How to Make Styrofoam Patio Stones

Styrofoam is an extremely versatile material with countless applications. If properly coated, it becomes waterproof as well, which allows you to use it outdoors without fear of decomposition. Due to Styrofoam's strength and lightness, it is particularly well-suited as a material from which to make artificial stone. If you find genuine patio stones too expensive, feel the need to be able to easily toss your stepping-stones about, or simply find a perverse pleasure in deceiving your friends regarding the material composition of your lawn ornaments---making artificial replicas out of Styrofoam is the project for you.

Solid Styrofoam board
Pencil
Scissors
Posterboard
Heated wire cutter
Soldering iron
Latex or acrylic paint
Clear polyurethane coating

Instructions

- 1
  Draw a pattern for your patio stones on posterboard and cut it out. Trace this pattern onto the Styrofoam board as many times as needed.
- 2
  Cut out the Styrofoam stone shapes using a heated wire cutter. This will melt the Styrofoam as it cuts, preventing the mess of little foam pellets that would result if you were to use a utility knife.
- 3
  Taper the edges of the stones with a soldering iron, if so desired. If you want to make the surface of the stones uneven, you can do this with the soldering iron as well, burning indentations and divots into the top of the foam stone.
- 4
  Paint the stones with acrylic or latex paint, using a color that is similar to genuine stone. Avoid oil or spray paints, as these will eat away at the Styrofoam. Mottle the surface with different colors to achieve a particularly realistic effect.
- 5
  Coat the finished stones with polyurethane, to protect them against the elements.

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