities within the national improvement framework. One aim of health and wellbeing in schools is that every young person feels cared for and valued as an individual. Add to this the centre’s maxim of; eat, move, connect, learn, play, give and one can clearly see that the environment for growing is pivotal to their overall ethos.

Ensuring that the children and staff would have a safe and comfortable environment was at the forefront of the planning and specification process. It, at the time of construction, needed to include the best quality flooring possible.

The overall flooring specification via Portakabin for this new build project was the responsibility of Architect Richard Hirst of South Ayrshire Local Government. The final choice of products was awarded to international flooring specialist Gerflor, who supplied 300m2 of its hugely popular Taralay Impression Comfort and award-winning Taralay Impression Control products.

With nearly 75 years’ experience of innovation driven by investment, Gerflor specialise in early year’s education, offering solutions combining technical and design characteristics for any room within the facility.

Roy Burrell, Director and General Manager, Portakabin (Scotland), said, “we’re a trusted team of specialists when it comes to building learning environments in Scotland. Having worked with councils like South Ayrshire before, our experts are more than aware of how we can deliver outstanding schools with the tightest of programmes. We were delighted to learn we had won the contract for Cherry Tree.”

Richard Hirst commented,” the client required a floor finish that could easily be cleaned. We specified Gerflor’s Taralay Impression Comfort for the playrooms and their Taralay Impression Control for the toilets.

The choice of Taralay Impression Comfort in the playrooms was the perfect decision as it provides a degree of cushioning and sound absorption in addition to its easy cleaning virtues and its great slip resistance qualities. We specified Taralay Impression Control for the toilets because of its excellent slip resistance properties.”

Taralay Impression Comfort from Gerflor comprises a Very High Density (VHD) foam backing delivering 19dB of impact sound insulation. It is reinforced with a glass fibre grid and has a printed design that’s protected by a transparent wear layer. The product is protected by a UV cured surface treatment Protecsol® 2 which is easy to maintain and permanently eliminates the need of an acrylic emulsion (metallisation). Taralay Impression Control is suitable for medium to high traf?c areas including hospitals, schools, commercial and public areas. For designers, the range offers 86 references and includes 23 wood effect references, covering the spectrum of wood colours. Additionally, there are 10 stunning designs incorporating cements, materials, leathers, regular and geometric patterns as well as a palette of 13 solid colours.

Voted CFJ/CFA Product of the Year at the 2016 Flooring Industry Awards the Taralay Impression Control collection is ideal for hardworking places and has been developed specifically for an extensive range of contract applications. Taralay Impression Control offers Safety in Numbers. It has a HSE 36+ pendulum test value, = 20 µm surface roughness and a R11 wet slip resistance rating. With a Group T wear rating it’s also ideal for heavy traffic environments making it an ideal choice for the toilet areas at the Cherry Tree Nursery.

The installation of the Gerflor flooring was undertaken by Livingston-based Kirkton Flooring Ltd. Ryan McMeechan, Director, Kirkton Flooring commented, “we were asked to tender by Portakabin who were the main contractor for the project. We have regularly worked with them before on several key new builds. Gerflor products are all very easy to work with, and we as a company would certainly specify them for future projects.”

Richard Hirst concluded, “We have specified Gerflor products before. As with other projects this new flooring has been very well received by the client and we would certainly choose Gerflor products again for other new build or refurbishment works.”

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The last couple of years have continued to demonstrate that demand for office space in Central London is strong from both occupiers and investors. Many leading global companies are now increasingly focusing on the refurbishment of their existing working spaces, rather than hunt for larger or more suitable premises.

The BMSL Group has established itself as one of the leading Recruitment Agencies in the Building Services, Construction, Rail and Engineering industries throughout the UK. The recent refurbishment of its London Headquarters office in the St Pauls area of London required the highest standards in terms of design and world class products. Delivering an outcome that would be both visually stunning and practical for a very busy office environment was a challenge well-met by Cardiff-based Trefoil Interiors, who turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 300m2 of its high performing Saga2 flooring.

