The Th Project features a residence that is set among large redwood trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains in Woodside. The property has views of San Mateo and Santa Clara Valley. The project continued on and off for many years. Originally we were brought in after the 1989 earthquake to repair the observation tower, which leaned two feet out of vertical. We brought it back to plumb and repaired the existing stone.
Between 1999 and 2002 we returned to remove the existing fireplace in the residence and build a new one up to current building codes. Our scope of work expanded to landscape masonry around the yard and driveway. We put veneer on the residence and we also built a new fire pit and spa in the back yard. Landscape included stairs, landings, walkways, and stone retaining walls. We set flagstone pavers in a random pattern for two terraces off the main house. We built entry columns and entry walls veneered with stone. We paved the driveway with 4”x 4” Natural Limestone Tumbled Cobblestone and 4”x 8” Header Borders.
Entrance Gate: Pilasters have a veneer of Santa Rita Limestone Ashlar Ledge set in an Ashlar Pattern. Entrance driveway is laid with 4×4 Limestone Tumbled Cobblestone Pavers and lined with 4×8 Header Borders.
Entrance Driveway: 4×4 Limestone Tumbled Cobblestone Pavers are laid with 4×8 Limestone Header Border Pavers.
Natural Limestone: Tumbled cobblestone pavers on driveway entrance.
Mellowood Cladding: The type of stone is Regular Ledger.
Guest House: The Viewing Tower was repaired with Gilroy Fieldstone.
Rubblestone Tower: As an earlier job, we repaired the tower using Gilroy Fieldstone to match it.
Fieldstone Chimney: Fireplace was built with Gilroy Fieldstone and made to look rustic.
Outdoor Fireplace: This “old” outdoor fireplace was built with Gilroy Fieldstone.
Pathway Steps: Idaho Quartzite Stone steps and landing with Mountain Slabs Walkway Paving.
Residence Cladding: The veneer on the residence is Santa Rita Limestone Regular Ledger.
Walkway View: Mountain Slabs Walkway Paving.
Driveway Gate: Stone pilasters at gate and wall fence are veneered with Santa Rita Limestone Ashlar Ledge.
The Wa Project is a private residence perched on top of a ridge above Half Moon Bay. The 20-acre property has views of chaparral vegetation overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The main house, barn and walls reflect countryside English neo-classical influences.
We installed a natural quartzite-like stone of full-thickness that covers all of the facades of the main building, the tower of the silo, and the landscape walls. Accents of architectural cast stone were installed around openings on other areas of the building in the form of trim, belly band, and wall caps. The top of each chimney was veneered with full-size hand-mold (sand-mold) brick in a pattern designed by Walton & Sons Masonry, Inc and they are topped with terracotta chimney pots.
The scope of work included natural stone as well as cast stone that had to be mechanically attached to withstand seismic forces. The natural stone is meta-sedimentary (metamorphic rock derived from sedimentary sandstone similar to quartzite) of full-thickness. It was set in a random ashlar pattern. Brick were laid with soldier, rowlock and running bonds.
Stone Residence on Ridge: Back facade faces west overlooking Pacific Ocean
Stone Residence: Back façade overlooking sunny slopes of chaparral vegetation.
Turret with Belly Band: Turret with a cast stone belly band.
Arches & Windows: Windows and facade veneered with a quartz-like stone of full-thickness.
Arches & Decorative Molding: Semicircular arches of real stone with precast stone horizontal decorative molding (cornice) and a watertable at the base to deflect water away from the foundation.
Bay: Bay windows with a semicircular arch clad in real stone. Cast stone belly band and window trim.
Bay Window Detail: Cast stone bay window detail with semicircular arch pilaster and cast stone belly band.
Entrance Facade: South façade with access to main house.
Entrance Drive: North façade with driveway to main house.
Main Entrance: East façade with main entrance.
Stone Veneer Entrance: Meta-sedimentary rock veneer has decorative cast stone banding.
