Sustainability targets, rising costs, and modern construction methods are all factors effecting the buying habits of those working in the construction sector. And as the market changes, so do the demands for more efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly building methods. Nick Bratt, National Sales Manager at Saint-Gobain Abrasives, discusses why many tradespeople are turning to more sophisticated adhesives and sealants such as the new OneBond range.
Adhesives and sealants have come a long way in recent years — what was once a simple toolbox addition now offers tradespeople superior performance on site and can act as a great alternative to traditional mechanical fasteners. Indeed, construction adhesives are now highly sought by trade professionals due to their diverse qualities and the range of projects they cater for.
There are so many types, brands, and formulas on the market, which is exactly why OneBond was created — to provide merchants with a concise yet complete range of adhesives all under one name.
Products
Adhesives and sealants are perfect for maintenance and repair operations on structural components and can meet almost any process requirement in terms of environmental resistance, heat resistance and curing time, etc. These substances can even help the end product to have a lighter mass than its metallic fastener counterparts.
One product type which has been growing in demand amongst tradespeople are hybrid adhesives and sealants. Hybrids offer a cost-effective solution that combines many benefits from different types of adhesives and sealants all in one product — such as high UV and humidity resistance to withstand high temperatures, the ability to be painted once cured and even suitable for underwater applications — which all provide improved performance and longer-lasting results for the user.
“To ensure customers are working with the safest and most user-friendly adhesives, merchants can stock low toxicity, low VOC and low odour formulas.”
Furthermore, adhesive bonding is widely used in modern construction due to its ability to permanently join dissimilar materials such as metals and plastics, permitting higher construction rates and allowing for more freedom in the design process. It’s perfect for working with materials that cannot be welded or secured with traditional fasteners.
Instant adhesives are designed to quickly bond small plastic or metal parts, while long open-time epoxy-based adhesives are ideal for assembling and repairing large applications or complex shapes that require maximum durability. Think sealing exterior pipe joints and cracked concrete, or filling oversized bolt holes, fixing anchors and repairing pipes.
In addition, in bathroom and kitchen settings, it is vital that all products including sealants are both sanitary and waterproof. At OneBond, we have worked to ensure our silicone sealants are resistant against sunlight, temperature variation, humidity, shrinkage and even ozone — factors that are becoming an increasing priority in projects.
For day-to-day applications, polyurethane has become the go-to tool for tradespeople. OneBond’s polyurethane products can fill expansion joints and seal joints between concrete structures, brickwork, and masonry. They can also seal gutters, secure roof tiles, and assemble and seal door/window framing components.
To accompany OneBond’s range, the brand is keen to supply its merchant distributors with the point-of-sale (POS) and marketing materials to get the products off the shelves.
Sustainability
As the industry works to become more sustainable, so do contractor’s buying habits. Adhesives and sealants can be a fantastic tool when considering the environmental impact of a project. When creating OneBond, for example, we focused on making our products as environmentally friendly as possible, prioritising low emissions and eco-friendly packaging.
In addition, it’s important for merchants to prioritise stocking adhesives and sealants which don’t contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which can be harmful to human health. Identifying the EMICODE label on product packaging will confirm adhesives and sealants comply with the most stringent emission limits. At OneBond, we have made low emissions a priority for our products, with most of our products having an A+ EMICODE label.
User safety
There are a few key factors that merchants should be taking into consideration when it comes to the wellbeing of its customers — toxicity, flammability and irritants. Contractors are advised to use adhesives and sealants in well-ventilated areas to avoid inhaling the fumes and vapours from potentially harmful formulas, or to strictly avoid contact with the skin or eyes.
Manufacturers work to ensure that these raw materials are compounded in a safe environment. However, once formulated, it’s the user who has the responsibility to handle and dispose of adhesive and sealant products safely.
To ensure customers are working with the safest and most user-friendly adhesives, merchants can stock low toxicity, low VOC and low odour formulas.
OneBond is a brand backed by the extensive knowledge and expertise of Saint-Gobain, the breadth of our portfolio means that merchant distributors only need to deal with one supplier for most of their building and construction products.
We are proud to be able to continually work with our customers — whether it’s point-of-sale, marketing support, or training — to ensure our customers are best placed to not only stock but promote the products to trades and feel confident selling the range.
OneBond ensures there is an adhesive or sealant for every kind of job, no matter how big or small, and offers more economical options in its acrylic sealant range.
To learn more about stocking the OneBond range, visit www.onebondadhesives.com
A version of this article appeared in the September edition of Professional Builders Merchant. Read the full issue in digital format via the PBM website.
