RLA vs Gripset: when to use which

Both RLA Polymers and Gripset are Australian-made. Both have four-decade track records on Hunter-region trade work. Both make products we stock by the pallet. Tradies new to the SJ Stickys range often ask the same question: when do I use which?

The short answer is to pick by job category, not by brand. The longer answer is in the rest of this post — product-by-product, with the spec numbers and the typical Hunter use case for each.

The short version: pick by category

• Tile adhesive, grout, sealant → RLA Polymers’ core range. Forty years of specification depth, especially on standard-format ceramic and porcelain.
• Waterproofing membrane (any exposure) → Gripset. The widest range of certified systems by exposure level.
• Primer → both make solid options. Gripset GP is the most-specified general-purpose primer in our yard; RLA Universal Primer is the equivalent on the RLA side.
• Self-levelling → RLA’s bagged-screed and self-leveller range.

Tile adhesives — RLA wins on range depth

RLA Polymers’ tile adhesive lineup is the most depth-rated range we stock. Three core products cover the typical Hunter-region job mix:

Adhesive	Built for	Coverage @ 10 mm	Bag
RLA UniLite S1	Mosaics through to large-format ceramic. Lightweight (non-sanded), versatile.	5–6 m² per bag	12.5 kg
RLA Mastik	Premium polymer-modified for large-format porcelain.	7 m² per bag	20 kg
RLA Add Flextra	Rubber-modified for substrate movement — balconies, second-storey wet areas, podiums.	10–12 m² per bag	20 kg

All three carry 15-year warranties and ASNZ certifications. Gripset’s tile-fix range is smaller and primarily exists as a “complete the waterproofing system” play. If you’re picking a tile adhesive in isolation, RLA’s range is broader, the bond data is deeper, and the pricing economics favour it on most jobs.

Waterproofing — Gripset wins on exposure-range coverage

Gripset’s positioning is right there in the tagline: The King of Membranes. They specialise. Their lineup is built around waterproofing first, with everything else as system components for the membrane.

Membrane	Best for	L/m² per coat	Coats (typical)
Gripset 38FC	Residential bathrooms, fast-cure undertile. Class III to AS/NZ4858 + AS4654.	0.5	2 (3 for balcony)
Gripset Betta	Positive + negative water pressure (flood-zone slabs, retaining walls). 1-Part Flexible Cementitious.	0.6	2
Gripset Elastomeric	Dynamic-joint accommodation (suspended-slab balconies, podiums).	0.5–0.7	2 (3 for balcony)
Elastoproof Butyl	Detailing for joints, junctions, penetrations. Sheet membrane.	n/a	n/a

RLA’s WPM Class III is a genuinely good wet-area membrane (0.75 mm wet-film thickness per coat, 2 coats giving 0.9 mm DFT, all certified). If you’re working a straight residential bathroom run, WPM is as solid as Gripset 38FC and often slightly cheaper per litre. The difference shows up at the edges — when the job needs negative-pressure performance, dynamic-joint accommodation, or direct-marine durability. That’s where Gripset’s range goes deeper than RLA’s.

Primers — close to a draw

Gripset GP (general purpose, water-based, low-VOC) and RLA Universal Primer cover the same use case at near-identical coverage rates (~0.125 L/m² on porous, ~0.10 L/m² on non-porous). Pick whichever lines up with the rest of your system spec. Most contractors stay loyal to one brand here for procurement simplicity rather than performance reasons.

The exception: non-porous substrates (power-floated concrete, terrazzo, over-tile). For those, Gripset E60 (water-based epoxy primer, two-part kit) is the more-specified option in our yard. RLA’s equivalent works fine; Gripset E60 has more brand recognition in the Hunter spec community.

Sealants and grout — RLA’s territory

RLA Silikön 700 Professional is the workhorse wet-area silicone in our range — neutral-cure, 100% silicone, 14 colour options, anti-mould, 15-year warranty. There’s no Gripset equivalent we’d recommend over it for wet-area applications.

For grouting, RLA’s range (including RLA Epoxy Grout for stain-resistant applications) covers the typical residential and commercial spec. Gripset’s involvement in this category is minimal; they make a couple of grout/sealant lines but it’s not where they invest.

Pack-size economics

On bigger jobs, the pack-size choice matters more than the brand. RLA’s 20 kg bags (Mastik, Add Flextra) are the more economical unit for any job over 25 m². UniLite S1’s 12.5 kg bag suits smaller jobs and is easier to mix on-site without a full crew. Gripset’s 15 L pail is good value for the typical 4 m² to 15 m² residential bathroom; the 4 L pail suits small-area top-ups and detailing work.

One non-obvious tip: on a 30+ bathroom build, the 20 kg RLA bags + 15 L Gripset pails are roughly half the per-m² cost of buying small packs. The savings cover an extra crew day.

A typical Hunter bathroom-reno spec

To make this concrete, here’s how we’d spec a typical Charlestown or Hamilton bathroom renovation — a mix of both brands working in their strongest categories:

• Substrate prep: Gripset GP primer on porous substrates (concrete + cement-sheet). Gripset E60 if there’s existing tile or power-floated concrete underneath.
• Self-levelling (if needed): RLA Self-Level at ~1.6 kg/m² per mm of thickness.
• Waterproofing membrane: Gripset 38FC SBR Fast Cure — 2 coats over the primer, with Elastoproof Butyl detailing at all internal corners and pipe penetrations.
• Tile adhesive: RLA Mastik for large-format porcelain (600 × 1200 and above). RLA UniLite S1 for standard-format ceramic on suspended floors.
• Grout: RLA Epoxy Grout for the wet-area floor; standard cementitious for walls.
• Wet-area silicone: RLA Silikön 700 Professional at all corner joints and tile-to-fixture interfaces.

Two brands. Each in their lane. The result is a system that performs better than either brand could solo, and it’s the standard spec we recommend to most Hunter-region trade contractors.

When to default to which — quick decision tree

• “I need to stick something to something” → RLA range (tile adhesives, flooring adhesives, repair mortars).
• “I need to seal a joint or expansion gap” → RLA Silikön 700 (wet area). Polyurethane (dynamic joints).
• “I need to keep water out” → Gripset range, picked by exposure level (38FC residential / Betta negative-pressure / Elastomeric dynamic-joint / Butyl detailing).
• “I need to fill a gap or smooth a substrate” → RLA range (grouts, levellers, prep mortars).
• “I need a primer” → Either. Gripset GP for porous substrates, Gripset E60 for non-porous. RLA Universal Primer if you’re running an all-RLA system.
• “I’m not sure what I need” → talk to us. Spec mistakes are expensive; spec questions are free.

Pricing notes

Per-litre and per-kg pricing on both brands is meaningfully better with a trade account than walk-in retail. We don’t publish exact percentages because they vary by typical monthly spend — but a contractor on a trade account typically saves 15–25% on standard lines. Trade vs cash sale covers the maths.

For sizing your order, use the tile adhesive, waterproofing, self-levelling and primer calculators — each one is sized to the specific RLA and Gripset SKUs we stock.

Apply for a trade account — three minutes, one form, same-day approval — and we’ll come back with pricing on both ranges, set up for your typical job mix.