Robert Salinas, owner of Salinas Construction, has been serving residential decorative concrete clients for the last 27 years. And, in those almost three decades in business, he has learned how to set his business apart from the competition.
“I’m always researching and looking for new ideas to make myself better and to put myself on a different level than other contractors,” Salinas says. “because this is a very unique industry.”
Salinas Concrete, which offers both interior and exterior concrete design, specializes in stamping and stamp overlays and also provides concrete countertops, staining, and sculptured concrete.
The main product Salinas uses is Shoe Creek in Tampa Bay, Florida. Salinas opts for Shoe Creek because, in addition to the top class support they offer, they also provide a “really good” product.
While Salinas has completed hundreds of projects in the almost three decades Salinas Construction has been in business, there isn’t one job in particular that stands out the most. When it comes to choosing a best job, he chooses each one.
I basically take every job and pretend it’s my own and do it right the first time,” Salinas says. “Each project has its own unique finishes. Even though we do the same thing repeatedly, no two jobs are ever the same.”
That’s one of the best parts of decorative concrete for Salinas: The surroundings in which he and his team work are always different. Rather than having to sit in an office, Houston and the surrounding areas are his office.
Because Salinas Construction has developed such a reputation in the Houston metro area, prospective clients should schedule project as far in advance a head of time. Salinas recently informed a client that the earliest he could start his job was in six weeks.
“He told me he had a guy who could start the day after that,” Salinas says. “What does that tell you? He (the decorative concrete contractor) doesn’t have anything to do. If someone’s not busy in a huge town like Houston, there’s problem.”
In fact, Salinas cautions those in the market for decorative concrete, especially those who want to save money, to be vigilant when choosing a decorative concrete contractor. Cheap doesn’t always mean quality.
Those who work with Salinas Construction will quickly learn that all of the workmanship is done by hand, something that some prospective clients sometimes balk at because hand craftsmanship naturally comes at a price.
“I once had a customer who had a fancy painting in his house, so I reversed the question to him because he thought I was overcharging him,” Salinas says. “I asked him how much he paid for the painting. What you’re paying for is the artistry and the craftsmanship that is put into it.”
Salinas, who secures the majority of his clients from referrals and the internet, employs a team of highly experienced contractors, four of whom have been with Salinas Construction since its inception 27 years ago.
“If you’re looking for a deal, I’m not your guy,” Salinas says. “If you’re looking for quality, I’m your guy.”
Based in Pasadena, Texas, Salinas Construction serves Pasadena and the Houston metropolitan area. To schedule an appointment to view Salinas’ Constructions’ showroom.
