Faux Stone Made With Dry Wall Compound

Application

• The drywall compound should be damp and moist when you apply it. Add distilled water to the plaster if it seems too dry. To create the look of an allover stone wall, the plaster goes directly on the wall no thicker than 1/8 inch. You make faux blocks by first putting tape onto the surface; often 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch tape. Apply plaster over the tape's edges. Once you apply the plaster, remove the tape. Do not allow plaster to dry.

Tools

• You can use drywall trowels to apply the plaster. Use light-weight joint compound when applying because it does not crack as often once dry, compared with regular drywall compound. Keep a bucket of water handy and a rag to wipe off any dried plaster. For small, hard-to-reach areas use a putty knife. Cut an old credit card or library card into small pieces to fill plaster in very tight nooks and crannies where common tools will not reach.

Types

• The stone may be go on as brick, tile or an all over rock look. Use your tape to create grout lines mimicking the look of real stone sections. For an even more realistic appearance, pipe in grout lines with tinted grey plaster. Mix a small amount of joint compound with black artist tint. Add in sand for extra texture. Place it into a plastic bag and snip off the corner. Pipe in and then smooth with your finger. This process is time consuming, but will give your faux stone an even more realistic look.

Paint

• Paint your faux stone a variety of colors using paint or glaze. When painting, you often need two or more coats. The first coat often absorbs unevenly into the faux stone. Use a rough nap roller when applying paint. You may add glaze over the paint coat for added dimension and coloration. Stir glaze and paint together in a bucket. A 50 percent paint and 50 percent clear glaze combination is common. Roll the glaze onto the plaster in sections and blot with a rag. Blotting pushes the glaze into the stone and manipulates the color for a true stone look.