FAKE ROCK WALL? NOW WITH BASKING SPOT !!!!! edited

[chancellor91]

I think it is pretty kewl, but i would really love comments? THANKS GUYS this by the way is my first rock wall,
the basking spot is coming later, tomarrow(in 24 hours i will have pics of basking spot)

but really would love comments


sorry i kno it is a lot of pics but i just trying to show everything to you =)

tell me what you think guys

i did take off that top thing because it might be too weak when she gets bigger but otherwise it still the same plus the new basking spot and hide witha food spot under it for her letuce

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

that looks like it is coming out nice.

 

[shimmeriing]

does look neat..gotta post pictures when it's fully done.

 

[Doesj]

looks nice ! but I'm a bit concerned about the foam type.

Is it high density foam? Because the foam looks like the kind you can squeeze and it get's it shape back. This is not rigid foam and I'm not sure it will become solid enough, even after grouting...

 

[jargonchipmunk]

that's "Great Stuff" expanding foam. Once it cures, it's just as solid as styro, the outside of it just looks wet still, but once you carve into it it looks just like any other rigid foam. It's erm... "great stuff" to use lol. I have a can at my place. A lot of frog owners make the entire back of their vivs out of this stuff and then carve it and press coco fiber onto it to make it look natural.

 

[Doesj]

that's great stuff. Once it cures, it's just as solid as styro, the outside of it just looks wet still, but once you carve into it it looks just like any other rigid foam. It's erm... "great stuff" to use lol. I have a can at my place. A lot of frog owners make the entire back of their vivs out of this stuff and then carve it and press coco fiber onto it to make it look natural.

I know the great stuff foam, but i'm talking about the base foam used, not the added one from the spraycan.

 

[jargonchipmunk]

that's great stuff. Once it cures, it's just as solid as styro, the outside of it just looks wet still, but once you carve into it it looks just like any other rigid foam. It's erm... "great stuff" to use lol. I have a can at my place. A lot of frog owners make the entire back of their vivs out of this stuff and then carve it and press coco fiber onto it to make it look natural.

I know the great stuff foam, but i'm talking about the base foam used, not the added one from the spraycan.

ooooooooh I see. Yeah I can't tell. It does kind of look like the type that might cause your grouting to sort of "implode" if pressed too hard, but pics can be deceiving sometiems? Hopefully not, that would be a lot of nice looking work to go to waste.

 

[chancellor91]

it is the foam that you can press pretty hard and it will dent it? it was much eassier to work with, and my lizard has climbed on it already, she doesnt break it, so it seems fine to be, the grout will fill in the little pcokets and it should begreat? i dont get it, this is what tracie told me to use, and i figured it would work fine since my lizard cant break it, she crawled on it this morning, it plenty strong to hold her, but yes if u press it pretty hard it will dent? its okay i dont plan on her putting a couple pounds of pressure on one spot she is still very tiny, but it can support a brick? should be strong enough if it can do that right? and what do you mean the grout will implode? i dont get it

 

[jargonchipmunk]

I think the concern is that if the styro is flexible, then it will hold a lot of weight and be fine in that regard, but the grout will crack in any places the styro bends. If you get enough layers of grout and sealer on top of the styro, nothings gonna bend it so it won't matter lol.

 

[chancellor91]

ya thats what i was planing on so how many applications of grout and sealer should i put in it? cause i want it to be super strong

 

[jargonchipmunk]

on regular styrofoam I put three coats. a VERY thin coat to get in everywhere followed by increasingly thicker coats. On some weaker areas I use 4, so you might be better off putting 5 on it to be safe. The sealer brings things tofether but the grout is what really makes it strong. I use three coats of sealer.

 

[chancellor91]

and what kinda sealer do i use? exact name and brand please

 

[jargonchipmunk]

I found Mod Podge at Hobby Lobby. Fairly cheap. Just put it in a spray bottle, dilute it with water until it'll spray out of the nozzle and use a cheap spray bottle as a makeshift airbrush. Works fantasically. Lots of thin coats is the key.