MEET MIKE
Proven excellence in stonework
My first experience with stone wall building was during high school while working summers at historic Watson Farm in Jamestown. Sections of walls would collapse from time to time and I loved the challenge of rebuilding the fallen sections to match the existing walls.
Email Mike: rhodeislandstonewalls@gmail.com
Contact MeI went on to graduate from University of Rhode Island and became an English teacher. I worked in various positions around the state and eventually in Seattle. I returned to the east coast from Seattle with a strong interest in farm management and took an internship in upstate New York. While there, I met a stone wall builder who needed help building walls on an enormous estate. I figured I’d help him on weekends while I was working on the farm. Before long, I was completely hooked. I read every book I could, talked to any stone wall builders I could find, and drove all over New England looking at and learning about stone walls. My passion for dry laid stone walls would never leave me. After returning to Rhode Island, I got hired to manage Beaverhead Farm in Jamestown. When I told the owners about my interest in rebuilding the historic walls on their farm, they were elated. I worked on walls whenever I could. The farm was sold soon after this, and I started working with a stone mason who did all kinds of stonework. Besides stone walls, I was soon building patios, walkways, stairs and fireplaces. In 2009 I started my first business, Conanicut Stoneworks. I took on various projects for landscape designers, home owners, and historical organizations but my favorite projects were always the traditional dry-laid New England style stone walls. I’ve now established Rhode Island Stone Walls to reflect my passion for the elements of stone masonry that I enjoy the most: restoration and construction of authentic dry-laid New England style stone walls.
I went on to graduate from University of Rhode Island and became an English teacher. I worked in various positions around the state and eventually in Seattle. I returned to the east coast from Seattle with a strong interest in farm management and took an internship in upstate New York. While there, I met a stone wall builder who needed help building walls on an enormous estate. I figured I’d help him on weekends while I was working on the farm. Before long, I was completely hooked. I read every book I could, talked to any stone wall builders I could find, and drove all over New England looking at and learning about stone walls. My passion for dry laid stone walls would never leave me. After returning to Rhode Island, I got hired to manage Beaverhead Farm in Jamestown. When I told the owners about my interest in rebuilding the historic walls on their farm, they were elated. I worked on walls whenever I could. The farm was sold soon after this, and I started working with a stone mason who did all kinds of stonework. Besides stone walls, I was soon building patios, walkways, stairs and fireplaces. In 2009 I started my first business, Conanicut Stoneworks. I took on various projects for landscape designers, home owners, and historical organizations but my favorite projects were always the traditional dry-laid New England style stone walls. I’ve now established Rhode Island Stone Walls to reflect my passion for the elements of stone masonry that I enjoy the most: restoration and construction of authentic dry-laid New England style stone walls.
Mike did a very nice job rebuilding our walls. He is a very pleasant person and easy to work with and reliable. I would definitely recommend him to anyone needing walls built.
The beauty, craftsmanship, and New England charm of Mike’s stonewalls speaks for themselves. As a homeowner, what was most impressive about our experience with Mike was how pleasant he was to work with. He met with us several times to help us plan our landscaped pool patio area and he was reliable when it came to scheduling and getting the project completed. As a structural engineer, who finds it challenging to hire knowledgeable contractors, I was very impressed with what went into constructing the stone wall built into the side of a hill that also acts as an earth retaining wall. Detail to building concrete footings, the reinforced masonry wall behind the stonewall, and drainage system is what made his work product stand out.
Working with Mike Minto was a great experience. I had a difficult, large new stone wall project in Portsmouth RI. There are a lot of grading issues combined with adding new retaining walls with drainage. I was looking for an old look for my project, and Mike nailed it, solving complex engineering issues with beautiful craftsmanship that delivered exactly what I was looking for.
Not only did Mike manage to turn a difficult project into hundreds of feet of beautiful walls, he was super easy to work with and stayed within a lean budget. I’d encourage anyone looking for high quality, old world craftsmanship to hire Mike.
