EP 55 · 2023-05-23 · 1:04:37
Halifax’s Mason Shortage Crisis — and How Stone Depot Is Building the Commercial Hardscape Market | Atlantic Construction Podcast
Stone Depot CEO Kyle MacDonald and sales veteran Andrew Pepper walk through how a 30-year Halifax hardscape supplier is pivoting from residential landscaping into commercial masonry — with candid takes on labor scarcity, the contractor-to-retail-counter culture shock, and why masons will never be replaced by machines.
KM
⟶ The story, written up — a sharp read with every fact on the record.
// CHAPTERS — TAP TO JUMP THE PLAYER
1:22Stone Depot history and Kyle’s background — Origins of Stone Depot (1994, Ken Timmins), its evolution from installation to premium retail, and Kyle MacDonald’s path from NSCC Horticulture to red-seal journeyman installer to acquiring the business.6:40Permacon and the large-format paver trend — Kevin McGinnis introduces Permacon’s dealer-network model; the shift to larger smooth pavers (Mega Melville slabs), vacuum lifters, and rental equipment that offsets the labor shortage.11:40Product range: outdoor living, fire features, and one-stop-shop strategy — Comprehensive product mix described — pavers, retaining walls, curbing, fire pits, propane burners, landscape lighting, outdoor kitchens, barbecue slab cutting — and the rationale for being a one-stop shop.24:40Moving commercial: Richmond Yard and Fredericton city project — Stone Depot’s deliberate push into commercial (from ~residential-dominant); details on the Richmond Yard mixed-use development in Halifax (18,000 sq ft of boulevard pavers, Air-Tech planters, Melville retaining wall) and a Fredericton city-extension project.31:10Sales mix, masonry growth, and the supplier’s process into commercial jobs — 33/67 masonry-to-landscape split discussed; how commercial jobs are won (architect spec → tender → value-engineer); direct-ship logistics for large volumes; builder expectations for reliability.40:00Trades labor shortage: masons, aging workforce, and the recruiter problem — Data point that the average Nova Scotia mason is in their 50s; shortage affects all trades not just masonry; machines help but can’t replace skilled masons; veneer-installation failures when unqualified installers try to skip the trade.47:50Influencer trades, young people, and industry promotion — How social media (Instagram, YouTube, Permacon’s Elevate seminar) can attract young people; the ‘tradesperson as influencer’ angle; Stone Depot’s rebranding to shed a ‘dated’ image; Kevin’s Phil Jackson-style stakeholder management philosophy.59:10Commercial expansion outlook and wrap-up — Bullish outlook on Nova Scotia commercial growth; Stone Depot’s readiness to serve NB and NL contractors; closing hockey chat about the Halifax Mooseheads in the Memorial Cup finals.
// THE INTRO
Host Daniel Arsenault sits down with Kyle MacDonald (CEO, Stone Depot), Andrew Pepper (Head of Sales, Stone Depot), and Kevin McGinnis (Atlantic Sales Lead, Permacon) to trace the Stone Depot’s evolution from a 1994 landscaping-installation company into Atlantic Canada’s premier masonry and outdoor-living product retailer. The conversation covers: Kyle’s journey from red-seal journeyman installer to owner; the eye-opening culture shift of moving from the contractor side of the counter to the supplier side; the large-format paver trend (Mega Melville slabs, vacuum lifters, polymeric sand) and the equipment-rental model that helps smaller contractors access premium gear; the Richmond Yard (Halifax) commercial project as Stone Depot’s marquee commercial debut; the Mason labour shortage crisis and aging workforce data from the Permacon Elevate seminar; and opportunities for tradespeople to build audiences as social-media influencers. The episode also features a mid-interview sponsor read for Stone Depot itself, plus brief NHL hockey chat at the close.
// THE LESSONS
See all 10 lessons ▸Buying a supplier business you previously bought from gives you instant empathy for their operational juggling act — and lets you course-correct your own demanding-contractor habits.
“being on the side of the retail store was an eye-opener what these guys get put through”
Equipment rental (vacuum lifters, roller tampers) bridges the capital gap for smaller landscape contractors and converts renters into buyers once volume justifies it.
“you rent it you know for one or two jobs the next thing you do listen man I can spend this much in rentals or I can just buy it”
For large-format pavers, always incorporate equipment rental costs into your labor estimate as a direct variable cost; the per-job math often beats back injury and lost productivity.
“renting this gear incorporating that variable into your labor costs too absolutely that’s a big deal”
Winning commercial masonry/landscape work requires getting specified by the architect or landscape architect early — before the project goes to tender — or the product gets value-engineered out.
“first of all the building owner yeah that’s just coming to the architect … put it in plans … then it’s put out to tender”
On large commercial deliveries, direct ship from manufacturer to site removes the need to stage at your yard — cutting double-handling cost and space constraints.
“some of those bigger projects you are just taking it from direct from manufacturer to site there’s no you know I don’t have to bring it to my yard”
Never substitute an unqualified installer for a mason on veneer or brick work — failed jobs create expensive remediation calls and destroy the subcontractor relationship.
“we’ve certainly seen plenty of jobs look awful because you simply thought that your tile guy … could do the job”
With the average Nova Scotia mason reportedly in their 50s, contractors should be locking in relationships with skilled masons now before retirements create a critical bottleneck.
“the average Mason was like basically in their 50s in Nova Scotia … so that’s been a hard thing”
Product-knowledge sales in construction takes 1–2 years before you reach ~75% competency — new hires need to be warned upfront that the first period will be a baptism by fire.
“I usually say in this industry you need … one to two years to kind of even get … like a 75 knowledge of the product”
Tradespeople can attract new recruits and clients by becoming social-media influencers who document their craft — the trades niche on Instagram and YouTube is undersaturated in Atlantic Canada.
“you can be an influencer in this sort of Industry … work on your trade and then use that to be that influencer on the market”
When construction market demand outgrows the capacity of incumbent suppliers, new regional entrants can capture commercial work without displacing anyone — the pie is growing.
“it’s not just about getting your piece of the pie it’s also like growing the pie and that pie is growing”
All 10 lessons from this episode, on one page.
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// FEATURED BUSINESSES
// FACT-CHECKED ✓ web-verified, with sources
✓ VERIFIED
Permacon is a division of CRH / Old Castle and manufactures in Quebec and Ontario
Confirmed: Permacon is a brand of Oldcastle APG, a CRH Company. Manufacturing plants confirmed in both Quebec and Ontario (9 plants total). The assessment's shorthand 'CRH (Old Castle)' is accurate in substance.
SOURCE ▸// COMPANIES & ORGS ✓ verified
The Stone Depot ▸Permacon (Oldcastle APG, a CRH Company)Kyle MacDonaldRichmond YardsWestwood Developments
// PROJECTS NAMED
Richmond YardsCity of Fredericton extension projectAtlantic School of Theology (refurbishment reference)Parks of West Bedford (reference)
SOURCE: podscope · public episode data · BV4YNPJpa6A