About Us

Nawkaw provides masonry restoration & architectural staining; formliners and form accessories.

About Nawkaw

Nawkaw Corporation is an international company that manufactures, sells and applies proprietary water based stain products to masonry surfaces, such as brick, block, mortar, pre-cast, stucco and concrete. Contractors, developers, property management individuals, government organizations, architects and homeowners specify Nawkaw's services and products every year. Nawkaw is recognized as the International market leader and is responsible for establishing this niche industry.

In 1972, as a part-time worker for Canada Brick in Toronto, Canada, Russell Gray founded what was to become Nawkaw Corporation. He hired research chemists and began developing a full proprietary product line of specialty masonry coloring products. The products were tested for durability and color fastness in a wide range of environmental conditions. All products passed the test and met or exceeded all government regulatory requirements. While products were developed, Nawkaw application techniques were refined. Within months, requests for the masonry staining service were coming from all across North America. Within 24 months, there were requests from Australia, England, Russia and Africa. In 1988, Gray's Company was officially trademarked under the name Nawkaw Corporation.

In 1996, the first Australian office was opened in Sydney and during the same year, the first sample job was completed in England for the London Housing Authority. Nawkaw currently offers a full range of masonry coloring products and services to contractors, architects, homeowners and specifiers around the globe, and expects further expansion to continue.

How do other companies compare to Nawkaw?

We offer:

23 years of experience in Masonry and Concrete Color Treatment

All necessary travel and accommodation costs for crews are included

All necessary equipment rentals are included

All product and materials for your project are included

On-site storage, if necessary, is provided

OSH 10-hour training is mandatory for all of our Crew Chiefs and Lead Hands

Crew members are certified for lift, swing and scissor lift operations

On-site safety program implementation

Participation in Contractor supplied drug-testing requirements

Certificates of Insurance Provided

Complete administrative assistance during your project

25-year warranty provided upon project completion and upon receiving payment in full

Our Corporate Staff:

Russell Gray,
CEO/President

Russell J. Gray, as owner of Nawkaw Corporation since 1986, developed a system to stain existing masonry. In the past 23 years the company has grown into a franchised business with locations in Australia, Canada, South Korea and the USA.

Mr. Gray was previously employed by Canada Brick Company, a brick manufacturer with operations throughout Canada, from 1972 to 1987 in capacities ranging from part time summer help to Research and Development of brick staining as a viable solution to symptomatic color problems.

The University of Georgia, business department, has used Nawkaw Corporation as a study model and Mr. Gray has been a guest speaker to business classes on several occasions.

2000
Nancy Stanton, the Director of the Georgia Business and Development Program, nominated Mr. Gray for the Georgia Businessman of the Year Award.

2005
Invited to speak to the Masonry Institute of Michigan members on the specifics and benefits of masonry staining. Provided ample question and answer time for attendees, as well as showcasing sample masonry boards to demonstrate the Nawkaw staining process. Mr. Gray also authored a Story Pole Magazine article, with technical information qualifying readers for Architectural Institute yearly credits based on his presentation for MIM.

2006
Selected for First Place Award in Concrete Restoration, for Nawkaw Southeast, Inc., by the Georgia Chapter of the American Concrete Institute.

2006
A presenter at the Traditional Building Exhibition and Conference - October, 2006, in Washington D.C., USA

2008
Participate as a guest speaker at the Paint and Coatings Expo (PACE) in January, 2008, in Las Angeles California.

2010
Concrete Décor Show - Guest Speaker

ICRI Spring Convention - Presenter

Ken Johnson,
Vice President of Sales

Ken Johnson returned to Nawkaw as Vice President of Sales in 2007 to help facilitate the growth of corporately-owned territories. He was also responsible for managing, training and project support for regional sales representatives.

Ken's professional career spanned over 20 years in the brick and construction industries. His prior experience also included several years as a sales representative for the Nawkaw Midwest Office.
He is currently located in Chicago, in the Nawkaw Midwest Office, and can be reached at 630-681-1400 or by email at ken.johnson@nawkaw.com.

Bob Fedchyshyn,
Canadian Manager of Operations

Bob Fedchyshyn, General Manager of the Canadian operation has been employed with Nawkaw since 1989. During this period he has been involved with architects and design professionals assisting in situations that require specialized color matching to repaired or replaced masonry. He has conducted seminars with the Ontario Architects Association, Building Restoration Committees and has been involved or consulted on many historical projects in the Toronto area.

Bob Fedchyshyn is a member of Construction Specification Canada, Toronto Construction Association, Masonry Contractors Association of Toronto and the Canadian Pre- Stressed Concrete Association.