MC Magazine

Wiki Wiki Walls Finds Paradise In Precast

In a state renowned for its gorgeous landscapes, precast concrete walls might not be the first local object of beauty that comes to mind. But for Wiki Wiki Walls, a Honolulu-based company, nothing could be more attractive.

Residential walls are a staple in this tropical culture. Nearly every home, regardless of size, is bordered with a wall to provide privacy, security, sound absorption and, as Grant Wartena, Wiki Wiki Walls founder and Verti-Crete licensee, explains, “an aesthetic that hearkens to the state’s heritage.” He’s referring to a traditional style of wall created from indigenous materials such as lava and coral cemented together into thick, sturdy structures that taper at the top.

A homebuilder by trade, Wartena continuously received requests from clients to add walls around the new homes he was constructing. He quickly got a sense, however, of the challenges that building these walls presented.

“We’re talking about gigantic rocks that have to be trenched in, hefted on top of each other and cemented in,” said Wartena. “It’s tough work – and dangerous, too. It’s common for a strap to break, for rocks to fall. I was always concerned about one of my guys getting hurt.” In addition, creation of these rock walls was a slow process – up to three to five months for a single residence.

It’s not surprising, then, that Wartena was intrigued when he heard about Verti-Crete precast concrete wall systems from the mainland. “The concept was right,” he says, “but I needed something that fit the look of Hawaii.”

Wartena began collaborating with Verti-Crete artisans to develop an authentic look for the wall, right down to the size and placement of stones. When the team was ready to take impressions of the lava for the molds, however, they ran into a wall themselves. Exporting lava off the islands is illegal, so there was no way to get Hawaiian rocks to the manufacturing facility in Utah. What could have been a dead end turned into a road for creativity. Verti-Crete researched lava flows on the mainland and was able to creatively locate rocks with similar textures – and even trucked in lava stone from Idaho volcanic fields.

With rocks in hand, Verti-Crete laid out the molds and invited Wiki Wiki Walls to come out and inspect the pattern. “When we saw the original mold, we wanted to adjust some things to make it more authentic looking. Verti-Crete was very happy to adapt,” says Wartena.

Development of the custom lava molds took about 60 days from start to finish. The walls are so authentic looking, Wartena was able to build on to an existing stone wall using his precast Verti-Crete panels. “We matched the customer’s wall exactly. They literally couldn’t tell where the new concrete wall began, which made them insanely happy.”

A part of this success is due to Wiki Wiki Walls’ attention to custom colors. The company mixes its own stains to match connecting walls or other walls nearby. Now Wiki Wiki Walls employs the custom lava mold created by Verti-Crete to produce several different looks through staining. Customers can choose from three coral, two moss rock and one blue rock look – colors all corresponding to local Hawaiian rock wall styles.

Typically, several hundred feet of Verti-Crete walls can be installed per day. Most jobs can be completed within just a few days, a far cry from the three to five months required for rock and mortar.

Two emerging benefits of Verti-Crete walls were some Wartena hadn’t anticipated. First, the porous nature of real coral and lava makes traditionally constructed walls prone to infestation by insects and rodents. This in turn leads to faster deterioration of the structure. Because precast walls are solid, infestation and the associated crumbling is not an issue, which thrills local customers.

In addition, many residences in Hawaii are built close to heavily trafficked roads. Sturdy walls are a conscious effort to protect homes from accidents and wayward vehicles. Wartena recounts an incident in which a car ran head-on into a wall. “It did crack our precast wall—and I bet it would have gone through a CMU or other type. Yet when the owner called us, we were able to install a new panel and have it repainted within four hours. That’s unheard of.”

Already averaging six bid requests a day, Wiki Wiki Walls plans to expand its services to the big island of Hawaii immediately and to Maui within six months.

Wiki Wiki Walls, located in Honolulu, focuses on residential installations including privacy and perimeter walls, architectural columns, gates and decorative elements. For more information, call (808) 343-1176 or visit www.wikiwikiwalls.com.

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