Messina Floor Coverings
Quality and service
This firm is unique in meeting customer needs and standards
Mike Messina started Messina Floor Coverings in 1989 after a successful
career as a sub because he wanted to "get off his knees," and
the opportunity to do some bid work came up. "It was easy to make that
decision, and I never looked back," he says.
The firm began by taking on bid work and developing a fruitful relationship
with Giorgi Interiors. Growth led to the building of yet more professional
relationships, with work for general contractors and for end-users. "We
focus a lot on customer-based business now," says Messina.
Adds Dave Metro, general manager, "Relationships become important
when you've been in the business this long. We do a lot of work for general
contractors we have relationships with, and we know what to expect from
them, and they from us."
Metro came on at Messina in that role in 1995, impressed with what Messina
had to offer, after enjoying a ten-year professional relationship with the
founder. "I knew Mike before I worked here," he says. "I've
had a long experience in the industry, but I've never known anyone that
approaches this level of quality and service. At other places, I had to
spend half my time putting out fires regarding quality and service, but
here, I can't remember the last time we got a call about a quality or scheduling
issue. Quality and service are what we do. They're what makes us Messina
Floor Coverings."
Unknown to Metro when he came on board was the firm's commitment to customer
service, a source of pride to him. "They can call us on a moment's
notice," he says.
In-house staff a strength
Messina's firm now employs some 45-50 people overall. "We run a
good-sized hourly company," says Messina. "We are unique for a
flooring contractor in that we have a large in-house staff, but it gives
us more control over our work and leads to higher quality. And it also lets
us meet the clients' schedules."
"We are unique," agrees Metro. "Our mechanics are on our
payroll, and if we say they will be at a place at a certain time, they will
be, and ready to perform."
He adds, "We are proud of the mechanics we have. The guys in the
field are the best, a lot of knowledgeable senior people. They are all
union, and we move them around so that they can learn from each other, project
to project."
The same is true with the office staff, he adds, and the sales force
and the operations staff. "We have experienced people who are self-starters.
And we can depend on each other. In other jobs, I've seen problems on the
inside make it difficult for the guys in the field, but we take care of
the details for them. We act as a mutual admiration society between office
and field."
Messina Floor Coverings does work on projects of all sizes, in all kinds
of market niches, but it is currently seeing great success in healthcare
and corporate work. "In health care, you need to be there when they
want you to be," says Messina, a requirement that fits into his company's
service-oriented mode very well.
The firm installs mostly carpet and resilient floors, but will also work
in prefinished wood, rubber, cork and small amounts of tile work, as well
as synthetic athletic floors. It also prides itself on its excellent service
and repair work. Messina has built the firm up to about $10 million a year.
. BXM
When looking good is the goal
Messina's project portfolio includes outstanding floors for every use
Messina Floor Coverings does work in all kinds of market niches, in projects
both big and small. Here are some examples of its recent work:
Healthcare
Akron General Medical Center's Heart and Vascular Center, combining a
lot of sheet vinyl with flash coving, patterned carpet and locking track
The Cleveland Clinic's East 93rd Offices and Parking Garage had to be
functional yet impressive for those entering the Clinic's new heart center,
now under construction.
Medical Mutual's new cafeteria and Health and Wellness Center in its
historic headquarters Rose Buildings in downtown Cleveland accounts for
about 24,000-sf of floor space.
Laurel Lakes Assisted Living Center in Hudson is an upscale residence
for seniors, with large common areas that took extra care to carpet.
The Bedford Medical Center of the University Hospitals Health System,
including the main lobby, the ER expansion and the MRI addition.
Offices
The Idea Center at Playhouse Square is a complex building with raised
floors to allow for high-tech wiring and a static relief mechanism below.
Floors had to serve artists, performers, dancers and broadcasters, with
good looks and sound conditioning.
Tri-C's Corporate College East is a recently built venue that is meant
to serve as an economic engine and learning facility for the entire community.
The Time Warner headquarters in Akron is a very detailed flooring installation,
with ellipses and striping on a 45-degree angle.
At the McDonald, Hopkins, Burke & Haber offices, combinations of
eight different carpet materials were installed, six of them custom. Textures,
colors and patterns create a linear grid.
Community
The Chapel in Green is a second campus, built to serve this fast-growing
congregation. Its many functions demanded full-service from Messina.
St. Adalbert's School in Berea was given a new Taraflex gym floor by
Messina, to support its athletic program.
Cuyahoga Falls Recreation Center is a $26 million project with many uses,
and floors, including a gym, racquetball courts, locker rooms, a track and
a fitness center, as well as a 4,000-sf health care center.
Cleveland Hts. Community Center, built by Albert S. Higley Construction,
serves residents with facilities for ice skating, among other uses, with
30,000 sf of skate-resistant rubber, as well as a fitness center, track
and gyms.
Painesville's Morley Library, completed in late 2004, was designed by
Meehan Architects and managed by PCS Inc. Its multiple carpet patterns and
large open areas, as well as curves and soffit details, were a challenge
for Messina Floor Coverings.
The Baldwin Water Treatment Plant is an historic retrofit, with many
large spaces as well as labs and work areas. Flooring it to look authentic,
but stand up to today's rigors, was a project for Messina. BXM
