Who has created the most beautiful wood floor coloured with LOBA products? To find out, the surface finishing specialist is inviting professionals to take part in its annual competition. Flooring contractors from all over the world can submit their projects until 30 April 2026.

Focus on colour

This year, LOBA is looking for coloured wood floors in commercial, public and residential areas. It does not matter whether the project is a new installation or a renovation, or whether the floors are finished, oiled or waxed. From panel parquet to solid wood planks, any wood floor is welcome, as long as it has been professionally coloured with LOBA products and demonstrates excellent craftsmanship. All details on how to take part are available on the manufacturer’s website: https://www.loba.de/int_en/loba-flooring-award.

Entry and judging

Prizes with a total value of €5,000 will be awarded to the contractors who carried out the three winning projects: while 1st place receives products worth €3,000, LOBA will award product vouchers worth €1,500 and €500 for 2nd and 3rd place. In addition, the top project will be featured on the cover of the LOBA Product Catalogue 2027.

The projects will be judged by an international jury consisting of Claus Wissutschek (Head of Application Technology at LOBA), Tyler Myatt (LOBA-WAKOL, LLC, North America) and Fraser McArthur (Lecol UK). The criteria include the visual quality of the surface, sanding quality and product suitability for the specific area of use. The final ranking from 1st to 3rd place will be decided by a vote on LOBA’s social media channels.

Honoured: LOBA Flooring Award 2025 winners

The first LOBA Flooring Award was a great success: numerous entries from Germany and around the world demonstrated a very high level of professionalism and craftsmanship.

1st place: ZWEIK GmbH, Germany

The winning project shows impressively that even severely damaged historic parquet can sometimes be restored. After serious water damage in the Knights’ Hall of Mannheim Palace, the floor with its intricate inlay work seemed to be beyond repair.

Eddy Keilbach from ZWEIK GmbH in Hockenheim approached the job with confidence and also contributed sophisticated ideas, self-developed techniques and extensive experience as a parquet restorer. After repairing numerous hollow spots beneath the top layer using WAKOL MS 335 Repair Resin, the approximately 360 m² surface was carefully sanded and finished with LOBA Akzent 100 Oil and LOBA Akzent 100 Wax. This brought the inlays made of oak, smoked oak, ash, elm and European walnut, cherry and pear back to their full effect.

2nd place: TOP Vloeronderhoud, Netherlands

A total area of 200 m² of merbau mosaic parquet and strip parquet in a Dutch event centre was comprehensively refurbished: the team from TOP Vloeronderhoud in Brouwershaven used a three-part system comprising EasyFill joint filler, EasyPrime primer and the durable 2K Duo satin finish. The runners-up combined these products with the Amberizer additive to highlight the characteristic colour of this tropical hardwood.

The result is an expressive floor that provides an elegant contrast to the cool grey-black shades of the interior with its warm wood tone and completes the overall atmosphere.

3rd place: Strandviks Trägolv AB, Sweden

Rich in history and full of emotion: by restoring the inlaid wood floor in the historic hotel Gripsholm Värdshus, the father-and-son team from Strandviks Trägolv AB in Stockholm achieved 3rd place. In Sweden’s oldest inn in Mariefred, the delicate inlays were to be showcased again. Historic scenes from King Gustav’s life, Viking expeditions and the work of the monks from the local monastery decorate the floor. The client also wanted to protect the oak floor installed in 1986, along with other wood species, reliably and sustainably against the heavy wear caused by the hotel operation.

The team of contractors chose a highly durable, easy-care finish system. By applying 2K Intensive transparent as a primer, Dennis Rawet and his father gave the wood an oiled look. They then sealed the surface with the highly wear-resistant wood floor finish 2K Duo extra-matte. The family company’s personal connection to this special place and to their client is reflected in the careful execution of this successful project.

About LOBA

Based in Ditzingen near Stuttgart, Germany, LOBA was founded more than 100 years ago. Its core business is the design, finishing and care of wood floors. It also has experience and expertise in elastic and mineral flooring. Two further business areas, Industrial and Home, serve engineered wood flooring manufacturers with industrial coatings and the end-customer segment with cleaning and care products for surfaces.

LOBA owns subsidiaries in Brazil and China as well as joint ventures with Wakol in Poland and North America. Since 1922, LOBA has established its successful brand in over 60 countries through technical excellence, pre-mium products and unwavering dedication to its customers. LOBA On Top!

LOBA is part of the LOBA WAKOL Group and, since 2024, has been wholly owned by the international ARDEX Group. Around 120 people work at LOBA’s headquarters in Ditzingen, with approximately 430 employees across the LOBA WAKOL Group as a whole. The ARDEX Group has about 4,100 employees.

Press contact:

Wiebke Ullmann

LOBA GmbH

Leonberger Str. 56–62

D-71254 Ditzingen

M: +49 174 34 88 163

T:  +49 7156 357-131

Email: wiebke.ullmann@loba.de

Reprint or partial republication permitted. Copies of any such publications are much appreciated.