Expert Hub

All your questions answered

Article
The cost of construction: four factors why Multifix isn’t the cheapest

The cost of construction isn’t cheap. Project prices are rising and we know that it is currently a difficult market for housebuilders at present. With this in mind, one of the main courses of dialogue we have is around pricing. Understandably, you want to know that you’re getting value for your hard-earned money. You want to know that the products you’ve bought will be more than good enough to get the job done. Risks can’t be afforded as time is money.  Multifix has always tried to be cost-effective in how we operate, however, we can’t always guarantee that we’re going to be the cheapest option on the market.  That leads to us being asked questions on occasion. You will have seen something somewhere else and understandably want to know why we are charging more.  With that in mind, we thought it would be best to be transparent with you and explain our reasons. We always want to be honest with you and that extends to how we run our business, too. In this article, we will highlight four factors why we don’t have the lowest prices and explain our reasoning. 1. We utilise our own fleet of vans To give you the best service, we have our own fleet of vans and our own drivers, who operate from our warehouse in Barking. It would be cheaper for us to only operate with couriers, but that comes with the risk of missed or late deliveries that result in generally poor service. As the old saying goes, if you want a job done right, do it yourself. Our van delivery success rate is 99.3% and we simply cannot guarantee that percentage with couriers. This impacts you because it means that, assuming you are within our geographic reach, you’re almost guaranteed to get your delivery on time. There is minimal risk of delay and 70% of the time, the delivery is with you before 12pm midday.  This means that you can get cracking straight away, without losing time and going a step closer to getting the job done.  Of course, we do use couriers for areas our fleet can’t get to if so required, but the vast majority of our deliveries are done by our internal fleet. That is one of the reasons why we aren’t the least expensive. In addition to paying our drivers a fair salary while maintaining and supplying our fleet, we’re also always looking to improve. 2. Centralised operations in Barking come with a higher cost of business We are very fortunate to be in a strategic location here in the southeast for our customers. However, that real estate does have its price tag. Put bluntly, our overheads for being located where we are in Barking are much higher than they would be for other parts of the country. However, being where we are is much more sustainable than being in another part of the UK. If we did, we would need to put absolutely everything on couriers, which would be much cheaper but wouldn’t give you the same service. As we mentioned above, having speedy deliveries that reliably turn up on time is so important. It’s something that we’re happy to pay the cost for, as it makes your lives much easier.  In addition, the environmental side of things is better as we can plot our routes with our sustainable focus in mind. As a company, we have pledged to be much more sustainable and have already made a lot of changes to try and ensure that we are doing so. You can find out more about that here.   We wouldn’t want to sacrifice our service by being anywhere else, but unfortunately, it is a factor as to why we aren’t super cheap. 3. Multifix only stocks products of very high quality A crucial factor contributing to overall cost is the actual products themselves. At Multifix, we insist on stocking good products of good quality, as we feel that is the very least you should be operating with. As such, we don’t go for the super cheap materials because we know they won’t do the job your standards demand. In addition, we also stock a plethora of big-name brands that have been supplying items for decades. This includes the likes of Paslode, Ancon, Bosch, Protecta and Visqueen, all of whom excel in their respective sectors.   This is perhaps the most straightforward reason for our prices not being the lowest, as we aren’t selling the cheapest products. That isn’t to say there aren’t bargains to be found, but everything we stock is of proven industry-level quality. 4. Our customer service team is always ready to help While we do have a 99.3% delivery success rate with our own vans, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Equally, maybe something has come up and you need advice quickly. In these scenarios, we would much rather you speak to a human being rather than wait for an email response. As such, we are proud to have a hard-working and knowledgeable customer service team, who are only a phone call away to field your questions. The option to talk through an issue with a human being isn’t something to be underestimated. We are also currently in the process of getting a live chat ready, as we understand the importance of time.  The quicker the response, the quicker you can get back to your tasks. The best way to give you a quick response is to speak to you in real-time, so that is why we insist on having a dedicated customer service team. When you have a query or an issue, we don’t want you waiting for an email response or to have bad service. It can disrupt your projects and that’s the last thing we want for you.  Ultimately though, it does come at a cost and that is one of the key factors why we don’t have the lowest prices.  A belief we are the best for the job Taking everything into consideration, we do believe that we offer fair and competitive pricing. We accept we don’t have the lowest prices, but there is a good reason for that. Hopefully after reading this article and seeing the four points in question, you’ll be more understanding as to why we charge what we do. If you would like to discuss our price options in further detail with a member of our expert team, you can find out how to do so here.

Read more → 5 min read
Article
October 2023 Portal Updates

The Multifix Customer Portal Multifix strives to continually build and improve our Customer Portal to ensure your procurement is an easy and simple process. Our quotation process is improving. Here's what that will mean for you: All quotations and order acknowledgments will now be automatically sent through email. The 'View Quote' button will then take you to your quote within our Customer Portal.  Note that if you are the company admin, you will see all company quotes. If you do not have a Customer Portal account, you will be able to view the quotations and order acknowledgments but you will not be able to do anything further.  Sign up to the Customer Portal now for full access. As seen above, you are then taken to your quote. At the bottom of each quote will be 3 buttons.  Reject Quote: This will then pop up a quick message asking the reasons for rejection.  Save For Later: This will save your quote so you can place it another time.  Edit & Confirm Quote: This will allow you to add or take items off your order and place your order once you are happy.  You can also add a comment under the 'Comments' section where you can ask any questions or queries which will go straight to our Sales team. What else has improved? Note: Spend limit is set within the user permission of each user. Requisitions have to be enabled on each user for this to work. Lastly, for our mobile users on the Portal, our footer has changed.  Your footer will now contain shortcuts to the most used items from our Portal interface

Read more → 1 min read
Article
Your top five most popular Multifix own-brand products

It’s always fascinating to see what products are popular and at Multifix, we are no different. We’re always keen to see what you’re liking and how we can improve on that product range, if indeed we can.  We have a number of own-branded products that we stock, but which ones are really taking your fancy? Which ones are the most popular? That is what we sought to find out for this article. By doing some number crunching from sales data in 2023, we have identified our top five best-selling own-branded products. Without further ado, here is the list, from five to one.  5) General Purpose Silicone Starting us off is our General Purpose (GP) Silicone, which comes in 280ml cartridges in either clear or white. GP Silicone is a general-purpose sealant and can be used for a variety of tasks. These include glazing, joint sealing, roofing, concrete repair and more.  The GP Silicone is acid-curing and is suitable for use on all common non-porous building materials. This would include glass, metal, plastic and concrete, amongst others.  In addition, the GP Silicone has a strong adhesion and also contains anti-fungicide, which makes it ideal for bathrooms.  4) Stuck-It Extreme Up next is the Stuck-It Extreme, which is our solvent-free polymer adhesive. Designed to seal gaps where a strong and waterproof finish is needed, the product, which is VOC-free, is rather popular.  One possible reason for this is because it can be used as a sealant, in addition to its primary use as an adhesive. This, in turn, saves you from getting both! It can also replace screws or nails in some situations, for example when putting up a bathroom mirror, while it also comes in a variety of colours.  3) Grab-It Much like the Stuck-It Extreme, the Grab-It is also solvent-free, but has a slightly different primary purpose. It’s mainly used as a panel adhesive, so it can bond skirtings and architraves.  It can be used on wet or damp surfaces and even underwater applications, if needed. The Grab-It also does a great job of reducing snagging, which is down to the high initial grab and lack of slip.  Finally, it comes in a 350ml tube, so you get quite a fair bit for your money – something you clearly agree with! 2) Probuild Gold screws Coming in second place are our Probuild Gold screws, which are trade woodscrews and come in a number of different sizes and capacities.  The screws themselves are deep threaded, while they also come with yellow passivated coating. This coating means they are more durable and resistant to corrosion than non-passivated coated screws.  In addition, the screws come with a self-starting point, a double countersunk head and a Pozi recess. All of this is for ease of use, as making installation easier can only be a good thing. 1) FSA intumescent At number one is our FSA Fire Rated Intumescent & Acoustic Sealant Mastic! The acrylic sealant’s primary purpose is to stop fire from penetrating a door space, which it does by swelling at 125 degrees. The sealant, which is available in both 310ml and 900ml cartridges, has been fire-graded at BS EN 1366-4, BS476-20 and BS476-22 ratings. In addition, it also has a four-hour integrity and insulation rating and can also be used around pipes and cables to try and prevent the spread of a fire.  Multifix products are here to help you The main reason why we do our own-brand products is because we want to help you. We want you to have good quality products that can get the job done well and in some instances, for less money.  That’s why we’re continuously looking for other ways in which we can expand our range, so to see our own-brand products fare so well is always hugely promising.  We also stock a host of other own-branded products which aren’t on this list, such as blades, masonry screws and packers, amongst others.  If you would like to speak to a member of our expert team to find out more about them, you can get in touch with us here. 

