Training Seminar Agenda
1. Introduction
Who is Elite Crete Systems
The performance benefits of our Hybrid Polymer Modifiers vs. industry norm VAE co-polymers & acrylic modifiers
Why Elite Crete Systems products outperform all other products
Decorative concrete history and where the industry is going
Understanding the chemical composition of the products
How to fully utilize the product versatility
Product cost breakdown and comparisons for ensure profitability
2. Hands On Procedures from Start to Finish
The importance of proper surface preparation
Skim coat resurfacing, restoration and broom finishing
Splatter textures and knockdowns
1/4" thin stamped overlays
Various types of custom interior flooring systems
Design implementation, carving saw cutting & grouting techniques
Coloring, staining and highlighting techniques
Sealers, clear & pigmented coatings
3. Understanding Product Uses and Descriptions
THIN-FINISH™ - For skim coats, broom finishes and splatter textures TEXTURE-PAVE™ -
For thin stamped overlays
MICRO-FINISH™ - For very smooth interior finishes
CSS EMULSION™ - The most versatile clear sealer available
CLEAN-PRINT™ Liquid Release Agent
CHEM-STONE™ Reactive Stain
ULTRA-STONE™ Antiquing Stain
HYDRA-STONE™ Dye Stain
PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™ - The most versatile colorants available
E100 Series 100% Solids Epoxies - VOC free, clean and pigmented, durable coatings
Polyaspartic - Clear and pigmented protective coatings.
P92-PTP Polyurea - High performance clear coatings
AUS-50 Single Component Polyurethane - High performance clear coatings
QUICK-PATTERN™ Design Stencils
THIN-PRINT™ Texture Skins
And much more…
How Will You Benefit?
You will learn the basics through the most detailed applications in the decorative concrete and custom interior flooring industry from the leading manufacturer, developer, supplier and trainer of these type of products and systems.
You will develop and create added application solutions to increase profit and marketability.
You will learn how to improve estimating, marketing and sales techniques
What are you waiting for? You have nothing to lose...
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Official: Decorative Concrete Training Locations
Training Locations and Technical Support Offices
Authorized Distributors are not the typical industry distributor. All of our distributors are well educated in the application processes of how our products are used and installed because they all have years of experience in the use of these products and systems out in the real world. We rely on our distributors to act as our sales and technical arm of our products. Each distributor is responsible for training, technical support and customer development for their geographical area.
Scroll down and click on the name to request information or send and email.
For a list of actual training dates, CLICK HERE
U.S. Training & Technical Support Offices
Arizona (Tucson): Elite Crete Arizona, Chuck Humble - Authorized Distributor
Arkansas/Oklahoma/Mississippi/Louisiana/Western Tennessee: Elite Crete Mid-South, Brad Holmes - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Missouri (Chaffee): Heartland Elite Crete, Bill Medlin - Regional Distributor
Oklahoma (Tulsa): Elite Crete Oklahoma, Jason Lee - Regional Distributor
Tennessee (Memphis): Troy McGaugh - Regional Distributor
California: Elite Crete of California, Steve Johnson - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
California (Long Beach): Paul Justice & Steve Williamson - Regional Distributor
California (Sacramento): Josh Warner - Regional Distributor
California (Simi Valley): Elite Crete Los Angeles, Johnny Rodriguez - Regional Distributor
California (Temecula): Elite Crete Southern California, Laddie Waller - Regional Distributor
Colorado/Idaho/Montana/New Mexico: Elite Crete of the Rockies, Travis Winters - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Colorado (Pueblo): Steven Lee - Regional Distributor
Idaho (Boise): Pete Horkley - Regional Distributor
Montana (Boseman): Ryan McIntosh - Regional Distributor
Delaware/Maryland/Northern Virginia: Elite Crete Mid Atlantic, Larry Mohr - Authorized Distributor
Florida (Vero Beach): Elite Crete Florida, Ken George - Regional Distributor
Illinois/Eastern Iowa/Southern Wisconsin: Elite Crete Illinois, Ed Nicasio - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Wisconsin (Milwaukee): Elite Crete of Milwaukee, Michael Bucholtz - Regional Distributor
Illinois (Champaign): Elite Crete of Central Illinois, Brian Mast - Regional Distributor
Indiana/Central & Southern Ohio: Elite Crete Indiana, Gene Dean - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Ohio (Columbus): Elite Crete of Ohio Valley, Dave Sharamitaro - Regional Distributor
Kentucky: Elite Crete of Kentucky, John Bailey - Authorized Distributor
Minnesota/North Dakota/Northern Wisconsin: Elite Crete Minnesota, Dan Ryan - Authorized Distributor
Michigan/Northern Ohio/Ontario, Canada/Quebec, Canada: Elite Crete of Michigan, Ray Rifenberg - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Ohio North (Cleveland): Elite Crete of Northern Ohio, Ryan Neal - Regional Distributor
Canada (Montreal, Quebec): Art Sur Beton, Simon Gareau - Regional Distributor
Canada (Brantford, Ontario): Elite Crete of Ontario, Les Janos - Regional Distributor
Missouri/Kansas/Nebraska/Western Iowa: Kansas City Elite Crete, Gene Keohan - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Nebraska (Lincoln): Elite Crete of Nebraska, Ryan Ernst - Regional Distributor
Nevada (Las Vegas): Elite Crete of Nevada, Bruce Holm - Authorized Distributor
New York (NYC): Elite Crete of New York, Sebastian Monte - Authorized Distributor
North Carolina/South Carolina/Eastern Tennessee/Georgia/Southern Virginia/Northern Florida: Elite Crete Southeast, Rod Johnson - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Georgia (Atlanta): Elite Crete of Atlanta, Michael Speach - Regional Distributor
North Carolina (Wilmington) & South Carolina (Myrtle Beach): Elite Crete Coastal Carolinas, Johnny Holden - Regional Distributor
North Carolina (Asheville): Elite Crete Western NC, Chris Cradduck - Regional Distributor
North Carolina (Raleigh): Elite Crete Raleigh Durham, Walter Nartowicz - Regional Distributor
Florida (Orlando): Elite Crete Orlando, Wolfgang Herzog - Regional Distributor
Florida (Ft. Myers): Elite Crete Ft. Myers, John Keller - Regional Distributor
Oregon: Northwest Elite Crete, JR Litehiser - Authorized Distributor
Pennsylvania/New Jersey: Elite Crete Northeast, Rob Sattelmyer
Texas: Elite Crete Texas, Rick Watson - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Amarillo: Dan Martin - Regional Distributor
Houston: Elite Crete of Houston, Warren Wert - Regional Distributor
Utah (Salt Lake City): Swanson Building Materials, Wade Perschon
Washington (Spokane): Elite Crete Inland Northwest, David Cloutier
International Distributors:
Australia: Elite Crete Systems Australia, Gordon Crockett
Bulgaria: New Construction Group, LTD., Stoyan Nyagolov
Canada (Montreal, Quebec): - Art Sur Beton, Simon Gareau
Canada (Calgary, Alberta): Hardscapes, Tyson Long
Canada (Vancouver, British Columbia): Elite Crete of BC, Blaine Benoit
Canada (Edmonton, Alberta): Elite Crete of Edmonton, Darwin Holm
Canada (Winnipeg, Manitoba): Elite Crete of Winnipeg, Cliff Holm
Canada (Woodstock, Ontario): Elite Crete of Ontario, Les Janos
Dubai: Karl Vaughn
India: Elite Crete India, TR. Sridar
Norway: Currently no actual distributor. SEEKING AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR FOR NORWAY.
Panama: Elite Crete Panama, David Vogel
Puerto Rico: Elite Crete Puerto Rico, Hector Medina
Spain: David Freeman
South Africa: Currently no actual distributor. SEEKING AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR ALL THE ENTIRE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
Elite Crete Africa (Ian Hayward) is NOT selling actual Elite Crete Systems, Inc. products. It is our experience and opinion that Ian Hayward is unethical and untrustworthy. If you are a contractor in this region and need materials Elite Crete Systems, Inc. is offering substantial discounts to all contractors in this region without required large startup packages.
For information about becoming an Authorized Distributor, go to the Becoming a Distributor page or please email us at sales@elitecrete.com or call us toll free at 888.323.4445 or 219.465-7671.
Authorized Distributors are not the typical industry distributor. All of our distributors are well educated in the application processes of how our products are used and installed because they all have years of experience in the use of these products and systems out in the real world. We rely on our distributors to act as our sales and technical arm of our products. Each distributor is responsible for training, technical support and customer development for their geographical area.
Scroll down and click on the name to request information or send and email.
For a list of actual training dates, CLICK HERE
U.S. Training & Technical Support Offices
Arizona (Tucson): Elite Crete Arizona, Chuck Humble - Authorized Distributor
Arkansas/Oklahoma/Mississippi/Louisiana/Western Tennessee: Elite Crete Mid-South, Brad Holmes - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Missouri (Chaffee): Heartland Elite Crete, Bill Medlin - Regional Distributor
Oklahoma (Tulsa): Elite Crete Oklahoma, Jason Lee - Regional Distributor
Tennessee (Memphis): Troy McGaugh - Regional Distributor
California: Elite Crete of California, Steve Johnson - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
California (Long Beach): Paul Justice & Steve Williamson - Regional Distributor
California (Sacramento): Josh Warner - Regional Distributor
California (Simi Valley): Elite Crete Los Angeles, Johnny Rodriguez - Regional Distributor
California (Temecula): Elite Crete Southern California, Laddie Waller - Regional Distributor
Colorado/Idaho/Montana/New Mexico: Elite Crete of the Rockies, Travis Winters - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Colorado (Pueblo): Steven Lee - Regional Distributor
Idaho (Boise): Pete Horkley - Regional Distributor
Montana (Boseman): Ryan McIntosh - Regional Distributor
Delaware/Maryland/Northern Virginia: Elite Crete Mid Atlantic, Larry Mohr - Authorized Distributor
Florida (Vero Beach): Elite Crete Florida, Ken George - Regional Distributor
Illinois/Eastern Iowa/Southern Wisconsin: Elite Crete Illinois, Ed Nicasio - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Wisconsin (Milwaukee): Elite Crete of Milwaukee, Michael Bucholtz - Regional Distributor
Illinois (Champaign): Elite Crete of Central Illinois, Brian Mast - Regional Distributor
Indiana/Central & Southern Ohio: Elite Crete Indiana, Gene Dean - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Ohio (Columbus): Elite Crete of Ohio Valley, Dave Sharamitaro - Regional Distributor
Kentucky: Elite Crete of Kentucky, John Bailey - Authorized Distributor
Minnesota/North Dakota/Northern Wisconsin: Elite Crete Minnesota, Dan Ryan - Authorized Distributor
Michigan/Northern Ohio/Ontario, Canada/Quebec, Canada: Elite Crete of Michigan, Ray Rifenberg - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Ohio North (Cleveland): Elite Crete of Northern Ohio, Ryan Neal - Regional Distributor
Canada (Montreal, Quebec): Art Sur Beton, Simon Gareau - Regional Distributor
Canada (Brantford, Ontario): Elite Crete of Ontario, Les Janos - Regional Distributor
Missouri/Kansas/Nebraska/Western Iowa: Kansas City Elite Crete, Gene Keohan - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Nebraska (Lincoln): Elite Crete of Nebraska, Ryan Ernst - Regional Distributor
Nevada (Las Vegas): Elite Crete of Nevada, Bruce Holm - Authorized Distributor
New York (NYC): Elite Crete of New York, Sebastian Monte - Authorized Distributor
North Carolina/South Carolina/Eastern Tennessee/Georgia/Southern Virginia/Northern Florida: Elite Crete Southeast, Rod Johnson - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Georgia (Atlanta): Elite Crete of Atlanta, Michael Speach - Regional Distributor
North Carolina (Wilmington) & South Carolina (Myrtle Beach): Elite Crete Coastal Carolinas, Johnny Holden - Regional Distributor
North Carolina (Asheville): Elite Crete Western NC, Chris Cradduck - Regional Distributor
North Carolina (Raleigh): Elite Crete Raleigh Durham, Walter Nartowicz - Regional Distributor
Florida (Orlando): Elite Crete Orlando, Wolfgang Herzog - Regional Distributor
Florida (Ft. Myers): Elite Crete Ft. Myers, John Keller - Regional Distributor
Oregon: Northwest Elite Crete, JR Litehiser - Authorized Distributor
Pennsylvania/New Jersey: Elite Crete Northeast, Rob Sattelmyer
Texas: Elite Crete Texas, Rick Watson - REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Amarillo: Dan Martin - Regional Distributor
Houston: Elite Crete of Houston, Warren Wert - Regional Distributor
Utah (Salt Lake City): Swanson Building Materials, Wade Perschon
Washington (Spokane): Elite Crete Inland Northwest, David Cloutier
International Distributors:
Australia: Elite Crete Systems Australia, Gordon Crockett
Bulgaria: New Construction Group, LTD., Stoyan Nyagolov
Canada (Montreal, Quebec): - Art Sur Beton, Simon Gareau
Canada (Calgary, Alberta): Hardscapes, Tyson Long
Canada (Vancouver, British Columbia): Elite Crete of BC, Blaine Benoit
Canada (Edmonton, Alberta): Elite Crete of Edmonton, Darwin Holm
Canada (Winnipeg, Manitoba): Elite Crete of Winnipeg, Cliff Holm
Canada (Woodstock, Ontario): Elite Crete of Ontario, Les Janos
Dubai: Karl Vaughn
India: Elite Crete India, TR. Sridar
Norway: Currently no actual distributor. SEEKING AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR FOR NORWAY.
Panama: Elite Crete Panama, David Vogel
Puerto Rico: Elite Crete Puerto Rico, Hector Medina
Spain: David Freeman
South Africa: Currently no actual distributor. SEEKING AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR ALL THE ENTIRE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
Elite Crete Africa (Ian Hayward) is NOT selling actual Elite Crete Systems, Inc. products. It is our experience and opinion that Ian Hayward is unethical and untrustworthy. If you are a contractor in this region and need materials Elite Crete Systems, Inc. is offering substantial discounts to all contractors in this region without required large startup packages.
For information about becoming an Authorized Distributor, go to the Becoming a Distributor page or please email us at sales@elitecrete.com or call us toll free at 888.323.4445 or 219.465-7671.
2009 Decorative Concrete Training Schedule
2009 Training Locations and Dates
Click the name to send email. Be sure to include your contact information
Elite Crete Systems Corporate Headquarters - Valparaiso, Indiana (45 minutes from Chicago
International Distributor Training Only
Arizona - Tucson
May 29th & 30th
June 26th & 27th
July 24th & 25th
August 21st & 22nd
September 25th & 26th
Arkansas - Hot Springs
May 15th & 16th
June 26th & 27th
July 31st & August 1st
California - Long Beach
May 8th & 9th
California - Sacramento
Dates coming soon...
California - Simi Valley
May 5th & 6th
June 5th & 6th
July 10th & 11th
August 7th & 8th
September 11th & 12th
October 9th & 10th
November 13th & 14th
December 11th & 12th
California - Temecula
Dates coming soon...
Colorado - Denver
May 29th & 30th
Colorado - Pueblo
May 15th & 16th
June 12th & 13th
July 17th & 18th
August 14th & 15th
September 11th & 12th
October 16th & 17th
November 13th & 14th
December 18th & 19th
Florida - Vero Beach
May 22nd & 23rd
Idaho - Boise
Dates coming soon...
Illinois - Crestwood
May 14th & 15th
June 25th & 26th
July 23rd & 24th
August 20th & 21st
September 17th & 18th
October 22nd & 23rd
November 19th & 20th
Indiana - Indianapolis
May 29th & 30th
June 11th thru 13th - SPECIAL 3 Day Class
June 26th & 27th
July 17th & 18th
August 14th & 15th
September 18th & 19th
October 9th & 10th
November 13th & 14th
December 4th & 5th
Kansas - Kansas City
May 22nd & 23rd
Kentucky - Lexington
May 22nd & 23rd
June 26th & 27th
Maryland - Cambridge
May 15th & 16th
June 26th & 27th
July 24th & 25th
August 21st & 22nd
September 18th & 19th
October 16th & 17th
November 13th & 14th
December 11th & 12th
Michigan - Detroit
May 8th & 9th
June 19th & 20th
August 14th & 15th
September 4th & 5th
September 25th & 26th
October 9th & 10th
November 6th & 7th
December 11th & 12
Minnesota - Minneapolis
June 5th & 6th
July 10th & 11th
August 7th & 8th
September 4th & 5th
October 2nd & 3rd
November 6th & 7th
December 4th & 5th
Montana - Bozeman
May 15th & 16th
Nebraska - Lincoln
May 30th & 31st
June 27th & 28th
July 25th & 26th
August 29th & 30th
September 26th & 27th
October 24th & 25th
Nevada - Las Vegas
May 29th & 30th
New York - New York City
Dates coming soon...
North Carolina - Charlotte
May 29th & 30th
June 26th & 27th
Oregon - Portland
May 22nd & 23rd
June 26th & 27th
July 24th & 25th
August 21st & 22nd
September 18th & 19th
October 23rd & 24th
November 20th & 21st
Pennsylvania - Bristol
June 12th & 13th
August 14th & 15th
September 25th & 26th
October 23rd & 24th
November 13th & 14th
Texas - Dallas
May 16th & 17th
June 19th & 20th
July 17th & 18th
Texas - Houston
May 22nd & 23rd
June 26th & 27th
Wisconsin - Milwaukee
May 14th & 15th
June 4th & 5th
June 18th & 19th
July 16th & 17th
July 30th & 31st
August 13th & 14th
August 27th & 28th
September 10th & 11th
September 24th & 25th
October 8th & 9th
October 22nd & 23rd
November 5th & 6th
November 19th & 20th
December 3rd & 4th.
International Dates & Locations
Australia
May 29th
June 26th
July 31st
August 28th
September 25th
October 30th
November 27th
Bulgaria
Dates coming soon...
Canada - Calgary, Alberta
Dates coming soon...
Canada - Didsbury, Alberta
May 8th & 9th
Canada - Montreal, Quebec
Dates coming soon...
