Easy & Realistic Faux Stone Walls with Foam!

[@ncgatorlady]

I work for a local haunted attraction making props, sets and costumes. I love your videos because they give me the specific “how to’s” for so many of the projects I do. Please keep the videos coming!

[@603VIL]

I agree. Huge help and time saver. I'd be lost without these videos. You do wonders for the community. Great appreciation man!

[@jrikkerink]

I also work for an organization that organizes Halloween events, including a horror maze in a large cornfield with various haunted houses. To be honest, I often use your tutorials (including this one) as a guide because they are clearly, effectively, and transparently explained. It's also great that you share the mistakes with us, as these are the exact points everyone encounters during the making process but are rarely mentioned in KZbin tutorials. Thank you very much for the inspiration and detailed explanations!

[@TheGhostchaser8]

I worked in Hollywood back in the 1980’s for a few years as a scenic artist. One of my projects was a commercial with the Smothers Brothers for Magnavox. I had to creat three walls that looked like flagstone. Used this exact same technique. When I saw the commercial on tv, I was completely blown away by the realism. These techniques are pure gold.

[@viniciuslima9430]

I have respect when people add their mistakes in crafting. The best/most frustrating part of craft is learning from mistakes.

[@MysticTempleCreations]

I totally agree 😁

[@HLR4th]

Forgive me, but I can not resist... You Rock!

[@kmarch6630]

Groan....🤣🤣

[@VanOaksProps]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Voo_Doo_Blue]

😂😂😂

[@janetcastellano4141]

Your work is above average,even up close it looks like true cement and bricks. Awesome it inspired me to try it out. Thank you for sharing.

[@VanOaksProps]

Thank you very much!

[@carvsh]

Oooo that dry brushing of white 👍🏼! It just came alive in front of my eyes

[@VanOaksProps]

Isn't that great?! It's always a surprise.

[@jimar7796]

Nice presentation…the guy is fantastic in making these DIY videos

[@VanOaksProps]

Glad you like them!

[@Rachel-hg1gn]

Found your video while looking for inspiration to make a tomb for our VBS at church. Thank you for posting! :)

[@Foxxy999]

I worked at Walt Disney World and got to see their scenic guys add character paint to a crypt at the exit of the Haunted Mansion in 2007. They mixed drylok with green paint to added it in little piles to create mossy details, which I thought was brilliant.

[@VanOaksProps]

Good to know!

[@midnitepagan9118]

Thats pretty cool but a pro tip . When you lay stone, vertical joints should never line up as it creates a weak point in a stone wall. I know it foam, but still for a bit more realism. Never stack vertical joints.

[@PowerChordEPS]

I ended up doing something like this for my haunt this year but on a larger scale. My facade was a cavern-like temple entrance and I used many of the same methods here when it came to carving my stones, again on a larger scale to look like they're larger rocks. Only differences were I used a router bit to carve my grout lines so they look like stacked rocks and used a heat gun instead of a torch for the weathering. I also Gorilla glued and screwed some leftover 2x4 scraps from when I rebuilt part of my deck in the bottom for security. Overall it worked out great and I got tons of compliments and the almighty feel test

[@lawrencewilhelm7095]

I used a metal brush wheel that was a bit beat up with a hand held electric drill to carve the grout lines. It makes a more irregular, realistic line. Scary Larry

[@Voo_Doo_Blue]

"... compliments and the almighty feel test." Isn't it amazing how awesome it feels when you see someone "cop a feel" to see if it's really what it looks like or not? Best Compliment Ever 🤗

[@conraddickinson24]

I've built two cemetery pillars and I plan on using this technique to paint both of them.

[@Pippi-Longstocking]

I’ve noticed that washes are a big thing. I use them and love them. My favourite technique is the wash and wipe! More paint, less water in your wash. Paint over everything then wipe away to top/raised surfaces. Looks great too.

[@ToniM10]

I love Ur voice!!.. So soothing... U should Voice over for Disney!!... Perfect Storeyteller!!.. Thnx for Faux Stone Techniques too!!... Lol ✌️❤️😎👍

[@wandafelder9951]

I will be doing this on my living room wall…..your work is phenomenal and your handsome too😍😊Thank you

[@timapiepgrass8702]

Looks like a great background for a small reptile enclosure!

[@therebelworkshop]

That turned out great.

[@cindycoleman5196]

Wish I knew this technique when I had to do faux stone for the Atlanta Passion Play. Great job. Would love to do something like this for out doors. Thanks for posting.

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks for watching!

[@kylenaumann2318]

One of my favorite sculptors on the KZbin uses actual rocks to texture the foam he uses when creating scenes. Nothing like using the real thing… worth a try at least. As always, great video! Your videos were a huge highlight of this years Halloween. Definitely turned my wife and I into aspiring haunters.

[@VanOaksProps]

I love that!

[@deborahquidort134]

Love your technique...so realistic. You do a fantastic job with your videos. I am always amazed! I stopped buying props years ago as you just can’t get a quality look. It’s much more fun to create my own creations, and they look so much better thanks to you and others who post “how to” videos like this. Your work is greatly appreciated!!!

[@Justrex01]

I could very easily see myself making some of this when I can't think of anything fun to build and eventually covering at least one whole wall of my shop. As you can guess, I get bored easily. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@Voo_Doo_Blue]

I want to hang out with you! 😅

[@bretfox4532]

I wish I found your videos sooner this year, I've got work to do for next year. Keep up the good work.