Read more → 3 min read
Article
Should you split your business or use one supplier?

As a company, you just want things to run smoothly. You want to know you’re getting reliability, good service and ultimately, a good deal for what you’re paying for. If you’re getting late deliveries and noticing product order costs are going up despite being cheaper elsewhere, it’s going to rankle you. You start to get the feeling that you’re being treated like just another number instead of a human being. No one likes being treated as a number instead of a customer. If this sounds relatable to you, then it may be time for a supplier switch. However, it isn’t always as simple as that. It is also one of the reasons why some split their business among multiple suppliers, rather than just using one. Even with bad service, some would rather stick with a company in some capacity as it’s a lot less hassle than making a change, as opposed to cutting ties. Which is best for you, though? Is it better to put all your eggs in one basket with one company, or play the field and use several? One way to come to a decision is by trialling a supplier first. That way, you stick with your existing supplier in the short term, but can test the waters with another and then decide whether to split or switch. While we can’t (and won’t) directly tell you and your company what to do, we can outline the pros and cons of both scenarios, so you can make a more informed decision. Ultimately, we want what is best for you and your company and as such, we are going to explore both options in this article for you. What are the pros of splitting your business? In some ways, you arguably have more power when you split your business. It’s the same when doing a food shop and you go to different supermarkets; some will have items cheaper than others, so you use all of them to get the best price. You also aren’t stuck if something goes wrong. If you need something the next day for example and one company can’t do it, there’s a good chance you’ll find one who can. This also extends to product quality or preference. You may prefer a certain type of product that one company does over another, so you aren’t restricted as to what you can or can’t get. Following on from that, there may be a product that one company stocks that another doesn’t. Keeping your options open means you won’t have to settle for less.  What about the pros of staying with one company? In terms of ease, having one company is definitely simpler than juggling several. If you only have one company to order from, that saves time than ordering with many. As such, it can be more efficient to just have one. You will also have much better relationships with the one supplier, as over time, your business will be valued and appreciated. It also stops you trying to spin a lot of plates. Rather than try and manage relationships with multiple suppliers, you can focus on gaining the most from one.  In fact, this can work in your favour as if you are a long-term customer, you’re likely to get preferential treatment compared to a new customer. This can even extend to having better support and even discounts. That is something we do at Multifix, with a policy that the more you spend, the better the rewards for you. What cons are there for splitting your business? The main con is the amount of extra admin to juggle. More suppliers means more relationships and that means more effort. It means multiple invoices, as well as different systems to navigate. This in itself is an issue. According to research from Gartner, the average UK cost of processing an invoice ranges between £4 and £25. In some instances, if errors are made, it can be up to £50 per invoice. Also, while you may be sniping for all the cheapest prices, that can actually work against you. As an example, let’s say you make three orders from three companies because they have the cheapest prices. That’s great, but if it’s under the minimum delivery cost for each, you’ll end up paying more. It could be cheaper to buy it all with one and get free delivery than split it all among several and pay added costs. Finally, you’ll always likely be treated as a number with multiple suppliers. Because you won’t be using them exclusively, you’re likely to miss out on the best rates and the best level of service.  As such, you also won’t have much of an opportunity to strike long-lasting relationships. Your business will still be appreciated, of course, but they’ll see it as having little reason to give you special treatment.  And the cons of using only one supplier? The main con of only using one supplier is that you potentially run the risk of being taken for granted. You might find you’re not getting discounts or improved service despite your loyalty, which can be hugely frustrating. Likewise, they may become complacent with you on other things. Say a delivery is a day late, they may take the approach of, “oh it’s only so and so, that’s alright.” Naturally, you don’t want this. If something happens with that company as well, whether it's a logistical disruption or financially related, you’re a bit stuck. At least with other suppliers, you can navigate this, but with one, it’s difficult. Lastly, you might be missing out on better products elsewhere. The company you’re solely using might have a good alternative, but if they don’t stock exactly what you want, that can be challenging. So, what’s best for me? Ultimately, that’s only a question you can answer. As we said at the start of the article, we won’t tell you what to do with your business. What we will say though, is if you are using one supplier and you aren’t getting the benefits listed, you should definitely consider finding a new one. No one wants to be taken for granted and everyone wants the best offers, so it’s important you get the maximum from your supplier. If you would like to open a dialogue on how Multifix can help you, as either a sole supplier or as another one for you to use, you can contact us here. 

Read more → 5 min read
Article
Three ways Multifix is serious about sustainability

As the days, months and years go by, the need for companies to be more energy-efficient and sustainable continues to grow. After all, if every company actively tries to have more sustainable measures, that can only be a good thing for the planet, right? It’s certainly something we believe at Multifix as we have actively tried to be more responsible with how we operate. Even things like our LED motion-activated lighting, which turns off automatically if there’s no movement for a time, play a part. You may be wondering why this is important to you, but it can be a good thing for your ESG, too. For those unaware, ESG is a framework that stands for environmental, social and governance.  Construction companies in the UK are judged on their ESG and those with net zero claims are judged on their output.  As such, using a more sustainable company is a huge boost for you as a customer. However, we have a few things that we do with one eye firmly on our sustainability as we constantly look for ways to be net zero. While we are far from perfect, we believe these three things in particular prove that we are taking sustainability seriously. Our packaging To drastically reduce our use of single-use plastic, we have made it mandatory that all our deliveries are sent in cardboard packaging. While we know that paper/cardboard comes from trees, trees are regenerative, so it’s the most ecological way of carrying your goods.  This packaging can also be recycled, which is also helpful. Single-use plastic, as well as being non-biodegradable, frequently ends up in oceans or waterways and that can harm wildlife.  As well as that, even creating single-use plastic adds to greenhouse emissions due to what is needed to make it, so we’re happy to not use it.   When it comes to pallets, it’s a slightly different story, but we still try and do what we can. All of our shrink wrapping is recyclable and we have a robot that wraps the pallets themselves. The robot stretches the shrink wrap to the perfect point, which gives us maximum efficiency. It also stops the customer from having too much and cuts down our waste as we’re only using the correct amount. The materials that bring the shrink wrap to our warehouse are also recycled. Again, if you’re looking to go net zero, actions like this will indirectly help you. We’ve installed air-source heat pumps Instead of having a gas or electric heating system, we have installed air-source heat pumps at our main office in Maidstone, Kent. Compared to traditional heating systems, air-source heat pumps are much more environmentally sound. That’s because they use air as their heat source instead of fossil fuels, so there are no greenhouse gas emissions. For those wondering how they work, the heat pumps extract outside air and use that to generate heat. This works even in the harsh winter, so it’s an all-year-round solution. Out of all the things we do to try and achieve net zero, having air-source heat pumps is perhaps one of the most innovative ways to do so. Considering the environment with our vans This is perhaps the hardest one to try and manage given the need for fuel, but we still make an effort to cut our carbon footprint with our vans. All of our routes are mapped carefully so that we only use the fuel that we need, thus avoiding any unnecessary journeys. For example, we won’t have a driver doing a triangle trip of Bristol, Norwich and then Romford. In addition, our FORS Silver accredited vans are all Euro 6 compliant. Euro 6 is a regulation that comes with an emissions limit, requiring engine gases to be treated before being released through the exhaust. When acquiring our fleet of vans, this was something that was considered before every purchase, as we try and limit our carbon footprint.  Also, the cars our sales fleet have are all hybrid or electric. We also have electric charging points at our head office. A sustainable future As mentioned earlier, we know that we aren’t perfect. There is more we can do and we are always looking into ways we can be more sustainable. One example of something we have an eye on is the emergence of electric-powered vans. While we aren’t in a position to utilise them just now, it’s something definitely on our radar. Ultimately, if every company sticks to the ethos of being greener and more sustainable, it can only benefit all of us. If you would like any further information on how we’re trying to be more sustainable at Multifix, you can get in touch with us here. Equally, you can see our sustainability pledges here. 

