Creating/Making Artificial Mock Rock - Full Tutorial

After our mock rock workshop which we hosted for other Zoos earlier in the year, we have had a lot of requests for a full mock-rock how-to.
We are not professionals, but we understand the tools, concepts and how-tos and this will be explained in the video.
For a professional job, we recommend Aidan at Unreal Productions - tell him we sent you: www.unreal-pro...
Tools you need:
- Cement (nothing special)
- Builder's sand
- Polyethelene concrete fibres
- Expanded mesh - plasterers mesh
- Thick gloves
- Plasticiser
- Masonry paint/concrete stains
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[@sherrie9241]

You both did an amazing job. This is perfect for smaller zoo's who lack resources or large funding.

[@NorthumberlandZoo]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@tardismole]

Looks amazing. I would not have known amatuers had made that. And I love the tree house, too. The serval certainly looks at home there.

[@nickilambert6575]

A great watch! Love how you guys just pitch in and seem able to turn your hands to anything.

[@lcapplewood]

Zoo visitors: how did they get those big rocks in there? Zoo: hired a crane 🐤

[@janetbmontague]

This tutorial is amazing. I volunteer at #TheLivingDesert in #PalmDesert CA in the #BighornRailroad trains. We are currently transitioning a section of the G-scale trains area to look like #JoshuaTreeNationalPark and your videos are exactly what we needed to see for ‘how to’ guidance. Since we are part of a zoo too, the fact that we found the best tutorial for renovating out mountains and rock areas from you seems, well, synchronistic. Thank you for sharing your process!!!

[@reallyemma688]

Plus Maxine is an extremely helpful person to reach out to. Knows her stuff + I appreciate her willingness to share knowledge.

[@sharonmccarrell1196]

Clever and effective.

[@openeyes4839]

The rocks look beautiful! You did an amazing job. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@reallyemma688]

I must say, this is my favourite youtube channel. Always get really excited when new vids come out. Always recommend it to people- Give it a few years and ye could make it into a successful tv show🥰

[@NorthumberlandZoo]

That’s so kind of you, thanks for your comment - it helps us keep creating content ❤️

[@lbcmi]

Great video. You make it look easy.

[@J-DoubleU]

Another great video Maxine! 😊 I can't think of, and I certainly haven't come across, any other zoo, wildlife park or accredited animal collection that brings us the kind of content that you do. It brings us into the fold in a way that makes us feel connected to the zoo as it develops and grows, even with something as simple (though not simple in its own right) as faux rock 😊 Looking forward to the next video as always 😊

[@NorthumberlandZoo]

Thanks so much, that means a lot. This type of content should be brought out by zoos.. it is odd that we are the only ones doing it. A very niche audience though! Happy New Year 🎉

[@J-DoubleU]

@@NorthumberlandZoo You're very welcome, as always! 😊I completely agree! I'd love to see this type of stuff from the likes of Chester, YWP, Edinburgh and Hamerton (to name just a very small selection) but unfortunately, we don't get anything like that. The closest we got was The Secret Life of The Zoo for Chester Zoo and Inside The Zoo for Edinburgh Zoo and HWP, but they're made for TV and slightly dramatised within the realm of factual programming. 🤔 Though they were equally enjoyable too! 😂 On the plus side, that just means more views for you since there's nobody else offering this type of content! You can consider yourselves the trendsetters of online zoo content! Hahaha 😁 Thank you! Happy New Year to you too! 🎉🎉

[@djpentz]

This is probably the most useful video I've found after watching a *lot* of videos on making fake rock. Great job! Quick question - why plastic against the inner wall and not the one by the window?

[@paulconti4064]

Awesome work, you are both talented artist's!! Thanks so much for sharing

[@robinjonson4186]

Amazing, Good Job Girls !!!

[@katiegray7239]

So great to see what goes into making the exhibits! I think you and Lucy nothing did a grand job! And the clip of Afia checking out your work at the end shows she's happy with it :)

[@NorthumberlandZoo]

Thank you! Happy New Year 🎉

[@malcolmhuckvale3763]

Great video, very informative. Thank you

[@kd3226]

What is the sand to cement ratio for the top coat. And how much plasticizer should be used with it! And thank you so much for the detailed video, I am glad that I got to see it

[@tarvindurbin5974]

GREAT JOB !! Love it.. Small, Yet Simple Project.. Thanks for sharing.

[@lindseyloo6619]

Wow thank you so much❤

[@parrot340]

Just checking everything is ok? Missed you guys yesterday. One of the higlights of my week.

[@NorthumberlandZoo]

Everything is fine! Update going out tonight 🙏🏻

[@parrot340]

@@NorthumberlandZoo Fantastic look foreword to it. We have plans to come to your zoo this year. Its my 50th Birthday in February. You guys are on my list of plases to visit over the year. :)

[@Aquariumplantenshop]

Very nice, thanks

[@lesboucher542]

Thank you for your informative videos. I'm about to build an aviary and want it to look as natural as possible, hence the rocks. One thing that I have picked up elsewhere is the use of cement pigments in the mixing of the cement as well as "dusting" them over the rocks towards the end of the process to incorporate different colours within the rock. EG I will be making sandstone rocks that have reds and browns spread through the rocks' base colours of orange and yellow, with splashes of black throughout... and so I will add small amounts of yellow pigment powder into the topcoat while it is being mixed and, after it out of the mixer, I will stir a splash of orange roughly through the mix before I apply it to the base coat. Keep your fingers crossed for me as I am only a beginner..... I hope that this also helps you...

[@bearynice85]

Pigment in the cement mix is useful as it doesn't wear off like paint. But it is easier to get the colours you want with paints.

[@musicandbooklover-p2o]

One thing I have seen done - probably not suitable for large animals where you must be able to properly clean - in exhibits for insects or fish is to add either sand or soil to the top layer, as in pressing it on/into the top layer. Using different colours gives great results and it also provides a surface for mosses and algae to grow on which provide food sources (and concrete is an inert substance so perfectly safe to use for both aquatic life and insect life) for the inhabitants to eat. I've even seen one done where the top layer had dried grass pushed into it and the end result was fantastic - it represented a sloping straw thatched roof and was for insects - so the different effects can be truly stunning. But I agree, great if the entire enclosure is a part of the exhibit along with the terrestrial/aquatic life inside but in this case the feline is the star of the exhibit. Enjoyable to watch and you gave a better ''how to'' class than those I've watched who sort of compress it all into a few minutes with most of the attention on the final finish and how it benefits the inhabitants. I could see how this would be a great feature in a garden, especially if you have specific plants you want to be the stars of the site, the mock rock would be a great backdrop and much easier (and cheaper) than buying in huge boulders.

[@NorthumberlandZoo]

Yes we have used that technique in smaller vivariums by adding a top textured coat, its just not as hard wearing for exhibits like these! Thanks so much for watching and I hope you found it useful! 🙏🏻

[@Loja_das_Macroalgas]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@tobiasurban8065]

Thanks a lot for the great tutorial! The animals will surely love it. Is the technique suitable for outdoor use as well? Does it withstand rain and frost?

[@NorthumberlandZoo]

You’re welcome! Yes it’s cement so it is suitable for outdoors 😊

[@parrot340]

Fantastic tutorial. On another note. Went to wildlife oases today saw your new potaroos mum and dad. ☺. They breed dik disk very well to if your after one. ☺

[@NorthumberlandZoo]

Dikdik would be cool, but we have other plans 😊

[@infinityswifty3271]

Is there anything you can’t do cracking job looks great 👍

[@RCC9]

Hi did you do a 4/1 sand and cement for the top coat as well? Thanks.