Today we’d like to introduce you to Randy McDaniels.
Hi Randy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been exposed to the trades as my father had a large family and most of them were Contractors and Framers. So, I was always working weekends and summers in various trades. In school, I studied drafting and later a degree in Construction Technology as well as courses in Auto CADD during a 6-year enlistment in the Marine Corps.
After my enlistment in the Marine Corps, I started in construction sales while I was studying for my Contractor License. In 1993, I received my General Contracting License in Massachusetts, and in 1996, my Building Contractor License in Florida after moving back to my home state.
We ran a very successful Home Improvement Company with a stellar reputation. Unfortunately, Florida was hit with several back-to-back hurricanes which cause materials to soar, followed by the recession of 2008, which caused over 50% of Jacksonville’s contractors to go out of business according to Daniels Davis and the Chamber of Commerce. We like many other companies were severely impacted financially and had to do some serious consideration to what our future would look like and how we would overcome these obstacles.
We initially, started concrete pumping and concrete foundations as a niche, which expanded to Concrete Parking Lots. Later we added Insulated Concrete Form to our sales portfolio, something we had dabbled with decades earlier; however, the product was a little rudimentary and not ready for mainstream construction.
After finding a couple stellar ICF block like Build Block and Strong Hold, we added a DBA and started BUILD ICF STRONG as a stand-alone Division, offering ICF Sales, Installation, and Bracing Rental, as well as Installation Training for Contractors, and DIYers.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The ICF Business is a challenge because there are not enough installers who are familiar with the product, let alone quality installers. One of our recent clients is an architect/builder, who could not believe the quality of our work and how straight and plumb our walls were. I asked how long he had been doing ICF’s and he said over 20 years on various project. This is an unfortunate reality.
We are currently finishing a (3) story project by the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine overlooking the inlet. The owner Wolfgang Schau, an engineer himself was extremely impressed with our quality of work and accuracy, saying we build a house like a watchmaker.
So, the struggle would be finding and training enough quality crews who really understand ICF Installation, to keep up with the demand for GREEN HOMES, which are EXTREMELY disaster resilient and affordable. We have considered and will likely open a formal ICF Training Facility in the not-too-distant future to ensure our industry has wider access to quality installers.
ICF Installation is actually, very easy to install and our blocks are very DIY friendly, however there is a sequence or flow to installation and certain rules or laws which need to be followed to ensure a quality project.
Fortunately, the learning curve is fast and not very cumbersome.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Burlington Concrete and Asphalt Inc, has three primary divisions, Concrete, Asphalt, and Insulated Concrete Forms or ICF’s.
We offer Commercial and Custom Home Foundation Services in addition to our Concrete & Asphalt Parking Lot and Maintenance Services and our Build ICF Strong Division builds Residential and Commercial Buildings using only premium ICF Blocks such as Build Block and Strong Hold, which are the most versatile and DIY friendly on the market in our opinion.
If asked what we specialize in? Hands down it would be Customer Service!
In fact, it’s our motto is “While Concrete and Asphalt is our Trade… Customer Service is our Business” and we live by that.
What we have found to be true over the years this constant…. If you offer quality products and superior service at fair prices, you will always have plenty of business, happy clients, stellar reviews and newfound friends.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite Childhood memories were jumping into the truck with my dad to go to work. The smell of fresh cut lumber, and all my uncles, cousins and their friends working, telling stories, laughing, pranking and just cutting up and the morning stop at the connivence store with dad to get a cold milk and a cupcake or twinkie. Don’t think he told Mom, but bet she had a sneaky suspicion. LOL.
Pricing:
- ICF’s – Save approx. $74,000 in energy over 30 years on average.
- ICF’s Initially cost about 3-5% more than wood frame.
- ICF typical breakeven cost is 3-7 years, then save for life.
- Concrete and Asphalt have too many variables to list a flat price.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.burlingtonconcreteandasphalt.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burlingtonconcreteandasphaltinc/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/burlington-concrete-and-asphalt-jacksonville
