Unlike some business owners who close the sale and are never seen again, Jeffery Christ, owner of Outdoor Creations, is a hands-on owner. Rather than disappearing after the sale, Christ is on-site at every project, so he always knows what’s going on.
Christ has opted to keep Outdoor Creations small, with only several employees, to allow him to work on every job. And, if the job isn’t done right or to Christ’s standards the first time, they do it again.
“We ask ourselves, ‘If this was in your house, would you accept it,” Christ says. “I go by that rule and it works pretty well.”
Even after the job is complete, Christ will still keep in touch with his clients. In fact, if he’s doing a project in an area where a previous client lives, it’s common for him or one of his team to pressure wash their driveway at no charge.
Christ, who employs only English-speaking U.S. citizens, started Outdoor Creations more than six years ago and today serves both residential and commercial clients, providing both exterior and interior concrete design. Outdoor Creations has also set itself apart from the competition by being the first company in Arizona to offer vertical stamping.
In addition to vertical stamping, Outdoor Creations offers horizontal stamping, vertical coloring, decorative concrete, epoxies and coatings, repair and resurfacing systems, and outdoor living spaces.
“I am also getting into vertical carving, which is a new field,” Christ says. “There’s a new product that allows us to put it on a wall and carve out stone or brick. The biggest advantage to customers is it’s faster and cheaper, and you can’t tell the different between the real stone and this simulated stonework.”
One of the main concerns of clients who want to have decorative concrete of any type installed on their property is its lifespan. The lifespan of the product depends on a variety of factors, including weather conditions for exterior decorative concrete and maintenance.
Christ advises clients to reseal their exterior decorative concrete every three to four years; otherwise, the concrete will fade in the hot Arizona sun. If the decorative concrete is maintained, it could last for 15 years or even longer.
The products at Outdoor Creations are backed by a two year guarantee. However, if the concrete is not properly maintained, the guarantee becomes void. “When the concrete beings to get chalky,” Christ says, “it’s too late.”
Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Outdoor Creations serves the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, north Tucson, Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Oro Valley, Catalina, Tempe, and Apache Junction.
Much of the work Christ secures is via word of mouth in addition to advertising.
To learn more about Outdoor Creations or to obtain a free estimate, please visit www.outdoorcreations.net, email jeff@outdoorcreations.net, or call 480-332-1962 or 520-780-1645.
