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needing help picking a overlay supplier
kes76	04-04-2008 17:08:28
Member Posts: 4 Joined: 04-04-2008	i'm currently looking to get started in this business (mostly overlays and staining) and to be honest there are a lot of options. I've talked to a few companies out there but still not sure were to invest. All the companies i have talked to want a start up fee is this how it works i understand they want a comittment if they are going to trian you. Can anyone tell me if you can just go to a training class and learn the trade and then buy were ever or is investing in a single companies the way to go. I have been talking to PERMA CRETE has anyone delt with them or know if there product is a quality one. I would appreciate any help thanks........

SweetCreteFloors	04-04-2008 19:42:00
Member Posts: 122 Joined: 01-11-2008	I just went to the Elite crete seminar in december 07 One thing I liked about them Is there was no start up fee so start up cost was very minumal The training was very good kinda an overload but after reading my manual 30 times it all sunk in. what I would do is go to a class if you dont like it there is no pressure to buy anything they just teach you about there products and how to use them a very hands on class. wes

usconc	04-04-2008 20:57:31
Member Posts: 823 Joined: --	the owner of this site - decosup - has a great overlay system. i would give them first consideration. miracote also has a good system. both are great companies. elitecrete's system is okay but you have to be prepared for the politics of being involved with that company.

kes76	04-05-2008 07:42:41
Member Posts: 4 Joined: 04-04-2008	i appreciate the replies keep them coming i took a look at some of the site you have suggested they all seem great. One of the main reasons i was concidering Perma crete their warehouse is only 1 1/2 hours from me. The start up fee is put in to stock for your company and includes free training anytime not just once. my main concerne is getting involve with one supplier and not being able to use anything else. Because i love the look of flex c-ment on the vertical overlays the rock looks awsome the best i've seen but i didn't see what i was looking for in their floor overlays

Dr"J"	04-05-2008 08:11:12
Member Posts: 145 Joined: --	If you have a concrete background and have been finishinig concrete for a while and are skilled, that helps when it comes to working with different systems. Finding the strenghts of one product over another. Then I can see using different suppliers for different applications. But if you are just getting started, it is wise to invest in some form of training. Build on that training and make your own decisions based on what you can do and know. It is handy to have your distributor close to get tech support immediately when you need it, usually right in the middle of a job! That has a huge bearing on what systems you choose. As You gain experience, you will develop a liking for what products can do and then your choices become pretty simple. Sometimes a job will dictate circumstances that require you to find a product that will perform in a certain way or in a certain timeframe and you get introduced to a product you dismissed before. Training is an investment in yourself. You will know right away if you are being taken. I flew from the NW of Canada to Florida and took training from a company that I researched and felt would help me get started. All they wanted me to do was buy a franchise and their product along with it. Starting at $75,000 US dollars.!!!! The salesman selling to me knew little or nothing about his product...I knew more!!! Yah I was took. Got on the internet and found I could buy a similar product close to home, and began my business. 3 years later I use one manufacturer's products for overlays, one for special repairs and another's for countertops. You learn this with time and experience. Keep your ears and mind open to the differences out there in product land and experiment when new things come along.

MC	04-05-2008 10:32:20
Member Posts: 764 Joined: 05-20-2007	I think its kinda silly to limit yourself to one supplier or manufacturer. I have a supplier that carries multiple different manufacturers products. One company might have a better overlay product while another may have a better sealer. For instance I like Incretes solvent sealer and color hardener better than most but I dont like thier overlays that much. I think QC and Bomanite has some of the best acid stains and micro's (along with Scofield)but I usually wont use the sealer. Xcel has the best acrylic lace system but I hate thier solvent sealer. Even though I like some better than others doesnt mean that they are no good, just personal preferance and opinion. But if you have no or limited experience than it would probably be best to pick one supplier that can train you and will help you along the way instead of trying out different products yourself

crbyd	04-09-2008 06:04:36
Member Posts: 309 Joined: --	My suggestion is to learn and use products from 2 or more different manufacturers. Find out what products your local or nearest construction supply company sells and see if they have any seminars or contact the sales rep about training. Develop a good relationship with your local construction suppliers , you will be surprised how much business they can generate for you. In addition, I suggest that you use local suppliers so that you only have to purchase enough product to use on each project, especially small projects. Purchasing product in large quanties and storing them is not efficient and can create cash flow problems. Let your supplier/distributor be the warehouse.

bufordht	04-10-2008 13:08:33
Member Posts: 3 Joined: 03-03-2008	QUOTE kes76, 2008-04-05 07:42:41 i appreciate the replies keep them coming i took a look at some of the site you have suggested they all seem great. One of the main reasons i was concidering Perma crete their warehouse is only 1 1/2 hours from me. The start up fee is put in to stock for your company and includes free training anytime not just once. my main concerne is getting involve with one supplier and not being able to use anything else. Because i love the look of flex c-ment on the vertical overlays the rock looks awesome the best i've seen but i didn't see what i was looking for in their floor overlays i've used flex-c-ment for over 4 years now and have been fairly happy. it adheres better than anything else i've tried. as for the floors not having what you're looking for they you can do pretty much any look with their products, it's just a matter of learning the process not so much having the right product. there service has not been what one would call top notch but they have been recently bought out so maybe that will change. as for the walls we have done very few of them because we've found we cant compete with cultured stone which goes for around $12/sq ft around here. it's also easier to lay and looks better so there's not much point in using an overlay.

suntacsys	04-11-2008 04:43:29
Member Posts: 1160 Joined: --	conc, uncertain what politics you reference but, from what i can tell, its above the average installer/artisan's level. as most know, i'm ignorant about many o'lay products/systems/methods,,, eg, never heard of mc's Xcel nor an acrylic ' lace ' sys,,, investigated 10-15 when entering this craft w/30yrs conc/conc repair exp,,, made our choice & haven't look'd back,,, like having 1 main supplier - subsequently little worry of mixing incompatible products/systems,,, tech & marketing support's only a phone call away & my guy's extremely knowledgeable w/dirty hands/knees experience. if decosup were avail in ga, probably would eventually try it but its not,,, min frt costs cause experimenting w/other products/suppliers to be unattractive,,, stardek's here along w/gawda'mightycrete, knockyoursocksoffcrete, forevercrete, adnauseumcrete, yada, yada, yada, but we've achieved our comfort level,, you, however, might try several & weed 'em out eventually,,, forget exclusivity, franchise, & exhorbitant fees as most sell to anyone they've train'd,,, free retraining suggests tech support's not knowledgeable,,, if desired, we can send new hires free but only did that several yrs ago,,, there are some who make a living on c-tops & vertical work but, for most of us, the real $$'s in resurfacing existing conc more'n anything else. best [the original] posted-these-comments-4/4-but-they-evidently-got-lost yic-yac

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