Surface Matters NOVEMBER 2023

Granicrete U to re-launch next weekend!
Our programmers are putting the finishing touches on the new U. Besides being more user friendly for access (which will be directly from our Granicrete website), downloads and video viewing will be more simpler and usable on desktops, notebooks, and phones.

Be watching for an email next weekend with new login instructions. Your username will still be the email address we have on file and a new password will be issued to you. A great feature is that you can change passwords anytime without coordinating with our headquarters.

Any assistance or questions just call us at 866-438-9464.

Granicrete’s Artistic Blend opinion survey results:

The overwhelming response of our customers is that they do not need the Artistic Blend to achieve smoother designer-like finishes.

Most of our customers have developed ways to have smoother texture finishes with our Countertop Blend for their Designer Tops looks. Such is achieved by trowel or by power sanding (with no swirl marks).

With the survey results, Granicrete has discontinued production of the Artistic Blend. Thank you for your responses.

We are developing the Granicrete Online Ordering System (GOOS). This system will be simple to use and will automatically determine if shipping to you will be best by LTL or by parcel. We expect a year-end launch date for this.

New Order Form coming too. We anticipate November 15 launch. Some items will go up slightly and some are coming down. We always work toward the latter.

5-14-2023 ... Change to SL-P60

Changes in SL-P60 GLOSS

We have often been asked why P60 Gloss was 1:1 when Satin was 2:1. Taking this to heart we have worked on developing P60 Gloss to be a 2:1 and we are pleased to announce that it is now 2:1 mix with incredible air release and rolls out even better than ever. Available as a 1.5 gallon kit.

3-4-2023 ... Product Highlight: MVEP ... MOISTURE VAPOR EPOXY PRIMER

Purpose: To diminish moisture vapor emission from concrete down to as little as 2 psi.

Why: All concrete, even old concrete is subject to moisture vapor. Such is caused by high water tables, broken water lines, sprinkler and landscape drainage, slope and elevation issues for concrete slabs.

Problem: Moisture vapor pressure can "lift" overlays and epoxies from the concrete substrate. Hollow spots under epoxy and overlays are likely evidence that such has occurred. BUT, prevention is the best protocol.

Testing for Moisture Vapor before installation: Moisture meters, Calcium Chloride test kits are the better ways for testing. Another way for testing is using 4 mil plastic and cut into 12" x 12" or larger squares. Placing these on various parts of the concrete slabs, entirely duct tape the perimeters to the slab. Wait 24 hours and pull the tape. If there is a darkening of the concrete, you have moisture. If the underside of the plastic is sweating, you have a lot of moisture and may need to apply 2 coats of MVEP.

Application: MVEP is mixed and rolled with 275-350 sf/kit coverage over clean profiled concrete. Cost per coat is around $.50/sf. If an overlay will be applied, broadcast 30-grit silica sand on wet MVEP until refusal. After 7-10 hours drying sand loose particles and vacuum then apply overlay directly. If applying an epoxy coating, that coating may be applied directly over the MVEP.

Other benefits of MVEP: Concrete that is "dusting" or has many spider cracks may have weakened surface stability and tension called concrete laitance. MVEP is used to address this often in two coats.

12-1-2022... Upgrades and Holiday Shipping

Continuous improvement ... Granicrete Casting Epoxy

We have been testing improvements to our Casting Epoxy. While keeping to a water clear and reduce bubble appearance, we have bee working to enhance the depth of pouring for a single day. We are excited to share that our tests are proving that a pour depth of up to 4" in a single pour is working.

The initial cure still remains to be 3-4 days whereby further detailing can be done. It ill still take 14-21 days for a hardened cure.

We are nearly out of our current inventory of the current Casting Epoxy and will advise when the new version will be available (about mid-January).

Our current pricing will have a slight increase with this improved version.

Tis the Holiday Season. Parcel shipments are taking longer. The holiday shipping season is in full swing. We are already seeing scheduling delays where shipments are taking 1-2 longer than normal for arrival.

Do give yourself that lead time for placing orders now through the end of the year.

Pallet LTL shipping is not showing any delays currently.

Holiday Hours: Granicrete's headquarters offices will be closed for both year-end inventory and Christmas from Thursday (12/22/2022) and will open again Tuesday 12/27/2022.

Our offices will be closed Monday, January 2nd for New Year's.

11-1-2022 GRANICRETE COUNTERTOPS EARN BIG BUCKS...

Countertop season is about to go into full swing. Fall is here. The onset of winter is being felt. Focus on indoor projects is in full motion.

This is the time in your professional consultations with your prospects, you can help them move into the growing popularity of concrete countertops. With the costs of importing granite and stone, and manufacturing quartz the costs of new countertops has risen significantly. In some case we are hearing reports of $25 to $45 per foot increases from just a couple years ago.

Your costs of the Granicrete countertops surfacing system including shipping has only gone up only a few dollars per square foot.

With Granicrete's countertop systems you can create granite, marble, concrete, and other high end designer finishes that are stunning and with today's high prices for countertops, you can pass a savings to your customer while putting some serious profits in your pocket.

With cold temperatures upon us, items such as Hydro Barrier should be shipped to avoid freezing in transit. Be sure to replenish your stocks.

Granicrete will be observing Thanksgiving November 24th and 25th.

10-6-2022: Supply and shipping update...

Good news: We have recently seen some stability now with cost and availability of components for textures, epoxies, and sealers.

However, with continuing rising costs for petroleum based components as the price of crude goes up and supply tightens. we anticipate the pass through of such costs to us and not limited to just components, but also for packaging materials.

As for shipping costs we are seeing those increases continuing as they have throughout this year as entities like FedEx and ODFL are immediately passing their increases to us as Fuel Surcharges in shipping. As for FedEx we are approaching the holiday shipping season where their systems are further strained by the significant increase in parcel shipments. FedEx has implemented a "Holiday Season" rate adjustment (looks like 10%) and are telling us to expect 1-2 day delays for normal delivery. We will monitor this closely and will begin providing you anticipated arrival date range for your orders. Your invoices will show you tracking number for both ODFL and for FedEx. We encourage you to plan for this contingency and monitor shipping progress status on their websites.

8-29-2022: Have you seen pricing for tile, countertops, pavers, and concrete lately?

Material costs and installation costs have risen tremendously in virtually all capacities around the country. Increase from 15-40% are highly common. Such increases amount to significant opportunities for you!

Granicrete has had to pass cost increases of polymers, resins, hardeners, textures, pails, lids, bags on to our customers. When looking at the Granicrete cost increase of floor overlays, epoxy floors, countertops, etc., the cost per square foot is nominal. So when looking at our nominal increase per square foot and compare it to the significant installed increases of today’s market, you can present a lower cost option and a lower cost option that even covers your need to raise your labor costs.

As housing sales have dropped into full recession mode, homeowners will be “nesting” and doing renovations that they want to enjoy for the long term and when the housing market returns, those investments they make today will boomerang to great financial gains down the road.

It is so important to look at the bright side of a down economy. Opportunities are there for those who go after them. Keep up your market efforts and your excellent. It will pay dividends!

Your Granicrete installations yield the highest return on investment for your customers compared to the high cost of manufactures material options.

8-1-2022: Keep on keeping on in the new economy...

Across the country everyone is experiencing higher prices for fuel, groceries, and nearly everything hitting home budgets. We have had back-to-back quarters of a shrinking GDP which is the definition of a recession.

Consumers are becoming more discretionary on how they spend their income and consumers carrying credit card debt are seeing the pinch of higher interest rates.

Granicrete has seen this before and hope we can offer some encouragement for your installation businesses.

1. Prices are up for carpet, tile, stone countertops, and other construction materials. If you have not done so already, do some research and get some quotes for your local market. You may learn that raising prices for your work makes sense.

2. You may also find that there may be more opportunities in the commercial market than in the residential market. Work to expand your network for contacts and lead generation for both markets.

3. Find ways to expand financial resources to your customers. Accepting cash and checks is always great. But as discretionary income diminishes due to inflation and interest rates, there may be more hesitation for prospects to part from cash flow. So having finance companies for your prospects to use may be their desire solution. Such typically incurs a cost to you which is higher than typical credit card merchant fees. So, you may want to plan that cost into you quote. This Google search may help: Home Improvement Financing.

4. Give some focus on your marketing and sales. Do more of what has been working and less of what has not. Be cautious about the blitz coming of marketers pitching you to start certain advertising or invest in SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Keep in mind that when prospects can see and touch your samples and projects, the more likely they are to do business with you. By the way, how long has it been since you called on your customers you have served in the past. Perhaps they may be considering a new project. If nothing else, keeping in contact with your customers and providing them newsletters and updates of projects completed builds relationships.

5. How long should your quotes be good for? Our recommendation is not too long or offer a small incentive to accept on a more prompt basis. Consumers know prices are going up every week. They anticipate prices to go up fairly quickly.

6. It may require more proposals and quotes to close a project. Don't be discouraged if it selling a project takes more time and effort. Your persistence will pay off.