Read more → 4 min read
Article
Three reasons why Multifix brand jigsaw and reciprocating blades

Having a good jigsaw or reciprocating blade when doing a job is incredibly important. If the blades are poorly made or weak, you’ll replace them often, while also running the risk of delivering poor results and costing you money. That is one of the reasons why we stock Bosch blades, both recip and jigsaw. They are proven, reliable and brilliantly made. It is also one of the reasons why Multifix have decided to own-brand quality jigsaw and reciprocating blades. That isn’t to say we’re going to be a direct competitor to Bosch – that isn’t the case at all. However, we feel we have something that can help you. Here are three ways we believe that Multifix-branded jigsaw and recip blades can help you with your projects. The blades are good The need for proven quality when working with blades is huge and a big part of that comes from where the blades were made.  The Multifix branded blades, like other leading manufacturers, are made in Germany. This isn’t to say that they’re better or worse, just made with the same quality aspirations.  Having the blades German-made was a requirement for us, as we know that is synonymous with reliable quality. In addition, we have factored in the most popular types and sizes for our range. We have wood and metal jigsaw blades that cut to 50mm, 60mm and 67mm, while also having options for clean, coarse and clean fine cuts. As for our recip range, we have blades for wood and bi-metal, that can cut to 60, 190mm, 100mm and 180mm. These come in clean and coarse fast cut for wood blades, while we offer clean to 3-8mm thickness for the bi-metal blades. We have more control over our stock From a logistical perspective, having our own-branded blades does make life a lot easier for both ourselves and you. As they are our own brand, we have full say over production, quality and stock control. As we don’t have to go to a middle-man in the manufacturer, we have greater control. This means that we can stick to our policy of having at least three months’ worth of stock in our warehouse at any one point. It’s worth noting that we strive to do this for other blades too, but naturally, controlling branded stock is going to be easier for us. By having greater availability, if you’re ever in a spot, we will have something that can help you at very short notice, no questions asked. It’ll be cheaper for you Perhaps most importantly from a financial perspective, by branding our blades, we can set the prices. As there’s no additional margin to share, that therefore allows us to sell the blades to you at a much cheaper price than other blades. For context, you can get a pack of five jigsaw blades clean cut to 30mm for £5.90 ex. VAT. By contrast, our Bosch jigsaw blades for wood clean fine cut will cost £14.70 ex. VAT, so there is quite a difference.  The blades are designed to be long lasting too, so we very much believe that we are offering value for money with them. A different solution Ultimately, we want to move into this market as we feel we have something to offer. We couldn’t be prouder of the blades and we believe they’ll be an asset for you. We understand that there may be some hesitation to switching from a leading brand for our branded blades and that’s ok.  As mentioned earlier, we do still sell Bosch blades and that won’t be stopping anytime soon. If you still wish to purchase those, then we will gladly assist. However, we are confident that we have a product that can make a difference for you, while also costing you less and being more readily available. If you would like to speak to our customer service team to find out more about the blades, you can find out how to do so here. Equally, if you wish to see the range for yourself, you can find that here. *prices correct as of September 2023

Read more → 3 min read
Article
Five ways the Multifix customer portal can solve critical construction issues

Placing orders can be a stressful experience for Buyers and Site Managers alike. If time is of the essence, an order taking ages is far from helpful. Waiting around for a quote because there’s no price information for what you need is also very annoying. On top of that, there might also be no product description, so you’re taking a shot in the dark. All while the clock is ticking, with Contractors breathing down your neck asking for regular updates. It doesn’t have to be this way. One of the reasons why Multifix has been going strong for 30 years and counting is because we get this. We understand these pain points and the knock-on effect they can cause. It’s the reason why our core values as a company focus on doing what’s right for you; “save you time, make life easy.” It’s also the reason why we’ve designed our customer portal the way we have. We want to make your transactions as seamless as possible, leaving you with less to worry about and with more time to get the job done. We have a lot of customers who prefer to conduct their business with us over the phone – and that’s OK. We love the interactions we have with you. But what if we told you there’s an easier way? A quicker way? A less stressful way? In this article, we will show you five ways our customer portal can simplify things for you and improve your workplace productivity. 1. It’ll help you beat tight deadlines While most planning is done on a day-by-day basis, it can be a problem when you think you’ve got all you need and then suddenly, you don’t. Whether it’s a miscalculation or bad luck, finding yourself close to the end of a project without having everything to finish it is irritating.  However, with just a few clicks, our online portal can help you with that. Available at any time of day, you can pick out whatever you need and rest easy knowing your much-needed items are in safe hands. With next-day delivery as standard, you have the power to lift a huge weight from your shoulders. Also, thanks to our ‘Quick Order’ function for users, you can set your most commonly used products as your favourites, making it even faster to order. 2. You have full visibility of the cost Budgeting can be difficult. Any delay or staff issue has the potential to hurt your pocket and balancing that out against what you need to order isn’t always easy. What makes this task even harder is when you go to order something…and there’s no price. In fact, there’s no price for anything. You then ask for a quote for what you need, wait for them to put it together and bemoan how compromised your position is. If the quote comes through and it’s too high, with time running out, it certainly leaves you in a spot. With our portal, there are no surprises with our prices. You can see all of them, for whatever product you want, whenever you like. And what’s more, there are no hidden surprises or secret charges. When you shop with us through our portal, your final price will be exactly what you expect it to be – as it should be.   3. You get what you need when you order Not everyone in construction comes from a construction background and sometimes that shows. This tends to be more noticeable in the admin departments for Site Managers, especially with specifics. As an example, say you’ve got a job where you’re using a Paslode IM350+. You’re running low on your 2.8 x 51mm ring shank nails and need some more. You ask admin to get you some and the next day, you get them, but they’re for the IM360 instead, rendering them useless.  Now, this can of course come down to a lack of communication from your side and in this instance, it’s not entirely the admin’s fault. They’ve put in an order for the exact product, but because there was no description, they couldn’t see the difference and maybe thought it was a generic nail. Thankfully, those ordering from our portal will hopefully believe that’s a thing of the past. With full product descriptions for everything we stock, it’s very difficult to get something wrong. Taking the example of the screws, the admin team will go back to the site manager and ask for what size, making sure it’s the right order. Given how much confusion can wreak havoc on a site, our portal product descriptions are designed to minimise that as much as possible. 4. It can manage and control all of your orders If you’re a Carpenter, you’re probably used to your phone going off every 20 seconds or so. Whether it’s a Purchaser or a Site Manager reaching out to you, you’ll know they tend to have a lot of requests! This can be time-consuming and frustrating. It’s also very annoying when you have an order placed and then one of your team goes, “Sorry mate, can you add on one of these as well?” Well, to save you from bombardment and to prevent this, we have a requisitions section on our portal. This enables your team to order without bothering you, but gives you the power to sign off or not. All the hours spent combing through WhatsApps, texts, emails…gone. With a requisition order, someone on your team will make a provisional order, you’ll be notified by email and then you can decide whether to place it. This makes your projects much more streamlined and on top of that, will reduce your screen time on your phone. 5. It adds accountability There’s a good chance you’ve led a job, ordered what your crew asked for…and noticed a lot of it mysteriously went missing. Your team of external workers will all be professional, but everyone is prone to mistakes. In their case, it could be they’ve opened some nails and left them carelessly, they’ve been run over by a forklift and now can’t be used. Wastage is a big issue for any site and one that burns a hole in your pocket. Thanks to our requisitions section within the portal though, you can try and limit it.  This prevents workers from buying whatever they want, which offers buyers a lot of peace of mind. Should you want to, you can even hide pricing if you don’t want your workers to see what things cost when they submit their order forms. As such, you have more power and can have more accountability with your ordering and your projects, which can only be a good thing.  But, you don’t have to use it We know that old habits die hard. We also know that the mantra, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is largely correct. And for those who used to order over the phone – and those that still do – we, of course, can facilitate that.  Our phone lines are still going to be open for you if you need advice, want to talk about delivery options or just prefer to order over the phone.  While the portal can do everything you could want in terms of an ordering perspective, it can’t give you that human touch. It won’t be able to have a chat with you, or ask how things are going, which can feel robotic to some.  As such, we understand that phoning us can be better for you. You can find out all of our contact info here and we’ll be delighted to take your call.  By no means are we saying that the portal is perfect and we have identified a number of solutions to make it better for you. We are keeping these close to our chests for now, but we are determined to make it as streamlined and helpful as possible.  After reading this article though, we hope you’ll agree that moving to the portal is the way forward. The five pain points we’ve identified can impact anyone, but by letting us help you with our portal, they can be consigned to the past.  If you would like to give it a try, you can sign up for our portal here.

