Hello everyone!
I've been following this thread with great interest for quite some time. My wife and I went down to Poland for a few days to check out the selection.
I can say it was quite a disappointment!
Practiker, LeroyMerlin, OBI and others had a pretty lousy selection overall.
The Polish taste in terms of tile and clinker color schemes differs significantly from the Swedish! Strange colors and patterns in the tiles that wouldn't fit in a Swedish "homestaged" home!
The range and size of the stores are vast, but the quality is significantly lower. For example, kitchen and bathroom furniture reminds one of what you see in caravans...
I certainly wouldn't buy Polish plumbing items, faucets, for example, work poorly and spare parts such as seals are missing in Sweden.
Sure, there are exceptions; you can find a few quality items, but they are very few and hardly worth traveling to Poland to buy!
I saw that you can buy very nice, large marble tiles or attractive polished porcelain tiles for about 99 zloty (around 250 SEK) per m2. Very affordable!
I've photographed a bit in all the mentioned stores. I plan to upload some photos as soon as I have time and if someone can help me with how...
There are very few brands known in Sweden in terms of color, sealant, adhesive, grout, leveling compound, etc. It's a mix of Polish and German brands. They probably work, but it's doubtful if you'd dare to use them. I was mainly thinking about sealants, whether you should follow PER's industry rules.
It doesn't seem like they use Vtg on floors at all, as I didn't see a single store that sold glass doors for showers. There were only shower cabins or loose "bathtubs" that you had in the shower.
I must mention that if you pass by Warsaw, you must check out the Expo exhibition a couple of miles outside the city in Bartyska (I think that's how it's spelled).
There is a smaller "town" full of small shops/wholesalers. We spent an entire day there, but you could probably spend a whole week...
There are generally higher-quality products there, but it still seems like Polish taste prevails there as well.
In conclusion, I think that if you, like us, are looking to find items for kitchen and bathroom renovation, it's tough/unnecessary to go to Poland for that.
However, if you're building a house and looking for timber or other bulk building materials, you might save money. We didn't search/look for that type of building material, so I can't comment on that.
I'll be back later with pictures.
Best regards, Kim
I've been following this thread with great interest for quite some time. My wife and I went down to Poland for a few days to check out the selection.
I can say it was quite a disappointment!
Practiker, LeroyMerlin, OBI and others had a pretty lousy selection overall.
The Polish taste in terms of tile and clinker color schemes differs significantly from the Swedish! Strange colors and patterns in the tiles that wouldn't fit in a Swedish "homestaged" home!
The range and size of the stores are vast, but the quality is significantly lower. For example, kitchen and bathroom furniture reminds one of what you see in caravans...
I certainly wouldn't buy Polish plumbing items, faucets, for example, work poorly and spare parts such as seals are missing in Sweden.
Sure, there are exceptions; you can find a few quality items, but they are very few and hardly worth traveling to Poland to buy!
I saw that you can buy very nice, large marble tiles or attractive polished porcelain tiles for about 99 zloty (around 250 SEK) per m2. Very affordable!
I've photographed a bit in all the mentioned stores. I plan to upload some photos as soon as I have time and if someone can help me with how...
There are very few brands known in Sweden in terms of color, sealant, adhesive, grout, leveling compound, etc. It's a mix of Polish and German brands. They probably work, but it's doubtful if you'd dare to use them. I was mainly thinking about sealants, whether you should follow PER's industry rules.
It doesn't seem like they use Vtg on floors at all, as I didn't see a single store that sold glass doors for showers. There were only shower cabins or loose "bathtubs" that you had in the shower.
I must mention that if you pass by Warsaw, you must check out the Expo exhibition a couple of miles outside the city in Bartyska (I think that's how it's spelled).
There is a smaller "town" full of small shops/wholesalers. We spent an entire day there, but you could probably spend a whole week...
There are generally higher-quality products there, but it still seems like Polish taste prevails there as well.
In conclusion, I think that if you, like us, are looking to find items for kitchen and bathroom renovation, it's tough/unnecessary to go to Poland for that.
However, if you're building a house and looking for timber or other bulk building materials, you might save money. We didn't search/look for that type of building material, so I can't comment on that.
I'll be back later with pictures.
Best regards, Kim
I wonder if we've even been in the same country. 
Tiles and ceramics have already been commented on in the thread, and if you're looking for something more exclusive, the specialty stores are the way to go.
