on the poll for adhesives bal seems to be the favorite,can some one explain why ,im reading through the threads trying to increase my knowledge on adhesives ardex7001 is a one part ,cheaper,and not dirty to work with,also dunlop is also cheaper and apparently a good adhesive from the same company as bal but there dosnt seem to be much mention of this,im thinking of a plywood floor, and with what ive read i would go for ardex flex7001 and mapei grout,,does this sound resonable?apologies in advance if im missing something

It does sound reasonable.

Basically, BAL have had good unique marketing strategies for some time. As a result they've always had lots of customers and a healthy revenue. As a result of that they've been able to develop their ranges (in their words) 'far above british standards'.

You know when you fix with BAL, they're fixed.

That said - it's probably the most expensive adhesive trade and retail. Partly because they're in most of the huge chain stores, and all of the distributors, and although it's upto the distributor / supplier to come up with their prices, they're quite high to start with I'm sure.

Mapei are far bigger globally, and they're one of the best adhesives, and THE best grout on a few levels it seems, though BAL do still take a good stand in the Grout Poll, as you would imagine.

As always, I'd say try a few of the adhesives you can get hold of and test them physically yourself. Obviously in these tough times construction-wise / economy (if you believe that) then price is becoming (perhaps always has been) one of the main factors if not the most important factor to most retail customers along with the contractors.

I don't think any of the building sites around my end use BAL for that reason. Though if you asked the tiler fixing in the said new home what he'd use on his own, he'd probably say something along the lines of what the adhesive poll has come up with as his answer.

These are the views of me, not BAL or the forum.

I got a flyer from Topps today and they are knocking BAL prices right down, are Topps in some sort of trouble?

Originally Posted by Fred

I got a flyer from Topps today and they are knocking BAL prices right down, are Topps in some sort of trouble?

They have been for sometime! Just look at their share prices

Kev

Originally Posted by TilingLogistics

They have been for sometime! Just look at their share prices

Kev

I never thought.............

But why, as I've done recently & became a fixer for them.........no work as yet, do they want me to write down what I need for the client and have them produce that quote at topps and the client has to pay FULL price on adhesive etc....!!!!

Surely now, they would just be happy with tilers getting adhesive etc on their trade accounts for the client and making some money! If they are that much trouble, better to have some sales on tiles and cheaper addy via the fixer....IMO.

Originally Posted by Fred

I got a flyer from Topps today and they are knocking BAL prices right down, are Topps in some sort of trouble?

Ithink you'll always find CTD *& TileBase cheaper than Topps with Tile and Adhesive.

Originally Posted by Fred

I got a flyer from Topps today and they are knocking BAL prices right down, are Topps in some sort of trouble?

Same as you Fred the first flyer I've had from them and the prices do seem to have dropped

Originally Posted by whitebeam

Same as you Fred the first flyer I've had from them and the prices do seem to have dropped

Yeah, green star £4.94p x v.a.t, toppfix rapid set flexi white 20kg £13.99p x v.a.t, special interductory offer--supercover rapid grey wall & floor addy £11.99p x v.a.t............and it goes on.................

Originally Posted by Fred

Yeah, green star £4.94p x v.a.t, toppfix rapid set flexi white 20kg £13.99p x v.a.t, special interductory offer--supercover rapid grey wall & floor addy £11.99p x v.a.t............and it goes on.................

It's taken em long enough to see the light

I believe everyone buys Bal at the same price including Topps. The price it is retailed at depends on the supplier

Originally Posted by GazTech

I believe everyone buys Bal at the same price including Topps. The price it is retailed at depends on the supplier

May I say I do not agree. I go to several independent shops, two of whom are well established, but still have to buy via other means, i.e, bigger tiling shops who apparently hold a 'pyramid' to the tile adhesives.

Two such shops who seem to supply other shops sell, obviously cheaper to me than the other two. I have had extensive chats with the lesser shops, and they have confirmed this. And they are ALL cheaper than Topps until now.

I'm not asking for a fight, but its the way it has been told to me. Maybe its space to stock the materials, I don't know.

Originally Posted by gaztech

i believe everyone buys bal at the same price including topps. The price it is retailed at depends on the supplier

fact...

Originally Posted by Fred

May I say I do not agree. I go to several independent shops, two of whom are well established, but still have to buy via other means, i.e, bigger tiling shops who apparently hold a 'pyramid' to the tile adhesives.

Two such shops who seem to supply other shops sell, obviously cheaper to me than the other two. I have had extensive chats with the lesser shops, and they have confirmed this. And they are ALL cheaper than Topps until now.

I'm not asking for a fight, but its the way it has been told to me. Maybe its space to stock the materials, I don't know.

The companies that buy direct from BAL all get the same prices.
How much they inturn charge the companies they supply down the chain, is up to them.