Bathrooms in Finland often hide a turquoise secret – celebrating 25 years of this waterproofing innovation
It was the year 1999 when Kiilto developed and introduced an easy-to-apply waterproofing membrane to the Finnish market, Kiilto Kerafiber. It soon became clear that the turquoise Kerafiber was here to stay.
When Kiilto Kerafiber was launched in 1999, waterproofing in wetrooms had only been mandatory in Finland for a year. The new product met the urgent need of wetroom builders for an efficient and user-friendly waterproofing solution for various construction projects.
But why did the widespread need for advanced waterproofing in Finland originate? The answer lies in the evolution of living conditions.
In the 1950s, Finland still widely practiced the culture of outdoor saunas. Washing took place in facilities separate from the residential buildings. As the number of bathrooms within residential buildings began to increase, it became necessary to consider how to effectively prevent water from penetrating the structures.
Before the development of modern waterproofing membranes, various methods of moisture and waterproofing were already in use, such as plastic mats in bathrooms. The winds of change at the turn of the millennium brought about a transformation, and today, Kiilto Kerafiber has been used to waterproof hundreds of thousands of wetrooms.
Agile in-house product development
The production and development of Kiilto Kerafiber still take place at its birthplace in Lempäälä, Finland. The long-standing popularity is backed by Kiilto’s own product development expertise and close cooperation with Kiilto’s customers. Requests and feedback from builders have been swiftly incorporated into the product development.
The original product development manager for Kerafiber at Kiilto’s laboratory was Jarl-Erik Jansson. Jansson had a long career in Kiilto’s product development from 1975 until 2006.
Since 2022, the laboratory coat of the waterproofing product development manager has been worn by RDI Manager Mika Ronkainen.
“Kerafiber has a certain good consistency, good spreadability, water tightness…” Ronkainen lists the familiar basic properties of Kerafiber.
One feature that is hard to miss is, of course, the product’s turquoise color. It is a common sight for many construction professionals on job sites across Finland.
“Construction workers might also be familiar with the distinctive smell of the product when opening a can of Kerafiber,” Ronkainen hints.
A more user-friendly product replaced the previous one
The predecessor of Kiilto Kerafiber was Kiilto Keragum, which was introduced to the market in 1994. It was also a brushable, liquid waterproofing product. However, the difference from Kerafiber was significant.
“With Keragum, at least for the floor, a separate reinforcement fabric had to be used. With Kerafiber, this extra floor fabric is not needed, as the product was developed to be microfiber-reinforced,” Ronkainen explains.
Upon entering the market, the user-friendly Kiilto Kerafiber quickly became a favorite among wetroom contractors. The practicality of brushable waterproofing products has also been showcased at Kiilto’s office.
“Back in the day we had cardboard boxes coated with waterproofing on the inside and then filled with water. The water stood in the cardboard box, but the box remained dry. Of course, we had to add water occasionally as it evaporated into the air,” Ronkainen recalls.
The future brings constant innovation
The development of wetroom products at Kiilto is still ongoing. This is evident in the innovative new products and solutions in Kiilto’s range. Some of the new solutions have also complemented the familiar Kerafiber system. For example, Kiilto Pro XPU adhesive sealant can now be used for sealing penetrations, corners, and joints in wetrooms instead of reinforcement accessories.
The range of brushable and rollable waterproofing products has also expanded in recent decades to meet different needs, with Kiilto introducing the fast-drying Kiilto Kerapro and the two-component product Kiilto Keramix. The fabric-like waterproofing foil Kiilto Kerasafe+ has also been introduced to the market, a popular product in Sweden.
Kiilto’s solutions are also utilized in bathroom module factories. The growth of modular construction is one of the current trends, bringing Kiilto increasing demand for various types of solutions.
“In the industrialization of construction, solutions suitable for industrial lines are needed. Their role is growing,” Ronkainen summarizes.
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