7. Now a word of encouragement when uncertain times are ahead? Avoid the doomsday and look at every day as a new opportunity. The Doomsayer and doubter will fall as the market becomes more challenging. Keep being optimistic for such will be encouraging to your prospects.

A positive note, homeowners who have not made a move in the market are much less likely to make a move now with interest rates rising so quickly. They do not want to give up their current mortgage for a interest rate that may be twice as high. So, homeowners are going to "Nest" and remain in their homes and be thinking more about what improvements they can make now that will bring immediate enjoyment and long-term returns.

Good questions to help your prospect open up and provide you insight to their want and wish lists will help you close more sales.

8-1-2022: Sport Court Coatings Survey Update...

We received many online surveys. If you have not yet responded here is the link: Sport Court Survey

This interest has prompted us to provide our customers with more information about costs per square foot, and days to complete projects.

We encourage our interested customers to begin looking into various installed project prices in their local market. This will help you identify if our system will be not only marketable but highly profitable for your area.

We will be providing more information later this month including answers to questions we have received.

7-1-2022: Sport Court and Exterior Coatings

Granicrete is considering launching "Sport Court Coating System" for asphalt and concrete surfaces. We value your interest, opinion, and questions. Use this link to learn more: Sport Court Survey

6-1-2022: Beating the Heat …

As temperatures heat up for the summer it is important to note these installation and material handling points to give you advantages for successful project outcomes.

For Epoxies:

1. Temperature acclamation is important. For indoor project have your epoxy and sealer get to room temperature. Ideal temperature application is around 75F. This includes the ambient temperature, product temperature, and surface temperature. If room temperatures are in the 80’s or warmer, your pot life and working time are reduced. If you are working in higher humidity, the possibility of moisture trapping can leave bubbles, ripples, and dimples in your epoxy. Using a dehumidifier (or multiple ones) before, during, and for 24 hours after the installation will be helpful.

2. Avoid storing your epoxy in your vehicles or the bed of your trucks. Even if they are in closed boxes, the warmer ambient temperature reduces working time.

3. For garage floor or other projects that are subject to direct sun either by open door or window, you must consider that such exposure will likely raise your surface temperature. Hot surfaces are averse to epoxies and sealers. Monitor sun movement and modify your installation schedule for these steps or prepare some type of tenting for blocking direct sun. You want all the surface temperatures to be consistent. An exposed outer part of a garage floor may be 20 degrees warmer than the sections in the deeper back of the garage.

4. For epoxies, it is very important to get your mixed material in your bucket poured out to the surface as soon as possible. Warmer temperatures can cause mixed material in bucket to fire off turning into gel and smoking. If your bucket is getting warm, your remaining working time may be but a few minutes or a few moments.

For Sealers:

1. Working indoors you still need to be aware of hot surfaces. A cured garage floor epoxy with direct sun can be 20F warmer and you sealer may dry promptly and not roll out smoothly.

2. Outdoors we never want to roll sealer on hot surfaces with sun exposure. Sealers can begin to dry instantly as they are being rolled and sling from the roller lines (like cotton candy being made) from the roller. Move your sealer schedule to be earlier morning or end of day but not mid-day. [Note: The hot Arizona summers press installations to be done by 10am-11am because of hot surface temperatures.]

3. Sealers can be sensitive to heat, humidity, and moisture. Refer to your data sheets regarding ambient temperature and dew points. Call Granicrete is you have a question.

For Textures:

1. Avoid having your texture bags and buckets be in direct sun. If working or storing product outdoor for the project, tent your material and continue to move your tent or material as the sun’s angle changes. This applies to your Super Concentrated Polymer too. Do not put them under a tarp for a tarp may block direct sun, but the tarp can cause the heat on it to be retained with everything that is under it.

2. A key to extending working time of textures is to chill the water (not the polymer). Chilled water works to your advantage. Never use the water from a hose bib as it is the hottest and even if you run the water for a few minutes, that water temperature is not as cool as that you can gain by putting water into cooler with frozen jugs of water bobbing around. Do not use water with ice cubes and chunks. Ice is detrimental to troweling your mixed overlay.

For All Your Outdoor Projects:

1. Monitor your weather and local sprinklers. When doing your project you do not want overspray from sprinklers, bubblers, or pool cleaning system until your project is finished. You also want to watch your weather for the day and night before, during, and after your project. Watch for rain that may be coming as it will affect when you can start, how much you can do in a day, and what you have finished for even a couple days after.

2. Use weather apps like AccuWeather from your phone to see what is anticipated hour by hour. Materials need to dry and materials need to cure before getting wet. Refer to your data sheets and your training guides for your projects.

Monitor yourself and your crew.

Heat leads to fatigue. Fatigue may cause mental mistakes, taking shortcuts, and diminished quality of work. Impose more breaks for yourself and your team.

a. Be sure they keep hydrated. Be sure they can sit in shade for rests.

b. Use cooling aids like cooled bandanas, neck towels, neck fans, broader rim hats.

c. Be sure to have sweat towels to help cool down.

d. Also, sweating on texture and epoxy surfaces is detrimental. On texture sweat spots will react differently to coloring. On epoxy and sealers the sweating can leave spots too. So not only headbands help but also wrist-arm bands are helpful too.

e. Using UV sun blockers will help those working in the sun from sun burns and possible skin cancers.

f. Watch for yourself and your team if you become lightheaded or have chills as these are indications of dehydration and sun exposure which needs immediate attention and possible medical attention.

5-2-2022: Joining MDF for countertops, tabletops, and more…

There are many methods for joining countertops on the internet. Nearly all of them are designed for minimizing the seam of two pieces joined together. For Granicrete’s countertops and overlays you want to go “seamless”. A seam with any movement will result in a crack line for our overlay system and might result in the same for an epoxy countertop finish.

Granicrete has promoted the use of draw bolts and biscuits for joining MDF. Draw bolts “draw” two separate pieces to tightly fasten together with constant tension. Using wood glue on the seams and gluing wood biscuits is needed as well to prevent the two joined pieces from flapping or waving up and down.

Biscuits look like flat football wafers and come in varied sizes. Using a biscuit saw, both ends of the MDF are punched leaving a groove for ½ of the wafer. We recommend a 20-size biscuit with matching saw’s groove cut.

The draw bolts are placed on the underside of the countertop where a “dog bone” look has been routed into the wood deep just enough for the depth of the bolt flanges to fit into. This is typically ¼” to 3/8”.

These grooves and the whole edge of MDF that are joined will receive a generous amount wood glue when joining both pieces (after biscuit grooves and dog bone routing has been done).

The evolution of simple devices continues for draw bolts. Traditional draw bolts require a crescent wrench to tighten the nut of the bolt. This takes longer to do and sometimes your wrench just does not get a good enough bite on the nut for complete tightening.

There are now better draw bolts, and they are available online including Amazon. Here is one to consider:

ZIP BOLT

This bolt is quickly and securely tightened using a drill with the included shank connection.

Available online:

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/hardware/fasteners/connectors/71046-zipbolt-countertop-connectors?item=00S1220&utm_source=free_google_shopping&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shopping_feed&gclid=Cj0KCQjw37iTBhCWARIsACBt1IxdbaCeo8D2OOKl_4Ib8rRppYAL-jXTQf9ftYEdrsXvyIlnfZ5685MaAgv8EALw_wcB

https://www.amazon.com/Zipbolt-10-800-100mm-Joint-Connector/dp/B0725NYDTN

https://www.panamericanscrew.com/products/BROWSE_BRAND/DEERWOOD/WOODWORKING_ACCESSORIES/ZIPBOLTS_COUNTERTOPS.aspx#:~:text=Zip%20Bolts%20provide%20installersthe%20fastest,or%20struggling%20with%20a%20wrench.

4-18-22: Components surcharge ends...

Since mid-2021 Granicrete had to respond to the components shortages and rising prices for resins, polymers, and other components integrated into our products. We implemented a 10% Components Fee to adjust for those rising costs which in many cases were happening every other month. Today we have eliminated this fee. We believe that market stability is in the future as supplies have become more stable and the chief variables to costs will only mirroring inflation.

4-4-2022: Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in Concrete

What is ASR also referred to as “Concrete Cancer”?

It is a problem of the concrete substrate. The aggregates in the concrete have a high pH and react to the silica (Portland cement) in the concrete. The result is the production of a gel which has a high ability to absorb water that causes the concrete to expand and degrade over time. The cracking and pitting may be visible throughout the surface of the concrete or can be visible only in spots.

This cracking is a deterioration of the concrete which erodes durability. Cracking will continue and the concrete is subject to pitting, dissolving, and erosion (dusting). These cracks are problematic and cannot just be coated over with an overlay or epoxy.

What not to do?

Engage in an overlay or epoxy coating as the ASR problem will not go away and your finished work will be compromised. Your client will be calling you to come back. Such a call back is a money loser for as you repair this spot or that spot it will be short lived and other spots will likely delaminate.

We have tested multiple approaches and none have been successful. Versa Primer (not for outdoors) held up for a period but began to loosen. MVEP and MVEP with silica sand also delaminated after a couple years. The surface coatings of epoxy and overlay lifted as the substrate deteriorated.