Established in 2014 under the name EvaBuild Interiors Ltd, Trefoil Interiors specialise in complete interior fit-out projects, with extensive experience in modular, traditional construction, dilapidations, design, 3D visualising, refurbishment, furniture and project management at both local and national levels. In 2019, EvaBuild Interiors Ltd evolved into Trefoil Interiors with a new look and new name that better reflected the diverse community that they serve.

David Gilbert, Head of Design at Trefoil Interiors commenting on the BMSL project said, “BMSL were aware of our skills set and approached us to tender for the design and fitout of their premises. We collaborated with BMSL to transform their existing premises whilst keeping them operative as much as possible. This was achieved by carrying out the works during weekends and evenings with minor decoration work during the day to keep disruption to a minimum.”

David Gilbert went on to add, “as a design and fit-out company we were set the task of not only developing a creative design that represented their company but also a realistic concept that could be delivered to meet their specific budget. We recommended the installation of Gerflors’ Saga2 vinyl flooring throughout the working space areas which enabled us to create the look the client so much desired, and it also allowed us to work on site and build the furniture simultaneously. The designs chosen were Mozaic Blue and Rough Textile Grey for a striking effect”.

The Saga² collection from Gerflor is a fast track loose lay luxury vinyl tile that provides the durability of a compact tile with the comfort of an acoustic tile. With a wide range of stylish designs available it is suitable for medium traf?c areas including of?ces, boutiques, public areas as well as other administrative areas. The vinyl loose lay tile overcomes the difficulty of many irregular sub-?oors and prevents their indentations transferring to the surface.

Designed for environments where high resistance to traffic is needed, Saga² has a 0.70 mm wear layer and comes with the innovative Protecsol® surface treatment which ensures no polish or wax for the entire lifetime of the product. It minimises dust allergies and is also easy to clean and maintain.

Saga² is an eco-responsible range, it is 100% recyclable and offers outstanding technical performance:- it has a R10 slip resistance rating conforming with the European slip resistance standard (DIN 51130) and a Group T wear rating which has compliance with EN 652.

On installation of the Gerflor Saga2 flooring David Gilbert said, “the Saga2 flooring was quick and easy to lay, which was a key requirement as the floor had to be workable by the next day before staff arrived, and the landlord wanted access to the raised floor at all times.” He also added, “our client is delighted with the Gerflor solution. The flooring is very easy to maintain and has an excellent acoustic dB rating thanks to the backing being made of cork.”

Saga² offers a host of benefits that tell a strong story in terms of supporting specification decisions. Saga² is easy and quick to install, as well as removable as it’s a loose lay tile with tackifier. It’s adapted for raised panels and is extremely durable delivering a 4.6mm thickness with a reinforced calendared inner layer. Saga² comes as a convenient 500.5mm x 500.5mm tile size which also provides ease of fitting. The cork underlayer brings sound impact insulation (15dB) and increased levels of comfort which helps to enhance the ‘feelgood factor’ by reinforcing the feelings of both luxury and wellbeing.

David Gilbert ended by saying, “the Saga2 flooring from Gerflor has some very interesting textures and designs and we would have no hesitation in specifying Gerflor products again.”

Learn more about Gerflor solutions, ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01926 622 600, emailing contractuk@gerflor.com, or visiting gerflor.co.uk for the latest innovations.

The result of more brands, more choice, competitive pricing and better than ever design choices is the ever-growing share of LVTs in the flooring market, says Nav Dhillon, Marketing Manager, Gerflor

The global luxury vinyl tile (LVT) share of the flooring market continues to thrive with continued and steady growth anticipated as far ahead as 2025. In the UK growth has been particularly noted in the private commercial sectors.

In response to the healthy status of LVT flooring over recent years, more brands have been attracted to the market almost tripling the number of players in just six years. Its phenomenal success has resulted in an increasing upward trajectory of flooring market share over floorings like other vinyl, wood, ceramic and alternative floorings, as well as growth in areas where LVT is most often used within the private commercial sector like retail, offices and hospitality. As more brands have entered the LVT market they have brought with them greater choice and contributed to prices becoming more competitive.

Gerflor has been developing and manufacturing LVT flooring for international markets for over three decades and is therefore a well-established brand and not a new player in the market. Yet our approach and enthusiasm towards the creation of new design concepts and improving the performance characteristics of our floorings does not waiver or diminish.

