Palisades Stone crafts simulated rock from concrete

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Since opening in August of 2000, Joe Howard and Shawn Maugans have seen rapid growth of their new business, Palisades Stone, which produces man-made stone siding. |ret||ret||tab|

The siding is sometimes called stone veneer because unlike real stone, which is heavy and hard to work with, man-made stone can be installed like regular siding, according to Maugans.|ret||ret||tab|

Using stone in the construction of both residential and commercial structures has gained popularity the last few years in the Springfield area. |ret||ret||tab|

The European look, which features an abundance of stone or faux stone, has become popular. More builders, even on spec houses, are turning to the substance to give homes character, Howard said.|ret||ret||tab|

Howard, 34, was born and raised in Springfield. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1988 with a degree in business and moved to St. Louis briefly, where he worked for Kraft Foods and a national auto credit company.|ret||ret||tab|

Howard moved back to Springfield in 1993 and bought a retail fireplace and wood stove center featuring the Buck Stove. Through this enterprise he met Maugans, who sold fireplace equipment and accessories to retailers.|ret||ret||tab|

Maugans, 36, came to Springfield from Kansas City to attend Southwest Missouri State University, where he graduated in 1990 with a degree in industrial management. |ret||ret||tab|

Maugans spent the next nine years in the fireplace manufacturing industry. |ret||ret||tab|

As a factory representative he sold products to Howard in his retail store and the two became friends.|ret||ret||tab|

Howard sold Buck Stove in 1998. He and Maugans started a fireplace and stove marketing business, supplying other dealers in a four-state area.|ret||ret||tab|

Through this loosely formed enterprise they began to market man-made stone produced by a manufacturer in Mississippi. The money was good for a distributor, Howard stated, but he and Maugans realized it could be even better for a manufacturer.|ret||ret||tab|

The pair formed their corporate name, Palisades Stone, and developed a five-year and a 10-year business plan to present to their banker in the summer of 2000. In August of the same year they leased the building they now occupy at the end of 3 Oaks Center at 2835 E. Division St. in Springfield.|ret||ret||tab|

Howard said the hardest part in the beginning was learning how to make the molds needed to produce the simulated stone. "We made our share of mistakes, but we learned from them," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

The pair did a lot of research in the beginning to learn what stone patterns were popular in this area and which were often used in Kentucky, a state known for stone production, according to Howard.|ret||ret||tab|

Maugans briefly described how the stone is produced using concrete and a lightweight aggregate so that the end product is light enough to stick to a building. The weight and uniformity of the manmade stone make it easier to work with than natural stone.|ret||ret||tab|

Those factors, along with the fact that man-made stone is less costly than real stone, has boosted its appeal for local builders, Maugans stated.|ret||ret||tab|

It is also possible to produce consistent color and quality, Maugans said. Howard and Maugans have come up a variety of color combinations and, they say, can produce about any custom color a customer wants.|ret||ret||tab|

"We've developed certain colors and combinations by trial and error," Maugans added.|ret||ret||tab|

The two owners said that since the August opening, Palisades business has doubled and they expect it to continue to grow. |ret||ret||tab|

Although they sell through distributors, they welcome customers to the shop to see how the product is produced and to look at the available colors and styles.|ret||ret||tab|

They keep an average of 12,000 square feet of stones on hand in the most common styles and colors for customers to chose from. |ret||ret||tab|

On custom orders, contractors can expect delivery in about three weeks, depending of the square footage they need, according to Howard.|ret||ret||tab|

Today, Palisades operates with one employee besides the two owners, who plan to add additional people soon in anticipation of increased volume as the spring building season kicks in.|ret||ret||tab|

The two young entrepreneurs said they have done everything in the business, from sweeping the floors to keeping the books to building racks and making the product. |ret||ret||tab|

In the near future they expect to expand the business to reach markets in Kansas City, St. Louis and beyond.|ret||ret||tab|

Along with expanding their market area, Howard and Maugans also plan to produce other concrete-related products to add to their inventory.|ret||ret||tab|

Both owners said they feel they have found their niche in business. |ret||ret||tab|

Howard, coming from distribution to retail, then to manufacturing, is content with his decision to make the permanent move. |ret||ret||tab|

Maugans, who made the transition from distribution to manufacturing, said he is where he always expected to be in the industry.|ret||ret||tab|

Both men agreed that it would have been impossible to accomplish what they have in the short period of time since the business started without the aid and support of their wives.|ret||ret||tab|

They are equally satisfied with the location they have chosen for their company. |ret||ret||tab|

As Howard put it, "I think we would be hard pressed to find a better market than Springfield."|ret||ret||tab|

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