Question regarding DIY backgrounds\hides

[john6six]

My daughter and I are building an enclosure for her future BD. I would like to create the background and accessories with the polystyrene and grout methods I see here and on youtube. My question is, once these are built and coated, could they serve as a basking platform or would being directly under the basking lamp be too hot for the structure?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Taterbug]

I used one as a basking for about a year with no problems. Polystyrene is a pretty strong material, and isn't so sensitive to heat; it doesn't melt/soften until over 200F. The grout basically becomes a thin shell of stone and pretty durable if you get it on right.

I use the foam board insulation for many projects, and so far the only things that really cause a problem are my glue gun when it's set to high temp, and superglue which dissolves the foam.

 

[john6six]

Thanks. We were discussing the theme and the basking area is an extension of that and might not look right if we had to make that from a different material.

 

[Taterbug]

I would recommend that any part used as a basking or climbing furniture be easily removable. Poop can hard to get off.
Mine was sealed, and I could take it outside and spray it off with the hose.