Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i wanna make a waterfall with caves and such.is there something you guys use that looks good when dry? concrete looks like concrete.i want something that looks more like rock when dry.

Concrete looks like concrete, only if nothing is done to it. I have to agree with you, in that the majority of the concrete/grout projects that people share pictures of on this and other fora, do not in any way resemble real rocks.

There are ways of turning regular old portland cement into an authentic looking rock, it all has do do with how it is textured, shaped, carved, and colored. Most people just glop on cement, and say, "voila!". I have been rather disappointed with the general lack of artistic detail or thinking..

I get very disappointed when I click on a post entitled "look at my naturalistic background", only to find that it is just a blob of grey stuff glopped atop unnatural shapes(styrofoam blocks or ledges).

Below is a DIY article I wrote up on the method I use for zoological exhibit fabrication, as well as smaller hobbyist-type projects, as well as swimming pool waterfalls and ponds. There is also an excellent book that is mentioned at the bottom of the article, which I highly recommend picking up if you're interested in faux rock building..

I hope this helps a bit, and shows that cement can actually look like something, with a little bit of technique and artistic thinking...

Cheers!

Bob
Faux Rock DIY article

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TheOdatriad