Construction Floor Protection

George Larson one of my old buddies I hadn’t seen in years who I recently connected with works with Filmtech a manufacturer of construction floor protection products.

It was fun to get together and share some interesting stories. Many of the stories and laughs were about the disasters to new floors during construction. A common problem is the damage that is done to a beautiful floor during construction. If you’ve experienced this you know what I mean. If you haven’t and are planning a construction project Filmtech construction floor protection is like having an insurance policy.

A few years ago I completed an awesome concrete stained floor project at a restaurant in Massachusetts. When finished the General Contractor was supposed to put down floor protection to protect from damage while all the finish trades completed their projects.

You know the story. Appliances were brought in, electricians, painters, furniture and lots more who could care less about the floor. Well when the work was complete, all trades had left,  the restaurant was cleaned and ready for opening day the new owners, their investors, architect, GC all came to take a look. I can picture it now. Stress, relief, anxiety, the architect and GC proud of their creation, everyone standing around to take a look.

Then they look at their beautiful stained concrete floor, the masterpiece that is going to be the restaurants signature. Trashed. The floor is a disaster. Investors look at owner who looks at architect who looks at GC. GC has no one to blame but himself. However he’s going to blame …hmmm….who can he blame? Me. So I get the call. Not my fault. Problems everywhere. Opening delayed, money lost. Call the lawyer, we’re going to sue.

Well, it’s a good thing I had lunch with George, now I know the company to call for the construction floor protection and so do you. Just click the link Filmtech.

This article is written by Tamryn Doolan of Surface Gel Tek

Teaming

What a concept. In this economy we have to look at all options. Teaming shouldn’t be an option, it should be just a way of life. However it is now an option you should consider.

When you review an RFQ (request for proposal) or other bid opportunities, it is rare that the project will only contain what you do for a living. It almost always has other components i.e. electrical or plumbing etc. So you are already teaming without getting involved with other trades. Typically, the other trades consider the concrete as the sacrificial flooring. If the dry wall contractor leaves dry mud on your floor…guess what? Now It’s your concern. Talking with the other trades usually helps. This is a form of teaming but not what I have in mind here.

Are you aware that the Federal Government has set goals for each agency, mandates actually, that require these agencies to award a minimum of 3% of all contracts to disadvantaged companies? Public Law 106-50 and Public Law 108-183 identifies the mandates for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.

Women in concrete are still a very small number when you compare them to male owned concrete related companies. Yes, a women owned small business (WOSB) is considered a disadvantage when it comes to awarding bids and helps these agencies meet their mandates, but you just can’t put a women on your payroll and call it her business. She has to own 51% of the company and be involved on a day to day level.

So what are your options when looking for the advantage….teaming with companies that have these advantages already in place, i.e. suppliers and manufactures and /or consider subcontracting a portion of the bid to a WOSB.

For example, Surface gel Tek is a Service Disabled Veteren Women Owned Small Business (SDVOSB/WOSB). When you use our products you are teaming with a company that fills 3 of the mandated quotas. So lets say it is a $100,000.00 contract. The agency that awards the contract can count $300,000.00 towards the mandate. It is not fair but it is true,. It’s the advantage that gets the award. Make sure to include this information when submitting your bids. Even homeowners who are not mandated want to support our current and past military men and women and other disadvantaged companies.

I intend to stay in business during this recession. How About You?

Tamryn Doolan is owner of Surface Gel Tek a manufacturer of gelled acids for cleaning and restoring concrete. The Gelled Acids are also an effective concrete surface prep solution. Surface Gel Tek has also used the Gelled Acids to Pioneer the most effective system combined with their custom Graphics called “Flattoos” for creating signs, graphics, logos and artwork on concrete surfaces. Click any of the links here to be taken to the Surface Gel Tek Web Site.

Lake Ozark Patios, Floors and Repair

Ben Lofton of Lofton Decorative Concrete in the Lake Charles Louisiana area specializes in restoring patios, pool decks and concrete floors like the one you see here.

This is why the concrete market is still growing nationwide despite the  weak economy and real estate markets. As you can see the concrete started out looking unattractive to say the least and certainly detracting from the value of the property.

The patios square footage is approximatly 1,100 square feet with lots of cracks, fairly typical of concrete. Concrete repair is a vital skill. Once the cracks are fixed the surface is prepared prior to the application of the decorative concrete coats. Surface prep is a critical part of the process to ensure long term adhesion of the decorative concrete to the existing slab.

Lofton Decorative Concrete uses products manufactured by CTI. The medalian was created using specialty concrete graphics by Surface Gel Tek of Mesa Arizona.

