Niel Tequin is a young Filipino-Australian business owner celebrating three years of success, and continued growth of his concrete resurfacing business in Melbourne. The journey of conceptualising his own business was made possible through his experiences working both in the Philippines and in Australia.
After migrating to Australia in June 2016, Niel worked as a concrete resurfacing assistant in an established contractor in Victoria. Inspired by his manager, he worked in intense conditions which involved a lot of manual labour. “I believe my manager at the time is the vital force that made me become the person that I am now. He was very hands-on, patient, and professional despite working alongside with labourers in a dusty and sometimes dirty environment,” says Niel.
Back in the Philippines, Niel worked as a professional Civil Engineer in prominent construction companies including First Balfour Inc, Hongdrill Philippines and AboitizLand.
“I understand the complexities and the chemistry behind a simple concrete mixture as well as its longevity and use. Hence, I decided after a year in Australia to apply this knowledge and skill in creating my own brand of concrete resurfacing, epoxy coatings and repairs.”
Happy Concrete focuses on resurfacing existing concrete, grinding and preparing the concrete for an actual seal so that concrete floors will be preserved over time. According to Niel, Happy Concrete’s most in-demand services are the epoxy flakes system and concrete sealing.
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Epoxy flooring and concrete sealing are types of decorative concrete that will enhance and protect an existing concrete from any penetrable elements. These types of services are very vital for concrete structures, especially on concrete floors with high foot traffic.
This industry has its own fair share of challenges. Weather in Victoria has been a constant struggle, especially during the winter months as water is the main enemy of epoxy and other types of coatings. Despite the care and vigilance on checking the weather from time to time, humidity is also a risk and can impose a threat to the application. Also, not all concrete floors are created the same. Some floors are made hard, some are soft, some has absorbed moisture due to different factors. Because of this, experience and expertise in performing this job is very crucial for its success.
Niel says that the past three years were very fruitful for the team at Happy Concrete, having worked with more than 200 clients in Victoria.
“I am glad that we are able to make our clients smile and appreciate the work that we have done,” says Niel.
Happy Concrete is the first Filipino concrete resurfacing and epoxy coating applicator in Victoria. As owner, Niel is extremely grateful for the support, referrals and growing number of regular clients, including Australian builders.
“Rest assured we will strive to innovate and continue to serve with quality and excellence,” says Niel.
Contact Happy Concrete by phone at 0481 116 545 or via email address info@happyconcrete.com.au. Visit its Facebook page: Happy Concrete.
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