Aug. 11, 2006 – St. John resident Jim Hall was tired of going to the beach, so five years ago he started dabbling in decorative concrete work. A residential builder by trade, opening Jim Hall's Decorative Concrete and Engraving seemed a natural segue for his next career.
"I really didn't want to be a builder here. I admire those guys who can build at a 90 degree angle, but I didn't want to do it," he said, speaking about the challenges that come when building on St. John's steep hillsides.
He said he added some mainland workshops to his hands on experience in order to learn his craft. Hall said he started out with a part-time business, but now he's so busy, he had to hire two employees.
"Now there are not enough hours in the day," he said.
Hall's decorative concrete work comes after the house is done – sometimes long after.
"I take existing concrete and make it interesting," he said.
He said he applies those finishes to pool decks, driveways, walkways, patios and other locations that would benefit from a more interesting finish than plain concrete.
"If you're tired of it looking terrible, call me and I can fix it," he said.
Hall explained that he can make concrete look like tile, slate, flagstone, brick or granite, as well as other decorative finishes. He specializes in concrete countertops in a rainbow of hues.
Hall said he works with the homeowner to come up with a finish unique for that particular house. "Each homeowner is looking for something different," he said.
Like many St. John residents, Hall, now 60, first visited St. John on vacation from his native Michigan, fell in love with the place and decided to come back.
"I purchased a house before I left from that vacation," he said.
He bought a house that had taken a big hit from 1995's Hurricane Marilyn and spent a few years fixing it up. That house is in the vacation villa market, but he bought another one nearby where he still lives by himself.
Hall said he doesn't have a whole lot of spare time anymore, but when he does, he still spends time at the beach and goes boating when he can.
He also enjoys trips to the mainland.
"I'll hit the movies," he said, noting that he always catches up on the latest movies when he has the chance.
You can reach Hall at 693-0076 or 626-1184.
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