Doorway Entry: Entrance doorway with decorative cast stone trim.
Bay Windows: North facade meta-sedimentary veneer with cast stone trim on bay and windows set into a side-gable with a long roof slope.
Bay Windows: Decorative molding of cast stone on real stone windows of back façade overlooking Pacific Ocean.
Arched Window: Window with stone arch and decorative molding
Chimney Stack: Chimney by Tower
Stone Turret: Turret clad with real stone and with cast stone trim on windows and belly band on tower.
Tower & Stack: Chimney stack with meta-sedimentary veneer and hand molded brick at top.
Chimney Detail: Decorative hand molded brick on chimney stack set in a fancy pattern with a decorative terracotta chimney pot flues.
North Exposure: North facade of residence with meta-sedimentary rock veneer.
Main house and barn: Stone buildings on ridge above Half Moon Bay.
Barn with Silo: Stone tower attached to barn.
Tower Detail: Stone veneer on tower silo attached to barn.
Since the late sixties, art collector, Donald Head, has invested in the 25-acre rehabilitation of the old and neglected Pike Estate in Saratoga. Today, Old Grandview Ranch is also known as Hearst Castle North. Set in the wooded foothills of Saratoga, Dr. Head has developed a French Renaissance showcase estate that includes a rejuvenated 22-room mansion, two art galleries, a studio, two swimming pools, a pool house, gardens and orchards. Walton & Sons Masonry, Inc. set granite and marble stone for the landscape and buildings on the estate.
Landscape: Set black and white granite with polished and flamed finishes, for all ashlar paving on terraces, for all stair treads and risers, for all stairways including the circular stairways, for all cladding applied to walls, planters, pilaster, for all balustrade systems including balustrades, bases and caps.
Walkway & Staircase: White granite walkway paving and balustrade stairway.
Pillar & Sculpture: Paving leads to a carved stone pillar that supports a sculpture.
Stair Wall: Veneer of dimensional granite on stair wall with carved stone balustrades.
Balustrade Terrace: A walkway deck is lined with a Nine-Piece carved stone Balustrades.
Garden Walkway: A white polished granite walkway parallels the stone balustrade.
Terrace Overlooking Pool: Gardens and fountains are outlined with finished granite.
Stairway to Terraces: Walkways and paving are laid with polished and flamed white granite.
Planter & Paving: White granite pavers lead to a fountain and pool.
Stairway Wall: Black and white polished and flamed granite are used for the hardscape.
Granite Hardscape: Seatwall, Balustrades & Stone Paving are all set with real natural stone.
Hardscape & Pedestals: Patterned Stone Paving with white and black granite.
Balustrade Staircase: Stairs & Balustrades System of real stone.
Garden Terrace: Stone Paving & Planter set in granite.
Walls & Paving: Wall has brick Veneer With Cap.
Outdoor Fireplace: Sculptures, patio and outdoor fireplace set by others.
Walkway & Pilasters: Paving, Curbs & Columns set with granite.
Since the late sixties, art collector, Donald Head, has invested in the 25-acre rehabilitation of the old and neglected Pike Estate in Saratoga. Today, Old Grandview Ranch is also known as Hearst Castle North. Set in the wooded foothills of Saratoga, Dr. Head has developed a French Renaissance showcase estate that includes a rejuvenated 22-room mansion, two art galleries, a studio, two swimming pools, a pool house, gardens and orchards. Walton & Sons Masonry, Inc. set granite and marble stone for the landscape and buildings on the estate.
Architectural: Set white marble stone with veining with polished and flamed finishes, all in the Loggia, for ceiling cladding, pilasters, walls, fluted columns and entablatures. Cut 4x4x16 concrete block down to 4×12 and laid it as veneer for the art gallery in 1998. It was later faux painted to match the brick on the residence.
Fountain & Loggia: Marble sculpture fountain set in pool in front of marble columns of Loggia.
