EliteCrete Newsletter

This morning I received a great e-mail. It was the EliteCrete Newsletter.

EliteCrete Newsletter

The EliteCrete newsletter was about profitability. More specifically it was about how to help their contractor client base be more profitable and more productive.

How to run and build a business is critical. As we can see in the current economic environment companies are falling. Could it be that the brass on the top forgot about their employees that produce profits. Look at Merrill Lynch. Merrill was one of the top companies in the world. They thrived based on their core business of managing private individuals money. When ex-broker and chairman of Merrill retired high flying investment bankers took over. They moved into a high risk realm and crushed the business. Maybe they should have stayed focused on supporting their core employees, their producers.

During the next few years their is going to be a massive shift of property ownership. residetial homes and soon commercial properties will be foreclosed at an unprecedented rate. All these properties will be neglected and need remodeling.

Decorative concrete will be in huge demand. Those companies who are focused on not only the decorative aspect of their products but business profitability of their clients will thrive. Decorative concrete is a great industry with tremendous profit potential for those who know how to run their business.

EliteCrete Newsletter

Based on what I read in the EliteCrete newsletter their customer support is going to draw new talent as professionals look for new markets where they can prosper. Like with Merrill Lynch companies who have lost perspective of their core business will falter. Those who maintain a disciplined focus will be the leaders. Though real estate is suffering it will start to stabilize. Decorative concrete will be in huge demand and companies like Elite Crete will be the leaders of the new market.

One of the beauties of decorative concrete is that there are remediation solutions. John Phillips owner of decorative concrete temple texas company Always Concrete sent us these photos and story about what he used to cure a stain project when color needed to be adjusted.

The border of the project resulted in a very dark brownish black. The result just didn’t match so the solution was to remove the sealer and stain, then restain with a brown stain.

Decorative Concrete Temple Texas

First John used Soygel from Franmar a soy based product to strip the sealer. Franmar manufactures a line of environmentally friendly soy based strippers and cleaners.

Once the sealer was completely removed John applied Tek Gel for Profiling an acid based gel that works for cleaning concrete but will pull concrete acid stain color out of the concrete. Surface Gel Tek manufactures a series of gels that will clean and etch concrete. The gels and their Flattoos (stencils) are one of the most effective systems for creating custom graphics on concrete. John applied the gel and worked in with a stiff brush. It was removed with water and a wet vac.

Once the slab was back to the beginning the border was restained with Kemiko Cola. The interior was stained with Kemiko Malay Tan.

John Phillips Owner of Always Concrete can be reached at 254-913-3694 Specializing in Decorative Concrete Temple Texas and surrounding areas.

Tek Gel For Profiling

Kemiko Malay Tan

I spoke to the store manager about the floor to find out what they think about it. The first comment was they don’t have to think about it, one less thing they have to worry about. They like the way it looks and the customers make positive comments about the floor. They have a maintenance crew that comes in and keeps it clean. They have never had an issue. When something breaks it’s easy to keep clean.

The manager summed it up

1. Clean – Easy to clean.
2. Durable
3. Customers Like it

I might add that stained concrete doesn’t chip or peel. So long as seal coats are maintained floor maintence is easy.

Pricing is another key factor. Stained concrete flooring materials are inexpensive. I recently stained and sealed my garage floor. The cost was about 70 cents per square foot.

Versatility is another key feature of stained concrete. Here are some flooring ideas.

1. Basements
2. Garage floors
3. Restaurants
4. Retail stores
5. Office Buildings
6. Industrial buildings
7. Marinas
8. Barns

I could go on. Anywhere there is unattractive concrete.

Check out this video by Cohills based in Arizona. The video runs through the basics of floor preparation, stain application and sealing. Cohills is a manufacturer and distribitor of Decorative Concrete products. They have a full line of products and sealers for stained concrete floors.