Professional Builder attends a Schlüter Systems training day at the company’s new purpose-built facility in Coalville, Leicestershire
“Our products cannot be sold – they must be understood.” That was the principle on which the eponymous Werner Schlüter founded the company that bears his name. More than six decades on from its inception in 1966, a new multi-million pound training facility at the German manufacturer’s UK home is following in that proud tradition. With hands-on training, presentations, and an exhibition gallery space where solutions can be seen in all their glory, it is an invaluable resource that exists to educate and instruct installers.
The Schlüter-Systems product catalogue extends to a hefty 358 pages with over 10,000 lines, which come together to form a full system approach. It showcases profiles, both decorative and functional, substrates, including the prodigiously versatile KERDI-BOARD, uncoupling membranes, accent lighting, UFH solutions, products for balconies & terraces, and much more.
Tradespeople could spend a lifetime familiarising themselves with the entire portfolio, so the Schlüter-Systems training day begins with a presentation on some of the core products. Training Manager, Andrew Curry communicates to the class the importance of the correct tanking procedure. Get it wrong and it may take some years for a failure to become apparent, with substantial and costly damage caused in the interim. It is here that a whole system approach is imperative in ensuring effective waterproofing – and invaluable peace of mind for the installer.
Robust and reliable
Indeed, when used correctly, a product like KERDI-BOARD will allow tradespeople to walk away from a completed project with confidence, knowing that they have fitted a robust and reliable solution. This waterproof backer board will support up to 100kg but is itself light in weight and easy to handle. Thicker versions exhibit excellent U-Values. It can be installed using a dot and dab method, just as you would for plasterboard. Preformed shapes are available for boxing in, and KERDI BOARD V allows for curved constructions.
When it comes to KERDI-BOARD the real Schlüter-Systems innovation was to remove the cementitious layer that had traditionally featured on backer boards. This is replaced with a unique and patented fleece fabric technology on both sides, with an extruded rigid foam core. KERDI-BOARD equally benefits from gridline markings for easy cutting, whilst its uses are only limited by your imagination.
Continuing that theme of supplying everything you need for a successful project, KERDI 200 is a ‘waterproof wallpaper’ designed to be fixed to, and waterproof, plasterboard. It is supplied with the necessary sealing bands to secure the joints, comes in 1, 1.5 and 2m wide rolls and is made of the same patented and double-sided fleece technology as KERDI BOARD, with a polyurethane core.
Whatever, your shower or wetroom design KERDI BOARD and KERDI 200 are complemented by a range of Schlüter drainage options, whether frameless, linear or point. There’s three options of shower tray, all easy to cut to size and with a regulatory-compliant built-in fall. Moving seamlessly from wall to floor, DITRA Uncoupling Membranes will prevent tiles cracking through movement between the substrate and the tile, whilst DITRA HEAT DUO is the perfect partner in an underfloor heating job.
The practical part of the day is undertaken in purpose-built booths occupied by two learners. Each space offers the opportunity to waterproof using two different methods – installing KERDI BOARD onto studwork or KERDI 200 onto plasterboard. The former product is available in seven thicknesses, ranging from 5-50mm and the thicker the board the wider the centres can be without risking any flex in the board itself. In this instance, a 12.5mm board is fixed at 400mm centres.
Installer-friendly
KERDI 200 is installed on to the plasterboard using cementitious tile adhesive and a notched trowel. Similarly, KERDI-COLL is applied to the plasterboard using a notched trowel. It’s the little details that can make for a completely successful job and Andrew Curry is on hand to advise on a whole host of useful pointers. When applying the adhesive, for example, it’s important that all the notches are in one direction, evenly spreading the material and eliminating any voids.
Each stage of the practical is first supported by sharing a video of the installation with the group on a big screen and, once the waterproof elements are applied, it’s time to get to grips with a Schlüter-KERDI-LINE-G3 linear drain. It can be installed parallel or across the joists and the box features full installation instructions, together with a template for cutting plywood in a suspended timber floor. The Schlüter-KERDI-TRAY is 2m in length and constructed of the same material as KERDI BOARD, whilst uncoupling systems are also explored with hands-on experience of DITRA and DITRA-HEAT.
What the Schlüter-Systems training day demonstrates is the attention this manufacturer has devoted to ensuring installer-friendly features at every stage. The result is a job that – with the right instruction – can be completed by any competent general builder or plumber. Moreover, the classroom and workshop is complemented by an exhibition space that demonstrates the performance of the products themselves as well as some of the stunning finishes that can be achieved. All three of those elements, together with a knowledgeable and engaging tutor, come together to provide tradespeople with one of the best facilities of its kind in the industry.
For further information on the training available from Schlüter-Systems visit Events & training | Schlüter-Systems (schluter.com).
