Why Tradespeople Keep Reaching For Hybrid Adhesives & Sealants
Let’s be honest, the days of selling five different tubes to do one job are numbered. Trades want one product that just works and that’s exactly why hybrid adhesives and sealants are flying off shelves. They’re fast, strong, versatile, and easy to recommend. No fluff. No confusion. Just results.
So, What’s the Big Deal with Hybrids?
Hybrids bring together the best of silicones, acrylics, polyurethanes and epoxies in one reliable solution. They stick, seal, flex and last. From bathrooms to roofs, windows to floors, they cover more jobs with less hassle, a clear win for busy trades.
Built for Real-World Jobs
Trades don’t need delicate, specialist products that only work in perfect conditions. They need something that performs first time, every time.
Hybrids deliver:
– Serious grab
– Long-term flexibility
– Durability in harsh conditions
– Resistance to weather, chemicals and
movement
The result is fewer call-backs, less stress & better results on site.
Over the last few years, hybrids have gone from “nice to have” to essential kit. They perform in heat, cold and damp, stay flexible for movement joints, resist UV and weather, and save time by reducing the number of products needed. They’re also cleaner to use, cutting down on mess and waste.
Merchants See It Too
This isn’t just a trend; it’s backed by demand. Hardware Retailers & Builders’ Merchants are seeing hybrid adhesives and sealants outperform traditional products. According to GFK, in the U.K. the category has doubled in size since 2019, making it the fastest-growing segment in the market. Trades ask for them because they trust them.
OB1® – Making Its Mark in Ireland
OB1® Multi-Surface Construction Sealant & Adhesive is now one of the fastest growing hybrids in Ireland and the UK.
It’s built for versatility and performance:
– Bonds to almost anything, even underwater
– Suitable for lead, PVC, glass, mirrors, fibreglass and timber
– No odour, shrinkage or cracking
– Paintable and food-safe
– Resistant to UV, fungi and bacteria
– Performs from -40°C to +120°C
Performance Without the Price Pain
With rising material costs, trades are watching every euro. OB1 delivers high end performance at up to 25% less than comparable brands, helping maintain margins without compromising on quality.
OB1 Expands the Range with Heavy- Duty Cleaning Wipes
No job ends when the adhesive goes down, and OB1 is addressing that final step too. The introduction of OB1 Heavy- Duty Cleaning Wipes expands the range into clean-up, offering a practical solution for everyday site conditions.
Designed for tough environments, the wipes cut through sealants, paints, oils, grease and grime with ease. They’re suitable for hands, tools and a wide range of surfaces, making them a versatile addition to any van or toolkit.
Key features include:
– Powerful cleaning action for stubborn residues
– Removes wet paint, sealants, oils, grease and bitumen
– Multi-use across hands, tools and surfaces
– Strong, durable material that holds up during use
– 100% biodegradable, without compromising performance
The benefit is straightforward: faster clean-up, less downtime, and a more professional finish.
Find out more at www.ob1original.com
The Complete Roofline, Rainwater, Window, And Cladding System
Pipelife are one of Ireland’s leading manufacturers and providers of plastic piping systems. They specialise in the extrusion of polyethylene (PE) pipes and offer industry-leading products for the heating and plumbing, water pressure, electricity, cable ducting, gas and agricultural sectors.
They have expanded their product portfolio and market footprint in 2021 with the acquisition of Cork Plastics. The product lines of Cork Plastics were a great fit for Pipelife Ireland’s extensive catalogue, and as a result of this acquisition, they have increased their sales presence in the building industry in Ireland, the UK, and Mainland Europe for roofing, rainwater, and exterior cladding systems.
With its extensive selection of rainwater systems, Pipelife is the go-to brand for premium PVC-U roofing products for new construction and home renovation projects. Due to their reputation for high-quality finished products, technical excellence and competitive pricing, the company has become one of the leading suppliers of PVC-U plastic building products.