The LVT market, being design-driven, is kept fresh by the fact that designs, colours, textures, finishes and tile and plank formats are continually renewed, improved and expanded upon. Innovative new solutions can therefore be provided to the end users who demand the latest looks and to those that need the scope to create interior schemes that attract people like customers, staff or homebuyers, whilst making a good and long-lasting impression.

By keeping abreast of top, decorative international trends and incorporating them successfully into ranges with appropriate nuances to more than satisfy a wide range of end users’ requirements, flooring manufacturers are continuing to offer the breadth of choice that is needed in design-led industries, which in turn supports the expansion of markets for LVT flooring.

As a result, LVT flooring tends to be specified where a high level of design innovation is a crucial element in both new build and renovation projects. Historically this has been mainly in areas like retail and offices where fashion and image are of upmost importance but functionality is essential. However more traditional users of ceramic, wood and alternative floorings, like hotels and other hospitality venues, are increasingly using LVT flooring as an easy maintenance, cost-effective solution, which can also make an interior design statement to encourage people across the threshold and enhance the guest experience.

In addition, healthcare establishments are increasingly considering flooring designs that differ from stereotypical clinical looks and which contribute to overall aesthetical schemes. Many healthcare building specifiers are taking a holistic approach to include floorings and how they interact and impact on patients, residents and staff.

Needless to say, the necessary standards and criteria must apply in healthcare but for areas where LVT and cushioned vinyl floorings are suitable, their aesthetical and performance characteristics can at times be beneficial to well-being. For instance, by using appropriate design, colour and texture a homely and natural or a calming and restful ambience can be easily achieved.

Fuelling the imagination of those who specify and use LVT flooring is the mission of flooring specialists like us who supply many different markets. We have to provide the scope that is wanted and the choices that are needed in design, colour and specification options, which is why some flooring collections contain both trend-setting elements and popular designs with enhancements.

Key trends may come and go by season, but strong, unique designs are the mainstay, which are regularly enlivened with new hues, textures and finishes that embrace current decorative fashions. But, trail-blazing, pioneering new designs and risk-taking colour palettes are essential when competing in global markets: after all these are what get noticed in an international arena. It is by interacting with designers world-wide and examining influential design influences and trends that flooring manufacturers are able to continually innovate.

For 2020 Gerflor have identified several key trends which will influence flooring designs, the first being based on folklore. Inspired by wildlife, primitive motifs from folklore traditions, ancient civilisations and craftsmanship, it is eclectic and bohemian. In encompasses materials such as wood, stone, leather, natural fibres and ceramics bringing warmth and character to the floor.

Nature is an ever-popular influencer with our desire to reconnect with our origins and c

St Bede's College is an independent Roman Catholic co-educational school for children from 3–18 based in Manchester. Established in 1876, the college was originally located along Manchester’s historic Oxford Road before relocating a year later to its present site near Chorlton. The college has over the years extended the existing buildings, to improve its facilities and provide educational opportunities for 3-18-year olds.

St Bede’s actively encourages its pupils to be confident and modest young people in keeping with the school’s core values – humanity, compassion and empathy for others, of which it is steadfastly proud. In keeping with these values, the school aims to provide pupils with the opportunities needed in which to flourish. As with most schools and colleges these days, sport and fitness working in tandem with academia play a major part of a child’s self-development, and at St Bede’s College this ethos is no different.

When it was decided to replace the existing flooring in the main sports hall at St Bede’s the aspects of quality, performance and durability took centre stage. The hall is used for multiple sports activities across a broad range of age groups which include basketball, netball, badminton and table tennis, together with a host of indoor fitness pursuits. The new surface also needed to be multi-purpose in order to be able to host exams and school functions, so therefore needed to withstand varied usage and heavy traffic. The College turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 590m2 of its world renowned Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring in Gold and Blue to provide the high performing, multi-use solution it was seeking.

