Construction and Maintenance

The decorative concrete coatings market is a growth area in construction. It includes many specialties. There are interior and exterior applications. There are wall, floor, countertop and specialty fabrications. Some specialize in coatings removal and crack repair. Other professionals focus on stamped concrete or pool and patio installations. Many installers of interior decorative concrete floors have expanded into the maintenance and cleaning of floors for their clients.

The key to success is specialization. It’s impossible to be good at more than 1 or 2 specialties.

The biggest obstacle to success that I have seen is lack of a business plan and focus. As a result most contractors in the business struggle to make it. They take any job that comes along to make money. What happens is the market controls them rather then them controlling the market.

For example if concrete staining and overlays is the desired specialty then it’s critical to look at what is the market for the application.

Start with looking at why a client would want a stained concrete floor. What is the competition? There are plenty of flooring options like carpet, ceramic tile, vinyl and hardwood. The clients are looking at the options and looking at pricing.

A few highly competitive advantages are that stains and skim coats are thin. If a client needs a thin surface because of height issues at doorways and stairs then concrete is the clear winner. If moisture is an issue concrete wins again. Concrete can be seamless which makes for an easy and inexpensive maintenance solution.

So considering these options some of the best applications are basements, garages, sunrooms and garages in residential homes. Commercial applications include restaurants, retail stores, hair salons, car dealers, marinas, churches.

As an applicator it takes just as much time and effort to apply a 3,000 square foot retail store as a 600 square foot basement. When getting started it’s hard to get the larger projects in restaurants and retail stores that are 1,500 – 5,000 square feet. The smaller floors are great for developing skills but the larger floors are the bread winners and where word of mouth comes from.

If a contractor deviates from their specialty to do a stamp project, a concrete countertop or some other construction project the business plan breaks down.

No matter what the specialty it’s critical to stick with the game plan. Just like McDonalds, they seem to try lots of meals but they always come back to the basic burger. Think about what works and stick with it it. Just look at the term FOCUS, Follow One Course Until Successful.

Edward Winslow Founder [http://www.decorativeconcretekits.com]