Read more → 7 min read
Article
Multifix Stuck It vs Grab It: Comparing benefits and uses

Finding a quality polymer adhesive can be something of a challenge. Whether it’s CT1, Stix All or Sticks Like, you need to have full confidence that it will hold because otherwise, it’ll cause huge complications.   If the adhesive isn’t strong enough, then the materials simply won’t stick. You may have to compensate for that by using excessive amounts and still might have the same problem. As such, you must use a good one.   That is why at Multifix, we have branched out and come up with our own! We have both the Stuck-It Extreme and the Grab-It, which are both solvent-free. They are versatile, high-strength products for bonding virtually any construction material.   They’re products we’re extremely proud to have our name attached to and it’s been brilliant to see so many of you using them with great results.  However, we are often asked what the differences between the two are. To avoid confusion and to prevent you from buying the wrong one by mistake, we have put together a pros and cons list for you. We understand that by having our name attached to both items, you may feel we’re being biased. But, we feel we’ve been as objective as we can, as ultimately, you having the right product means more to us than selling something you don’t need. The article will explain fully what each one does and which one is better for what application, allowing you to know exactly which one is which.  What is the difference between the Stuck-It and the Grab-It? We’ll start with the similarities first. Both have a polymer-based formula and both are solvent-free, which makes them safer to use in a closed space.  Solvent-based polymers are not only highly flammable, but also harm the environment.  In addition, prolonged exposure to solvent-based polymers can lead to health issues for people, so it was imperative to make a product VOC-free Also, both can be used on wet or damp surfaces. Both can even be used for underwater applications, should the need arise.  The differences come in what they are used for. The Stuck-It Extreme is designed to seal gaps where both a strong and waterproof finish is needed. It is also used for bonding materials, such as metal, wood, glass and plastic.  In addition, it’s used for movement joints and is ideal if you want to hang mirrors, as it won’t bleed or damage the finish.  The Grab-It, on the other hand, is used for anything you would otherwise use a panel adhesive for. It is also designed to bond skirtings and architraves.  Also, if you make the surface slightly damp before you apply the Grab-It, the bond will not only be better, but will also cure a lot faster.  Stuck-It Extreme – the pros The main pro for the Stuck-It Extreme is that it is not only an adhesive, but can also be used as a sealant. Given its multi-purpose, it saves you from having to buy a sealant as well as an adhesive.  It will also save you money in general, as price-wise, it is cheaper than several popular brands in the market.  This includes the likes of CT1, Stix All and Sticks Like.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that you get less from it as a result, as it can also be applied universally. Whether it’s to replace silicone, or to be used as a panel adhesive, the Stuck-It Extreme can do it. It can even replace screws or nails in many situations.  For example, a bathroom mirror. Finally, there are several different colours for the Stuck-It Extreme, depending on what you need to do. It is available in clear, brown, black or white, so there’s a lot of versatility.   Grab-It – the pros   As per the name, the Grab-It is a specialist grab adhesive. It has a very high initial grab and there is also very little slip, meaning there’s less effort and time spent on clamping and fixing the material.  The main pro, however, is down to what’s inside the Grab-It. The Grab-It is devised from a polymer-based formula, which means it is VOC-free. It also doesn’t emit any heavy vapours, so it won’t smell when using it or leave any unpleasant, lingering aromas.  Given many contractors will prefer a VOC-free product, this is a big bonus.  Another pro for the Grab-It is that reduces snagging thanks to its grab and strength. The last thing any new homeowner wants is to do a check of their property and find there are defects or that things aren’t fitted properly. With the Grab-It, the possibility of snagging drops significantly thanks to these advantages.   Finally, you get a lot of value for money with the Grab-It. It comes in a large 350ml tube, which is 60ml more than what you get in the Stuck-It Extreme.  Also, it’s comparatively priced with more standard panel adhesives, so you get more for what you pay for.  Stuck-It Extreme – the cons While the Stuck-It Extreme doubles up as an adhesive and a sealant, the initial grab for it isn’t as good as the Grab-It. By grab, we mean the connection between the two materials and the product. This is naturally an issue and means that if you are interested in the Stuck-It Extreme, you’ll have to make sure it’s right for your project.  In addition, from a cost perspective, it also costs more than the Grab-It. The Stuck-It Extreme costs £6.23 ex. VAT for the white one, or £8.18 ex. VAT for the clear one.     The clear one costs more as it’s a more expensive product to produce, so we would advise using white unless you need the clear one.   By contrast, the Grab-It costs £4.08 ex. VAT, so at least £2 cheaper than both, although trade discounts are available.  Grab-It – the cons The biggest con for the Grab-It is that it is only for use as an adhesive – it can’t be used as a sealant as well. While its strengths lie in one area, if you are looking for something to do both, this isn’t the product for you.  In addition, if you need to take it down for whatever reason, it could leave a notable mark on the wall. This is because it’s only available in white, so this will need to be considered before purchase.   Finally, we have discovered that if a completely flushed fit is required, the Grab-It can be slightly thick when applied.  This isn’t great aesthetically and in this instance, you would be better off using something better suited.  Stuck-It Extreme – who is it right for? If you want a sealant as well as an adhesive, then the Stuck-It Extreme is a great fit for you. Equally, if you also have a tighter budget and still want a product that is up to the task, it’s a good solution.  Given it’s very versatile and covers a variety of different applications, it’s right for someone who wants something of an all-rounder.  Also, the white option means it will cover just about any task that you need it for. This is especially important for those who need work done in bathrooms and kitchens. If you don’t need white, the clear option is available too.  Grab-It – who is it right for? If it’s something with a great grab that you want, then the Grab-It is the answer. This is especially the case if potential cosmetic issues aren’t too much of a concern, as it only comes in white.   Also, to save yourself from potentially having to do something twice, the Grab-It will ensure you won’t need to do much snagging.  The fact you get 350ml for £4.90 as well means that you are getting a lot of value for money, but it won’t be suited to someone needing a completely flush fit. For example, cabinet doors or flooring materials would require an alternative product. The next steps This article was to make you aware of the differences between the Stuck-It Extreme and the Grab-It and by now, you’ll know that.  More importantly, you’ll know which is right for your project. We don’t want people buying the wrong thing from us, we want you to get the right product the first time around.  We very much believe in both the Stuck-It Extreme and the Grab-It, which is why we’re proud to have our name on it. But, it has to be the right product for you, which is also why we made this article.  If you would like to purchase the Stuck-It Extreme, you can do so here. Alternatively, if you want to buy the Grab-It, you can do that here.   Our team are also available for contact for any further questions you might have, all you have to do is follow this link to find out how.

Read more → 7 min read
Article
Where does Multifix deliver to?

