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reddmann
Guest
Hello everyone. If I build a rock wall or shelf without using grout, should I seal it with something before painting it? Also, is mod podge glue ok for sealing and is it paintable? Thanks
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reddmann
Guest
Has anyone ever tried it without grout?
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Vyeguy
Guest
without grout I think they would rip it apart. expanded styrofoam is not that tough.
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reddmann
Guest
Ok thanks. I thought it would be easier to just put some spray foam on a sheet of styrofoam, let it dry and expand and then carve it. Bad idea; great stuff dried so hard it made the sheet bow pretty bad. "Touchnfoam" water based foam was like cotton candy when it dried. It just crumbled when touched. I finally decided to do it right. I cut a foam sheet to make a shelf and put the first coat of grout on today. I'm no builder and definitely not artistic so we'll see how this turns out. Thanks again.
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reddmann
Guest
Well we were going for a rock shelf kind of look to add a second level and a feeding spot that mealworms can't escape from. I'm not very artsy but I cut it out and put a thin layer of grout on yesterday. We put the final layer of grout on tonight. Sorry I didn't take pics before that but I did take some after the final coat of grout. I'll post pics as soon as possible.
I have made several of the styrofoam walls and hides. The foam has to be covered in grout. You can use a tinted grout or a plain grout. I personally like the plain. Then I paint it with craft paints to give it more of a rock look. I seal all of mine with a grout sealer. I haven't had any issues with anything by using this method.
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reddmann
Guest
A few pics after grouting. Like I said I'm not the most artistic or DIY type. Its cut to go over a warm rock hide on the left (when facing it), a slate tile cave near the right end and a moist large stone hide will support the far right of the shelf. The area in the left corner is like a feeding place that he can easily fit into and mealworms hopefully cant climb out of. After painting, sealing, and installing we will probably add a hide on the top and maybe some fake plants or vines. Comments and constructive criticism always welcome. Thanks in advance.
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reddmann
Guest
Skyhawk do you seal it with the grout sealer after you finish painting it? The sealer is the last coat before placing it in the terrarium? And also does the grout sealer make it rock hard? I know alot of people use silicone or watered down mod podge/pva glue to seal it and I know the silicone is kind of rubbery when it dries.
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reddmann
Guest
Oh, ive also read that some people seal things with minwax polycrylic spray, which would be easy, but i don't know if its safe for leos.
goReptiles
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reddmann
Guest
Thanks rachel. Its going in a 40 breeder. Whitney, one side will be on top of the moist hide which is made out of large stacked stones that he climbs on top of. That will be his access to the shelf.
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reddmann
Guest
Thanks for the instructional whitney its very helpful
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reddmann
Guest
Just a couple more pics with a coat of water based textured paint. It's supposed to be textured stone. Last night we put the last coat of grout (kind of thick), then the paint tonight. Next we will add some brown or stone red paint with sponges to darken it up and add a little variety. Then a few coats of sealer. Hopefully it fits in the tank after all that. I'll try to keep posting pics as I go.
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I use the grout sealant last. Then I let it air dry for about a week. Before going in the tank, everything gets washed with a mild dish soap and warm water mixture and rinsed well. It doesn't make it rock hard but it seals the grout well and creates like a top coat. And it is then waterproof.
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reddmann
Guest
Ok thanks. Sealant is the only thing I haven't decided on yet. Some people use grout sealant, some use silicone. I watched a youtube video where a guy uses watered down mod podge glue in a spray bottle and sprays 4 coats on, spreading it with a sponge. I have some mod podge so I may try that way. Thanks again.
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reddmann
Guest
We used mod podge/water to seal it. Now we just gotta let it air out. Sorry the pics dont show much detail, but they were all taken with a camera phone.
I'll post pics after we put it in the tank. Just a note for anyone else planning something like this: It would have been easier and it would look better to cut out pieces and glue to a larger piece of styrofoam to make a more rocky appearance, but we were actually going for a rocky type shelf just to give him more room and add a feeding space to drop mealworms in so it'll work for us. More pics as soon as we put it in the tank.
I'll post pics after we put it in the tank. Just a note for anyone else planning something like this: It would have been easier and it would look better to cut out pieces and glue to a larger piece of styrofoam to make a more rocky appearance, but we were actually going for a rocky type shelf just to give him more room and add a feeding space to drop mealworms in so it'll work for us. More pics as soon as we put it in the tank.
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