bal or mapei?

[evertonl36]

Since i started tiling nearly 2 years ago i have always used bal products from my local topps.I have used many of there products from green star ,grip,gold star to name a few it was my tutor in college who recommended bal and have been impressed with there products. i did use webber and dunlop on seperate ocassions and didnt find there products to be as good as bals.Ino a lot of tilers have started using mapei products and was wondering what the tilers on here think of there products adhesives grouts etc...?

 

[merlecollins]

Mapei products are technically as good if not better (in certain instances) than BAL but at a much lower cost (if you know where to go)
20 years ago there was only BAL and Ardex and that was pretty much who everyone used - with the odd splattering of a poor Mapei range and Laticrete, etc. However IMO BAL/Ardex got lazy and rested on their laurels, whereas firms like Mapei invested a fortune in R&D/Staff which has paid off over and over again, resulting in them leaving BAL in their wake

 

[Aston]

hi mate

pound for pound it has to be mapei all day long imo

ed.....

 

[DHTiling]

Hi..

I was a BAL user for a lot of years.. i knew thier products inside out.... but always begrudged the price tag.

My local tile retailer started stocking Mapei...great prices ,, so i gave some of them a go...

All i can say is that mapei for me is a better product than the equivalant i was using from BAL.

I know BAL have brought some new products out and i have priced them.... they are still not what i would pay..

So yes.. i am one of the Mapei converts...

 

[kilty55]

used bal for first 6 months but the prices are too high,90 percent of my stuff now is mapei they give you a brillaint product at an affordable cost and in this climate that makes the difference

 

[The D]

Mapei all day long

 

[Tomtiler]

mapie adhesives for me but bal grout just seems to b btr imo

 

[Stan001]

BAL for me.

I use BAL most of the time now, I get good prices and I know BAL really performs and its great to work with.

Mapei are also very good and I would have no hesitation using them if I couldn’t get BAL.

It will be interesting to see Mapei’s response to BAL’s Variset and Supercover ranges. BAL are doing some very interesting things right now ... that will only be good for us all.

My favourite single addy though isn’t BAL or Mapei - its Ardex X7R, next to zero slump on walls – the Ardex microtec range is fantastic – do you need it most of the time – probably not, and it costs a fortune if not on special offer. If Ardex ever start pricing their products realistically then BAL and Mapei should worry big time.

 

[Sean Page]

I used BAL for a number of years, it was generally a superior product and gave me the confidence that I wouldn't be called back for any failure. Then my local Tile Giant started stocking Mapei, I gave it a try and once I'd got used to the different setting times and mixing ratios etc I never looked back.

Mapei every time now.

In fact the only failure I've ever had was with a BAL flexi grout in December 2008.

 

[CJ CERAMICS]

mapei primers adhesives and grouts for me love the stuff