Artificial Rock Making Instructions

Decide the Purpose of the Rock

• This is an important step in the making of an artificial rock, for it determines its construction. If you wish to incorporate lights, then you need to add wiring to the design. If you wish to put the rock in a fountain, you need to incorporate plumbing or a bubbler, which would require installing a pump. Plot out your design on graph paper so you can breeze through the construction stage easily.

Construct the Artificial Rock

• Choose a base for your rock. This can be anything from a milk crate to a cardboard box. You can even build a frame from wood. One thing to consider is the weight the rock is required to bear. If the rock is going to be structural in nature, consider welding a frame for the rock out of metal.

  Cover the frame with chicken wire, and bend the chicken wire into the shape you've decided on for your rock using staples to secure the wire to the base. Create a mixture of Styrofoam balls, sand, Portland cement and water and combine it until you achieve the consistency you want. It should be thick enough so that the mixture will stay in place where you put it without being so thick it's unworkable. Apply the mixture to the chicken wire-covered frame with a shovel and trowel. Carve the rock into shape with a trowel when the cement/Styrofoam mixture becomes a little hard to the touch but still soft enough to be worked. Remember to leave openings for the wiring, pump or pipes if needed. Let sit for at least 24 hours before continuing.

Finish the Artificial Rock

• Once you have shaped the rock into the form you would like, create a mixture of white silica sand, water and Portland cement. Think also about the color of the rock and add some colorant to the mixture of sand, cement and water. Mix the ingredients thoroughly together, and then apply it to the rock with gloved hands. Try to apply the cement mixture in an even layer--the thickness depends on you. If you wish to have the rock be uneven in texture, don't worry about applying the cement mixture smoothly. You can even add texture by laying a garbage bag against the cement and pressing against it with your hands.

  Allow this second coat of cement to dry overnight, then inspect your rock. If you are not satisfied with the color, add acid stain or concrete stain to your artificial rock until you achieve the shade you desire. Using a sprayer to apply the stain works well. However, if you use an acid stain, make sure your sprayer has no metal parts, as these can be destroyed by the acid. Remember also to apply the stain in a circular pattern to give it more of an organic look. Apply a concrete finish to the artificial rock to ensure that it beautifies your garden for a long time to come.