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Combating Misrepresentations About ArmorTec
Keeping In Touch
Higher Learning: Blending and Applying Sandlock™ Organic Joint Sand Stabilizer
Professional Contractors Corner
One Tool At A Time
Attention Cambridge Contractors & Distributors
A Career Opportunity at Cambridge
 Combating Misrepresentations About ArmorTec
In my experiences working in customer service and technical support at Cambridge, I am always surprised at the degree of misinformation that still surrounds ArmorTec despite the fact that it has been an integral characteristic of Cambridge Pavingstones since our beginnings almost a decade ago. I receive calls from customers that leave me perplexed. For example, customers are amazed that chewing gum and oil drippings don't magically disappear from pavers that are "treated" with ArmorTec. Others have asked if ArmorTec is available in 5-gallon pails.
Whether you are an Authorized Cambridge Distributor or a professional pavingstones contractor who installs Cambridge Pavingstones, it is important that the end user is given correct information about this remarkable, added value. After all, ArmorTec — a Cambridge exclusive — can be the deciding factor in choosing Cambridge over another brand of pavers.
Just as an interlocking, concrete paver installation can be described as an "engineered" pavement system comprised of base and surface materials, a Cambridge Pavingstone with ArmorTec can be defined as an "engineered" paver — set apart from regular concrete pavers on the market today.
 Understanding ArmorTec starts with understanding the mix technology that is used in the manufacturing process. Cambridge Pavingstones with ArmorTec have a 2 inch base mix composed of ingredients that give the pavers their strength — double that of poured concrete. Manufactured into Cambridge Pavingstones with ArmorTec is a 3/8-inch face mix comprised of only finer aggregates along with increased cement and pigment saturation. It is this exclusive feature that assures a wear-resistant surface and gives Cambridge Pavingstones their added value.
Regular pavers are made with only a base mix and will begin to show wear in as short a time as one year as aggregate (stones in the concrete mix) appears on the surface, giving them a worn and faded look. Cambridge Pavingstones with ArmorTec, on the other hand, will look like new forever. Just think how important a lifetime of beauty could be to someone who is about to make a sizeable investment in a new driveway or patio!
Propaganda also suggests that ArmorTec technology is a way to "economize" by using less pigment in the manufacturing process. In actuality, the reverse is true. The process of making pavers with ArmorTec is more difficult and time consuming and requires considerably more expertise.
So given the facts, I am sure you'll agree that your customer will recognize the value of Cambridge Pavingstones with ArmorTec — after all, the cost of labor and materials for a project is the same. Why not install the best?
Spread the word. Oh and by the way, ArmorTec is not available in 5-gallon pails.
— By Tony Farina, Cambridge Customer Service Representative / Special Projects Manager(top)
| Keeping |
| In Touch |
 A Message Of Thanks To Our Many Contractor-Customers
By Charles H. Gamarekian
Chairman/CEO
Cambridge Pavers Inc.
Without you, the professional pavingstones installer, there would be no Cambridge… no need for our comprehensive distributor network… and growth of our industry as a whole would, at best, be at a snail's pace.
Here at Cambridge we have always regarded you as our unpaid salesperson… a powerful messenger who, when aptly enabled, can greatly influence the consumer's purchasing decision. As the 2004 season begins to wind down, I would like to personally thank you on behalf of the 100 Cambridge employees and our Authorized Cambridge Distributors for all of your support.
Although most of us are experiencing unprecedented sales, we must call to mind that the industry remains in its infancy. Although use of interlocking concrete pavements doubles every four years, it only equates to 1.75 sq. ft. per person in the U.S.A. vs. 25 sq. ft. per person worldwide. Installers who take shortcuts are actually shortchanging the potential of our industry because poor quality installations leave a bad mark in the eyes of the consumer and ultimately a negative perception of interlocking concrete pavements. For this reason, Cambridge continues its commitment to quality installations by trained professionals. Our Certified Contractor Programs are but one way that we team up with installers to foster industry standards such as those set forth by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI). A Certified Paver Installer Course for our mid-Atlantic region is scheduled for February 16th and 17th, 2005. Registration forms will be made available at Authorized Cambridge Distributors.
