Concrete Goals, Concrete Results
Kent Underlayments Delivers Niche Service to Chaldean Community Center in West Bloomfield
After a February ice storm closed schools and public buildings, Kent Underlayments was hard at work in West Bloomfield, completing a 4,000-square-foot Gypsum floor underlayment pour for the new Chaldean Community Center.
Poured floor underlayments are a mixture of gypsum, Portland cement and sand. This product is applied to wood decking, structural and precast concrete. Kent Underlayments, a division of Kent Companies, has been providing this specialty service for over 30 years, demonstrating unmatched reliability and expertise.
Ed Hardesty, Division Manager for Kent Underlayments, noted his team’s steadfast dedication, joking that they’re more reliable than the U.S. Postal Service.
“No matter the weather, as long as we can access the building and it’s temperature controlled, Kent will be on the job site,” Hardesty said. “We’ve been in this business for a long time, and this team works in sync to prep, pour and clean up smoothly and efficiently. These pours account for 60% of our business, while the remainder includes new construction, emergency restoration and radiant in-floor toppings. The team’s skills and customer service maintain our reputation, allowing us to expand this side of the business.”
Dean Stacer, Business Development Manager for Kent Underlayments, emphasized the importance of hands-on training for their workers to master gypsum pours.
“This is considered a specialty trade, so our workers undergo in-depth training,” Stacer said. “It’s crucial they learn to move as a team, maneuver the hose around the space without disrupting prep work, ensure the pours are level and more.”
Stacer added that while this project was relatively small compared to Kent Underlayments typical workload, its significance to the community made it particularly meaningful.
“Typically, we can handle a project about four times this size in a day—our team moves efficiently. But sometimes, the smaller projects carry the greatest importance,” he said.
The newly acquired property in West Bloomfield will serve as the headquarters for the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and will also house other affiliated organizations. Including the property acquisition and planned renovations, the project carries a total price tag of around $15 million, funded by a combination of state grants and a charitable campaign.
Peter Jonna, President of Jonna Construction and a member of the Chaldean community, highlighted the center’s vital role.
“The Chaldean population comes to America with next to nothing, and centers like this one are crucial in helping these individuals acclimate and become active members of society,” Jonna said.
The grand opening of the Chaldean Community Center is scheduled for this spring. Representatives from Kent Underlayments will be in attendance, not only to celebrate their work’s completion but also to witness the profound impact the center will have on the community it serves.
To learn more about Kent Underlayments, visit their website at underlayments.kentcompanies.com or contact Ed Hardesty at ehardesty@kentcompanies.com.
