In 1903, a New Jersey mason by the name of Edward P. Henry took to making his own cement blocks from wood molds in the basement of his Woodbury home. Whether quality control or convenience was his motive, no one knows. No longer, of course, are its blocks made in basements or by hand.
Today, EP Henry Corp. operates four computerized plants employing 225 workers, and serves a customer base of contractors and distributors stretching from Virginia to New York and as far west as Pittsburgh.
Across four generations and 115 years, the EP Henry family has sought to make the best quality products for their customers. They believe that the quality of their products only matters if it benefits those they serve. EP Henry’s goal is simple: to bring friends and families together through amazing outdoor living spaces. Every customer has a unique vision for their perfect outdoor living space, which is why EP Henry offers a broad assortment of distinctive pavers and walls that set the standard for beauty, quality, and durability.
“Our Best Customer is an Informed Customer”
EP Henry’s goal is provide you with the assurance and comfort knowing that your investment in your new Hardscaping project will be worth it for years to come. They want to help you make your project a reality and they do this by offering you a complete suite of the highest quality products, services, and support. Through their one-of-a-kind EP Henry Authorized Contractor Program, they are committed to providing homeowners with the knowledge, services, and resources needed to create a lifetime of happy memories and increase the value of your home. CKC Landscaping has been a proud authorized contractor for many years now.
Q&A with Mark Fuss, VP Sales at EP Henry Corporation
CKC Landscaping:
What are some of the more popular pavers and wall products in 2019, and do you see any new products trending in 2020?
Mark Fuss: On the paver side of the business, the three hot products in 2019 were ColorTech, Solidia and Belmont. ColorTech is a factory-applied sealer that enhances the color of the pavers and provides a level of protection against stains. We introduced it two years ago on our Chiseled line of pavers but it really took off in 2019 when we offered it across our entire Bristol line. Consumers like protected products – like Scotchgard for their fabrics and carpet and ClearCoat for their cars –and we’re able to offer that protection straight from the factory.
We’re also really excited about Solidia, a type of cement that is used in the concrete mix used to make the pavers. Solidia has 70% smaller carbon footprint than pavers made with Portland cement and products made with it are efflorescence-free. It’s truly game-changing and EP Henry was the first company in the world to successfully manufacture a product with it.
Introduced late in the year, Belmont is a line of factory-sealed wetcast concrete products. Belmont pavers are a great alternative to natural stone; they look like real bluestone but are more consistent since they are factory-made.
Two new pavers for 2020 are Berkshire and Trilogy. Berkshire is a 6” wide modern, plank-style paver that comes packaged in 5 lengths from 12” to 28”. Trilogy is another modular paver system that includes three sizes: 7”x7”, 7”x14”, and 14”x21”. Both Berkshire and Trilogy will be made with Solidia.
On the wall side, Cast Stone Wall and Verti-Block were the two hot products in 2019. No wall system in the industry looks as real as Cast Stone Wall. Verti-Block is an enormous wall system (blocks are 2’ high x 4’ long x 3’deep!) that is typically used where excavation for long geogrid depths is not possible. For 2020, we’ll have a new ledgestone wall face for the Cast Stone Wall product line, which has been met with rave reviews.
CKC Landscaping:
We see the quality in your products every day as installers. With the volume of products EP Henry produces, how are you able to maintain that high level so consistently?
Mark Fuss: Two things contribute to consistent high-quality: factory automation and a workforce that really cares about putting out a great product for our customers.
CKC Landscaping:
As a certified installer of EP Henry products for almost 15 years, we understand how important it is that homeowners hire a qualified contractor. What does EP Henry do to inform homeowners of the importance of hiring a qualified contractor?
Mark Fuss: We recognized early on that the best product in the world isn’t worth a darn if it’s not properly installed. That’s why we’ve invested millions over the years training contractors on best installation practices and good business skills.
The top qualified, certified and trained contractors – like CKC – get our EP Henry Authorized Hardscape Contractor designation. These are the only contractors that we refer and recommend to homeowners and business owners.
CKC Landscaping:
Mark thanks for your time, we have one last question for you. What are some of the top accessory trends in outdoor spaces these days?
Mark Fuss: It’s amazing the things that consumers are putting in their outdoor living environments! Firepits, fireplaces and outdoor kitchens are probably the most popular. But water features, outdoor sound systems and TV’s are popping up everywhere.