Canada - Brantford, Ontario
Dates coming soon...
Canada - Vancouver, British Columbia
May 29th & 30th
August 14th & 15th
September 18th & 19th
October 23rd & 24th
November 20th & 21st
December 18th & 19th
Canada - Winnipeg, Manitoba
May 11th & 12th
Dubai
May 4th through 7th
India
May 22nd & 23rd - Chennai
June 5th & 6th - Hyderabad.
Panama
May 16th & 17th
May 30th & 31st (Held in Bogota, Columbia)
Puerto Rico
Dates coming soon...
South Africa
Currently no actual distributor. SEEKING AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PART OF THE ENTIRE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
Elite Crete Systems Africa (Ian Hayward) is NOT selling actual Elite Crete Systems, Inc. products and contractors are experiencing many problems. If you are a contractor in this region and need materials Elite Crete Systems, Inc. is offering substantial discounts to all contractors in this region.
Dates subject to change. Please confirm the dates and locations before making travel arrangements.
Click the name to send email. Be sure to include your contact information
Elite Crete Systems Corporate Headquarters - Valparaiso, Indiana (45 minutes from Chicago
International Distributor Training Only
Arizona - Tucson
May 29th & 30th
June 26th & 27th
July 24th & 25th
August 21st & 22nd
September 25th & 26th
Arkansas - Hot Springs
May 15th & 16th
June 26th & 27th
July 31st & August 1st
California - Long Beach
May 8th & 9th
California - Sacramento
Dates coming soon...
California - Simi Valley
May 5th & 6th
June 5th & 6th
July 10th & 11th
August 7th & 8th
September 11th & 12th
October 9th & 10th
November 13th & 14th
December 11th & 12th
California - Temecula
Dates coming soon...
Colorado - Denver
May 29th & 30th
Colorado - Pueblo
May 15th & 16th
June 12th & 13th
July 17th & 18th
August 14th & 15th
September 11th & 12th
October 16th & 17th
November 13th & 14th
December 18th & 19th
Florida - Vero Beach
May 22nd & 23rd
Idaho - Boise
Dates coming soon...
Illinois - Crestwood
May 14th & 15th
June 25th & 26th
July 23rd & 24th
August 20th & 21st
September 17th & 18th
October 22nd & 23rd
November 19th & 20th
Indiana - Indianapolis
May 29th & 30th
June 11th thru 13th - SPECIAL 3 Day Class
June 26th & 27th
July 17th & 18th
August 14th & 15th
September 18th & 19th
October 9th & 10th
November 13th & 14th
December 4th & 5th
Kansas - Kansas City
May 22nd & 23rd
Kentucky - Lexington
May 22nd & 23rd
June 26th & 27th
Maryland - Cambridge
May 15th & 16th
June 26th & 27th
July 24th & 25th
August 21st & 22nd
September 18th & 19th
October 16th & 17th
November 13th & 14th
December 11th & 12th
Michigan - Detroit
May 8th & 9th
June 19th & 20th
August 14th & 15th
September 4th & 5th
September 25th & 26th
October 9th & 10th
November 6th & 7th
December 11th & 12
Minnesota - Minneapolis
June 5th & 6th
July 10th & 11th
August 7th & 8th
September 4th & 5th
October 2nd & 3rd
November 6th & 7th
December 4th & 5th
Montana - Bozeman
May 15th & 16th
Nebraska - Lincoln
May 30th & 31st
June 27th & 28th
July 25th & 26th
August 29th & 30th
September 26th & 27th
October 24th & 25th
Nevada - Las Vegas
May 29th & 30th
New York - New York City
Dates coming soon...
North Carolina - Charlotte
May 29th & 30th
June 26th & 27th
Oregon - Portland
May 22nd & 23rd
June 26th & 27th
July 24th & 25th
August 21st & 22nd
September 18th & 19th
October 23rd & 24th
November 20th & 21st
Pennsylvania - Bristol
June 12th & 13th
August 14th & 15th
September 25th & 26th
October 23rd & 24th
November 13th & 14th
Texas - Dallas
May 16th & 17th
June 19th & 20th
July 17th & 18th
Texas - Houston
May 22nd & 23rd
June 26th & 27th
Wisconsin - Milwaukee
May 14th & 15th
June 4th & 5th
June 18th & 19th
July 16th & 17th
July 30th & 31st
August 13th & 14th
August 27th & 28th
September 10th & 11th
September 24th & 25th
October 8th & 9th
October 22nd & 23rd
November 5th & 6th
November 19th & 20th
December 3rd & 4th.
International Dates & Locations
Australia
May 29th
June 26th
July 31st
August 28th
September 25th
October 30th
November 27th
Bulgaria
Dates coming soon...
Canada - Calgary, Alberta
Dates coming soon...
Canada - Didsbury, Alberta
May 8th & 9th
Canada - Montreal, Quebec
Dates coming soon...
Canada - Brantford, Ontario
Dates coming soon...
Canada - Vancouver, British Columbia
May 29th & 30th
August 14th & 15th
September 18th & 19th
October 23rd & 24th
November 20th & 21st
December 18th & 19th
Canada - Winnipeg, Manitoba
May 11th & 12th
Dubai
May 4th through 7th
India
May 22nd & 23rd - Chennai
June 5th & 6th - Hyderabad.
Panama
May 16th & 17th
May 30th & 31st (Held in Bogota, Columbia)
Puerto Rico
Dates coming soon...
South Africa
Currently no actual distributor. SEEKING AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PART OF THE ENTIRE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
Elite Crete Systems Africa (Ian Hayward) is NOT selling actual Elite Crete Systems, Inc. products and contractors are experiencing many problems. If you are a contractor in this region and need materials Elite Crete Systems, Inc. is offering substantial discounts to all contractors in this region.
Dates subject to change. Please confirm the dates and locations before making travel arrangements.
Smart Marketing for Decorative Concrete Installers
Marketing Tools
Business success is determined by many factors; proper training, having a high quality, affordable & easy to use product, innovation & desire, drive & effort, but first and foremost… having an effective marketing & advertising plan.
Unfortunately choosing an effective marketing and advertising plan is not as easy as it sounds. The first decision a serious contractor needs to make is "what is their market niche." Obviously the focus is "concrete overlays", but what specifically will the initial and primary focus be on? It is never our recommendation to start off applying every application our products are capable of because the choices and options are just too many.
Variations of architectural concrete overlays have been around for over two decades, yet virtually every contractor in any geographical region with the exception of a few areas will soon realize that the public simply has little or no knowledge of any architectural concrete overlay process. Some inexperienced contractors will initially view this as a disadvantage since they will be responsible for creating the market and demand for architectural concrete overlays in their area. But the fact is, once a contractor creates that market they own the market. Not to mention, they will have little or no competition to compete with.
Market, Advertise & Network…
As with any business, you have to get your name and services known to your prospective customers and keep it known. Listed below are some of the most effective and widely used marketing techniques used by architectural overlay contractors.
Trade Shows
Exhibit at as many trade shows per year as possible. Home and garden shows, county fairs, exhibits at parade of homes, open exhibits in shopping malls, interior design shows, exhibits held by local builders associations, business spot-lights with your local Chamber of Commerce, State ready mix associations and more. The objective is to get your company name and service out to as many people as possible. Understand that these types of exhibits tend to fill up quickly and many times months in advance. Do your homework and ask other construction trades where they exhibit their products and services.
When exhibiting at a trade show, put your best foot forward and represent yourself as a professional. Too many contractors exhibit at various shows only to sit in a chair and look all together unapproachable. Be open, enthusiastic and courteous but don’t be a bump on a log or a high-pressure salesman either. Be sure to exhibit your services with brochures, sample boards to touch and feel, flooring made of your favorite overlay for them to walk on, a photo book for people to browse through and a computer to run your video presentation through.
Dress for success but not for a wedding. Remember, you are selling architectural concrete overlay finishes so although a three- piece suit is certainly overkill, you still want to look like a professional, trust worthy, knowledgeable representative. As it pertains to leads, you want quality not quantity. The "free drawing" ploy is ages old and will have you running ragged trying to bid and sell leads that many of which cannot use your services if they wanted to. Talk with the people coming by your booth, take the time to answer their questions before they ask. You have to remember that in most of the markets and regions around the United States and Canada, people have no idea of what architectural concrete overlays and surface restoration even is. People are sure to walk past your booth only to assume and think that you are a tile, brick or stone installer. It is your job to get them thinking otherwise. All of these things add up and are certain to yield results, just don’t cut corners.
Website and Internet
With the vast amount of people using the internet, it has become the first resource people use to locate, find, investigate and educate themselves on almost everything. Websites can be designed and hosted for as little as ten dollars a month and it provides people with a method of learning about your services without the return of a sales pitch.
Yellow Page Ads
This is often an advertising method people view as a waste of time and money because of the lack of knowledge people have about architectural concrete overlays and surface restoration.
Your task is the same. Educate the community about products and services they know little or nothing about. Don’t expect to place an ad in an "Architectural Concrete" section, because that section probably doesn’t exist. However, sections such as "Concrete", "Decks" and "Flooring" are very good places to get response from.
Local Publications
Not newspapers, but smaller publications such as neighborhood newsletters can yield a tremendous amount of leads and based on the home value in the area you can be assured that you are targeting a specific income range. These publications generally print their newsletters monthly to keep residents informed as to what is going on in their area. Finding these newsletters may be the hard part but certainly worth the effort.
Another local publication you want to take advantage of is the newsletter published by your local builders association. These are typically a low budget print but you know that builders, other contractors and business owners will see your ad.
Yet another local publication is "higher income home & design magazines." These type of magazines are most prevalent in medium to large metropolitan areas, but quiet often these publications are glad to print articles about new or innovation building materials and services for free with the cost of an ad.
Local Clubs and Associations
Nearly every county in the country has a state backed local builders association. Monthly meetings are held for builders as well as other contractor members to discuss local, state and federal building news and policies. These meetings are the perfect opportunity to meet and mingle with others in your area. Another group to join would be the Chamber of Commerce since business leaders are common members and doing business with other Chamber members is very much a part of member expectations.
Target Mailings
With the new software available today, direct and targeted mailings are easier than ever. Once you target your customer base you can draft a letter pertaining to their specific needs and by mail merging a database, you can easily print multiple letters to different persons at once and in a short period of time. Programs such as Pro CD and American Business Lists (to name just a few) can assist in locating the exact target group you wish to target.
These lists are also very effective when used in conjunction with a specific job location. As an example, lets assume you are getting ready to begin an installation at 101 Jones Street. Use the program to locate all residents on Jones Street. Then draft a letter explaining your services and detail the fact that you will be installing your products and services at the specific address. Be sure to invite the recipients of the letter to stop by and watch the installation process.
Pool Companies
Pools are where decorative resurfacing and splatter textures initially began. Contact your area pool installers and explain the benefits your products and systems can offer to the beauty, skid resistance and life to a pool deck. Some contractors provide the pool companies with "private label" brochures so the pool companies can sell the work rather than simply refer. Then the pool companies sub-contracts your company to install the finish.
Newspaper Press Release
This is certainly one of the most effective forms of FREE advertising. Newspapers look for local stories to print about new businesses. Draft a short press release letter explaining what services and products you provide. Try to keep the sales pitch out of the letter and detail more the owners background, years in business, etc. Then fax this letter to all of your local newspapers with a cover sheet explaining the purpose of the letter. Be sure to refer to the letter as a "press release" and be very up front about what your intentions are, "you would like to have the newspaper print a story about your new local business." You will want to follow up each fax with a telephone call the same day the fax is sent. Be persistent with newspapers that seem not to be interested. Fax them monthly if needed.
Newspaper Inserts
Again, contact your local newspaper and inquire about have them print you an inexpensive flyer and then insert it into the paper for Wednesday or Sunday deliveries. Most Newspapers will allow you to pick and choose specific areas so you can control where the leads will be coming from. You will be surprised at how affordable this is.
Auto & Trailer Lettering
Yes this is common sense, but you need to take full advantage. We have even seen durable, weather proof brochure holders mounted to vans and trailers so people can obtain information even when you are not around.
Yard Signs
Aside from the normal yard sign, be creative. Have two types of yard signs printed. One that says something like, "Coming soon, watch us transform this pitted, stained and deteriorated driveway into a beautiful finish for a fraction of the cost of tear out and replace." Then once you begin application, leave the first sign and place the second sign that has your company's pertinent information; business name, telephone, brief description, etc. Even once the job is complete, leave the sign in place for a week or two.
Door Handouts
This is especially effective if done to residences in the surrounding areas of a job currently being worked on. A task for times when you have waiting periods. Similar to target letters, you can include the address of the job you are currently working on and invite people to come view the application process.
Radio & Television Advertising
Depending on the market you are in, this can be a surprisingly affordable way to get the most exposure for your newly formed company and services.
Follow-Up & Follow Through…
Now your telephone is ringing and you have the leads. Unfortunately, your job has just begun. Too many people start off with a bang and quickly see their business failing. The constant juggling act of advertising /estimating /installing /networking" is a routine that will test your drive, desire and determination and ultimately be what decides your success or failure in business.
Nothing will happen overnight and therefore you must always be in "business mode". The days of working for someone else for 40 hours a week are over. Sure the benefits associated with owning your own successful business are many and the profit margins in the architectural concrete overlay industry are some of the highest in all of the construction trades, but if anyone told you it would be an easy road… They lied.
View many of the full color brochures that we have available for contractors in the Resource Center. Contact your Authorized Distributor to obtain any of the brochures, sell sheets, postcards, binders or folders.
Business success is determined by many factors; proper training, having a high quality, affordable & easy to use product, innovation & desire, drive & effort, but first and foremost… having an effective marketing & advertising plan.
Unfortunately choosing an effective marketing and advertising plan is not as easy as it sounds. The first decision a serious contractor needs to make is "what is their market niche." Obviously the focus is "concrete overlays", but what specifically will the initial and primary focus be on? It is never our recommendation to start off applying every application our products are capable of because the choices and options are just too many.
Variations of architectural concrete overlays have been around for over two decades, yet virtually every contractor in any geographical region with the exception of a few areas will soon realize that the public simply has little or no knowledge of any architectural concrete overlay process. Some inexperienced contractors will initially view this as a disadvantage since they will be responsible for creating the market and demand for architectural concrete overlays in their area. But the fact is, once a contractor creates that market they own the market. Not to mention, they will have little or no competition to compete with.
Market, Advertise & Network…
As with any business, you have to get your name and services known to your prospective customers and keep it known. Listed below are some of the most effective and widely used marketing techniques used by architectural overlay contractors.
Trade Shows
Exhibit at as many trade shows per year as possible. Home and garden shows, county fairs, exhibits at parade of homes, open exhibits in shopping malls, interior design shows, exhibits held by local builders associations, business spot-lights with your local Chamber of Commerce, State ready mix associations and more. The objective is to get your company name and service out to as many people as possible. Understand that these types of exhibits tend to fill up quickly and many times months in advance. Do your homework and ask other construction trades where they exhibit their products and services.
When exhibiting at a trade show, put your best foot forward and represent yourself as a professional. Too many contractors exhibit at various shows only to sit in a chair and look all together unapproachable. Be open, enthusiastic and courteous but don’t be a bump on a log or a high-pressure salesman either. Be sure to exhibit your services with brochures, sample boards to touch and feel, flooring made of your favorite overlay for them to walk on, a photo book for people to browse through and a computer to run your video presentation through.
Dress for success but not for a wedding. Remember, you are selling architectural concrete overlay finishes so although a three- piece suit is certainly overkill, you still want to look like a professional, trust worthy, knowledgeable representative. As it pertains to leads, you want quality not quantity. The "free drawing" ploy is ages old and will have you running ragged trying to bid and sell leads that many of which cannot use your services if they wanted to. Talk with the people coming by your booth, take the time to answer their questions before they ask. You have to remember that in most of the markets and regions around the United States and Canada, people have no idea of what architectural concrete overlays and surface restoration even is. People are sure to walk past your booth only to assume and think that you are a tile, brick or stone installer. It is your job to get them thinking otherwise. All of these things add up and are certain to yield results, just don’t cut corners.
Website and Internet
With the vast amount of people using the internet, it has become the first resource people use to locate, find, investigate and educate themselves on almost everything. Websites can be designed and hosted for as little as ten dollars a month and it provides people with a method of learning about your services without the return of a sales pitch.
Yellow Page Ads
This is often an advertising method people view as a waste of time and money because of the lack of knowledge people have about architectural concrete overlays and surface restoration.
Your task is the same. Educate the community about products and services they know little or nothing about. Don’t expect to place an ad in an "Architectural Concrete" section, because that section probably doesn’t exist. However, sections such as "Concrete", "Decks" and "Flooring" are very good places to get response from.
Local Publications
Not newspapers, but smaller publications such as neighborhood newsletters can yield a tremendous amount of leads and based on the home value in the area you can be assured that you are targeting a specific income range. These publications generally print their newsletters monthly to keep residents informed as to what is going on in their area. Finding these newsletters may be the hard part but certainly worth the effort.
Another local publication you want to take advantage of is the newsletter published by your local builders association. These are typically a low budget print but you know that builders, other contractors and business owners will see your ad.
Yet another local publication is "higher income home & design magazines." These type of magazines are most prevalent in medium to large metropolitan areas, but quiet often these publications are glad to print articles about new or innovation building materials and services for free with the cost of an ad.
Local Clubs and Associations
Nearly every county in the country has a state backed local builders association. Monthly meetings are held for builders as well as other contractor members to discuss local, state and federal building news and policies. These meetings are the perfect opportunity to meet and mingle with others in your area. Another group to join would be the Chamber of Commerce since business leaders are common members and doing business with other Chamber members is very much a part of member expectations.
Target Mailings
With the new software available today, direct and targeted mailings are easier than ever. Once you target your customer base you can draft a letter pertaining to their specific needs and by mail merging a database, you can easily print multiple letters to different persons at once and in a short period of time. Programs such as Pro CD and American Business Lists (to name just a few) can assist in locating the exact target group you wish to target.