Noel McGoff, Site Manager, St Bede’s College commented, “Simon Miller the Assistant Site Manger and I chose Gerflor flooring on the recommendation of our contractors Recreational Coatings Limited. The existing floor was very old, and in fact was the wrong type of floor for the location and usage. Replacing it with Taraflex® Performance from Gerflor was the perfect choice as it provided a durable, high performance, safe floor for the range of uses we have today and is a vast improvement on what we had.”

Stockport-based Recreational Coatings Limited has over 30 years’ experience of installing sports surfaces in Olympic, Commonwealth, World and European events throughout the UK and beyond. Jed Hill, its Managing Director said, “with a strong reputation to uphold, the College entrusted our team here at Recreational Coatings Limited to replace the existing floor with a new, high-performance surface.” Jed Hill added, “the College had knowledge of local Taraflex® installations through playing sport against other schools. Gerflor’s Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring ticked all the boxes for its sport and multi-use requirements. Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring can be specified for a wide range of applications including most kinds of sports and leisure activities.

It has excellent safety and performance qualities, as well as vibrant colours and wood designs to make it ideal for a vast array of areas. Taraflex® Performance can also be customised with logos, team names and, as in the case of St Bede’s, the college name and badge.

The Taraflex® sports flooring range from Gerflor has been used by the largest international sports federations (volleyball, handball, badminton, table tennis) for decades. Through partnerships with these federations Gerflor has been present at the Summer Olympic Games since 1976. The Taraflex® range offers sensibly priced solutions for every level of performance and it is widely recognised and used within the education, community, leisure and health and fitness sectors.

On the refurbishment challenges that faced St Bede’s College Noel McGoff went on to say, “The major consideration for us was to be able to re-open the College for the start of the September term. The College hall is used for a variety of sports and College occasions; therefore, a quick and effective installation was crucial.”

Taraflex® Performance is available in 17 colours and 3 wood-effect designs as standard with an addition 110 solid colour options available with a 500sqm minimum order quantity. It offers a P2 category shock absorbency of 35% to 45%. and is recognised for providing durability, safety and comfort without impairing performance. Taraflex® Performance is treated with the Triple Action Protecsol® surface treatment, which means no polish is ever required. It contributes to easy maintenance and is anti-friction burn whilst maximising both slide and grip. Taraflex® Performance is an ideal solution for renovation works as it’s available with the Dry-Tex™ System perfect for new construction or refurbishment projects with damp subfloors.

Jed Hill ended by commenting, “this was one of our more challenging installations due to subsidence and sub floor issues. Gerflor’s Taraflex® Performance sports flooring

As the UK is about to enter another decade the desire for the overall population to be more fit and healthy has never been sharper, and the burgeoning growth of health clubs and gyms has blossomed.

A short distance from Shoreham-by-the-Sea in the small village of Lancing, South Coast Gym offers classes, personal training, a fuel station and the latest gym equipment all aimed at delivering a healthier, fitter lifestyle for local residents.

When South Coast Gym Owner Neil Donohue decided to expand the gym’s facilities in order to offer a larger and more extensive facility, he turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 130m2 of sports flooring that could deliver a high performing, multi-use solution for the studio area. The project would see South Coast Gym expand into the next-door unit creating 11,500sq/ft of gym, class and functional space which involved updating and redesigning both units. They have also added a Café for healthy eating and now consider themselves to be the best facility in the area.

South Coast Gym appointed Stockport-based Recreational Coatings who have over 30 years’ experience of installing sports surfaces in Olympic, Commonwealth, World and European events throughout the UK and beyond to oversee the project.

Neil Donohue commented, “we decided to use Gerflor’s Taraflex® Multi-Use flooring after recommendations by Recreational Coatings”. Neil Donohue went on to add, “the floor was expertly laid and looks amazing as it has blended in with the raw industrial look we were looking for. The floor has stood up well to all types of activities from Bounce, Yoga, Pilates and HIIT classes and is a perfect match for all these classes”.

Ross Johns, Commercial Director, Recreational Coatings said, “we specified Taraflex® Multi-Use from Gerflor for Neil’s new studio as he wanted a floor that was easy to maintain, fitted in with his décor and would reduce the decibel impact from people jumping up and down. We showed him Taraflex® Multi-Use in Dark Concrete and he instantly loved it”.

