Stone Craft adds unique flavor to concrete work

|tab|

People are stepping all over Matt Jecker's work. And sitting on it ... and eating on it. But that's all right with the owner and operator of Stone Craft, because his one-year-old business specializes in custom-designed flooring, chairs and tables.|ret||ret||tab|

Jecker has coupled a graphic design background with an interest in concrete work to offer decorative concrete creations and other alternatives to traditional concrete.|ret||ret||tab|

Graphic design background|ret||ret||tab|

His three years of experience working with concrete is superseded by more than 12 years in the graphic design industry, which is evident in his creative hand. |ret||ret||tab|

A good sampling of his work can be found in the floors of two local restaurants. |ret||ret||tab|

At Yen Ching in Ozark, Jecker created an Oriental mask in the foyer of the Chinese restaurant. |ret||ret||tab|

Another creation is his artistic design in the floor of southeast Springfield's Body & Soul Juice N' Java, depicting a coffee cup falling out of a hand.|ret||ret||tab|

"That's some of the artistic stuff we like to throw into our work," Jecker said of the unique floors. We look more to find the niche of really doing something artistic that wows somebody. If somebody doesn't come in and say wow' then I don't feel like we've done our job quite right. That's what I shoot for." Stone Craft also furnished Juice 'N' Java's tables and countertops.|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

Commercial and residential work|ret||ret||tab|

Jecker said half of his work is split between commercial projects and residential work. |ret||ret||tab|

Much commercial work is found in Branson, he said, where he has done a lot of projects for Fall Creek Construction. |ret||ret||tab|

"It's kind of fun because you can tie in a theme for a company through tables, counters, everything, and really do something creative," he said. "There's just so much you can do for commercial as well as residential."|ret||ret||tab|

He said he has also worked on numerous homes in the Springfield area, both indoors and outdoors. |ret||ret||tab|

Those projects include resurfacing damaged concrete sidewalks, driveways, porches, patios, and decks, as well as new countertops and basement, dining room and foyer floors. |ret||ret||tab|

"A lot of this stuff is very unique for interiors," Jecker added. "We're probably one of the few companies able to do interior as well as exterior work."|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

Polymer and sand|ret||ret||tab|

The product that Jecker uses is a mixture of modified polymer, Portland concrete, silica sand a special sand used for its strength and water. He then follows different formulas to get a specific type of mix. |ret||ret||tab|

A thinner product is used for resurfacing, he said, and tables, counters or stamped works require thicker textures. An epoxy coating can then be added for a shiny and protective finish, depending on the need of the customer.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's just a formula based on what a client might want," Jecker said. |ret||ret||tab|

Jecker said he can create a look and feel of rock, stone, granite, slate or marble without the higher costs. |ret||ret||tab|

"I consider it medium price, but we're really creating a high-end look and a high-end product," he said. |ret||ret||tab|

"It has twice the strength of concrete. This brings in a product that many people like better than granite, but we can do it for about half the cost."|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

Temperature|ret||ret||tab|

Another benefit of the product, noted by Jecker's wife Debbie, is the constant temperature it holds. |ret||ret||tab|

"I've noticed that in our own home," she said. "This stuff isn't cold like tile, and outside it doesn't get hot like concrete."|ret||ret||tab|

Jecker obtains his supplies and equipment from Elite Crete Systems, which has more than 20 years in the architectural concrete manufacturing industry. "I have no doubt we have the very best system, the very best equipment out there," he said. "We want it done to the best it could be done; that's what we're committed to doing."|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

Expansion|ret||ret||tab|

Looking to the future, Jecker would like to expand the mainly one-man operation. |ret||ret||tab|

He has a partner, Mike Osteen, who has 12 years experience in concrete finishing. "Mike's my right-arm guy," he said, "he's with me on every project."|ret||ret||tab|

One plan for expansion is to design a complete furniture line and present it on an upcoming Web site. "Our next step is to create a base for furniture ... to do Internet sales," Jecker said. "We'll have a commercial site for that."|ret||ret||tab|

Right now, Jecker's operations are home-based, but he would like to build someday, and his wife agreed: "I don't know that we'll be able to keep it at the house very long. This is the wife speaking," Debbie Jecker said. |ret||ret||tab|

"My basement looks like a lab it is covered with my products," Jecker explained. But he said it keeps the overhead costs low, which is passed to the consumer.|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

Word of mouth|ret||ret||tab|

While it is more cost effective to stay at home, Debbie Jecker added that the projects sometimes take them far from it. Thus far, Stone Craft's work has spread through word of mouth and has taken Jecker as far as Harrison, Ark., and Rolla, while future projects, he said, may include Fort Leonard Wood and Kansas City. |ret||ret||tab|

"The intention is not to go so far away," he said, but "work is work. One job leads to many more." [[In-content Ad]]