--- title: "Warren R. Melby Design — Stone, Pavers & Concrete | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/stone-pavers-and-concrete/warren-r-melby-design-pfvwus-pf~252374892 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~252374892.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Warren R. Melby Design" category: ["Stone", "Pavers & Concrete"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/85533ba702e0cbfc_4738-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "503 Rt 146, Altamont, New York 12009-4416, United States" latitude: 42.7063 longitude: -74.0193 phone: "(518) 253-6772" website: http:// rating: 5 review_count: 6 best_of_houzz_awards: 1 followers: 88 last_updated: 2026-08-25 --- # Warren R. Melby Design Original Houzz profile: [Warren R. Melby Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/stone-pavers-and-concrete/warren-r-melby-design-pfvwus-pf~252374892) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Stone - **Location:** Altamont, NY - **Serves:** Albany, Schenectady, Guilderland, Rotterdam, Niskayuna, Delmar, Westmere, Scotia, Duanesburg, Voorheesville, Knox, Berne, Altamont, Clarksville, Mariaville Lake, Delanson, Duane Lake, Dormansville, East Berne, Guilderland Center, MA ME NH, Quaker Street, Slingerlands - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (6 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2018), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 100 Ideabook Saves We are a diverse stonemasonry and landscape company. Walls, walks, pillars, patios, fireplaces, chimneys, arches, stone buildings are within our scope of work. Large tree and boulder placement. Drainage, stormwater management, excavation and site development work. ### Services Provided - Patio Construction - Hardscaping - Retaining Wall Construction - Paver Installation - Stone Masonry - Concrete Construction - Masonry - Concrete Driveway Installation - Concrete Repair - Brick Masonry - Stone Installation - Foundation Construction - Land Leveling & Grading - Excavating - Foundation Repair - Brick Siding - Excavation - Fireplace Installation - Fireplace Repair - Foundation Repair & Construction - Masonry Construction & Repair ### Areas Served - Albany - Schenectady - Guilderland - Rotterdam - Niskayuna - Delmar - Westmere - Scotia - Duanesburg - Voorheesville - Knox - Berne - Altamont - Clarksville - Mariaville Lake - Delanson - Duane Lake - Dormansville - East Berne - Guilderland Center - MA ME NH - Quaker Street - Slingerlands ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Warren R. Melby Design | | Address | 503 Rt 146, Altamont, New York 12009-4416, United States | | Phone | (518) 253-6772 | | Website | http:// | | License Number | n/a | | Followers on Houzz | 88 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — The Zen Stoneguy - LinkedIn — Warren R Melby ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Warren R. Melby Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/stone-pavers-and-concrete/warren-r-melby-design-pfvwus-pf~252374892) - **Website:** http:// - **Phone:** (518) 253-6772 ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2018), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 6 reviews** ### All 6 reviews **★★★★★ — Beth Gray, Jan. 2018** > Quality work from W.R. Melby design. Roy Knows his stone and has great design skills and solutions. Both interior and exterior work I've seen is exceptional. **★★★★★ — User, Jan. 2018** > When we moved into our old farmhouse, the backyard was a little-used, shady, slippery slope. Roy terraced the hillside, created a beautiful retaining wall of local mixed stone and a kitchen/cottage garden and patios to link our house with the back cottage. It was a big project and we worked with a written estimate, which he adhered to. He clearly explained the reasoning behind his design suggestions as he went along and was open to input. He mixed local quarry stone with bluestone to keep costs down. The result was paths and walls that were warm, interesting, and appropriate to the site. Roy also handled the plantings, which have complemented our herbs, vegetables, and annual cutting flowers. He has the vision, confidence, and experience to handle large residential projects and he's a lot of fun to work with. Highly recommend. Photos show two "after" photos and one "before" so you can see the level of transformation on the site. **★★★★★ — Stephen Linde, Dec. 2017** > I have known Roy since 1978 when we both studied horticulture and landscape design in college. In the early 1980's Roy and I worked together on several projects learning much from each other on masonry stone work. > Over the years I have watched Roy evolve into a true artist in his field. From designing a project to searching for and picking out the best materials possible,then installing them. Always 100%. > Anyone can install stone but a true artist like Roy will turn and move stones for the best look and fit. Roy's work is second to none. > In a world where true craftsmanship is dying and trades are no longer taught,Warren R. Melby Design shows true integrity in his projects and will always do the best possible job from start to finish! **★★★★★ — Andrea Singer, Dec. 2017** > We desperately needed a fireplace makeover. Roy was very helpful in guiding us toward using granite for the makeover. He also made sure that we brought the wall up to fire code and was safe to use before we had our first fire in it. > > We learned a lot through this process- thanks in