What to do if you see ASR cracking?

A topical application containing lithium is a possible solution. However, even with its use and ability to penetrated ASR damaged concrete, if the concrete has suffered too much deterioration, it may be too late. Even with multiple applications of a lithium solution the “Concrete Cancer” may continue its course.

Hence, as a professional you need to be upfront with your prospective client. Even if a lithium treatment is applied, the concrete substrate is compromised and will compromise any decorative option applied over it. Delamination will be expected within a year or two.

An option is to offer densifying (strengthening) of the concrete with a topical application of a lithium-based densifier. Such application will not cause the cracking and pitting to go away but may inhibit the continuation.

Your honesty with your prospective client is important. Others may offer to epoxy or overlay the surface but would be doing a disservice to the prospect and for the good name of their own business.

Offering to treat the “concrete cancer” still affords other coating opportunities you may still do for that client.

Amazon does have lithium-silicate densifier options at https://www.amazon.com/Concentrated-Water-Based-Silicate-Densifier-Hardener/dp/B007NMJKPE.

Granicrete will continue to develop and test a solution to ASR. Be cautious of any supplier who says that in using their densifier that you can coat over it with an epoxy or overlay without any worries of latent problems.

3-4-2022: Update on Supply Shortages:

We are still seeing shortages of resin and hardener components but improvements have already been in play in our supply chain. At this time we continue to promptly supply nearly all customer orders and anticipate the same going forward. We do encourage you to contact us in advance if you have a large project coming up so that we can coordinate Granicrete products you need.

Update on Rising Energy Costs:

Without a reverse of current government policy, all of us will experience major increases at the fuel pump and in our utility bills. With the government cancelling oil exploration and drilling leases along with strategic pipeline movements of crude, we are now highly dependent upon foreign countries to meet immediate and ongoing energy needs. We already see crude oil prices nearly doubling from this same time last year and are up 50% in just the past 6 months.

What does this mean?

Inbound fuel surcharges for materials we receive are going to go up adding to costs.
Utility costs for manufacturing and operations are going up.
Materials that are from petroleum products (including plastic pails and bottles) are going up.
Outbound shipping costs for parcel and pallet are already seeing large increases in fuel surcharges.

Such applies to Granicrete products and all products you purchase from groceries to clothing. How much is this impact and for how long? It is too early to tell and unless the current government administration loosens up on its green initiatives, this situation will get worse.

What Is Ahead?

We are living in increasing uncertain times. When will we see peace and see a strong economy without inflation? I do not sense either will come soon but hope that both are the near horizon.

What might be the impact on Granicrete products?

Talking with industry leaders, the consensus is that continued upward price movement will occur. The benefit to the contractor - professional installer is that the same upward price pressures will occur in the tile, laminate, granite, and manufactured solid surface markets.

As such, do pay attention to the upward trends of these materials and in knowing such you will be able to adjust your client pricing upward as you see reasonable.

2-3-2022 Winter is upon us!

Winter is in full swing as the entire center of the country is going through ice and snowstorms. Everyone, except some parts of the southern country, is doing Granicrete projects indoors.

When working indoors here are some helps to improve dry times and project back-to-service times.

1. Elevate room temperature using safe modes of heat. Caution about some kerosene type heaters for carbon monoxide burn-off.

2. Portable fans also help drying times. Stand up fans are preferred over snail type fans that blow air at floor level. Too much air movement can cause texture to dry too fast leaving micro-cracks over the texture surface. (That look may be great for an aged stone look but not for your common finishes.)

3. De-humidifiers draw moisture out of the room They are helpful for enhancing dry times for textures and to reduce moisture trapping in epoxies and sealers.

4. Know that cold air through doors and breezeways will slow down dry times for textures and can hamper cure times for sealers and epoxies. By providing additional tape masking and maintaining the tips above, such can be reduced to assure timely and successful project outcomes.

During winter months epoxies can water-base sealers can freeze in transit or while sitting outside after delivery. It is important to be sure to have your product get back to room temperature before use. Warming blankets are great to use if you are needing to expedite its time.

Innovation:

We are working on a cold temperature epoxy to be used in cold rooms and freezer rooms that offers enhanced curing in cold temperatures and constant cold environments. We will keep you posted on progress for this R&D with a current 60-day target for availability.

1-2-22 Happy New Year!

Thank You... 2021 was an awesome year for Granicrete. We give thanks for your support and choosing to use Grancrete's products.

We hope that all our extra efforts to secure materials and components for providing uninterrupted supply and service were beneficial to you.

We will continue to work constantly with our supply sources to find ways for keeping our products available and we will continue to find ways to absorb price increases experienced.

Updated Safety Data Sheets are in the U

In maintaining compliance with OSHA requirements, we have updated our SDS for several products and those updates are in the SDS section of Granicrete University. Included:

Color Enhancer Low VOC

SL-P60

Polyurea 80C

WB-P53

GCP 25

MVEP

CA-FD

Novolac SA220

Casting Epoxy

If you ever need emergency medical assistance, all our product labels have the PERS 24-7 phone line to receive emergency assistance.

We are working on SDS updates for Crack Patch Gel, Eff-Blocker, and CA-FD FS+ to be ready later this month.

12-3-21 Cold weather shipping:

Colder weather is upon us and winter is just around the corner. Such can bring challenges in shipping for transportation delays and products subject to freezing in transit. Granicrete has a couple products that can not freeze. These products are Versa Primer and Hydro Barrier Membrane. Fortunately these products can be shipped by air but still may be subject to freezing if left on trucks overnight, or sitting in the back of delivery vans for the day, or left on your doorstep the same. Therefore we encourage you to order these products soon.

As for Granicrete's other products, they are able to do limited cycling of freeze-thaw. Epoxies may show "crystals" within. To bring them back to normal for mixing and use, an warming blanket, storage at room temperature, and placing the jugs and pails in warm water (do not fully submerse) will help bring these materials back to use.

We encourage the 75-75-75 principle for 75F degrees for ambient, product, and surface temperature before mixing Crystal Top Epoxy. As for CA-FD and our other epoxies, do give yourself extra time for curing due to cold floor surfaces and cold ambient temperature.

On your day for using these products on your installs, be sure not to store these products overnight in cold/freezing temperatures or remain in your vehicle or trailers during the day where they are subject to those cold ambient temperatures.

11-3-21 Components Shortage Update:

Distributor, shortages on resins, polymers and hardeners are holding steady for the moment. The shortages and cost increases experienced now are for pails and packaging products.

We have no plans to pass these ongoing increases and will continue the 10% components charge on your invoices for our direct serve customers.

Acrylic chips for broadcasting over epoxy floors are still seeing delays of 8-10 weeks to resupply. Do call us if you are going to propose color chips for an upcoming project. We are pretty well stocked and will immediately confirm the colors are in inventory.

We do not expect and increase this month and will keep you posted. We continue to recommend that your quotes to your prospects have a time limit of acceptance or clause giving you room to increase the quote should your materials costs rise.

Colder Temperatures Require Adjustments in the Field

As we begin to see temperatures drop with fall upon us and winter around the corner, we must take note of what happens to outdoor and indoor installations. As temperatures drop, so do surface temperatures. Both will begin to challenge epoxy and sealer cure times. If temperatures drop to low, necessary initial curing can be compromised and if your floor is very cold, that hampers the initial cure as well.

We recommend going with our faster setting sealers such as Color Enhancer, Poly Low, and Polyurea 80. SL-P60 and WB-P53 take longer set. When using sealer it helps to have these acclimated to the temperature they will be used.

As for epoxies, we do not encourage their use outdoors. As for indoors, again room temperatures may be cooler, floor temperatures likely cooler, and surfaces near exterior doors can be even cooler. Hence kicking up the temperature for the overall space as well as placing or suspending heaters near exterior doors will help epoxy cure better.

As for our Crystal Top and Crystal Top AHD, we encourage the 75-75-75 principle for 75 degrees for ambient, product, and surface temperature. We do have customers that prefer to use the AHD version during these colder months because it's low viscosity offers a little better flow in colder temperatures.

As an additional consideration for your sealers, monitor dew points for the drop in temperatures can result in wet surfaces. Sealers that get wet are compromised and can yield issues such as white spots and delamination.

As for interior epoxies near exterior doors, check for signs of moisture before your project. Some doorways may have water runoff or accumulation around doors which can lead to moisture trapped in concrete. It only takes 4 lbs. of moisture pressure to lift epoxy and sealers. If moisture is an issue, consider using our MVEP (Moisture Vapor Epoxy Primer).

As for Base and Texture Blend for outdoor projects, you need to plan on longer dry times. Most of customers, except for the warmer southern part of the USA, move their overlay projects indoors for floors and walls.

Also, as possible, when completing your projects, have your clients avoid using rubber mats. These mats may not allow the sealer to continue to breath and compromise curing and overall performance.

