I used unsanded grout for my first creations and had some minor cracking problems (when drying). It also had a smooth texture which was even smoother once sealed. Unfortunantly my main piece was too tall (too close to UVB) so I am recreating a main piece and this time I used sanded grout. No cracking issues, cheaper, and 4 layers of sealant into the Mod Podge and I can't even tell the surface has been affected (still has a ton of traction/texture).
That's good to know, thanks for sharing! There are a lot of questions about the best materials to use to create hides and basking spots so hopefully this will help lots of people.
Got a question for ya. I'm build my large vivarium in my basement before bringing it upstairs. The enclosure has a bit of flex to it. I'm making fake rock walls for the sides and back and was wondering if the grout will crack when moving it?
Sure, there is a risk of cracking but I feel there is less of a chance of cracking with sanded grout vs unsanded grout. This large structure initially had flex to it as well but once completed it seemed pretty rock solid (no cracking).
I think the sanded grout was better because it make more rocky and more realistic. I just redid my enclosure with styrofoam and grout and I used the sanded grout. It looked very realistic and had more texture.
For mine, I had two different grout colors. After I was satisfied with the grout layers, I took the other color and kind of streaked across with my to make some highlights for my final coat. I'll try to get pics uploaded tonite of my setup. I used Varathane Diamond Exterior Finish- water based for sealing. Even with several layers of this sealer over the sanded grout, I still have a nice rough finish from using sanded grout.
There's a guy on YouTube Reptile Creations who made a wicked canyon landscape from which I got some of my ideas from
It's water based instead of solvent based. Meaning the fumes are not nearly as strong and toxic. When water based solutions are wet and not cured yet, it's very easy to clean up as well. It's strong as a rock when it's dried and cured!
I also like the fact that it is a waterproof finish so I can easily steam all my hides and platforms to sanitize them when needed