These lists are also very effective when used in conjunction with a specific job location. As an example, lets assume you are getting ready to begin an installation at 101 Jones Street. Use the program to locate all residents on Jones Street. Then draft a letter explaining your services and detail the fact that you will be installing your products and services at the specific address. Be sure to invite the recipients of the letter to stop by and watch the installation process.
Pool Companies
Pools are where decorative resurfacing and splatter textures initially began. Contact your area pool installers and explain the benefits your products and systems can offer to the beauty, skid resistance and life to a pool deck. Some contractors provide the pool companies with "private label" brochures so the pool companies can sell the work rather than simply refer. Then the pool companies sub-contracts your company to install the finish.
Newspaper Press Release
This is certainly one of the most effective forms of FREE advertising. Newspapers look for local stories to print about new businesses. Draft a short press release letter explaining what services and products you provide. Try to keep the sales pitch out of the letter and detail more the owners background, years in business, etc. Then fax this letter to all of your local newspapers with a cover sheet explaining the purpose of the letter. Be sure to refer to the letter as a "press release" and be very up front about what your intentions are, "you would like to have the newspaper print a story about your new local business." You will want to follow up each fax with a telephone call the same day the fax is sent. Be persistent with newspapers that seem not to be interested. Fax them monthly if needed.
Newspaper Inserts
Again, contact your local newspaper and inquire about have them print you an inexpensive flyer and then insert it into the paper for Wednesday or Sunday deliveries. Most Newspapers will allow you to pick and choose specific areas so you can control where the leads will be coming from. You will be surprised at how affordable this is.
Auto & Trailer Lettering
Yes this is common sense, but you need to take full advantage. We have even seen durable, weather proof brochure holders mounted to vans and trailers so people can obtain information even when you are not around.
Yard Signs
Aside from the normal yard sign, be creative. Have two types of yard signs printed. One that says something like, "Coming soon, watch us transform this pitted, stained and deteriorated driveway into a beautiful finish for a fraction of the cost of tear out and replace." Then once you begin application, leave the first sign and place the second sign that has your company's pertinent information; business name, telephone, brief description, etc. Even once the job is complete, leave the sign in place for a week or two.
Door Handouts
This is especially effective if done to residences in the surrounding areas of a job currently being worked on. A task for times when you have waiting periods. Similar to target letters, you can include the address of the job you are currently working on and invite people to come view the application process.
Radio & Television Advertising
Depending on the market you are in, this can be a surprisingly affordable way to get the most exposure for your newly formed company and services.
Follow-Up & Follow Through…
Now your telephone is ringing and you have the leads. Unfortunately, your job has just begun. Too many people start off with a bang and quickly see their business failing. The constant juggling act of advertising /estimating /installing /networking" is a routine that will test your drive, desire and determination and ultimately be what decides your success or failure in business.
Nothing will happen overnight and therefore you must always be in "business mode". The days of working for someone else for 40 hours a week are over. Sure the benefits associated with owning your own successful business are many and the profit margins in the architectural concrete overlay industry are some of the highest in all of the construction trades, but if anyone told you it would be an easy road… They lied.
View many of the full color brochures that we have available for contractors in the Resource Center. Contact your Authorized Distributor to obtain any of the brochures, sell sheets, postcards, binders or folders.
Decorative Concrete in Dubai
Paul Swenson and Brad Holmes just reported from their training seminar trip to Dubai. All is going well and they expect that decorative concrete in Dubai will be huge.
Concrete Coloring Systems
Coloring Systems, Stains & Pigments
Technical Data
ULTRA-STONE™ Antiquing Stain
Extremely concentrated
Unlimited colors
The most natural looking finishes and colors
Designed for use on polymer modified overlays
Exceptional surface penetration
Horizontal or vertical finishes
Interior or exterior use
No intended for use on conventional concrete
CHEM-STONE™ Reactive Stain
Concentrated for decreased product cost
Eight standard colors with each creating additional colors
Not a coating or paint and therefore will not chip or peel
For use on polymer modified overlays or conventional concrete surfaces
Horizontal or vertical finishes
Creates and old world type coloring effect
Interior or exterior use
COLOR-FAST™ Broadcast Color Hardener
Available in 24 standard colors with additional custom colors
Engineered with true rounded silica for must easier use
Zero filler
True color consistency
No color fading
COLOR-FAST™ Broadcast Powdered Release Agent
Available in 24 standard colors with additional custom colors
Zero filler
Increased color retention in texture depths
True color consistency
No color fading
PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™
Available in 30 unique natural colors
None oxide base mean no efflorescence
Extremely concentrated
Versatile; designed for use in polymer modified overlays and ULTRA-STONE™
For integral coloring or stain coloring
Unique packaging has the measuring device on the bottle
SYPP™ Synthetic Primary Pigment
Available in 6 primary colors
None oxide base mean no efflorescence
Extremely concentrated
Versatile; designed for use in polymer modified overlays and ULTRA-STONE™
For integral coloring or stain coloring
Unique packaging has the measuring device on the bottle
HYDRA-STONE™ Dye Stain
Available in 20 unique colors
Instant color results
Extreme surface penetration
Colors can be lightened with HYDRA-STONE™ Reducer
Interior use only
REFLECTOR™ Enhancer
Available in 18 unique colors and can be blended for unlimited looks
The most in demand coloring system of all time
Very unique coloring effects that cannot be achieved using other products
Creates the most beautiful flooring today
Ideal for subtle highlighting or dramatic effects
Technical Data
ULTRA-STONE™ Antiquing Stain
Extremely concentrated
Unlimited colors
The most natural looking finishes and colors
Designed for use on polymer modified overlays
Exceptional surface penetration
Horizontal or vertical finishes
Interior or exterior use
No intended for use on conventional concrete
CHEM-STONE™ Reactive Stain
Concentrated for decreased product cost
Eight standard colors with each creating additional colors
Not a coating or paint and therefore will not chip or peel
For use on polymer modified overlays or conventional concrete surfaces
Horizontal or vertical finishes
Creates and old world type coloring effect
Interior or exterior use
COLOR-FAST™ Broadcast Color Hardener
Available in 24 standard colors with additional custom colors
Engineered with true rounded silica for must easier use
Zero filler
True color consistency
No color fading
COLOR-FAST™ Broadcast Powdered Release Agent
Available in 24 standard colors with additional custom colors
Zero filler
Increased color retention in texture depths
True color consistency
No color fading
PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™
Available in 30 unique natural colors
None oxide base mean no efflorescence
Extremely concentrated
Versatile; designed for use in polymer modified overlays and ULTRA-STONE™
For integral coloring or stain coloring
Unique packaging has the measuring device on the bottle
SYPP™ Synthetic Primary Pigment
Available in 6 primary colors
None oxide base mean no efflorescence
Extremely concentrated
Versatile; designed for use in polymer modified overlays and ULTRA-STONE™
For integral coloring or stain coloring
Unique packaging has the measuring device on the bottle
HYDRA-STONE™ Dye Stain
Available in 20 unique colors
Instant color results
Extreme surface penetration
Colors can be lightened with HYDRA-STONE™ Reducer
Interior use only
REFLECTOR™ Enhancer
Available in 18 unique colors and can be blended for unlimited looks
The most in demand coloring system of all time
Very unique coloring effects that cannot be achieved using other products
Creates the most beautiful flooring today
Ideal for subtle highlighting or dramatic effects
The Right Concrete Sealer
Sealers & Protective Coatings
Technical Data
CSS EMULSION™
Extremely versatile exterior concrete sealer
For horizontal or vertical concrete protection
Ideal decorative concrete protective sealer
Concentrated for decreased product cost and added versatility
CSS-V EMULSION™ (VOC compliant in all 50 states)
Same durability, performance and usability as CSS EMULSION™
Convenient ready to use
VOC of under 150 g/l
Solvent borne performance
WCS EMULSION™
Designed for interior use
Convenient ready to use
Abnormally high solids content for waterborne sealers
E100-PT™ Series Epoxy Coatings
True 100% solids epoxy
Clear is actually "water clear", not amber
Clear or pigmented
No industry standard fillers
No primer required
Only 1 or 2 coat systems
Self leveling for ease of use
Idea carrier for REFLECTOR™ Enhancer flooring systems
Extreme durability for commercial or industrial applications
SPARTIC-ALL™ RM - Polyaspartic Coating
The fastest curing two component protective coating available
Higher level of durability and performance that epoxy products
Specialty coating for quick in/quick out applications
Can take foot traffic or recoat in under 2 hours
Can take vehicular traffic in under 12 hours
Create flake flooring systems in less than a day
Not applicable for all situations
Technical Data
CSS EMULSION™
Extremely versatile exterior concrete sealer
For horizontal or vertical concrete protection
Ideal decorative concrete protective sealer
Concentrated for decreased product cost and added versatility
CSS-V EMULSION™ (VOC compliant in all 50 states)
Same durability, performance and usability as CSS EMULSION™
Convenient ready to use
VOC of under 150 g/l
Solvent borne performance
WCS EMULSION™
Designed for interior use
Convenient ready to use
Abnormally high solids content for waterborne sealers
E100-PT™ Series Epoxy Coatings
True 100% solids epoxy
Clear is actually "water clear", not amber
Clear or pigmented
No industry standard fillers
No primer required
Only 1 or 2 coat systems
Self leveling for ease of use
Idea carrier for REFLECTOR™ Enhancer flooring systems
Extreme durability for commercial or industrial applications
SPARTIC-ALL™ RM - Polyaspartic Coating
The fastest curing two component protective coating available
Higher level of durability and performance that epoxy products
Specialty coating for quick in/quick out applications
Can take foot traffic or recoat in under 2 hours
Can take vehicular traffic in under 12 hours
Create flake flooring systems in less than a day
Not applicable for all situations
Pre-Mixed Overlays for decorative concrete finishes
Pre-Mixed Overlay Systems... The Smart Professional Choice
With these three bag mixes you can achieve any decorative overlay, seamless interior floor or restoration finish needed. Technical Data
THIN-FINISH™ Pre-Mixed Overlay
Concrete surface restoration
Base/skim coats for decorative concrete finishes
Broom finish restoration
Splatter texture/knockdown decorative finishes
Slate trowel down decorative finishes
Vertical decorative or restoration finishes
TEXTURE-PAVE™ Pre-Mixed Overlay
Concrete regrading of heaved surfaces
Concrete patching and repair
1/4" thin stamped decorative overlay
Concrete counter tops
Vertical decorative or restoration finishes
MICRO-FINISH™Pre-Mixed Overlay
Concrete surface restoration
Smoother slate trowel down decorative finishes
Ultra smooth interior floor finishes
Vertical decorative or restoration finishes
With these three bag mixes you can achieve any decorative overlay, seamless interior floor or restoration finish needed. Technical Data
THIN-FINISH™ Pre-Mixed Overlay
Concrete surface restoration
Base/skim coats for decorative concrete finishes
Broom finish restoration
Splatter texture/knockdown decorative finishes
Slate trowel down decorative finishes
Vertical decorative or restoration finishes
TEXTURE-PAVE™ Pre-Mixed Overlay
Concrete regrading of heaved surfaces
Concrete patching and repair
1/4" thin stamped decorative overlay
Concrete counter tops
Vertical decorative or restoration finishes
MICRO-FINISH™Pre-Mixed Overlay
Concrete surface restoration
Smoother slate trowel down decorative finishes
Ultra smooth interior floor finishes
Vertical decorative or restoration finishes
What Makes Us Different; Concrete Coating Products
Product Benefits
In order to properly understand our point of view, it is necessary to know where we came from and how we got to where we are today. Elite Crete Systems, Inc. actually started off as a simple product line for decorative concrete resurfacing that was manufactured and sold by Advan-Tech. Prior to 1996, the Elite Crete product line didn’t even exist and Advan-Tech’s sole business was the manufacturing and private labeling of products to other companies that provided product for the decorative concrete, epoxy and concrete restoration industry.
What products exactly did these companies purchase? As it pertains to the decorative concrete resurfacing companies, CPR1000™ Liquid Polymer Modifier, UCS Emulsion which is now known as ULTRA-STONE™ Antiquing Stain and CSS EMULSION™ were the main three products. But understand that virtually anyone can contact a large chemical company and purchase raw liquid modifiers, i.e. acrylic, styrene or vinyl emulsion or redispersibles and many still do to this day. However, the companies that we sold to hand already been down that path and recognized the inherent problems with those raw, unrefined products.
What are the problems? There are many to list but below is a quick overview of the problems related to the three primary types of cement modifiers:
ACRYLIC Cement Modifiers: Many companies still today sell a diluted form of acrylic emulsion as their cement or overlay modifier. Typically it has a mild ammonia smell. The reason for the ammonia odor is because the manufacturer diluted what started off as a 50% solid acrylic liquid with water. Even filtered tap water contains micro organisms and those organisms eventually die. When that happens they begin to literally rot in the pail with the modifier and the solution ends up smelling like rotten eggs. If you have been in this business a while, you have surely opened a pail of someone modifier and smelled either rotten eggs or ammonia. The addition of ammonia to a diluted modifier acts as an anti-microbial and eliminates the rotting of the micro organisms.
On to the performance characteristics of acrylic modifiers. First of all it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that acrylic paint doesn’t permanently adhere to concrete. Everyone has seen concrete surfaces that were painted where the paint is flaking off for what looks like no reason. With that said, the technology in acrylic modifiers for cement are no different that the technology in acrylic emulsions used in paint. Acrylic in general does exhibit good resistance to UV exposure and mild to moderate short term adhesion characteristics but the downside is a lack of long term water resistance, texturing capabilities and abrasion resistance when used as a cement modifier.
VINYL Cement Modifiers: Where acrylic modifiers were once the dominant modifier emulsion, vinyl’s have been making a huge surge with manufacturers because of the visual benefits which we will explain. These vinyl modifiers consist of one of two types of chemical make up; polyvinyl acetate (PVA) or vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE or EVA). PVA’s are the oldest of old school modifiers dating bad to the earliest of modified tile grouts. Tiles grouts modified with PVA were simply easier to use, flowed better and increased the dry strength of the grout placed between the tiles. However, there was a tremendous downside to PVA modified tiles grouts which was lack of short and long term water resistance. Because the sand was being encapsulated by the PVA resin, the cement could not adequately bond to the sand and when the PVA re-emulsified from moisture or water, the tiles grout quickly failed.
VAE or EVA modifiers were the second generation of old PVA modifiers with a mild increase in short term water resistance due to the ethylene addition. However, VAE’s still exhibit very poor long term water resistance which manufacturers try to resolve with the application of sodium silicate or lithium based concrete densifier being applied to the concrete before the application of the VAE modified cement. This is only a short term solution to inevitable product delamination.
So why are VAE modifiers popular? VAE’s create cement mixes that are much more user friendly to installers compared to acrylic modifiers. In addition, the versatility is greatly increased. Where acrylic modifiers were primarily used for skim coats, base coats, trowel coats and spray coats, VAE’s expanded the realm of application methods. VAE’s modified cements can achieve all of those same applications and with a definitive level of ease but VAE’s also allow applications such as broom finished overlays and thing stamped overlay application to be easily achieved where acrylic modified cements cannot.
Although VAE’s create a mix design that is easier to use and with greatly improved texturing capabilities, they create overlay systems that greatly lack water resistance, abrasion resistance, UV resistance and overall strength and hardness.
STYRENE Cement Modifiers: First of all, very few companies utilize styrene because it is not very user friendly, exhibits poor UV resistance to the point of yellowing, cannot be easily textured and tends to get brittle over a short period of time. The one advantage that styrene does have over the other types of modifiers is water resistance. Styrene is almost a water proofer if used in conjunction with a proper mix design.
Continuing, some decorative concrete overlay manufactures knew that the modifiers they were using were simply not the long term solution for them or their customers and had experienced problems and failures with their products. They turned to Advan-Tech because it was well known at the time that we had overcome the problems associated with the various cement modifiers that were being use. As a matter of fact, we assisted a popular concrete related magazine with a cover story about the various modifiers used in cement overlays and although we declined to be named outright as the source of the data, it was known throughout the who’s who of manufacturers that we were the sole company mentioned in the article that was hybridizing multiple components and resins to create a cement modifier that did not have short comings or performance issues. The product they were referring to was our CPR1000™ Liquid Polymer Modifier. It was that article that helped created the snowball effect of decorative concrete manufacturers contacting us to supply them with products, mix design and product development assistance. Once these manufacturers got their hands on our modifier and used with in a specific mix design that created for their application, it was blatantly obvious that we provided a superior product without performance limitations. Many of the companies that we assisted or sold products to are still to this day present in the market place but we have dialed back considerable on private labeling products.
Back to how Elite Crete Systems went from a product line to its own separate entity. It was not our intention at the time to create a product line that would essentially compete with the companies we were private labeling products to. However, we started to see a growing need for improved systems, techniques and most notably, product specification through design professionals. The fact was, very few architects were at that time specifying decorative concrete finishes for exterior or interior applications and we felt that creating a product line that was directly promoted to this sector would help all of the companies in the decorative concrete industry.
The first thing we did was join several architect related associations to give us the opportunity to speak directly with design professionals about their hesitation and often time absolute refusal to even consider a decorative concrete overlay as an exterior finish or interior flooring. What we found was pretty astonishing. Many architects informed us that there were indeed times where they specified an acrylic type decorative overlay for pool decks or commercial sidewalks and although the manufacturers claimed 10 year warranties they still have failure issues. Most of these architects were quick to admit that the problems were more than likely a result of poor workmanship and not necessarily that of an inadequate product line but they also made it clear that the application procedures seemed to allow for too much room for error. That at least gave us a fairly clear idea as to the direction that we needed to go in if we were going to launch a product line geared specifically to specifiers.
Our first goal was to present a product line that was a fool proof as possible. Fool proof to the point that an installer would be able to simply add a required amount of water to each product, mix and use. We needed a “Just add water” overlayment line…Therefore our first task was to create an overlayment product that got away from the industry standard “modifier” and “bag mix” or installer blends of a modifier that was to be added to various amounts of sand and cement. Our research told us that specifiers simply did not trust the finishes applications with such a huge chance of error. So we went on a 15 month design and development period of creating the perfect mixes for the various overlayment applications we felt were the most attractive and marketable. The key to this project was to design a line of overlay mixes that contained the exact size, shape, amount and composition of silica quartz, cement and redispersible polymer formula built off of our CPR1000™ modifier.
