• Dunlop conducted the survey as part of an investigation into how new developments in technology over the last few years have affected the building trade, and how smartphone capability can potentially help tradesmen in their everyday operations

• Smartphone applications have obviously had a substantial impact in the normal lives of people the world over, but are they being regularly used within specific industries such as the building trade?

• The survey suggests that tradesmen feel that there are not enough mobile sites on the market targeted towards the building trade

• While 37% of tradesmen download apps, only 22% of those download work related apps currently available for their smartphones

• All respondents from the questionnaire were put into prize draw to win an iPod shuffle and Mr P Randall, a builder from Home Fix Services, who said he used his smartphone for “talking to customers, pricing and ordering”, was the lucky winner

Quotations:

Debi Bailey, Brand Manager for Dunlop Adhesives, comments:

Technology has moved so fast in the last few years that it is increasingly important to be aware of the potential changes to methodologies of working, and the building trade is certainly no exception. We were really curious to find out how tradesmen are utilising the success of smartphone technology to help them within the trade; both as a picture of the present, and as a potential insight to the future of the industry.

She continues:
I think that what this survey reveals is that times are changing; if a tradesmen needs advice or guidance when tackling a particular job they are as likely to look for advice on their smartphone as they are to dust off an old builder’s manual. At Dunlop we want to make sure that we maximise the potential of new technology, which is why we have invested in digital tools such as our new Job Build tool on our TradeZone.

• Intending to support the trade in every way possible, the Job Build tool will allow tradesmen to offer their customers the best and most accurate quote possible for the job in hand
• Part one of the Job Build tool asks a series of questions to establish the criteria, including the surface, location, background and tile type, before recommending suitable materials for the job
• Part two, due to launch next month, will add an extra dimension by also providing the quantity of product required and information on nearby stockists
• The tool is situated on Dunlop’s bespoke Trade Zone, which was specifically designed for tradesmen and invites users to engage with a range of online tools and facilities to help keep them on top of their game and in the know

• Anhydrite screed possesses properties that make it an extremely attractive option in the trade

• Whereas traditional sand and cement screeds can be slow and labour intensive to install, anhydrite screed is substantially quicker and easier

• The overall effect is that anhydrite screed is less reliant on the quality and experience of the installer

• If it is not correctly prepared, the combination of moisture and a potentially weak surface can react negatively with the tile adhesive, terminally disrupting the bonding process

• As with ceramic/porcelain tiles as well as with stone, there are a number of specific effects to be wary of and the key is all in the preparation…

• The top tips, which are available on DVD and on the specialist manufacturer of adhesives, grouts, finishing and ancillary products’ website as well as on YouTube, cover subjects including ‘How to use your trowel correctly’, ‘What is tanking and how do I do it?’ and ‘How to use rapidsetting adhesive’
• Both merchants and tradesmen are having to change the ways in which they work to generate sales and maintain customer retention
• The step-by-step guides allow merchants to view each tip at their leisure and use the content as part of an added value service to help tradesmen avoid potential pitfalls
• The tiling tips cover ten different subject areas to make the tiling process, from start to finish, as simple and as easy to understand as possible
• Merchants wishing to take advantage of the free DVDs should contact Dunlop directly to place an order
• The tips are also available on Dunlop’s website, www.dunlop-adhesives.com/tradezone, and its YouTube channel, DunlopAdhesivesUK

Quotations:

Debi Bailey, Brand Manager of Dunlop Adhesives, commented:
2011 has been yet another difficult year for merchants and tradesmen and our Top Ten Tiling Tips are just another way in which we can offer support to enable suppliers and end-users to keep on top of their game with industry knowledge and skills. The Top Tips DVD is also a great talking point for merchants to give tradesmen with their Dunlop purchases.

• The Thick Bed Floor Leveller is used to level internal floors in dry areas prior to the application of decorative surface flooring
• As this product can be applied to a depth of up to 50mm, it is particularly suitable for extremely uneven floors
• The leveller can be used on common building substrates including concrete, sand:cement screeds, flooring grade asphalt and floors with underfloor heating
• Available in 20kg bags the leveller is protein free, suitable for internal floors and contains built-in polymers
• Based on tried and tested technology this product is part of an innovative range of floor levelling compounds including Dunlop’s Premium Floor Leveller and the Fast Setting Floor Leveller
• At just £300 for a full pallet, the promotion will be running throughout December 2011 and January 2012 on Dunlop’s Thick Bed Floor Leveller 20kgs bags
• This is only applicable to pallet quantities (1 pallet = 50 bags); merchants simply need to quote TBFL42 when placing an order
• For further information on pricing and offers, please contact Customer Services direct on: 01782 591160 or email info@building-adhesives.com

Quotations:

Debi Bailey, Brand Manager at Dunlop Adhesives, commented:
We’re absolutely delighted to have our Thick Bed Floor Leveller named as one of the Top Products of 2011 by Professional Builder. All of our products go through rigorous testing and we’re always confident that the products that hit the shelves in merchants are of the highest quality – this just goes to show that tradesmen feel the same way too. And, to celebrate its success, we’re offering merchants a considerable saving on all pallet orders of the Thick Bed Floor Leveller.