10-1-21 OCTOBER FEATURED PRODUCTS

TEN-MINUTE TREATMENT

Quick Easy Crack Mending
NO ODOR
Stops Water Intrusion
Creates a “Structural Repair”
Chemical Resistance
Drive Over in 10 to 15 Minutes
Texture Over in Within Minutes

TEN-MINUTE TREATMENT: This crack mending1:1 2-quart kit is a very rapid set, flexible, low viscosity urethane/polyurea specifically designed for the rapid repair of cracks or joints in concrete pavement.

It is intended for quickly sealing and repairing cracks, separations and potholes in concrete pavement and rapidly returning the pavement back into service allowing traffic over the repair in minutes. The low viscosity of this product allow it to quickly and easily penetrate the substrate cracks and fractures in concrete producing an excellent seal against industrial chemicals, fuels, water and other contaminants.

Excellent for concrete mending prior to overlays.

Ten-Minute Treatment has no smell and when mixed with sand for cracks and can create a mortar for spalling or concrete breaks and chips.

Time is money. Ten-Minute Treatment is a time saver and keeps you project moving.

The U has Data Use Sheets and video.

CRACK PATCH GEL - 4H

This premium quality1:1 2-part epoxy patching compound provides high build, maximum toughness, flexibility, excellent chemical resistance in a 4-hour quick drying paste.

It is used on concrete, wood, metal, masonry and areas where a tough yet flexible epoxy paste is needed. Patching surface cracks on concrete floors prior to application of Granicrete’s many epoxy flooring options.

Ideal for surface prep under our epoxy systems.

Extensive coverage: Kit contains enough material for 1 3/8" deep by 3/8" wide crack that is 34 feet long.

The U has Data Use Sheets and Safety Data Sheets.

Convenient 1:1 Mix Ratio
Mild Low Odor
Fast Setting Time - 4 Hours
High Build
Sand Adds Greater Workability
Chemical Resistant
Flexible - Very Durable
Moisture Tolerant

Components Shortage Update: 10-1-2021

Component shortages for resins seems to have stabilized. Polymers and hardeners are still on the increases and both paper and plastic packaging containers are frequently on the increase. Some of these increases have been as much as 15-30% during 2021.

We have no plans to pass these ongoing increases we have experienced to our customers at this time. We will continue the 10% line item charge on your invoices for our direct serve customers.

Acrylic chips for broadcasting over epoxy floors are seeing delays of 8-10 weeks to resupply. Do call us if you are going to propose color chips for an upcoming project. We can immediately confirm which colors are in inventory and which are scheduled to come in.

We have no certainties of further increases or decreases. We will keep you posted on any changes and continue to recommend that your quotes to your prospects have a time limit of acceptance or clause giving you room to increase the quote should your materials costs rise.

9-1-21 ... Timely Shipping

We are pleased to share that 99% of our orders are being shipped out by the following business day. Our efforts for excellence in service remain excellent.

We do want to let you know that parcel shippers, i.e. FedEx and UPS, are experiencing operational challenges due to the virus affecting not only their driver force but also their warehouse and sorting centers across the country. They have also been experiencing greater weather delays in various hubs at various times in the country. We are beginning to see their quoted delivery times being 1-2 days longer than in the past. There are also occasions for their missing the delivery window by a day or two.

Granicrete provides tracking information on each invoice. We provide an "anticipated arrival date" for the carrier but this is not guaranteed date. Do monitor your tracking number online for the freight carrier so that you can confirm timeliness of arrival for your upcoming projects.

Moreover, when possible, give yourself a longer lead time for placing your order so you can receive it in advance of your projects.

FedEx is implementing their annual holidays shipping fee for overweight (anything over 50 lbs.) packages. This fee is $25 per package. Only a couple products may exceed this weight such as a boxed bag of Texture or Base Blend or our training kits.

As for LTL shipments by full or partial pallet, we also list the carrier, tracking number, and estimated business days in transit. We have not experienced delays for these shipments and you can request "expedited" shipment that can speed up delivery as well. We are pleased to announce that our main LTL carrier, Old Dominion Freight Lines, has been awarded for its 12th consecutive year as the #1 National LTL Carrier base on on-time pickup and deliveries and customer service response.

8-1-21 ... Components Shortage Update

The shortage continues. Component shortages for resins, polymers, and hardeners has not eased up. Granicrete has been fortunate in its proactive measures to be able to meet customer needs in a timely basis. There is a lead time for Acrylic Chips for broadcasting on epoxy floors. This lead time, depending on color, may be up to 8 weeks. Call us to inquire on readily available colors.

Last month we shared that no price increases were on the horizon. At this moment that remains true as we see some stablizing in the market.

We have remained firm to limiting the amount of price increase to only 10% as a line item charge on your invoices for our direct serve customers.

We have no certainties of increases or decreases. Component manufacturers still remain hesitant to speak openly and have eyes on each other to see who makes the next move up or down. We are hearing that some pricing may decrease the last quarter of this year.

We will keep you posted on anychanges and continue to recommend that your quotes to your prospects have a time limit of acceptance or clause giving you room to increase the quote should your materials costs rise.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT: CA-FD EPOXY

This has been our long-term go-to epoxy for over a decade. CA-FD (Cycloaliphatic Fast Drying Epoxy yields a low odor, is two-component, 100% solids, high-build, low viscosity, low odor, cyclo-aliphatic, chemical resistant epoxy that is fast drying. This highly versatile epoxy coating comes in both clear and a variety of pigmented colors. It can be used as a primer, base coat, or as a topcoat, depending on your need AND is highly economical.

Applications:

Used for industrial floors in manufacturing plants, mechanical rooms, warehouses, commercial kitchens, and residential garages.

In combination with color quartz or paint chips it can be used to create a decorative floor coating.

Used with aggregate it can also be used as a mortar for overlays or repairs for concrete.

Infused with Mica Essence Metallic Powders for high-end designer floors and countertops.

CA-FD is an excellent high build concrete sealer for interior use over many other types of coatings such Granicrete textures or over acid stained floors. It can be used as a primer directly to properly prepped concrete.

Characteristics:

Low Viscosity
Meets USDA COMPLIANCE criteria
100% Solids
Chemical Resistant
High Strength
Water Clear or Pigmented Color Options
Durable yet Flexible
Low Odor
High-Build
Superior Adhesion
6-Hour Dry Time and 20-30 minutes working time. CA-FD FS+ yields a 4-hour set time and 15-minute working time.

Coverage: Per 1.5 gallon kit (Highly Economical Cost Per Square Foot)

As a Primer Coat: 275-350 sf per kit.
As a Decorative Coat to broadcast quartz or acrylic chips: 275-300 sf per kit.
As the Decorative Coat with Mica Essence infused: 150-225 sf per kit
As a coating to create a clear build over overlay: 300 sq. ft. per kit minimum as target.

7-1-21 ... Components Shortage Update

The nationwide component shortages in resins, polymers, and hardeners continues. The good news is that we do not see any near price increases so things may be stabilizing.

Although we have seen 20-25% increases, we have remained firm to limiting the amount of price increase to only 10% as a line item charge on your invoices for our direct serve customers.

What does the crystal ball say for the future. We have no certainties of increase or decrease. Component manufacturers still remain hesitant to speak openly and have eyes on each other to see who makes the next move up or down.

We will keep you posted on any upcoming changes and continue to recommend that your quotes to your prospects have a time limit of acceptance or clause giving you room to increase the quote should your materials costs rise.

6-1-2021... Beating the Summer Heat

As temperatures heat up for the summer it is important to note these installation and material handling points to give you advantages and successful project outcomes.

For Epoxies:

2. Avoid storing your epoxy in your vehicles or the bed of your trucks. Even if they are in closed boxes, the warmer ambient temperature works against you.

For Sealers:

1. Working indoors you still need to be aware of hot surfaces. A cured garage floor epoxy with direct sun can be 20F warmer and you sealer may dry promptly and not roll out smoothly.

3. Sealers can be sensitive to heat, humidity, and moisture. Refer to your data sheets and call Granicrete is you have a question.

For Textures:

For All Your Outdoor Projects:

Monitor yourself and your crew.

Heat leads to fatigue. Fatigue may cause mental mistakes, taking shortcuts, and diminished quality of work. Impose more breaks for yourself and your team.

a. Be sure they keep hydrated. Be sure they can sit in shade for rests.

b. Use cooling aids like cooled bandanas, neck towels, neck fans, broader rim hats.

c. Be sure to have sweat towels to help cool down.

e. Using UV sun blockers will help those working in the sun from sun burns and possible skin cancers.

f. Watch for yourself and your team if you become lightheaded or have chills as these are indications of dehydration and sun exposure which needs immediate attention and possible medical attention.

5-25-2021 ... Update on national shortages of components impacting epoxies and sealers

The nationwide component shortages in resins and hardeners continues. This shortage has spread to an international concern.

Component suppliers for sealers, epoxies, and colorants have raised their pricing multiple times in the past six weeks and again this week. Some components have gone up 20-30%. Granicrete attempts to absorb these costs the best we can.

We saw increases in epoxy again this past week. Sealers components remained stable for the past couple weeks.