Not having what you need can be disastrous and can lead to project delays and idle labour on site. As such, it’s imperative that when you’re ordering supplies, you know that they will turn up on time and when they say your delivery will arrive.  At Multifix, delivery reliability is one of our priorities. We have our own fleet of drivers and vehicles to deliver your goods and they have a 99.3% delivery success rate. 75% of our orders from our own vans are on-site before 12pm midday.  In addition, you can track your delivery via the portal and our driver will call you shortly before they are on-site to let you know they’ve arrived. We’re not in the business of just dumping your parcel and leaving; our drivers require a signature on all deliveries and take a picture to prove it’s turned up. But, where does Multifix deliver to? That is the number one question we are asked. The answer is nationwide. We will deliver your goods to any part of the country, without question or issue. Be it Liverpool, Nottingham, Plymouth or Carlisle, we'll get you what you need.  However, our fleet of vans doesn't go nationwide. We are mainly south/southeastern based, so anything north of the Midlands and west of Swindon is currently out of bounds for our delivery drivers. As such, we have compiled a full list of where our vans will go for you. You can either scroll down and browse or press Ctrl and F at the same time (Cmd and F if you’re on a Mac) and type in your postcode to check.  Please note, we are always looking to expand our reach. Therefore, keep an eye on this page if and when we do so, as we will update it accordingly. As mentioned above, we do deliver nationwide, so if you do not see your postcode or part of the world on the list, we can arrange delivery by courier to anywhere outside of our delivery routes. Equally, if you can’t see your postcode but can see one very near you, please get in touch and we’ll see what we can do! You can find out how to contact us here.  Bedfordshire Arlesey (SG15) Bedford (MK40, MK41, MK42, MK43, MK44, MK45) Biggleswade (SG18) Dunstable (LU5, LU6) Henlow (SG16) Leighton Buzzard (LU7) Luton (LU1, LU2, LU3, LU4) Sandy (SG19) Shefford (SG17) Berkshire Ascot (SL5) Bracknell (RG12, RG42) Crowthorne (RG45) Maidenhead (SL6) Newbury (RG14, RG20) Reading (RG7, RG8, RG10) Slough (SL1, SL2, SL3) Thatcham (RG18, RG19) Windsor (SL4) Wokingham (RG40, RG41) Bristol Bristol (BS1, BS2, BS3, BS4, BS5, BS6, BS7, BS8, BS9, BS10, BS11, BS13, BS14, BS15, BS16, BS20, BS30, BS31, BS32, BS34, BS36, BS37, BS39, BS40, BS41, BS48, BS49) Buckinghamshire Amersham (HP6, HP7) Aylesbury (HP17, HP18, HP19, HP20, HP21, HP22) Beaconsfield (HP9) Bourne End (SL8) Buckingham (MK18) Chalfont St. Giles (HP8) Chesham (HP5) Gerrards Cross (SL9) Great Missenden (HP16) High Wycombe (HP10, HP11, HP12, HP13, HP14, HP15) Iver (SL0) Marlow (SL7) Milton Keynes (MK1, MK2, MK3, MK4, MK5, MK6, MK7, MK8, MK9, MK10, MK11, MK12, MK13, MK14, MK15, MK17, MK19) Newport Pagnell (MK16) Olney (MK46) Princes Risborough (HP22, HP27) Tring (HP23) East Anglia Aldeburgh (IP15) Attleborough (NR17) Beccles (NR34) Brandon (IP27) Bungay (NR35) Bury St. Edmunds (IP28, IP29, IP30, IP31, IP32, IP33) Cambridge (CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CB21, CB22, CB23, CB24, CB25) Chatteris (PE16) Diss (IP21, IP22) Downham Market (PE38) Ely (CB6, CB7) Eye (IP21, IP23) Felixstowe (IP11) Halesworth (IP19) Harleston (IP20) Haverhill (CB9) Huntingdon (PE26, PE28, PE29) Ipswich (IP1, IP2, IP3, IP4, IP5, IP6, IP7, IP8, IP9, IP10) Leiston (IP16) March (PE15) Newmarket (CB8) Norwich (NR1, NR2, NR3, NR4, NR5, NR6, NR7, NR8, NR9, NR13, NR14, NR15, NR16, NR18) Peterborough (PE1, PE2, PE3, PE4, PE5, PE6, PE7, PE8) Saffron Walden (CB10, CB11) Saxmundham (IP17) Southwold (IP18) St. Ives (PE27) St. Neotts (PE19) Stamford (PE9) Stowmarket (IP14) Sudbury (CO10) Thetford (IP24, IP25, IP26) Wisbech (PE13, PE14) Woodbridge (IP12, IP13) Essex Basildon (SS13, SS14, SS15, SS16) Benfleet (SS7) Billericay (CM11, CM12) Bishop’s Stortford (CM22, CM23) Braintree (CM7, CM77) Brentwood (CM13, CM14, CM15) Buckhurst Hill (IG9) Bures (CO8) Burnham-on-Crouch (CM0) Canvey Island (SS8) Chelmsford (CM1, CM2, CM3) Chigwell (IG7) Clacton-on-Sea (CO15, CO16) Colchester (CO1, CO2, CO3, CO4, CO5, CO6, CO7) Dagenham (RM8, RM9, RM10)  Dunmow (CM6, CM7) Epping (CM16) Frinton-on-Sea (CO13) Grays (RM16, RM17, RM20) Halstead (CO9) Harlow (CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20) Harwich (CO12) Hockley (SS5) Hornchurch (RM11, RM12) Ilford (RM6) Ingatestone (CM4) Leigh-on-Sea (SS9) Loughton (IG10) Ongar (CM5) Maldon (CM9) Manningtree (CO11) Purfleet (RM19) Rainham (RM13) Rayleigh (SS6) Rochford (SS4) Romford (RM1, RM2, RM3, RM4, RM5, RM6, RM7) Sawbridgeworth (CM21) Southend-on-Sea (SS1, SS2, SS3, SS99) Southminster (CM0) South Ockendon (RM15) Stansted (CM24) Stanford-le-Hope (SS17) Tilbury (RM18) Waltham Abbey (EN9) Walton-on-the-Naze (CO14) Westcliff-on-Sea (SS0, SS1) Wickford (SS11, SS12) Witham (CM8) Gloucestershire Badminton (GL9) Cirencester (GL7) Fairford (GL7) Lechlade (GL7) Tetbury (GL8) Wotton-under-Edge (GL12) Hampshire Alresford (SO24) Bognor Regis (PO21, PO22) Brockenhurst (SO42) Chichester (PO18, PO19, PO20) Eastleigh (SO50, SO53) Emsworth (PO10) Fareham (PO14, PO15, PO16, PO17) Fleet (GU51, GU52) Gosport (PO12, PO13) Havant (PO9) Hayling Island (PO11) Hook (RG27, RG29) Lee-on-the-Solent (PO12, PO13) Lymington (SO41) Lyndhurst (SO40, SO43) Portsmouth (PO1, PO2, PO3, PO6, PO24) Romsey (SO51) Southampton (SO14, SO15, SO16, SO17, SO18, SO19, SO30, SO31, SO32, SO45, SO52)  Southsea (PO4, PO5) Stockbridge (SO20) Waterlooville (PO7, PO8) Winchester (SO21, SO22, SO23, SO25)  Hertfordshire Baldock (SG7) Berkhamsted (HP4) Borehamwood (WD6) Broxbourne (EN10) Buntingford (SG9) Bushey (WD23) Harpenden (AL5) Hatfield (AL9, AL10) Hemel Hempstead (HP1, HP2, HP3) Hertford (SG13, SG14) Hitchin (SG4, SG5, SG6) Hoddesdon (EN11) Kings Langley (WD4, WD5) Knebworth (SG3) Much Haddam (SG10) Potters Bar (EN6) Radlett (WD7) Rickmansworth (WD3) Royston (SG8) St Albans (AL1, AL2, AL3, AL4) Stevenage (SG1, SG2) Waltham Cross (EN7, EN8) Ware (SG11, SG12) Watford (WD17, WD18, WD19, WD24, WD25) Welwyn (AL6) Welwyn Garden City (AL7, AL8) Kent Ashford (TN23, TN24, TN25, TN26, TN27) Aylesford (ME20) Birchington (CT7) Broadstairs (CT10) Bromley (BR1, BR2) Canterbury (CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4) Chatham (ME4, ME5) Cranbrook (TN17, TN18) Crowborough (TN6) Dartford (DA1, DA2, DA4) Deal (CT14) Dover (CT15, CT16, CT17) Edenbridge (TN8) Etchingham (TN19) Faversham (ME13) Folkestone (CT18, CT19, CT20) Gillingham (ME7, ME8) Gravesend (DA11, DA12, DA13) Greenhithe (DA9) Hartfield (TN7) Heathfield (TN21) Herne Bay (CT6) Hythe (CT21) Longfield (DA3) Margate (CT9) Maidstone (ME14, ME15, ME16, ME17, ME18) Mayfield (TN20) New Romney (TN28) Orpington (BR5, BR6) Queenborough (ME11) Ramsgate (CT11, CT12) Rochester (ME1, ME2, ME3) Romney Marsh (TN29) Sandwich (CT13) Sevenoaks (TN13, TN14, TN15) Sheerness (ME12) Sittingbourne (ME9, ME10) Snodland (ME6) Swanscombe (DA10) Swanley (BR8) Tenterden (TN30) Tonbridge (TN9, TN10, TN11, TN12) Tunbridge Wells (TN1, TN2, TN3, TN4) Wadhurst (TN2, TN5) Westerham (TN16) Westgate-on-Sea (CT8) West Malling (ME6, ME19) Whitstable (CT5) Uckfield (TN22) London Barking (IG11) Banstead (SM7) Barnet (EN4, EN5) Beckenham (BR3) Belvedere (DA17) Bexley (DA5) Bexleyheath (DA6, DA7) Brentford (TW8) Carshalton (SM5) Chislehurst (BR7) Coulsdon (CR5) Croydon (CR0, CR9) East London (E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7, E8, E9, E10, E11, E12, E13, E14, E15, E16, E17, E18, E20, EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4) Edgware (HA8) Enfield (EN1, EN2, EN3) Erith (DA8, DA18) Feltham (TW13, TW14) Greenford (UB5, UB6, UB18) Hampton (TW12) Harrow (HA1, HA2, HA3) Hayes (UB3, UB4) Hounslow (TW3, TW4, TW5, TW6) Ilford (IG1, IG2, IG3, IG4, IG5, IG6) Isleworth (TW7) Kenley (CR8) Mitcham (CR4) Morden (SM4) North London (N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, N9, N10, N11, N12, N13, N14, N15, N16, N17, N18, N19. N20, N21, N22, NW1, NW2, NW3, NW4, NW5, NW6, NW7, NW8, NW9, NW10, NW11) Northolt (UB5) Northwood (HA6) Pinner (HA5) Purley (CR8) Richmond (TW9, TW10) Ruislip (HA4) Sidcup (DA14, DA15) South Croydon (CR2) South London (SE,1, SE2, SE3, SE4, SE5, SE6, SE7, SE8, SE9, SE10, SE11, SE12, SE13, SE14, SE15, SE16, SE17, SE18, SE19, SE20, SE21, SE22, SE23, SE24, SE25, SE26, SE27, SE28, SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6, SW7, SW8, SW9, SW10, SW11, SW12, SW13, SW14, SW15, SW16, SW17, SW18, SW19, SW20, SW1X) Southall (UB1, UB2, UB3) Stanmore (HA7) Sutton (SM1, SM2, SM3) Thornton Heath (CR7) Twickenham (TW1, TW2) Wallington (SM6) Welling (DA16) Wembley (HA0, HA9) West Drayton (UB7, UB8) West London (W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, W6, W7, W8, W9, W10, W11, W12, W13, WC1, WC2) West Wickham (BR4) Woodford Green (IG8) Upminster (RM14) Uxbridge (UB8, UB9, UB10, UB11)  Oxfordshire Abingdon (OX13, OX14) Bampton (OX18) Bicester (OX25, OX26, OX27) Burford (OX18) Carterton (OX20) Chinnor (OX39) Didcot (OX11) Faringdon (SN7) Henley-on-Thames (RG9) Kidlington (OX5) Oxford (OX1, OX2, OX3, OX4, OX33, OX44) Thame (OX9) Wallingford (OX10) Wantage (OX12) Watlington (OX49) Witney (OX28, OX29) Woodstock (OX20) Somerset Banwell (BS29) Bath (BA1, BA2) Clevedon (BS21) Weston-Super-Mare (BS22, BS23, BS24) Winscombe (BS25) Surrey Addlestone (KT15) Aldershot (GU11, GU12) Alton (GU34) Ashford (TW15) Ashtead (KT21) Bagshot (GU19) Betchworth (RH3) Bordon (GU35) Camberley (GU15, GU16, GU17) Caterham (CR3) Chertsey (KT16) Chessington (KT9) Cobham (KT11) Cranleigh (GU6) Dorking (RH4, RH5) East Molesey (KT8) Egham (TW20) Esher (KT10) Epsom (KT17, KT18, KT19) Farnborough (GU14) Farnham (GU9, GU10) Gatwick (RH6) Godalming (GU7, GU8) Godstone (RH9) Guildford (GU1, GU2, GU3, GU4, GU5, GU13) Hindhead (GU26, GU27) Horley (RH6) Kingston Upon Thames (KT1, KT2) Leatherhead (KT22, KT23, KT24) Lightwater (GU18) Liphook (GU30) Lingfield (RH7) Liss (GU33) Oxted (RH8) Petersfield (GU31, GU32) Petworth (GU28) Midhurst (GU29) New Malden (KT3) Redhill (RH1) Reigate (RH2) Sandhurst (GU47) Shepperton (TW17) Staines-upon-Thames (TW18, TW19) Sunbury-on-Thames (TW16) Surbiton (KT5, KT6) Tadworth (KT20) Thames Ditton (KT7) Teddington (TW11) Virginia Water (GU25) Walton-on-Thames (KT12) Warlingham (CR6) West Byfleet (KT14) West Molesey (KT8) Weybridge (KT13) Whyteleafe (CR3) Windlesham (GU20) Woking (GU21, GU22, GU23, GU24) Worcester Park (KT4) Yateley (GU46) Sussex Arundel (BN18) Battle (TN33) Bexhill-on-Sea (TN39, TN40) Billingshurst (RH14) Brighton (BN1, BN2, BN4, BN41, BN42, BN45) Burgess Hill (RH15) Crawley (RH10, RH11) Eastbourne (BN20, BN21, BN22, BN23) East Grinstead (RH19) Forest Row (RH18) Hailsham (BN27) Hassocks (BN6) Hastings (TN34, TN35) Haywards Heath (RH16, RH17) Henfield (BN5) Horsham (RH12, RH13) Hove (BN3) Lancing (BN15) Littlehampton (BN16, BN17) Lewes (BN7, BN8) Newhaven (BN9) Peacehaven (BN10) Pevensey (BN24) Polegate (BN26) Pulborough (RH20) Robertsbridge (TN32) Rye (TN31) Seaford (BN25) Shoreham-by-Sea (BN43) Steyning (BN44) St. Leonards-on Sea (TN37, TN38) Winchelsea (TN36) Worthing (BN11, BN12, BN13, BN14)

