Do it right the first time!
When it comes to decorative concrete, we all think of those pretty pictures you see in magazines and books where the stained concrete looks “wet.” Most of these shots, (taken often by the guy who’s still holding the roller and bucket of sealer in the other hand. ) can be misleading to home owners and potential customers looking for “Just that look” . That final finish looks great, until sprinklers, rain, dust, dog prints, gardening soil and so on hit the concrete surface and fade that super shine, leaving a lack-luster look in a short time.
If your a decorative concrete artisan doing the work, you might want to make arrangements with your client about maintenence and upkeep for your artwork. Most often in six months or so, the sun has turned that High shine to a mat finish, and water ponding (a.k.a. Birdbaths) have left mineral deposits of white residue in the low areas. Also, potted plants can be a killer to a sealed concrete slab. Remind the home owners about high Iron content in pottting soils, can leave a trail of rust on your concrete when you overfill your potted plants. The toxic water will leave brown rust trails in the water left sitting on your artwork.
My advice is work up a “maintenence plan” with your customers. Consider a service plan that would allow you to come back annually to clean and reseal the concrete. There are too many (what I call..) “Blow-n-go” contractors that finish their work, get a check, and you never see them again. If you’ve done your work right THE FIRST TIME! you now have a satisfied customer you can use as a reference AND if your taking care of the deck, you’ll be able to keep it looking good for years to come. Then, Everybody wins!
Today, the price of sealers seems to change everyday! Petrolium keeps going up, and the acrylics used in most sealers comes directly from that source. But if you can lock in a service plan with your clients, maintaining their “investment”, add a clause for {”potential increases in material costs could change pricing”} Home owners and business owners are all guilty of NOT resealing their concrete NOR do they typically put additional floor finish on their floors after you leave. So creating this semi-monthly or annual face time, allows you to market more, look for opportunities for more work, and others will see your art that is a calling card when your not there.
Most of my work comes from referrals, I did not place ONE ad in a magazine or Journal. Having a good referral base means everything to a new client. Build on your success, don’t re-invent the wheel your already rolling on.
My next Blog will talk about Sealers and what’s happening these days in the battle for Water vs. Solvents!