The specification of Taraflex® Multi-Use would prove to be the ideal choice because of its multi-use function, ease of maintenance and indentation resistance particularly with static gym equipment such as spin bikes.

Taraflex® sports flooring from Gerflor offers a wide range of colours and is suitable for a variety of applications and has been used by the largest international sports federations (volleyball, handball, badminton, table tennis) for decades.

Also widely used in education and health and fitness markets, the Taraflex® range has solutions for all safety and performance requirements and its large colour and design palette means it can be used to reinforce a business’s brand identity and build customer loyalty.

Taraflex® Multi-Use is a P1 category sports flooring designed with both sport and non-sport use in mind, making it ideal for multi-purpose areas including fitness clubs and gyms. 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 fitness environments such as the movement of tables, chairs and exercise equipment. This is due to improved indentation resistance and recovery through Gerflor’s new innovative CXP HD+ foam technology. Meanwhile, surface reinforcement which delivers durability and abrasion resistance is provided by a D-Max fibreglass grid. The flooring offers maximum hygiene with bacteriostatic and a fungistatic treatment and comes with the Triple Action Protecsol® surface treatment which provides easy maintenance, friction protection and ‘intelligent’ sliding coef?cient.

With Taraflex® Multi-Use there is no need to compromise between sport usage or multi-purpose activities. This stunning multi use sports flooring is available in 5 wood-effect and 2 concrete-effect designs.

Ross Johns concluded, “this project is a prime example of our consultative approach; it’s important for us to make sure our customers are getting the right advice and are happy with their choice. Our partnership with Gerflor is important to us and Gerflor gives us a broad range of products that are in our opinion, ‘best in class’.

Neil Donohue ended by saying, “We will always use Gerflor from now on as the quality and look is exceptional”.

Learn more about Gerflor solutions; ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01926 622 600, emailing contractuk@gerflor.com, or visit gerflor.co.uk for the latest innovations.

When Ashington Academy’s sports hall required updating, the school decided to replace its existing Gerflor Taraflex® sport flooring with a ‘like-for-like’ Gerflor flooring as the floor, which was still fit-for-purpose, was a little jaded after four decades of demanding use.

Ashington Academy, Ashington, Northumberland, opened in 1960 as Ashington Grammar to become a comprehensive school in the seventies and a foundation school as part of Ashington Learning Partnership in 2007. With its own land, buildings and staff, it was one of the first educational trusts in the country and is now sponsored by the North East Learning Trust.

A secondary school for the education of 11-18 year olds, the Academy has an extensive sports curriculum as well as a thriving programme of extra-curricular activities. These include a wide variety of sporting opportunities for students of all abilities, with many students becoming qualified sports leaders through the Junior, Community and Higher Sports Leadership Awards. These awards aim to develop life and employability skills in young people.

Given Ashington Academy’s prominent sporting agenda, it turned yet again to Gerflor for a reliable, replacement flooring solution for its hall that is solely used for indoor sporting activities like badminton, sprinting, hockey, basketball and five-a-side football.

“I could see the benefits of using the same flooring again instead of changing it,” said Andrew Crosby, (Head of Estates, Ashington Academy), who is in charge of the maintenance of all the North East Learning Trusts’ buildings. “After all we’d had the floor in use for over 40 years and hadn’t had to replace it and that’s world class!”

As international flooring specialist Gerflor continually invests in on-going product development, it not only introduces new product innovations but also regularly improves and expands established brands like Taraflex®. As a result, Taraflex® Evolution, which features a new double density CXP HD foam technology for the greater comfort and protection of players, was the natural replacement for the original 40 year old flooring at Ashington Academy.

Taraflex® Evolution is a high performance P1 category point elastic, 7.5mm thick, cushioned sports flooring, which is fully compliant with EN Standard 14904 and ideal for multi-use halls used by all ages. Point elastic vinyl floorings are designed to provide shock absorbency and impact resistance, which are not related by weight-related performance like some other indoor sports surfaces.