Read more → 7 min read
Article
Multifix’s PPE: Enhancing safety and protection

PPE is naturally a hugely vital part of the job. Whether it’s a hi-vis, a helmet or eye protection, in order to work in the construction sector, you’re going to need PPE. It can’t just be any PPE, either. PPE such as helmets, head protection and gloves all need to be at an EN standard; otherwise, you won’t be deemed safe when on a site.  One issue we keep hearing about is finding a reliable provider of PPE, to help you with your projects and tasks. This is where we come in.  By no means are we suggesting that we are PPE specialists, but we do have a lot of PPE in stock, ready for immediate dispatch, to help you get the job done.  Our PPE comes from a number of manufacturers and is professionally graded. We can also get it to you as soon as possible, thanks to our fleet of dedicated drivers.  To give you an idea of what we have in stock, here is a rundown of the PPE that we have available.  Unbranded helmets and hi-vis The primary form of PPE in the workplace is either a hi-vis or a helmet – and we have lots of both in supply. The only caveat to this is that it is all unbranded, but if that isn’t an issue, then we have everything and more that you’ll need.  Be it orange or yellow hi-vis waistcoats, waterproof bomber jackets with a hood or orange hi-vis trousers, we can have you fully kitted out.  As far as safety helmets go, we stock these in a number of different colours. Our helmets come in an assortment of colours with additional add-ons, if needed. Boots No matter if you’re a size four or a size 12, we’ll have a pair of steel-capped boots for you. Our range of boots comes in either black or honey leather, so there is some slight choice in colour.  It’s important to work in comfort, but also to work knowing your feet are safe in the event of anything happening.  Gloves and sleeves Whether it’s rigger gloves, builder’s gloves, or just disposable gloves, we have you covered.  We offer gloves either as a pair or in large boxes up to 100, depending on what it is you’re after and even have some speciality gloves in our collection as well.  Also, except for our disposable gloves or household gloves, every one of our gloves is rated at EN388. We try to have all our gloves in small, medium, large or extra-large.  In addition, we also offer an EN388-rated 350mm Kevlar sleeve with a thumbhole, to fully protect your arm when in the workplace.  Eye and ear protection It’s important to protect your senses when in the workplace, which is why we also have a number of options for your ears and eyes.  We stock EN 352-2 graded overhead ear defenders, as well as your generic earplugs. We have corded hi-vis earplugs or disposable ones that come in a box of 200. As for eyes, we stock a number of safety goggles and safety specs. Respirators and face masks Finally, our respirator and face mask options certainly go from one extreme to the other. Whether it’s a three-ply disposable face mask in a box of 50 or a JSP Powercap Infinity respirator, we’ll have something for your needs.  We also stock FFP2 valved masks, FFP3 masks and also a number of half-masks, including the JSP Force 8.  As uncomfortable as they can be, we also supply face fit tests, which can be essential depending on what mask or respirator you choose.  That is a full rundown of the type of PPE that we can offer you. If you are seeking a reliable supplier of PPE, we are more than happy to assist you in any way we can with your projects.  If you would like to find out more about the PPE offerings we have here, or our delivery service, please get in touch with us here. 

