Interviews / 11/8/2024

Crafting luxury with Mapei: an installer's success story

Mladen Božić, the owner of the installation company KXK kamen i keramika d.o.o., explains how Mapei's innovative solutions enhance quality and durability in ceramic tile and stone installation.

Interviewee

Mladen Božić

Owner of KXK kamen i keramika d.o.o.

A seasoned Croatian installer shares his journey with Mapei products, highlighting their key role in elevating the standards of ceramic and natural stone installations. From discovering Mapei solutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina to founding his own company in Croatia, the installer emphasizes both the durability, performance and reliability of Mapei products and the excellence of the company’s technical services. Mapei adhesives, grouts, and waterproofing products have been instrumental in delivering high-end projects, ensuring safety and performance in various challenging environments.

What is your main activity in and how did you learn about Mapei solutions?

I am an installer of ceramic and natural stone coverings and first became aware of Mapei products twenty years ago in Bosnia-Herzegovina. I immediately noticed the high quality of these materials that set them apart from others available on the market. I worked for several years in Germany and even in this country I continued to use Mapei products. Once I returned to Croatia, I founded my own installation company and went on using Mapei products. In most cases I work on projects in the Zagreb area.

What kind of projects are you involved in?

We are involved in various types of projects: from residential to swimming pool construction. We specialize in the construction of apartments and other luxury residential buildings, and Mapei systems have proven to be particularly suitable for this segment of the Croatian construction market. The company's solutions prove ideal, for example, for the installation of high-end ceramic coverings in prestigious settings.

Mapei products help completing high-end residential products in Croatia because they can ensure durability and safety to installed ceramic and stone coverings.

What features of Mapei products do you most appreciate?

We greatly appreciate the durability ensured by Mapei solutions and the high aesthetic impact we can achieve from the use of their products such as, for example, colored grouts for joints. The ease of application of these materials and the fact that they guarantee safety to the installed surfaces in all weather conditions and in different contexts (including those near the sea) are also features that lead us to choose this company's solutions.

In addition, we particularly appreciate Mapei's ability to ensure excellent technical support services as for both the use of its products and the care of installed surfaces.

We know that we can rely on a very competent team of technicians who are always available to help us solve the problems we encounter on the job site. We also appreciate Mapei's ability to provide on-the-job training on the use of Mapei products in specific cases, such as in the use of Mapei solutions for bonding large-format ceramic or stone tiles on terraces or balconies as well as those for waterproofing substrates.

Mapei solutions for installing ceramic tiles are especially suitable for projects involving terraces and balconies.

What brings you to Marmomac trade fair?

We are interested in natural stones because it is a type of covering often used in high-end residential projects in Croatia. The stone, of Italian origin but not only, is very appreciated in our country, especially travertine.

Mapei solutions can ensure safe installation of stone materials in high-end residential projects.

Which Mapei products do you like the most?

I especially like KERAFLEX MAXI S1 adhesive because of its workability and flexibility that make it very different from the rest of the products available on the market. I also appreciate using KERAPOXY EASY DESIGN grouts and Mapei silicone sealants. As for waterproofing interventions, I often choose MAPEGUARD UM 35 and MAPELASTIC AQUADEFENSE, MAPELASTIC and MAPEBAND EASY.