Exclusive distributor Oldcastle Coastal specifies product from new Florida showroom
When Rob VanWinkle (‘90s music icon Vanilla Ice) tours your brand new, 10,000 square foot showroom to specify building products for a home renovation on his DIY Network show, you pull out all the stops.
Now in its fifth season, The Vanilla Ice Project broadcasts to more than 28 million viewers, following VanWinkle and his champagne tastes through a series of tough home improvement projects on tight deadlines. In early 2015, VanWinkle scheduled a tour of Oldcastle Coastal’s Pompano Beach facility to select building products for a home renovation near the Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach. Widely known for its expertise in supplying masonry and hardscape products, Oldcastle Coastal has more than 13 locations throughout Florida.
“Rob prefers using the latest and greatest building materials, and also has to complete the projects on short deadlines,” said Patrick Knapik, Regional Sales Representative at Oldcastle Coastal, which exclusively distributes Cultured Stone® by Boral® manufactured stone veneers within the Florida peninsula. “Through our relationship with Boral, we knew their products would be a perfect match for Rob’s individual design tastes – he does not hesitate to look for the highest quality items, no matter the cost.”
With only a few weeks to prepare for the visit, Oldcastle Coastal wanted to fill its new showroom with best-in-class cladding products to capture Rob’s attention. Todd Onisko of Boral’s customer service team worked tirelessly to ensure custom 2.5’ x 2.5’ mortared-in panels of Cultured Stone® by Boral® made it to the showroom in less than two weeks.
“Oldcastle Coastal wanted to display a larger sample of the Cultured Stone® products rather than show Rob a brochure or hand sample,” said Chad Tennant, Area Sales Manager representing Cultured Stone® by Boral® and Boral Bricks. ”They knew that presentation would make the difference between having a general idea about the products’ texture and color, and being able to visualize how it would work within the project.”
The preparation paid off. VanWinkle saw Cultured Stone® by Boral® as a great fit for the project, and it was selected for both interior and exterior applications. Sevilla™ Country Ledgestone was chosen for the front exposure of the home; Chardonnay Pro-Fit® Alpine Ledgestone was chosen for the interior kitchen, bedrooms, outdoor barbecue, and elsewhere.
Inspired builders like VanWinkle recognize Cultured Stone® by Boral® both for its ability to capture the beauty of natural stone and ease of installation. Not only does the product help beautify spaces, but also allows builders to keep a focus on environmental consciousness and responsibility.
A key component of the tour and selection process was Oldcastle Coastal’s intimate knowledge of Cultured Stone® by Boral®, from its development with green manufacturing practices to its many styles and colors. At this stage, however, this project was just ramping up and there was work to be done before the product was ready for installation.
In order to complete the order for Sevilla™ Country Ledgestone (a brand new product in the Cultured Stone® by Boral® line) on time and under budget, Tennant first contacted Boral’s corporate office and its Napa Valley, California plant manager to determine a timeframe for production. The show’s production schedule only allowed for a five-week delivery window, so Boral and Oldcastle stepped up to meet expectations. Next, the shipment was tracked from the West Coast through Boral’s East Coast plant in Chester, S.C., all the way to Pompano Beach.
“This was a challenging project in terms of strict deadlines and turnaround times, but our customer service and logistics team did everything behind the scenes to make it a success,” said Tennant. “We worked closely with Oldcastle Coastal to ensure that the product arrived in time. It’s a credit to great communication that the order was completed ahead of schedule.”
For its part, installation was simple and hassle-free, and the finished product highlighted the unique design elements of Cultured Stone® by Boral® veneers for a dramatic, beautiful look in all different parts of the home.
VanWinkle was ecstatic about the finished product, which is currently expected to sell for approximately $3 million. Not only was the Cultured Stone® by Boral® delivered in time, but it also fit the glamorous design style of The Vanilla Ice Project to the letter. From the authentic textures and shapes of Sevilla™ Country Ledgestone, to the rustic appearance of Chardonnay Pro-Fit® Alpine Ledgestone on the interior, the renovated home now has a flair all its own.
“Rob has a flashy style that stand outs with the products he uses,” said Knapik, who is now working with VanWinkle for a project to be featured on Season 6 of the show. “I’ve never seen anything like the jellyfish aquarium he installed – visible from the kitchen and living room – where we wrapped Chardonnay Pro-Fit® Alpine Ledgestone. It was one of the most eye-catching projects I’ve ever been a part of.”
