Gulf Construction Online - Brikmat points way to perfect brickwork

Britain & the Middle East

Brikmat points way to perfect brickwork

01 June 2005

Building materials specialist Catnic has announced the addition of what it describes as a revolutionary product to its range – Catnic Brikmat – which it says is the new way to lay perfect brickwork and blockwork.

Following extensive trials of the product, the UK-based company is now looking at launching it on the international markets.
Fast, accurate and extremely easy to use, the product has been developed specifically to address the core construction and skills issues that are faced by developers and contractors on a daily basis, says Richard Brown, export manager of Catnic which has been serving the Middle East for more than two decades.
“Catnic Brikmat is a patented brick spacer system, which presents a totally new concept in bricklaying, tools and has been developed, tested and proven by building professionals,” says a spokesman for the UK-based firm. “The system allows brickwork to be constructed rapidly and to a consistent course height without the need to check gauge and level at each course. Under extensive trials, with both experienced and inexperienced bricklayers, Catnic Brikmat has proved to be up to 50 per cent faster than conventional building.”
In addition, the system significantly improves the construction of standard brick and block work and is of particular value when building special features – internal and external corners, feature bays, pillars, chimney stacks, dense and decorative materials and even around steel framework – ensuring accuracy of gauge, says the spokesman.
“Alongside the certainty and consistency that Catnic Brikmat delivers, the product has a number of advantages, which allow construction companies and bricklayers alike to improve efficiency, he points out. “For instance, during wet weather, Catnic Brikmat helps to stabilise brickwork, preventing dipping and floating; it also allows greater daily heights to be built with dense or heavy blockwork – rather than just three courses that may conventionally be built – by preventing the mortar courses from being compressed under the weight of construction.”
Adding value to all construction methods – brick and block, timber and steel frame – Catnic Brikmat ensures that consistency of gauge between the inner and outer leaf is assured, maintaining alignment between door and window openings, maximising capabilities of labour at all skill levels, thus generating savings through increased productivity, he adds.
“Delighted with the reaction that the product has received following extensive trials on a broad range of sites, the company is now launching the system to international markets. Catnic Brickmat is a perfect extension to our existing range of building materials, allowing us to offer customers complementary products backed by our excellent technical and customer service teams,” says the spokesman.
The company will promote the system at the Big 5 show to be held in Dubai later this year (November 16 to 20).
Catnic was established over 30 years ago and is now part of th Corus group of companies. “We are acknowledged in the building industry as a leading supplier of steel products,” says the spokesman.
The company’s range of products, available through an international distribution network includes: steel lintels, plasterers’ beads and accessories, coil mesh and lath, fence support systems (QwikPost) and lightweight roof tiles (litetile).
Corus is a major international metals group, formed in 1999 through a merger between British Steel and Dutch Company Koninklijke Hoogovens. Catnic is a member of the Corus distribution and building systems division.