Mike Minto repaired two stone retaining walls on my property. He is a true professional and completed the jobs in a timely manner. The stonework itself was very well done, and Mike made sure that the new walls matched the existing structures in place on my property. The price was reasonable, the work was very well done, and the job was done quickly and efficiently. Thank you very much Mike Minto!
It was a pleasure hearing your thoughts on how to transform our collapsed rubble into a handsome stone tree ring. You did a splendid and speedy job- we love it!
My family worked with Mike during the spring of 2016, and he built the exact stone wall and walkway we had imagined and envisioned (on time and at budget). While we had a general idea of what we were looking for, Mike was able to fill in the gaps from an aesthetic standpoint, and everything looks perfect. We were so pleased with his work, we introduced him to my brother-in-law who is building a house nearby. We would recommend Mike and his services and plan to work with him again.
Green Circle Design has worked with Mike Minto since 2011 on various projects. Mike Minto is a skilled stonemason, technically competent and artistically talented. His design sense and knowledge of materials has resulted in beautiful work that continues to enhance our portfolio. It has been a pleasure to collaborate with him over the years.
I really cannot recommend Rhode Island Stone Walls and Mike highly enough. I had a vision and a budget, and then found Mike, who I see as an artist who also happens to know how to gather and arrange large stones to make a beautiful picture. We spent time talking and he was patient in getting to understand me better and what I envisioned. He helped improve my initial idea and together we devised the perfect plan for my modest little lake cottage, with no surprise add-on costs, held to a timeline, and left me with not only a gorgeous addition to my yard, but a unique and sentimental structure that truly defines and completes my property. It is my favorite part of the yard and I am very grateful for his creativity, the ease of working with him, and for his hard work. If you are planning to invest in a stone wall, you found the right guy!
To anyone looking to build or repair a stone wall, Mike Minto is your man. In my recent experience working with him, I found he is a well experienced, seasoned New England stone wall builder. Mike understands and realizes the important of getting the right look and wall, depending on your location, property and surroundings. Mike will match or create whatever you are looking to do. Mike is the type of guy that takes the time and effort needed to find the proper stone and materials required to build what you’re looking for. I found him easy to work with. He listens to what you have to say and he is patient with the process needed to do the job correctly. Another thing I liked about Mike is he is good at keeping you informed as to what he is doing and communicates with you daily, if needed. My experience with Mike was pleasant and enjoyable and I was very pleased in the end with the wall he built. It looks good on my property and I have had many nice compliments on my wall.
Mike Minto is an artist.
His media are the iconic stone walls of Rhode Island.
With a very professional eye he is able to design, plan, repair and restore a stone wall that has fallen into disrepair. He will honestly propose and budget a plan and accommodate your ideas and requests.
It has been a pleasure to watch and work with him.
He is a true craftsman with a skill that brings back the true natural beauty of the old New England landscape dotted with stone walls.
We live on a 200-year-old farm surrounded by amazing stonewalls. Some more formal, topped with beautiful capstones, others simply thrown. During a severe storm, a large limb fell and damaged a section of wall adjacent to our home. That was the beginning of a long quest to find someone with the skill and sensitivity to make the repairs. We talked and met with multiple “drywallers” but could not find someone we felt confident could deliver what we were looking for. Admittedly we are really passionate about stonewalls. When I found Rhode Island Stonewalls I thought it was a group that might have some recommendations. Mike promptly returned my call and within a few minutes, I felt I had just met an old friend. He got it!!! No need to explain how important it was to match the surrounding stone. It was an absolute joy to talk “stone” with someone who is sensitive and passionate about their work. Mike exceeded our expectations and it was a delight to work with him.
To see Mike at work is to simultaneously go back in time when artisans understood how to balance each rock for sturdiness and beauty, and to look forward to the future when our newly restored stone walls will once again define the landscape for decades to come. Witness for yourself how impressive the walls are at Historic New England’s Casey Farm in Saunderstown and try to find Mike’s repaired areas in among the stones placed centuries ago.
Mike was so easy to work with! Our stone wall was damaged by a tree and he made it look better than ever! He’s very professional and is very good at his craft. I highly recommend him.
Five stars! Mike did outstanding work in the reassembly of our stone wall. Highly Skilled!
