Bath Top Surrounds - Information to consider

Bitter Chocolate Limestone - Installation and Maintenance Suggestions

Bitter Chocolate Limestone - my floor wall is stained

Environmental & Sustainability Policy

Fila Products - where can I purchase in New York, USA ?

French Distressed Flagstones - Installation and Maintenance Suggestions

General Information

1. The floor will arrive wet - hence the dark yellowy-orange colour. This will dry out much lighter. We suggest, rather than sealing the floor immediately, let it breathe and dry out properly.

2. The texture is hand finished / antiqued. This will settle down once laid, cleaned, sealed and grouted. Natural wear and tear will also settle the texture into a beautiful patina. These floors improve with time. Floors usually require 1 year to settle in properly.

3. The texture can easily be softened by a quick rub with some emery paper. (or use a hard bristled brush). The surface grain is loose and will come off easily. You will note that after brushing this floor the grit content will reduce very quickly with each brushing as the surface settles down.

4. Tiles are to be laid chiselled face up !

ONLY USE A TRANSPARENT SEALER ON THIS FLOOR, OTHERWISE THE COLOUR WILL BE ENHANCED AND WILL SEND IT DARKER !!!

Please always do a tester area first and have it approved prior to the whole job as client tastes are different.

Installation

1. Stick tiles, chiselled face up, to substrate with Arduit S16 Rapid Set / or fix into sand and cement (sometime we recommend sealing the backs of tiles to prevent effervescence - ie. salts rising to the surface of the tiles - see point 3).

2. Ensure your tiler uses matchstick tight joints ! 1-2mm

3. Seal tiles with 2-3 coats of Stain Stop MN or Marble No. 8 (with whitener) by CCC.

4. Grout floor with a yellowish joint achieved by 1 part silver sand, 1 part builder’s sand (yellow), 1 part white cement.

5. Seal tiles with 2-3 coats of Stain Stop MN or Marble No. 8 (with whitener)

NB. Marble No. 8, although a very high performance sealer, is a colour enhancer and may send the tiles more yellowy / orange. This is why we suggest using the whitener as an additive to lighten the result. It is a matter of taste. The tester area should help you decide your preferred result.

Maintenance and Cleaning

Regular sweeping will take care of most household dust and particles.

Periodically one should wash the surface as necessary with mild soap or neutral detergent.

It is important when ‘mopping’ the floor that you use plenty of clean water ensuring that the water is changed during the washing. If have only used one bucket of water for cleaning your whole floor, it is likely that dirt is being washed over dirt thus soiling your floor. PLENTY OF CLEAN WATER !!!

Health and Safety Policy

Our Health and Safety Policy is as follows:

De Ferranti Limited is committed to managing the Health and Safety risks arising from the company's operations as far as is practicable for it’s Employees, Sub-Contractors, Clients and all persons with whom it has any dealings or comes into contact with.

"When in doubt - ask"

Under the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974, the company has the responsibility:

1) To provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, taking into account any statutory requirements.

2) To provide sufficient information, training, instructions and supervision to enable employees to perform their work safely and efficiently.

3) To make available all necessary safety devices and equipment and to supervise their use.

4) To maintain a constant and continuing interest in health matters, in particular, by consulting and involving wherever possible. Employees have a duty to cooperate:

a) By working safely and efficiently, showing due regard to both personal safety and the safety of others.
b) By using the protective equipment provided, and by meeting statutory obligations.
c) By reporting incidents that have led or may lead to injury or damage.
d) By adhering to Company procedures for ensuring a secure and safe workplace.
e) By assisting in investigations of accidents and incidents with the objective of introducing measures to prevent recurrence

The Safety Management Team, chaired by the Managing Director meets quarterly to review the Company’s health and safety performance considering information from safety audits, risk assessments and accident reports. The Safety Management Team includes the Managing Director, Contracts Manager and Project Manager.

Responsible for health and safety operations at Company's premises:

 Accident Recording and First-Aid Box - Managing Director

 Management of Health and Safety Documentation (including COSHH Database) - Project Manager (Sites) Administration (Office)

 General Fire Safety - Managing Director

 Training and Training Records - Managing Director

 COSHH Assessments, Safe Systems of Work - Managing Director

 Housekeeping, Waste Handling and Disposal - Managing Director

 Maintenance of Equipment - Managing Director

De Ferranti Limited will commit resources, in time and money to ensure the continued implementation of this policy. Overall and final responsibility for health and Safety in the company lies with the Managing Director.

