Hi Everyone, This is my first post on the forum so please bare with me, I joined a while ago but due to a hectic schedule I've not had time to get on. My local indie asked me if we would be willing to try out some sample products from Kerakoll on a couple of our up & coming jobs to give them some feedback before stocking a number Kerakoll's products. Also fellow twitter tilers, Lee @Tile Town, Kevin Mitchell - Orkney tiler & Stewart_ - Stewart Nisbet have been interested on how I got on with the below products. I won't be getting all technical, just my honest & simple opinion. Over the period of 3 bathroom installations we have used the following products: H40 Eco Flex - We used the H40 Eco Flex on the first bathroom fixing 600x300 porcelain to plasterboard & Hardiebacker. Got on very well with this adhesive, good pot life even with the nice weather in April (by the looks of it our actual summer). It took a while to get used to the texture once mixed after being a Weber man for several years. We were told that the m2 coverage would be considerably more than other adhesives & to be fair it go further compared with other adhesives. Overall very impressed with the above product & also due to rushing I did not realise that I had a smear of the stuff on my forearm which had set, it came off no problems with no irritation to skin which is also tattooed. H40 Eco tenaflex - We were asked to use this on the second & third bathrooms as my local indie said they make stock this adhesive over the H40 Eco Flex as it covers more bases. I won't waffle on, same as above, very impressed with no issues. This was used again on plasterboard & Hardiebacker to fix 600x300 porcelain. H40 Eco Marmorex - I am always sceptical regarding pot life, setting times etc with rapid set after having Weber rapid set go off in the blink of an eye on some occasions. Well I was surprised as I got the stated pot life out of it which is a big bonus for me, saves me cursing to myself when I am turfing gone off adhesive into the skip due to not getting the stuff down quick enough when tiling an awkward floor/area. We fixed 600x300 ikom porcelain & travertine mosaics onto Hardiebacker. H40 Eco Rapid Flex - I was given a bag of this from one of the Kerakoll reps (sorry can't recall name, Scouse Chap, reckons us tilers are always after free stuff). He said its the only P2 adhesive on the market at the minute & to give it a go when I get the chance. I got caught short on one of my last jobs, a floor, laying Dural CI+ over floorboards. I would of been short on adhesive so used this to put down the Dural matting so can't really give a honest opinion for fixing tiles but it was excellent for laying matting with great pot life & open time. Fugabella Eco Porcelana - Due to the good weather we couldn't put to the test of grouting the whole room (walls) before cleaning down, we didn't want to risk it. No problems or issues with this product, got on better with this grout than the latest grout by Weber but I think that was down to using a new product & expecting it to be the same as its predecessor. Fugalite Eco - Out of all the products we were asked to use this was the one I was most interested in. This is a great product, used it twice now but I do have an issue with it when it comes to cleaning down once you have applied it. When we first used this product the Kerakoll natural sponges & handles had not arrived so had to make do using synthetic sponges. Unfortunately & knowingly the synthetic sponges caused us a lot more work! Basically the sponges were pretty much clogged & covered straight away, so went through plenty of sponges but couldn't get all the excess off. We had to let the fugalite go off then go over with Fuga Soap, I mixed the fuga soap as per instructions & used a spray bottle that I use for plastering to apply over the tiles. After waiting around 10 minutes for the Fuga Soap to work & start to break down the excess film left on the surface of the tiles, I then used a new grout float to go over the surface to collect/remove the skin like residue. I will be totally honest this was a pain in the arse as it needed to be repeated in places & obviously had a knock on affect time wise. This said, we had to keep an open mind regarding this product due to not having the right sponges, so second time round which was only a few days ago I was prepared with the 2 new kerakoll natural sponges with handles, wash boys, new spare buckets, new gloves the works. I had also spoke with Kerakoll just to go over the process of mixing, applying & cleaning down just to make double sure I was not missing anything or doing anything wrong! I cracked on, applying a few m2 then cleaning off excess, repeating until finished. Waited 30/40mins as stated & with new buckets, new second sponge & clean water cleaned down again with better results this time but still not 100% convinced. I went over the floor with diluted Fuga Soap with second sponge after cleaning it with Fuga Soap. Floor looked good but I still thought to myself that I may need to go over again the next day as per the first time of using this product. Upon returning the next day I wasn't 100% happy so went over the floor again with diluted Fuga Soap in the spray bottle & repeated the same process as last time, going over with a grout float edge to remove excess skin/film like residue. I left the floor for a while & then decided to buff the tiles with a clean towel. Floor looked good once finished & most importantly the customer was very happy! So a quick summary on the Fugalite, still think its a great product but I