Stair Landing of Finished Granite: Hardscape of granite benches and pedestals with carved granite balustrades by a carved marble pillar.
Staircase Wall: Wall is clad with granite dimensional stone & set with marble sculptures. Stairs are set with carved granite balustrades.
Detail Stone Ceiling: Ceiling of Loggia is set with marble cladding.
Marble Niche & Sculpture: Marble Stone Niche in Loggia is set with a sculpture.
Loggia & Fountain: Marble fountain in front of Loggia with marble columns.
Carved Granite Balustrades: Stairs with granite balustrades and granite treads & risers.
Carved Marble Pillar: Pillar is topped with a bronze sculpture.
Granite Walkways by Fountain Pool: Marble Fountain is set in a pool with a marble floor and is surrounded by a walkway of polished granite pavers.
Marble Sculpture on Pedestal: Stone planter, steps & paving below a granite clad pedestal that supports a marble lion.
Dimensional Stone Paving: Paving of polished & flamed granite with pedestals clad in granite.
Marble Columns & Entablature: Loggia has marble lintels & entablature topped with granite balustrades.
Granite Cladding & Paving: The stair wall behind the fountain is clad with granite dimensional stone. The stairs are topped with carved granite balustrades.
Marble Paving in Loggia: The paving in the loggia is set with marble tile.
On a fairly flat, rectangular lot in Woodside, our job was to create a natural setting for a waterfall with water flowing into an alpine pool. The goal was to simulate the natural environment found in alpine regions in Europe. Our job was to install natural boulders extracted from the bed and banks of a California river. Yuba stone boulders were used for landscape elements in the water feature. To achieve this effect, we used a 200-ton crane to lift, boom, and install boulders of up to 30 tons in weight. The stones and boulders had to be carved and polished with power tools to ensure the tight fit designed to achieve a natural appearance. After installation, small trees, bushes and flowers were planted around the boulders to give the entire area a natural appearance.
Cascade: Yuba stone boulders were placed to create three waterfalls.
Stepping Stones: California River Stones and Boulders create a watershed landscape.
Hillside Pool: A river rock blend of three stones were laid in a tight random pattern in the wall that defines the edge of the pool.
Upper Stream: Natural boulders were installed to direct the flow of the stream.
Waterfall into Pool: Stones and boulders were carved and polished to ensure a tight fit and a natural look.
Boulders: Natural River Rock are set to created stepping stones across an alpine pond.
Alpine Pools: Waterfalls are designed to create the look of an alpine pool.
Residence by Pool: The swimming pool is a step away from the residence.
Pool and Residence: Yuba River boulders up to 30 tons were set with a 200-ton crane.
Upper Waterway: Rocks and boulders are carved with power tools to ensure a tight fit with a natural appearance.
On a fairly flat, rectangular lot in Woodside, our job was build masonry walls to surround a pool and spa behind the existing house. The goal was to achieve the feel of a natural mountain setting and blend in with the style of an Alpine Mountain Lodge. Our job was to construct masonry walls and paving. It was necessary to achieve exact plumb of walls (true vertical) and exact level (horizontal height) of wall cap and coping. On walls and paving, we applied stone veneer of a river rock blend with very tight joints. The blend of three stones was laid in a random pattern.
Landscape Boluders: Yuba boulders weighing up to 30-tons were set in place around the pools.
Yuba Boulders: Yuba boulders were placed with a 200-ton crane.
Boulder Landscape: California River Rock are placed for a natural mountain setting.
Mountain Landscape: Yuba Boulders and California River Rock provide a natural mountain setting.
Mountain Lodge: River Rock edging and stepping stones create an alpine pool.
Alpine Pool: Boulders above the pool create an alpine mountain setting.
Alpine Meadow: Landscape plants add to the natural look of the placed river rock.
River Rock Wall: The wall by the pool is veneered with a blend of three river stones. Laid in a random pattern they have very tight joints.