Leather Tiles - Installation and Maintenance Suggestions

Leather tiles should be allowed to acclimatize to the new environment for at least a week before they are installed. Effective tile installation requires a clean, dust-free environment and should occur after all other site construction has been completed. Tiles are affected by humidity and we advise you not to install tiles in areas with uncontrolled humidity. The tiles should not be used in excessively dry <20% humidity on average. The tiles are to be adhered directly to a FLAT surface. When applying the tiles be sure that the entire site has been thoroughly vacuumed and cleaned of dust and dirt. Once the surface has been cleaned, apply the T52 adhesive (or another reputable trowled adhesive). Firstly, apply the adhesive to both the substrate and to the back of the tile with a brush or serrated trowel and stick to the substrate. The concept behind our patinated leather tiles originates from old Cotto Floors – not all joints will be tight and these can be later filled in with wax. Once the tile has been applied and has time to dry, it is virtually impossible to move the tiles. ADHESIVE We strongly recommend you use SikaBond - T52 fully bonded system (Troweled Adhesive) Allow 25mm for finished floor (possibly less) visit http://www.sika.com/ Suggest you use either a tiler or a reputable wood floor installer. Do not use a contact adhesive as you will be unable to adjust tiles if there are variances in the floor (ie. if floor is not totally flat). You must use a Trowel applied adhesive. There is also a discrepancy in tile thickness. The smell of the adhesive is only temporary and will go very soon after being laid leaving a lovely leather aroma. Once the glue has fully set it will give heat resistance and water resistance, which will help if there is an accident. To keep your tile looking as regal as when you first purchased them, they will need a coat of wax about once a year. This is not compulsory but is recommended. Hand wax the tiles and leave them overnight to soak into the surface. When the wax is dry, buff lightly with a horse brush for example (without using a machine) to create a semi-gloss finish. The wax gives the tiles protection against damage from liquid for up to 72 hours. CLEANING To clean the tiles just vacuum or sweep them and use a damp cloth to clear up any spillages.

Limestone Floors - General cleaning regime

Metal Tiles - Installation and Maintenance Suggestions

Protection of exterior floors during the Winter months

Terms and Conditions of Sale - De Ferranti

GENERAL

1. Installation and supply totals are subject to survey of site. Any differences found on site different from original bill of quantities or drawings provided to be advised of and to be charged as an addition.

2. Additional or unexpected installation, supply or delivery costs to be advised of and to be bourne by the client if not previously agreed in the original order.

3. Any customs and duties charges to be bourne by the buyer.

4. Whilst every effort has been taken to assess quantities accurately from information provided, if a shortfall or excess of tiles occurs at the time of tiling, De Ferranti Limited take no responsibility for the final measurements and if additional tiles are required, these must be paid for prior to delivery. It is the buyers responsibility to check quantities are correct at time of order.

5. De Ferranti will not accept returned goods that are surplus to requirements.

6. While every effort is made to define and control its range of products, De Ferranti accepts no liabilities whatsoever in respect of natural geological and handmade (where applicable) variations concerned with colour or texture

7. All goods must be examined upon delivery to certify the goods correspond with delivery notes and/or receipts provided. In order to validate a claim, any shortages, damages or other discrepancies should be indicated on the documentation provided. Additionally, De Ferranti must be notified in writing within 48 hours from receipt of goods. Strict compliance with these conditions is required, otherwise no liability is accepted. NO CLAIMS ARE ACCEPTED AFTER INSTALLATION.

8. De Ferranti standard payment terms are 50% of total monies due with confirmed order placement and the remaining 50% balance when goods are fully produced and ready to leave the factory and/or warehouse. Schedule of delivery(s) to be sent once order is placed. Post inspections can be done if required at the cost of the client and/or images can be sent. If multiple shipments are required above and beyond the agreed allotted amount, additional charges will be billed at cost to the buyer.

9. De Ferranti shall not be liable for any penalty, loss, injury, damage or expense arising from any failure in delivery or performance arising from circumstances outside the control of De Ferranti, including but not limited to force majeure, war or hostilities, government legislation order or direction, strike lock out or labour disturbance, civil commotion, fire, accident, shortage of materials (those of De Ferranti or its suppliers), geology of the stone, power failure, breakdown of machinery, police or local authority restrictions, delays in issue, approval or clearance of working drawings, stone schedules (if applicable), templates or other relevant information, lack of instruction from the Customer or suspension of the Buyer’s credit facility and any other cause outside the De Ferranti control.

10. Supply and Installation cost total is subject to survey of site; any changes or irregularities that differ from original bill of quantities and drawings provided are to be advised and to be charged accordingly to the Buyer.

11. Installation Payment Terms; De Ferranti will bill monthly to the Buyer until completion of all works agreed. An inspection of site will take place bi-weekly where by De Ferranti will advise on a projection of works to be completed. The amount to be billed each month will be based on the percentage of the works calculated to be completed. If payments are not received for these projected works within the time frame stated on the invoice, the De Ferranti installation team will be pulled off site until the payment is received.