Making available an extensive reservoir of sales, marketing and installation tools to our professional contractor-customers through Authorized Cambridge Distributors is another way we support the "quality conscious" installer. Since we offer new additions each year, please peruse the checklist below and be sure that we've got you covered.
| Cambridge Product Literature |
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Cambridge Professional and Certified Contractor Binders |
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Product Line Specifications for Cambridge Pavingstones, Wall Units and other products |
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42-page Cambridge DesignScaping Ideas Book |
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Other Cambridge product literature (Cambridge Design Kits, The Cambridge Pavingstones Renaissance Collection; Cambridge ColorSweep Pigmented Joint Sand; Cambridge Pyzique Double-Sided Wall Systems and Barbeque Pit; Cambridge Renaissance and CrownWall Wall Systems; Allan Walls; Pave Tech PAVE EDGE edging and cleaners; Probst Tools; Paver and Wall Lights) |
| Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) Literature |
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Pavement comparison pamphlet/poster |
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Managing efflorescence pamphlet |
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Choosing the right contractor pamphlet |
| Advertising Material |
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Customizable, preprinted postcards, for direct mail advertising |
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Outdoor Cambridge Pavingstones site signs |
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Cambridge ArmorTec and Renaissance with EuroTec color sample boards |
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Vehicle signage and mud flaps with Cambridge Pavingstones logo |
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Cambridge 8 1/2" x 11" photo and larger blow-ups |
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Cambridge color swatches on a chain |
| Logowear |
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Cambridge T-shirts and golf shirts |
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Cambridge hats |
| Videos & CDs |
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Coming soon! Cambridge project planner CD with DesignScaping patterns, cross section diagrams and imaging software |
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PAVE TECH sealer/cleaner video/CD |
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PAVE TECH Probst tools video/CD |
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PAVE TECH video/CD |
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Coming soon! Cambridge photo album CD |
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SANDLOCK CD |
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Cambridge Pyzique Double-Sided Walls video |
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| Higher Learning |
| at the Cambridge Campus |
BLENDING AND APPLYING SANDLOCK™ ORGANIC JOINT SAND STABILIZER
SANDLOCK additive from PAVE TECH — a proprietary, nontoxic, organic joint sand stabilizer — binds joint sand swept into the joints of interlocking concrete pavers. A natural ‘glue' is formed when SANDLOCK is activated with water, binding it and the sand particles. Joint sand properties and gradation conform to ASTM C-136 using gradation specifications from either C-33 or C-144 or a combination of both.
The benefits are many. SANDLOCK reduces or eliminates sand loss due to wind, traffic, moisture or thermal movement as well as weed growth from wind blown germination. It is also effective against ants. SANDLOCK will save you money over premixed binders and save you time over chemical joint stabilizers. Compaction and stabilization are both done at once. It can be mixed on the job site with uncolored joint sand, or as an alternative you can substitute new Cambridge ColorSweep Pigmented Joint Sand at the same recommended ratio. Cambridge ColorSweep is available in three hues: Ruby, Onyx and Chestnut.
Mixing Instructions
After installing pavers, uniformly blend 2 pounds of SANDLOCK for every 100 pounds of joint sand. Sand should not contain shale, stone dust, screenings or lightweight aggregates. On-site mixing ratio may be adjusted to between 1 and 2 lbs. per 100 lbs. of sand.
Blending can be accomplished either by hand mixing or dry mixing in a mechanical mixer on site. Material can also be pre-mixed in proper proportions and delivered to the work site. Be sure to mix only enough material to completely fill the joints of the pavers that have been set that day. Once mixed, material must remain completely dry prior to application. Take precaution to protect materials from excessive exposure to moisture prior to use. Although SANDLOCK can be added to damp sand, it should not be used with sand that is wet. Sand piles should be covered at the end of every workday especially if rain is expected.