Even before our engineering process began we knew that although we were going to use the same formula as our CPR1000™ as the modifier, the sand and cement composition was equally critical. And so we began… Understanding how sand composition and mix design worked was a good starting point. The fact is, if you looked at our mix design recommendations that came with a five gallon pail of CPR1000™ you would notice multiple amounts of sand that varied depending on the intended use and on the size of sand that the installer was able to obtain. Below is an example of two different mix design formulas for a skim/base coat application.
CPR1000™
Water
Cement
Sand
1
5 gallons
8 to 9 gallons
94 lbs.
300 lbs. of 20 sieve
rounded silica quartz
2
5 gallons
8 to 9 gallons
94 lbs.
150 lbs. of 60 sieve rounded silica quartz
Keep in mind that those are only two examples of the many that we provided. Even still, the mix designs were very critical yet confusing to the average installer. You can see that all of the components in the formula are the same amount except for the sand. You are surely wondering why. A 20 sieve silica quartz is roughly 3 times larger than a 60 sieve. Understanding that the purpose of CPR1000™ is to modify the cement and encapsulate the sand for optimum performance, you must also realize that CPR1000™ by it self cannot properly suspend or support the silica quartz. Too much CPR1000™ in the mix design will result in a softer finish with decreased abrasion resistance, water resistance and chemical resistance. Too little CPR1000™ will result in a finish that is too brittle and a lack of tensile strength. But how does is that affected by the sand size? This is where it gets really confusing but it is very important.
Imaging you have two 5 gallon pails and you fill one of them up with baseballs and you fill the other up with golf balls. Now you fill each of the pails up with water and remove the balls from each pail. As you can imagine, the amount of water remaining in each pail will be considerably different. The pail that had the golf balls in it will contain much less water than the pail that had the baseballs in it because the void around the golf balls is much smaller. Therefore getting back to the importance of polymer content, the baseball mix would require less CPR1000™ if it were sand instead of baseballs because the void around the baseball is larger. But looking back at the formula chart above, you can see that CPR1000™, water and cement content was the common denominator so it is easier to simply increase the volume of the larger sized sand.
That confusing explanation is only half of the story. The other important factor in these mix design and in the example using the baseballs and golf balls is the exact shape of each. The silica quartz and the balls are rounded. Exact roundness is also very critical for two reasons. First of all, it creates a completely consistent surface void around each piece of sand which allows for perfect and consistent strength across the entire area of a finished project. Essentially, because the grain is perfectly rounded, there will be a precise amount of sand, cement and CPR1000™ across the entire surface. The second aspect of importance is the ability to recreate the mix exactly the same way every time.
To explain that, imagine a third 5 gallon pail… But this time you aren’t going to fill it with a perfectly rounded ball but you are going to pour angular gravel into it. Now there are two problems. The void around the gravel is not consistent and therefore the surface area around each piece of gravel is not the same. If you were to shake or vibrate the pail of gravel, you would be able to help compact the gravel together in order to be able to add even more gravel. If this were a polymer modified mix, as you compacted the gravel, you would decrease the amount of cement and polymer that is encapsulating each piece of gravel. The problem with that is you decrease the consistency of the various important strength characteristics in different parts of the mix. If this was an applied overlayment, some areas would have increased levels of flexibility while other would be brittle. Some areas would have excellent water resistance where other would re-emulsify. Finally, the other problem with angular sand is that you cannot recreate the exact mix every time because the void between the angular sand would be different from batch to batch.
After all of that confusing explanation on mix design and sand shape and size you can see why it was critical that our new just add water overlayment products to be exact. So we created two flagship products to serve as the cementitious parts of our product line, THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™. Each of these products contain eleven distinctively different silica quartz sizes. We found that by blending various shapes, we were actually able to create an overlayment that would be stronger than any produced with the formulas we provided with CPR1000™.
Here is how… Going back to the examples of the 5 gallon pail with the baseballs in it. Imagine shaking the pail while you poured one inch marbles into the pail with the baseballs. The fact is, you would be able to add a considerable amount of marbles and still not overflow the baseballs because the marbles would only fill the void between the baseballs and yet still create a consistent yet smaller, measurable void between the marbles and the baseballs. Now imagine pouring in BB’s into the pail that has the baseballs and the marbles. Still too, you would be able to pour a large amount of BB’s into the pail without overflowing the baseballs or the marbles because the BB’s are only filling the void between the marbles.
You get the idea but the key is that the sand much remain rounded and we must be able to calculate surface void and void volume in order to create a proper mix design ration of cement to sand and cement to CPR1000™. It isn’t rocket science but it is confusing and overly important.
Now that we had the perfect mix designs for the THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™, our next task was changing the way that modified cements adhered to concrete surfaces. This was even more of a challenge initially because up until now, polymer modified cements adhered to concrete via a mechanical bond just like paint. Sure some of the modifier seeps into the concrete but all of you have seen acrylic or VAE based decorative overlays that had a crack in them. But it isn’t the crack that should concern you. Fact is, concrete cracks and because an overlayment is only a 1/8” thick or so, that crack is going to reflect up through the overlay. What should concern you is when you see the overlayment delaminating on both sides of the crack. Why did that happen? Why should anyone assume that the bond is better anywhere else on that surface than it is where the crack occurred?
So we went back to the drawing board and realized that as porous as concrete is, penetrating the capillaries of the concrete was not only our goal but perhaps our biggest hurdle… Test after test we were dumbfounded to find that although concrete is porous, we could not get an adequate amount of polymer modifier to penetrate and settle in the capillaries. Ultimately we narrowed the problem down to two issues. First of all, many times even though the concrete itself was saturated during testing, pockets of capillaries remained dry and would not let any liquid penetrate the dryness. The other problem was that even if the capillary was saturated with water the water itself acted as a resist to the modifier penetrating it.
Our solution to one of the problems soon appeared obvious to us. First, we needed to shock the concrete with a light water and muratic acid solution. Keep in mind that it wasn’t our intention to etch the concrete open like other manufacturers recommend because this can actually damage the concrete but we wanted to open the capillaries with the acid solution and immediately neutralize the acid to prevent damage. This simple solution was the answer to the dry capillary problem and now we hand nothing was wet, water filled capillaries. But what about the wet capillary issue? Even though we had all capillaries wet and holding water, we still could not get the modifier to penetrate them. After more testing we determined that the problem was directly related to pH incompatibility. Essentially, the pH of the water in the capillaries was not compatible with the pH of our modifier or the overlayment.
This is where this part of the explanation is going to get evasive. In the end we were able to achieve a neutral pH of the modifier used in THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™. And that is why our products create a chemical bond and not a mechanical bond…
When we first released THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™ we really only expected experienced installers with large specified projects to purchase and use the new products. We knew that the performance of each product was greatly improved compared to any other decorative overlay and our own CPR1000™ mix designs but we also knew that it was going to cost the installers a little bit more money to use it. But word spread quickly about the ease of use, no more having to drive around finding the right silica sand, no more having to send samples of the sand to head quarters to make sure it was going to work and most of all, installers quickly realized how much stronger it was once it was cured out.
Two of the hardest people to convince to try the new just add water mixes was a contractor in Oklahoma who have been installing overlays for years and had tried everything out there and another in North Carolina who had experienced many failures with a previous product that almost led to bankruptcy. The contractor in Oklahoma said he just couldn’t justify the additional cost of $0.11 a square foot but he was known for not actually working on the job because he had employees that did it for him. An order came through for him and we included twenty free bags of THIN-FINISH™ with the order along with detailed instruction in hopes that his employees would use it. Our plan worked… He ended up calling and ordering more and said the reason was because his employees completed a project that would have taken six days using CPR1000 and mixing their own materials in only four days. His employees sold him on the ease of use and he was sold on the amount he saved in labor.
The other contractor from North Carolina wasn’t so easy. He has a similar situation was he was not normally the person doing the installations but had a foreman take care of that for him. We sent free samples a number of times to the point where he flat out requested that we stop sending the samples. Then one day we received a call from him want to make a full switch from CPR1000™ over to THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™. He said that the reason he didn’t want to switch had nothing to do with money at all but that CPR1000™ would ruin a pair of jeans and not wash off in the laundry whereas THIN-FINISH™ sometimes did. Therefore he did not believe it was a better product at all. Then one day his employees ran short on CPR1000™ and had no choice but to use it to apply a base coat. A week later the employee told our customer that he was glad they weren’t going to ever use the just add water mixes because they are so much harder to grind or rub brick when detailing the edges. From then on he was sold.
Now that you know that THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™ out perform any other overlay product available there still remains important factors to the installers that actually use the products; Cost and Ease of Use…
In terms of cost, too many contractors focus on the cost of the product as it sits in the packaging rather than the actual square foot cost once installed. Since most companies sell a bag mix consisting of just sand and cement along with a pail of their diluted modifier, it becomes almost second nature to them to simply look at the cost of the bag they are currently using and instantly compare that to the cost of a bag of THIN-FINISH™ or TEXTURE-PAVE™. If you allow them to make this comparison, you will more than likely lose them as a potential customer. Instead, point out the material cost per square foot by asking them the total cost of the bag and the modifier they are using and breaking that down by how much area their mix will actually overlay. As a general rule, most company’s bag plus to be added modifier mixes cover about 175 to 200 sq. ft. per mix for a skim or base coat and 140 to 150 sq. ft. per mix for a splatter coat. Compare that to a bag of THIN-FINISH™ which typically covers 250 to 300 sq. ft. per bag for a skim or base coat and 175 to 225 sq. ft. per bag for a splatter coat.
Of course the half way intelligent person might say that volume equals mass and although that is correct to a degree, you will need to understand that there are a couple of factors as to why THIN-FINISH™ goes farther than other products. First of all, because the pH is neutral and it is applied to neutral pH water on the concrete, the typical acrylic resist and accelerated drying doesn’t exist. The second reason is due largely in part to the use of true rounded silica quartz rather than angular sand, allowing the material to flow across the substrate easier and cleaner.
It has now been over 10 years since the first bags of THN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™ were sold and to this day not a single modification or improvement in formulation has taken place. We find it humorous that other manufacturers are constantly changing their formulas and releasing new and improved products. Our view is that if they engineered their product correctly the first time, improvements aren’t needed.
In order to properly understand our point of view, it is necessary to know where we came from and how we got to where we are today. Elite Crete Systems, Inc. actually started off as a simple product line for decorative concrete resurfacing that was manufactured and sold by Advan-Tech. Prior to 1996, the Elite Crete product line didn’t even exist and Advan-Tech’s sole business was the manufacturing and private labeling of products to other companies that provided product for the decorative concrete, epoxy and concrete restoration industry.
What products exactly did these companies purchase? As it pertains to the decorative concrete resurfacing companies, CPR1000™ Liquid Polymer Modifier, UCS Emulsion which is now known as ULTRA-STONE™ Antiquing Stain and CSS EMULSION™ were the main three products. But understand that virtually anyone can contact a large chemical company and purchase raw liquid modifiers, i.e. acrylic, styrene or vinyl emulsion or redispersibles and many still do to this day. However, the companies that we sold to hand already been down that path and recognized the inherent problems with those raw, unrefined products.
What are the problems? There are many to list but below is a quick overview of the problems related to the three primary types of cement modifiers:
ACRYLIC Cement Modifiers: Many companies still today sell a diluted form of acrylic emulsion as their cement or overlay modifier. Typically it has a mild ammonia smell. The reason for the ammonia odor is because the manufacturer diluted what started off as a 50% solid acrylic liquid with water. Even filtered tap water contains micro organisms and those organisms eventually die. When that happens they begin to literally rot in the pail with the modifier and the solution ends up smelling like rotten eggs. If you have been in this business a while, you have surely opened a pail of someone modifier and smelled either rotten eggs or ammonia. The addition of ammonia to a diluted modifier acts as an anti-microbial and eliminates the rotting of the micro organisms.
On to the performance characteristics of acrylic modifiers. First of all it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that acrylic paint doesn’t permanently adhere to concrete. Everyone has seen concrete surfaces that were painted where the paint is flaking off for what looks like no reason. With that said, the technology in acrylic modifiers for cement are no different that the technology in acrylic emulsions used in paint. Acrylic in general does exhibit good resistance to UV exposure and mild to moderate short term adhesion characteristics but the downside is a lack of long term water resistance, texturing capabilities and abrasion resistance when used as a cement modifier.
VINYL Cement Modifiers: Where acrylic modifiers were once the dominant modifier emulsion, vinyl’s have been making a huge surge with manufacturers because of the visual benefits which we will explain. These vinyl modifiers consist of one of two types of chemical make up; polyvinyl acetate (PVA) or vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE or EVA). PVA’s are the oldest of old school modifiers dating bad to the earliest of modified tile grouts. Tiles grouts modified with PVA were simply easier to use, flowed better and increased the dry strength of the grout placed between the tiles. However, there was a tremendous downside to PVA modified tiles grouts which was lack of short and long term water resistance. Because the sand was being encapsulated by the PVA resin, the cement could not adequately bond to the sand and when the PVA re-emulsified from moisture or water, the tiles grout quickly failed.
VAE or EVA modifiers were the second generation of old PVA modifiers with a mild increase in short term water resistance due to the ethylene addition. However, VAE’s still exhibit very poor long term water resistance which manufacturers try to resolve with the application of sodium silicate or lithium based concrete densifier being applied to the concrete before the application of the VAE modified cement. This is only a short term solution to inevitable product delamination.
So why are VAE modifiers popular? VAE’s create cement mixes that are much more user friendly to installers compared to acrylic modifiers. In addition, the versatility is greatly increased. Where acrylic modifiers were primarily used for skim coats, base coats, trowel coats and spray coats, VAE’s expanded the realm of application methods. VAE’s modified cements can achieve all of those same applications and with a definitive level of ease but VAE’s also allow applications such as broom finished overlays and thing stamped overlay application to be easily achieved where acrylic modified cements cannot.
Although VAE’s create a mix design that is easier to use and with greatly improved texturing capabilities, they create overlay systems that greatly lack water resistance, abrasion resistance, UV resistance and overall strength and hardness.
STYRENE Cement Modifiers: First of all, very few companies utilize styrene because it is not very user friendly, exhibits poor UV resistance to the point of yellowing, cannot be easily textured and tends to get brittle over a short period of time. The one advantage that styrene does have over the other types of modifiers is water resistance. Styrene is almost a water proofer if used in conjunction with a proper mix design.
Continuing, some decorative concrete overlay manufactures knew that the modifiers they were using were simply not the long term solution for them or their customers and had experienced problems and failures with their products. They turned to Advan-Tech because it was well known at the time that we had overcome the problems associated with the various cement modifiers that were being use. As a matter of fact, we assisted a popular concrete related magazine with a cover story about the various modifiers used in cement overlays and although we declined to be named outright as the source of the data, it was known throughout the who’s who of manufacturers that we were the sole company mentioned in the article that was hybridizing multiple components and resins to create a cement modifier that did not have short comings or performance issues. The product they were referring to was our CPR1000™ Liquid Polymer Modifier. It was that article that helped created the snowball effect of decorative concrete manufacturers contacting us to supply them with products, mix design and product development assistance. Once these manufacturers got their hands on our modifier and used with in a specific mix design that created for their application, it was blatantly obvious that we provided a superior product without performance limitations. Many of the companies that we assisted or sold products to are still to this day present in the market place but we have dialed back considerable on private labeling products.
Back to how Elite Crete Systems went from a product line to its own separate entity. It was not our intention at the time to create a product line that would essentially compete with the companies we were private labeling products to. However, we started to see a growing need for improved systems, techniques and most notably, product specification through design professionals. The fact was, very few architects were at that time specifying decorative concrete finishes for exterior or interior applications and we felt that creating a product line that was directly promoted to this sector would help all of the companies in the decorative concrete industry.
The first thing we did was join several architect related associations to give us the opportunity to speak directly with design professionals about their hesitation and often time absolute refusal to even consider a decorative concrete overlay as an exterior finish or interior flooring. What we found was pretty astonishing. Many architects informed us that there were indeed times where they specified an acrylic type decorative overlay for pool decks or commercial sidewalks and although the manufacturers claimed 10 year warranties they still have failure issues. Most of these architects were quick to admit that the problems were more than likely a result of poor workmanship and not necessarily that of an inadequate product line but they also made it clear that the application procedures seemed to allow for too much room for error. That at least gave us a fairly clear idea as to the direction that we needed to go in if we were going to launch a product line geared specifically to specifiers.
Our first goal was to present a product line that was a fool proof as possible. Fool proof to the point that an installer would be able to simply add a required amount of water to each product, mix and use. We needed a “Just add water” overlayment line…Therefore our first task was to create an overlayment product that got away from the industry standard “modifier” and “bag mix” or installer blends of a modifier that was to be added to various amounts of sand and cement. Our research told us that specifiers simply did not trust the finishes applications with such a huge chance of error. So we went on a 15 month design and development period of creating the perfect mixes for the various overlayment applications we felt were the most attractive and marketable. The key to this project was to design a line of overlay mixes that contained the exact size, shape, amount and composition of silica quartz, cement and redispersible polymer formula built off of our CPR1000™ modifier.
Even before our engineering process began we knew that although we were going to use the same formula as our CPR1000™ as the modifier, the sand and cement composition was equally critical. And so we began… Understanding how sand composition and mix design worked was a good starting point. The fact is, if you looked at our mix design recommendations that came with a five gallon pail of CPR1000™ you would notice multiple amounts of sand that varied depending on the intended use and on the size of sand that the installer was able to obtain. Below is an example of two different mix design formulas for a skim/base coat application.
CPR1000™
Water
Cement
Sand
1
5 gallons
8 to 9 gallons
94 lbs.
300 lbs. of 20 sieve
rounded silica quartz
2
5 gallons
8 to 9 gallons
94 lbs.