The patios featured here are at a residence in Moss Bluff just noth of Lake Charles (between Houston Texas and New Orleans).

Resurfacing concrete is definately one of the best investments you can make for any kind of property. If you are living with unsighltly concrete you are definately leaving money on the table.

If you are in the Lake Charles area Lofton Decorative Concrete specializes in concrete repair and restoration of any surface including residential and commercial floors, patios, pool decks, walkways, interior and exterior, residentail and commercial.

Ben can be reached at   337-274-7325   or click the link here to visit the Lofton Decorative Concrete web site.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal reports that continued weak consumer confidence and rising unemployment is weighing heavily on the housing market. Mortgage delinquicy rates are rising and foreclosures are increasing. Many households who went through the loan modification process six months later are starting to miss payments again.

Overall the housing market is down 33% from the peak in 2006. The declines are slowing, an indication that the market is starting to bottom out and stabilizing. The largest declines have been in Phoenix and Las Vegas, down 50% from their peak.

The Labor Department released it’s unemployment statistics indicating 15 areas with unemployment of 15% or more. As of May the national unemployment rate  was 9.1% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There are some bright spots. Dallas, Denver and Clevelend actually had slight price increases. As with all down markets they eventually stabilize and will start to rise. However what is never mentioned is the large numbers of individuals whose credit has been destroyed completely removing them from the buying market. Until emploment increases and individual credit is restored real estate will take years to recover the losses from the 2006 peak. Thats OK though, prices should never have gotten that high.

If interested here are the state by state employment stats. If interested in more detail within each state visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

National Unemployment

Alabama 8.4%            Alaska 8.3%        Arizona 7.4%        California 11%    

Colorado 7.3%           Connecticut 7.7%       DC 9.2%        Florida 9.4%          

Georgia 9.0%             Indiana 9.3%         Idaho 7.3%          Iowa 5.1%           

Illinois 9.3%              Kansas 6.2%          Kentucky 5.6%    Maine 8.2%               

Maryland 6.6%          Mass.  7.8%            Michegan 12.6%  Minnesota 8.1%  

Miss. 7.7%                Montana   6.1%       Nebraska 10.5%  New Jersey 8.2%  

New York 7.5%         (NYC 7.8%)              N. Carolina  10.5% Ohio 10.2%         

Oklahoma 5.9%        Oregon 11.9%         Pa. 7.5%               Rhode Island 11.3%  

S. Carolina 5.9%       S. Dakota 4.8%       N. Dakota 4.3%     Tennessee 9.7%  

Texas 6.4%               Utah 5.1%            Vermont 7.9%          W. Virgina 8.9%   

Wisconsin 8.8%        Wyoming 4.7%                    

The really good news - a lot of people are neglecting maintenance on their homes and commercial properties. As the markets stabilize, employment rises, demand for remodeling and property renovation will rise for homes and Main Street commercial real estate. I’m already seeing it. Many contractors you read about here are as busy as ever. Keep an eye on Home Depot and Lowes stock price as an indicator.

Burlington Garage Flooring and Concrete Floors

The concrete floors were resurfaced with One Day Floors “Pure Bred” Polyaspartic concrete floor coating. Pure Bred polyaspartics are highest performing floor coatings available. The key is the proper blend. Not all polyaspartics are manaufactured with quality in mind, some are thinned down to reduce cost and sacrefice long term performance. One Day Floors polyspartics are the highest quality blend and perform and look great for many years when properly applied.

As with all concrete and garage flooring Burlington Vermont based Garage Outfitters grinds the concrete surface eliminating any surface impurities and opening up the pores of the concrete. Then when the Polyaspartics are applied they soak into the concrete becoming part of the floor rather than just sticking to the surface like old technology epoxy products. Each floor gets a long term warranty which no other floor coating can match.

The color in this project is Saddle tan with Tech Red and Blue chips.

For more information Jake Loeffler can be reached at        802-872-0123       .

Garage Outfitters Vt. Burlington Vermont Garage flooring and Concrete Floors

Here’s another of Miss E’Dees’ signatures folks, one of her many patios completed in Sunrise Beach and Lake Ozark Missouri.

This one is located in Porto Cima adjacent to the Jack Nicholson Goilf Course.The patios in this Sunrise Beach home span a few thousand square feet. The patio creation by Miss E’Dee is a concrete coating using Stardek products with a slight texture, concrete stain and sealer. The result fits perfectly with the calibre of the home. As you can see in the photos the house sits above Lake Ozark with fantastic views complete with a private boat dock.

