Monterey Bay Cast Stone:How a Twist of Fate Led to High-End Decorative Work
Dave Wilber credits destiny with the success of his company, Monterey Bay Cast Stone, located in Watsonville, Calif. You see, Wilber was originally an antique dealer for 10 years, only dabbling in art at his local community college. "I was taking classes in art and sculpture, etc., and I happened to take a mold-making class," Wilber recalls. "At the time, I had a client I was antiquing for, and she owned a building that had been damaged in the Loma Prieta Earthquake. I offered to help restore it, and I was able to practice [mold making] on the building. Learn while you earn, as they say." The building originally had a terra cotta façade, and Wilber says he was able to recreate that original facade with precast concrete elements to replace the damaged or missing terra cotta pieces. After restoring the façade of that building, Wilber says he took a couple of years to hone his craft before leaving the antiques business behind. Wilber founded Monterey Bay Cast Stone in 1994 as a culmination of his various skills, including sculpture, mold making and antique collecting. He says he based many of his early projects on that first terra cotta façade design he cast. Two products that come to mind, the Tuscan Fountain and the Beal Mantel, were both largely the result of Wilber's original facade restoration project.
In the mean time Wilber was doing custom mantels for architects and homeowners. Monterey Bay Cast Stone's mantel designs include the Squirrel, the Beal, the Menzel, the DeVincenzi, the Pleasant Valley, and the Miki. Wilber says that one of the most requested mantels is the Menzel, probably due to its antique, old world look. At the other end of the spectrum is the polished, crisp-edged Miki Mantel.
Today, Monterey Bay Cast Stone offers several unique works in addition to custom mantels and hearths, including precast stair nosings, Acanthus leaf patterned modular planters, and of course, concrete countertops.
Another hot product Monterey Bay Cast Stone serves up is the architectural wall cap. "When people have rock wainscoting, or a low stucco wall, I make a cap to shed water, offer a place to sit and give a nice finished detail," explains Wilber. One such project he completed for a home in Aptos included wall caps, about 200 linear feet of balustrades, and a custom profile.
Wilber seems to have found his niche working on the highest of the high-end homes in his area, which includes Santa Cruz and Aptos, as well as Carmel Valley. "Surprisingly, most of my business seems to be through local word of mouth," Wilber adds. "Though now I'm seeing more web-related leads." One recent job Monterey Bay Cast Stone secured, creating four fireplace mantels for two high-end spec houses in Carmel Valley, was the result of a hit off The Concrete Network. Wilber's also working on a large job requiring 15 different countertop elements, including a large kitchen island, countertops, backsplashes, bathroom vanities, fireplace hearths, tops for room dividers, and cast concrete wainscoting panels for the walls. Wilber notes that most—if not all—of his clients are looking for a personal connection. "People that can afford anything want a relationship with the artist," he says, adding that he spends a lot of time with homeowners, as well as the architect and designer involved in each of the projects. "Brainstorming sessions can result in some off-the-wall concepts, but usually one or two ideas that end being very successful in the final design. I like to have fun along the way, otherwise it would just be work," says Wilber. "Wanting something different, as well as the custom aspect, is pretty important [to my clients]," Wilber continues. "They appreciate my attention to detail." Though he's in the process of developing a more formal showroom for Monterey Bay Cast Stone, Wilber notes that his clients are impressed with current his workshop area. "They can look at parts of works in progress and remnants of past works to get ideas about their own projects," he says. "While the wives are picking colors, textures and designs, the guys are staring longingly at the workshop they dream of having for themselves." "I feel very fortunate that fate has led me to this great vocation that employs all of the knowledge and skills that I've picked up over the years. And I'm learning more every day," concludes Wilber. Monterey Bay Cast Stone Find a Concrete Contractor 23 Services in 200 Metros -- U.S. and Canada © 2008 ConcreteNetwork.com None of this site may be reproduced without written permission |
Site Sponsors |
Professional Grade
Concrete Crack Repair
Free Magazine For Contractors Sign-Up Today!
Foundation Repair
Concrete Polishing
Concrete Countertops
Concrete Floor Stains
Training By Bob Harris
Vertical Stamping
Repairing Bowed
Concrete Countertop
Radiant Floor Heating
Products & Training
Prepackaged Admixtures
Tools, Seminars,
Concrete Homes