Stoneface Inc.

The Sculpted Rock Artisans

by Veronica Badzey

Are you ready for the backyard of your dreams? Is it time to take the plunge and build the dazzling swimming pool you’ve always wanted? Let Mark Allen of Stoneface, Inc. transform your mundane yard into a magical oasis that’s guaranteed to deliver unlimited fun and a lifetime of memories.

Make an investment in your home for years to come. Become the house on the block where all the kids want to play. Host pool parties and gatherings with instant entertainment provided by hours of splashing, swimming and fun in the sun. Mark Allen can appreciate the allure of a stunning pool and with good reason: for over 30 years, he’s designed and built natural-looking rockscapes and water features surrounding swimming pools that rival those found at the finest resorts. He brings undeniable talent to the table and can create various backyard features with sculpted concrete. He’s constructed everything from towering waterslides to enormous panda habitats (and 15 other exhibits) at the San Diego Zoo to intimate backyard grottos in some of the region’s most beautiful backyards.

Mark’s three decades in the industry equip him with a with a discerning eye and a skillset that’s unparalleled in Orange County. “I’ve been doing this for so many years and I always strive for my new projects to be better than the last one,” he says. “If it doesn’t look extremely natural, you might as well not even do it.” That attention to detail is what’s propelled Stoneface, Inc. to the top of its craft.

In the 1980’s, Allen got his start in masonry, constructing streams, but found he had a knack for creating intriguing hardscapes from sculpted concrete. He founded Boulderscape in 1990, a San Juan Capistrano-based company which grew significantly after working on government and military projects over the years. In 2014, he sold that piece of the business to his son.

Mark launched Stoneface, Inc. with four of his most talented rock sculptors to exclusively design high-end residential pools surrounded by rocks, waterfalls, hidden caves, swim-up bars and fast-moving, twisty waterslides. In other words, the fun stuff. He runs the business with his daughter, Rachel Ferguson. “She is the smartest woman I’ve ever known,” Mark says with dad-like effusiveness. “She’s really incredible with finances and customer service. All of our customers work with her and she’s hyperfocused on responding to the needs and concerns of our clients.”

When you contact Stoneface for a consultation, Mark meets with you personally. “I take the project from the first meeting until its completion,” he says. “I design, sell, and manage the art direction. I visit every project, every day.” Allen partners with various pool contractors who build the pool shell and install the electrical and plumbing, while he oversees the entire project and enhances the pool with artificial rock installations. It’s this dedication and hands-on approach that’s designated Allen as one of the top pool designers in the country. His work can be seen all over the U.S. and even in megadream homes in Hawaii.

“I truly want each job that has my name attached to it to be the best one I’ve ever done,” Mark says proudly. To ensure this, he covers safety and functionality with clients before diving into the potential beauty of a pool. “When I design a project, I view it from various perspectives, typically the kitchen or another family gathering place,” he adds. His work is breathtaking from any angle, but he knows it’s the customer who will be looking at it every day.

Mark listens carefully to a client’s ideas, wants and desires when developing their overall design. “I like to give them lots of options,” says Mark. “Part of the fun in my job is coming up with exciting, marvelous ideas then seeing the final outcome. I love what I do and it brings me joy when I’m able to create something special for families to enjoy.”

What about existing pools or one that hasn’t been used in years? For an artisan like Allen, an old pool is a blank canvas waiting to become a masterpiece. Recently, he took one large backyard and resort-ified it with a 2,000 square foot cave, a locker room, steam room and sauna. The adjoining pool had multiple waterfalls, two waterslides and a swim-up grotto. Staycation, anyone?

Stoneface Inc. | 949.370.7576 | Office@StonefaceInc.com | StonefaceInc.com