large part to Roy’s knowledgeable experience. > > We are thrilled with the beautiful new fireplace that completes the look of our home renovation. **★★★★★ — karen opalka, March 2017** > Roy is so creative. He works with natural materials and is a master of putting stones together.We had a stone wall built, a japanese garden and a waterfall. Everyone who sees our property is blown away by his design and craftsmanship. Most of our work was done about 10 years ago, and we have had not one stone become dislodged. He is a master! Don't hesitate! **★★★★★ — Diana Keller, June 2016** > Roy Melby just completed a very large project at our home. The job involved total demolition and removal of all existing materials, construction of new limestone walls and bluestone patio as well as all landscaping. We chose Roy because he specializes in natural stone. We started the construction in September and Roy worked over the winter whenever the weather allowed. We are extremely pleased with the outcome and can attest that Roy combines excellent craftsmanship with a truly artistic eye. Roy even incorporated a bench & fire pit area into a smaller wall that holds a millstone that was found on our property. I would highly recommend Roy and would be open to additional conversation than the review space allows. **Comment from Warren R. Melby Design:** > Thanks, Diana. > It truly does look like it's always been there :) ## Selected projects - [P4](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/p4-pj-vj~6366652) - Location: Altamont, NY - Photos: 2 - [Hadley, MA](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hadley-ma-pj-vj~5523291) - Location: Hadley, MA - Photos: 15 - [Stones playing nicely together :)](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/stones-playing-nicely-together-pj-vj~2918830) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: This wall is an eclectic mixture of stone with granite from the great state of Maine being the major player and micritic limestone, bluestone, Belgian block and locally grown boulders finding a role as well :) - [Gathering of the Stones](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/gathering-of-the-stones-pj-vj~1679746) - Location: Voorheesville, NY - Photos: 17 - [Foundation Rehab/Fireplace at Melby Manor](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/foundation-rehab-fireplace-at-melby-manor-pj-vj~2833496) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - Description: The old adage rings true, if I was a shoemaker my children would be barefoot...I've been at my house just west of Albany, NY for 16 years now. When I first bought it, it had been turned into a two family dwelling. I kept tenants for several years and then decided to turn it back into a one family home. I tore down walls and found doors. The fireplace room is our old kitchen, it had one tiny window and was literally the worst room in the house. While the room is not quite finished, we have it sem… - [Wall Rebuild](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wall-rebuild-pj-vj~2530422) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - Description: These are two walls I built about 20 years back. Originally built with all Onondaga outcropping limestone, these new walls have a more select mixture of micritic limestone, Maine granite, smaller split pieces of Belgian Block(acquired at Home Depot of all places!) and even a bit of bluestone :) My time over the years spent working in New England has undoubtedly changed my style and what appears to be drystone work is not. The two perpendicular pieces of Maine granite are set in concrete, base st… - [Stone Hermitage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/stone-hermitage-pj-vj~2024498) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 21 - [Fireplace makeover in Hanover, MA](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/fireplace-makeover-in-hanover-ma-pj-vj~2335590) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 9 - [Fireplace surround up on the Bozenkill 2014](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/fireplace-surround-up-on-the-bozenkill-2014-pj-vj~2259260) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - [Drystone work in the breadbasket of the Revolution](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/drystone-work-in-the-breadbasket-of-the-revolution-pj-vj~1135276) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 9 - [Troy, NY Fireplace changover](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/troy-ny-fireplace-changover-pj-vj~819732) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - [Nano Werks](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/nano-werks-pj-vj~439802) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 12 - [Tom & Mollie's Stonewall Restoration](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/tom-and-mollie-s-stonewall-restoration-pj-vj~432885) - Location: Schoharie, NY - Photos: 10 - Description: Our job here was to restore a stonewall and add steps to facilitate future gardening areas in the landscape. We brought in a great deal of new stone, including some antiquated pieces(cap stone), to fit in with the existing look and feel of the project. We had a small challenge regarding drainage as the back door was a bit lower than we would have liked, but there was an existing foundation drain that we hooked into. There is a drain tile installed along the entire length behind the wall. - [The Wall on Summit