Applying The Mixture
Evenly spread mixed joint sand and SANDLOCK over paved surface. Completely cover paver surface with thin layer of mixture. Using a push broom sweep the mixture into the joints with a slight pounding motion. Once a substantial area of the pavement has been swept, run a plate compactor over the pavers in overlapping passes. Brush more of the sand mixture into the joint and compact the same area again. Continue this procedure until all the joints are full and sand can no longer be vibrated into them.
Activation Of Bonding
Carefully sweep entire pavement clean to remove SANDLOCK mixture from the paver surfaces. Excess sand materials, including what remains in chamfered areas, must be swept off paved surface and removed. Follow the sweeping with a blower to remove the remaining SANDLOCK on the pavers and in the chamfers. Be careful not to blow the sand out of the joint, with tumbled pavers in particular. Excess material remaining on surface after the mixture has been activated is difficult to remove.
The paved area, including joints, should be flooded with water to activate the SANDLOCK additive. Care must be taken to avoid washing sand from the joints. Do not use high-pressure spray for flooding surface. After flooding, area should be dry, including joints, prior to permitting traffic to use paved areas. Drying typically occurs within 2 to 6 hours, depending upon weather conditions. No additional cleanup is required. Applied properly, SANDLOCK is non-staining and does not alter the paver's original color and beauty as no surface coating is left behind after proper application. |
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Safety And Handling
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Do not use SANDLOCK during rainy conditions. |
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Ground moisture or dew can cause material to emulsify. |
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Do not store SANDLOCK or mixed materials on any surface without protection. |
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Avoid mixing, staging or any contact with asphalt. |
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Always wear dust masks while mixing and spreading SANDLOCK. |
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Wash off skin and tools with warm water and scrubbing. |
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Cleanup
If SANDLOCK is left on surface it will emulsify. Depending on severity, it may come off with water and brushing or require pressure washing. Never leave dry SANDLOCK residue on the surface. (top) |
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| Professional |
| Contractor's Corner |
 Add Even More Creativity With Cambridge Custom
Color Capability
By Charlie Tesauro,
Cambridge Sales Specialist
It has always been our belief that when you consider that Cambridge offers the largest availability of pavingstone shapes and colors in the industry, the creativity is limitless. Yet, there is another dimension of creativity that you can bring to the table when discussing a project with your customers — the Cambridge Custom Color Program.
The program is ideal for a host of applications ranging from residential to commercial jobs. For example, homeowners can include colors found on trim, shutters and roofing in patio, driveway and walkway designs. Typically in commercial pavements, we find corporate colors as well as custom coloring used for demarcation in parking areas such as handicapped spaces and directional graphics.
Cambridge makes incorporating custom color easy. Simply give a swatch of the desired color to your Cambridge Sales Specialist. It can be anything from a paint chip to a piece of fabric. The swatch is sent to the Cambridge Color Lab to be matched as closely as possible. Cambridge supplies you with a sample for final approval before production. Special pricing and some minimum order requirements apply. Contact your Cambridge Sales Specialist for details.
 Also consider PaverArt from Cambridge — specially produced kits of pigmented pavers in exquisitely detailed standard and custom designs ready for installation. Refer to page 33 of the Cambridge Design- Scaping Ideas book and our Web site. Cambridge custom color capability is second to none. (top)
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| One Tool |
| At A Time |
Plate Compactor - Second in a series on the benefits of using proper tools when installing Cambridge Pavingstones.
The jury is back and the verdict is in. Typical plate compactors that deliver 3000 to 3500 lbs. of centrifugal force may be okay for compacting pavers but not for the sub-base. The mostly clay-based soils encountered have a tendency to pump, not compact. This also holds true for base preparation. A compactor with less than 5000 lbs. of centrifugal force will only compact the first few inches of a 4" lift — leaving the remaining few inches loose and prone to settlement later.