150 lbs. of 60 sieve rounded silica quartz
Keep in mind that those are only two examples of the many that we provided. Even still, the mix designs were very critical yet confusing to the average installer. You can see that all of the components in the formula are the same amount except for the sand. You are surely wondering why. A 20 sieve silica quartz is roughly 3 times larger than a 60 sieve. Understanding that the purpose of CPR1000™ is to modify the cement and encapsulate the sand for optimum performance, you must also realize that CPR1000™ by it self cannot properly suspend or support the silica quartz. Too much CPR1000™ in the mix design will result in a softer finish with decreased abrasion resistance, water resistance and chemical resistance. Too little CPR1000™ will result in a finish that is too brittle and a lack of tensile strength. But how does is that affected by the sand size? This is where it gets really confusing but it is very important.
Imaging you have two 5 gallon pails and you fill one of them up with baseballs and you fill the other up with golf balls. Now you fill each of the pails up with water and remove the balls from each pail. As you can imagine, the amount of water remaining in each pail will be considerably different. The pail that had the golf balls in it will contain much less water than the pail that had the baseballs in it because the void around the golf balls is much smaller. Therefore getting back to the importance of polymer content, the baseball mix would require less CPR1000™ if it were sand instead of baseballs because the void around the baseball is larger. But looking back at the formula chart above, you can see that CPR1000™, water and cement content was the common denominator so it is easier to simply increase the volume of the larger sized sand.
That confusing explanation is only half of the story. The other important factor in these mix design and in the example using the baseballs and golf balls is the exact shape of each. The silica quartz and the balls are rounded. Exact roundness is also very critical for two reasons. First of all, it creates a completely consistent surface void around each piece of sand which allows for perfect and consistent strength across the entire area of a finished project. Essentially, because the grain is perfectly rounded, there will be a precise amount of sand, cement and CPR1000™ across the entire surface. The second aspect of importance is the ability to recreate the mix exactly the same way every time.
To explain that, imagine a third 5 gallon pail… But this time you aren’t going to fill it with a perfectly rounded ball but you are going to pour angular gravel into it. Now there are two problems. The void around the gravel is not consistent and therefore the surface area around each piece of gravel is not the same. If you were to shake or vibrate the pail of gravel, you would be able to help compact the gravel together in order to be able to add even more gravel. If this were a polymer modified mix, as you compacted the gravel, you would decrease the amount of cement and polymer that is encapsulating each piece of gravel. The problem with that is you decrease the consistency of the various important strength characteristics in different parts of the mix. If this was an applied overlayment, some areas would have increased levels of flexibility while other would be brittle. Some areas would have excellent water resistance where other would re-emulsify. Finally, the other problem with angular sand is that you cannot recreate the exact mix every time because the void between the angular sand would be different from batch to batch.
After all of that confusing explanation on mix design and sand shape and size you can see why it was critical that our new just add water overlayment products to be exact. So we created two flagship products to serve as the cementitious parts of our product line, THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™. Each of these products contain eleven distinctively different silica quartz sizes. We found that by blending various shapes, we were actually able to create an overlayment that would be stronger than any produced with the formulas we provided with CPR1000™.
Here is how… Going back to the examples of the 5 gallon pail with the baseballs in it. Imagine shaking the pail while you poured one inch marbles into the pail with the baseballs. The fact is, you would be able to add a considerable amount of marbles and still not overflow the baseballs because the marbles would only fill the void between the baseballs and yet still create a consistent yet smaller, measurable void between the marbles and the baseballs. Now imagine pouring in BB’s into the pail that has the baseballs and the marbles. Still too, you would be able to pour a large amount of BB’s into the pail without overflowing the baseballs or the marbles because the BB’s are only filling the void between the marbles.
You get the idea but the key is that the sand much remain rounded and we must be able to calculate surface void and void volume in order to create a proper mix design ration of cement to sand and cement to CPR1000™. It isn’t rocket science but it is confusing and overly important.
Now that we had the perfect mix designs for the THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™, our next task was changing the way that modified cements adhered to concrete surfaces. This was even more of a challenge initially because up until now, polymer modified cements adhered to concrete via a mechanical bond just like paint. Sure some of the modifier seeps into the concrete but all of you have seen acrylic or VAE based decorative overlays that had a crack in them. But it isn’t the crack that should concern you. Fact is, concrete cracks and because an overlayment is only a 1/8” thick or so, that crack is going to reflect up through the overlay. What should concern you is when you see the overlayment delaminating on both sides of the crack. Why did that happen? Why should anyone assume that the bond is better anywhere else on that surface than it is where the crack occurred?
So we went back to the drawing board and realized that as porous as concrete is, penetrating the capillaries of the concrete was not only our goal but perhaps our biggest hurdle… Test after test we were dumbfounded to find that although concrete is porous, we could not get an adequate amount of polymer modifier to penetrate and settle in the capillaries. Ultimately we narrowed the problem down to two issues. First of all, many times even though the concrete itself was saturated during testing, pockets of capillaries remained dry and would not let any liquid penetrate the dryness. The other problem was that even if the capillary was saturated with water the water itself acted as a resist to the modifier penetrating it.
Our solution to one of the problems soon appeared obvious to us. First, we needed to shock the concrete with a light water and muratic acid solution. Keep in mind that it wasn’t our intention to etch the concrete open like other manufacturers recommend because this can actually damage the concrete but we wanted to open the capillaries with the acid solution and immediately neutralize the acid to prevent damage. This simple solution was the answer to the dry capillary problem and now we hand nothing was wet, water filled capillaries. But what about the wet capillary issue? Even though we had all capillaries wet and holding water, we still could not get the modifier to penetrate them. After more testing we determined that the problem was directly related to pH incompatibility. Essentially, the pH of the water in the capillaries was not compatible with the pH of our modifier or the overlayment.
This is where this part of the explanation is going to get evasive. In the end we were able to achieve a neutral pH of the modifier used in THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™. And that is why our products create a chemical bond and not a mechanical bond…
When we first released THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™ we really only expected experienced installers with large specified projects to purchase and use the new products. We knew that the performance of each product was greatly improved compared to any other decorative overlay and our own CPR1000™ mix designs but we also knew that it was going to cost the installers a little bit more money to use it. But word spread quickly about the ease of use, no more having to drive around finding the right silica sand, no more having to send samples of the sand to head quarters to make sure it was going to work and most of all, installers quickly realized how much stronger it was once it was cured out.
Two of the hardest people to convince to try the new just add water mixes was a contractor in Oklahoma who have been installing overlays for years and had tried everything out there and another in North Carolina who had experienced many failures with a previous product that almost led to bankruptcy. The contractor in Oklahoma said he just couldn’t justify the additional cost of $0.11 a square foot but he was known for not actually working on the job because he had employees that did it for him. An order came through for him and we included twenty free bags of THIN-FINISH™ with the order along with detailed instruction in hopes that his employees would use it. Our plan worked… He ended up calling and ordering more and said the reason was because his employees completed a project that would have taken six days using CPR1000 and mixing their own materials in only four days. His employees sold him on the ease of use and he was sold on the amount he saved in labor.
The other contractor from North Carolina wasn’t so easy. He has a similar situation was he was not normally the person doing the installations but had a foreman take care of that for him. We sent free samples a number of times to the point where he flat out requested that we stop sending the samples. Then one day we received a call from him want to make a full switch from CPR1000™ over to THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™. He said that the reason he didn’t want to switch had nothing to do with money at all but that CPR1000™ would ruin a pair of jeans and not wash off in the laundry whereas THIN-FINISH™ sometimes did. Therefore he did not believe it was a better product at all. Then one day his employees ran short on CPR1000™ and had no choice but to use it to apply a base coat. A week later the employee told our customer that he was glad they weren’t going to ever use the just add water mixes because they are so much harder to grind or rub brick when detailing the edges. From then on he was sold.
Now that you know that THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™ out perform any other overlay product available there still remains important factors to the installers that actually use the products; Cost and Ease of Use…
In terms of cost, too many contractors focus on the cost of the product as it sits in the packaging rather than the actual square foot cost once installed. Since most companies sell a bag mix consisting of just sand and cement along with a pail of their diluted modifier, it becomes almost second nature to them to simply look at the cost of the bag they are currently using and instantly compare that to the cost of a bag of THIN-FINISH™ or TEXTURE-PAVE™. If you allow them to make this comparison, you will more than likely lose them as a potential customer. Instead, point out the material cost per square foot by asking them the total cost of the bag and the modifier they are using and breaking that down by how much area their mix will actually overlay. As a general rule, most company’s bag plus to be added modifier mixes cover about 175 to 200 sq. ft. per mix for a skim or base coat and 140 to 150 sq. ft. per mix for a splatter coat. Compare that to a bag of THIN-FINISH™ which typically covers 250 to 300 sq. ft. per bag for a skim or base coat and 175 to 225 sq. ft. per bag for a splatter coat.
Of course the half way intelligent person might say that volume equals mass and although that is correct to a degree, you will need to understand that there are a couple of factors as to why THIN-FINISH™ goes farther than other products. First of all, because the pH is neutral and it is applied to neutral pH water on the concrete, the typical acrylic resist and accelerated drying doesn’t exist. The second reason is due largely in part to the use of true rounded silica quartz rather than angular sand, allowing the material to flow across the substrate easier and cleaner.
It has now been over 10 years since the first bags of THN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™ were sold and to this day not a single modification or improvement in formulation has taken place. We find it humorous that other manufacturers are constantly changing their formulas and releasing new and improved products. Our view is that if they engineered their product correctly the first time, improvements aren’t needed.
Decorative Concrete Leads = Lead Share
Lead Share
After much thought, we have decided to attach the new Lead Share Program to www.concretelocator.com instead of the much anticipated and newfangled www.elitecrete.com. All of the of leads generated by the new website including homeowners, specifiers and architects will be posted on Concrete Locator along with all the others we receive through various venues.
Here is how it works.
Approval must be received from your authorized distributor. Apply for membership by clicking on the topic. At that point, a dialog box will open and you must submit the following information: - Full first and last name. - Address, city and state. - Active email address. - Telephone number. - Full name, company name and location of your distributor. - Date you attended training. Once your request has been submitted, we will contact your distributor for approval. This process may take up to two weeks to complete. Lead Share is strictly for trained Elite Crete Systems installers who install Elite Crete Systems products. Substituting products will result in termination from the Lead Share program.
It just became live as I write this so get signed up ASAP!!! This is going to be a big bonus for our loyal customers.
After much thought, we have decided to attach the new Lead Share Program to www.concretelocator.com instead of the much anticipated and newfangled www.elitecrete.com. All of the of leads generated by the new website including homeowners, specifiers and architects will be posted on Concrete Locator along with all the others we receive through various venues.
Here is how it works.
Approval must be received from your authorized distributor. Apply for membership by clicking on the topic. At that point, a dialog box will open and you must submit the following information: - Full first and last name. - Address, city and state. - Active email address. - Telephone number. - Full name, company name and location of your distributor. - Date you attended training. Once your request has been submitted, we will contact your distributor for approval. This process may take up to two weeks to complete. Lead Share is strictly for trained Elite Crete Systems installers who install Elite Crete Systems products. Substituting products will result in termination from the Lead Share program.
It just became live as I write this so get signed up ASAP!!! This is going to be a big bonus for our loyal customers.
What makes Elite Crete Systems Different
What makes Elite Crete Systems different?
The picture of the Henry Ford Hospital featuring the REFLECTOR Enhancer product is just the tip of the iceberg of our product offerings but our business model and daily mind set is the first thing that makes us different than other companies.
Unlike other manufacturers who's only objective is to sell material, our approach is to first and foremost assist installers with all aspects of their business. In doing this, we not only help to ensure the success of installers who use our products but the result is a loyal custom and product user for years.
We don't expect you to be able to remotely understand our thinking or how we do business or even whether or not this is simply propaganda or the actual way be think and act.
We decided long ago that allowing our products to be sold through typical supply stores was not the direction we wanted to go. On the other hand, Elite Crete Systems Corporate Headquarters does not sell direct to installers either. Instead, we have a network of Factory Authorized Training and Technical Support Centers across the U.S., Canada and other countries.
These offices are solely responsible for all aspect of training, technical support and product sales but you wont find an hourly employee reading instructions out of a training manual. All of our technical experts have extensive experience using our products and they will serve as the life-blood to your business.
Give a try or at the very least, attend a two day training seminar near you. We know you will see that our products, systems and business assistance are much different and better than what you have now...
The picture of the Henry Ford Hospital featuring the REFLECTOR Enhancer product is just the tip of the iceberg of our product offerings but our business model and daily mind set is the first thing that makes us different than other companies.
Unlike other manufacturers who's only objective is to sell material, our approach is to first and foremost assist installers with all aspects of their business. In doing this, we not only help to ensure the success of installers who use our products but the result is a loyal custom and product user for years.
We don't expect you to be able to remotely understand our thinking or how we do business or even whether or not this is simply propaganda or the actual way be think and act.
We decided long ago that allowing our products to be sold through typical supply stores was not the direction we wanted to go. On the other hand, Elite Crete Systems Corporate Headquarters does not sell direct to installers either. Instead, we have a network of Factory Authorized Training and Technical Support Centers across the U.S., Canada and other countries.
These offices are solely responsible for all aspect of training, technical support and product sales but you wont find an hourly employee reading instructions out of a training manual. All of our technical experts have extensive experience using our products and they will serve as the life-blood to your business.
Give a try or at the very least, attend a two day training seminar near you. We know you will see that our products, systems and business assistance are much different and better than what you have now...
No Bail Out needed for Decorative Concrete Installers
Often these days the current topic of conversation is the slow economy, lack of business, multi-billion dollar bailouts, and the recession. Elite Crete Systems has made a conscious decision to not participate in the recession. We just don't have the time to invest in such a negative program. What are we doing you ask?
Elite Crete Systems are being written into more and more commercial specs in spaces like Cricket Wireless, Super Cuts, IHOP, Marco's Pizza and even Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. I bet you have walked on one of our floors and didn't even know.
We are training installers on our new products and new ways to use our tried and true products. REFLECTOR Enhancer creates metallic finishes, vivid color shift, and iridescent variations when added to clear sealers and coatings. Our new SPARTIC-ALL RM polyaspartic coating has a two to three hour recoat time while at the same time allowing traffic the following day and with ultimately a 7000+ psi surface. Read below for more detail on our training opportunities.
Elite Crete Systems are being written into more and more commercial specs in spaces like Cricket Wireless, Super Cuts, IHOP, Marco's Pizza and even Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. I bet you have walked on one of our floors and didn't even know.
We are training installers on our new products and new ways to use our tried and true products. REFLECTOR Enhancer creates metallic finishes, vivid color shift, and iridescent variations when added to clear sealers and coatings. Our new SPARTIC-ALL RM polyaspartic coating has a two to three hour recoat time while at the same time allowing traffic the following day and with ultimately a 7000+ psi surface. Read below for more detail on our training opportunities.
Decorative Concrete in Maryland
TIME TO GET OUTSIDE
Spring is just around the corner and homeowners are itching to spruce things up. If you're already a certified Elite Crete installer, get out there and show them what you can do to beautify homes and businesses.
If you're not yet a certified installer, come out to the next training seminar, April 17th & 18th, and learn the trade of decorative concrete. You'll be making a profit right away. Now is the very BEST time to get certified and get rolling with installs.
Elite Crete Systems products are #1 in the decorative concrete industry. Combine the best selling products in the industry with unsurpassed technical support and you are guranteed to make money.
Our knowledge base on using the products comes from doing thousands of successful jobs ourselves. We are out in the field just like you, so we can give excellent product and business advice.
Spring is just around the corner and homeowners are itching to spruce things up. If you're already a certified Elite Crete installer, get out there and show them what you can do to beautify homes and businesses.
If you're not yet a certified installer, come out to the next training seminar, April 17th & 18th, and learn the trade of decorative concrete. You'll be making a profit right away. Now is the very BEST time to get certified and get rolling with installs.
Elite Crete Systems products are #1 in the decorative concrete industry. Combine the best selling products in the industry with unsurpassed technical support and you are guranteed to make money.
Our knowledge base on using the products comes from doing thousands of successful jobs ourselves. We are out in the field just like you, so we can give excellent product and business advice.
Decorative Concrete Still Strong for Elite Crete Systems
Facts are Facts... Elite Crete Systems is stronger and busier than ever.
The past several months Elite Crete Systems has been publicly criticized for making claims about how the economy is not being affected by this economic downturn. The fact is, the first quarter of 2009 was our best first quarter ever. Trained Elite Crete Systems installers are keeping busy and there are no signs of this letting up.
That is not to say that our continued growth and success came easy. We have launched new products that installers are finding easy to market and sell. We have increased our budget for advertising to generate leads for our installers and we we have spent many more resources to enhance our relationship with design professionals to get our product specified.
When we realized that times were going to get tough we took a different approach to business compared to other companies and instead of cutting back we decided to put more effort towards assisting installers. This might have been a risk after seeing several decorative concrete manufacturers either go out of business or be bought out for pennies on the dollar but it paid off and in the end, we owe the lions share of our success to our distributors and installers.
We have said for years that we were a different type of manufacturer. Isn't it time you found out why more contractors make the switch to Elite Crete Systems than any other manufacturer and help your business sustain this recession?
Do you and your company a favor and contact us today. You just wont believe the difference Elite Crete Systems makes...
The past several months Elite Crete Systems has been publicly criticized for making claims about how the economy is not being affected by this economic downturn. The fact is, the first quarter of 2009 was our best first quarter ever. Trained Elite Crete Systems installers are keeping busy and there are no signs of this letting up.
That is not to say that our continued growth and success came easy. We have launched new products that installers are finding easy to market and sell. We have increased our budget for advertising to generate leads for our installers and we we have spent many more resources to enhance our relationship with design professionals to get our product specified.
When we realized that times were going to get tough we took a different approach to business compared to other companies and instead of cutting back we decided to put more effort towards assisting installers. This might have been a risk after seeing several decorative concrete manufacturers either go out of business or be bought out for pennies on the dollar but it paid off and in the end, we owe the lions share of our success to our distributors and installers.
We have said for years that we were a different type of manufacturer. Isn't it time you found out why more contractors make the switch to Elite Crete Systems than any other manufacturer and help your business sustain this recession?
