8th edition Vitrification Trophy

As with each edition of the Vitrification Trophies, Plastor recognizes the projects of its parquet flooring partners, completed during the year. This award highlights the quality of the work accomplished with Plastor products, promotes the methods used by professionals, while highlighting their expertise. Regardless of the location - residential housing, public or private collective space - the most technically or decoratively remarkable projects received an award. For this 8th edition, the award winners are:

1st Prize: The Bras Restaurant - Le Suquet
from Laguiole, produced by the Lacombe company,

2nd Prize: The Perrier Optician establishment in Chambéry, created by the Espace Parquet company,

3rd Prize: The restaurant Une table, in the South
from Marseille, made by the parquet craftsman Jean-Marc Benoit.

1st Prize: Restaurant Bras - Le Suquet in Laguiole Entreprise LACOMBE (12)

Jean-Marie LACOMBE - Cabinetmaker and restaurant planner

"We participated in the first work at Le Suquet restaurant by laying the parquet floor in 1992, so I know the Bras family very well. Every two years or so, we renovate the parquet floor in the restaurant, which is heavily used due to traffic. We have very tight deadlines each time, so as not to penalize the restaurant's business, which is why my team of four people and I had to complete the work in three days. With a surface area of ​​2 m4, the restaurant has densified beech parquet, a very hard and very light wood. To protect this wood, a matte finish is required, which does not stain when in contact with wine and is resistant to abrasion and shocks from shoe soles. Under the advice of the technician from Plastor, a partner brand with whom we have worked for many years and with which I am fully satisfied, we opted for the Base Coater and the Pur-T®3 varnish, for its resistance to abrasion and impact. The first step was to sand the parquet floor, to remove the old finish and erase the deep scratches. We repaired the gaps in the wood and changed the planks that were very damaged, before applying the Base Coater, a natural-looking undercoat, ideal for light wood such as beech. After lightly sanding the entire surface, we applied 200 coats of Pur-T®2 varnish to ensure a beautiful, long-lasting finish.

Products used

Bottom sealer underlay
The Base Sealer guarantees optimal protection of the substrate and increases the performance and yield of the varnish. In aqueous phase, this single-component acrylic technical undercoat modifies the nature of the porous substrate by filling in absorption differences. It provides a uniform and consistent level of protection across the entire surface. Reinforced with anti-UV agents, it prevents yellowing of the film and the wood. Its creamy texture seals the substrate, giving the wood a filling. Its natural appearance preserves light tones, such as beech.

Pur-T®4
In aqueous phase, this two-component varnish is perfectly suited to the varnishing of parquet floors exposed to heavy traffic because it is very resistant to shocks and abrasion. Its formula, more efficient and more resistant, is based on polycarbonate, a resin of great hardness which has the capacity to deform to better absorb shocks and scratches. Its viscosity is very high.
Very pleasant to apply, it is odorless and is formulated with 0% NMP and CIP.

2nd Prize: Optician Perrier Establishment in Chambéry ESPACE PARQUET Company (73)

Patrick DAVOINE - Specialized in the sale, installation and renovation of parquet floors

"The owners of the Opticien Perrier brand, customers we know well, wanted to carry out renovation work for their store and therefore asked me to refurbish the 55 m2 of solid oak parquet flooring. To carry out this project, the main constraint of which was not to close the store for several days, I opted for Plastor's UV drying varnishing method. Thanks to this technique, which I have already used on other sites, I was able to restore the room, with the intervention of a Plastor technician, in just 2 days. I first sanded the parquet flooring, which was damaged in certain areas, particularly around the tables and the counter. I applied a coat of Prim'SO hard primer to obtain a good grip, then I applied 2 coats of UV-Time® varnish. I dried this varnish using a UV machine, specially designed for this product and which makes it easy to treat large surfaces. The UV varnish has the advantage of hardening and immediately reaching its full strength. With this technique, the oak flooring was able to be renovated and re-protected in a very short time, and the store was able to reopen to the public very quickly. Once again, I trusted Plastor, a partner with whom I have worked for around twenty years. I am very familiar with the quality of the products and I am fully satisfied with the service and advice of the brand's technicians.

Products used

Prim'So undercoat
A universal, single-component, ready-to-use hard primer, Prim'So forms a smooth, even film and warms up the wood's appearance. Its high penetrating power allows it to deeply impregnate the wood and form an ideal bonding base for the finish. It neutralizes antioxidants to ensure the varnish dries perfectly.

Process used: UV-Time® - UV curing glazer
The wear and stain resistance of UV-Time® varnish is unparalleled. Thanks to the UV curing process, it can treat all parquet floors, even the most heavily used, whether new or renovated. The instant core hardening of UV-Time® allows premises to be put back into service as soon as the work is completed. UV-Time® does not contain isocyanate, so there is no need to mix hardener. In addition, with only 3g/L of VOCs, UV-Time® is EC1+ certified and classified A+ for indoor air quality.
Without additional constraints, UV-Time® is applied like traditional varnishes but with UV curing in addition, an operation no more difficult than a sanding pass.

3rd Prize: One table restaurant, in the South in Marseille - Artisan parqueteur Jean-Marc BENOIT (13)

Jean-Marc BENOIT - Specialized in laying, sanding and vitrification of parquet floors

“Through an architect I know well, I was awarded the contract to renovate the 144 m² of Jatoba parquet flooring at Une table, au sud, a recently Michelin-starred restaurant located opposite the old port of Marseille. The owners of this chic and elegant venue wanted to refresh the two dining rooms and renovate the parquet flooring. Although Jatoba is an exotic, stable, and durable wood species, subject to traffic and daily maintenance, it was damaged in some areas and needed to be renovated. The main constraint of this project was the deadline. To limit the loss of business for this Michelin-starred restaurant, we had to complete the work in one week. A team of four people was needed to complete the project. To renovate this magnificent Jatoba parquet flooring, I used Plastor products, whose performance I know very well, having worked with the brand for over 2 years. Indeed, in addition to the quality of the products, I appreciate the complicity with my Plastor contacts. They are always available to answer my questions, do not hesitate to come and see me to present new solutions or give me advice. For this project, on the first day, we repaired and replaced some parquet boards that were particularly damaged. Then, using 2 sanders, we made 4 sanding passes to remove the previous finishing layers and eliminate the scratches on the parquet flooring in the entrance hall and the 20 rooms. We applied a first coat of Patrim varnish, under the guidance of the Plastor technical service, then carried out a light sanding after drying. Then, we applied a second coat of varnish, which allowed us to obtain a beautiful natural amber shade, highlighting the grain of this orange-brown wood. The final result offers a very beautiful finish.

Product used

Patrim sealer
In solvent phase, this colorless two-component polyurethane varnish is perfectly suited to the varnishing of parquet floors exposed to high traffic, such as those in a restaurant, because it is very resistant to shocks and abrasion. It is applied directly to the raw wood and gives it a warm and natural shade. Its flexible film follows the movements of the wood.
Very pleasant to apply, it is formulated with 0% NMP and NEP.