A New Season

This weekend is our first camping excursion. YAAAAAAH! It's a lot of work to get ready for that first outing, and a bit stressful having to do everything beforehand, and remember everything. After all, we're 30 minutes from civilization, but not really. The camp area is loaded with RVs that put my domicile living conditions to shame. Some would charge me with child abuse if they saw the house I made my daughter live in. She doesn't have her own bathroom, for God's sake! But the nice thing about camping, even the posh version, is I'm getting away from work, TV, work, Facebook, work, unfortunately not the dog, my ghetto neighbors, and work, for a weekend. Our camper is far from the latest and greatest. It's a place to sleep and store our camping stuff. But it's ours. Once we set everything up, we pretty much resemble a band of gypsies. I'm sure the $50K motor home next to us feels a bit threatened. That's what you get for not renting the spaces on either side of you! Someday we'll upgrade, but for now, we're going to use this camper until its dying breath. So get ready America, here come the camping version of the Clampetts, to bring lower middle class to your weekend neighborhood! Don't forget to lock the doors and keep the chihuahua inside :)

Crack Me Up

OK Brandon, this one's in reference to your inquiry into concrete. I'm going to throw my best sales pitch, and we'll sit if you can hit it. When discussing concrete with potential customers, I usually get about the same 3 to 4 questions. Personally, I get tired of answering them, but I also understand peoples' concerns. So, here goes. Q #1. So how does it compare to granite? Granite has set the standard for so many years, it's the modern day wall to wall carpet. Everybody has it, which makes it not quite as special as 25 years ago. Plus, you can buy certain veins cheaper now, than 25 years ago. Technically, this question isn't quite fair. It's kind of like asking how that SUV compares to that thoroughbred horse. Both are modes of transportation, but completely different modes of transportation! It's better to compare the companies that produce the countertops. But, here's my take. All my concrete is poured off site, and all molds and tops are made in the shop, where we do a wet grinding & polishing process. After its cured and sealed, we transport them to be install. Wearability is different than granite. Over time, your piece of concrete forms a 'patina'. Maybe some discoloration due to use, which adds to its charm and appeal. It basically ages along with it's owner. Q #2. I've heard concrete cracks. Is that the case with countertops? Yes and no. I've had great success over the years due to the fact we over engineer our countertops. They're reinforced with rebar, steel mesh, reinforcing fiber, and a few other secret ingredients to help eliminate the possibility of cracking. All the steel is welded together, then suspended in the mix. But just like anything, it has its limitations. We can pour up to an 8' piece before we have to create a seam. Otherwise, the top gets so long, it could crack under its own weight. I had a customer insist on his countertop not having any seams. Even after I warned him of the consequences, he still insisted. I caved in, and broke a rule I vowed not to. After installation, it cracked as I suspected it would. I was rewarded with poetic justice when the crack appeared at the 8' mark. Even though it cracked, due to the steel reinforcement, it was still one piece. If it were granite, you would now have 2 pieces of granite. Q #3. How much does it cost? It starts at $65/sq. ft. That's for plain gray concrete, simple edge detail, and no frills. Most people say that's what they want until they see what's in our showroom. Then its like the proverbial 'kid in the candy store'. OOOh, I want this, and can I have that? Well.... yes, but the price just went up due to the 16 hours worth of work you've added to the complexity of the project. I know it seems like I'm a greedy, money hungry, ruthless business man, out to step on everyone in my way, but I kind of like to be reimbursed for working. One thing I want future customers, or even just 'tire kickers', to keep in mind is, concrete's formless until it sets up. It can be molded into just about any shape imaginable. It can be sculpted, tinted, acid stain, acid etched, stamped, textured, ground and polished, three dimensional. You can't do a lot of those features with granite, unless you break it up into pea gravel size pieces, add with it some sand, portland cement, water, and mix. That last little bit of sarcasm just made me smile:)

Fickle

It's been awhile since I've posted something meaningful on my blog. Correction: It's been awhile since I've posted ANYTHING on my blog. Once I discovered Facebook, I became a little distracted. OK, a lot distracted. I was like a 3 year old with a new toy. The toys I had the week before, were now obsolete, and I had to give my shiny, brand new toy my undivided attention. So after playing with Facebook for awhile, I'm a little bored with it now. I've amassed a 'friend' list that is bigger than imagined. If I were a cult leader, I'd have a pretty good following. But that too, would quickly become passe, and I would be looking for the next late and greatest thing to subvert my attention. Besides, many of the Facebook friends either have, or are going through, the same thing I'm feeling right now. Those I used to comment on their status, or vice versa, are either taking a break, or have moved on altogether. I'm not saying that they are fickle for their decision, but I feel that I'm like the teenager who couldn't miss an episode of American Idol, seven years ago, but now, could care less whose on. Am I one of those people? In the past, I've always been known to embrace the latest craze .... about ten years later. I compare my blog to Woody of TOY STORY. Sorry Woody, I didn't mean to neglect you. I think I will try to play with my old toys a little more.