Improperly compacted sub-bases are a major cause of failure to the engineered pavingstone system. When compacting the paver into the C-33 sand, correct interlock will not be achieved unless the sub-base compaction and base installation are done correctly. A lot of bird baths are found after compacting the pavers, even though a base has been graded to a plus or minus of 1/4" and a sand setting bed has been screeded a uniform 1". Why? The sub-base and dense graded aggregate (DGA) were not compacted to 95% proctor because the plate compactor was not engineered to compact clay soils or 4" lifts for DGA. Rates must be well over 10,000 psi.
 Due to their research, experience and commitment to our industry, PAVE TECH is regarded as an expert in soil and aggregate compaction. The PaverPACKER 140 from PAVE TECH with 14,000 lbs. of centrifugal force was designed by engineers to accomplish the 95% proctors needed for a superior sub-base and DGA installation. This plate compactor comes with a HATZ 1D50 10.3 HP diesel engine and is equipped as a reversible plate rammer. For more information, contact PAVE TECH at 1.800.728.3832.(top) |
| Attention Cambridge |
| Distributors & Contractors |
Deadline For Photos Of Cambridge Pavingstones Projects From Contractors For Upcoming Cambridge Marketing Extended To December 31!
As you know, we have previously sent a request for photos of outstanding patios, pool decks, driveways and other unique applications of Cambridge Pavingstones to be professionally photographed and featured in various marketing campaigns. All of us have been extremely busy this year leaving little time left at the end of the day. Although we have gotten photos from many contractor-customers, we have also received dozens of calls each week asking to have the deadline extended beyond September 15th. Perhaps you are among those not able to find time to send us snapshots of Cambridge projects. So, to give everyone more time, we have extended our deadline until Friday, December 31 — as things slow down a bit. Submit as many projects as you wish.
Cambridge is proud of our many partnerships with professional installers. We don't want any of our contractor-customers to miss this opportunity to have one or more Cambridge projects seen on television, in brochures and magazine advertising, in our newsletter, and on our Web site. Remember… Our Powerful Marketing Material Becomes A Contractor's Sales Aid Too! Contractors can show potential customers that Cambridge specially selected their company because their creativity and workmanship are among the best examples of interlocking pavement systems and landscaping design. They can join the ranks of others who have already benefited from having installations used in Cambridge campaigns and marketing material. If one of your projects has been previously chosen, submit new ones.
If a contractor's project is also selected to appear in our next "DesignScaping Idea Book", they will receive our "Best From The Best" certificate at a special Cambridge "Dinner Cruise Around Manhattan" event that has been rescheduled for next spring! The distributor who sold the Cambridge Pavingstones will be invited too!
How To Submit A Project |
| Contractors should provide a few snapshots of each project along with: 1) their name, company name, address and phone number, 2) all of the shapes and colors used, 3) their customer's name (the homeowner) and the location of the project, and 4) the name of the Cambridge Distributor who sold them the Cambridge Pavingstones. Contractors should bring entry information to the Cambridge Distributor. As submitted, distributors are asked to give their entries to their Cambridge Sales Specialist. Final entries should be submitted no later than December 31, 2004. |
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A Career Opportunity At Cambridge Center In Lyndhurst, NJ |
| Cambridge has immediate openings in Customer Service and Dispatching for qualified persons (contractors, this also means you). Join the team at Cambridge Center — the largest paver production facility of its kind in North America — where you will support Cambridge Sales Specialists and our network of Authorized Cambridge Distributors in the marketing and distribution of Cambridge Pavingstones, Segmental Wall Units and other products. Full training, top salary and benefits. Contact Charles Gamarekian, Chairman/CEO, at Cambridge Pavers. Call 201.933.5000. |
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