F. Ball and Co. Ltd.: 140 Years of Innovation in Flooring
At this year’s Flooring Show, F. Ball and Co. Ltd. will celebrate an incredible milestone — 140 years of innovation, quality and support for the flooring industry.
At this year’s Flooring Show, F. Ball and Co. Ltd. will celebrate an incredible milestone — 140 years of innovation, quality and support for the flooring industry.
Founded in 1886 in London, the company originally manufactured adhesives for shoe repair before entering the flooring trade in 1936 with the launch of Stycco Latex, used to join carpet widths together. Following a move to Staffordshire during the Second World War, F. Ball became increasingly focused on the commercial flooring sector, pioneering cement-based floor levelling products in the early 1960s and later launching Stycco F3 — now known as Styccobond F3.
Today, operating from its headquarters in Cheddleton, Staffordshire, F. Ball remains an independent, family-run business under the ownership of Geoffrey Ball, the great-grandson of the founder — a rare achievement in modern manufacturing.
A Complete System for Subfloor Preparation and Installation
Under the F. Ball brand, the Styccobond range includes adhesives suitable for practically every type of decorative floorcovering, including specialist solutions for Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs), wood, and installations exposed to challenging environmental conditions such as moisture or temperature fluctuations.
Complementing this is the Stopgap range of subfloor preparation products, designed to optimise both the appearance and longevity of finished floors. These include high-performance smoothing compounds, repair and finishing compounds, moisture management systems, waterproof surface membranes, moisture measurement tools and loose-lay barrier systems — providing contractors with a complete, end-to-end system for achieving reliable, long-lasting installations.
Built on Quality, Backed by Guarantee
For many customers — from large contractors to sole traders — F. Ball is synonymous with quality and reliability. Continuous investment in research and development has enabled the company to create advanced formulations that make contractors’ jobs faster, easier and more efficient.
This confidence is underpinned by the F. Ball Guarantee. Provided advised processes are followed, products are guaranteed to perform as intended — and in the unlikely event of floor failure due to F. Ball products, the company commits to replacing the entire installation free of charge.
Industry-Leading Support
What sets F. Ball apart is not just product innovation, but the depth of service behind it. Products are delivered daily through a network of over 190 wholesalers across the UK and Ireland. A dedicated Technical Service Department is available Monday to Friday, while regional technical representatives provide on-site support. Contractors are further supported through free training courses at the F. Ball Centre of Excellence in Staffordshire, as well as Ball Rewards — a free-to-join loyalty programme offering cashback and additional benefits.
Spotlight at The Flooring Show
At this year’s exhibition, F. Ball will showcase the latest advancements in adhesives and subfloor preparation — including the launch of Stopgap 1400.
This high-flow, fast-setting, two-component smoothing compound offers superior self-smoothing properties, is walk-on hard from just 90 minutes after application, and ready to receive floorcoverings in as little as 12 hours — making it ideal for fast-track projects.
Visitors to the stand will also be able to watch live demonstrations of Styccobond adhesives and Stopgap subfloor preparation products, delivered by the company’s training team in the live demonstration area.
Products Contractors Trust
Among F. Ball’s most popular products are those offering advanced performance benefits and ease of use. Stopgap 1200 is a versatile, fast-drying smoothing compound that can be applied directly over old adhesive residues, making it a go-to product for many flooring contractors. Styccobond F48 PLUS is a temperature-tolerant adhesive favoured for its excellent application characteristics, even where temperature resistance is not strictly required.
Sustainability in Action
F. Ball continues to take practical steps towards sustainability. The company has introduced recyclable plastic buckets for adhesives and recyclable bottles for liquid products such as primers, with much of the packaging manufactured from recycled materials. The F. Ball Recycling Scheme also enables contractors to return empty recyclable F. Ball buckets and bottles to participating wholesalers nationwide for free recycling.
Flooring professionals can find contact details for their local F. Ball representative via www.f-ball.com
Visit stand D31
April 15th – 16th Sandown Park, Surrey
Register for your free pass today
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