What's so good about BAL?

[woody]

First timer and newish to tiling ...saw on the recent poll a massive 85% voted BAL as the best brand of adhesives and grouts, what makes it better than all the others?

[tysfoot]

it winks at you and says "hey baby wanna come back to mine tonight"

[Dan]

Originally Posted by woody

First timer and newish to tiling ...saw on the recent poll a massive 85% voted BAL as the best brand of adhesives and grouts, what makes it better than all the others?

To be honest it's probably down to their marketing strategies. Though their investment in chemistry has paid off although a few of their products can be matched these days in quality from other names I feel personally.

They certainly are number 1 in the UK for the tile market. They're the Heinz of adhesives.

They used to offer free tiling courses and even pay for the accommodation for those on the course so they can show people how to tile using BAL gear. And it really was case of "get your BAL bucket and fill it with BAL water and dip your BAL sponge in it and then grab your BAL float and apply the BAL grout on the BAL wall you've just BAL tiled" lol. And clearly that paid off as now we just can't stop saying the bloody name.

Others have tried to pull off such a scheme but haven't had such success. Now BAL charge for their courses too though it seems unfair in my opinion as they don't support the industry from an NVQ point of view. And they're pushing tilers out that wont be able to work on site in 2010. And there's only 21 months to go now for those tilers to get passed.
----
To add to the above.

Topps Tiles are BAL's biggest account, with no other account being close to it. If Topps dropped BAL, BAL would really suffer. (And it reflects in their annual kick-backs)

No other adhesive manufacturer relies on such a contract I believe, and if any other manufacturer every got that contract you can be sure that before long they'd be selling the quantity to invest in the chemistry which in turn churns out good products which means they sell, they profit, and then they invest in the marketing - and you'd find that poll we took would change a bit.

BAL are only big in the UK though.

[Fekin]

What's so good about BAL?

It does what it says on the tin "bucket"

[Dave]

According to a BAL rep....CTD are the biggest supplier of BAL products....Topps do sell BAL products but they also sell there own brands so they don't sell the quantity of BAL products thats CTD do...

[Dan]

I've been out of the game a bit but I still think the BAL reps would tell you Topps account with BAL is nearly twice that of the next account. I'll see what true info I can find to correct us (probably me lol).

I know Topps buy some if their tiles from CTD (or used to - again been out of the game for a bit - Gaz will correct me if I'm wrong there) but on the adhesives front I'm pretty sure it's in Topps' best interest to push BAL as they get a kick back based on qty over the financial year. And unless topps got a their own stuff a shed load cheaper it would be bad business to loose those kick backs as they have the best chance to get the best amount from BAL - providing they shift the gear, and they do/would.

Who makes Topps own gear then?

[Dave]

All i know is wot the reps say but they could be just keeping each one sweet.

As for topps gears manufacturer..pass i never use there gear.... a lot of comps seem to re-brand in there own name....some use granfix and some use ultra .. maybe gaz can enlighten us on this one......

[pjc]

gaz will tell you that Dan think its palace chemicals

[GazLC81]

When I started I used nothing but Bal stuff. I still think it is probably the best stuff, just a bit pricey. I always use whitestar on bathroom walls but now use Granfix on kitchens etc.

I use Topps own brand rapidset but Bal flexible rapidset, don't know why, I just think you get used to using a particular product and just stick with it!

Must say, can't go wrong with Bal stuff though!

[whitebeam]

I buy from an independent tile supplier and they told me that bal will only allow a 20% dicount on there material while others like biscem will give you 40% to trade, You either want to sell your product or you don't, We all have a choice

[Leatherface]

Don't beleive the hype mate

Think firstly this may be down to availability in certain areas. Where I come from Bal is only available at Topps Tiles. Most of the tilers I know will not buy it because it is too expensive compared to other brands which in my and their opinion are equally as good ( if not better)
I have used Mapei products from day 1 - never had a problem, very easy and pleasant to use. Reliable and cheaper than Bal in my area.

How about Mapei Keraquick - Grey flexi - cement based - £13.70 per 25 kg bag , incl VAT.
Mapie Mapeker - Non flexible Rapid set ( but suitable for porceain ) - £12.00 per bag incl VAT.

[grumpygrouter]

Originally Posted by whitebeam

I buy from an independent tile supplier and they told me that bal will only allow a 20% dicount on there material while others like biscem will give you 40% to trade, You either want to sell your product or you don't, We all have a choice

I think some one is telling you porkies, I get 34% discount on my BAL purchases and I have only been trading for 9 months!

Grumpy