Due to its advanced construction, Taraflex® Evolution offers optimum levels of durability, safety and comfort: Its D-Max™ fibre-glass grid reinforcement gives superior indentation, abrasion and heavy loads’ resistance, while its built-in, Triple Action Protescol® surface treatment provides easy maintenance and a surer foothold with anti-bacterial and fungicidal treatments for maximum hygiene. And last, but not least, its wide range of designs and colours give plenty of aesthetic scope for updating sports facilities.

The durability of Taraflex® Evolution was also of great significance to Ashington Academy, as Andrew Crosby explains: “As the sport and physical activity that takes place in the hall is so varied, correspondingly so is the equipment used. It is therefore of enormous benefit to us that the regular transit of items like crash mats, mobile goals and nets on and off the surface can take place without damage to the floor.”

However, when it came to installing the new flooring at Ashington Academy, project flooring contractor, Newcastle Flooring Company Ltd, discovered that the sub floor beneath was extremely damp. Subsequently a DPM was installed before 800 sqm of Taraflex® Evolution in colour, Blue, could be laid.

“Although the floor was significantly damp underneath, it hadn’t affected the original Taraflex® flooring, which had not moved,” said Joseph Buzzeo, Managing Director, Newcastle Flooring Company. “Whenever we need a sports floor, Taraflex® is our ‘go-to’ product as you can’t beat it.

Over the years we have not experienced any problems with the product and we always get the back-up of technical support and required delivery from Gerflor. We were therefore very happy to supply the school with samples of Taraflex® Evolution, which met the same specification as the previous floor. They opted for a different colour alongside the hall improvements.”

Taraflex® Evolution’s durability and low maintenance attributes have also been highly beneficial to the school: “Gerflor’s sports flooring does not require stripping or re-lacquering and only needs routine cleaning,” said Andrew Crosby. “It is therefore economical for us to maintain in comparison to some other floor types with the same levels of multi-use performance. The overall cost efficiencies, life cycle replacement and general maintenance costs, including a low overall life cycle cost per square metre of flooring, is what we l

Astrea Academy is a new-build and refurbishment project in the north-east of Sheffield, opening its doors to a handful of students in September 2018. However, in seven years’ time it will be one of the city's biggest schools taking children from nursery age up to sixth form. Since opening, international flooring specialist Gerflor were keen to know how their newly installed sports floors at the academy were performing.

Astrea Academy will ultimately be able to accommodate 1,200 pupils aged two to eighteen following rising demand for school places. With the expected levels of growth came the need for vision and future proofing for the school’s infrastructure, this included flooring for the all-important indoor sports facilities that the academy provides for both pupils and staff alike. The Academy has a three-court sports hall with excellent facilities for indoor sports including; basketball, badminton, netball, football and gymnastics. Therefore, choosing a high performing premium sports floor would be a key decision that the appointed architects Race Cottam would see as fundamental in providing the perfect all-round sports flooring solution for the school.

The project would see Gerflor supply 550m2 of its Taraflex® Comfort vinyl sports flooring in Teal for the academy’s sports hall, with a further 250m2 in Oak chosen for the gym area. Being a P3 category sports floor Taraflex® Comfort offers the highest levels of comfort and shock absorption to prevent long-term injuries and immediate injuries on impact. With the school’s potential wide age range of users and abilities it would be the ideal solution in delivering stunning sports performance, together with extremely high levels of comfort and safety. Taraflex® Comfort is in fact the first Taraflex sports floor in the P3 category and with Gerflor’s technical and innovative knowledge brings optimal comfort and safety. It’s a sports floor suited to all levels and all sports for a vast array of users… and delivers a wide range of stunning trendy colours, allowing the specifier or designer to be the architect of their own sports floor.

Taraflex® sports ?ooring has been the number one preferred indoor solution for over six decades and has been selected for 10 Olympic Games since Montreal in 1976. It is also widely recognised and used within the education, community, leisure, health and fitness sectors.

The installation of the Taraflex® Comfort flooring for Astrea Academy would be as equally important as the original specification in obtaining the final look, performance and finish. UK-wide Active Flooring Solutions Ltd would be tasked to deliver a high-quality finished floor fit which would meet both requirements of purpose and looks. Working nationwide and across all sectors, they strive to be the flooring partner of choice and as one of the UK’s leading contract flooring installers they offer a complete service from specification to installation and aftercare.