Do you and your company a favor and contact us today. You just wont believe the difference Elite Crete Systems makes...
Decorative Concrete Show in Indiana
I'd like to thank everyone who stopped by our booth at the Indianapolis Flower and Patio Show at the Indiana State Fair Grounds this year. Even though the show was packed with lookie-loos waiting for spring to finally arrive, it was also crowded with potential customers needing overlays. We have handed out many of those qualified leads to those of you that have already been to training and have incorporated Elite Crete Products into your business plan.
If you are still on the fence about getting into this business, it's time to learn about Elite Crete Systems Products by attending one of our training seminars.
The spring/summer schedule is below. We are tentatively planning another Advanced Plus Class for June and will make a seperate announcement prior to that time. Class will have to be limited in size, so it will be first come/first served.
NOTE: The March Class was FULL, don't wait for the last minute to sign up for April!!
If you are still on the fence about getting into this business, it's time to learn about Elite Crete Systems Products by attending one of our training seminars.
The spring/summer schedule is below. We are tentatively planning another Advanced Plus Class for June and will make a seperate announcement prior to that time. Class will have to be limited in size, so it will be first come/first served.
NOTE: The March Class was FULL, don't wait for the last minute to sign up for April!!
Decorative Concrete Estimating Software
Elite Crete Systems Estimating Software
Every experienced contractor will tell you that product performance and technical support are far more important than actual material cost but knowing the exact product expense is a critical aspect of operating a successful and profitable business. Therefore we are offering a free copy of our 2009 Elite Crete Systems Estimating Software at no charge.
This software allows users to input project dimensions and other criteria for calculating expect expenses for the following applications:
• Acid stain finishes
• Dye stain finishes
• Splatter textures & knockdowns
• Various slate trowel downs
• Thin stamped overlays
• MICRO-FINISH flooring
• Protective sealers and epoxies
In addition, the software will calculate the exact material required for your project, labor cost, estimated shipping and even give you the total profit you can expect once the job is complete.
To request your free copy, send your request to: info@elitecrete.com and be sure to type "ESTIMATING SOFTWARE REQUEST".
Every experienced contractor will tell you that product performance and technical support are far more important than actual material cost but knowing the exact product expense is a critical aspect of operating a successful and profitable business. Therefore we are offering a free copy of our 2009 Elite Crete Systems Estimating Software at no charge.
This software allows users to input project dimensions and other criteria for calculating expect expenses for the following applications:
• Acid stain finishes
• Dye stain finishes
• Splatter textures & knockdowns
• Various slate trowel downs
• Thin stamped overlays
• MICRO-FINISH flooring
• Protective sealers and epoxies
In addition, the software will calculate the exact material required for your project, labor cost, estimated shipping and even give you the total profit you can expect once the job is complete.
To request your free copy, send your request to: info@elitecrete.com and be sure to type "ESTIMATING SOFTWARE REQUEST".
Decorative Concrete Training in Colorado
Want to learn more?
As the industry leader in concrete overlays, we strive to offer the contractor the most versatile and easiest - to - use product line available. We offer "just add water" overlay mixes that makes your mix consistent, bag after bag. Concentrated stains and sealers, not only saves you money, but also lets you mix the appropriate concentrations for your particular application.
We will be having a training class every month in Colorado. These are hands-on classes. We do not sell packages, franchises, high dollar specialty tools or require minimum orders. We cover our full product line and their applications without the sales pitch to try and get you to buy things you do not need, We are available around the clock to support you, we do not close at 5:00!!!
Class will begin at approximately 8:30 AM Friday and Saturday mornings and should be over around 4:00 PM that afternoon. You will be loaded up with sample boards to take with you, that you made during class. Hurry and register.
The Following will be covered in the class along with so much more!!
Thin Stamped Overlays:
Replicating that authentic look, feel and color of real stone, brick and slate.
Splatter Texture & Knockdown Finishes:
Ideal for pool decks, sidewalks and driveways, where a beautiful, yet non-slip finish is needed.
Slate Trowel Down Finishes:
Perhaps the easiest application available.
MICRO-FINISH:
Custom seamless floors as smooth as glass.
Acid Staining & Dye Staining:
One of the hottest trends in the decorative concrete industry.
Spartic-All:
This is fast curing poly aspartic and there is not a higher quality poly aspartic coating available.
REFLECTOR:
The hottest new product on the market.
With six new colors!!!
Marketing in a Slowing Economy:
Don't let the economic slow down hamper you. We will cover proven advertising techniques that are sure to keep your business booming.
Bring your work clothes. Lunch is provided.
As the industry leader in concrete overlays, we strive to offer the contractor the most versatile and easiest - to - use product line available. We offer "just add water" overlay mixes that makes your mix consistent, bag after bag. Concentrated stains and sealers, not only saves you money, but also lets you mix the appropriate concentrations for your particular application.
We will be having a training class every month in Colorado. These are hands-on classes. We do not sell packages, franchises, high dollar specialty tools or require minimum orders. We cover our full product line and their applications without the sales pitch to try and get you to buy things you do not need, We are available around the clock to support you, we do not close at 5:00!!!
Class will begin at approximately 8:30 AM Friday and Saturday mornings and should be over around 4:00 PM that afternoon. You will be loaded up with sample boards to take with you, that you made during class. Hurry and register.
The Following will be covered in the class along with so much more!!
Thin Stamped Overlays:
Replicating that authentic look, feel and color of real stone, brick and slate.
Splatter Texture & Knockdown Finishes:
Ideal for pool decks, sidewalks and driveways, where a beautiful, yet non-slip finish is needed.
Slate Trowel Down Finishes:
Perhaps the easiest application available.
MICRO-FINISH:
Custom seamless floors as smooth as glass.
Acid Staining & Dye Staining:
One of the hottest trends in the decorative concrete industry.
Spartic-All:
This is fast curing poly aspartic and there is not a higher quality poly aspartic coating available.
REFLECTOR:
The hottest new product on the market.
With six new colors!!!
Marketing in a Slowing Economy:
Don't let the economic slow down hamper you. We will cover proven advertising techniques that are sure to keep your business booming.
Bring your work clothes. Lunch is provided.
Wow: Reflector Enhancer Flooring Systems
If you have not experimented with Reflector Enhancer you are missing out the newest money making product Elite Crete has to offer. Never before has it been so easy to achieve an acid stained look without acid. There is less unpredictability, less labor , and more profit.
Attend one of our upcoming seminars to learn the basic application that will give you an easy to sell, easy to install floor. After learning the basics we will teach you some advanced application techniques, and from that point your imagination is the only limit.
Attend an upcoming class to learn the secrets behind this highly profitable flooring
Attend one of our upcoming seminars to learn the basic application that will give you an easy to sell, easy to install floor. After learning the basics we will teach you some advanced application techniques, and from that point your imagination is the only limit.
Attend an upcoming class to learn the secrets behind this highly profitable flooring
Decorative Concrete Contractors Switching
See Why So Many Switch
Decrease your material costs and labor!!!!!
There is a reason why more contractors switch to our products over any other brand available. Actually there are many reasons...
Below are the average costs to complete various finishes:
Splatter Textures & Knockdown Finishes for less than $0.60 per square foot total material cost.
Slate Trowel Down Finishes for less than $0.55 per square foot total material cost.
1/4" Thin Stamped Overlays for less than $1.50 per square foot total material cost.
MICRO-FINISH Seamless Interior Floors for less than $0.60 per square foot total material cost.
We understand that material cost isn't the most important factor in choosing a product so our products were engineered with strength and durability as the primary design goal.
Knowing that time and labor are always a bigger expense than material cost, our products are designed to be extremely user friendly and very quick to install.
Is your product supplier just a supplier or are they your partner?
If you aren't already using Elite Crete Systems products, we don't really expect you to fully understand the point of the question. Our products are only available through handpicked, factory trained, authorized distributors not supply stores that carry a multitude of items with no knowledge of the products. In addition, our distributors are not contractors that bought a larger product package.
The job of an Authorized Distributor is to train you to properly install the products and help you grow your business. We provide all Authorized Distributors with the tools to do just that. We view services such as training, technical support, business development assistance and lead generation just the beginning of how we can help. When was the last time your current product supplier helped you market your business and generate job leads?
Elite Crete Systems is about to embark on a completely new lead generating program through Reed Construction Data that will provide us with an ongoing list of new commercial projects across the entire United States as well as Canada. There are an average of 4,000 projects that require forms of decorative concrete and 30,000 that require commercial flooring at any given time. In addition, over 100 new projects are listed daily.
While we will make initial contact to get our products and systems specified, all job leads will be passed on to trained and registered Elite Crete Systems installers.
Decrease your material costs and labor!!!!!
There is a reason why more contractors switch to our products over any other brand available. Actually there are many reasons...
Below are the average costs to complete various finishes:
Splatter Textures & Knockdown Finishes for less than $0.60 per square foot total material cost.
Slate Trowel Down Finishes for less than $0.55 per square foot total material cost.
1/4" Thin Stamped Overlays for less than $1.50 per square foot total material cost.
MICRO-FINISH Seamless Interior Floors for less than $0.60 per square foot total material cost.
We understand that material cost isn't the most important factor in choosing a product so our products were engineered with strength and durability as the primary design goal.
Knowing that time and labor are always a bigger expense than material cost, our products are designed to be extremely user friendly and very quick to install.
Is your product supplier just a supplier or are they your partner?
If you aren't already using Elite Crete Systems products, we don't really expect you to fully understand the point of the question. Our products are only available through handpicked, factory trained, authorized distributors not supply stores that carry a multitude of items with no knowledge of the products. In addition, our distributors are not contractors that bought a larger product package.
The job of an Authorized Distributor is to train you to properly install the products and help you grow your business. We provide all Authorized Distributors with the tools to do just that. We view services such as training, technical support, business development assistance and lead generation just the beginning of how we can help. When was the last time your current product supplier helped you market your business and generate job leads?
Elite Crete Systems is about to embark on a completely new lead generating program through Reed Construction Data that will provide us with an ongoing list of new commercial projects across the entire United States as well as Canada. There are an average of 4,000 projects that require forms of decorative concrete and 30,000 that require commercial flooring at any given time. In addition, over 100 new projects are listed daily.
While we will make initial contact to get our products and systems specified, all job leads will be passed on to trained and registered Elite Crete Systems installers.
Bomanite Contractors Joing Elite Crete Systems
That's right... I said Bomanite. Denis Wryn has been the Owner/Operator of RCB since 2006 and has 1,000s of square feet of beautiful polishing and overlay work under his belt. They are a full service installer of decorative concrete coatings to commercial, municipal and residential customers. For those of you looking for a company to prep your floor, in addition to installing concrete coatings we have the equipment to remove epoxy, urethane, mastic and acrylic/water based sealers.
Denis joined the ranks of certified Elite Crete Systems installers in late 2008. When asked what he likes about EC he replies, "The loooong pot life of the mixes, their ease of use, and their workability."
Denis joined the ranks of certified Elite Crete Systems installers in late 2008. When asked what he likes about EC he replies, "The loooong pot life of the mixes, their ease of use, and their workability."
New Reflector Enhancer Colors Available
New Reflector colors
Copper, Gunmetal, ECS Blue, Blush, Cairo, Rialto, and Moss. These Seven new colors can be used translucently or totally opaque. Use them in CSS, Spartic-All, E100 Epoxy and yes even Ultra-Stone Stain.
Copper, Gunmetal, ECS Blue, Blush, Cairo, Rialto, and Moss. These Seven new colors can be used translucently or totally opaque. Use them in CSS, Spartic-All, E100 Epoxy and yes even Ultra-Stone Stain.
Advanced Decorative Training in Ohio
Advanced Training returns to Ohio
May 8th and 9th Columbus, OH
Elite Crete of the Ohio Valley will host an Advanced Training session featuring a special guest, Gene Dean of Elite Crete of Indiana and Elite Crete Systems products. This will be a hands-on live training event featuring our new REFLECTOR-Enhancer, Portion Control Colorant System, HYDRA-STONE Dyes and CSS sealer being applied to hand troweled textures and hand carved overlays. Be ready with your work clothes and boots on to get in the mix. The samples produced in this session will be divided and available for the attendees to take home.
The doors will be open at 8:00 am and Class will begin at approximately 8:30 am Friday and will wrap up around 4:00 PM in the afternoon. The same hours will repeat on Saturday. The cost of attendance is $250 per person and we will see to it that you are fed and watered and that you bring home plenty of sample boards.
May 8th and 9th Columbus, OH
Elite Crete of the Ohio Valley will host an Advanced Training session featuring a special guest, Gene Dean of Elite Crete of Indiana and Elite Crete Systems products. This will be a hands-on live training event featuring our new REFLECTOR-Enhancer, Portion Control Colorant System, HYDRA-STONE Dyes and CSS sealer being applied to hand troweled textures and hand carved overlays. Be ready with your work clothes and boots on to get in the mix. The samples produced in this session will be divided and available for the attendees to take home.
The doors will be open at 8:00 am and Class will begin at approximately 8:30 am Friday and will wrap up around 4:00 PM in the afternoon. The same hours will repeat on Saturday. The cost of attendance is $250 per person and we will see to it that you are fed and watered and that you bring home plenty of sample boards.
Decorative Concrete Information
Available Now...
The entire Elite Crete Systems binder with product information sheets, brochures and more. Request your free copy today. Follow the following instructions: Send an email to info@elitecrete.com and include your full name and complete mailing address. In the subject line be sure to type "CD Rom Request".
The entire Elite Crete Systems binder with product information sheets, brochures and more. Request your free copy today. Follow the following instructions: Send an email to info@elitecrete.com and include your full name and complete mailing address. In the subject line be sure to type "CD Rom Request".
Decorative Concrete Installers: Market Your Trade
Marketing Your Trade
Marketing is a vital aspect to the world of concrete overlays, especially in our area. The majority of people on Delmarva have never heard of concrete overlays and restoration. You guys that are already installers should be talking it up to everyone you come in contact with. Overlays are awesome and extremely versatile, it is an easy sale.
We actually have people call to get work done, while they are riding down the road because they see the trailer all lettered up. Yes, getting a trailer and having it lettered can be costly. However, having magnets made for your current vehicle, whatever it may be, is very cost effective way to get your name out there. Also, when you are out there doing jobs get good before and after shots. A picture is definitely worth a thousand words in this field.
Concrete Network is also an awesome marketing tool that all installers should get hooked up with. They will list you on their contractors list and then build your website for free. The website is the perfect place to put pictures and then send your potential customers on-line to see what you can do. They do everything for you and make any changes, anytime you want.
These are just a few basic ideas but the main thing to remember is we are offering something that very few people in this area are doing. There are miles and miles of concrete out there that could use a facelift. Get your name out there, let people know what you can do, and you will see the work come in.
Marketing is a vital aspect to the world of concrete overlays, especially in our area. The majority of people on Delmarva have never heard of concrete overlays and restoration. You guys that are already installers should be talking it up to everyone you come in contact with. Overlays are awesome and extremely versatile, it is an easy sale.
We actually have people call to get work done, while they are riding down the road because they see the trailer all lettered up. Yes, getting a trailer and having it lettered can be costly. However, having magnets made for your current vehicle, whatever it may be, is very cost effective way to get your name out there. Also, when you are out there doing jobs get good before and after shots. A picture is definitely worth a thousand words in this field.
Concrete Network is also an awesome marketing tool that all installers should get hooked up with. They will list you on their contractors list and then build your website for free. The website is the perfect place to put pictures and then send your potential customers on-line to see what you can do. They do everything for you and make any changes, anytime you want.
These are just a few basic ideas but the main thing to remember is we are offering something that very few people in this area are doing. There are miles and miles of concrete out there that could use a facelift. Get your name out there, let people know what you can do, and you will see the work come in.
Heartland Elite Crete Decorative Concrete Training
Here's Our Economic Stimulus Package!
FREE GIFT for all of our May Trainees
Offer applies to customers of Heartland Elite Crete ONLY!
Dear Ken,
While everyone else is complaining and suffering from our current economic downturn, Elite Crete Systems is going strong. In fact, 2008 was our most successful year yet.
Come see how to increase your profits and lower your costs. Our next training seminar will be on May 15-16. Visit our website to download our training form. Classes fill up fast so reserve your spot now!
We know! You probably have questions. That's okay! Call or email us. We'll be glad to talk with you. We'll even be happy to put you in contact with other Elite Crete installers so you can get it straight from them.
Cost for training is $250.00 and all meals are included. We've got special rates with the Clarion Resort on the Lake under the code "Elite Crete."
Plus...All trainees for Heartland Elite Crete will receive a FREE Elite Crete Systems baseball cap.
FREE GIFT for all of our May Trainees
Offer applies to customers of Heartland Elite Crete ONLY!
Dear Ken,
While everyone else is complaining and suffering from our current economic downturn, Elite Crete Systems is going strong. In fact, 2008 was our most successful year yet.
Come see how to increase your profits and lower your costs. Our next training seminar will be on May 15-16. Visit our website to download our training form. Classes fill up fast so reserve your spot now!
We know! You probably have questions. That's okay! Call or email us. We'll be glad to talk with you. We'll even be happy to put you in contact with other Elite Crete installers so you can get it straight from them.
Cost for training is $250.00 and all meals are included. We've got special rates with the Clarion Resort on the Lake under the code "Elite Crete."
Plus...All trainees for Heartland Elite Crete will receive a FREE Elite Crete Systems baseball cap.
Decorative Concrete Training Classes in Oregon
Decorative Concrete Training Classes in Oregon...
Spring is upon us and 2009 is shaping up to be a very busy year for Elite Crete Systems trained installers. Whether you are a seasoned installer already in the business or considering this highly profitable trade, our trainings are a must.
Know ahead of time that our training seminars are not your typical demo head at the local construction supply store where you come in for free coffee and donuts while someone walks through the motions of applying a few products. Our trainings are very hands on, technically oriented and designed to teach you what you need to know to head out and complete profitable jobs from day one.
