Make Fake Rock

HOW TO MAKE FAKE ROCK Many methods can beon to add some rubble to build up the shape a little,
used to make fake rock and boulders and all achieveadd a bit more concrete, rubble again and so on until
realistic results. The price and availability of the filleryou have achieved the shape you desire. To make
material you have on site usually determines which isfake rock with this method it is a good idea to be
the best method to make fake rock and boulders.doing several rocks at the same time. While allowing
Very realistic faux rocks or boulders can be madeone lot of concrete to set up you can be working on
using any of the following filler materials. Filleranother rock. Once you finish the general shape and
Materials and Techniques • Crushed concrete fromit has set, you can start to apply the mortar. Use a
demolished buildings and second hand bricks. •throwing action for the mortar as it adheres better
Recycled real rocks • Polystyrene Givingthan merely trowelling it on. It also provides a
approximate shape to the final rock before applyingrougher surface for successive layers or mortar to
the mortar is an alternate way to make fake rock.be applied to. The finishing coats should start from
• Chicken wire bent to shape is widely used forthe top and work downwards. If you are working on
the smaller rocks • Rocks can be formed bytwo rock shapes side by side be careful to
cutting cardboard boxes to size. • Reinforcedemphasise the join lines between the rocks. The
metal bar material or expanded metal. For repetitiondefinition of these seems are very important to
of the same design the use of moulds isensure a natural appearance. Hollow Rock
recommended. • Casting from a mold The materialConstruction Methods Chicken Wire This method is
and method you use to make fake rock will be thethe best for the creation of smaller hollow rocks.
one that you consider to be the fastest and• Cut and shape the chicken wire into roughly the
cheapest to give you the best finished result. Thefinal shape of the rock. • Bend all sharp edges of
level of detail in the rock usually determines thewire inwards using pliers. • Now cover the wire
amount of time needed to complete the job. Lesswith some newspaper soaked in 50/50 diluted white
work and material is often needed to make fakewoodworking glue and allow to dry. • Now cover
rock and boulders of larger proportions as theythe wire form with several layers of Plaster bandage
generally look best with a smoother, less detailedthat has been quickly dipped in water and then allow
surface finish. A garden landscaping job will oftento dry. • To create a realistic stone-like finish,
require the use of several of these different finishesdilute acrylic paint and sand and decorate the surface.
to give the required natural look. The final result willExpanded Metal and Rebar Construction This method
be much better if you know how to use most ofis popular to make fake rock which is hollow. Garden
the methods to make fake rock. Solid Fill Methodtaps, pool pumps and other equipment is effectively
While this is possibly the slowest and most expensivecamouflaged by using hollow boulders. As the
method to make fake rock it is still the most widelystructure can be easily shaped using this method,
used due to the availability of used building materialanything from a waterfall to a garden arch can be
on most jobs. This method produces the closestproduced.
representation and feel to natural rock as it is not ofOnce you have the shape set up with the re-bar, the
hollow construction like other methods to make fakeexpanded metal can be attached. Tie it to the re-bar
rock. The materials used in this type of constructionevery 100 to 150mm. Ensure that it is firm. With a
are: Rubble from demolished buildings. This is usuallycoat thickness of 3 to 4cm apply two coats of
found on site awaiting disposal and can be used freemortar mix to the structure. Leave each coat to set
of charge in most cases. To ensure the rubble bondsfor 1 hour to overnight depending on the day's
together it is advisable to hose it down to removetemperature. Add texture to the project using similar
dust and grime. Concrete blocks and recycled bricksmethods to the solid fill method. Cardboard Large and
Even if you have to purchase these it is still cheapersmall cardboard boxes cut to shape can be built up
than using concrete. As these materials have ato form a strong structure resembling the desired
certain regularity in their shape it makes it easier torock shape. Using old boxes from your local store, it
make fake rock features which have difficult shapeis easy to create faux rocks of all shapes and sizes
such as waterfalls. Polystyrene This is a wasteand at low cost. • Make the structure rigid by
material used for packing and readily available freestapling, wiring, screwing or gluing the cut box shapes
from your local stores. The nature of the producttogether to form the rough outline of the desired
allows it to be easily shaped and produces quite arock shape. • Using a throwing action with the
light weight finished faux rock. It holds the shape ofbrush, apply two coats of polymer stabilizer mix
the rock and does not slump with the weight of thestraight onto the boxes. If too much is applied at
mortar, unlike some of the other filler materials.once there is a danger that the cardboard will be
Recycled rock and other natural materials Naturalsoaked and collapse. Between coats allow the
shapes can be easily achieved with this material whichcardboard to full dry allowing it to attain the required
is often found on site. It is important to wash thestrength to support the final mortar mix. • The
stone before use. • To aid in assembly of themortar mix can now be applied in two coats of
faux rock, the material can be placed in plastic bags if80mm thickness. • Texturing, staining and sealing
the pieces are small enough. • It can then be cutcan now be applied to the structure. Casting using a
open to expose the filler material. • Apply twoMould. Using a mould can produce the most accurate
coats of the acrylic polymer stabilizer mix. This shouldrepresentation from natural stone of all the methods.
be thrown on using a brush and is designed to ensureThey are perfect reproductions of stones in nature.
the structure is rigid before applying the finishingThe exact same stone design can be manufactured
mortar mix. • Apply the mortar mix in two 40mmover and over again. Moulds can either be of latex or
coats. • Complete the process as described withsilicone and often have a casing made of plaster or
the other techniques. This type of faux rock isfibreglass to hold the stones original shape. The full
relatively easy to make. To make things even easierprocess to make fake rock with mould casting and
it uses basic mortar mix and plain concrete for thedecoration will be the subject of a forthcoming article
final shaping. The first thing you need to do is to buildtogether with the use of texture moulds in the
up a bit of a base in concrete for the rock. Then gomanufacture of faux rocks.