When you think of Schlüter-Systems, the first thing that may come to mind is an orange mat. Although the Schlüter-DITRA uncoupling membrane is an iconic product within our large portfolio, our additional services and offerings go far beyond this and we are proud to shout about them.
We’re the market leaders in the supply of innovative solutions for tile and stone and that’s just one piece of the jigsaw puzzle; our dedicated technical and specification teams have a wealth of experience providing unrivalled support to architects and specifiers. Our overarching aim is to ensure that you have the perfect support, protection and decoration for tile and stone on your projects, from five-star hotels and restaurants to hospitality venues and high-end homes.
We endeavour to make our products accessible and easy to specify; our extensive portfolio is supported by professional teams of advisors and an expansive collection of BIM objects and NBS Clauses. A comprehensive programme of RIBA-Accredited CPDs runs together with our commitment to education and the Schlüter Approved Installer Network offers many enticing benefits.
When it comes to specification, the most effective way of ensuring a lasting tile or stone installation is to consult experts you can trust, who will be on hand to support from start to finish and will advise best practice – allowing you to focus on the wider project at hand.
Specification Team
We understand that the specification of a bathroom or wetroom can be a lengthy process. Equipped with expert teams and a tailored range of resources, we are here to make things easier for you.
Each member of our dedicated Specification Team makes it their mission to support you at any stage of your journey – and many of them have an extensive background within the construction and tiling industry. This means they can truly understand the intricacies of the project and the challenges faced.
The team is structured in a way that ensures an efficient service – each office-based consultant is paired with an area consultant based out on the road who can provide on-site support and projects are handled from conception to completion by the same duo. This provides you with a consistent, dual point of contact and immediate access to advice from consultants who know the ins and outs of your project.
Technical Team
The particulars of each tile and stone project are as unique as we are. Our Technical Team supports the details of the design process, offering a variety of services to ensure that nothing is left unchecked. This includes an unrivalled in-house CAD drawing service which involves bespoke product detailing, giving architects and specifiers one less task to worry about.
As a project advances, we can provide continued technical support, not only by phone and email, but also via video calls and on-site visits as desired to ensure everything is coming together according to the specification.
BIM and NBS clauses
We maintain a considerable resource of BIM objects and NBS clauses for your convenience. Our BIM objects are hosted on the NBS National BIM Library and are also available on our website at www.schluter.co.uk. Information regarding Schlüter products and solutions is available on NBS Source, as clauses authored in NBS format. This means they are ready for insertion into project specifications.
Training
“Our products cannot be sold, they must be understood.” – Werner Schlüter.
This ethos, outlined by company founder Werner Schlüter, underpins our educational focus. We have crafted each product to ensure they benefit the installer and the end user simultaneously. Products which are easy to install and designed to last is the key. Knowledge and understanding of our products enables quicker, more effective installations. Once you know why our products have been made the way they have and the benefits our solutions bring, you won’t look back. We have detailed training programmes to keep specifiers and installers up to date with modern trends and new technology. Being committed to excellence, Schlüter works in partnership with many organisations, including RIBA, The Tile Association and Stone Federation Great Britain. We also have input into association guides and best practice, plus British, European and International Standards, through our participation on various technical committees.
Continuing these relationships allows us to give something back to the construction community, whilst also gaining a greater understanding and influence over the decisions made within it.
Schlüter Approved Installer Network
The Schlüter Approved Installer Network (SAIN) is a group of selected skilled contractors, who have undergone full training with Schlüter-Systems Ltd, and have thereby gained our recommendation to install our system solutions for the follow areas:
- Schlüter-WETROOM system
- Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD tile and stone backerboard
- Schlüter-BEKOTEC modular screed systems
- Schlüter-BEKOTEC-THERM underfloor heating and modular screed system.
As an installer, not only will you gain a full and comprehensive training programme which will give you the knowledge to install our systems confidently, the SAIN will also open the doors to potential new business opportunities via referrals, and networking within the construction industry. You will also be classed as an expert in your field which can help build your reputation and client base, setting you apart from competitors.
Architects and specifiers can also benefit from the programme: the network gives reassurance that the system will be installed to the manufacturer’s standards which offers peace of mind. An extended warranty may also be available when an installation is completed by a member of the network.
CPD Seminars
Our CPD seminars are a fantastic way of learning about best practice within the construction industry. Each seminar provides a detailed look into a specific area, and our aim is that you come away armed with the tools and confidence to specify products with ease.
Considerations for Tile and Stone Installations
Offering an overview of what you should be keeping in mind when dealing with tile and stone considerations, this seminar provides a solid introduction to working with these materials.
Specifying Integrated Underfloor Heating Systems
Focusing on the different options available for the specification of underfloor heating, this seminar details the ins and outs of hydronic (wet) and electric systems and what type of projects each are best suited to.
