styrofoam, grout hides

K

killuminati

New member
k I was building two hides made out of styrofoam, then i put 3 layers of grout on it, 2 days later it's still crumbly and and I could probably easily crush it with my hand. What did i do wrong. I was going to make a background but ill have to find a better way to do it. Whats the easiest way to do this?
 
postskunk

postskunk

New member
It's not as hard as it seems, first time or two is tough but once you get the hang of it you'll end up with some cool stuff.

first what kind Styrofoam are you using. you need to use something with a rough surface. If you uses Styrofoam with a shiny smooth surface or expansion foam you need to rough it up real good with sand paper, I would stay away from smooth Styrofoam all together and great stuff isn't that good either but the expansion foam they sell as waterfall sealant or the brand Pur Fill works good if you cut off the top smooth layer or the kind of Styrofoam that leaves little fuzzys every were works good too but then you have to deal with the clean up.

My personal preference is to use unsanded grout, it gives you a smoother surface which you can buff out with a light sanding and it sticks so much nicer. put a thin layer on first (not watery) and make sure you push it down into all the pours of the foam. I use my hands so I make sure it's really in there good. the actual thickness of this layer isn't as important as it making a strong bond to the foam.
then the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or how ever many you want I would make like around 1/8th thick.

try the unsanded grout that says "up to 1/8th" on it, I think it will make it much easyer for you.

any other question just let me know
-Matt
 
K

killuminati

New member
postskunk said:
It's not as hard as it seems, first time or two is tough but once you get the hang of it you'll end up with some cool stuff.

first what kind Styrofoam are you using. you need to use something with a rough surface. If you uses Styrofoam with a shiny smooth surface or expansion foam you need to rough it up real good with sand paper, I would stay away from smooth Styrofoam all together and great stuff isn't that good either but the expansion foam they sell as waterfall sealant or the brand Pur Fill works good if you cut off the top smooth layer or the kind of Styrofoam that leaves little fuzzys every were works good too but then you have to deal with the clean up.

My personal preference is to use unsanded grout, it gives you a smoother surface which you can buff out with a light sanding and it sticks so much nicer. put a thin layer on first (not watery) and make sure you push it down into all the pours of the foam. I use my hands so I make sure it's really in there good. the actual thickness of this layer isn't as important as it making a strong bond to the foam.
then the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or how ever many you want I would make like around 1/8th thick.

try the unsanded grout that says "up to 1/8th" on it, I think it will make it much easyer for you.

any other question just let me know
-Matt
Click to expand...

im using the styrofoam they usually have in packages.

139.jpg


I am also using non sanded grout
 
G

giglamesh

New member
thats what i did for mine except i had about 6 or seven layers of grout. then some paint, sealant and a sprinkling of sand. the grout needs to be the consistency of paint and gradually gets a thicker consistency as you add the layers
 
postskunk

postskunk

New member
don't use that kind its gonna cause problems. use like the kind you get at craft stores, it crunches when you push into it and makes a dent. in my opinion 7 layers is to much. It couldn't hurt to do 7 but it will get so thick that you wont be able to get carry the detail threw to the last layer and it would get pretty heavy, unless you make each layer as thick as paint then it might work well but be much more difficult and time consuming.


this is one I started about 2 weeks ago I did one thin layer, 2 heavier ones and then another thin one to fill in the pock marks and smooth out the rough spots.
IMG00331-20100515-1627.jpg


hope this helps
-Matt
 
K

killuminati

New member
postskunk said:
don't use that kind its gonna cause problems. use like the kind you get at craft stores, it crunches when you push into it and makes a dent. in my opinion 7 layers is to much. It couldn't hurt to do 7 but it will get so thick that you wont be able to get carry the detail threw to the last layer and it would get pretty heavy, unless you make each layer as thick as paint then it might work well but be much more difficult and time consuming.


this is one I started about 2 weeks ago I did one thin layer, 2 heavier ones and then another thin one to fill in the pock marks and smooth out the rough spots.
IMG00331-20100515-1627.jpg


hope this helps
-Matt
Click to expand...

I dont really know what kind ur talking about but ill try to go to a craft store and find out
 
postskunk

postskunk

New member
sorry about that I always try to explain things and then when I go back and read over it I realize if some one was saying this to me it probably wouldn't be that helpful.

so I took some pictures for you

DSC07619.jpg


A) pur fill or waterfall sealer foam. this is the good stuff in my opinion for grout in terms of expansion foam. you have to cut the skin off of it before you put the grout on, but since it expands your probably gonna want to cut it into shape anyway. top = with skin Bottom =with out

B and C) both are great stuff (thats the brand I'm not saying it's great) I just got them at two different places. I don't like using this for grout as much because even when its cured its soft and squishy, which adds a risk to it having some give a little, then grout hardens and could cause it to crack if your going for a thin coat. I have used it befor and it does work but it's not as good. again you want to cut the skin off. Top = with skin bottom = with out

