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dcpinger wrote:

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Gene, I think if you responded to the initial inquiry with qualifications about some of the pitfalls of what the poster was trying to do with tile, like you did to me, it would make more sense. There's more than one way to skin a cat but when some one replies that they should rip out perfectly good tile, well hell that's like saying you should re-sheetrock a wall when all it needs is paint. That's not help.

It's funny what you say about people having trouble with Ardex. Hell, half the posts on this forum are about people having trouble using EliteCrete and you and I both know it's not the product, it's the installer. As for Ardex shrugging off people, I've got to tell you, I've have had nothing but stellar support from them. And using Ardex isn't experimenting, It's rock solid and has been around much longer that EliteCrete. If that wasn't the case, it wouldn't be specified by architects more than any other underlayment product.

And believe me you don't brow beat me. I just like to give someone that posts here objective help. A rising tide lifts all boats and the better the reputation of this business is, the more money we will all make. I didn't say you don't give a crap about how projects turn out (but you do sound a little defensive) it just seems bleeding Blue is more important. I'm sorry you feel your trade is a never-ending R&D, but that one of the things I love about it. All companies I know in this industry all claim compatibilty issues with other companies products. And 95% percent of that is BS if you use common sense. I can count on one hand how many times I've had compatibility issues by mixing different company's products and they were minor. Actually I rarely use just one company's product on a project. So I guess I don't bleed Blue. I love EliteCrete I just won't drink the Kool-Aid.

Good catch on the spelling though.

Oh and John, if I've said it once I've said it a hundred times, nobody gives a *+%! what you think!

I've responded to BrightCrete way before he posted. In fact, I think I suggested he post here to see if anybody had any other ideas on his application. By the way, the photos he sent me looked great.

That's not the point. You know as well as I do many newer installers come to this board to get tips and ideas in hopes of shortening their learning curve. I tend to oversee those posts to make sure correct information is given and to not add confusion to that learning curve.

Now lets throw a curve ball in there.... "OH, I can use brand X or Y together and it's better or easier ..." You've been in this biz long enough to know what kind of havoc that could bring opening up that door with new installers. Hell, with a few additives to Texture Pave, you can make it flow enough to call it a self leveling underlayment but there's no way I would post it here. A few additives to Micro Finish and it becomes a very good vertical mix. Again, I wouldn't dream of giving that mix out on an open forum. Some these are experiments and haven't had the test of time. It's just something I do for my own R&D.

I'm sure Ardex is a good product as are many others. I understand your defensive stand as I hope you understand mine. If we were to say it was OK to apply over tile that was in good shape, can you see the bag of worms that would open up? What does good shape mean and who determines it? Who's to blame if a tile comes loose? I'm not about to stick my head in that bag of worms. It's hard enough to keep guys from short cutting a simple application. Lets not give them a green light on becoming a chemist to throw together just any kind of mix. The Elite Crete System is just that, a system. Throw something else in and it becomes an experiment. I want to see my guys successful at this and keep it as simple as possible. (I also want to be able to help them when something goes belly up)

If and most certainly, when a project goes south on a guy that got a green light from me mixing products, I'd feel horrible...... and responsible. Hope you understand my position. Oh, the brow beating statement was my attempt at humor. I should keep my day job. gene ec-Indy