Questions about fake rock building

[Phoebe]

So today someone had some big pieces of polystrine in their front garden after recieving a new TV and they let me have them, so i'm wondering if I should clean them/how to clean them before I start making my fake rock. Also after making how do you clean the structure? Surley you can't bake them? thanks

 

[Slave2Scarlett]

Well i'm not really sure about the cleaning before hand b/c any type of chemical will melt that poly.. Maybe use a really hot wash cloth? I would think once u got the grout on it and the sealant that you really wouldn't have to worry about it.. As far as cleaning it after its finished I just use the clorox wipes and then use a really hot wash cloth and go back over it to make sure I get all of the chemicals off.. Hope this helps..

 

[Phoebe]

That does help a lot! Thank you, i'll do what you suggested and get to making my fake rock

 

[Phoebe]

I can't find non toxic paint anywhere in the UK or to buy online either, there's a few on ebay but it's a set of about 10 colours and not 1 is a colour i need, i want a rocky colour, grey or something. I don't know how i'm going to ever finish it without paint

 

[Slave2Scarlett]

I can't find non toxic paint anywhere in the UK or to buy online either, there's a few on ebay but it's a set of about 10 colours and not 1 is a colour i need, i want a rocky colour, grey or something. I don't know how i'm going to ever finish it without paint

Anything that is latex or water based is non toxic..

 

[joeyb504]

you can use diffrent colors of grout

 

[Trogdorpheus]

You don't need to wash the polystyrene, you're gonna grout it and seal it so there's really no point. But if it makes you feel better, then yeah, mild soap and water.

 

[Phoebe]

Thanks for the replies. I didn't bother washing just wiped over and then grouted and sealed and I managed to find some non toxic paint on the internet eventually, it's all done and ready to go in, but my beardie hates it, i made him a platform and a cave, we put them in and he black bearded and he ran out his tank and onto his wood that we took out and sat on it until we put it back in :/ the tank isn't big enough for both pieces of wood and a cave and platform and i feel really disappointed i wanted him to like it

 

[Sashee]

Maybe he just needs some time to adjust? Like relocation stress, maybe?

 

[Ibdmc6]

Give him time. Did u use a weatherproof sealant over the paint? If your bd poops in the cage at all (ie on the fake rock) you'll need to do that.

I wouldn't think you need a water based paint if you're gonna have to seal over it anyway. I used the rock-like spray paint after grouting and before sealing.

 

[Phoebe]

Yeah I thought maybe in time he'd get used to it but I don't want to cause him stress he obviously really likes his wood, and my paint was water based non toxic, apparently if he poo's on it I can just wipe it clean