Lake](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/the-wall-on-summit-lake-pj-vj~434965) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - [Step Rehab](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/step-rehab-pj-vj~432875) - Location: Averill Park, NY - Photos: 6 - Description: Interesting rehab project. Our mission was to remove the existing steps and replace with natural stone risers and bluestone treads. Another challenge was to make sure the railing would go back on top of the new tread surface with no additional tweaking to the existing railing. The infrastructure of the steps includes a base that was dug out, geo-textile fabric installed with a reinforced concrete base poured to facilitate our steps not moving. This is upstate New York, after all :) We also remov… - [New entry Stockade section of Schenectady](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/new-entry-stockade-section-of-schenectady-pj-vj~433364) - Location: Schenectady, NY - Photos: 4 - Description: We removed the old brick and replaced with large bluestone pieces with a Belgian block border. - [Fireplace rehab](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/fireplace-rehab-pj-vj~431915) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - [a collection of recent works](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/a-collection-of-recent-works-pj-vj~430603) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 25 [See all 18 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/stone-pavers-and-concrete/warren-r-melby-design-pfvwus-pf~252374892) ## Ideabooks - [warren\_melby's ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/22737014/list/warren-melby-s-ideas) — 28 ideas [See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/warren-melby) ## Community Q&A **Q: Love that stone, what is it and where did it come from?!?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: The name of the stone is Liberty Hill, thin veneer granite, purchased from Plymouth Quarries over in Hingham, MA...:) **Q: Color??** *(in Photo Questions)* Didn't see an answer on the colors used on this house. Thanks for your help. A: Beautiful property, nice lines and some talented masons :) **Q: Help Needed - Terrible Fireplace and Railing!** *(in Design Dilemma)* When we bought this house, it was on the condition that we would replace this dated oak built-in/fireplace and update the oak railing. I believe that the renos need to be coordinated on these two projects. We are considering various options but need help! Here is what we've considered so far: dark railing trim and dark spindles with a modern fireplace and stone surround; stainless steel railing (to match the kitchen appliances) and stainless steel fireplace, white railing and who knows what for a fireplace....etc. All comments welcome!!! I've included photos of the surrounding space to get an idea of the house. A: I think you could do anything you want with it, depending on your preferences. There's a lot of product out there in the market these days, whether it's natural stone or manufactured. It would be nice to have something that fits in with everything else in the home. I think in your application, "less is more" might be the way to go... Where are you located, if I may ask? Best, Roy **Q: Help with fireplace/capped gas line?** *(in Design Dilemma)* Hi Houzz-ers! Our new-to-us home has a fireplace with what looks like a properly capped gas line. Having it inspected and serviced by a fireplace professional is not in our budget at present. So it is not empty and cold looking, I would like to put some regular pillar candles in there to burn for ambience, flickering light, etc. Anyone know if this is a problem with the gas line being in there? In other words, will I blow up my house by burning some candles inside a fireplace that has a gas line? Photos are below for reference. First two are my fireplace. Third photo illustrates what I'd like to do. Thanks to anyone who can help! A: Cool looking fireplace, from the pic, the firebox looks good…Can I change it back to wood ?…:) **Q: Uncovered a stone fireplace. Now what?** *(in Design Dilemma)* We took down an ugly mantle with ugly tile then thought it works be easier to cut the drywall out and replacing it with a large new piece. Underneath was stone so we took the wall down that was surrounding it. We have a beautiful piece of raw Douglas Fir 13" deep, over 5' long and 6" thick that we want to use as the mantle. We would need to have the stone cut to imbed the wood. There is small hearth that is a mess the we will box out and do something with. Looking for suggestions for mantle height. I don't like them too high. And suggestions for the hearth. We are changing it back to wood burning for now. Thanks! A: Interesting look. I'm trying to get a closer look at what we call the "hearth stone extension", commonly referred to these days as the hearth. It appears that you have tiled it, what is surrounding the tile? Also, I'm hoping the infrastructure of the fireplace, i.e: firebox, smoke chamber, throat, damper and flue were all inspected before burning :o **Q: fireplace questions?** *(in Photo Questions)* Hi Is the stone real stone or sheets if "stone front"? What is the type and color of the stone and the brand/ Also what color is the grout?Thank you A: Yikes, the stone is ok, but the joints are horrible looking. What about that little piece above the mantle and also, you need a lintel above the firebox opening. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-25.*