Posted by:
redmoon
at Mon Oct 1 09:22:52 2007 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by redmoon ]
I haven't actually built any of these, but I'm in the styrofoam piecing & carving stage of one.
In talking to many many people about it, and researching the topic a ton, I've found that it's probably best to use grout/tile adhesive, not cement. In talking to a couple masons, they recommend using grout/adhesive, and making a slurry coat, or a really thin watery coat that will seep down into all the cracks & everything, and help hold the grout to the styrofoam better without it cracking & flaking off.
Also- the big step that makes grout more useful is that water based grout sealer is much cheaper than cement sealer. If you want to keep your natural 'stone' color of the cement, use grout of some kind. Find whatever kind you like, and go with it. Then, seal it with water-based grout sealer, and you don't have to worry about animals' claws, or scrubbing scraping off parts of the grout.
In talking to masons, everyone's biggest worries were that the cement would flake off and make dust. Silica dust is a very hazardous material, and masons wear face masks for a reason, because they're trying to avoid mesophelioma. (i think that's the right term?) EVERYONE in the trade I talked to told me I'd have to seal it, or paint it with something, and the idea of plain old grey latex paint kind of disappointed me because it changes the color & texture.
Have fun building!
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more advice . . . - redmoon, Mon Oct 1 09:22:52 2007