We will cover the following applications:
• Custom seamless interior flooring
• Exterior decorative concrete finishes
• Staining and coloring
• A multitude of various types of overlayments
• Correct sealers and protective coatings
• Specialty REFLECTOR Enhancer systems
• Surface preparation
• Marketing and business development
Sign up today by contacting us at jr@nwelitecrete.com or phone us at 541-550-0755.
Sincerely,
Northwest Elite Crete LLC
Spring is upon us and 2009 is shaping up to be a very busy year for Elite Crete Systems trained installers. Whether you are a seasoned installer already in the business or considering this highly profitable trade, our trainings are a must.
Know ahead of time that our training seminars are not your typical demo head at the local construction supply store where you come in for free coffee and donuts while someone walks through the motions of applying a few products. Our trainings are very hands on, technically oriented and designed to teach you what you need to know to head out and complete profitable jobs from day one.
We will cover the following applications:
• Custom seamless interior flooring
• Exterior decorative concrete finishes
• Staining and coloring
• A multitude of various types of overlayments
• Correct sealers and protective coatings
• Specialty REFLECTOR Enhancer systems
• Surface preparation
• Marketing and business development
Sign up today by contacting us at jr@nwelitecrete.com or phone us at 541-550-0755.
Sincerely,
Northwest Elite Crete LLC
Friday, December 19, 2008
Elite Crete in Ontario
Ontario Distributor Located In GTA
Elite Crete Systems now has an Ontario Regional Distributor to better serve the needs of Contractor Customers in Ontario. Working together with Ray Rifenberg - Regional Director Great Lakes Elite Crete, our newest distributor will be conducting training seminars in summer/fall of 2009 and immediately be responsible for scheduling product orders, providing technical support and promoting the Elite Crete Brand to Owners, Architects, Interior Designers, Property Managers and Building Professionals. Les Janos, Corey Waring and Chris Woodcock look forward to working with all our existing and future Contractor Installers.
Elite Crete Systems now has an Ontario Regional Distributor to better serve the needs of Contractor Customers in Ontario. Working together with Ray Rifenberg - Regional Director Great Lakes Elite Crete, our newest distributor will be conducting training seminars in summer/fall of 2009 and immediately be responsible for scheduling product orders, providing technical support and promoting the Elite Crete Brand to Owners, Architects, Interior Designers, Property Managers and Building Professionals. Les Janos, Corey Waring and Chris Woodcock look forward to working with all our existing and future Contractor Installers.
Elite Crete Systems on Television
Airing this month...
If you are receiving this announcement, you are probably already aware of decorative concrete overlays to some degree and you wont want to miss seeing this episode of Rock Solid featuring a 1/4" thin stamped overlay installation.
Elite Crete Systems on tv is nothing new. We have actually assisted with over 20 televised projects on various programs but this time the entire 30 episode will be the installation of the decorative concrete overlay start to finish.
Rock Solid is a TV show that air on DIYNetwork each week covering various home improvement topics. Now dont let the term DIY make you think this was presented as something a property owner could do on their own. As a matter of fact, DIYNetwork was very clear to the viewers that this installation is NOT something they could do themselves and they needed to locate a trained Elite Crete Systems installer to perform the work.
The installer working with the Rock Solid crew is none other than our very own Rod Johnson with Elite Crete South East. Although Rod is not an installer, he has been director of training and technical support for North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia for the past 12 years.
If you are not in the decorative concrete overlay business yet and have been sitting on the fence, this episode with surely show you how easy it is to apply decorative concrete overlay finishes.
Here is the link: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/hm_he_patio_deck_strct/article/0,2085,DIY_16822_4518776,00.html
For more information about Elite Crete Systems products and training, visit us online at www.elitecrete.com.
If you are receiving this announcement, you are probably already aware of decorative concrete overlays to some degree and you wont want to miss seeing this episode of Rock Solid featuring a 1/4" thin stamped overlay installation.
Elite Crete Systems on tv is nothing new. We have actually assisted with over 20 televised projects on various programs but this time the entire 30 episode will be the installation of the decorative concrete overlay start to finish.
Rock Solid is a TV show that air on DIYNetwork each week covering various home improvement topics. Now dont let the term DIY make you think this was presented as something a property owner could do on their own. As a matter of fact, DIYNetwork was very clear to the viewers that this installation is NOT something they could do themselves and they needed to locate a trained Elite Crete Systems installer to perform the work.
The installer working with the Rock Solid crew is none other than our very own Rod Johnson with Elite Crete South East. Although Rod is not an installer, he has been director of training and technical support for North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia for the past 12 years.
If you are not in the decorative concrete overlay business yet and have been sitting on the fence, this episode with surely show you how easy it is to apply decorative concrete overlay finishes.
Here is the link: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/hm_he_patio_deck_strct/article/0,2085,DIY_16822_4518776,00.html
For more information about Elite Crete Systems products and training, visit us online at www.elitecrete.com.
Understand Product Use and Terms...
- RFR / PT1 or Reflector Enhancer based interior flooring - Reflector Enhancer is a micro particle resin manufactured to exact angular precision to reflect and refract light to create a natural metallic or aged stone patina when used in high build clear resin epoxies. Reflector Enhancer can be mixed with 100% solids epoxy to create a 85%-95% opaque natural patina. 5-15% of the previous coat will show through, so selection of color for primer coat is critical. Reflector Enhancer will refract light differently on different colored surfaces, and with different colored or angled of light. Primer material may be Elite Crete Thin Finish colored with Elite Crete's Portion Control or Synthetic Primary Pigment, with or without UltraStone or HydraStone stain… or it may PT-4 colored 100% solids epoxy. Typical contractor decision of epoxy based primer vs. Thin Finish primer usually depends on whether existing substrate has to be mechanically profiled or shot blasted to remove previous coating, glue, thin set, etc. If this is the case, the PT-4 epoxy is usually used to prime the floor at 14-18 mils. If the existing substrate has no existing sealer or glue that needs mechanical profiling - then it can be cleaned with a swing machine (floor machine or buffer) with a light detergent (Simple Green with 12-20 parts water is the preferred solution), followed by an muriatic acid bath, neutralized completely with ammonia solution before rinsing. Elite Crete Thin Finish, which is less than half the cost of 16 mils of 100% solids epoxy, can be colored and a skim coat of Thin Finish can be applied as the primer coat over the re-dampened surface (spray surface with water with pump sprayers to ensure a wet surface, with no standing water before Thin Finish application) and provide a bond equally permanent to properly applied epoxy over mechanically profiled concrete. The Thin Finish skim coat primer – at approx 1/32”-1/16” thickness yields a more fine grain stone pattern to the final finish than color epoxy primer does. Thin Finish primed RFR (Reflector Enhancer) systems look more like marble or rare precious metal containing stone, where as colored epoxy primed RFR systems look more like the most beautiful and consistent acid stained floor you've ever seen...but better. After either colored Thin Finish or colored epoxy primer is installed (48 hours after Thin Finish, and 18-30 hours after epoxy) a coat of clear PT1 100% solids epoxy - with .75 containers of Reflector Enhancer per gallon of epoxy mixed in with activation, is applied and steel troweled once. (colors per sample provided and agreed on prior to project start - multiple colors can be mixed - the micro particle doesn't dissolve or mix with other particles...mixed color effects are among the most dynamic ever seen in the synthetic site mixed flooring industry) This 16 mil coat is applied like any other 100% solids, but with one extra step at the end. As with any 100% solids epoxy, you’ll mix activator and resin for specified interval, immediately pour entire mix out within predetermined area, squeegee epoxy everywhere, edge with cut brushes or mini rollers, and back roll multiple times to ensure even deposition. The only additional step is steel troweling the entire surface once and lightly - a short pool trowel works best - just enough to put a random troweled patina on the floor with no straight line trowel marks or misses, or small areas of high volume as to not flow out evenly. The visible trowel pattern will flow out as the micro particle settles out; you will not be able to tell it was troweled at all when the coat cures. It will appear to be the most consistently random metallic stone looking surface you've ever seen. Floor can be scored and regrouted into custom stone shapes or design elements. Hydra Stone Dye can be used to tint the epoxy to shift colors easily. Floor can be lightly sanded and top coated with premium topcoat or high end water based floor finish. Recommended floor finish maintenance products based on high volumes of successful interior projects finished with 100% solids epoxy or high solids urethane: Spartan iShine or On'N'On, Johnson Diversy Carefree, NCL One, Affiliated Labs Iron Clad, Ecolab Monostar
- Troweled Overlay - A polymer cement, Elite Crete Thin Finish, applied in one coat under interior epoxy sealer, or in multiple coats for decorative effects over fiber tape or custom stencils. Multiple finish types available - texture is varied by on installation technique. Can be stained, dyed, or sealed with Reflector Enhancer laced 100% solids epoxy for stunning interior flooring - more elegant than natural stone that would be available for less than $20 per sqft, and the client has more control of color than with marble or granite, which would be the only surfaces that could match the richness of color and "Wow" factor of these custom floors. Or can be sealed with
- Thin stamped overlay - Same process at Troweled Overlays with the addition of about 1/4" thick Elite Crete Texture Pave polymer cement stamped to provide a real stone impression. These systems typically cost twice the price of a Troweled Overlay, but the realistic stone texture base of a stamped overlay, when stained, then then sealed with Reflector Enhancer laced 100% solids epoxy for stunning interior flooring, or sealed with Elite Crete CSS for exterior decorative overlays, is worth the additional cost when an authentic stone replacement is the requirement. Stamped overlays in the 12-16 / sqft price range represent a 30-60% savings over the cost of installed stone, and stamped overlays, with the right installation contractor, can be custom colored for more beauty, elegance, and with less ongoing maintenance costs than any natural stone alternative.
- Troweled Overlay - A polymer cement, Elite Crete Thin Finish, applied in one coat under interior epoxy sealer, or in multiple coats for decorative effects over fiber tape or custom stencils. Multiple finish types available - texture is varied by on installation technique. Can be stained, dyed, or sealed with Reflector Enhancer laced 100% solids epoxy for stunning interior flooring - more elegant than natural stone that would be available for less than $20 per sqft, and the client has more control of color than with marble or granite, which would be the only surfaces that could match the richness of color and "Wow" factor of these custom floors. Or can be sealed with
- Thin stamped overlay - Same process at Troweled Overlays with the addition of about 1/4" thick Elite Crete Texture Pave polymer cement stamped to provide a real stone impression. These systems typically cost twice the price of a Troweled Overlay, but the realistic stone texture base of a stamped overlay, when stained, then then sealed with Reflector Enhancer laced 100% solids epoxy for stunning interior flooring, or sealed with Elite Crete CSS for exterior decorative overlays, is worth the additional cost when an authentic stone replacement is the requirement. Stamped overlays in the 12-16 / sqft price range represent a 30-60% savings over the cost of installed stone, and stamped overlays, with the right installation contractor, can be custom colored for more beauty, elegance, and with less ongoing maintenance costs than any natural stone alternative.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
6 Ways to Make Money this Winter...
1.) Acid stained floors using CHEM-STONE Reactive Stain. CHEM-STONE reactive stain is a permanent stain that reacts chemically with concrete and polymer concrete overlays to add an antique coloring effect.
Advantages:
- Creates natural looking color variations that are unique to each and every application.
- Can be used on conventional concrete and cementitious overlays.
- Will not chip, flake, or peel off.
2.) Dye stained floors using HYDRA-STONE Dye Stain. HYDRA-STONE dye stain is a highly concentrated, metal complex dye used for coloring polymer modified overlay systems and concrete. Available in 20 20 base colors that can be used full strength or diluted to achieve even more color effects.
Advantages:
- Instantaneous color determination.
- No rinsing or washing before sealing like with acid-based stains.
- Virtually unlimited colors to choose from.
3.) Custom seamless flooring using MICRO-FINISH Pre-Mixed Overlay. MICRO-FINISH pre-mixed overlay is a high strength, cementitious material designed for creating an extremely smooth finish to the top of THIN-FINISH.
Advantages:
- "Just add water" overlay means no guessing, no incorrect mix designs, increased long-term performance, and increased product coverage.
- Sold as white and can be colored integrally with Portion Control Colorant or stained with Chem-Stone Stain or Hydra-Stone Dye.
- Create a smooth finish like that of a hard troweled surface with very little effort or time.
- Cost is just a fraction of self-leveling type overlays.
4.) Garage floors using SPARTIC-ALL RM Polyaspartic Coating. SPARTIC-ALL RM is an extremely high solids, clear protective coating based on the popular polyaspartic ester technology. No protective coating is stronger or resistant to wear.
Advantages:
- Dry and re-coat time in 2-3 hours.
- Vinyl flake and colored quartz applications can be completed in one day.
- Decreased downtime for your customers.
- Surface can be opened to foot or vehicle traffic the next day.
5.) Retail and restaurant floors using REFLECTOR ENHANCER and E100 PT1 Epoxy. REFLECTOR ENHANCER creates a new dimension to coloring conventional concrete, decorative concrete, floors and walls offering shimmering effects that cannot be achieved with acid stain, topical stains, oxide pigments or dyes.
E100-PT1/4 is a clear or colored user friendly epoxy coating for commercial and industrial surfaces.
ADVANTAGES:
- No need for a primer to achieve optimum bond.
- Unlike other "clear" epoxies, E100-PT1 is a true "water clear" finish that will not amber the substrate color when used indoors.
6.) Company logos can quickly and easily be installed on floors and walls with THIN-FINISH Pre-Mixed Overlay and standard sign shop vinyl. THIN-FINISH pre-mixed overlay is a high strength, cementitious topping material designed for resurfacing, overlaying, and texturing concrete floors and surfaces.
Advantages:
- Will stand up to foot and vehicle traffic.
- Can be multi-colored to match corporate branding.
- With a prepped floor, you can be complete in as little as one day.
- Size options are unlimited.
Where can you do all of this? Here's a start:
- Retail stores
- Hotels and casinos
- Living spaces
- Office buildings
- Schools and colleges
- Auto dealership showrooms
- Garages and parkades
- Medical offices
- Sports arenas
- Shopping malls
Advantages:
- Creates natural looking color variations that are unique to each and every application.
- Can be used on conventional concrete and cementitious overlays.
- Will not chip, flake, or peel off.
2.) Dye stained floors using HYDRA-STONE Dye Stain. HYDRA-STONE dye stain is a highly concentrated, metal complex dye used for coloring polymer modified overlay systems and concrete. Available in 20 20 base colors that can be used full strength or diluted to achieve even more color effects.
Advantages:
- Instantaneous color determination.
- No rinsing or washing before sealing like with acid-based stains.
- Virtually unlimited colors to choose from.
3.) Custom seamless flooring using MICRO-FINISH Pre-Mixed Overlay. MICRO-FINISH pre-mixed overlay is a high strength, cementitious material designed for creating an extremely smooth finish to the top of THIN-FINISH.
Advantages:
- "Just add water" overlay means no guessing, no incorrect mix designs, increased long-term performance, and increased product coverage.
- Sold as white and can be colored integrally with Portion Control Colorant or stained with Chem-Stone Stain or Hydra-Stone Dye.
- Create a smooth finish like that of a hard troweled surface with very little effort or time.
- Cost is just a fraction of self-leveling type overlays.
4.) Garage floors using SPARTIC-ALL RM Polyaspartic Coating. SPARTIC-ALL RM is an extremely high solids, clear protective coating based on the popular polyaspartic ester technology. No protective coating is stronger or resistant to wear.
Advantages:
- Dry and re-coat time in 2-3 hours.
- Vinyl flake and colored quartz applications can be completed in one day.
- Decreased downtime for your customers.
- Surface can be opened to foot or vehicle traffic the next day.
5.) Retail and restaurant floors using REFLECTOR ENHANCER and E100 PT1 Epoxy. REFLECTOR ENHANCER creates a new dimension to coloring conventional concrete, decorative concrete, floors and walls offering shimmering effects that cannot be achieved with acid stain, topical stains, oxide pigments or dyes.
E100-PT1/4 is a clear or colored user friendly epoxy coating for commercial and industrial surfaces.
ADVANTAGES:
- No need for a primer to achieve optimum bond.
- Unlike other "clear" epoxies, E100-PT1 is a true "water clear" finish that will not amber the substrate color when used indoors.
6.) Company logos can quickly and easily be installed on floors and walls with THIN-FINISH Pre-Mixed Overlay and standard sign shop vinyl. THIN-FINISH pre-mixed overlay is a high strength, cementitious topping material designed for resurfacing, overlaying, and texturing concrete floors and surfaces.
Advantages:
- Will stand up to foot and vehicle traffic.
- Can be multi-colored to match corporate branding.
- With a prepped floor, you can be complete in as little as one day.
- Size options are unlimited.
Where can you do all of this? Here's a start:
- Retail stores
- Hotels and casinos
- Living spaces
- Office buildings
- Schools and colleges
- Auto dealership showrooms
- Garages and parkades
- Medical offices
- Sports arenas
- Shopping malls
CSS EMULSION: The ultimate concrete sealer
All acrylic sealers are not the same!! Elite Crete Systems CSS Emulsion is a 53% solid methyl methacrylate laced acrylic. This is an extremely versatile sealer. We recommend using it cut 3 to 1 as a cure and seal; 2 to 1 on acid stains, stamped concrete and some overlay applications; 1 to 1 on spray downs and stamped overlays inside or out. CSS will allow vapor transmittion during and after cure and cost pennies a square foot.
Off the shelf, acrylic sealers are a dime a dozen with different solid content, names and so on. 90% of them are acrylic pellets or resin dissolved in solvent (xylene) with some UV inhibitor thrown in. Some companies try adding a little styrene (which makes them Brittle) or silicone (not sure why), but the bottom line is a lot of contractors have problems with sealers.
Here is a bold statement: CSS will out last and is more forgiving than any acrylic on the market.The majority of our customers love it and would never use anything else. It accounts for over 30% of our sales. At every seminar we have done in the last 5 years, I have challenged the participants to show me something better, and I will start stocking it. It hasn't happened yet!!
Off the shelf, acrylic sealers are a dime a dozen with different solid content, names and so on. 90% of them are acrylic pellets or resin dissolved in solvent (xylene) with some UV inhibitor thrown in. Some companies try adding a little styrene (which makes them Brittle) or silicone (not sure why), but the bottom line is a lot of contractors have problems with sealers.