Read more → 3 min read
Article
Three top tips for buying power tools (and why you shouldn’t always use Multifix)

When you start a new job and discover you need power tools, it can be tricky to know where to start. Asking your mates is a good shout, but maybe their suggestions aren’t taking your fancy.  Depending on what line of work you’re in too, you maybe don’t want something too expensive. If you’re only going to use it a handful of times, you probably don’t want to risk breaking the bank.  There is also a lot of choice with a lot of competing brands for similar items and finding out where to start can be daunting.  You needn’t fear, though. At Multifix, we offer a range of power tools, both 110V corded and 18V cordless, that will cover all your basic needs. Our Paslode and Makita range covers just about every power tool going, be it circular saws or drywall screwdrivers, or even combi tools.  If you’re stuck, we’re happy to field calls to help you make the best purchase for your project.  Sometimes though, that isn’t enough. And it certainly isn’t enough for some of our customers, who frequently ask for DeWalt, Milwaukee, or Festool. This is very understandable; they’re all reliable and outstanding brands, but when we inform you that we don’t stock them, we are asked… Why does Multifix only supply power tools that they keep in stock? Why don’t they sell other brands? Why don’t they have more variety? Well, we thought it would be best to give you some answers. As online competition increases, it’s sometimes cheaper to buy certain power tools elsewhere than it is for us to buy them wholesale and sell to you. What we do have in stock, we can still give you the best deal for – especially with Paslode and Makita products.  In the main though, we would suggest you look elsewhere. It’s not only cheaper than going through all the hoops with us for a power tool we don’t stock, but you get much more variety, too. In fact, we tell our customers the same thing on the phone. However, the next question we get is ‘what should I look out for when buying power tools?’  So, with that in mind, we have come up with our top three tips on what to do when purchasing power tools elsewhere.  Tip one: Know exactly what tools you’re getting There’s nothing worse than getting on site, unpacking your new tools and realising you’ve not got what you need. It’s a simple tip, but it goes a long way. Site veterans may scoff at this tip and assume it’s only for DIY users, but you’d be surprised. We’ve had more than a few calls from professionals saying, “this isn’t what I wanted,” when they’ve not fully checked what they’re buying.  The product images can be very deceiving, so make sure you read the description before purchasing. Things like sanding belts or extra blades – or even batteries – aren’t always included. For example, the DeWalt cordless saw range at Screwfix doesn’t include a battery or a charger; you have to buy them separately.  Tip two: Register your tools Unfortunately, there's a small chance that the power tool you have ordered either stops working, is faulty from the get-go, or breaks while using it. At this point, you'll want to return it, but unless you've registered it, you'll find this difficult. We sometimes hear of these examples happening, which is bad enough as is, but made worse by hearing the power tool wasn't registered. If your power tool isn’t registered, you won’t be fully covered by warranty.  Do it before you even use it. We understand it can be an easy thing to forget, especially when in a hurry, but it’s vitally important you do so. Otherwise, you risk wasting your head-earned money. Also, registering your tools often results in a longer warranty period and in some cases, free servicing. It’s worth doing.  Tip three: Check the fine print The topic of warranty leads us to our final tip. Make sure you know exactly what the warranty is and what options that come with it.  For example, some companies – ourselves being one – will come and collect the broken power tool from your site, which saves you time and money. Others may not offer that and it could be up to you to send it back through tracked mail, at your own expense.  Knowledge is certainly power in these sorts of situations and it can only help if you know exactly what you are getting with your power tool.  Now you have our top three tips, here are five power tool specialists that we would recommend you shop with… Power Tool World The clue is very much in the name with Power Tool World, who live and breathe…well, power tools. There are several reasons why we would recommend them and they mostly focus on customer satisfaction.  Given they specialise in power tools, Power Tool World always have a big stock holding, so if you need anything, there is a very good chance they have it. Also, they offer PayPal Pay in Three as a payment option, offer free delivery on orders over £50 and you can order before 7pm for next-day delivery.  ITS If you’re based in London, ITS are especially useful as they have stores in Leyton, Walthamstow and Harlow. This means you can pick up from them direct if you need something immediately.  Plus, ITS will offer a price match if you see anything on their site that either Screwfix or Toolstation can offer cheaper. They can even one up Power Tool World with their next-day delivery service too, as you can order up until 8pm and still get your item within 24 hours.  ToolChimp If it’s Tacwise products that you need, then ToolChimp is your go-to. They stock hundreds of Tacwise products and accessories, ranging from air nailers to plastic staples.  ToolChimp also has 0% finance options on orders over £120 and will offer a free delivery service in the UK, provided your order is over £100.  Nuts & Bolts Equally, if it’s Festool products that you’re after, Nuts and Bolts – otherwise known as N&B – are an excellent option. They offer great availability and very fair prices for the German power tools. This is important given how tough it can be getting out of stock Festool products, as not everyone can wait seven working days for an order. However, it is best to order through N&B over the phone, as their portal can be difficult to navigate. It’s worth noting there is nothing wrong with the service and the delivery is normally spot on, but some may find their website to be clunky.  Westcountry Machinery4Wood Much like N&B, Westcountry Machinery4Wood specialise in Festool power tools. Really, this makes sense given joiners love Festool products because of their precision to the millimetre. Their pricing and service are very good, plus their website is easy to use and order from. As such, this makes them a very comfortable recommendation from our side of things. You might think it’s weird to see us pick five competitor companies to buy from, but it's in your best interests to use these tips for power tool shopping.  When it comes to Paslode and Makita power tools, we provide industry-leading service. Despite that, we can’t cater to the entire power tools market in the same way that these companies can. So, in short, if it’s DeWalt or Festool you’re after, use these companies; they’ll have everything you need and more and all come with our seal of approval. With these tips too, you’ll get a satisfactory transaction every time and won’t be let down like you are when you call us and we can’t help.  If it’s Paslode or Makita you’re needing though, let us help you – find out how to speak to an advisor here. 

Read more → 6 min read
Article
All about delivery

If you’re new to Multifix, you might have some questions about the delivery service we provide. If you can’t find your question answered, give us call on 020 3248 4086, and we’ll be happy to help. Do you offer next day delivery? Yes, at least 95% of all of orders are picked and packed the same day we receive them and are delivered the next working day as standard. See below for our order cut off times. On the odd occasion we’re out of stock of a particular item, we’ll contact you to let you know and when you can expect your delivery. What is the cut off time for next day delivery? For next day deliveries within our own-van delivery zone, our order cut off time is 5.00pm. If your site is outside of own van delivery zone, these times vary as we would need to arrange a courier for you: for orders over 50kg (deliveries by a pallet courier), the cut of time is 4.00pm and for orders less than 50kg, the cut off time is 4.30pm. Do you offer same day delivery? As all of our fleet have left the depot by 7.00am, we can arrange same day delivery using a third-party courier service. Depending on where you are in the country, charges will vary. If you have an urgent requirement, talk to us and we’ll find a solution for you. Do you deliver nationwide? The short answer is, yes we do. We have been delivering to London & the South East for 30 years, with our own vans delivering to 93% of our customers. In those areas we don’t go to so regularly, we use reputable courier services. We know that using a third party service can be stressful for both you and us, but we are proud to have a 90% success rate with our partner services. What areas do you deliver to? Our own-van delivery zone is expanding all the time; we now deliver to Swindon & Wilshire and have a 3-year expansion plan to extend our coverage even more. To check if you’re in our own-van delivery zone, take a look at this map. Can you offer AM deliveries? 75% of our customers’ orders are delivered before midday. If you have an AM delivery requirement, please speak to one of our team when you place your order. If you’re ordering via the customer portal, just add the information to to the delivery notes section. If you opt for delivery on a third party courier service to guarantee an AM delivery, carriage charges will apply. Do you offer booked in deliveries and/or time slots? We know that some sites have delivery restrictions to keep the traffic flowing around them. We work together with several of our customers to achieve timed deliveries that are mutually workable. Talk to us to see how we can help you. Do you charge carriage? From 1 March, 2024, we will be introducing a carrier charge for all orders under £100.  What is the minimum order value? Our Operations team plan the most efficient use of our fleet on a daily basis. To help minimise our impact on the environment, we encourage our customers to place orders with a minimum value of £100. We know that this is not always possible due to site circumstances or space, so we are flexible in our approach. When can I expect my delivery? Multifix drivers call you shortly before they are due to deliver and leave parcels in a safe place when asked to do so. Can I track my delivery? When your order has been dispatched on our fleet, you’ll receive a text notification. This contains a link to the customer portal, showing an estimated arrival time. Here you will also find live tracking of your order. The ETA is updated regularly, according to the traffic conditions. You’ll also receive a text when your delivery has arrived – useful if you’re not the one on site receiving it. If your order is being delivered by a third party courier service, you will receive communications direct from them. Can I collect? If you’d prefer to collect from us, you can do so from our Distribution depot in Barking (IG11 0EG). Just head to the Customer Collections area, which is signposted. From order placement, all we need is an hour to process, pick & pack your order. Where can I find PODs for my orders? If you are registered on the customer portal, all order history including PODs will be shown on your account dashboard. If you’re not registered on the portal, simply call the Customer Services team and they’ll be able to provide a POD for you. What happens if there’s problem with my order? In the event of a problem with your order, please speak to a member of our Customer Services team in the first instance and we’ll sort out the issue for you. Are your vans and drivers your own, or do you use couriers? Yes, we have our own branded vans & lorries and employ our own drivers. Having our own vehicle fleet, and employing our own drivers gives us the agility to respond to customer needs, focusing our team where they’re needed the most. Our drivers are friendly & courteous and know their routes well as we don’t switch their areas - this way they get to know regular customers and their preferences. How will my order be delivered? Our fleet consists of panel vans, curtain sided trucks and a van & trailer combination with crane offloading facility for bulky items. All vehicles are 3.5 tonnes, which enables fast site offloading. Are your vehicles sign-written? All of our vehicles are sign-written with black and yellow Multifix branding, to enable easy identification for safety & security purposes. Do your drivers have their own PPE? Our drivers all have 5 point PPE (hat, gloves, glasses, boots & hi-vis) for their protection and to meet your site requirements. Will your drivers help me offload? Our drivers will help you take your boxes to your container or site office – it’s all part of our personal service. For deliveries not on our own vehicle, third party couriers offer a kerbside delivery service. Do you have FORS accreditation? Yes, we are FORS silver accredited. This accreditation ensures driver training, vehicle safety and insurance cover are to standard and CO2 emissions are measured and improved upon.

