Hidden Gems: Meet Drue Hernandez-Warwick of Heritage Tile & Stone

Today we’d like to introduce you to Drue Hernandez-Warwick.

Hi Drue, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Drue – I started in the construction industry back when I was in my sophomore year of high school at St. Thomas Aquinas in Overland Park. Working with a friend’s dad through those years showed me what I wanted to pursue out of school. I attempted to pursue a degree in Construction Science & Management at K-State before returning to Kansas City to work for a Home Remodeling Contractor, where we primarily did basement and bathroom remodels. Finding a love for tile, I left to work for a custom high-end residential tile contractor, where I worked until I went to experience tile in the commercial side of the industry. Realizing the commercial world was not for me and found a desire to help the industry grow in the right direction. I jumped to opening my own business, where I worked alone for 3 years before partnering up with Irving Bustamante, who I met working for the high-end tile contractor in town. For the past 2 years, we have been working to push our company to new limits and always striving to go above and beyond in our installations.

Irving – I started my career off by working for a custom high-end tile installation specialist right off the bat, where I learned all the technical aspects that are crucial for making a tile installation not only aesthetically pleasing but also a functional surface in our client’s homes that will last decades to come. After working for a couple of different companies in town. I saw where the owners were failing, from not communicating project details to homeowners & clients to not even having their employees on payroll or covering them with Worker’s Compensation insurance. I knew I had a chance to make a difference in our tile community in Kansas City. After working solo for 3 years, I partnered with Drue Hernandez- Warwick. Together we have made great strides toward getting our company to the standard we have set for ourselves, and we are still pushing strong.

You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
The thing with our industry and I’m most business owners across the board can agree on is this journey is one giant roller coaster. I won’t say we have had a smooth road, but we have been blessed with an amazing Project Manager, Erik Reifschneider, who has made our lows much more bearable. We need help with getting people and main contractors or people in the construction industry to understand that tile is not a trade where anyone can pick up a trowel and perform to the level required for a tile surface to stand up to the test of time. I can’t tell you how often we will engage with a new contractor who “is happy with the current guy but is exploring new avenues of labor” and who proceeds to tell us we are too expensive. Their current contractor can do it for half the price, then a week later, is asking us to remedy a leaky shower pan in a brand new home built a year ago or a heated bathroom floor that won’t heat in months old due to the installer error. Our industry is struggling overall, and we believe that our industry desperately needs licensing and regulations as much as the electrical and plumbing industry. Many decisions are based on pricing. We urge our clients to understand that when choosing a tile contractor, the number one consideration should always be which company is the most qualified. It is much cheaper and easier to choose the option that will have to be done once in a time frame of two to three decades versus having to redo it all again, even if it’s five years later due to a poor installation.

As you know, we’re big fans of Heritage Tile & Stone. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Tile is the most functional and long-lasting decorative covering, and we know what it takes to replicate what has come before us. Here at Heritage Tile & Stone, we strive to build a legacy that parallels the great history that tile has created. From thousand-year-old mosaic masterpieces still in perfect condition to the floors that see millions of feet a year at Grand Central Station. Heritage is a progressive tile contractor and stays current with all advances within our industry. We are passionate about bringing our knowledge and expertise to our clients and our apprentices. When you choose Heritage Tile & Stone, you are choosing a company of professionals who will bring the utmost care, communication, quality, and service to every project.

We primarily specialize in custom, high-end installations. Zero Entry Showers, Steam Rooms, Large Format Tile, On-Site Hand Fabrication, Radiant Heat Flooring, Waterproof Showers, Exterior Installations, and Minimum 10 Year Warranty are a handful of items we can provide to all of our clients.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Tile. It is something you See. Feel. Use. Experience every single day of your life. Tile has roots dating back thousands of years to some of the first civilizations, proven by installations still intact today. Almost all cultures have a rich history in the tile where they made it special to them. Examples include ancient Mosaic Murals that lay buried in ruins along the beautiful coastline of Greece. Intricate geometric patterns of Zellige tile chiseled by the diligent hands of Moroccan craftsmen, or even the 20th-century stonework and vaulted tiled ceiling of buildings and architecture sprawled across cities such as New York and Chicago installed by some of the biggest construction unions of their day. Let us help bring this long-standing tradition of craftsmanship to your next project.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heritagetilekc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heritagetilekc/