Altro Adhesive-Free Is Flexible Choice ​For Furniture Showroom

Altro Illustra adhesive-free flooring was the perfect choice for JDD Furniture’s full refurbishment of its flagship showroom. The Birmingham-based manufacturer of hand-crafted, meticulously-executed workspace furniture was looking for flooring with strong aesthetics, performance, flexibility and sustainability credentials for its Birmingham Jewellery Quarter showroom where it flies the flag for local, British manufacture and thoughtful, useful design.

Joe Duffell of JDD says: “After 12 years in the Jewellery Quarter it was time to breathe new life into our flagship showroom with a full refurb. Altro adhesive-free flooring allows us to keep things fresh moving forward as we can change layouts without worry of damage and it gives our furniture the best possible platform."

“We chose Altro Illustra adhesive-free for its versatility and hard-wearing attributes. The natural visual textures complement the hand-crafted wooden structures we use to provide a soft, warm and welcoming feel to all our products. “Environmental preservation is at the core of everything we do, from concept to creation. We source our materials locally and sustainably, and we recycle as much as possible. Part of the appeal of Altro Illustra adhesive-free is that the materials are sourced from and the floor is made in Europe.”

Sarah Jennings from Altro worked with JDD on product selection. “With this being a showroom, we realised that what was going to be installed would likely be changed quicker than the intended life span of 15 years so the brilliant thing about the Altro Illustra adhesive-free is that when this time came, we could uplift it, potentially re-use but definitely recycle via the Recofloor scheme."

“Looking to design, Altro Illustra adhesive-free is available in three distinct pattern groups with visual textures to bring depth to designs: natural stones, modern textiles and muted minerals. These designs offer a harmonious blend of style and functionality with nature-inspired textures and softness to help create and enhance feeling of wellbeing within spaces, so were ideal for the JDD showroom."

“As the product is not stuck down this allowed for a quicker initial install along with future proofing for when the floor is replaced as there’s practically no prep work and the new flooring can be laid very quickly meaning that the showroom can open up again a lot quicker. Also, the space has high ceilings so the acoustic backing, which provides a 14dB impact sound reduction, was a great added benefit.”

As Altro adhesive-free floors require no adhesive and no DPM, there is an immediate reduction of embodied carbon by avoiding these elements. Up to 50% saving is based on compared CO2 data for Altro Illustra adhesive-free against a typical 2mm adhered vinyl floor that uses applied damp proof membrane. In addition to its sustainability, style and safety features, Altro Illustra offers easy maintenance and durability, incorporating Altro Easyclean™ technology.

The floor is designed to withstand heavy foot traffic and resist stains, making it suitable for busy environments, and reducing the likelihood of maintenance and cleaning issues. Find out more about Altro’s adhesive-free flooring solutions here:

https://www.altro.com/uk/explore-altro/learn-and-engage/altro-guides/adhesive-free-floors

F. Ball Products A Gift At Department Store Refurbishment

F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s Stopgap 1200 high-performance smoothing compound has been used to prepare subfloors where old adhesive residues were left behind as part of the refurbishment of the gift shop at Suffolk homeware and interiors department store: Glasswells.

The project itself is the first phase of a wider £500,000 renovation of Glasswells Bury St Edmunds location to modernise the showrooms and create more spacious, contemporary layouts and designs for cookshop, gifts, lighting, bedding and bath departments. Glasswells own flooring fitters began by removing the old carpet, Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs) and laminate floorcoverings before mechanically preparing the roughly 900m2 area, partially revealing the painted concrete subfloor beneath.

The surface was then primed using F. Ball’s Stopgap P141, which is designed especially to promote the adhesion of smoothing compounds to non-absorbent surfaces and coloured yellow to help gauge coverage. Stopgap 1200 was applied throughout the gift shop. It is formulated so that it can be applied over minimal old adhesive residues, eliminating the need for mechanical removal and saving time in these situations.

It is low-odour, self-smoothing and fast-drying. Applied at a thickness of 2-5mm, it is walk-on hard from 60 minutes and dry enough to receive floorcoverings in as little as four hours. The refurbishment of floors was completed with the installation of stone and wood-effect LVTs, showcasing the standard of workmanship that Glasswells customers can expect in their own homes.

Commenting on the project, Andrew Boreham, flooring manager and buyer at Glasswells, who supervised the work, said: “We were really pleased with how everything went and the finished result. We had two weeks to complete the project, and we finished with a few days to spare thanks to the high-performance nature of products used. We use F. Ball smoothing compounds and adhesives for customer projects, so we knew we could rely on them for this.” www.f-ball.co.uk

Charming London Townhouse Gets A Warm Update With Schlüter Solutions

Located in London, a charming townhouse has been thoughtfully transformed by Emily and Hugh, the creative duo behind the popular Instagram account @ourlondonlittlelife. Known for sharing snapshots of everyday life and the renovation of their characterful home, the couple took on one of their most ambitious DIY projects yet - the installation of an electrical floor heating system and a terracotta herringbone-tiled floor in their kitchen and dining space.

With a hands-on approach to renovating their forever home, they were keen to add both style and substance to this area. The result was a stunning and cosy space brought to life with the help of Schlüter-DITRA-HEAT-DUO Peel & Stick, installed entirely by the couple themselves.

The project involved upgrading a 22sqm open plan kitchen and dining area, laid over an insulated concrete base. Wanting to maximise comfort without compromising floor height or design aesthetic, the couple turned to Schlüter's innovative Peel & Stick underfloor heating system.

"Luckily the space was fairly rectangular which meant adding the DITRA-HEAT-DUO-PS was super simple," they explained. "We couldn't believe how quick and easy it was to stick down - we just made sure to prime the surface first for a secure bond."

After preparing the surface, the DITRA-HEAT-DUO-PS membrane was rolled out and adhered in a matter of minutes. The studded structure of the mat made cable insertion straightforward, allowing them to lay out a precise, even heating plan throughout the space.

"The heating cable slotted in perfectly, and we were able to install everything in less than a day," they added. "This was our first time doing anything like this - laying underfloor heating and tiling a floor ourselves - and it was surprisingly smooth thanks to the Schlüter-Systems video tutorials, which were so helpful and made the install process much easier."

To finish the project, the couple chose herringbone terracotta tiles - a classic, durable option that suits the natural feel of their home. DITRA-HEAT-DUO-PS was a great fit thanks to its low build-up height and built-in thermal break, making it ideal for homes which may be impacted by space and height restrictions, and preserving original features is important.

As passionate renovators documenting every step of their home's journey online, Emily and Hugh are no strangers to making design decisions that balance practicality with personality. This Schlüter underfloor heating installation has enhanced the comfort of their kitchen and highlights how, with the right tools and guidance, high-quality results can be achieved.

Now, their kitchen and dining area is not just a beautifully tiled space - it's a warm, welcoming hub they get to call home. "We couldn't be happier with the result," they say. "It's added a level of comfort and luxury we didn't realise we were missing - and we did it all ourselves!"

For further information, call 01530 813396 or visit https://www.schluter.co.uk