Hard work
isn’t a novelty for Nathan Stone, owner of Stone Concepts, a Solvang based
business that specializes in decorative stamped, textured and colored concrete
walkways, driveways and retaining walls.
Stone spends
most of his days, rain or shine, mixing, pouring, laying, color sealing and
stamping concrete to resemble some of the most exquisite materials many
customers desire but may not be able to afford.
“A lot of
people decide to go with stamped concrete because it’s extremely expensive to
finish projects with other elements and it is a cost effective method,” Stone
said.
Opened in
2006 by Stone and his wife Tammy, Stone Concepts not only specializes in decorative
and textured concrete, but also handles general concrete services including
structural and foundation work.
The blueprint
for Stone Concepts can be traced back to Stone’s upbringing in construction
contracting and the concrete stamping training he received in Chicago.
“My dad was a
painting contractor for many years,” Stone said. “Now he’s doing real estate in
the Valley.”
“He always
stressed the fact that hard work pays off,” Stone said. “Everything we had was because of his blood and sweat.”
After moving
to the Valley in 1998 Stone dabbled in concrete
slabbing before moving to Chicago Illinois, where he
learned the ins and outs of the concrete stamping trade, while working for Bomanite, a concrete contractor that specializes in
toppings, imprinting, exposed aggregate and other services.
After
marrying his wife Tammy, who he met in Chicago, the couple moved back to Santa Ynez
and started Stone Concepts.
“I really
like the Valley because it’s a small town and there’s a good rapport with the
contractors here,” Stone said. “It’s a nice working environment. Everyone knows
everybody and a lot of contractors do high quality work.”
Though
Stone’s childhood dream was to be a fireman, to say that he enjoys working with
concrete would be an understatement.
“With
concrete I love the versatility aspect,” he said. “There are so many things you
can do with concrete, with decorative concrete; after you’re done it looks
nice.”
“My dream was
to be a fireman, but concrete’s in my blood and I love it. Once you pour concrete
you can’t stop,” Stone added.
Stone’s sense
of dedication to his business has not only brought him many customers but his
sense of duty has not gone unnoticed by his clients.
“Business has
been pretty good in the Valley,” Stone said. “I can’t complain, lately work has
been going extremely well and we’ve been really busy.”
Resort
Manager for the Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton Dan Baumann is a client of
Stone Concepts, who was pleased with the project the park contracted Stone to
complete as well as Stone’s work ethic and positive outlook.
“What I think
is different about Nathan is that he brings enthusiasm to the project,” Baumann
said. “He contributed some ideas that lead to the project turning out looking
even better than we had planned.”
“Even people
who were not involved in the project commented on Nathan’s great personality.
You can’t help smiling when you’re around him,” Baumann added. “We plan on
hiring him for our other phases of renovation scheduled for September.”
Stone’s wife
Tammy, who handles the administrative side of the business out side of her
full-time insurance agent position in Santa Barbara, also appreciates her
husband’s uplifting attitude.
“His
personality has helped me out in my own job, where what I do is very customer
service orientated,” she said. “It’s also helped me to care more about people
and be in a better mood. It’s hard to be cranky around someone who smiles all
the time.”
Stone
attributes the success of his newly founded business to the support he has
received from his family, friends and especially his wife.
I am really
thankful to have the support of my wife and family, because without them I
wouldn’t be able to do it,” he said. “My wife plays a big role in this. A lot
of times she still has to be at work in the morning and she’s up helping me
out.”
Though Stone
is only 25-years-old, he seems to be on the fast-track to success and is eager
to make his dreams of working and raising a family in the Valley a reality.
“Hopefully we
will have a house out here and be able to start a family in five years,” Stone
said. “I see my business still based in the Santa Ynez Valley, busy and
growing, with me still doing the decorative aspect of concrete installation.”
For more
information about Stone Concepts located at 606 Alamo Pintado
in Solvang, contact Nathan Stone at 805-331-4121.