Regarding plumbing, I found the same mixers as at home, including Grohe, which should mean that spare parts are available. I found both HTH and IKEA kitchens, and Franke sinks in almost every store.
The same goes for Fix, Fog, etc. brands that I find at home.
Regarding paint, I saw the Beckers paint mixing robot at most hardware stores.
Was it Gdansk/Gdynia you visited?
Tiles and ceramics have already been commented on in the thread, and if you're looking for something more exclusive, the specialty stores are the way to go.
Regarding plumbing, I found the same mixers as at home, including Grohe, which should mean that spare parts are available. I found both HTH and IKEA kitchens, and Franke sinks in almost every store.
The same goes for Fix, Fog, etc. brands that I find at home.
Regarding paint, I saw the Beckers paint mixing robot at most hardware stores.
Was it Gdansk/Gdynia you visited?
I was in Warsaw
I noticed there were Grohe mixers, but these aren't particularly cheaper in Poland than in Sweden!
I saw a few varieties of Maxit's fix and grout, but I'm unsure if they're the same models used in Sweden.
I specifically searched for Casco or Kiilto's waterproofing in every store, but I didn't see a single one that had them. Similarly, there's a plethora of local manufacturers of heating cables, but not, for instance, Tyco (T2 red and blue). Would you dare to embed a heating cable of an unfamiliar brand?
The same goes for paint. A lot of local brands plus a few German ones. I wouldn't paint an entire house, with all the work that entails, using a paint not intended for the Swedish climate.
There were quite a few sinks available. Among them, many were made entirely of plastic
I think it’s much about taste and preference, as well as what quality demands and risks you're willing to take.
If you want good quality, it costs almost as much as in Sweden, because those products are imported to Poland from another country. The local products are cheaper but of lower quality.
As mentioned, you can shop at Ikea in Poland, which is a bit cheaper than in Sweden, but the trip and the car cost money. Also, time is money, so what does a vacation day cost? You have to count on one or two overnight stays to have time to shop around, which doesn't leave much relaxation if you were planning on getting a vacation trip in the bargain.
I'm not saying one shouldn't go to Poland to shop; it's quite possible that I might do it myself, but I wanted to share my perspective on the possibility of shopping cheaply in Poland. Reading through previous posts, it's easy to get the impression that everything is cheap and good, but that's not the case. It takes a lot of time and energy to find what you're looking for. (If you find it at all)
I think it's easy to be disappointed (as I was). I wanted to inform others planning on going to at least travel once to survey the area before renting a car and heading down.
Aren't there more people than just me who have gone down to Poland and been disappointed
Regards, Kim
I noticed there were Grohe mixers, but these aren't particularly cheaper in Poland than in Sweden!
I saw a few varieties of Maxit's fix and grout, but I'm unsure if they're the same models used in Sweden.
I specifically searched for Casco or Kiilto's waterproofing in every store, but I didn't see a single one that had them. Similarly, there's a plethora of local manufacturers of heating cables, but not, for instance, Tyco (T2 red and blue). Would you dare to embed a heating cable of an unfamiliar brand?
The same goes for paint. A lot of local brands plus a few German ones. I wouldn't paint an entire house, with all the work that entails, using a paint not intended for the Swedish climate.
There were quite a few sinks available. Among them, many were made entirely of plastic
I think it’s much about taste and preference, as well as what quality demands and risks you're willing to take.
If you want good quality, it costs almost as much as in Sweden, because those products are imported to Poland from another country. The local products are cheaper but of lower quality.
As mentioned, you can shop at Ikea in Poland, which is a bit cheaper than in Sweden, but the trip and the car cost money. Also, time is money, so what does a vacation day cost? You have to count on one or two overnight stays to have time to shop around, which doesn't leave much relaxation if you were planning on getting a vacation trip in the bargain.
I'm not saying one shouldn't go to Poland to shop; it's quite possible that I might do it myself, but I wanted to share my perspective on the possibility of shopping cheaply in Poland. Reading through previous posts, it's easy to get the impression that everything is cheap and good, but that's not the case. It takes a lot of time and energy to find what you're looking for. (If you find it at all)
I think it's easy to be disappointed (as I was). I wanted to inform others planning on going to at least travel once to survey the area before renting a car and heading down.
