Richardson's Concrete CoatingsSacramento Company Sees Stained Floors Gaining GroundWhen Mark and Gina Richardson met more than a decade ago, the chemistry was immediate. Not only would they eventually be married, but they ultimately combined her background in chemical engineering with his construction experience to forge a concrete coating company that tops some of the best looking floors in the Sacramento area. Richardson's Concrete Coatings, based in the suburbs of Sacramento, California, provides coating for new and old concrete. They repair and resurface existing concrete surfaces, transforming them into uniquely crafted back yards, front yards, even garages. The installation of resin modified cementious concrete coatings systems simulate brick, stone, tile, slate, and epoxy floors.
The process involves three steps. First, the surface is prepared to ensure permanent bonding of the coating to the existing concrete. Next, the concrete coating is applied. They use what they say is some of the finest polymer modified cements, epoxy material, and/or coatings, which are hand- troweled 1/8- to ¼-inch thick and then color-tinted. Finally, a sealer coat is applied to lock in lasting beauty. The process is all handcrafted on the job site so the possibilities for layout and color are endless. Back in the early 1990s, Gina was involved in chemical engineering products when she and Mark met in Florida. The two combined their knowledge and expertise and in 1993 created their company, filling a unique niche. "Not a lot of people were doing concrete," she said. During the company's infancy, they focused primarily on sub-contracting work before ultimately launching out on their own and standing by their name and reputation. "Now everything is concrete — counters and floors ... everything," Richardson said. The Richardsons' full lineup of services comprises of:
Mark Richardson, who has been in the construction industry for 20 years, is certified by the product manufacturers to install the various coating materials. And that's important, Gina says. "We're very up to date and always getting trained. Things are always changing and this gives us a thorough understanding, especially with all the acrylics, polyvinyl, and different pHs levels involved." The most important part of the process, she said, is preparing the surface. "Chemically, they're all different and this is what determines how they hold up in the long run," she said. Stained floors have blossomed into a big hit in the Sacramento area, which has enjoyed a healthy real estate market and robust economy in general the past few years. In addition, Sacramento and the surrounding foothills are now home to many former San Francisco Bay Area residents who have sold their homes there for a healthy profit and have bought in the more affordable capital region, pouring money into remodeling projects.
"The stained floors are very exciting ... People are really into the chemical stains," Gina Richardson said. "And we can tailor colors all over the board." Their concrete overlays skim the surface, hiding imperfections. They can also replicate granite, stone, slate, brick, pavers, or tile. "It goes down smooth. You get a smooth floor with depth that is flat and easy to clean and maintain," she said. On the residential end, the company has received requests for coatings for radiant flooring systems, which "radiates" heat from the floor and delivers the heat evenly throughout the rooms. Many radiant floor heating projects are in slab-on-grade concrete. Tubing is installed in the slab. Temperature-controlled water then circulates though the tubing in the slabs; this process turns the slab into a radiant panel. Other clients have different reasons for a concrete topping. One client wanted her carpet taken out and the concrete floor topped with a decorative coating because the carpet exacerbated her child's allergies. Richardson estimates that about 70 percent of their clientele is residential and 30 percent is commercial. As concrete-stained and coated floors pop up in public places like restaurants, stores, and office buildings has triggered more homeowners to seek out similar looks for their homes.
"People are seeing commercial staining jobs and are bringing it into their house. They're realizing that this is some really cool stuff," Richardson said. The Richardsons even do an occasional garage floor, topping standard concrete garages with an epoxy chip coating that creates the look of granite or terrazzo. "We don't do too many, basically because of the cost — it generally costs about $2,500 to $2,800," said Richardson. Richardson's Concrete Coatings also creates concrete countertops. However, they've put countertop orders on hold as they develop an overlay process for countertops. While many companies pre-cast countertops and then transport them to their final destination, the Richardson's pour in place, which requires sufficient time to cure, and usually three weeks until the sealing is complete — a long time for clients to be without their countertops.
"So we're trying to develop a process for overlays on countertops," she said. "We're working on the finishing techniques and resurfacing." Meanwhile, the company participates in the California State Home and Garden Show and the Northern California Home and Landscape Expo to get the word out about their coating surfaces. They've also found a thriving marketing tool in their web site and the Internet. "The web site response has been tremendous this year, especially brining in more commercial business," she said. "A lot of these clients didn't know we existed." Plus, it's a great way for residential clients to view photos and the company's information at their leisure. And people are seeing that concrete is showing up everywhere. It's even being used on walls and on the front of houses to resemble flagstone or brick. Concrete is inspiring us everywhere we go, she said. "You go to Las Vegas and you see some sort of concrete coating everywhere," she said. And it's just the beginning. "This millennium is all concrete," Richardson said. "Everyone's looking at concrete and what you can do with it." Richardson's Concrete Coatings  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. Find a Concrete Contractor 24 Services in 221 Metros -- U.S. and Canada © 1999-2012 ConcreteNetwork.com None of this site may be reproduced without written permission |
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