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| Jolly Rogers |
| We look at the uses of reconstituted stone. |
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Mike Rogers operates from a corrugated steel shed with his wares stacked in the tiny front office and spread about the site. But don’t let appearances deceive you - Mike’s business “Jolly Rogers” stocks everything from pavers to pedestals and his masonry pieces will delight home owners, especially those with a renovating bent.
15 years ago Mike was working as an electronic engineer. He then decided to change tack and build up his own business. With a desire to move into the architectural market, he started off making cheap pavers and garden pots for landscapers. He worked tirelessly with clients, designing, adapting and working on new ideas for moulds. As the business grew he started making masonry items for the building trade.
Mike estimates there are about 60 palettes full of his products on site at Jolly Rogers. They range from coloured pavers, pedestals, Tuscan columns to architraves and wall fountain heads. His company also specialises in bull-nosed pool coping and surround pavers for pools, which they can make to fit any shape or size.
Every item is handmade in a large corrugated iron shed in a labour intensive and methodical manner. The majority of his products are made from a special reconstituted stone that Mike “invented” about 16 years ago, with the appearance and strength of sandstone. He found that normal stone is limited in its usage. Basically stone can only be bought in block form, then chiseled and carved to shape, with much wastage. With Mike’s reconstituted stone, they compact it into a mould and can therefore make up any shape or design.
The stone is first crushed, screened and washed. The dry process, under pressure and using a secret polymer bonding agent, provides a product with all the characteristics of natural stone. Because it’s a homogeneous product, it is stronger, more durable and much easier to keep clean than natural stone. It is also stronger than concrete.
It also ages and mellows and takes on the natural appearance of stone. According to Mike the stone is not just a skin or veneer. It’s the same strength, colour and texture all the way through, which means it can be broken in half to make a rock face edge, just like natural stone.
The stone is used in a wide variety of applications, from architraves, window sills, fire surrounds, natural stone inserts in bagged or rendered walls, columns, brackets for suspending balconies to mass-produced items, such as pavers and bullnose edging (for pool coping, baluster rails, etc.).
One unusual commission for Mike was for a local Catholic church. He made a special submerged font, with steps leading down into it, so that people could be baptised in the traditional “John the Baptist” style.
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Cost
Prices range from $40 - $50 for stone pots to single gate posts, with column, base, and pier for about $1200.
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More Info
Contact Jolly Rogers Concrete Products,
1 Myoora Rd,
Terrey Hills, Sydney. NSW.
Ph: (02) 9450 1646.
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Disclaimer
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