As National Sales Manager for Cathedral Stone Products, I obviously have
followed the discussion of the problems at Biltmore very closely. As a
member of this list, however, I did not feel it was appropriate to enter the
fray. In my opinion, there is far too much self-promotion from manufacturers
on mailing lists as it is. I do not think that a mailing list should be the
forum for commercial promotion. Just as the contractors on the list do not
expound on the reasons they think their companies are superior to their
competitors, I do not think it appropriate for manufacturers to do so.

What I did do, however, was to immediately phone Mr. Bruce Weaver, VP of
Operations at Biltmore Estates to get more information. I will report what I
found out now in the interest of accuracy. This is what Mr. Weaver told me:

1. Neither the company nor the applicator that installed the Jahn on the
conservatory steps was certified.

2. An additive to the Jahn was used. (He did not know what it was, but felt
it was the cause of the failure.)

3. Another contractor, using the correct Jahn material, has rectified the
problem.

4. Biltmore has used Jahn for patching on both the main house and other
buildings for years and with great success. Mr. Weaver said they would
continue to specify Jahn.

In other words, this was a case of poor application.  I suspect any material
would have failed in a similar situation.

What I can't figure out, Mr. Horton, (as either an individual or a
representative of the state of North Carolina,) why it is you did not
contact the manufacturer about the problem instead of addressing it to Mr.
Edison in a public forum.

Problems and failures happen from time to time.  It is our policy to respond
immediately when someone comes to us with a problem.  In the last eighteen
years every Jahn failure we have examined has been caused by either poor or
inexact specifications, stone that was too far gone to patch to begin with,
or improper application (from either poor prep of the substrate, incorrect
application procedures, or problems occurring from application in inclement
weather.)

Mr. Horton, you state that, "The opinions expressed in this message may not
be those of my agency." I would humbly suggest that this is a good thing,
and sincerely hope that on those occasions when you do speak on behalf of
the NC State Preservation Office, that you check your facts a little more
closely.


Larrey Riddle

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