Aren't there more people than just me who have gone down to Poland and been disappointed
Regards, Kim
As you mention in your post, it's a vast selection that's difficult to grasp, especially if you don't speak Polish. There are companies, both small and large, that specialize in helping foreigners who come to Poland to shop, or like us, by emailing and calling. The selection is much larger than in Sweden, but it's important to know what you want or get help finding the stores that sell quality products. The large department stores mentioned above often stock goods produced only for building retailers, hence the lower price but also lower quality. The advantage of finding someone on-site is that they help not only with selecting good products but also with transportation. The fact that researching before shopping naturally costs money, and finding the right stores in Warsaw can take not just days but weeks . Get help from someone who has been there or is already on-site; I know from experience that it pays off.
. Get help from someone who has been there or is already on-site; I know from experience that it pays off.My wife is from Poland, so linguistically we have not had any problems.
Perhaps I should clarify that I like Poland as a country, we have been to Poland every year for the past four years. (Szczecin, Gdansk, Krakow, and most recently Warsaw)
I have been to most major construction chains and have observed the same conditions regardless of the city I have been in.
In general, I think the price level in Poland has increased quite a bit just in the last few years when it comes to, for example, restaurants and taxis. The beer is still cheap though
// Kim
Perhaps I should clarify that I like Poland as a country, we have been to Poland every year for the past four years. (Szczecin, Gdansk, Krakow, and most recently Warsaw)
I have been to most major construction chains and have observed the same conditions regardless of the city I have been in.
In general, I think the price level in Poland has increased quite a bit just in the last few years when it comes to, for example, restaurants and taxis. The beer is still cheap though
// Kim
Don't you think that other brands of waterproofing work just as well as Casco or Kiilto? Or is Casco and Kiilto 'the best' just because you've used them? If you're set on buying your favorite brand, you should check online if it's available in the country in question.B6304S1 said:
To be honest, your favorite brand Tyco is completely unknown to me.B6304S1 said:
There is hardly any significant difference between Swedish and Polish climate, and there are quite large regional differences, both in Sweden and Poland.B6304S1 said:
Geographically, where does the boundary for "Swedish climate" lie?
However, I completely agree that color schemes in Poland deviate greatly from the common Swedish perception of good taste.
Thanks for the tip about the Expo exhibition outside Warsaw. Hopefully, I will manage a visit there next week and will return with pictures.
The reason I am hesitant to use Polish-made waterproofing products is the following:
Since they never seem to use tiles as a base in the shower, but always use some sort of tray in the shower (as far as I have seen), it makes me suspect that it might not be approved according to Polish building codes or that the Polish brands might not be adequately waterproof.
With the tightening of the requirements according to Swedish building codes (PER's industry regulations) on July 1st, which practically disqualifies several well-known brands in Sweden regarding requirements for vapor tightness. What do we know about the vapor tightness that Polish brands fulfill?
If one wants to build according to current industry regulations, one cannot use waterproofing with vapor tightness below 1 million s/m after July 1st, '07.
As I wrote earlier;
"I think it’s a matter of taste and preference, as well as the quality standards and risks you are willing to take."
You can buy both paint and waterproofing in Poland, but what happens if you get water damage or if the paint starts to mold? It might work, or you may be liable for compensation to a potential future buyer of your house due to construction faults.
Here is a link to Tyco’s products: Tyco Thermal Controls
Isolde
Set aside plenty of time if you can for the Expo exhibition. It is really big!
Check out in particular
PRZEDSIEBIORSTWO
Produkcyjno-uslugowo-handlowe
MIRAD Sp.zo.o.
00-716 Warzawa
ul.Bartycka 26 paw. 16
Tel. 840 44 94
Best regards, Kim
Since they never seem to use tiles as a base in the shower, but always use some sort of tray in the shower (as far as I have seen), it makes me suspect that it might not be approved according to Polish building codes or that the Polish brands might not be adequately waterproof.
With the tightening of the requirements according to Swedish building codes (PER's industry regulations) on July 1st, which practically disqualifies several well-known brands in Sweden regarding requirements for vapor tightness. What do we know about the vapor tightness that Polish brands fulfill?
If one wants to build according to current industry regulations, one cannot use waterproofing with vapor tightness below 1 million s/m after July 1st, '07.
As I wrote earlier;
"I think it’s a matter of taste and preference, as well as the quality standards and risks you are willing to take."
You can buy both paint and waterproofing in Poland, but what happens if you get water damage or if the paint starts to mold? It might work, or you may be liable for compensation to a potential future buyer of your house due to construction faults.
