For Mark Fineis, president of Hanneman and Fineis Concrete Construction in Lansing, the day local road commissions lift seasonal weight limits each spring is like a holiday. It means heavy 50-ton concrete trucks can hit the road to make deliveries to work sites and Fineis’ work season can begin.

However, Fineis hopes this spring is a bit different than the past several. The recession has obviously taken a toll on the number of new construction projects, which in turn hurts the demand for concrete flatwork.

“We are optimistic that we’ll see better times ahead. We do have more work lined up this spring than the past two years, so that gives us some peace of mind,” Fineis says.

The company provides high-quality concrete finishing services for residential and commercial properties and specializes in decorative concrete solutions that can add some flair to just about any project.

Hanneman and Fineis Concrete Construction had its mid-Michigan beginnings just after the conclusion of World War II. Mark Fineis purchased the business, then known as Hanneman Concrete Construction, from Carl Hanneman in 1988.

“Carl Hanneman was my mentor and the Hanneman name still means a lot in the concrete business. Our focus today remains on doing quality concrete work,” Mark Fineis says.

Fineis’ brother, Steve, handles many of the decorative concrete projects and assists in the family business. The brothers have worked together for 21 years.

The company’s expansive showroom, on Rensen Street in south Lansing, features examples of stained concrete, colored concrete and decorative concrete. The displays, which feature amazing textures and colors, give homeowners an idea of what a concrete stamping project might look like in their yard.

“We have access to countless patterns. Stone, brick, tile and wood plank board patterns—you name it, there is a pattern to fit an application,” says Steve Fineis.

That flexibility allows homeowners to be as creative or conservative as they want for sidewalks and patios.

“Most of our customers come to us with a pattern and color in mind. People are often surprised by what we can do with patios, walks and porches,” Steve says. “Even driveways, though that can get expensive. Sometimes we focus instead on doing some accent work to set the driveway off.”

Exposed aggregate is another popular option for sidewalks and patios. The decorative process involves exposing the surface of concrete to show the aggregate, Steve says.

The concrete, which often features natural color stone within the concrete mix, is first sprayed with a chemical retarder.

“After the surface is removed, you wash it with a mild muriatic acid and water solution to remove remaining residue,” Steve adds.

Hanneman and Fineis’s showroom also has examples of acid staining, which allows applicators to custom color concrete floors, sidewalks and patios. Acid stain works with hydrochloric or phosphoric acid, which opens up the pores of the concrete and allows the metal salts to react with the concrete.

Colored concrete can be used to complement the color of a house or another element, Mark says. “I think people are realizing the versatility of concrete and what we can do. The trends are toward decorative concrete and away from gray concrete.”

Regular gray concrete consists of cement, sand, aggregate and fibers to add strength to the mix.

Pervious concrete is gaining in popularity for parking lots, driveways and sidewalks, too. Pervious concrete is porous and captures rainwater and allows it to seep into the ground naturally. It reduces storm water runoff and can result in giving commercial builders more land to build upon.

“We did a large parking lot along the river in Eaton Rapids with pervious. It’s very environmentally friendly and creates a lot less runoff,” Mark says.

Pervious concrete uses a “slightly smaller stone with no sand, making it look like a Rice Krispies® treat,” Mark adds.

Using pervious concrete can also help builders achieve LEED certification for their projects. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building rating system that sets standards for environmentally sustainable construction.

“Concrete in general can contribute to LEED certification. Concrete flooring, with acid staining or polished concrete, comes into play because of the lower impact of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be harmful and toxic, compared to other options,” Steve says. “More and more of the projects we bid on are going for LEED or partial LEED certification.”

Hanneman and Fineis Concrete Construction, which uses concrete from Shafer Redi-Mix from Mason for its projects, can also construct concrete countertops that are comparable in cost to real stone. An example of the company’s work is proudly displayed at The Small Planet on Chandler Road in East Lansing.

“Concrete countertops are unique. They are gorgeous and fun to work with. The key selling point is that they can be customized. Each one is really one of a kind,” Steve adds.

Hanneman and Fineis Concrete Construction, like so many companies involved in the construction business, has focused its resources on the renovation market because of the lack of new construction

Mark Fineis, who holds a builder’s license and sits on the board for the Greater Lansing Home Builders & Remodelers Association, said there isn’t a company affiliated with the construction industry that hasn’t felt a major blow from the deep recession. “We’ve taken a big hit. Everyone has. There is a very limited number of projects right now, commercial and residential,” he says.

The company, which also does commercial and industrial floor polishing, carries 15 employees during the busy summer season. All employees go through extensive training and are certified in concrete installation.