Project Spotlight

Eastern Carolina University
Level-Right®

Overview: For Vince Smith of Carolina Floor Systems, this was a great lead for a substantial floor leveling project. It was a solid referral gained at a trade show for college and university physical plant managers. But on following up the very next day, he learned that a competitor's product had already been specified.

For many in sales, that's where the story would end. But not for Vince.

In the words of the job superintendent, Vince's inquiry meant "re-opening a done deal" - and from the super's tone of voice, that wasn't something he was eager to do. But by discussing the project and conveying his respect for the superintendent's knowledge and solutions, Vince convinced the gentleman to "open the door a crack" and meet him on site for a consultation.

At that consultation, Vince reviewed the superintendent's laser topography, and discovered that the proposed ¼" cap would not meet the spec (1/8 in 10'). Vince spent the following weekend creating a better proposal. Converting the superintendent's topo shots (619) to an exact deviation from level, showed the average depth of correction to be .57". Allowing for a minimum ¼" over the zero data, he arrived at a ¾" correction to strictly meet spec. He topped it all off with a letter of explanation , and overnighted the package to the project manager.

What resulted was an invitation back to meet with the architect, followed by a series of submittals and negotiations. And finally, the awarding of the project to Carolina Floor Systems. Then, on February 5, 1996, one of the top floor leveling crews converged at the project site - an eight-man Carolina Floor Systems crew; Pat Giles, Maxxon Corporation; and Steve Ivester, Maxxon Southeast. At the end of the five day job, the crew had set more than 5000 grade pins, poured 45,000 square feet of Level-Right® and cut 4,500 linear feet of control joints.

Perhaps the best additional highlight of the Project Spotlight story is the manner in which the customer expressed their satisfaction with the overall job- by inviting Carolina Floor Systems back to correct an additional 15,000 square feet of two out-of-level floors in two aerobics rooms and eight racquetball courts.