Vertastone by Specco Industries

Vertical concretecarving training

Learn to carve concrete into faux rock in 3 to 4 days of hands-on training. Then join the Vertastone family: member pricing on the system and project leads near you.

Get training dates → Have a project? Find a pro
01 / 04 Foam core Shaped and glued to the design

We train contractors to carve concrete into stone, supply the system they build with, and send them the work. Curbing, hardscape, decorative concrete and masonry pros join the Vertastone family to add faux rock walls, grill islands, fire pits and water features to what they already sell.

3–4 daysOf hands-on carving in every training session
MonthlySmall-group sessions. Dates and locations vary
IncludedAll training materials, so you only bring your hands
LeadsProject requests from homeowners and businesses, shared with approved members
The Vertastone family

Train. Get approved.
Build and get work.

Vertastone is a network of approved pros who build with one carving system. Here's how you join.

  1. Step 1

    Train with Shane

    Hands-on, small groups, 3 to 4 days. All materials included. Sessions run monthly in different locations.

  2. Step 2

    Get approved

    Finish training and we approve your pro account. You're now part of the Vertastone family.

  3. Step 3

    Buy the system

    Log in to see member pricing and order the same materials you trained on, by the project or by the yard.

  4. Step 4

    Get project leads

    Homeowners and businesses request carved stone work on our site. We share those leads with approved pros near the job.

Already carving faux rock, or running a hardscape or masonry crew?

Experienced pros can apply for an account with their past work. We review every application.

Apply for a pro account →
The Vertastone System

One system.
Four stages.

Every product is built to work with the next one, and every member trains on the full system. Prices and ordering are for approved Vertastone accounts.

White foam core blocks shaped into a grill island01 Core

Shape the core

Cut and glue a foam core for features, or stack low-slump concrete for walls with the One Day Wall System.

Stack AidSet LagComplete System
Grey base mix troweled over the foam core02 Base

Coat the base

Trowel Base Mix over fiberglass mesh to lock the core into a solid concrete shell.

Base Mix
Hand-carved grey concrete with ledges and fissures03 Carve

Carve the stone

Hand-carve ledges, fissures and strata in Carve Mix. Easy Finish keeps the surface workable longer.

Carve MixEasy Finish
Finished stained stone grill island with built-in grill04 Color

Color it real

Layer Rock Blends for natural stone transitions, from Ivory and Sand to Granite and Bluestone.

Rock Blends
Member pricing. Log in with an approved account to see prices and order.
Member login Become a member →
Real footage · Vertastone training
Carved by hand

Every ledge is cut, not cast.

No molds, no repeating panels. The stone gets its character from the carver's hand, so no two walls come out the same. That's what your customers pay for, and what a stamped panel can't match.

What our family builds

Sell the job
nobody else offers.

Carved stone adds a high-ticket line to the work you already do in curbing, hardscape, decorative concrete and masonry. Every photo here is a finished, carved concrete job.

Carved concrete rock grotto with two waterfalls spilling into a turquoise pool Real project
Water features

Waterfalls, ponds and pool rock

A carved rock grotto with twin waterfalls and a stepping-stone ledge, built around the pool.

View project →
Outdoor kitchen under a pergola with carved stone columns, walls and steps Real project
Outdoor kitchens

Kitchens, bars and grill islands

Carved columns, seat walls and steps tie the kitchen into the hillside.

View project →
Carved stone fire pit surround holding a steel fire bowl at sunset Real project
Fire features

Fire pits and fire bowl surrounds

A boulder-style surround carved to hold a custom steel fire bowl.

View project →
Hillside retaining wall carved to look like a natural rock outcrop Real project
Retaining walls

Hillside walls carved as natural ledge rock

Holds back the slope and reads like an outcrop that was always there.

View project →
Carved stone slab steps leading up to a front entry Real project
Steps & entries

Slab steps and entry walks

Carved slab treads that look like quarried stone.

View project →
Projects by Stone Crete Artisans, led by Vertastone ambassador Shane Hancock.
Learn to build these → Want one built? Find a pro
Two carvers shaping a concrete rock face by hand on a job siteReal job site
Join the Vertastone family

Hands-on training.
Every month.

Every member starts here. Shane Hancock teaches small groups to carve concrete into stone over 3 to 4 days, with all materials included. Dates and locations change each month, so our list hears about each session first.

3–4 daysHands-on, you build
Small groupsMonthly, limited seats
MaterialsIncluded in training
What do you want to do?

We email you when the next session opens, with dates, location and seats. Unsubscribe anytime.

You're on the list. We'll email you as soon as the next training opens for sign-up.
Shane Hancock in his shop
Brand ambassador

Shane Hancock

Brand AmbassadorMaster InstructorFounder, Stone Crete Artisans

Shane has spent more than 30 years in concrete artistry. He builds carved stone features with his own company, Stone Crete Artisans, uses the Vertastone system on his jobs, and teaches every training session hands-on.

[Pull quote from Shane, in his words, about the craft or the business it builds.]
Outdoor kitchen with carved stone columns, walls and stepsReal project
For homeowners & businesses

Have a project?
Find a Vertastone pro.

Tell us what you want built. We share your request with approved Vertastone pros near you: vertical carvers, hardscape and masonry contractors trained on our system.

We'll confirm by email, then a pro near you reaches out.

Your project is in. We'll match it with an approved Vertastone pro near you and confirm by email.