• With over ten years experience of running ARDEX UK, Peter will continue to act as Managing Director of ARDEX UK as well as Building Adhesives Ltd

• Peter will be based at the Building Adhesives office in Stoke on Trent for the foreseeable future, while he takes on his new role

Quotations:

Mark Eslamlooy, CEO at the ARDEX Group, commented:
In the current difficult economic climate we believe that it is important to have just one Managing Director running both companies, to work to achieve operational synergies to strengthen both businesses going forward and continue to offer our customers the best products and highest levels of service.

He continued:
However, please note that nothing else changes and the two companies will still continue to operate as two completely separate entities, retaining their existing position within the market.

• Companies across the UK have been encouraged to hold events and parties to help raise money for Breast Cancer Care, with Pink Friday’s being one of the many initiatives

• This is the latest in a string of charity events Building Adhesives’ staff have taken part in, including the Three Peaks Challenge and more recently, its charity football match against fellow suppliers, Sibelco

• Trade Zone, which is now live, includes a unique ‘Job Build’ tool, where tradesmen can enter job specification details and the tool will generate product recommendations, to support tradesmen from start to finish
• Furthermore, the tool can produce a quote on how much product is required for the job in hand and where their local stockist is
• The new trade site also includes Dunlop’s series of ‘How to’ guides, Top Ten Tiling Tips and the infamous Professor Dunlop’s Brainbox, to encourage tradesmen to pass on their experiences and suggestions to help the specialist manufacturer develop new products and solutions for the general building trade
• What’s more, registrants to the website will all be entered in a free prize draw to be in with a chance of winning an iPod Touch
• To support the launch of the new initiative, Dunlop has produced an on-pack promotion highlighting its iPod Touch giveaway, and is also running a series of advertisements and promoting the site through social media platforms and PR

Quotations:

Debi Bailey, Brand Manager of Dunlop Adhesives, said:
We’re really excited to have launched this new initiative and hope that builders and tradesmen alike will find it a useful and invaluable tool. The Job Build tool is a great addition to the site to further aid and advise tradesmen on what products to use for each job in hand.

She continued: We’re planning on expanding the site even further over the coming months, to include a dedicated e-learning portal where tradesmen can undertake training by tiling locations, including kitchens and bathrooms, by tile types, and even by background surfaces. Tradesmen will be able to complete sections at their leisure, whilst receiving a certification of competence at the end.

• Dunlop’s Flexible Wall Grout is a water and frost resistant powder-based grout that provides increased flexibility
• It can grout joint widths of up to 5mm and is ideal for use with a wide range of tiles including ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, glass, mosaic and glazed
• It can also be used indoors and outdoors, whether for a shower or swimming pool
• Offering many of the same attributes including grouting natural stone, mosaics, glazed and fully vitrified tiles, with the added extra of being designed to grout large joints of up to 20mm, Dunlop’s Flexible Floor and Wall Grout has a hardwearing finish instead of the smooth one of the Flexible Wall Grout
• This makes it particularly useful when grouting tiles fixed to timber floors or heated screeds
• Neither product requires any additive, and both will set within 24 hours

Quotations:

Debi Bailey, Brand Manager of Dunlop Adhesives, said:
We’re committed to providing the best grouting options on the market, and both these products are great for those times when you need a specific product to do a specific job. These flexible grouts are both brilliant products, designed to function even in those tricky water-affected areas such as showers and swimming pools.

• Ideal as a flexible standard setting adhesive, Dunlop’s Standard Set Plus Floor and Wall Tile Adhesive is a water-resistant powder-based tile adhesive for interior and exterior areas including patios
• Mixed with water, it is suitable for fixing floor and wall tiles including porcelain, fully vitrified, mosaics, quarry, brick slips and stone claddings
• Available in Grey 20KG and White 20KG bags, tiles can be grouted 24 hours after fixing
• The set adhesive is frost and water-resistant and can be used in showers, or under continuous immersion such as swimming pools
• Being cement-based it is not water resistant, so to improve protection on water-sensitive backgrounds, a tanking membrane such as Dunlop’s Shower Waterproofing Kit, or an impermeable grout, should be used

Quotations:

Debi Bailey, Brand Manager of Dunlop Adhesives, said:
Whilst the UK’s economic growth is predicted to remain slow yet steady, our range caters for a whole host of jobs and budgets, helping tradesmen and merchants weather the economic storm. This a great product, which is easy to use and versatile in nature meaning it can be used in a variety of environments whilst maintaining a professional finish.