How to Make Fake Stone from Concrete

Imitation stone skills can benefit anyone, from gardeners to landscape professionals who want to make their garden more beautiful. By combining basic construction techniques and artistic creativity, you can create imitation stone from concrete that looks like natural stone. Creating garden decorations from concrete is an economical and effortless method compared to transporting and arranging large stones.

Table of Contents

Create the background

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Select a background material to create the shape of the rock. You can use many different materials to shape the stone. Some popular types for you to choose from are as follows:

Hard sucker
Cardboard paper
Crumpled newspaper

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Creates the rough shape of the rock. Cut cardboard or hard foam into the shape you want for the stone. Combine different materials with glue to create unusual shaped stones.

Use a regular cardboard box to create a slightly squarish shape.
Shape the hard foam with a wire cutter.

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Wrap the shape of the stone with a thin metal mesh for a more eye-catching look. You just need to wrap the metal mesh around the rock shape. Metal helps solidify the fake stone and provides a framework for the grout to adhere to. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Use wire to secure the net frame with the foundation.

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Shape the contours of the stone. To make the stone look natural, you will bend and shape the mesh that wraps around the shape of the stone. Natural stone often has depressions and ridges; so you should simulate this by bending some places on the mesh to create an uneven surface.

Mix mortar

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Combine dry ingredients to make mortar. Mix 3 parts sand with 1 part cement. Pour the ingredients into a wheelbarrow or mortar mixer, depending on the size of the rock you want to make and the amount of mortar you mix.

You can reduce the sand and add a bit of moss to create a fake rock that doesn’t look too smooth. ^{[2] X Research Source}
If you want to place the fake stones where there is contact with water, you should replace it with a hydraulic cement mixture.

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Add water to the dry cement and sand mixture. Slowly add 1 part water to the dry mixture; you can add or subtract water depending on the humidity and temperature. The mixture will become a thick paste when you add water.

Stir the grout mixture while adding the water.
Watch carefully as you add the water so the mixture doesn’t become too wet.

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Stir the grout mixture for a few minutes. With a small amount of grout, you can mix the mixture in a wheelbarrow or mix with a suitable drill bit attached to an electric drill. For large quantities of mortar, you will use a concrete mixer. You need to mix the grout until it has a consistency like cookie dough. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Make sure the mixture is well mixed and soaked with water.
Add more water if needed to give the mixture a uniform consistency. Avoid making the mixture too liquid.
The unmixed sand will create a fragile spot on the stone; so make sure you mix all the ingredients well.
Remember what you added and adjust until you get the consistency you want. Rewrite the formula to give you the best results. Follow this recipe and use the same measuring tool to get the exact amount of water to help create even grout mixtures.

Placing mortar to create a stone

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Apply grout to the metal mesh. Use a flat trowel with a pointed end to apply a layer of mortar about 5-8 cm to the mesh. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Rock from the bottom up.

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Apply a layer of mortar around the base of the stone and gradually apply it to wrap around the metal mesh.

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Create roughness on the surface of the mortar. Create realistic stone by adding contours and patterns on the grout surface.

Use trowel to create depressions and ridges in the grout surface.
Press a real stone onto the grout to create the contours of natural stone.
Press the sponge or emery board onto the stone to make small holes.
Put a plastic bag on your hand and press against the grout to create lines.

Finish the stone

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Flatten the edges of the stone. Use a whetstone or stiff brush to scrub the surface of the stone. Grind sharp or pointed edges that appear on the surface of the stone.

Wait for the stone to cure for a week before grinding to avoid breakage.

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Wash the stone. Clean the surface of the stone. Scrub the surface with a stiff brush while washing to remove any loose grout. Make sure the water runs into the ridges or recesses in the rock to clear the rock dust.

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Color the stone. Use paint that penetrates into the concrete to cover the stone surface with the color you like. You can paint multiple colors to make the stone look as natural as possible. To create distinct embellishments, you can use a gloss material or glow-in-the-dark powder to add to the paint mix.

Paint on the stone with a paintbrush.
Add depth to colors by using multiple colors.
Add more paint in several spots for a bolder contrast.

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Cover the surface of the stone. Use a water-based or solvent-based concrete coating to protect the fake stone from the environment. Some coatings provide shine, while others do not, but still provide protection.

Paint 3 top coats. Wait about 15 minutes between each paint.
Maintain protection by repainting the top coat every 1-2 years.

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Remove the padding inside the rock. Flip the bottom of the rock over and cut the mesh so you can remove the padding inside. The shape and hardness of the stone is due to the influence of the mortar and the grating; The inner filler does not affect the structure after the concrete has cured. Removing the filler will prevent material decomposition from occurring.

Decorate the garden with artificial stone

Warning

Do not use fake decorative stone as a load bearing for a swimming pool or sauna.
Be careful when handling cement. Lime can cause chemical burns if applied to the skin or inhaled. You should wear gloves, masks and protective clothing when mixing cement.

Steps