INTRODUCING NEW BAL AF MAX – REMOVING THE NEED FOR UNCOUPLING MATS

Published 9th October 2025 / General

BAL – one of the UK’s market-leaders in full tiling solutions – has launched a new innovation into the tiling market which performs as an uncoupling and fixing system in one!

New BAL AF Max is a highly flexible rubber-crumb adhesive that removes the need for uncoupling mats on problematic substrates.

BAL AF Max has anti-fracture technology that absorbs lateral stress movement from the floor protecting tiles from failures. No other products are needed – just mix and fix.

A high-yield tile adhesive, you can get up to 8.5sqm per bag, meaning only 4 bags are needed for a 30sqm area. This compares with 12 bags of tile adhesive and a 30m roll of uncoupling mat for a traditional uncoupling install.

BAL has calculated that based on a 30sqm install (the average length of a roll of uncoupling mat), BAL AF Max will save fixers and contractors approximately 40% in material costs, 70% in time saving and 70% less material weight.

BAL AF Max has a pot life of 45 minutes and can be grouted in 5 hours. Crucially it can be used with most tile types, including certain natural stone, and can be used on a variety of substrates, including but not limited to cement:sand screeds, anhydrite screeds, concrete, bitumen adhesive residues, flooring grade asphalt, glazed ceramic tiles, thermoplastic tiles, T&G floorboards, plywood overlays and even steel!

AF Max is also a sustainable adhesive, made with 30% recycled content by weight. It removes the need for plastic uncoupling or anti-fracture mats and has lower lifecycle costs with BAL’s 25 Year Warranty BAL AF Max also supports BAL’s Cool Earth partnership, helping to protect the rainforest.

To support the launch of BAL AF Max, BAL are also launching a new large red 30ltr mixing bucket – assisting fixers and contractors with the larger volume of mixed material.

Alex Underwood, Head of Marketing – Tiling for BAL, said: “This game-changing tile adhesive and uncoupling system in one will radically improve the working life of tile fixers and contractors when installing on backgrounds with movement where uncoupling systems are usually required.

“BAL AF Max saves significant time and money when installing uncoupling systems, creating a one-step process only!”

Find out more about this game-changing product visit: BAL-adhesives.com

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