Our Story
The Sundance Masonry Story
Stone Masonry is one of the world’s oldest professions. It is a trade that has centuries of tradition, with a long line of individuals who’ve studied the craft for years before venturing out into the world as professionals. At Sundance Masonry, owner Greg Manke is one of those individuals.
The son of a commercial mason, Greg mixed his first batch of mortar at the age of twelve. He sometimes spent Saturdays learning the trade from the bottom up. Although he ultimately went on to work for others, Greg took his greatest lesson as a mason from his father – a rock solid work ethic. As an apprentice to a retired master stone mason from Germany, Greg perfected his trade, and eventually ventured out on his own.
Along the way, he found his wife Kate and together they raised a family and created what is now Sundance Masonry. Over the years Kate and Greg Manke have taken Sundance Masonry from a startup contractor in Colorado Springs to the most respected masonry contractor in Southern Colorado. Working with a team of loyal employees, they’ve nurtured long-term relationships with homeowners, business people, suppliers, architects, designers and general contractors.
In 2007, Sundance Masonry was honored to work on a home on ABC’s hit television show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”. Greg, Kate, and their team worked with super-host Ty Pennington to create a new home for the Woodhouse Family in Colorado Springs. It was only two days before construction was to begin when ABC asked Sundance Masonry to join the construction team! Always up for a challenge, Greg and Kate pulled together their entire team and all of the necessary materials -- then waited for the moment when they were to get started. In three fast hours, they completed their project – building the façade of the house and the interior entryway. As part of an incredible team of over 200 workers, Sundance Masonry helped to construct the Woodhouse Family’s new home in seven lightning-fast days. The satisfaction and joy that came with being part of such an effort is priceless to the Sundance team.
Sundance Masonry had another unforgettable appearance on national television when Greg Manke served as a judge on DIY Network’s new television show “Dominator” on May 5, 2011. During the episode, three masonry contractors from around the United States were asked to build an outdoor fireplace in just six hours. Greg worked side by side with the show’s host, Chris Grundy, to judge the competitors’ work. They evaluated each for their creativity, their design, the quality of their craftsmanship, how safe their construction practices were, and whether or not they finished the challenge on time. If you’d like to know who was chosen to win the competition, you’ll have to see Greg in action online at http://www.diynetwork.com/diy-diy-dominator/videos/index.html!
Despite the excitement of working on television, Sundance Masonry still provides warm, personalized service from Greg and Kate. The company has grown significantly over the years, but that hasn’t changed the individualized attention that each project receives. Whether they’re designing a cozy fireplace or a majestic clock tower, the team at Sundance Masonry offers you the most creative options, and keeps your satisfaction in mind every step of the way.
While the tools of the trade and design needs have changed dramatically over the centuries, one thing remains the same: true craftsmanship and superior materials stand the test of time. At Sundance Masonry, we honor the traditions of the trade, but build with the most modern tools, technology, and understanding of structural integrity. Our never-ending study of the craft has set Sundance Masonry apart as a leader in the industry.