DIY rock suggestions?

Stan Weisbeker
by Stan Weisbeker

I need a fake rock,. everything I see on youtube uses cement.. but need something for a home show to display my product.. I formed a large rock using a garbage bag filled with paper and purchased some resin and burlap to form around the bag.. it looks good but need to make it look like a rock, any type of rock.. does anyone know of some sort of plastic paint that I can coat this thing with so it does not look like a painted burlap thing????

large rock form using burlap and resin.. needed to paint or fill with light weight coating or thick paint to look like a proper rock

  13 answers
  • Theresa Simpson Menzel Theresa Simpson Menzel on Jul 20, 2018

    Look for something like this https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-American-Accents-12-oz-Stone-Granite-Stone-Textured-Finish-Spray-Paint-238323/202056315 The link is from Home Depot but you can find it at Lowes, Walmart, Ace Hardware, etc.

  • Gk Gk on Jul 20, 2018

    You can buy fake rocks in many sizes and colors at big box stores like Home Depot, Lowes, and Menards. They are reasonably priced and then you can always use them in your yard when you are done with displaying your products!

  • Stan Weisbeker Stan Weisbeker on Jul 20, 2018

    Maybe in the states, but not in canada... the size I wanted is available but from 400 to 1000 dollars.... I Have two smaller ones but not big enough.. the size I made up is about 25 inches high to hold an address of 20 inches that I build for custom work.. but needed the rock for a display.. so its not reasonable to me.. thanks

    • Barb Barb on Jul 21, 2018

      I Love what you did here making the rock . The Rust-Oleum will make it look like a real rock . You can also spray some dark paint of the same kind to shad it here and there if you r looking for something other than a granite rock .The other two ladies who RE to the post were correct the spray paint will look like a real rock using that paint .

  • William William on Jul 20, 2018

    Rustoleum makes spray stone paint. Don't know if it's available in Canada. Home Depot and Menard's carry it. It would seal the burlap and give it a stone look. Then you can water down some craft paints and sponge different colors to give the rock look.

  • Roberta Centanne Roberta Centanne on Jul 21, 2018

    i agree.. Rustoleum also makes a plastic spray paint you could use as a base And patio/deck paint you can get at any hand ware store offer many different colors for a realistic effect as well.

  • Crash Crash on Jul 21, 2018

    Paper Mache came to mind. A layer over what you have will help with the "burlap look" and then use one of the painting methods mentioned above. Its not being used outside, so weather isn't an issue.

    • Stan Weisbeker Stan Weisbeker on Jul 21, 2018

      I put two heavy layers of kilz primer whuch closed up the holes of the burlap. Hope to paint it tomorrow in a grey look or sandstone look. It will be used for homeshows as a display . I did also order a faux rock from home depot in niagara falls which i have to drive to the states to pick up.

  • Gabrielle Saville Gabrielle Saville on Jul 21, 2018

    I fill mine with polystyrene balls (bean bag filling) mixed with a watery slurry of cement. To paint I use any exterior acrylic paint I have mixed with Bondall Bondcrete...a concrete glue and..if I want a bit of texture I add a little sand to the paint. They are then suitable for outdoor as well.


  • Cheryl Gillman Cheryl Gillman on Jul 22, 2018

    You could always get some chicken wire, form it into whatever shape you want, put some type of filler in it like crumpled newspaper or flyers or whatever, take a large beach towel or a couple towels and soak them in cement and wrap it around the chicken wire and shape it how you want, let it dry and you have a sturdy, lightweight stone structure

  • Lola Lola on Jul 23, 2018

    Try plaster of paris. Thicken to thickness of yogurt and pour over burlap. Paint rock different shades.

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on Jul 24, 2018

    I did a faux rock for outdoors. The finish - I painted the entire thing black first. Then I used other paints I had around that are seen in granite - white, yellow, flecks of red, etc. I dabbed the different colors around and splattered some, letting each color dry in turn. Once you layer several different colors, it ends up looking completely authentic.


    Sorry all the colors aren't showing - it was glaring sun!

  • Bmasecar Bmasecar on Aug 15, 2018

    Hi perhaps a little late with an answer but for future reference look up hypertufa rock on the internet. Portland cement and sphagnum moss and make nice looking light weight rock.

    Here is a link to a youtube video.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jwQZVBYk7Y


  • Bmasecar Bmasecar on Aug 15, 2018

    Hi perhaps a little late with an answer but for future reference look up hypertufa rock on the internet. Portland cement and sphagnum moss and make nice looking light weight rock.

    Here is a link to a youtube video.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jwQZVBYk7Y