When the floor finishing project came out for bid from one of the local general contractors in charge of the tenant improvement, there was no detailed specification for the product type or criteria, only a small blurb in the finish legend mentioning a white epoxy floor coating that would meet USDA standards.
But long before work at the new Papa John’s Salad and Produce facility in Tolleson, Ariz., began, Brian Whited, key accounts manager, Techniquex, knew the correct flooring system to use for the large expansion project. Three years earlier, Techniquex had worked for Papa John’s Salad and Produce, Inc., at its facility in Tempe to solve a problem of concrete deterioration caused by excessive water exposure. Knowing the exact conditions the new flooring would face under excessive traffic, constant water immersion and low temperatures, he was sure the best solution would be DiamondCrete RT by Diamondstone Products.
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Whited, recalling the bid information was vague, contacted the contractor directly to express his concern. “After I spoke with the contractor and realized the new build-out was for Kevin Jones at Papa John’s Salad and Produce, I immediately told him of our past experience at their other facility. We agreed that giving the client a few options, including the Diamond Crete RT, would be the best approach.”
The estimating staff at Techniquex reviewed the plans and construction schedule and quickly realized the project needed to be fast-tracked. This was yet another indication to use the DiamondCrete RT system because of its short cure and quick turnaround.
Once the contractor received the proposals for the project, it was time to begin negotiations. Techniquex provided several samples of the proposed systems and installed mock-ups so Jones, the owner, could select colors and texture. Techniquex recommended the DiamondCrete system, but the price was substantially higher than the other options. Whited explained the advantages, including unlimited moisture tolerance, thermal expansion qualities, warranty duration and installation timeframe. “Once Kevin and the contractor were educated on the products and the differences between them, the extra cost wasn’t an issue,” says Whited.