12. In the event of a dispute arising under a contract it will be subject to the laws of England and Wales and any proceedings will be within that jurisdiction.

13. By paying the deposit for the initial invoice the Buyer is agreeing to all of De Ferranti terms and conditions which supersedes all other terms and conditions set out by the Buyer. All payments to be done via BACS Transfer from the Buyer to De Ferranti.

SUPPLY OF STONE

a) Stone is a natural product which varies in colour and will contain markings, small holes, fissures and flaws, some of which may be artificially filled and therefore:

I) unless otherwise agreed in writing this is not a sale by sample and no warranties can be offered to match material from a sample and

II) any subsequent order of the same stone will not come from the same batch; colour and veining differences are to be expected as stone is a natural product.

b) Selection of material to supply to the Buyer will be at the discretion of the Seller unless agreed in writing to the contrary.

c) Selection of material by the Buyer from a batch, where agreed in writing will attract a premium cost.

d) The supply of samples is at the discretion of the De Ferranti and a charge may be applicable.

e) Flooring calibrations are nominal. A variation of +/- 3mm in thickness is normal and variance outside this range may occur. De Ferranti cannot take any responsibility for measurements outside this nominal calibration.

PERFORMANCE OF STONE

a) Natural stone is liable to staining. Although it can be impregnated with a substance to increase resistance to staining, it is not stain-proof and in particular cannot be protected against etching from acidic substances. We highly recommend that the material is treated periodically with a similar product to maintain this resistance.

b) It is for the Buyer to decide if the material is fit for its purpose and no warranty is given by De Ferranti unless agreed specifically in writing as performance of different materials will vary in different circumstances,(e.g. outdoors, a swimming pool or as a kitchen worktop). We can supply generic test data for all of our stones but the Buyer should arrange testing independently to verify suitability for their own project before they purchase.

c) Stone should be professionally installed and any chemical treatments applied in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions for optimum performance.

d) It is the Buyers responsibility to ensure that all surfaces and substrates are prepared and adequate for the stone flooring or products with regard to movement, weight or any other structural issues. Any advice given on these matters by De Ferranti is general and subject to the further approval of the Buyer’s professional advisers.

QUOTATIONS

a) Lead times are approximate, from full and final instructions, the receipt of a deposit and subject to selected material arriving and performing as expected.

b) Key dates if changed may mean that De Ferranti cannot guarantee to adhere to initially planned/agreed timescales with regard to supply, manufacture, delivery or installation.

c) Quotations will be dependent on accuracy of information provided and clear and legible instructions. Any drawings sent to us for the purpose of a quotation must be fully dimensioned, accurate and to scale. De Ferranti cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies resulting from omissions or inaccurate information from the Buyer. Later amendments must be in writing and may attract a penalty.

d) The delivery total is calculated as one total shipment from each quarry/workshop from where each material type is produced. If any early or part shipment is needed/requested by the Buyer, an additional charge will be billed to the Buyer.

INSTALLATION

a) Programmes for installation are issued assuming that preparation works have been completed. Delay resulting from a lack of preparation from the Buyer or their agents will result in charges on a daily basis for any downtime caused.

b) Where delay is caused on the part of the Buyer, there is no guarantee that the fitter will be available for the later date and charges may be made if no other work is available for the fitter for the allotted period.

c) Programmes for installation are created in good faith and De Ferranti cannot be held responsible for delays caused by unforeseen circumstances.

d) Any fitting charges are based on using a standard team assuming good and level access from the point of unloading to the final fit position, unless agreed otherwise in writing. Any variation to this is not only likely to incur additional charges but is likely to result in amendments to previously planned or agreed timescales.

e) Protection of stonework installed by De Ferranti, both during and after completion of works, is the responsibility of the Buyer, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

f) Under-floor heating must be laid, protected and fully commissioned by the Buyer prior to installation of stone by the De Ferranti.

h) Up-stands & splash-backs will only be fitted where walls are true. Scribing of worktops on site, where requested, will be charged as extra. The Buyer’s decorator or contractor may be required to make good remaining gaps between walls and worktops or up-stands.

i) All floors have been priced to be fixed on a thin bed adhesive. All make up of screeds are to be done by the Buyer. Steel brackets for stone items, benches or carved basins are to be done by the Buyer.

j) De Ferranti will not undertake any, templating, tanking, drilling of holes, plumbing or electrical work, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

k) The installation works does include; adhesive, grout and sealant.

l) Any damage caused by others on site to materials or installation works will be charged back to the Buyer at a day rate by De Ferranti for making good.

White Limestone Tiles - 1-2-3 steps of Installation

FAQ

Frequently asked questions