Minds in Motion Owner Makes the Leap From Chemistry to Concrete

As a former chemist, Minds in Motion Contractors owner Kelley Firmin has taken everything he learned about acid and is applying it - literally - to concrete as his young company makes a great first impression on the Houston market.

During his years as a degreed chemist, Firmin always filled his free time with unrelated work on the side. He's the first to admit that he gets bored easily, which is one of the reasons concrete fascinated him so much when he was introduced to acid staining less than three years ago.

"I love concrete because it's so diverse," Firmin said.

He also loves being his own boss, free from the daily rigors of meetings, being inside, and what he characterizes as "the dog and pony shows" that take place in an office atmosphere.

Instead, he orchestrates his own show and tell projects. Minds in Motion specializes in decorative concrete, staining, polymer overlays, countertops, general remodeling, and sprayed concrete from Sprayed Concrete Systems.

Sprayed concrete is similar to an overlay, but is more affordable. It's actually an acrylic topcoat that comes in a variety of colors and application styles. A base-coat color serves as the grout line color and a topcoat color can be applied in a variety of styles - knockdown lace, bubble, trowel finish, tile, keystone, slate, garden stone, among others. It can even be applied to vertical surfaces.

In the overlay department, Minds In Motion can match any existing, structurally sound concrete surface to a variety of fresh stamped concrete. A polymer overlay is available in one-fourth to three-eighths of an inch thickness and is available in a range of colors. This is a great option for patio extension projects.

Firmin's overlay portfolio includes a gorgeous black slate driveway that leads into a striking, white-colored executive home, a colored broom-finish patio, and herringbone brick-shaped and brick-colored hotel driveway entrance.

Staining, Firmin said, is very popular in Houston. Firmin routinely pulls carpet and linoleums and successfully stains concrete floors with beautiful results. He has even removed tile with black glue and parquet and successfully stained.

Firmin touts the virtues of stained concrete - it costs less than tile, it is easy to maintain and care for, there is so much versatility with all the color, pattern, and border choices, and anyone can have a floor that is one-of-a-kind and all their own.

And what does he see as the next big trend in his neck of the woods?

"Countertops are on line - we've had a lot of inquiries this year," Firmin said.

Concrete countertops have been on display in many home tours, triggering the increase in inquiries. And what will be next for concrete countertops? Firmin said he thinks multi-colored countertops will be the next craze among high-end homeowners.

"Especially once people start seeing them around," he said. "It brings a new dimension."

Like others in the decorative concrete industry know, people need to see a countertop before they'd ever consider one for their home. But the moment they do, they're immediately drawn. He said he thinks acid staining will have a similar "keeping up with the Joneses" effect.

"People usually think of it as having a piece of their driveway in their house," said Firmin.

Firmin loves experimenting with new products. Perhaps it's the research analyst in him, but he'll listen to what the product pundits have to say, conduct research, and use and thoroughly examine the products, putting them through the proverbial ringer.

"We'll run trailers over the driveway, drag forklifts over it (a surface)," Firmin said.

Or, he and his partners will put a sealer down and try to tear it up or see how it withstands a fire pit, he said.

In addition to the concrete work, Firmin also completes remodeling jobs for his clients who need the extra work done, sometimes stemming from the original concrete project. Firmin sees it as a way of providing quality customer service. He's done everything from installing arched windows to removing a wall and closet to building fences and patio covers.

"Sometimes you have to jump in with both feet," he said.

Another tactic Firmin has taken to supply customer service is providing troubleshooting services.

"There are a whole lot of do-it-yourselfers cutting corners. The biggest problem is there's a lack of information out there," Firmin said.

One of the biggest problems Firmin sees out there is a lack of effort in the prep work. Installation is critical, he said.

"The key to any process is the prep work," Firmin said. "Some of it is rocket science, but if you follow the directions 1-2-3, it's easy. If you have to go back and fix it, it's a nightmare."

Meanwhile, Firmin said he would like to concentrate more on the pure concrete work. That's a challenge, however, because of the steep competition in the Houston area. Another obstacle is that builders frequently use their own employees for concrete projects. In the meantime, Firmin said he will continue to teach himself all he can. And when he doesn't know the answer, he'll ask.

"You get focused in an area and you're better prepared," he said.

Until he reaches that point, Firmin will continue to be "Mr. Everything" and continue to do what he says is the biggest key to success - networking.

"The more people you know, the better off you are."

Minds in Motion Contractors
Kelley Firmin
15333 JFK Blvd. Suite 160
Houston, TX 77032
(866) 634-0094 Office
(281) 590-8969 FAX
Send Mail Now - Click Here
www.mimcon.com

Michele Dawson writes each week on one of the contractor members of The Concrete Network (www.concretenetwork.com). She has written about the home building industry for several years and was on the public affairs staff of the California Building Industry Association.