Feeling a bit deceived. I was at XL Bygg and bought materials for tiling in a basement. I was sold, among other things, Ardex X77 tile adhesive for about 600kr/25kg. I see that Byggmax has adhesive for tiles at 159kr/25kg, which is a quarter of the cost. I can't believe that Ardex is 4 times better.
Is there any practical difference for a DIYer? I can understand craftsmen who are material certified, etc.
Also, is there a difference in primer? According to the manufacturers, yes, but in practice? If I have Ardex P51 primer and apply Byggmax Fix - will it come off, or will it work just as well as Byggmax GS Floor Primer?
Is there any practical difference for a DIYer? I can understand craftsmen who are material certified, etc.
Also, is there a difference in primer? According to the manufacturers, yes, but in practice? If I have Ardex P51 primer and apply Byggmax Fix - will it come off, or will it work just as well as Byggmax GS Floor Primer?
Yes, there is a big difference in quality.
Also a difference in the work.
Also a difference in the work.
I'm sure it is, but how does the difference in quality manifest itself? Does Ardex adhere better than Weber, which in turn adheres better than Byggmax?henke_benke said:
Difference in work, do you mean ease of working with it? Because the final result depends a lot on the person doing the job as well as other materials.
What can generally be said is that well-known brands that craftsmen also use tend to have good quality and are often good to use. Low-priced brands or unknown makes may very well be good or just as good, but also bad. The problem for us "DIYers" is that we find it difficult to determine this, but a craftsman who works with the products daily usually notices this immediately. Then there are some products that may not be completely adapted to Swedish conditions, as anyone who has followed some renovation projects from England on TV knows that the building techniques there differ somewhat from how we need to perform the work for it to be approved in terms of, for example, insurance cases.
Many "craftsman products" are customized, and certainly more expensive for that reason, to save time, i.e. they may have faster drying time, be more versatile, etc. precisely because craftsman time is costly, which is why a more expensive product quickly pays off in shorter working time.
The same reasoning does not apply to a DIY enthusiast; our working time is almost free. In that case, cheaper products and longer working time are more worthwhile.
So the question is whether "quality" in this case is saved working time or if there is also a noticeable difference in properties such as adhesion, settling, etc.
The same reasoning does not apply to a DIY enthusiast; our working time is almost free. In that case, cheaper products and longer working time are more worthwhile.
So the question is whether "quality" in this case is saved working time or if there is also a noticeable difference in properties such as adhesion, settling, etc.
Folkeorg, essentially you have already answered your own question 
But it's good that there are alternatives!
Moreover, craftsmen often earn money from material markups. So if there's a bag that weighs 25 kg and costs 600 SEK, alternatively a bag right next to it also weighing 25 kg but costing 150 SEK, the craftsman gets 60 SEK instead of 15 for carrying the more expensive but equally heavy bag with a 10% material markup. I know which bag I would pick up
I've used LiP's products at home. They've been easy to work with and reasonably priced. You could probably find cheaper options if you look around a bit, but I'm the type (and certainly many craftsmen also) that if you find something that works quite okay and isn't outrageously expensive, you stick with it because you know what you're getting.
Return the Ardex bags and instead buy something you want!
But it's good that there are alternatives!
Moreover, craftsmen often earn money from material markups. So if there's a bag that weighs 25 kg and costs 600 SEK, alternatively a bag right next to it also weighing 25 kg but costing 150 SEK, the craftsman gets 60 SEK instead of 15 for carrying the more expensive but equally heavy bag with a 10% material markup. I know which bag I would pick up
I've used LiP's products at home. They've been easy to work with and reasonably priced. You could probably find cheaper options if you look around a bit, but I'm the type (and certainly many craftsmen also) that if you find something that works quite okay and isn't outrageously expensive, you stick with it because you know what you're getting.
Return the Ardex bags and instead buy something you want!
Absolutely, but if Ardex is 4 times more expensive than Byggmax, it seems like there's more difference than just, for example, the open time. Or perhaps it's simply that there are different margins (and I have a lousy discount at XL Bygg) and Ardex has better support and warranty commitments if there are issues despite following the instructions.T tobbbias said:Folkeorg, in large part, you've answered your own question
But it's good that there are options!
When I was going to level the basement floor, Ardex said that if you can't rule out incoming moisture (as you can if it's upper floors), you have to use Mix 301 intended for pools = 800kr/25kg. Byggmax charges 170kr/25kg and according to their manufacturer, there were no problems with incoming moisture as long as it wasn't outside or underwater (since the product was cement-based). It took 11 bags, so it would have been significantly more expensive with Ardex...
if it's the first time with tiles and klinker, then I would find a mortar with long open time.
then clean buckets and tools. it helps so much.
then clean buckets and tools. it helps so much.
Then the cost of renovation also affects. A new larger bathroom with more expensive tiles, etc., I wouldn't take a chance even if I'm doing the job myself, and instead choose a recognized good brand. However, a simpler renovation in, for example, an older model basement might be worth taking a "chance" on. So there can be several angles.
There is a big difference in working with "expensive" products.
We use almost exclusively Ardex.
Because of habit, having learned how the products work, and their enormously good customer service. If we need a couple of hundred kg of k70 the next day, the regional manager will drive it over.
But I'm curious if it's quite expensive with floor leveling products in Norway?
The purchase price for k70 is between 300-350kr.
We use almost exclusively Ardex.
Because of habit, having learned how the products work, and their enormously good customer service. If we need a couple of hundred kg of k70 the next day, the regional manager will drive it over.
But I'm curious if it's quite expensive with floor leveling products in Norway?
The purchase price for k70 is between 300-350kr.