There has been much talk about the Cheetah Pads on opinion boards, help boards and in the streets. The Cheetah Pads are incorporated in a restoration system for marble polishing, travertine polishing, limestone polishing, etc. What I have seen and heard is some that is very good, to some people determined to make sure that they do not work for them and they want to tell the world that. The reality is so far they have been controversial as many new ideas and systems always are evoking many different reactions. I will attempt to put everything that I know and believe here in a honest and truthful manner.
First thing I must tell you is that while I do not make them, I have been quite involved in the development and I do sell them. I could not sell something that I do not believe in, so my perspective comes from this angle. This being said, I still believe I offer a realistic observations on the Cheetah Pads. The Cheetah Pads at this point have been out in the marketplace for only 6 months (first test sets shipped approximately Oct 2010) and only readily available for the past couple of months. Production was clearly slow at the beginning and keeping up with demand was a struggle. So much so that until now I have not been actively promoting them much as I like to ship the product when my customer orders them. Production is currently keeping up demand and improving daily.
Why do the Cheetah Pads have such differing opinions on them?
It seems the people with the loudest opinions on the internet about the Cheetah Pads are the ones who have not actually tried them. I understand the resistance to something new, but it is always important to have an open mind. If you don’t think the stone industry or specifically the stone restoration and maintenance industry will change, then no matter what I say will not change your opinion. If you think change is possible, read on.
After talking to many people in the Stone Restoration Industry, it appears these are the 3 reasons why there is not always favorable.
1. Marketing Claims that are over done. I agree to a certain extent that some of the claims are painted to help sell the product, but what product does not have some marketing claims. Marketing claims can always be debated, and Cheetah Pads are no different.
2. Cheetah Pads System simplify the process, changing most of what the current stone restorer knows and making alot of what they do obsolete. Nobody likes change and most people will resist it. For someone who has been using marble polishing powders, diamond floor polishing pads, diamond resin pads, the possibility of making these obsolete is not exactly wanted if you are proficient in using these items. The fact is it is easier to teach someone about Cheetah Pads who has a little knowledge of stone restoration and can handle a weighted floor machine than a stone pro with all his experience working against them. The saying is very true that it is very hard to teach an old dog new tricks.
3. The “experts” who teach the courses (which all can be helpful in some way) have worked long and hard creating their course and do not really want something that makes the job simpler and faster as it lowers the value of their course if they are teaching older methods. The Cheetah Pads still require some training, but 1 day of practice compared to at least 1 week in traditional system. You still need to learn how to troubleshoot, repair cracks in the stone, identify the stone, etc, but the most difficult procedure is how to polish the stone which the Cheetah Pads make the process easier and typically faster. Remember, the tried and true methods of today are always the obsolete methods of tomorrow. Cheetah Pads will not be the only thing in the future to make stone restoration easier, but since they are only 6 months old they are still very new, and will become one of a stone restorers tools.
Cheetah Pads in a combination with the Monkey Pads as a finishing touch, provide a simple and totally green solution (no chemicals whatsoever), just a natural mechanical solution to taking care of your Marble, Travertine, LImestone, Terrazzo, Concrete Polishing or whatever hard stone surface you may have.
Because of their easy learning curve, they are ideal for contractors who have always wanted to do stone restoration but were scared to do it. Will you become an expert right away? No, as you will still need to practice with them to be proficient, but it will not be overwhelming like the traditional methods.
Because of the easier learning curve, the Cheetah Pads are ideal for Janitorial, Hotel and Motels or Hospitality, Property Managers, Government Agencys, Schools, High Schools, Universities, Restaurants, Casinos, Commercial Building Staffs, Retail Stores, Resorts, Malls, and any other place that has any of the stone surfaces mentioned in this article.
Combined with Environmentally Responsible products for Cleaning, Sealing, and Maintenance of all your stones from Marble, Travertine, Limestone, Terrazzo, Concrete and more, EcoStone Solutions has the greenest and most complete system for all your Stone Care Needs.
If you have questions or for more information please email us at info@ecostonesolutions.com.
David Ross
EcoStone Solutions