D is the kind of Styrofoam I'm talking about. hope the picture helps heres another one close up
DSC07622.jpg


here's a pic of two different kinds of the black expansion foam, ones beckett and ones pur fill which also comes in a can with the twist on tube. Tetra also makes one. I'm not trying to push you towards expansion foam the strofoam works as good or maybe a little better I just lean towards using foam cause I hate the fuzzy dust the the Styrofoam makes, it gets ever were.
DSC07624.jpg


and if you do use foam hopefully you wont be dumb like me and not use gloves cause it's a struggle to get off, LOL
DSC07626.jpg


hopefully this is a little more helpful, any other questions just ask
-Matt
 
Last edited:
postskunk

postskunk

New member
your welcome no problem
I'm no expert I learned how to do it from dendroboard. All the info you could want to know about using grout and making backgrounds can be found in the parts and construction archives. I don't keep dart frogs but I feel comfortable using the same build methods cause if the materials are safe for delicate dart frogs then it should be more then safe for everything else. I fell like I'm starting to hijack this thread and I apologize.

-Matt
 
K

killuminati

New member
postskunk said:
sorry about that I always try to explain things and then when I go back and read over it I realize if some one was saying this to me it probably wouldn't be that helpful.

so I took some pictures for you

DSC07619.jpg


A) pur fill or waterfall sealer foam. this is the good stuff in my opinion for grout in terms of expansion foam. you have to cut the skin off of it before you put the grout on, but since it expands your probably gonna want to cut it into shape anyway. top = with skin Bottom =with out

B and C) both are great stuff (thats the brand I'm not saying it's great) I just got them at two different places. I don't like using this for grout as much because even when its cured its soft and squishy, which adds a risk to it having some give a little, then grout hardens and could cause it to crack if your going for a thin coat. I have used it befor and it does work but it's not as good. again you want to cut the skin off. Top = with skin bottom = with out

D is the kind of Styrofoam I'm talking about. hope the picture helps heres another one close up
DSC07622.jpg


here's a pic of two different kinds of the black expansion foam, ones beckett and ones pur fill which also comes in a can with the twist on tube. Tetra also makes one. I'm not trying to push you towards expansion foam the strofoam works as good or maybe a little better I just lean towards using foam cause I hate the fuzzy dust the the Styrofoam makes, it gets ever were.
DSC07624.jpg


and if you do use foam hopefully you wont be dumb like me and not use gloves cause it's a struggle to get off, LOL
DSC07626.jpg


hopefully this is a little more helpful, any other questions just ask
-Matt
Click to expand...

thnx, that helps me alot more lol. My dad had an extra can of expanding foam so im gonna test that out first.

k so I tested out the some spray foam on my extra 10 gallon tank and in a day it broke straight through the glass lol so I decided to go with just the sheets of styrofoam but I got (forgot what it is) but they use it in buildings and stuff.
 
Last edited:
K

killuminati

New member
k I tried polystyrene and so far i have 3 layers on it and its still crumbly like the other ones I made, would a sealant stop that? Do I need a sealant? I am also gonna try the first kind of foam (A) u listed. And if i put the background in there now is it safe with the grout on for a leopard gecko?
 
postskunk

postskunk

New member
a few questions

first are you cutting the skin layer of the foam off, the shiny part?

second are you mixing the grout real watery, this is not good? I make it the consistency of a thick milkshake and maybe a little thinner for the fist layer.

third, this is important I've made this mistake before, look at the package and make sure its not a multi part grout, it will say like part A,B, or probably C on it if it is. here the stuff I use mainly because it's the easyest for me to get at lowes or home depot
Polyblend® Non-Sanded Grout 10 Lb. #10 Antique White - PBG1010 at The Home Depot

the multi part grout did the same thing to me cause I didn't see the part C on the box and was just paying attention to the great color it came in.
 
K

killuminati

New member
postskunk said:
a few questions

first are you cutting the skin layer of the foam off, the shiny part?

second are you mixing the grout real watery, this is not good? I make it the consistency of a thick milkshake and maybe a little thinner for the fist layer.

third, this is important I've made this mistake before, look at the package and make sure its not a multi part grout, it will say like part A,B, or probably C on it if it is. here the stuff I use mainly because it's the easyest for me to get at lowes or home depot
Polyblend® Non-Sanded Grout 10 Lb. #10 Antique White - PBG1010 at The Home Depot

the multi part grout did the same thing to me cause I didn't see the part C on the box and was just paying attention to the great color it came in.
Click to expand...

I used a dremel and cut everything so yes i did get the shiney stuff off. I am not making it watery im making it thick. I used the same stuff but sanded grout.
 
K

killuminati

New member
its not cookie doe thick. All I did was cut out the polystyrene and then put 3 layers of grout and waited a day for each layer to dry?
 
B

brettstl

New member
I'm not sure if you have already fixed your problem or not but i made a couple hides and backgrounds for my bearded dragons. I used poly panel insulation foam that i got from the hardware store and then put lots of grout over it.
 
K

killuminati

New member
brettstl said:
I'm not sure if you have already fixed your problem or not but i made a couple hides and backgrounds for my bearded dragons. I used poly panel insulation foam that i got from the hardware store and then put lots of grout over it.
Click to expand...

was it the dark pink/purple insulation foam with the pink panther on it? what grout did u use?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top