Making artificial stones can benefit anyone, from the casual garden enthusiast to the professional landscaper who wants to make their garden more attractive. By combining basic construction skills and artistic creativity, you can create artificial stone from concrete that is almost indistinguishable from naturally occurring stone. Sculpting landscape accents out of concrete is an economical and lightweight option for large masonry installations.
Step
Part 1 of 5: Making Stone Shapes
Step 1. Choose a material as the base material for the shape of the stone
You can use a variety of materials to make stone shapes. There are several common materials you can choose from, such as:
- Styrofoam
- Cardboard/cardboard
- Clumped newspaper
Step 2. Make a rough shape of a rock
Cut cardboard or Styrofoam to the shape of the stone you want. Combine several types of materials with glue to create unusual rock shapes.
- Use a regular cardboard box for rough square stones.
- Electric cork cutting tools in the form of hot wire have good performance for forming Styrofoam.
Step 3. Wrap the stone shape in chicken wire or woven wire for a better look
Use metal gauze to wrap the shape of the stone. The metallic material gives strength to the artificial stone and provides a structure for the cement mortar mixture to adhere to.
Use spiral ties on the wire to secure the wire frame to the stone base
Step 4. Smooth the stone arch
To make the stone look very natural, bend it and form a wire around the shape of the stone. Natural stone has holes as well as folds; Copy the shape by pressing the wire in several places to create an uneven surface.
Part 2 of 5: Mixing Mortar
Step 1. Combine dry ingredients for mortar mix
Mix 3 parts sand with 1 part portland cement (portland cement). Put all of these ingredients into a bucket, wheelbarrow, or concrete mixer (molen), depending on the size of the stone you are making and the amount of mortar mixed.
You can reduce the amount of sand, and add 1 part peat moss (moss and other organic matter that has been composted) to make the artificial stone more porous/absorbent
Step 2. Add water to the mortar and dry sand mixture
Slowly add 1 part water to the dry mixture; You may need to add more or less water depending on the humidity level and temperature. When you add water, the mixture will turn into a thick dough.
- Stir the water in the mortar mixture as you pour.
- When adding water, be careful not to get the mixture too wet.
Step 3. Stir the mortar mixture for a few minutes
Stir the mixture in the bucket/cart for a few minutes, or turn on the concrete mixer. You'll need to stir the mortar to get a soft cookie dough-like consistency.
- Make sure the dough is fully mixed and has a uniform level of wetness.
- If necessary add more water to get a thick dough. You don't need to make the mixture runny.
- Unmixed sand lumps will cause brittle points in the artificially formed rock; make sure to thoroughly mix all the ingredients.
Part 3 of 5: Sculpting Artificial Stone
Step 1. Adhere the mortar mixture to the wire surface
Use a roskam or a sharp-edged trowel-which is usually used for laying brick walls-to attach a layer of mortar 5.08-7.50 cm thick to the wire frame.
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Shape the rock from the bottom to the top.
Make Fake Rocks with Concrete Step 8Bullet1 - Make a layer of mortar around the base of the stone then work your way up around the wire frame.
Step 2. Add texture to the mortar
Make the rock look realistic by adding contours and patterns to the surface of the mortar.
- Use a trowel or trowel to make holes and folds in the mortar surface.
- Press real stone into the mortar to stamp the texture of the stone.
- Press a piece of sea sponge or rub the paper into the mortar to create a speckled appearance.
- Wrap your hands in a plastic bag then press them into the mortar to give it a wrinkled feel.
Step 3. Perform rock treatment for 30 days in a dry location
The curing process is the result of a chemical reaction, not the cement drying process. Although 75% of the treatment process is completed within a week, it may take a month for the cement to be fully cured.
- Flush the surface of the stone with small jets of water (like dew drops) every few days during the treatment process.
- Do not expose the cement to direct sunlight to prevent cracking.
- Cover the stone with a plastic sheet during the treatment process.
Part 4 of 5: Refining Artificial Stones
Step 1. Scrape the stone to smooth the edges
Use a scouring stone or a hard wire bristle brush to scrub the surface of the stone. Scrape off any sharp or pointed edges of the rock surface.
Let the stone go through the treatment process for one week before scraping. This is to prevent the stone from being crushed
Step 2. Wash the stone
Rinse the stone surface thoroughly. Brush the surface of the stone with a wire brush while washing it to remove any loose mortar. Be sure to rinse any creases or holes in the stone to remove any dust.
Step 3. Color the stone to give it a natural look
To coat the surface of artificial stone, use a type of dye that can seep into the concrete. Choose the color you like. You can apply multiple colors for a very natural look.
- Apply color to the surface of the artificial stone using a paint brush.
- Add a sense of depth to the coloring by using more than one color.
- Apply more color to some areas for a darker contrast.
Step 4. Coat the stone with sealant
Sealant is a gap-filling adhesive as well as a coating that protects the stone so that water/dust/dirt does not seep into it. Use water or a water-based concrete sealant to protect the artificial stone from the elements. Some types of sealants give a glossy appearance while others are not shiny but still provide protection.
- Apply 3 coats of sealant. Wait about 15 minutes between each coat.
- Maintain the sealant layer by repeating the coating every 1-2 years.
Step 5. Remove the inside of the rock
Cut or scrape the material you used to form the rock- styrofoam, newspaper, etc. The shape and strength of artificial stone actually comes from the mortar and wireframe; After the concrete has gone through the curing process, the inner material is no longer a structure. Avoid rotting the inner material by removing it before placing the artificial stone in the outer space.
Part 5 of 5: Creating a Landscape with Artificial Stones
Step 1. Decide where you want to place the artificial stone
Artificial stone can be used as part of a water feature, bordering a walkway, or as an accent in a garden/park. Determine the best location for the artificial stone according to its size and appearance.
Step 2. Dig a small indentation where the artificial stone will be placed
Place the rock somewhere and trace the end of the rock with a stick or spade. Dig a hole measuring 2.54-5.08 cm following the shape of the rock surface that you have traced. Placing the tip of the rock under the ground will give the natural appearance of the rock rising to the ground.
Step 3. Place the artificial stone into the hole
Push the soil and small rocks that are blocking the tip of the artificial rock to blend the rock into the landscape. Build multiple stones to enliven the rock landscape.
Warning
- Don't try to use artificial landscape stone as a weight bearing installation for a swimming pool or hot tub.
- Post a warning when you are working with cement. Lime can cause chemical burns if it gets on your skin or is inhaled into your lungs. Wear gloves and a mask when mixing cement.
