Last year I patched the stove "floor" with Rutland pre-mixed refractory cement, and as you guys probably do I keep a layer of ash down all season. When I cleaned the stove out a few weeks ago, I noticed that where I had patched had broken loose again-I mean it was gone! So I patched it last week, let it dry 48 hours, and broke it in with 2 small fires. When I looked at it, there was an area that got hard but raised up like a cake in an oven, and another area that was intact but very soft and "flaky", so I called Rutland and asked them about it, and they asked "did you put it on in 1/8 " increments"? and I said no because it didn't SAY anything about doing that on the container, just clean the area of debris, lightly dampen the area and let it dry at least 24 hours before breaking in with a small fire. So after this brief "cold spell" that we are having here in PA. is over, I'll crack away all that is loose and redo it in "layers" and let it dry. I just wish that it would've said to do that on the stupid container...any other "helpful hints" would be appreciated-thanks!