However, after multiple cost increases on epoxy components, we have increased pricing on our epoxies effective 6-1-2021.

Small increases are for Crack Patch Gel, Ten-Minute Treatment, MVEP, CA-FD, Casting Epoxy, Novolac, and Super Concentrated Polymer.

What is the word for components through the Summer and into the Fall? There are no certainties. Component manufacturers are not speaking openly as they seem to have eyes on each other and the longer term national and international economic outlook.

Thankfully we are not seeing the huge increases attributed to construction materials (i.e. lumber). None of us like these increases and ultimately it is the consumer who pays for it in their construction and renovation costs.

What is the impact of cost increases in actual cost per square foot coverage? For a kit of Crystal Top that may be around $0.25 per square foot. For a kit of CA-FD that may be $0.06 per square foot. Even with increases the impact to cost per square foot is minimal and should be fairly easy to gain in your proposed project pricing to your clients and prospects.

5-1-2021 ... Introducing Color Enhancer LOW VOC Sealer

Available in 1-Gallon Gloss "Wet Look" & Satin "Clean Sheen Look"

This single component new sealer replaces our long famous Color Enhancer and Clear Sealer. With VOC requirements changing in counties and states throughout the country, the old version was no longer permitted. Our LOW VOC version is permitted in all counties in all 50 states.

Its significant characteristics include:

UV Resistant
Fast Drying
Easy to Use
Excellent Adhesion
Excellent ability to revive color of surfaces previously sealed that are years old.
Can be used indoors as the aromatics are far less than those of the old version. Cautions for combustible vapors still apply.

Outstanding coverage of 250-300 sf per gallon and up to 400 sf per gallon over previously sealed and smoother surfaces. Satin must be applied over gloss or previously sealed surface.

Surface applications include concrete, porous brick and tile, and most types of decorative acrylic cement coatings.

SDS and Data Sheets are in the U.

4-9-2021 ... Thank you for a great 1st quarter!

Right now the economy is sustaining strength and we hear from customers that they are already booking business for coming summer. We hope that you noticed how key items on the order form for all textures and Crystal Top Epoxy and many other items went down in price and some as much as 10-25%. We were able to do so in part because of our operational efficiencies and passing those saving onto you..

IMPORTANT UPDATE: We need to update you on a nationwide component shortages in resins and hardeners. Production facilities have faced reduced output for more than a year due to worker absences caused by the virus. Worse yet was the lost and reduced production from the Midwest and Texas stemming from the freezes that occurred. These component supplies and others have have significantly tightened and prices have already been going up.

Many component suppliers have already raised prices $5 per gallon on resins, as much as 25% on hardeners, and 10-15% on textures and colorants. Granicrete has chosen to absorb cost increases we have received the best we can.

The good news we hear, but too soon to tell, is that this shortage (the first we have experienced in decades) may begin to resolve itself this summer and perhaps as early as June.

As for your project proposals and estimates, you may wish to include a "shortage clause" so you can have room to adjust up for your projects or factor increases immediately in your quote. You may also want to hold your quotes to a shortened time period for projects getting started.

3-1-2021 ... Price, Packaging Changes, Phase Outs and New Item

Two months have already flown by for 2021. We are thankful for your business. It has been a good year for Granicrete.

Over the past few weeks we have been receiving notifications from packaging and component suppliers of price increases that are already taking effect. Increased costs for petroleum products, delivery costs, and fuel surcharges are adding to this too.

Granicrete will have to adjust accordingly with new pricing coming out to your distributor 3/15/2021. We will be making price adjustments and phasing out some products.

Here are products that we are modifying packaging options or phasing out:

Dry Powder Accents except for Primo Blue, Primo Cherry, Primo Clay, Sandalwood, and Coal are being phased out. These five colors will be in available in 1lbs jars. ALL REMAINING INVENTORIES OF THESE 5 COLORS WILL BE OFFERED AT THE 1LB PRICE. Dry Accents are used for topical coloration of Granicrete's floor textures to produce color enhancements for aging, wood grains, and wood knots.

Color Enhancer Gloss and Natural are being phased out due to increasing EPA regulatory pressures to move all epoxies and sealers to be low VOC. We are encouraging our customers to be purchasing our Poly Low Odor Gloss and Matte in its place. Poly Low Odor is great indoors and outdoors, dries at the same rate, and yields more coverage. It does not darken sealed surfaces and can be applied to more substrates including directly to concrete, brick, pavers, tile and more. We will continue to offer Poly Low in 1-gallon jugs which will seal 150-200sf with 2 coats. Granicrete is developing a Low VOC version of Color Enhancer and will update with more news as testing proves favorable for release.

1/4" Acyrlic Chips: Used for broadcasting onto epoxy floors will be available only in the 55 lb. boxes. We are discontinuing the 10lb. box size.

Webbing Sprays: We experienced repeated manufacturer's problems of partial filled and leaking cans which the manufacturer did not stand behind. As many retailers now carry this in stores and online, Granicrete will discontinue webbing sprays.

Acryli-Shades: Granicrete has added Night Sky Black in 16 and 32oz sizes. The 16 and 32oz sizes will continue for our most popular colors of Antique White, Blinding White, and Wickenburg Grey. All our other colors will be offered only in 16oz sizing.

NEW! NOVOLAC EPOXY SA220 1.5 GALLON KIT

Granicrete’s Novolac Epoxy SA220 is 100% solids multipurpose epoxy designed for strong chemical (Sulfuric Acid) and strong solvent resistance. It also has higher temperature resistance withstanding temperatures as high as 220°F.

Extreme chemical resistance includes 90-day testing of 70% Sulfuric Acid solution. A 50% solution of Sodium hydroxide lasted 30 days before failure

It can be used as a primer, base coat, or as a topcoat, depending on your need.

Some commonly used areas for its use include containment areas, manufacturing plants, mechanical rooms, warehouses, tank linings (for high levels of chemical and solvent resistance are required), commercial kitchens, waste treatment plants, and high-temperature areas of food and beverage processing plants.

Its significant characteristics include:

100% Solids
High Chemical Resistance
High Heat Resistance
Strength and Durability
Low Odor
High Build
Superior Adhesion
15-20 minute working time with a 5-hour enhanced recoat time

Available in clear (slight amber tint), Pewter Grey, Cape Cod Grey, Stone Grey, Black.

Coverage will vary depending on condition of surface and desired thickness. As a Coating: 100-300 sq. ft. per gallon (150-450 sf per kit)

Can also be mixed to be an epoxy mortar: 1 gallon of epoxy mixed with 5 gallons of silica type sand will yield approximately 3 to 4 gallons of mortar.

Available after 3-15-2021. This special product requires a few days additional lead time when ordering.

2-2-2021 ... Business Opportunities and Granicrete's Newest Acryli-Shade "Night Sky Black"

January just flew by. I hope our January newsletter inspired you to plan your next two steps in your growth success and have a contingency to modify your steps should the economy or the virus throws a curve ball.

We hope that ideas shared last month to broaden your Granicrete opportunities have been helpful. They included target marketing and networking including:

1. Commercial real estate and commercial property management as the virus is creating space turnover and greater tenant improvement concessions are being demanded by tenants in renewing leases or potential tenants to occupy vacant spaces. Both situations requires retrofit and renovation.

2. Restaurants need to make the exterior of their businesses more attractive for their take-out customers. You can bring pizzazz not just for indoors, but also for their outdoors too.

3. Also look at businesses that are surging. Surging businesses also mean increasing wear and tear of floor and countertop surfaces.

4. Network with businesses that are fleets with eyes on and feet on numerous properties daily. They can be a great source for leads especially if you providing "finders fee" when you close the sale from their leads. These businesses included pest control, pool service, yard service, appliance and HVAC service companies. Be deliberate in your networking plan so to make referrals easy to do and easy to compensate. Keep providing brochures and business cards to these entities along with getting included in their team meetings so you can introduce and maintain your networking relationship.

NEW COLOR! ACRYLI-SHADE NIGHT SKY BLACK ... Available in 16oz and 32oz.

We have developed a Black-Black color (not with blue hues or other shades). This is a pure black for our Acryli-Shades line.

As with our other Acryli-Shades it is excellent for flooding, veining, and speckling. This color continues to darkens as it dries yielding exceptional looks. It can be used with any dilution or undiluted as you may choose.

12-31-2020 ... Goodbye 2020 and hello 2021!

One thing we learned from 2020 is that our lives and plans can abruptly change when complete unknowns confront and challenge us. 2020 forced us to change and adapt to new rules and new ways. It forced us to refocus and change our lives and our businesses.

Now with 2021 how do we plan for and achieve success while we are still in such uncertain times?

In ways 2021 may even feel more daunting than was 2020.

Permit me to share some thoughts...

The saying "there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time" is surely applicable. We need to take on the challenge but realize we just need to do so simply and consistently. A mentor of mine always challenged me to stop and ask yourself, "What are my next two steps?" and then do them. Once done, ask yourself the question again.

