SEALANTS & ADHESIVES


in-store to be seen.” The company is also looking at the future direction of the various markets. “Our research fund that builders are increasingly getting involved in areas such as artificial grass, sales of that is going through the roof. Then you have the situations where porcelain tiles are being fitted outside as well as indoors. It’s usually where you get the bi-fold doors that open right up so you have the sense of the room continuing on seamlessly. Resin paving is another area. All of these things mean that you need a really good subfloor,” he says. So Setcrete have specifically developed a


product for the exterior market. “There are interior products that can be used in an exterior setting but they are not developed specifically for such use. This is.” ‘This’ is the advanced, water-mix floor level- ling compound Setcrete Exterior, for outdoor areas such as balconies, patios, garages and


walkways. When set and cured, it is unaffected by rain or frost. Used to smooth and level rough, worn or mechanically-damaged concrete or sand/cement screeds, Wilson says It has the freeze thaw properties that you need for extreme weather conditions. It gives a good subfloor base, can be laid onto a concrete base and it is ready to use in few hours. It’s fast-setting, it’s easy to mix, it’s easy to flow and it will give a good base up to 50mm. The idea for it came from a category manager at a customer who was asking for something for a job that one of his custom- ers was concerned about. When we started to look into it we realised that there was a call for a product that performs as well as an interior product but used externally. We aren’t unique in offering exterior products to the marketplace but there isn’t one in the merchant market for the merchant’s customers.” He says that the


STICKING TO PRINCIPLES


I


n the past, sealants and adhesives had a reputation for often providing builders with a quick and affordable short cut to non-critical applications. However, with increased legislation and emissions targets, construction workers are now required to use products that are not only specific to the application but that meet with new regulations as well.


That’s acording to Joshua Lockett, produc supervisor at distributor TIMidwood (TIMco)He says: “This change in approach has meant that adhesives and sealants are increasingly being regarded as an integral material for a wide variety of construction projects, whether in helping to insulate, protect, seal or strengthen structures. However, rarely does one product fix all and with an increasing need to illustrate that the right product has been used, new and innovative improvements have been developed.”


Lockett says that one such initiative adopted to help prove to building regulators and site inspectors that the right product has been used, whether for its fire-resistant properties or strength, is to colour code various foams depending on their classification. “For example, B1 fire-rated foams are typically coloured pink, whereas B3 or general-purpose foams can be either grey, green, cream or – in our case – blue. This colour-coding technique


36


company is also of- fering full technical backup, plenty of point of sale as well as branch trade days and demon- stration days show- ing the merchants’ customers how to use the products. “Once we find that we can get the products into the builders’ hands then they are really sold on them. So, for us, working with the merchant in this way is really successful.“The independent sector is where we believe we can work really well in this way, expanding both our business and bringing those merchants extra product lines that they may not have had access to before.”


BMJ


There is growing demand for adhesives and sealants that go above and beyond, as BMJ finds out.


enables inspectors to quickly check whether the correct product is being used for the specific application.”


The development of products must also have the end users in mind he continues. “Our customers told us that they were experiencing demand for a general-purpose product that would rapidly fill irregular voids and gaps during construction. The product’s application also meant that it was also required to reduce heat loss and increase sound insulation. “To meet this demand, last year we launched a new range of Fill & Fix B3 Expanding Fire- Rated PU Foam. The product was developed to not only meet technical demands but also provide end users with a product that is both easy to work with and that can produce a clean aesthetic finish. Once cured, the expanding PU foams can also be sanded, cut, painted and plastered to make it invisible.”


Universal Adhesive


Feedback from end users has also suggested that a product’s adhesive properties and curing time are critical for certain applications Lockett continues. These features have led to the development of an easy to use Multi-Fix 9 in 1 Universal Adhesive & Sealant which offers a superior bonding strength to a wide variety of materials, even in wet conditions. The formula is capable of supporting heavy loads and with


an instant grab feature it also eliminates the need for permanent and temporary support. “The use of coloured sealants or adhesives offers end users an opportunity to deliver a discreet and aesthetic finish to the job, however the crystal-clear finish achieved by the Multi- Fix 9 in 1 adds an extra dimension and allows the sealant and fixing to be used with glass, windows and kitchen backsplashes” he says. ”Providing clear packaging and labelling helps users select the right product for the job based on its capabilities and individual properties.”


To help with selection, TIMco has redesigned the packaging on its sealant, foams and adhesive ranges. The packaging and merchandising stands were developed with clear colour coding, imagery and information for ease of product differentiation to minimize the risk of selecting the wrong product. BMJ


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net June 2019


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76