Nick Roebuck, Estimator, Active Flooring Solutions Ltd said, “We are a supply chain partner to Kier Construction who built this new project. The Gerflor flooring for this new build was originally specified by the architects Race Cottam Associates”.

The new and improved Taraflex® range is now even safer, better performing and offers even more protection than before. The vast majority of the Taraflex® sports flooring collection is treated with Triple Action Protecsol® which ensures that no polish is ever required and allows for easy maintenance. It is an ‘intelligent’ surface treatment delivering the ideal compromise between slide and grip for sports shoes and is also anti-friction burn.

On performance and suitability Nick Roebuck went on to further comment, “this is a high performing product as far as vinyl sports flooring is concerned. We would certainly use Taraflex® Comfort again, as we specify Gerflor products on a nationwide basis for several similar projects”.

Luke Cropper, Campus Manager, Astrea Academy said, “we are extremely pleased with the Gerflor sports flooring which is performing really well and looks fantastic”.

Learn more about Gerflor solutions; ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01926 622 600, emailing contractuk@gerflor.com, or visit gerflor.co.uk for the latest innovations.

It’s been 50 years since Jazzercise was founded in the USA, the dance fitness programme is still going strong, still relevant and continues to change and enhance lives. Jazzercise combines dance, strength, and resistance training with popular music for a full-body workout, blending dance cardio with Pilates, yoga, and kickboxing.

When Jazzercise Fitness Studio owner Sarah Sydney-Sheppard moved her business into its own purpose-built facility in the Southernhay area of Exeter she turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to provide 200m2 of its world-renowned Taraflex® Multi-Use vinyl sports flooring for both the main studio and reception areas.

Sarah Sydney-Sheppard said, “having previously taught in community halls and schools we decided that we wanted to move our business into its own purpose-built studio and have the highest quality in all aspects. The three most important aspects were the studio space, lighting and flooring.” On specification she went on to add, “for us there were three main requirements which included impact resistance in order to look after the joints and feet of our fabulous customers, durability and easy maintenance, together with providing a very high-quality look. Very simply, Gerflor really helped us to achieve these ambitions.”

The Taraflex® sports flooring ranges have been used by the largest international sports federations (volleyball, handball, badminton, table tennis) for decades. Through partnerships with these federations Gerflor has been present at the Summer Olympic Games since 1976. It’s an Olympic pedigree stretching back over an incredible 43 years.

In reaching the highest standards of ‘fitting out’ the new premises the installation of the new Gerflor flooring also needed to be equal to the task.

The project fell into the more than capable hands of Exeter-based commercial flooring specialists S. Smith & Sons Carpets. Paul Delmege, Contracts Manager. S Smith & Sons Carpets commented, “we were approached by Jazzercise who were looking for a multi-functional sports floor for their new premises. We decided to offer ranges from Gerflor which specialises in high quality vinyl commercial floor coverings, including multi-functional sports floors.” Paul Delmege added, “it was decided that Gerflor’s Taraflex® Multi-Use sports floor would be the perfect solution which could easily meet all of Jazzercise’s requirements on quality, price, modern appearance and suit the variety of fitness classes they offer.”

Sarah Sydney-Sheppard also added, “the new floor looks incredible, isn’t slippery in any way and the impact resistance is great. It was installed brilliantly and efficiently too.

Taraflex® Multi-Use is a P1 category sports flooring designed with both sport and non-sport use in mind, making it ideal for multi-purpose areas including fitness and dance studios, together with school halls, youth clubs and community centres. It protects users with its shock absorption and impact protection qualities. Yet it’s tough enough to protect itself against non-sport demands often found in many fitness environments such as the movement of tables, chairs and exercise equipment. Taraflex Multi-use is available in 5 wood-effect and 2 concrete-effect designs and provides the perfect flooring solution for dance and fitness studios where the facility has several uses and needs. Taraflex® Multi-Use is treated with the Triple Action Protecsol® surface treatment, which means no polish is ever required. It contributes to easy maintenance and is anti-friction burn whilst maximising both slide and grip.

