FAQ’s

we started making our products in 1987 and have supplied to users worldwide since then: we try to maintain the closest possible direct contact with our clients, from project initiation by architects and designers, right through to end use by trade contractors and private users – most of whom were and are recommended to us by other customers or from seeing our products on real surfaces in real use.

To ensure you have the best advice and the right products before purchase, we supply on-line only to experienced users who are ‘signed up’ to our system.

In the first instance, our regional contacts will be pleased to assist – for further help. our works office is available daily from 08.30am to 4.30pm UK time and by email outside of these times.

See our delivery page for full details.

We all know that ‘greenness’ is a much abused and misunderstood concept; everything in the universe is a chemical – some ‘natural’ and others made by ‘chemical’ processes from ‘natural’ raw materials.

As we use our products ourselves in our homes and on contracts we execute, we make sure the raw materials we use and products we make are the safest possible that will give the product performance needed and are manufactured under very strict environmental controls.

Where our products contain solvents, these solvents are all fully biodegradable to water and Co2 just like our bodies and have no specific ozone, climate or greenhouse impact.

Our packaging manufacturers also have impressive ‘green’ policies; recycling, using recycled packaging and low energy equipment.

Another essential aspect of ‘greenness’ is the total lifecycle impact of the material; our products are developed for ultimate economy in use, performance and durability. From the start less material is needed, they require very little maintenance and rarely if ever need re-application. Their ease of maintenance means you need to use less cleaning chemicals and much less often. The treated surfaces last longer reducing maintenance, refurbishment and energy costs.

Without exception, so-called ‘natural’ products are many-fold less effective in their ‘duty’, require more maintenance, more cleaning chemicals, and earlier need for refurbishment or replacement than the appropriate product(s) from our ranges. The ‘green’ balance is wholly in favour of our materials, both immediately, and in the long term.

No – we do not conduct any testing of our products on animals.

Yes, completely safe when fully cured – but of course you must keep children, those with impaired abilities and pets out of the working area whilst work is going on and during the drying/cure period.

We use only the highest quality raw-materials, which meet the most stringent legislation worldwide: we never consider that we have ‘done enough’ and devote a higher proportion of resources on product R&D than most major companies – we work continuously to make better products with less environmental impact.

Our main products were inspired by the ‘natural’ effect given by ‘oils’ – but also by the objective to make the finished surfaces perform better – be more durable, more wear resistant and more stain resistant.

This they do, but also give a cleaner more ‘natural’ appearance than ‘oils’ – to all materials including all timbers and stones – without altering the true inherent colours of the material.

Varnish traditionally means a surface coating – our products can be used to give a coating after the surface has been fully ‘sealed’ by saturation with the product, when and where desired – the performance of the sealed surfaces is usually so good compared with other approaches that an actual surface coating is rarely needed – usually only for aesthetic reasons or for additional protection against particular chemical spillage.

Oils penetrate into porous surfaces e.g. wood, but the material of the surface itself provides the wear resistance. An oiled floor offers little resistance to chemicals and scuff marks; on the other hand, scratches are less visible and marks can be repaired quite easily compared with varnishes.

Varnishes can provide a surface with wear and chemical resistance and some offer increased slip resistance, useful in for example on stairs or wet areas.

Our products both penetrate like oils and can also give high performance coatings once the surface is saturated – but, unlike oils, when used only as impregnating (saturating) sealants, they reinforce and protect the actual surface and so increase the wear and stain resistance – even enabling the use of weak, friable or porous materials for previously unthinkably demanding applications.

We developed the disposable Triple – C Sponge Applicator to be the fastest, lowest cost and best method of applying most of our products to most surfaces – as the products ‘cure’ quite rapidly, it is difficult to clean brushes and rollers effectively when the work is complete and costs more in time and cleaning chemicals than allowing the low cost ‘used’ sponge part of the Applicator to cure fully and then disposing of it as inert refuse.

Many brushes, rollers and other sponges are not resistant to the liquid products and quickly deteriorate, giving poor results.

Yes, without exception, from the densest oily wood to the softest  most porous: we make special grades and provide advice on special techniques for work on rare or ‘difficult’ wood.