Their selection of fascia boards is used to cover existing timber in new construction projects, complete replacements, and renovations. Their PVC-UE Cladding Systems can be installed vertically, horizontally, or diagonally over brick, block, masonry, and timber-framed walling to provide a stylish and protective external facing for structures.
uPVC fascia, soffit, window boards, external cladding, and gutter systems are just a few of the many products they provide. Their materials come in a broad range of profiles and colours to fit any construction project and provide homes, businesses, and industrial structures with character and unique identity.
Pipelife carry an extensive range of rainwater systems – Xtraflo, Niagara, Hi-Cap, Half Round, Square and MiniFlo – with a wide choice of traditional and modern profile designs, as well as a range of colours to suit all tastes and applications. Some examples of these are:
– Hi-Cap, a semi-elliptical profile with a high capacity suitable for large roof areas.
– Niagara Ogee, a traditional Ogee-style profile – probably the highest capacity domestic PVC-U Rainwater System on the market.
– XtraFlo, a 170mm semi-elliptical System, for large Commercial/Industrial buildings, which links to a 110mm downpipe system.
The Pipelife Roofline product line is rounded off with a wide variety of rigid PVC-UE construction profiles and co-extruded cellular foam.
What about the Future
With the initial capital investment of “30m now well underway to expand and upgrade their existing production facility at Little Island, Cork. When completed, it will be one of the most modern facilities within the Pipelife Group. A total of 35 state-of-the-art extrusion lines with the newest automation technology will be operational this year, with an annual production target of over 45,000 tons.
This substantial expenditure on new machinery and equipment, staff, and services is unprecedented in our industry and will establish their Irish operations as a world-class manufacturing facility for many years to come.
The investment further demonstrates Pipelife’s long-term dedication to the Irish market, and the company’s size, modernity, and range of products will continue to make it a highly desirable supply chain partner for the nation’s main builders, installers, and merchant groups.
Contact Pipelife
If you would like more information from a member of their team, please call: +353 (0) 21 451 0600 / 021 488 4700 or email them at: ireland@pipelife.com. You can discover their full product range at: www.pipelife.ie and www.pipelifeeco.ie
Getting Guttering Right: Wavin Ireland’s Guide To Rainwater System Selection
No two projects are exactly the same. That is why choosing the right rainwater system matters, and why merchants can play an important role in helping their customers select the best solution for the job.
To support these conversations, Wavin Ireland has created a practical Rainwater Selection & Installation Guide, now available on the Wavin Ireland website. Designed as a quick-reference resource, the guide helps merchants and installers identify the most suitable Wavin rainwater system based on project type, roof area, rainfall requirements, appearance and installation needs.
Wavin Rainwater systems are engineered to ensure reliable performance across Irish residential, commercial and industrial projects. The range includes RoundLine, SquareLine, StormLine and DeepLine for domestic and residential applications, with SuperLine and RoofLine suited to industrial and commercial projects.
The guide sets out the key questions to consider when selecting a system including:
– What type of building is involved?
– What roof area needs to be drained?
– What level of rainfall must the system manage?
– Are there existing drainage connections?
– Is the project a replacement and have there been issues with the previous system?
These are important considerations, particularly given Ireland’s weather conditions. Wavin Rainwater systems are engineered to handle up to 30% more rainwater than similarly sized systems, thanks to features including the hydrodynamic running outlet.
Other design details include concealed sockets to hide roughly cut downpipe ends; wide retained seals to allow for thermal expansion and Wavin’s Flexclip jointing mechanism, which helps create a secure, watertight fit.
For merchants, the new guide provides a useful way to support customers and help ensure they have enough information to select the correct system and accessories for their project. It includes clear selection guidance, system capacity information, roof area calculations, installation advice, bracket spacing, downpipe requirements and practical tips for installers.
To download the Wavin Ireland Rainwater Selection & Installation Guide and find out more about Wavin’s rainwater systems, visit: wavin.com/ie/solutions/rainwater-guttering