In both approaches we need to break down the big challenge into one or two action steps, do the one or two steps, assess again, and do the next step or two again. Doing this every day will move us toward our goals.

Another thought about this: you can't look to others to cut the elephant up for you to make your challenge easier. You can't look to someone to pick you up and carry you so you do not have to take the next two steps yourself.

I share this as our culture and society are becoming conditioned to look to the government for bail-outs, provisions, direction, and turning things around. We are seeing self reliance being exchanged for dependence. Looking to others for these things may very well undermine your personal success for 2021.

Allow me to challenge you to not just pick up your fork or lace up your shoes for your success plan, but also do this for your contingency plan too. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we need to not just plan for the upside, but we better have a contingency plan for a downside too.

Now that contingency plan is not one of surrender to circumstances, but it must be "if my next bite or two steps are met with obstacle, what must I do to go around or through that obstacle so that I stay on track with my goal!" For example, if your are planning to do a home and garden show, what happens if the 2021 shows get cancelled or if attendance is down due to virus fears?

May I share some things to broaden your vision and opportunities? The virus uprooted industries and markets and it strengthened others. Here are some examples:

Commercial real estate learned a lesson: Big buildings and offices are not needed as employee productivity in working from home works. This means as leases expire there will be an increase in vacancy. As businesses may fail in 2021, that adds to increase in vacancy. Vacancy requires retrofit and renovation with new leases. This is an opportunity for you if you network with property management companies and their general contractors on their vendor lists. Granicrete is great for floors, walls, bathrooms, courtyards, break rooms and more.
Restaurants will continue to be challenged with limited dine-in service coupled with increase of take-out service. These businesses need to make the exterior of their businesses more attractive for their take-out customers. What is their curb appeal and what is take-out area appeal for their customers? You can bring pizzazz not just for indoors, but also for their outdoors too.
Also, with restaurants you will find that half or more of their dining tables are not not in service as either marked so or they have been placed in storage so as to meet distancing requirements. Now is great time for those unused table to get facelifts with Granicrete's overlay or metallic epoxy systems. This may be something that will need to be done at your shop or garage.
Also look at businesses that are surging. Surging businesses also mean increasing wear and tear of floor and countertop surfaces. Pizza delivery business, hardware stores, automotive repair businesses, paint stores, hobby stores, and construction supply stores are sustaining if not growing during these economic times. Network with those businesses and their key customers for more opportunities.

I hope you find some encouragement in these thoughts. 2021 can be a great year for you as everyday you take just a couple steps in executing and then assessing your next two steps.

I also hope that you are prompted to think about the opportunities that have been created by the unplanned changes in the markets and industries.

Would enjoy hearing your success stories for 2021! -- Marc Winkelman --

12-9-2020 ... We are moving 12/14-12/18 .. Operations closed during this week.

Our operations will be closed December 14-18 during our relocation. We will re-open December 21st. Once we reopen, will-call orders should be called in advance at 602-438-9464.

By phone we will assist you with products wanted and needed for your projects and confirm your next day will-call pick up time window or arrange for local delivery. (Same day pickup and delivery may be available depending on operational workloads.)

Payment for your advance order can be done over the phone or we can email your invoice which has secure links to pay by credit card or from your checking account. Upon payment we are promptly notified and will promptly email your payment confirmation to you.

Will call and valley-wide delivery will be based at the Glendale location (Grand Ave and Bethany Home Road). Your order will be pulled and waiting and a physical copy of your paid order will be provided to you as well.

The new Tempe location will be for administration and production only. With advance notice we may have your order for pick up in Tempe too.

Neither Glendale nor Tempe will have a showroom. Our focus is production and distribution for our local customers and for our customers across the country.

• Phone orders will be Mon-Fri from 8am-4pm.

• Glendale appointment will-call pick up hours are Mon-Fri 7:30am-3pm. (Grande Avenue & Bethany Home Road)

• Tempe will-call pick up will be by appointment only. (Southern west of Kyrene.)

11-2-2020 Update ...

We hope this letter finds you and your family virus-free. To say the least, 2020 is not a year that many wish to remember.

Tomorrow is election day. We are blessed to live in a country of free-elections and the freedom to choose and have a voice in the electoral process.

Colder weather and outdoor installs:

Be cautious in your outdoor installations. Drying and proper curing temperatures may get compromised. Textures will take longer to dry and colored texture will take longer too with cooler days and nights. The greater challenges is with your sealers. Regardless of initial dry times, with surface temperatures falling and ambient temperatures falling, initial cure times are lengthened and for two-component sealers that have longer cure time (SL-P60 and WB-P53) you need to avoid temperature drops into the lower 50s so as to enhance proper curing.

Another culprit to curing is night time temperatures dropping and having morning dew. Sealers can not be compromised with any moisture and you should never cover your surface with sheeting for protection. Tenting is possible but your sealers and your textures must breathe.

Colder weather and product ordering

Granicrete does carry some projects that are freeze sensitive. Products in transport particularly to the northern parts of the country are subject to freezing during ground transport. LTL trailers are rarely heated nor are most FedEx local delivery vans.

Products that cannot freeze are Hydro Barrier Membrane and Versa Primer. Now is the time to be ordering these products ahead of any cold snaps in our weather across the country. Note: These items can be shipped by air but doing so is expensive and they can still freeze in carrier transport trailers from airport to warehouse parking lots or being pre-loaded into delivery vans that are parked the same.

Updates for Granicrete Products

Discontinuing our Acid-Free Stains: More of our customers liking the versatility and convenience of our Acrylic Concrete Stains. Benefits to Acrylic Concrete Stains:

Acrylic Concrete Stains are water-based, acid free, and easy to apply. They can be sprayed or rolled on, have low to no odor and are zero VOC.
From 7 primary colors you can make many colors and the recipe for doing so are listed in U with both recipe and color outcome.
Acrylic Concrete Stains are applied to clean and profiled concrete and can be diluted up to 4 parts water.
The key to applying if sprayed is to mist some water to the surface so to avoid splatter marks and drips. If the color is not dark enough then make another pass of spraying or reduce the dilution.
Avoid puddling and if puddles occur use a cloth to immediate blot, mist color again and continue.
Allow Acrylic Concrete Stains to dry overnight and perhaps as long as 24 hours pending surface and ambient temperatures.
There is no need to rinse the dried colorant (which would be required if straight acid-free stain which delays the time to seal).
When sealing, do a test spot to check if any colorant is being pulled onto the roller. A clean roller indicates the colorant has penetrated and set in the surface.

Granicrete U has color recipes for using Copper Acid-Free Concrete stain. We recommend using Acrylic Concrete stain colors of Rust, Walnut, or the combination of Rust+Walnut = Adobe as the replacement.

Powdered Dry Accents are being discontinued: NOTE: Powdered Dry Accents are Earth tone colors for floor overlays. Granicrete's broad selection of 20 colors of metallic Mica Essence powders are not affected.

Demand for the 2.2 lb jars of Powdered Dry accents used for highlight and aging of floor overlay coloring are less in demand. Our customers are spending less time in floor overlay coloring and are avoiding the tedious time for being on their knees hand coloring using the Powdered Dry Accents.

Our customers are using spray bottle and minimal sponge techniques for creating such accents from our Dispersion Colors and from our Acryli-Shade Colorants.

Remaining inventory of Acid Free and Powdered Dry Accents will be available as supplies last.

10-3-2020 COVID Update...

We are approaching 8 months of pandemic restrictions. As some states have reduced business restrictions other states still operate with greater precautions. How long will this continue? Nobody really knows and some say precautions could go through 2021 into 2022.

We know that some industries will continue to struggle such as the airlines, tourism, and hospitality. Other industries have advanced. Certainly all businesses have had to embrace change including Granicrete International.

Daily we are asked how we are doing. We have been blessed to remain steady in sales and service. We continue to exercise caution as we are not holding training classes. We have seen an increase for training with our online training system where you can practice using Granicrete materials while learning our floor overlay and countertop systems.

10-3-2020 Product Highlight: ARTISTIC BLEND

Purpose: This texture offers a fine combination of Portland cement and modifiers that yield and very smooth finish for interior wall finishes, luxury-designer countertops, and putty art.

Uniqueness: Granicrete's Countertop Blend is designed for a slight sand-grit that with our coloring system yields exceptional looks for stone, marble, granite, and concrete tops.

With the Artistic Blend you can integrally color it for smoother finishes similar to Venetian Plasters.

The Artistic Blend yields a slightly different topical coloring and smoother finish for designer countertops. We have a Designer Tops manual that shares many such coloring techniques that can be achieved.

The steps in using the Artistic Blend and mix ratios are the same for our Countertop Blend.

7-26-2020 Status Report ... Granicrete continues serving customers without interruption.

You may have heard of spikes in COVID cases for Arizona as if we are experiencing a pandemic here. This is far from the case.

The significant ramp up of testing correlates to an increase in "cases". However, these positive test cases have not been adequately broken down and remain unanswered by state authorities as to "cases" testing positive, false positive, asymptomatic outcomes, actual COVID hospital admissions, and hospital admission requiring ventilation, and length of patient hospitalization.