Read more → 5 min read
Article
Multifix Online Portal - New Features

1. Condensed menus Making it quicker & easier to navigate 2. Improved user set up Simplified flow to setting up new users. 3. Three new levels of user Easily customisable to your teams with the addition of one overall Super Admin user to increase security. 4. Order Management All order stages are now displayed together with filter options to find what you need, fast. 5. User Settings Your user settings condensed into one page. 6. Quick orders Browse from the website (Browse shop), use the search bar or use your favourites list to add items to your quick order or requisition. 7. Swap between orders for different sites or projects Integration with the Website, create a quick order or requisition and then browser through our Shop to add to your order. This new feature also enables you to swap between drafts and also enables you to create new orders within the shop. 8. SMS / Email confirmation Ability to receive notifications as to when orders are despatched from our warehouse with an eta and then also when they are delivered. This can be by SMS or by email depending on what you prefer.

Read more → 1 min read
Article
Construction Industry update Q4 2022

We’ve brought together the headlines from some leading Industry sources to provide a snapshot of the economic outlook for the Construction Industry. Construction Output expected to fall significantly in 2023 amid looming UK Economic Recession Headlines from the Construction Products Association (CPA) forecast a reduction in construction output of 3.9% in 2023 (compared to a rise of 2.0% in 2022). The CPA cite this as “mainly due to the impact of a wider economic recession, exacerbated by the effect of the ‘Mini Budget’, and the consequent fallout from recent political uncertainty.” For the full article visit ConstructionProducts.org.uk Construction Outlook: October 2022 Hewes & Associates forecast the decline of Construction Output in 2023 to be 5% and, state “Tighter public spending, higher inflation, and in turn raised base rates will be the new reality in our view. Efforts to control inflation will, we expect, result in base rates rising to around 4%, while inflation is forecast to peak in 2023, and drop to around 4-5% by 2024.” They also predict a housing downturn in 2023/2024 due to high borrowing rates, pressure on household incomes and low economic confidence, although “we do not foresee another round of austerity of the likes undertaken over the years 2010-2015” For the full article visit Hewes-Associates.com Some of the levers affecting these predictions: For the full article visit Building.co.uk Inflation: Energy costs:

Read more → 1 min read
Article
Are your masks fitted correctly?

The JSP Force 8 is a reusable half-mask, negative-pressure respirator. It consists of a filter-holding unit and is made from moulded rubber. The mask has intake and exhaust valves attached to adjustable straps, which fit tightly to the wearer's face.  The JSP Force 8 has a replaceable filter that removes dust when the facepiece seal is leak-tight and delivers high protection against water and oil-based dust, mists and fumes. Does your mask fit correctly?  If your mask isn't fitted correctly, it won't give you the protection you need. Luckily, the new Force 8 PressToCheck means that the fit of the JSP mask can be checked quickly and easily.  1. FIT IT! Put the straps and harness over your head and pull them to a suitably tight and comfortable fit for you.  2. PRESS IT! Use the PressToCheck function and squeeze the front and backs of both filter covers together to stop air from entering through the filters.  3. CHECK IT! When you inhale, no air should come through the mask. If it does, adjust the mask and straps and repeat the process until it doesn't. Release when seal is made. What makes the JSP Force 8 Half Mask so great? It provides protection against construction dust. Made from lightweight thermoplastic rubber, it is flexible, fits most face shapes and is comfortable to wear. The 4-point cradle suspension harness with quick-release buckles ensures a daily face fit reassurance. The CR2 reflective strips create increased visibility in low light environments for added safety. The face mask components break down easily, allowing for cleaning and maintenance, making it more hygienic. It passed the dolomite clogging test and conforms to EN143. Add the P3 Filter which: Fits easily to the Force 8 Respirator  Has an advanced Typhoon Exhalation Valve that provides low breathing resistance, low heat, moisture and CO2 build-up also performs well at low temperatures. Features a Force 8 PressToCheck function, which instantly indicates if you have an effective face seal. Take a look at the JSP Force 8 Mask Here and our PressToCheck P3 Filters here.

Read more → 2 min read
Article
Which panel adhesive should I be using?

Not sure what type of panel adhesive you should be using? Unsure as to the differences between them? Take a look below at panel adhesive explained. The 3 Main Types of Adhesives Acrylic Based- Acrylic Adhesives are manufactured using acrylic or methyl acrylic polymers & fillers. They dry by a loss of water into a substrate (one of which must be porous). They are extremely strong and efficient in bonding multiple objects together and are very environmentally resistant. Solvent Based- Solvent based adhesives are manufactured using rubbers & resins. They are a glue or adhesion product that usually comes in the form of a liquid. Resins are dissolved in a volatile solvent to produce a tacky polymer solution, which can be extremely adhesive when dry. These dry by the evaporation of solvent air. MS/Hybrid Polymer Based- MS/Hybrid Polymer based adhesives combine polyurethane & silicone technology to deliver hybrid sealant that is extremely versatile. These are a one-part, elastic adhesive based on a modified silane polymer that cures when exposed to moisture to form high-performance elastomer. Which Panel Adhesive should I order and why?

Read more → 1 min read
Article
Protect your workforce

Tackling inefficient removal of silica dust on construction sites is a priority for the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and construction sites are legally required to use an M-class vacuum or extractor. That’s where the V-TUF M-Class Mini comes in! It is the safest and most efficient way to tackle dust on-site. 9% filtration efficiency Lightweight (Only 5kg) Washable filters Integrated filter shaker system Lightweight, compact, easy to store Extraction velocity monitor Using a V-TUF M-Class Mini protects those working on construction sites as it reduces the amount of harmful dust particles they breathe in through the air.  Regularly breathing construction dust can cause diseases like lung cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD – which includes emphysema and other breathing difficulties) and silicosis.  Silica is the second biggest killer of construction workers after asbestos." (HSE) Using a V-TUF M-Class Mini protects those working on construction sites as it reduces the amount of harmful dust particles they breathe in through the air.  Unrated vacuums can exhaust over 80% of harmful dust particles back in the air, which remain airborne for up to 8 hours. The V-TUF M-Class Mini, paired with M-Class rated filter bags that have a 99.9% filtration efficiency, and has been designed to protect your workforce from serious long-term health problems and disease in the future. Save time and money Using a V-TUF M-Class Mini makes cleaning up and packing away much quicker, enabling you to swiftly move on to the next project. Efficient dust extraction can also prolong the performance of the tools and accessories used on-site. It ensures that tools aren't clogged up with dust and require less maintenance. If you choose to invest in a V-TUF M-Class Mini you’ll need to use M-Class dust filter bags. Extra strong with a hard cardboard collar and a soft rubber sealer ring, our M-Class Dust Filter Bags are approved for the use in the V-TUF M-Class Vacuum range.

Read more → 2 min read
1 2 4 Next →

If you haven't seen what you need, an expert will help
you find the solution you need.