Don’t be floored – use West Fraser’s handy guide and fabulous products for perfect platforms

There are so many aspects to consider when designing a building and today’s architectural world is growing more refined and more complex as we need to think about building standards, environmental demands and super strong building performance generally. All great stuff! So, when considering each and every element, it’s best to seek out the real professionals and let them do the work for you!

The floor? Surely one of the most important parts of a building? Discuss! If the floor fails, surely the whole building fails! And, as for squeaking, we have all suffered this pesky noise underfoot at times!  Not only is there a plethora of flooring finishes available now – just look at the pages of interior publications! – there is also a variety of fabulously effective and highly engineered flooring systems.

So choosing the most suitable flooring system for a project makes an enormous difference to the quality of the finished floor, room and overall building. It will also cut costs, save time and eliminate later problems. This is why West Fraser has developed the versatile CaberFloor system which offers an advanced range of flooring products designed to fit all applications including new-build, replacement, domestic and commercial.

Leading the field in the popularity stakes, CaberFloor P5 is the UK’s most specified moisture-resistant P5 flooring. The high-strength particleboard is ideal for domestic and most other floors and removes the need for intermediate noggins. The boards are moisture-resistant, stable, durable, easy to lay and, with a tongue and groove or square-edge profile, provide an excellent surface for subsequent floor laying operations.

Some floors require more advanced solutions and, no matter the size or shape of the floor being laid, there are key questions to ask. Although not necessarily obvious, the first point to consider is whether the building’s roof will be in place. If the answer is no, the floor will need to withstand the elements. This is where CaberShieldPlus proves its worth as it is designed to allow building work to continue in all weathers.

CaberShieldPlus is an advanced product that has all the inherent benefits of CaberFloor P5. In addition, it offers double-sided protection with a tough, permanent waterproof coating and is BBA approved for 60 days exposure. It is also a non-slip, safe working platform that withstands high site traffic.

An alternative solution is CaberDek which is BBA approved for 42 days exposure. The P5 grade flooring has the advantage of a strong, waterproof and slip-resistant peelable film. It provides protection from the elements and construction mess and, when removed, leaves a clean, finished floor. The film is impact, puncture and tear-resistant to withstand high site traffic. CaberDek also provides 44dB sound reduction when used in conjunction with leading I-beam and insulation manufacturers.

All three CaberFloor products comply with BS EN312 and are designed to be used with the CaberFix range of specially developed sealing and fixing products that include powerful adhesives and tapes. For example, CaberFloor P5 is best used with CaberFix Joint&Joist, an adhesive and sealant that will adhere to a wide variety of materials, creating a strong, silent, and flexible bond. Similarly, CaberFix D4 complements CaberDek and CaberShieldPlus. This adhesive bonds flooring to joists, T&G joints and seals exposed perimeter and edges.

Beyond the advantages and practicalities of using CaberFloor, the materials and processes used to manufacture the product offer the reassurance of being sustainable. Unsurprisingly, West Fraser’s range of board products is available in a wide selection of sizes to minimise waste. All timber used is responsibly sourced and FSC certified. The panels are manufactured in the UK from locally grown timber and are net carbon negative.  Additionally, all of West Fraser’s UK mills have obtained the coveted ISO 14001 environmental accreditation. 

Samples of all West Fraser construction panels can be ordered on the website Uk.westfraser.com.  Head to the housebuilder page on the website to download a selection of tools including a fully-interactive guide to all West Fraser products and a checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your build. For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit Uk.westfraser.com.