COVID is a serious matter. Just how serious has not been adequately addressed by our state officials and their credibility is being challenged because of closure rulings that directly contradict their other social distancing rulings.

In light of health concerns and courtesies, Granicrete continues its COVID protocols and continues serving our customer base without interruption.

We too hope that this COVID chapter will soon end and we can get back to normal again.

6-26-2020 New products, product sizes, and order form.

we have some great news that will accompany your updated Order Form on July 6, 2020.

We will be adding 1-gallon kits for both Crystal Top Epoxy and Crystal Top AHD.
We are adding 2oz (56 gram) packages of all our Mica Essence Metallic colors.
We will be adding a quart size for our Versa Blend Primer.
We have modified our Hydro Barrier Membrane to now go from pink gel to red dried.
We have modified our Ten-Minute Crack Treatment with a slightly longer working time, and now with virtually no odor and packaged in easy to pour plastic bottles.
GCP-25 Gloss will also be offered in a quart bottle. This product seals concrete, overlays, but is also excellent for sealing natural wood before applying Crystal Top or Casting Epoxy. It is designed to minimize the outgassing of natural woods which cause bubbles and latent bubbles while the epoxy cures.
We are carrying a more coarse Slip Resistant Additive for great slip resistance and this coarse version produces great effects in your countertop and epoxy countertop coloring.
Quartz colors for epoxy floors have been expanded. We now have the ability to provide you with standard and unlimited custom color blends and great pricing.

5-17-2020 Covid 19 ... New norms and opportunities

As we begin to come out of stay at home orders and “social distancing” we may need to engage new norms while also finding new opportunities.

New Norms:

1. Handshakes may take a while before our culture re-adopts. Substitutes may include elbow pumps or tip of the cap. It will be likely you will need to ask or discern the comfort level and greeting process of another before assuming how they will react to an extended hand for that good old handshake.

2. Doing a site-project assessment before you offer your quote, put your prospect at ease as you may be offering a little more distance while dialoging. You may need to have a mask on you to put on if you are greeted with their having a mask on. It is important to put your prospects at ease.

3. Transaction practices are going to change. If you accept credit cards will you hold your customer’s credit card in hand and run it through the card swiper? Perhaps not. If you use a mobile swipe will you ask them to do a signature screen on your phone? Perhaps not. In signing an agreement, will you have them share your pen or will you have them use theirs?

Suggestion: You may wish to post your COVID 19 courtesy practices on your website, Facebook page, etc. Offering such can put your prospects at ease before they even contact you and by posting your practices that unknown prospect may contact you instead of your competitor. Doing so will put your prospect at ease during these coming months of new norms.

New Opportunities:

The COVID social distancing has caused people to be more aware of cleaning surfaces and maintaining more sterile environments. You may be fielding questions to such and if not, it is a good time to bring up such. Here are some points that may help close more sales:

1. Granicrete’s Crystal Top Epoxies, Poly Low Odor, and WB-P53 were the first and may still be the only countertop coatings approved by the National Sanitation Foundation for incidental food contact. Our listing is available directly on the NSF website. Who is NSF? They are the entity that approves virtually all drinking water filter systems. Their approval entails annual certification renewal requirements of testing and facility monitoring.

2. Granicrete’s Epoxies and Sealers meet USDA compliance requirements per CFR Title 21, Part 175.300 as a concrete epoxy and/or sealer for floors, countertops, or walls.

3. Overlays and epoxy floors have major advantages over carpet and bare concrete. Carpet fibers hold sneeze and cough droplets. Carpet also holds dust and dirt and is an added factor for amplifying allergies. Although vacuuming does remove a portion of dirt and dust (surely not all the dirt for we all know when carpet is removed how much dirt and other residue remains behind), it is only carpet cleaning that cleans the fibers.

As for concrete, it a holder of dirt and dust. When coated over and sealed, floor cleaning is made far easier. Cleaning agents that are pH neutral are preferred and if they have anti-bacterial or viral cleaning enhancements, that makes both cleaning and disinfecting simpler and efficient.

Coming out of stay at home restrictions and individuals go back to workplaces and consumers going to restaurants and retail stores, a greater eye of awareness will be in play. We have been conditioned the past couple months to such. Moreover, health and safety inspectors are going to be in heightened alert and prompt to issue notices, warnings, and citations to restaurateurs and business owners.

So now and going forward is an excellent time to get yourself known in your local markets to business owners. When they are confronted with notices, they are going to be highly responsive to finding remedy and keeping satisfying inspectors. If you have been in recent contact and have left with them 4”x4” countertop business cards or sales literature, they are likely to call you.

Memorial Day Holiday Weekend is this weekend. Granicrete will be closed Friday, May 22nd and Memorial Day, Monday May 26th. We will be open again Tuesday May 27th.

4-5-2020 COVID-19 ... What does the future hold?

Status Report: Granicrete continues serving customers without interruption.

Granicrete meets Arizona classification as an "Essential Service" as provide instruction, support, and materials to critical trades and providing supplies to those who work from home." Both FedEx and Old Dominion are considered essential and critical and operating as well.

Serving our customers is TOP PRIORITY.

Here are some ideas for you during this time of social distancing:

Get deposits from your prospects for upcoming projects. Consider modifying the amounts or schedule of deposit. Give your customer options (i.e. 50% down now or 25% now and 25% when we start, or 30% now and 30% when we start.
Advise your customers that now is a good time for you to get Granicrete materials you need for their projects.
NEW suggestion: Now may be a prudent time to approach specific businesses which may be unfortunately closed or only partially open. Such businesses would be restaurants, salons, and other service establishments. Such entities cannot afford the downtime for Granicrete projects when their businesses are operating. So having projects done would prudent now and would be an nice enhancement when the re-open and employees return. Now is a good time to get bar tops, tabletops, and floors completed.
Also, although schools are closed to students, they are open for contractors to get projects completed that were scheduled for this summer.

3-18-2020 Corona COVID-19 Virus ... HQ Status

Serving our customers is TOP PRIORITY as we have taken multiple precautions.

1. We are monitoring the guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization along with directives at the federal, state, and local levels.

2. We are monitoring the same of our vendors supplying us with components, as well as vendors providing transportation of Granicrete products to our customers.

3. We have taken precautionary measurements relative to all critical parts of our company. We are fully functioning inclusive of receiving and handling orders, shipping of orders, shelf resupply, and tech support.

4. We have evaluated aspects of potential contagion and have implemented the following controls:

• Vendor suppliers: Personal contact has been eliminated as we have discontinued any appointments and visits. Communication is limited to and email, phone, and video communication.

• Freight personnel: We have removed personal contact for parcel shipments by establishing a collection and receiving station on our property. As for LTL shipments, contact is with a minimum 10 ft distance with Granicrete using applicable personal protective equipment followed by immediate personal hand cleaning before engaging in Granicrete internal operations.

• Will-call pickup: Engagement should be done with advanced phone or email for order reception, invoice execution, and electronic pick up.

• Will-call pickup without advance notice will be window-served, electronic transaction confirmed and paid, and picked up at our onsite pickup station.

• Will-call payment will be by electronic means as we will not handle cash or coin during the period of precautions.

We understand the seriousness of this virus. We are fully committed to uninterrupted service for you. Thank you for you business and understanding. We will continue to provide you with updates for our response measures.

It is an honor to serve you.

-- Marc Winkelman --

2/5/2020 ... More products being added to Granicrete's Lineup

We are never satisfied with the status quo. We observe what the industry is doing. We listen to your ideas and requests. Here are additions coming soon for you:

We are adding a satin version of Polyurea 80C.
We are adding a premier countertop detailing sander/polisher/& hose to attach to your shop vacuum.
We are adding a premier dust-free HEPA vacuum extractor for this sander/polisher/hose if you prefer a new vacuum.
We are adding Buff/Polishing Kit that will bring the countertops up to the original shine of Crystal Top Epoxy with incredible super-smooth and super-gloss finish.
We are carrying new soft sanding pads of 180, 360, and 500 grit to take out wear and scratches on tops. These avoid burning through edges and take out scratches in just a few seconds. Awesome to use before using the 1000, 2000, 4000 pads to produce a scratch-free smooth finished polished top.
We are nearly ready to add a BLACK Metallic Mica Essence Powder for your metallic epoxy floors and designer metallic epoxy countertops.
We are conducting testing the use of Integral Color Packs (ICP) for our Base, Texture, Countertop Blends. The ICP will have its own dissolving bag to just drop into the water and Super Concentrated Polymer, mix and then add the texture and mix again. The integral color will reduce the need of topical coloring before sealing which lowers material and labor costs and puts your projects back into service faster.
We are planning to add a new SKU, a 3-Gallon pail of Super Concentrated Polymer that is good for 6 bags of Base or Texture for your smaller projects.
We are introducing Granicrete GCP-25. Granicrete GCP-25 is Grafted Cross-Linking Polymer that is an extremely versatile water-base sealer with 25% solids. Excellent tire resistance over concrete and overlays, and excellent sealer for pavers, bricks, and wood too for interior and exterior. Yields excellent water, alkali, efflorescence, and grease-oil resistance with high UV while adhering to a variety of substrates. Coming in 1-gallon pails which will cover 150 sf with 2 coats.