10 Point Plan for a Perfect Wetroom
Exploring wet room installations at the design and specification stage, this seminar will go through a variety of topics: integrated vs. multi-manufacturer combined systems, waterproofing, technology, the difference between waterproof systems and water-resistant systems, understanding the risks, and further considerations such as lighting, acoustics, and heating elements.
Specifying Solutions for Crack-Free Tile and Stone Coverings
Learn how to guarantee a crack-free finish for tile and stone, this seminar covers the recommendations and essential considerations in specifying problem-free coverings that last.Specifying External Applications with Tile and Stone
Enhance your understanding of how to protect bonded installations of tile and stone installed on balconies, terraces, and patios, with our expert insight. This seminar explores how to counteract the stresses of the environment and achieve functional assemblies.
Lunch and Learns
Aimed at giving interior designers and other specifiers the latest information on Schlüter’s solutions for tile and stone, our Lunch and Learn sessions have been carefully formulated to fit neatly into a 30-minute timeslot. They aim to deliver highly-focused, bitesize learning sessions in a relaxed and interactive manner, providing a complement to Schlüter’s programme of RIBA Approved CPDs.
The sessions cover the key products, new releases and innovative solutions that have the most impact from an aesthetic point of view – from profiles that protect and complement the edges of an installation, through to movement joints incorporated to prevent the build-up of tension, to drain grates with an assortment of designs to match the theme of a wetroom. Each session focuses on a particular product range and explores their practical uses and implications.
Application Gallery
Opened in 2017, the Application Gallery showcases the uses and capabilities of our products.
Because of how they are used, a lot of our products are hidden within a finished installation. This educational space at our head office in Leicestershire shows where Schlüter products make a difference — from waterproofing for walls and floors, right through to underfloor heating and profiles. It features a series of specially designed ‘pods’ demonstrating the key uses of our solutions, with cut away areas exposing layers of product in situ.
A collaborative space
The Application Gallery has been produced in collaboration with leading bathroom specialists, Roca, who also have offices in the area. The various pods include a walk-in wetroom, barrier-free bathroom, wellness space, lifetime home, luxury wetroom and kitchen diner, along with a preparation pod that exposes the full underlay of a Schlüter bathroom.
A multi-functional facility
The Application Gallery is now an integral part of the Schlüter-Systems Education Centre, enriching the experience of those who attend in-house training sessions. It also offers an inspiring space for events and gatherings.
Extra layers of interest are added in this facility with a small exhibition that gives a potted history of Coalville’s associations with clay tile production, over 150 years before Schlüter-Systems established its UK headquarters in the area.
Tour From The Comfort Of Your Chair
Our Google 360 Tour with VR functionality offers a more interactive way to understand what we do here at Schlüter-Systems Ltd. From the comfort of your own chair, you can tour our headquarters, which are packed full of examples of our products in situ.
Don’t Just Take Our Word For It
Over the years, we’ve received great feedback from customers who have attended our training and projects we have been involved with, complimenting our products, systems and services.
East Quay Pods is a project based in Watchet, Somerset, which we were involved with throughout. The project was commissioned by Somerset-based social enterprise Onion Collective and led by architects George Williams and Owen Hughes Pearce of PEARCE+Fægen. Of the support we provided, George comments:
“A hugely beneficial part of the process was being able to discuss the specification with the Schlüter team, particularly during early design stages. Not only did they provide invaluable support regarding best practice, but they also put us in touch with EMC who supplied many products we used throughout the pod wetrooms.”
It’s not uncommon for a design and specification process to come full circle, from connecting architects to our distributors as we did for the East Quay Pods project, to installers using what they learn during our training to deal with challenging installations. Steve Wagstaff of Pro-Tilers UK attended one of our wetroom training modules and, after visiting a residential property and realising the previous installation needed some correction, he used Schlüter products for the job.
Steve comments, “After seeing what the client was left with, it became clear that we needed a reliable solution to get it right this time around – Schlüter products have always worked well for us especially in this type of area, so it was the perfect fit.”
Also adding, “The team at Schlüter were on hand to provide advice and support throughout this entire process. They suggested out of the box ideas for the space and were quick to come back with the perfect Schlüter solution.”
Why Choose Schlüter-Systems?
The technical knowledge held by all individual teams, as well as the thorough understanding of each product and system means that when you use products created by Schlüter-Systems, you are getting more than just the tangible goods. You also receive advice which is second-to-none, genuine care for your project and warranty guarantees that will ensure peace of mind for years to come.
The loyalty of our customers speaks volumes to both the quality of our products and systems, and to the dedication the team offers. If you are looking for further information on our products or the services we offer, get in touch today and we will be happy to help.
Schluter-Systems Ltd
T. 01530 813396
E. specification@schluter.co.uk
W. www.schluterspecifier.co.uk
