Featured Contractor: Connor from Quinn's Stoneworks & Landscape (ME)

As we connect with more of our Featured Contractors, we love seeing how, just like no two natural stone projects are the same, their business stories and company journeys are just as unique! Most recently, we got to talk with Connor Quinn, who started his own masonry and landscaping business after 11 years in the industry. Connor is the owner and head mason of Quinn's Stoneworks & Landscape, based in Westbrook, Maine, which specializes in masonry, flat work, landscape design, thin veneer, chimneys, fireplaces, and custom stone work. As he builds his business alongside his girlfriend, Tasha, he says his days include a lot of preparation to make sure things go smoothly, whether that means making sales, working on job sites, or communicating with customers.

Connecticut Blend Mosaic interior fireplace by Quinn's Stoneworks and Landscape LLC.

Communication and preparedness are his top priorities, and these are everything when it comes to keeping jobs running smoothly. "Right from the beginning, we'll have a blueprint so everyone knows what’s going to be happening, and we're prepared so we're able to adapt," Connor said. He added that knowledge of products and the trade, as well as general organization, help keep jobs on course. He is excited about having moved into a new shop at the end of last year, which meant having more storage space for tools and better efficiency all around.

Tasha joined Connor about three months ago, but he said she has always been in the background helping him along. "I realized this is not really a thing I can do by myself if I want to build the right way," Connor said. Tasha brings her passion for content creation to the business, including videos and managing social media. She enjoys the process and the challenge of creating videos, and going to jobsites to explore different perspectives, which recently led to learning how to use a drone! "Editing is a full time job, and it takes hours to put clips together, but it's fun! It's definitely getting Connor's work noticed more, and it's great seeing people comment on the videos!" The duo is often joined at work by their Bulldog, Hera, who delivers on job sites and hangs out in the office, along with their Pitbull, Zeus. 

When asked what his favorite part of masonry work is, Connor said, "I like the creative side of it! I love to see visions come to life: to take regular stone, chisel it and make it fit--and when I stand back and look, I've created something beautiful." He also loves working outside. As for the biggest challenges, he said he doesn't have much to complain about, except for having to adapt to the weather, which has been difficult this year! "Things have been really good so far," he said. With a lot of planning, he is grateful to be on course to grow and build--on jobsites and in his business. 

Connecticut Blend Mosaic installed by Quinn's Stoneworks and Landscape LLC.

One of Connor's favorite projects in the last year, in the photo above, features Connecticut Blend Mosaic on the exterior of a beachfront property in Scarborough. He built pillars and framed them with cement board, and installed natural stone veneer over them. One of the best parts of the job, he said, was coordinating with the construction team and having some creative freedom with the design!

Connor shared his thoughts on the value of using high-quality materials: "Having the right product will improve the job tenfold because if you're familiar with how it’s installed, and you know it's good quality, it makes a job perfect. Having a solid quality product makes all the difference when it's easy to work with and you don't need to go back and fix anything. You have to be efficient as a small crew!" 

Current trends Connor is seeing include more accent walls in indoor areas, bars, and more natural stone fireplaces. He mentioned people are also using more natural stone and real materials than fake stone or tile. "It’s more competitive price-wise, and when people see what you can do with the real stone, it changes their minds. You can use the same stone, but with creativity, every project is different, and that's what I love about it." 

Looking ahead, Connor is excited about building his business from the ground up, while applying his experiences with other companies to his own insight and vision. "I'm proud of what I do, and enjoy working on different projects," he said. "It's great walking away knowing I've created and installed a quality product." We look forward to seeing how Quinn's Stoneworks and Landscape continues to grow and to collaborating on future projects! To learn more about Quinn's Stoneworks & Landscape, LLC, check out their website, or visit them on Facebook or Instagram.