Sarah Sydney-Sheppard ended by saying, “we are really pleased with the new flooring. Our new Taraflex® Multi-Use sports flooring is really easy to keep clean and our customers love it, and it also looks great. We would certainly choose Gerflor flooring again.”

Learn more about Gerflor solutions, ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01926 622 600, emailing mailto:contractuk@gerflor.com, or visiting gerflor.co.uk for the latest innovations.

Torquay Boys Grammar school has a very proud history and can trace its roots back to 1904. Even in those days overcrowding was a problem and Torquay Secondary School, as it had become, was opened in April 1915 with 170 boys. Today, Torquay Boys Grammar School now has 1120 boys and girls in six houses with extensive building programmes taking place in the last 30 years to keep their facilities up to date.

The school now stands as one of the top 20 boys’ schools in the country and is forever moving forward in the drive to providing an education, both academic and cultural, to rival that found anywhere in the country. At Torquay Boys Grammar School, they also believe that it’s important that students can choose from, and experience a wide range of physical activities, which caters for all abilities.

When the school urgently needed to replace their existing wooden floor in their main hall due to flooding, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply over 600m2 of their world-renowned Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring.

The main hall at Torquay Boys Grammar School is used for a mixture of sports activities including health and fitness, racket sports, team sports and gymnastics, so a sports floor that could deliver performance, safety and durability would be paramount in the final choice of the replacement flooring.

Achieving a first-class installation that would be on budget, on time and as importantly, meet the stringent requirements that the school would insist on was a challenge well-met by Plymouth- based Roberts Flooring.

Dave Moran, Managing Director, Roberts Flooring commented, “the school had previously had an unfortunate flooding incident which caused their current timber sprung sports floor to swell and become defective.” On the new specification Dave Moran stated, “We approached Gerflor to help propose a suitable solution and it was decided that their Taraflex Performance 9mm thick sports flooring system would be the best answer due to its versatile range of applications as it was suitable for a sporting and educational environment. We settled on Mint Green as the optimum colour as it would really compliment the sports line markings that were added to the new floor. “

Gerflor have more than 70 years of experience with their Taraflex® sports flooring. It offers a wide range of colours and is suitable for a variety of applications. Taraflex® sports floors have been made since 1947 and used by the largest international sports federations (volleyball, handball, badminton, table tennis) for decades. Through partnerships with these federations, Gerflor has been present at the Summer Olympic Games since 1976. It’s an Olympic pedigree stretching back over an incredible 43 years.

Taraflex® is available in 17 colours and three wood-effect designs. The Taraflex® Performance product specified for Torquay Boys Grammar School offers a P2 category shock absorbency 35% to 45%. Taraflex® is recognised for providing durability, safety and comfort without impairing performance.

The range also offers greater than 45% force reduction, making it unrivalled in the marketplace in terms of offering comfort for users. Taraflex® meets the EN Standard of 22196 for anti- bacterial activity (E. coli - S. aureus - MRSA) (3) returning >99% levels of growth inhibition.

Peter Richardson, Site Manager, Torquay Boys Grammar School commented, “we are very pleased with the Gerflor flooring. It was a good choice and has really lived -up to its specification.” Dave Moran added, “the project had to be done to a very firm timescale to ensure the hall could be reopened to the school and other members of the public who rent the sports hall for several activities including badminton, five a side football and basketball.”

Taraflex® Performance is also treated with Protecsol®, which renders polish redundant and is triple action meaning no polish is ever required, it contributes to easy maintenance and is anti-friction burn and slide/grip. Taraflex® has a double density foam backing and as another bonus, it’s environmentally friendly. Taraflex® Performance from Gerflor meets the EN 14904 Standard for indoor sports surfaces. It’s also an ideal solution for renovation works as it’s available with the Dry-Tex™ System perfect for new construction or refurbishment projects with damp subfloors.

Dave Moran concluded, “we have carried out projects using Gerflor sports flooring in several schools and leisure centres. Gerflor always provide high quality flooring products and have a very large and varied library of flooring solutions.”

Peter Richardson ended by saying, “the Taraflex flooring is performing really well and both students and staff really like it. In my opinion, it’s performing much better than the previous wooden floor that we had. “

Learn more about Gerflor solutions, ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01926 622 600, emailing contr