I worked after school and on weekends to do what I could to help my single mother out. By the age of 18 I was a lead helper on a commercial masonry crew in Richmond Virginia. By that time it is safe to say I had lost the love for the trade – as it was brutally hard work on often cold, early mornings in the winter and brutally hot afternoons in the summer. I swore to myself I would find something better. Something easier.

Little did I know that five years later, after working in virtually every other trade, at the age of 23 I would become a father and my priorities would drastically change. I had to go where the money was – and that was the trade that most men wanted to avoid.. some of the hardest work a man can do.

Shortly after my daughter was born in August of 1997, I came to the realization that, adequately providing for my new family was greatly affected by the decisions of the man I was working for at the time.

I quickly realized that as a young, strong man with already nearly a decade under his belt, not only was I a huge asset to anyone I went to work for, but that I was far more intelligent than any of the masonry contractors I had ever been employed by since first entering the trade eight years prior. It’s safe to say that is not saying much as masons are not known to be Rhodes scholars..

On my 24th birthday – September 11, 1997 Swan Masonry officially formed and I began and completed my very first project. It was a small paver patio on Dock Street in downtown Wilmington NC. I made better money for one day of hard work than I had ever made in a full week. I was in love.

I immediately became obsessed with building my new business and after enduring some ridicule at the hands of my former employer and co-workers.. I became further obsessed with not only success – but being the very best.

The rest, as they say, is history. Less than five years later, with 44 employees and an impressive stable of workmanship in my wake, brick and stone veneer and CMU foundations completed onliterally hundreds of homes in Landfall, Porters Neck, Winding River, St. James plantation and beyond, Swan Masonry was one of the first contractors approached to participate in the construction of Mayfair Town Center.

This began a new era where Swan Masonry expanded to become one of a handful of premiere volume, commercial masonry firms in the entire state of North Carolina.

We were sought after and in high demand and one of just a couple of companies that survived the recession of 2007-2009.

Nearly 30 years after our founding, we have expanded into Raleigh, Charlotte and into South Carolina and Virginia.

Commercial General Contractors routinely select Swan Masonry for the masonry scope on their project and then bring us out of town or out of state on their next project – due to how satisfied they are with our impeccable workmanship, our flawless safety record and our lightning-fast completion of even the most challenging scope of work.

This is not to say that we ever abandoned our original bread and butter – the homeowner designer, repair and outdoor living market. It remains a key focus of our business model and frankly, is the part of my business I enjoy the most.

There is a lot more money to be made in the commercial market but the process of getting to know a good, fellow human while building something beautiful for them and taking a photo for my portfolio when I am done is, to this day, my favorite part of my company as I am, at heart, an artist.

Swan Masonry has done it all and are equally comfortable building a big box retail store, a large hotel or student housing facility or building you the most beautiful patio and outdoor fireplace in Wilmington, Charlotte or anywhere in between.

Swan Masonry can get your project completed without the headaches many contractors have unfortunately become known for.

My customers are the reason for my success and for my ability to provide stability to my family for nearly three decades now. I cannot please everyone – but as I approach the 2500 mark of customers and contracts completed – you would be hard pressed to find more than a dozen that I could not get along with over the years.

That is well in excess of a 99% satisfaction rate. Anyone claiming more than that is lying to you.

When you hire Swan Masonry, you are hiring me and I will personally make sure your project is staffed and completed responsibly and with the expert craftsmanship we have proven we are 110% dedicated to for three decades now.

If you hire me, I will treat you the way I want to be treated when I hire someone for a service I need done. Period Amen.

Talk is cheap. Look around the site. The photos are of our work only. No stock photos or claiming work that is not ours. We have an incredible portfolio and client list spanning decades.

In short, we are North Carolina’s premiere masonry firm and intend to stay in that position for many years to come.

Thank you for visiting our site. I hope that after browsing the photographic proof of our abilities, our dedication to the highest quality finished product and our long and well-established history… you will choose to hire the best and only the best.