Ralph :


>  ... to be able to make a reasonable decision.  AND WHICH OF YOUR FABULOUS
> CLIENTS IS WILLING TO PAY FOR DECADES OF TESTING TO DETERMINE ALL THIS?

A reasonably experienced field person can handle this within a reasonable pricing
structure by asking a few questions of appropriate people. The trick here is
understanding the deterioration, the cause and the resulting effects on the
materials.  If time is not taken to understand the cause and effect of the
deterioration (and correct the cause) the patch is most likely doomed to fail
again.


> I GET THE IMPRESSION OUR ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE IS MORE LIKELY TO LEAVE A GLASS OF
> WINE FOR ELIJAH.

I'm not a wine drinker so that did not come to mind. Now a nice bitter beer or
some good scotch with Elijah would work for me.

>  THESE SNOTTY COMMENTS BROUGHT TO YOU BY RALPH

Ralph, sorry to hear you have a cold, take care of yourself.

Bryan