The home is currently for sale if you are interested for a price above $3 million. You can contact Miss E’Dee if interested and she’ll put you in touch with the owner.

Miss E”Dee owner of Designer Concrete Coatings specializes in decorative concrete resurfacing in Lake Ozark, Osage and Sunrise Beach. Patios, Pool Decks, Garage Flooring. She will create anything you want on your unsightly concrete adding a uniqueness to your residential or commercial property.

You can reach Miss E’Dee at  573-365-7375 .

Lake Ozark Garage Flooring

Miss E’Dee Diane Johnson owner of Designer Concrete Coatings resurfaced these concrete surfaces at the Palisades Condos. Palisades Condos are minutes from Lake of the Ozarks Missouri a 90+ mile lake with 1,500 miles of shore line.

The picture here which looks like wood flooring is actually decorative concrete created to look like wood plank. The concrete garage flooring was resurfaced with thin coats of concrete, then stained,  dyed and sealed.

The brick wall you see here is in the same garage. The brick again like the garage flooring is a thin coat of concrete, then dyed by hand. Miss E’Dee spcializes in all kinds of decorative concrete applications in Lake Ozark, Sunrise Beach and Osage Beach using Stardek concrete products.

In this photo Miss E’Dee repaired and resurfaced  the broken brick steps. Same product as the garage flooring but with different results. The finished steps were then sealed with one of the Stardek sealers and non slip additive.  Miss E’Dee provided a unique and cost effective solution without the inconvenience of a construction project.

Miss E”Dee specializes in Concrete Resurfacing in Lake Ozark, Osage Beach and Sunrise Beach , all towns along the Lake Of The Ozarks Missouri.

• Garage Flooring
• Pool Decks
• Boat Docks
• Concrete Walls
• Patios
• Interior and Exterior applications

Brazilan Cherry Wood Floors

Super Floor Center carries Brazilian Cherry Wood Floors  and a full line of exotic, imported and engineeered wood flooring.

Brazilian Cherry Wood Floors also referred to as Jatoba is a high end wood flooring that will darken over time. If you are looking for a wood flooring that adds value Brazilian Cherry is an excellent investment. Used not just for flooring but also for stairs and fine wood moldings.

They can be used in any room and can be applied over a concrete floor. The width is 5 inch and the thickness is 9/16ths of an inch.

Pricing including an acoustical pad  for the Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Floors is currently on sale for about $6.40 per square foot. The acoustical pad has a .4 R value for flooring insulation.

If you are shopping for price many of the exotic hardwoods can be found on sale for $4.00-$6.00 per square foot.

The Super Floor Centers manintains a full line of exotics

• Brazilan Cherry Wood Floors
• Brazilan Redwood
• Brazilain Royal Mahogany
• Brazilaian Tigerwood

Polyaspartic Polyurea Floor Coating and Joint Filler

Spray Max is a type of polyaspartic polyurea floor coating and joint filler material manufactured by Poly Floor Coating in Jacksonville Florida.

Polyurea floor coatings and joint fillers are basically polymers that have elasticity so they can move with an existing surface without cracking. Properly blended the chemical ingredients will lock together like a chain while bonding to a concrete surface provided the surface is properly prepared.

Spray Max polyurea floor coatings can be applied with a decorative finish in many colors with a non skid result. Polyaspartic polyureas have become very populoar due to their unique ability to soak into a properly prepared concrete floor and become part of the floor rather than just sticking to a surface like an epoxy coating.

They also have the added benefit of being UV stable and will not fade or yellow if applied in direct sunlight or outside.

Contact Tom Hay in Jacksonville Florida for more information about their Polyaspartic polyurea floor coating or joint filler. Explain your requirement and Tom will be able to handle all your technical questions.  877-772-9629 .

Spray Max

Jacksonville based Spray Max manufactures products for creating non skid decorative concrete floors for interior and exterior applications.

Jacksonville Decorative Concrete Floors

The Spray Max product is a polyurea blend that is both UV stable and non skid plus it comes in unlimted colors. Versatile and durable for creating all kinds of decorative concrete floors.  They can be applied over concrete pool decks, patios, garage flooring and for commercial flooring in industrial, retail and restaurants.

The non skid feature make it ideal for applications where safety is a top priority.

Based in Jacksonville Florida they provide products for resurfacing decorative concrete floors locally and nationally with an extensive contractor base.

Visit the Spray Max web site or contact Topm Hay for more information at   877-772-9629  

Spray Max - Non Skid Decorative Concrete Floors, Jacksonville Florida.

Decorative Concrete Floors