Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 02, 1999 10:52pm | #1

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   I've built a lot of that for inside out of foam and cloth and mud but don't think that's what you're after. Last year I did a behind the scenes tour at the local (Brookfield) zoo. They have all their own artisans on staff and they showed how they made the different fake rock enclosures, etc., for bears and lions and so on. Basically they use either gunnite or shotcrete - owning both and difference being post mix vs. pre mix - and trowels and - sometimes - some molds. Some is on wire lath, other is "bonded" to formed base.

   Now, if your looking for "how to sculpt the rock" details, afraid I'm not so good at that. The scenic people use lots of photos as reference.

   Have you tried finding the contractors that the themed entertainment people use?

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   Fred_Matthews | Feb 03, 1999 09:45am | #2

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   Try zoos. The San Diego Zoo and the North Carolina Zoo outside of Charlotte both incorporate much of this pseudo-rock landscape. It always amazes me how nice a job they do- I assume it is shotcrete (gunite), but the color variation definitely has to involve some artistic talent. Maybe you can find someone at these facilities such as an in-house project engineer/architect/construction mgr./clerk-of-the-works who could help you.

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   Don_Papenburg | Apr 23, 1999 08:58am | #3

   *Mike; Just read your post. If you want to make flat rock walls place poly sheets over sand,pea gravel or road rock. Form your rock with 2xs or plywood strips. Pull the poly tite,pour with a 6to8inch slump concrete. viberate well or workthe concrete by tamping as you are filling the form. put in lift rings they will make the job of fastening easier. Good luck have fun. Pappy.

3. 
   Guest_ | May 17, 1999 09:30am | #4

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   Seems like there was a program on This Old House a couple months ago where they were making phony outcroppings at an Arizona house or something like that.

   They used a rubber mould of some of the rock texture and applied it to a gunite like plaster surface. When finished I think they used an airbrush or something to give color & weathering effects.

   Some rocks can probably be made up of a #3 rebar frame covered with chicken wire and then some kind of stucco. One trick a landscape architect friend told me is when positioning boulders, to sink them halfway or more into the dirt or mound so they don't look like they were just "dropped" there. It should look like the mound is there because the rocks are. Landscaping hides the rough edges.

   You'll probably need to study a particular type or style of rock that is easy to imitate and comes off well.

   I wouldn't assume that the first try will work well. Your first rock should be somewhere inconspicuous, the last rock you do should be the most dominant, most visible one. Contrary to one's natural impulses.

4. 
   mike_worley | May 17, 1999 09:31am | #5

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   I am looking for information on the construction of artificial stone such as see at places like Disney ot other theme parks. Living in Clearwater Florida there isn't much natural stone to choose from. Only limestone. Everything else is trucked in at great expense. I have a job that calls for a large amount of stone to be incorporated into the landscape design which carries over into the design of the house. The homesite is rare in that there is actually a small hill. The design capitalizes on that aspect of the property and the idea is to give the illusion of the house being built into a small cliff or outcropping of stone. I have studied the stone work at places like Disney but haven't ever seen anything published or found anyone willing to share the "technique". Is there anyone out there that could help?