Here is a bold statement: CSS will out last and is more forgiving than any acrylic on the market.The majority of our customers love it and would never use anything else. It accounts for over 30% of our sales. At every seminar we have done in the last 5 years, I have challenged the participants to show me something better, and I will start stocking it. It hasn't happened yet!!
FREE JOB is Priceless...
This is actually a post I copied from www.concretelocator.com from a contractor in Ohio... Read on.
I gave a free job away. I drove around last Monday looking for the right area. It is about 25 minutes away but I found a area with some older 5 years or so home and about half new ones and a lot of lots left for future building. I wanted to be near the main road going in and I stopped by and talked to this husband and wife but they were real skeptical and said they needed to think about it for a while. I told them I couldt wait and wanted to get started right away. So they declined. I was stumped. It was a free job. So I went across the street. It was a better job anyways because they kept the grass and bushes nicer and the house had more earthy colors. I knocked on the door and just the wife was home. I told her that I was starting a new business and showed her a brochure. She loved the look and asked how much. I thought for a minute that I would actually get full price out of this one. I told her that my normal price is 3 dollars for spraying and 5 dollars for stamping. She said they were cash strapped and would have to wait for spring. Then I told her my intentions that I wanted to give her a free job so I would have a showplace. I told her that I would invite people to look at her driveway and people might knock on the door to ask questions. She was excited alot. I told her I would occasionally come by and rewash it for her but she should still keep it from getting oil spots and gas on it. I told her I would have a yard sign and brochure box on her lawn for about two weeks afterwards. I told her that I would work closly with her to pick colors that would work well with their home but I was the professional and I would ultimatley have design and color say. She wanted it but had to ask her husband and I was to come back that night to talk to him. When I arrived he acted like I was him best buddy and even gave me a cold beer but I dont drink much so I sipped it to be nice. I took a sample board of a brown brick border spray job and light tan brick stencil and told them I thought this would work best and they both loved it. We talked about my schedule and that I wanted to get started Tuesday and that they would have to stay off the drive for a full week. I had them sign a regular agreement but it showed it was a free job that would have normally cost them 3000 dollars. On Tuseday I started and put a sign in the front lawn and had two skimmed coats on by the evening. I had a lot of people drive by real slow but no one stopped to talk to me. I was kind of bummed out about that. So Tuesday night I wrote a short letter about what I was doing and what my services provide and stapled it to a brochure and earley Wednesday I drove about all of the closer streets to the job and put them in the newspaper slots. The letter told then that they could stop and talk to me or the owners of the house anytime. I spent the day taping the borders and secureing the stencils. It took longer than I thought to cover and mask off the gargae door and bushes but I wanted to be safe. I sprayed my borders first and coverd them with stripps of cardboard. Then I sprayed the stencil. I drung my foot once and tore the stencil so that took some time to fix but I got it all sprayed and sprayed two more fleck coats on. I wanted to seal it but it was getting dark so I pulled the tape and plastic and vaccumed. But still no one had stopped by to talk to me. I go up earley to seal it before the sun made it over the treeline and I put three coatings on before mid morning. While I was loading up and raking mulch back to the edge the first man I asked for a free job came over and asked if I would give him a price to do theirs the same way but a different color. When I got home I had three calls from other people and I gave prices on them this past Saturday and I know one is sold. One of the persons is the president of the HOA and they are very excited about dressing up homes in the area. One person told me it was way to expenseive but you cant sell them all either. Next is a discounted stamp overlay on a driveway to show that off to. But it wont be totally free. Thanks again for the advice.
I gave a free job away. I drove around last Monday looking for the right area. It is about 25 minutes away but I found a area with some older 5 years or so home and about half new ones and a lot of lots left for future building. I wanted to be near the main road going in and I stopped by and talked to this husband and wife but they were real skeptical and said they needed to think about it for a while. I told them I couldt wait and wanted to get started right away. So they declined. I was stumped. It was a free job. So I went across the street. It was a better job anyways because they kept the grass and bushes nicer and the house had more earthy colors. I knocked on the door and just the wife was home. I told her that I was starting a new business and showed her a brochure. She loved the look and asked how much. I thought for a minute that I would actually get full price out of this one. I told her that my normal price is 3 dollars for spraying and 5 dollars for stamping. She said they were cash strapped and would have to wait for spring. Then I told her my intentions that I wanted to give her a free job so I would have a showplace. I told her that I would invite people to look at her driveway and people might knock on the door to ask questions. She was excited alot. I told her I would occasionally come by and rewash it for her but she should still keep it from getting oil spots and gas on it. I told her I would have a yard sign and brochure box on her lawn for about two weeks afterwards. I told her that I would work closly with her to pick colors that would work well with their home but I was the professional and I would ultimatley have design and color say. She wanted it but had to ask her husband and I was to come back that night to talk to him. When I arrived he acted like I was him best buddy and even gave me a cold beer but I dont drink much so I sipped it to be nice. I took a sample board of a brown brick border spray job and light tan brick stencil and told them I thought this would work best and they both loved it. We talked about my schedule and that I wanted to get started Tuesday and that they would have to stay off the drive for a full week. I had them sign a regular agreement but it showed it was a free job that would have normally cost them 3000 dollars. On Tuseday I started and put a sign in the front lawn and had two skimmed coats on by the evening. I had a lot of people drive by real slow but no one stopped to talk to me. I was kind of bummed out about that. So Tuesday night I wrote a short letter about what I was doing and what my services provide and stapled it to a brochure and earley Wednesday I drove about all of the closer streets to the job and put them in the newspaper slots. The letter told then that they could stop and talk to me or the owners of the house anytime. I spent the day taping the borders and secureing the stencils. It took longer than I thought to cover and mask off the gargae door and bushes but I wanted to be safe. I sprayed my borders first and coverd them with stripps of cardboard. Then I sprayed the stencil. I drung my foot once and tore the stencil so that took some time to fix but I got it all sprayed and sprayed two more fleck coats on. I wanted to seal it but it was getting dark so I pulled the tape and plastic and vaccumed. But still no one had stopped by to talk to me. I go up earley to seal it before the sun made it over the treeline and I put three coatings on before mid morning. While I was loading up and raking mulch back to the edge the first man I asked for a free job came over and asked if I would give him a price to do theirs the same way but a different color. When I got home I had three calls from other people and I gave prices on them this past Saturday and I know one is sold. One of the persons is the president of the HOA and they are very excited about dressing up homes in the area. One person told me it was way to expenseive but you cant sell them all either. Next is a discounted stamp overlay on a driveway to show that off to. But it wont be totally free. Thanks again for the advice.
Las Vegas Training
Ken Freestone (Elite Crete Systems Corporate), Steve Johnson (California Regional Director) and Brad Holmes (Mid South Regional Director) spent a few days in Las Vegas helping with a training for our newest distributor Bruce Holm (Elite Crete Nevada).
Steve showed off some of his Californian style acid stain on MICRO-FINISH which started out looking like a murder scene but ended up as an extremely cool floor. Ken demonstrated REFLECTOR Enhancer in our E100-PT1 Epoxy and the effects were off the chart amazing.
We had a great time and Bruce was very excited about becoming the newest Elite Crete Systems distributor
Bruce just informed me that he was flying out to attend a training in Hot Spring, Arkanas followed by a training in Edmonton, Canada and Winnepeg, Canada. Come meet our new "Vegas Connection"!!!!
Steve showed off some of his Californian style acid stain on MICRO-FINISH which started out looking like a murder scene but ended up as an extremely cool floor. Ken demonstrated REFLECTOR Enhancer in our E100-PT1 Epoxy and the effects were off the chart amazing.
We had a great time and Bruce was very excited about becoming the newest Elite Crete Systems distributor
Bruce just informed me that he was flying out to attend a training in Hot Spring, Arkanas followed by a training in Edmonton, Canada and Winnepeg, Canada. Come meet our new "Vegas Connection"!!!!
Product Announcements
SPARTIC-ALL™ RM - Polyaspartic Protective Coatings:
Available as a clear protective coating SPARTIC-ALL™ Polyaspartic is the next generation of two component protective coatings offering benefits that simply are not possible with conventional epoxy systems.
SPARTIC-ALL™ RM is a high solids and no filler coating. This product is used when extraordinary amounts of traffic are to be excepted and when the time frame to complete the application is small.
Clear SPARTIC-ALL™ RM is used to protect decorative concrete finishes, interior custom flooring applications, paint flake or colored quartz systems and industrial floors coated with SPARTIC-ALL™ Pigmented. Pigmented SPARTIC-ALL™ is used in more industrialized settings such as garage floors, warehouses, service bays and manufacturing facilities.
Advantages
Strength: No clear or pigmented epoxy coatings are stronger.
Fast Application & Fast Cure: Although the application is similar to that of conventional epoxies, SPARTIC-ALL™ RM actually cures hard enough in just a few hours that it can take foot traffic the same day and be open to full traffic the next day.
VOC Compliant.
Disadvantages
Non-Breathable. Because of the high two component nature it will not allow vapor transmission for most exterior applications.
REFLECTOR™ Enhancer:
Created to add sparkle, shimmer and added highlights to finished applications. REFLECTOR™ Enhancer is ideal for conventional concrete, decorative concrete overlays, custom floors, walls and countertops. REFLECTOR™ Enhancer can be added to any of approved clear sealers and specialty coatings and is available in 12 distinctive flavors.
Available as a clear protective coating SPARTIC-ALL™ Polyaspartic is the next generation of two component protective coatings offering benefits that simply are not possible with conventional epoxy systems.
SPARTIC-ALL™ RM is a high solids and no filler coating. This product is used when extraordinary amounts of traffic are to be excepted and when the time frame to complete the application is small.
Clear SPARTIC-ALL™ RM is used to protect decorative concrete finishes, interior custom flooring applications, paint flake or colored quartz systems and industrial floors coated with SPARTIC-ALL™ Pigmented. Pigmented SPARTIC-ALL™ is used in more industrialized settings such as garage floors, warehouses, service bays and manufacturing facilities.
Advantages
Strength: No clear or pigmented epoxy coatings are stronger.
Fast Application & Fast Cure: Although the application is similar to that of conventional epoxies, SPARTIC-ALL™ RM actually cures hard enough in just a few hours that it can take foot traffic the same day and be open to full traffic the next day.
VOC Compliant.
Disadvantages
Non-Breathable. Because of the high two component nature it will not allow vapor transmission for most exterior applications.
REFLECTOR™ Enhancer:
Created to add sparkle, shimmer and added highlights to finished applications. REFLECTOR™ Enhancer is ideal for conventional concrete, decorative concrete overlays, custom floors, walls and countertops. REFLECTOR™ Enhancer can be added to any of approved clear sealers and specialty coatings and is available in 12 distinctive flavors.
Why is the demand for Elite Crete Systems training so high?
There is not another company in the industry that even comes close to the proven track record of Elite Crete Systems. Our "just add water" bag mixes were introduced in 1998; same formulation today. Millions of square feet in every environment around the globe. It works; Period.
CSS Emulsion and Ultra-Stone Stain were both formulated in the mid 80's; same product, same formulation today.
There has been quite a shake-up in the decorative concrete industry in the last year or so with companies being bought out or going under. Elite Crete Systems has just built a new 28,000 square foot manufacturing facility and has acquired additional land for future expansion. We are here to stay!!!! We have introduced several new products including 24 colors of powder release and color hardener. We are also bringing several LEED compliant products to the table.
Our product strength, combined with our dedicated distributors who are committed to the success of their contractors make Elite Crete Systems the decorative concrete company of choice! There is no better way to learn the decorative concrete business than through an Elite Crete Systems distributor.
CSS Emulsion and Ultra-Stone Stain were both formulated in the mid 80's; same product, same formulation today.
There has been quite a shake-up in the decorative concrete industry in the last year or so with companies being bought out or going under. Elite Crete Systems has just built a new 28,000 square foot manufacturing facility and has acquired additional land for future expansion. We are here to stay!!!! We have introduced several new products including 24 colors of powder release and color hardener. We are also bringing several LEED compliant products to the table.
Our product strength, combined with our dedicated distributors who are committed to the success of their contractors make Elite Crete Systems the decorative concrete company of choice! There is no better way to learn the decorative concrete business than through an Elite Crete Systems distributor.
Slowing Economy Marketing Tips...
This is part of document sent to distributors for giving contractors ideas for marketing. Thought it might help.
Whether we fall into a recession or not, the economy is slowing. The housing market has come to a near screeching halt in many parts of the U.S. New commercial construction projects are slowing or tightening their budgets and people that do have money to spend are just holding onto it a little tighter these days.
So with all that said, how is it going to affect your business? If you play your cards right, it wont hurt you at all… This document will provide you with some suggestions and tips (perhaps some unorthodox) that will keep you growing not slowing.
The extent of the marketing assistance that most contractors know of is just to read the manual, read the website and implement all of the various marketing ideas. Contractors really need to take advantage of speaking with their distributor and talk specifically about what areas of their business are they lacking in. Tell your distributor what you are doing to promote your business. Detail what is working for you and what is not. You literally need to speak with them on a weekly basis
The fact is, even though construction and remodeling slows during a poor economy, consumers don't just stop spending money. When the economy is good, people will spend money on expensive, luxurious items. When the economy slows, people will still spend, they just want more bang for their buck. Something cheaper but just as nice and durable. Contractors have to change their marketing programs to highlight terms like; more affordable, costs less than tear out and replace, more durable, etc.
Another thing you can do is go over each and every line item on the "Marketing for Success" document. Not everyone has the available funds to implement all of these suggestions and even if you do, you want to focus more of your efforts towards the less expensive but immediate return suggestions.
I have heard of a number of great sales and marketing techniques that contractors are using these days that are working. Here are a few.
- Imaging Software: Yes you already know what it is but there some contractors going into nice neighborhoods and taking pictures of driveways, detailing the condition of the driveway and then using the imaging software to add a few different patterns to the driveway. Then they mail the homeowner the three or four pictures of their driveway with the pattern on it along with a letter explain the benefits (salt resistant, chemical resistant, weather resistant, etc.) and a brochure.
One contractor I spoke to actually does a minimum of 5 homes a day and more on the weekends. He also has a laptop and a portable printer and does it from his truck and just hand delivers the packet when he is done. He has been doing this since November and sold 13 jobs already.
- Constantcontact.com: What an an invaluable marketing tool. One distributor has all of his contractors using Constant Contant to market to builders, architects, pool contractors, landscapers, realtors, etc. to promote their services and product benefits. Have them do three different newsletters each month, one highlighting exterior, one for interior flooring and another specifically for garage floors.
- Rocks in a Bag: Sounds silly I know but one contractor is printing a nice letter explaining their services and using a brochure and putting the documents into a clear zip lock bag with 2 to 3 rocks. Yes rocks. Then they drive through nicer neighborhoods tossing the bags onto driveways. They do this to the same homes three times about 1 to 2 weeks apart. They are finding that it takes about 2 to 3 times of repeating this until they start to get responses. Repetition is the key here.
- Windshield Wipers: Similar to the rocks in a bag packet but without the rocks. Some contractors are putting packets under windshield wipers at home improvements stores, malls, landscape design centers flooring stores and more. People shopping at these places obviously have a disposable income and are spending money.
Good luck guys.
Whether we fall into a recession or not, the economy is slowing. The housing market has come to a near screeching halt in many parts of the U.S. New commercial construction projects are slowing or tightening their budgets and people that do have money to spend are just holding onto it a little tighter these days.
So with all that said, how is it going to affect your business? If you play your cards right, it wont hurt you at all… This document will provide you with some suggestions and tips (perhaps some unorthodox) that will keep you growing not slowing.
The extent of the marketing assistance that most contractors know of is just to read the manual, read the website and implement all of the various marketing ideas. Contractors really need to take advantage of speaking with their distributor and talk specifically about what areas of their business are they lacking in. Tell your distributor what you are doing to promote your business. Detail what is working for you and what is not. You literally need to speak with them on a weekly basis
The fact is, even though construction and remodeling slows during a poor economy, consumers don't just stop spending money. When the economy is good, people will spend money on expensive, luxurious items. When the economy slows, people will still spend, they just want more bang for their buck. Something cheaper but just as nice and durable. Contractors have to change their marketing programs to highlight terms like; more affordable, costs less than tear out and replace, more durable, etc.
Another thing you can do is go over each and every line item on the "Marketing for Success" document. Not everyone has the available funds to implement all of these suggestions and even if you do, you want to focus more of your efforts towards the less expensive but immediate return suggestions.
I have heard of a number of great sales and marketing techniques that contractors are using these days that are working. Here are a few.
- Imaging Software: Yes you already know what it is but there some contractors going into nice neighborhoods and taking pictures of driveways, detailing the condition of the driveway and then using the imaging software to add a few different patterns to the driveway. Then they mail the homeowner the three or four pictures of their driveway with the pattern on it along with a letter explain the benefits (salt resistant, chemical resistant, weather resistant, etc.) and a brochure.
One contractor I spoke to actually does a minimum of 5 homes a day and more on the weekends. He also has a laptop and a portable printer and does it from his truck and just hand delivers the packet when he is done. He has been doing this since November and sold 13 jobs already.
- Constantcontact.com: What an an invaluable marketing tool. One distributor has all of his contractors using Constant Contant to market to builders, architects, pool contractors, landscapers, realtors, etc. to promote their services and product benefits. Have them do three different newsletters each month, one highlighting exterior, one for interior flooring and another specifically for garage floors.
- Rocks in a Bag: Sounds silly I know but one contractor is printing a nice letter explaining their services and using a brochure and putting the documents into a clear zip lock bag with 2 to 3 rocks. Yes rocks. Then they drive through nicer neighborhoods tossing the bags onto driveways. They do this to the same homes three times about 1 to 2 weeks apart. They are finding that it takes about 2 to 3 times of repeating this until they start to get responses. Repetition is the key here.
- Windshield Wipers: Similar to the rocks in a bag packet but without the rocks. Some contractors are putting packets under windshield wipers at home improvements stores, malls, landscape design centers flooring stores and more. People shopping at these places obviously have a disposable income and are spending money.
Good luck guys.
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