do have reservations regarding cleaning down & how long this takes thus affecting time management/costs. Maybe its just a case of getting use to a new product? A good tip we were given is to keep the product in your footwell of the van or near a radiator for a while before using, is does make it smoother & helps when spreading. I would definitely recommend buying 3 of the Kerakoll sponges when using this product as the first sponge had to be thrown way, coldly rescue it by cleaning it with the Fuga Soap. Also a note to anyone using this product in the future be very careful not to get this product on your skin, I removed my gloves & washed hands & forearms & potentially worked excess into skin which is no ones fault but my own but it did have a nasty reaction especially where my skin is tattooed. Fugabella Eco Silicone - Excellent silicone, just don't let it get really warm or its a nightmare to work/shape. Colour match to grouts which is another bonus. So overall we were impressed with the above products apart from the jury still being out on the Fugalite & would definitely use them all again in the future as well as Weber's products. Kerakoll prices are more expensive than Weber but due to getting more coverage per m2 this probably evens it out but don't quote me on this as I would like to compare this in more detail after using several more times. Adhesives are very for fixing mosaics due to being uber white in colour. We will be attending a demo day at our local indie in the near future so will report back regarding any updates on the Fugalite. I Hope I've not bored anyone to death (If I have, Blame Lee @ Tile Town), would be good to hear other peoples views/opinions regarding Kerakoll's products, to see how they have got on. Just a suggestion to Kerakoll, would be good if you could manufacture a cheaper/disposable version of a wash boy or at least a rectangular bucket to fit the Kerakoll sponges in? Just a thought? Hope this is sufficient Lee @ Tile Town? Many thanks Karl. *awaits free stuff* ;@)
Nice review Karl and not a product I've been tempted to use after several peeps that have used it have complained about the customer service and backup....... Will maybe blag some bags to give it a try though, but won't be changing from Weber until I get at least a couple of iPads....(;0)
I return home from holiday and find I've been called a scouser haha (It's Southport fella posh Merseyside haha) Thanks for your review of what you have used all very informative and useful for both Us and the users. I'll pass all comments on to my colleagues. Regarding the Fugalite the washing off is something that needs to be gotten use to with it being a new concept in grouting products. The main thing is to ensure the second wash off is with a fresh sponge and fresh wash boy. I'll be holding a fixers evening in about 4 weeks around Manchester so I'll keep you posted on venue and date. It will be a few hours short bitvof Kerakoll info, a curry few beers and I'll be showing a few demos on the products (Fugalite being one and once everyone sees the application all should be good) then all fixers can have a play with the products and we can answer all questions. (may even be sone free stuff you know you fixers like the free stuff haha.
Hi Stewart, sorry to hear this although I'm guessing (and forgive me if I'm wrong) that these reviews of service are from a good few years ago say around 2009 (not acceptable either way) and possibly well over exaggerated on a different forum to help promote another well known brand. Kerakoll has been going now since 1960 and has created a huge Market presence throughout Europe. We have only been in the Uk for 5years and as with all new brands to the Uk had to start somewhere. At one point there were limited numbers to respond nation wide and also a few guys later employed who i like to class as "coffee drinkers" and due to this are non longer with Kerakoll UK. We now have a fantastic and efficient team that is expanding a very good rate with 4 new guys starting this month and more planned for the coming months. I like to think the fixers/retailers/distributors on my area get the best service possible and always ensure I go the extra mile for them when I can. I aim to meet all fixers personally and offer full product training, back up and support all day every day. If you want to try anything just let me know and I will get some up to you next time I'm up there. Cheers
Hello John and all. I met John over a week ago and got a few bags of gear from him. When i'v used all i'll do a review too, first impressions are... It's a superb adhesive, so white and creamy and does what it says. I'm testing the H40 Eco Marmorex and the H40 Tenaflex. I know where there is a massive job going on too and kerakoll are supplying everything.
Kerakoll have a little get together in Nottingham this Thursday, might pop along and see what the products are like.
Never come across it in all my travels and I want to try it! Where's this "scouse" rep? Southport? That's down the road from me.
Using the H40 Marmorex for the first time at the moment, tiling a stone showroom in Cambridge, really impressed so far.
We're a former stockist of the Kerakoll range.....enjoy the get together at the hotel Lee...maybe I'll see you there with Tom & Gareth...
Maybe Mark, but im going in the afternoon, probably be left by the time the fixers come, be nice to see you.
Just had the rep in from them yesterday, seemed like good stuff some bits a bit pricey. I will pop along to one of their days if they have one near, closest at the moment is Poole.
