Missed every one

[ECI]

Howdy

Hope everybody is hanging on OK. I have been visiting the forum but not had a whole lot to add so I have keep quite. I still feel like a rookie and need to sit back and learn from the pros that are here!

I have recently offered a polyaspartic flake floor system and Granicrete
counter top overlay system. These new system for me have sparked
several jobs and lots of leads and interest in my area. I have been busy with these systems and not much in decorative concrete at this time. The investment I made in the EAC equipment so far has not paid off for me, but these new products have low equipment costs and have been making my payments for the other machinery and allowed me to stay afloat for now. I have done some wood floors and covered vinyl tile with the polyaspartic and returned them back in service with in a few hours after completion. I have done several showers and garage floors as well. I am just saying that if things are flat maybe look into offering other options to widen your horizons and diversify to stay busy over a longer part of the year.
We also have 3 countertop jobs to do as well, they can be done inside and you can stand up to do them!!!! ;D

Lindy had just sent out a letter stating what all you can get into from her company, which can widen ever ones horizons. Good luck to everyone and thanks for all your past and future help.

[NS'Creter]

I knew I could talk ya into talkin' about yer biz buddy! I've said all along that diversification is key for me. This area just isn't large or open minded enough to allow me to sustain myself with the one system/offering. With economics as they are it may be key to all of us. I'm thrilled that you're getting the response you are! ;D I think likely that these other services will lead folks to your staining and engraving services. Seems that is how it works. The public grabs onto one thing and comes around to the others. I wish you continued success buddy and thanx for takin' the time to drop a line to us.
As time allows, I'd love to read more about your other offerings as well. When I get "back in the saddle" I'll be looking for new things to offer and that countertop option is very interesting. Maybe as an opposing option to the solid 'crete ones I've offered in the past? Who knows?

[ECI]

The nice thing about the overlay is if you do it on site it can be seamless if its a long counter top, I believe no other counter tops
have the no seam situation? Granite, solid surface and Formica all have joints. They are also a lot lighter then solid concrete or granite
to transport and set. A kitchen can be done in two days start to finish
if done on site otherwise you can make new ones if old ones are bad or you can remove them and do them at your shop and reinstall them
after 24 hours of dry time.

[ECI]

Hey your post counter is not working as I have 82 posts after the last two entries!!!!!!!!Later buddy

[ECI]

I can never catch you at this rate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ECI]

Unless I keep doing one liners!!!!! ;D

[NS'Creter]

Yup ;D one liners would do it. Heh,heh. The seamless deal is an advantage that I hadn't even thought of. Very good.
So, if I used melamine...would it work? Surely cementboard like Durock would work as well? I'm thinkin' custom showers. I did my own a while ago with Durock and an Increte overlay material, integrally colored it and sealed with epoxy. Cure time on epoxy is a drawback but the shower has been easy to clean (I'm told) and is leak free. Tile cannot compete.

[aynet]

You've really peeked my interest. What does this system look like. You know me -- it's all about the glam! Is there a website where I can see photos of finished countertops like this?

[ECI]

Sorry for letting you hang there as I have been busy last several days.
www.granicreteillinois.com/ is a distributor where I got my training and the main company's website www.granicrete.com/?action=gid_92. Check these out, they also have a floor system that can be done in one day instead of 4 or 5 days. They also have an overlay to repair concrete flat work and start with a good pallet. The countertop
material can be put over MDF or MDX or exisiting counters unless the base is loose or damaged beyond repair and in that case you make new ones out of the Mdf and Mdx material. Any more questions fire away and I will try to answer all I can or if you call Ryan at the Ill. Granicrete he will help as well. ;D ;D Maybe I can return some knowledge you have all shared with me.

[ECI]

The Mdx product and the Mdf are the same except the resin in the MDX
makes in water resistance and you would use it around the sink area.
I have been thinking about using it for all the countertop material as the price difference here between the two is $10 a sheet. No need to use melamine if you don't want to the Mdf will work great if in a no water situation. You can use it with a sink install and brush on a water
resistant membrane on top and under neath the sink to protect it if the seal leaks. Using the MDX is just insurance against water problems down the road. You can put it on concrete fireplaces, make shower wall
panels flat on the ground and stand them up and seal the corner joints
use it to make mantels, benches, fireplace hearths, and probably a lot more. The epoxy they use is for flat surface and the polyaspartic I am playing with you can roll on vertical surfaces and then the shower can be seamless as well and the drying time is lots faster as well.

[ECI]

I just done a 1000 sq ft plus restaurant with the flake floor system over vinyl tile that was 20 years old. It took about 20 hours start to finish as the booths were not removed and required lots of time to prep and apply the coatings under them as well. If they were removed I could of done it all in 12 hours. The tile had to be repaired in many spots as well. They shut down for two days to remodel the bathrooms and replace the ceiling tile in the restaurant. I worked on it two different days. This could of been done in two sections and they would not of had any shut down days but they wanted to just do all the remodeling at once and be done. The nice thing is you can overlap your cold joints if need be and it looks seamless when done and it also can be repaired easy and that hides well also. The material I used is a liquid granite system by Flexmar. I will have pics on my website soon.there are some pics of a mustang garage we did that was cracked front to back with 1" - 1.5" wide cracks and 1/2' difference in heights at the cracks.

[NS'Creter]

Thanx buddy! That's all good info and I'll say it again...diversification can save ya. Some markets just will not or cannot support a "one trick pony". I love the seamless feature of your new service.

[alexwright]

Just a key note on the one day Granicrete process, make sure that all moisture is out of overlay before sealing. It can work but I would say make sure your getting that stuff on the floor early in the day and by the time the heat of the day starts it can dry out for a couple of hours in the sun before you seal. I did a project that my distributor said could be done in 1 day with two people but, it took me 3 days. It was my first time using that product plus I am one meticulous person so I did lots of prep and taping of flagstone design. Plus some people tend to be more messy than others.

[NS'Creter]

I haven't used any Granicrete products but I think that the 1 day thing is an ideal conditions kinda thing. The claims that most products make are meant in that context in my opinion. With some practice and experience we all learn the limitations of ourselves and our materials and can base our timelines appropriately. Also, the use of the word "unforseen" can be invaluable in our contracts. For this instance an "unforseen" factor that could affect our timeline would be humidity wouldn't it? "CYA" no longer means "see ya" it means "cover your a$$". ;D