Polymer adhesive showdown: Stuck-It Extreme vs. the CT1

There are several things to factor in when picking what polymer adhesive to use. Cost, performance, what’s in it, smell…a lot of boxes must be ticked before deciding.

It’s an important decision as it’s imperative that whatever polymer adhesive you use doesn’t lead to snagging. Snagging can cause you a lot of issues, which is inconvenient, to put it mildly.

The last thing you’ll need is to spend more time fixing something that could’ve been done right the first time of asking. When time is money, this is an extra task you don’t need. As such, getting the right sealant is crucial.

This is one of the reasons why Multifix opted to own-brand the Stuck-It Extreme. A premium performance polymer adhesive and sealant, it’s been used by you for many a project with great effect.

In fact, it’s certainly proved popular with you as it’s on our top five most popular Multifix own-brand products list.

However, it is not the market-leading product and nor would we pretend it to be. That honour lies with the CT1, which – like the Hoover – is so good that it’s the go-to name for polymer adhesive now.

But how does it compare to the CT1? Can it match it in performance, can it beat it on price, is there anything it can do differently?

Those are the questions we will be looking at for this article, as we explore the pros and cons of both products and how they fare against each other.

While we own-brand the Stuck-It Extreme, we will be objective in our comparison.

What are the pros for the CT1?

The CT1 is a solvent-free polymer adhesive, which is UV resistant and can work in both wet and dry conditions. It doesn’t shrink after application, it’s weather resistant and it is also odourless.

In addition, it is extremely resistant to chemicals and vibration, which makes it ideal for areas with lots of traffic or heavy winds. It is also fast curing and has a high-strength grab.

What makes it very handy though is that it comes in a plethora of colours. You can get the CT1 in nine colours, including white, clear, black, beige and grey. There is no difference in cost for a different colour either, which is very useful.

It has also acquired certification from the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association. This further emphasises how safe it is to use in a household.

And the cons of the CT1?

The cost of the CT1 is significantly higher than either version of the Stuck-It Extreme. In fact, the clear Stuck-It Extreme is less than half the price of a CT1.

Given that the CT1 is seen as the market leader, it’s possible these prices are set because of that. However, that isn’t especially helpful when you can get two similarly performing cartridges for the same price as one.

With the CT1, you do get an excellent, brilliantly marketed product that has many strengths and can be used on a variety of surfaces. But that comes at a cost.

We aren’t just talking about £1 or £2 difference, either. It’s either 41% or 55% more expensive than the Stuck-It Extreme, which is a big difference.

What about the pros of the Stuck-It Extreme?

The Stuck-It Extreme can do everything listed in the first two sentences for the CT1 pros. Performance-wise, there really isn’t a great deal between the pair and that is something that has taken a lot of effort.

The main pro for the Stuck-It Extreme is its price tag. There are two variants of the Stuck-It Extreme that you can buy; white or clear.

The white variant has a list price of £6.23 ex. VAT, while the clear version has a list price of £8.14 ex. VAT. Both cartridges are 290ml, which is the same as the CT1.

For context, a 290ml cartridge of CT1 has a list price of £13.80, so the cost difference between the two is very notable.

And what cons does the Stuck-It Extreme have?

Unlike the CT1, the Stuck-It Extreme only comes in two colours – clear and white. In addition, the clear one has a higher list price than the white one, with a £1.91 difference between the two.

By contrast, the CT1 has nine different colours and they are all priced the same. While the clear Stuck-It Extreme does cost more to make, it is a jump between the two and can be seen as off-putting.

The lack of aesthetic choices does present a problem as well, which is a problem the CT1 doesn’t have, thanks to its wide selection.

Finally, the mere fact it’s a competitor can be seen as a con, due to CT1’s brand superiority. As we touched upon earlier, no-one refers to a vacuum cleaner as that – they just call it a Hoover.

It’s no different with a polymer adhesive, which people subconsciously refer to as a CT1. Shaking that is difficult as people want products that have stood the test of time for years.

How do I choose between the two?

The things we mentioned at the start of the article – performance, what’s in it and smell – are all pretty even. Both are solvent-free, both have very high performance levels and both are odourless.

Choosing between the two will come down to two things; your budget and the materials you’re working with on your project.

If you are working with something with a brown, oak or beige-coloured surface, then you can get a better aesthetic fit with the CT1.

However, if price is your primary concern, then you can get a similarly performing product in the Stuck-It Extreme for much less than you’d pay for a CT1.

If you would like to find out more about the Stuck-It Extreme, then a member of our expert team would be happy to assist you. You can find out how to do so here.

Equally, if you would like to look at purchasing it, you can do so here.