These items will be on your new Order Form coming soon!

12/4/19: Introducing Granicrete Casting Epoxy - UC

The right epoxy with the right technique for the right result.

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Call us for special introductory pricing, more information, and to order...

866-438-9464.

11/4/19: WINTER READINESS...

As winter is coming, it is time to head indoors. It is exciting to hear installers already being booked into the New Year with customers wanting improvement projects for countertops, floors, and wall to be done before Thanksgiving and again before Christmas.

Here are some things to note for your winter readiness:

1. Cooler indoor temperatures will slow down dry times. Having fans (not too close to working surfaces) and dehumidifiers will help.

2. Countertop epoxy best application temperatures are 75F for ambient, 75F for epoxy itself, 75F for the surface. Warming surfaces and epoxy prior to application will help for better self-leveling. Keeping room temperatures over 70F after application for the next 24 hours are important too. You may need to have portable heater to leave in the working room as many homeowners will turn down their thermostats at night and such will not help the temperature achieve its best cure.

3. Epoxy flooring for interiors will be challenged by floor surface temperatures particularly near door openings. These areas may need not only local heat but masking off the exterior from cold drafts is important too. Overall, give yourself more cure time for your epoxy projects.

4. As for garage epoxy projects, cold drafts and leaving the garage door propped open after applying coatings will compromise proper curing. This holds true to open air patios. If you are creating veils to keep portable heat in, do also keep in mind possibilities of moisture intrusion from rain, melt off, etc.

5. Watch your storage and transit temperatures for your sealers, epoxies, polymer, Versa Primer, and Hydro Barrier. Avoid allowing product to freeze. You may need to monitor upcoming projects and shipping of needed products. Our carriers do their best to avoid freezing but long hauls in trailers where significant outdoor freezing occurs will bring temps down inside trailers. Also have a 2nd point for FedEx delivery including will-call at their terminal or delivery to a place of business. Deliveries to residences where product may sit out for hours may lead to freezing. Granicrete will coordinate with you in your orders seeking best methods and timing for successful product arrival.

6.You should never use Color Enhancer for indoor projects. Sealers such SL-P60 and Polyurea 80 may be used per instructions, but WB-P53 Gloss and Satin as well as Poly Low Odor Gloss and Matte should be first considered because of their being water-based and with low to no odor. Do refer to your SDS for personal protective needs and masking requirements.

11/4/19: During November get a $50 Granicrete Product Certificate for your countertop recipe and/or for your indoor floors...

Last month we offered $50 Granicrete Product Certificates to our customers who share one of their top demanded countertop recipes. This month we are continuing not only your top countertop recipe but your top interior floor recipe and that can be either overlays or MetalliX. All you need to do is the following:

1. Provide a quality picture of your finished countertop.

2. Provide the recipe (blank recipe form below to download) along with your color name. You can hand write, scan and email, or send saved file by email, or even mail your recipe to our office (address below).

3. Email both to Pictures@Granicrete.com. Recipes need to be received by 11/30/19. Only one recipe per customer.

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10/6/19: Get $50 Granicrete Certificate for your Countertop Recipe

Winter is coming. Thanksgiving is coming. Christmas and the Holiday Season is just around the corner. Demand for countertops is growing and as the weather gets cold more projects will be done indoors including countertops.

Granicrete is offering a $50 Granicrete Product Gift Certificate to our customers who share one of their top demanded countertop color recipes. We will be adding your recipe to the U to share with the network.

All you need to do is the following:

1. Provide a quality picture of your finished countertop.

3. Email both to Pictures@Granicrete.com

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Recipes need to be received by 10/15/19. Only one recipe per customer.

9/2/19: Exciting News On Kitchen & Bath Countertop Trends

The research firm The Freedonia Group is estimating USA cabinet and countertop demand will grow as much as 6% through 2021 and is already nearly $26 billion annually. They attribute this to a trend of older homeowners who are upgrading their living spaces with emphasis in kitchens and bathrooms. Nearly 80% of homeowners upgraded countertops and cabinets when they did remodels of these two areas.

Cabinet preferences were for sleek clean lines with emphasis for colors in grays and whites. However, more bold colors are coming into play to make their space more personal. This includes two-tone grey cabinets as well as some beige and and bold colors.

As for countertops, consumers are looking for durability with a shift away from granite. Quartz looks in white, black, browns, gold and blues are becoming more popular with some subtle marble-like and vein movements. Quartz does not require regular resealing as granite does.

New tops of popularity for countertops that are metal, steel, concrete, wood, or recycled products are becoming more appealing as well.

Where does Granicrete fit in? WE GOT THE LOOKS!

You have the ability to offer marble finishes with veins and movement both in our original tops methods and in our designer tops methods.
You have the ability to offer many ranges of grays and whites by mixing Concentrated Dispersions together, mixing Acryli-Shades together, or by mix both together.
Granicrete's 5" 40, 60, and 100-grit Diamond Pads fit on your random orbital sander and will smooth out texture lines and trowel marks to offer you a smooth finish for quartz and concrete countertop surfaces.
Granicrete's Mica Essence Metallic Powders are becoming very popular for countertops yielding finishes of pearlescent marble finishes to hammered metals.

Where does Granicrete fit in? YOU GOT THE PRICE!

Without a doubt the granite market as dropped. Providers went from 3/4" (3cm) to 1/2" (2cm) to cut costs. To further cut costs they have been substituting poorer rated granite for higher rated. In fact much granite is so poor in qual

Updated Epoxy and Sealer Selection Chart:

SEALERS-EPOXIES-PRIMERS CHART 11-2023

Commonly Sought Files:

Compliance and NSF Certification: COMPLIANCE

Method for Sanding & Polishing Crystal Top: Countertop_Sanding_Polishing_Buffing

In addition to the Black Foam Roller referenced in this video and guide, we have determined another foam roller that works very well which can be ordered on Amazon. It is the FoamPRO 176-5 Fine Finish Mini Roller Refills (High-Density Foam) (5 Pack), 6".

Best Practice for WB-P53 over Crystal Top: Better Application process

Why and how to eliminate dimples in epoxy: Crystal Top Epoxy Dimples

Have your "A" game at work: Ready to be Ready

Surface Matters NOVEMBER 2023

Changes in SL-P60 GLOSS

We have often been asked why P60 Gloss was 1:1 when Satin was 2:1. Taking this to heart we have worked on developing P60 Gloss to be a 2:1 and we are pleased to announce that it is now 2:1 mix with incredible air release and rolls out even better than ever. Available as a 1.5 gallon kit.

2-3-2022 Winter is upon us!

1-2-22 Happy New Year!

12-3-21 Cold weather shipping:

11-3-21 Components Shortage Update:

8-1-21 ... Components Shortage Update

7-1-21 ... Components Shortage Update

Here are products that we are modifying packaging options or phasing out:

NEW! NOVOLAC EPOXY SA220 1.5 GALLON KIT

4-5-2020 COVID-19 ... What does the future hold?

3-18-2020 Corona COVID-19 Virus ... HQ Status

12/4/19: Introducing Granicrete Casting Epoxy - UC

11/4/19: WINTER READINESS...

11/4/19: During November get a $50 Granicrete Product Certificate for your countertop recipe and/or for your indoor floors...

10/6/19: Get $50 Granicrete Certificate for your Countertop Recipe

9/2/19: Exciting News On Kitchen & Bath Countertop Trends

OPERATIONS HOURS

GRANICRETE UNIVERSITY

SYSTEM SECURE

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Surface Matters NOVEMBER 2023

Changes in SL-P60 GLOSS

We have often been asked why P60 Gloss was 1:1 when Satin was 2:1. Taking this to heart we have worked on developing P60 Gloss to be a 2:1 and we are pleased to announce that it is now 2:1 mix with incredible air release and rolls out even better than ever. Available as a 1.5 gallon kit.

2-3-2022 Winter is upon us!

1-2-22 Happy New Year!

12-3-21 Cold weather shipping:

11-3-21 Components Shortage Update:

8-1-21 ... Components Shortage Update

7-1-21 ... Components Shortage Update

Here are products that we are modifying packaging options or phasing out:

NEW! NOVOLAC EPOXY SA220 1.5 GALLON KIT

4-5-2020 COVID-19 ... What does the future hold?

3-18-2020 Corona COVID-19 Virus ... HQ Status

12/4/19: Introducing Granicrete Casting Epoxy - UC

11/4/19: WINTER READINESS...

11/4/19: During November get a $50 Granicrete Product Certificate for your countertop recipe and/or for your indoor floors...

10/6/19: Get $50 Granicrete Certificate for your Countertop Recipe

9/2/19: Exciting News On Kitchen & Bath Countertop Trends

OPERATIONS HOURS

GRANICRETE UNIVERSITY

SYSTEM SECURE

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