Here is a link to Tyco’s products: Tyco Thermal Controls
Isolde
Set aside plenty of time if you can for the Expo exhibition. It is really big!
Check out in particular
PRZEDSIEBIORSTWO
Produkcyjno-uslugowo-handlowe
MIRAD Sp.zo.o.
00-716 Warzawa
ul.Bartycka 26 paw. 16
Tel. 840 44 94
Best regards, Kim
I understand your concern, but how people decorate their homes is far from being guided by rational thinking. Tradition, and the fact that "it's always been done that way," usually weighs the heaviest. In the same way, one could claim that stone houses must be substandard constructions that might not meet Swedish building codes, since wooden houses completely dominate (in SwedenB6304S1 said:
).GVK has a list of approved products according to PER's industry regulations. Most can be purchased in Poland, but as often, under a different name. It's best to google the manufacturer, and then choose the specific country, in this case, Poland.
Some examples:
- Ardex Tätsystem S1-K - Link. Click 'Oferta' and then 'Lista wszystkich produktow' to choose ARDEX S1-K.
- Deitermann Superflex 1 - Link. Deitermann's products in alphabetical order
- Henkel Ceresit CL51 - Link. If their incredibly long URL doesn't work, you can start from scratch and click your way to "CL51".
If bleeding edge is your motto, you can always invest in BASF's products which are said to exceed the new rules by a wide margin.
"In tests at SP, the Technical Research Institute of Sweden, 3.13 million s/m was measured, meaning three times more than the regulations require. The moisture barrier always retains its stated thickness when installed, and the vapor tightness is always 3.13 million. PCI Pecilastic W is quick to install, and the seams become tight and thin."
The product's Polish link and brochures for other PCI products from BASF.
Generally regarding products of interest to us, the following applies:
What is available in Sweden can be obtained in Poland, but the reverse is not always true.
Something that is definitely not worth wasting time finding in Poland is kitchen furniture, unless you exclude IKEA. The only way to buy decent kitchen furniture in Poland is to either buy imported ones (rarely cheaper) or custom order an entire kitchen from scratch.
Well, I'm back from a trip to Warsaw.
B6304S1 mentions a few posts further up in the thread an exhibition on Bartycka Street. Apparently, it would take a week to go through, but optimistic as I am, I took a taxi there with the aim of just skimming the surface, to see what was there.
Big mistake! The area is divided into two or three zones, and already the smallest one called "DOM" houses 51(!) stores with just bathroom porcelain. Externally, the area somewhat resembles a shantytown It may not look glamorous on the surface, but inside the stores, it is cozy with excellent goods.
If it says that something costs X zloty excluding VAT, it's not uncommon for the shop owner to include the VAT (22%).
Decision anxiety, hard to decide on a specific tile combination? Just submit a floor plan of your bathroom or kitchen, and the store will contact an interior designer they collaborate with, and the customer will receive a number of proposals (3D images) to choose from along with a material specification. Free of charge!
Inside the "DOM" area, there's a small information office where you can pick up a brochure with a map of the area, as well as a product and address register. As soon as you left one store, you practically stumbled over the threshold into another. I realized quite early on that there was no chance of even skimming the surface, but I tried at least to take some pictures. It ended up being quite a lot, in the end. I'll try my luck and see if I manage to upload a slim selection.
B6304S1 mentions a few posts further up in the thread an exhibition on Bartycka Street. Apparently, it would take a week to go through, but optimistic as I am, I took a taxi there with the aim of just skimming the surface, to see what was there.
Big mistake! The area is divided into two or three zones, and already the smallest one called "DOM" houses 51(!) stores with just bathroom porcelain. Externally, the area somewhat resembles a shantytown
It may not look glamorous on the surface, but inside the stores, it is cozy with excellent goods.If it says that something costs X zloty excluding VAT, it's not uncommon for the shop owner to include the VAT (22%).
Decision anxiety, hard to decide on a specific tile combination? Just submit a floor plan of your bathroom or kitchen, and the store will contact an interior designer they collaborate with, and the customer will receive a number of proposals (3D images) to choose from along with a material specification. Free of charge!
Inside the "DOM" area, there's a small information office where you can pick up a brochure with a map of the area, as well as a product and address register. As soon as you left one store, you practically stumbled over the threshold into another. I realized quite early on that there was no chance of even skimming the surface, but I tried at least to take some pictures. It ended up being quite a lot, in the end. I'll try my luck and see if I manage to upload a slim selection.