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks, you too!

[@HollywoodHaunter]

Rock on man! 🤘

[@Voo_Doo_Blue]

I see what you did there. 😂

[@pixelmator]

I enjoy watching all of your videos, they make my day. I'm going to go build something...

[@VanOaksProps]

Awe, thanks!

[@lindawhite3238]

OMG..you certainly have more patience than I would in making this project. I have a 6' section that I want to do something like this in but will be looking at other ways.....hopefully. Thanx for your videos and tips and tricks

[@asmarteru]

Nice. So many ways to make these stone panels. I will be making some but using a grinding wheel for texture on the surface ... if all goes well.

[@Yelwas]

Amazing, you are a cleaver chap. I keep coming back 😃

[@thebeardedchad]

I think this would look really cool as the accent wall behind a bar in a basement or something. It will have the look of stone without negating any insulation factors and will also act as a sound dampener.

[@hindugoat2302]

highly flammable and puts out toxic fumes when burning... violates fire codes.

[@Voo_Doo_Blue]

​@hindugoat2302 That's funny because I see Blue Board used on houses every day. And he used a torch in the video to add texture... 2x4's are flammable too. So is wallpaper, glue,wooden wainscoting, couches, chairs, books, photographs, etc. I'd put this in my cave and never think twice about doing it. But to each their own. 🤷‍♀️

[@laradas6043]

Loved the demo. That's the this I was looking for. Thanks heaps. 😊

[@billg3356]

Looks awesome, man!

[@JustQuixa]

Fantastic! Great video, information, and thanks for showing the parts you were'nt thrilled about. Sometimes creators can forget that what not to do can be just important as what to do! 🙂

[@PixPete]

Thanks for another great vid! I had intended on creating several walls like this for my display this year but ran out of time (don't we all?). So what I did instead was buy a load of 3D textured stone effect wallpaper (I believe they call it blown vinyl??) and stuck it on my flats. It comes in white so just needed a wash down with some gunky black, blown, green paints. Whole wall was done in 2 hours and looked pretty good under haunt lighting :)

[@VanOaksProps]

Great problem solving and solution!

[@rawalz1]

Finally someone who thinks about these type of things besides me. Great video thanks for sharing

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks for watching!

[@dafydd2277]

I think the effect from the larger brush would have been fine if you were looking for a sandstone appearance, instead of the grey/igneous stone appearance you were going for. Larger sandstone blocks would wear and dish out in the middle just like we see in the foam.

[@tiffanytrippeer5401]

Actually I think the larger brush did a pretty good job. Maybe not the exact look you yourself was trying to achieve, but I thought it looks good, great video by the way and thanks for sharing ☺️👍🏻

[@brbailey]

“That’s not how I do it.” Love it!

[@XroorX]

I buy an actual course of flat stone to use as a stencil. I also do 4x8 sheets at a time, and covered the side of my house. Everything else I copy from you with the paint-especially the white paint on the surface! I then plant a climbing vine to obscure the faux wall to add more realism

[@VanOaksProps]

That sounds awesome!

[@XroorX]

@@VanOaksProps thanks! I started with 3/4” styrofoam “courses” titebonded onto plywood, then draped with landscape fabric then more titebond. As long as you put something “real” (plants, real rocks 😂) the uncanny valley in all humans won’t fixate and then ruminate if it’s real! I buy a box of Airstone now to get stencils and use a Dre Mel straight into the foam. I’m building turrets to bookend my iron gate at my driveway now! Hahaha

[@SergiuszSwitalski]

despite your comment about the big brush I think it turned out great!

[@eddieblanquiz2542]

This is just what I needed! Thank you!!! Your channel rules!

[@lordx7726]

I just found you, your channel, your creations YOUR TALENT...... thank you so much for sharing the contents from your brain....I am super grateful😁😁😁😁...I shall return to pick your brain n imagination once we get our porch fixed *fingers crossed within 2 weeks*(hurricane beryl beat up my house here in south Texas n there's another hurricanes abrewin in the next 2 days, sheesh)

[@Anders927]

Lovely, building a Hagrid's shack to cover my well pump, was going to use stucco but I might use this method and also add some forced perspective to it.

[@LizzieWestBathandBody]

Awesome Sauce! ❤️

[@VanOaksProps]

Thank you 😋

[@JudiChristopher]

EXCELLENT Video... Thank you for sharing this

[@VanOaksProps]

My pleasure!

[@kinggapcreatives]

Oh, wow! That looks amazing! I found your video when looking up how to paint faux stone over blocks, but I can think of lots of things I might use your technique for, such as props for VBS or at project at the elementary school where I work.

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks for watching!

[@Emtbtoday]

Addi g tile grout in the gaps works amazingly! That's the way us modelers do it for dioramas ove xps or poundshop dry wall filler that's actually the best

[@RikkiTikkiTavo]

Been wanting to make stone walls for my display and had been wondering how to go about doing it, I think this is the type of direction I’m gonna go in

[@morganmanor6011]

As always I never leave your videos without learning something new. I think all your followers would agree that it may be time to publish the Van Oaks Haunters How To Handbook a more detailed look into all the techniques you use on the videos, I for one would buy that in a heartbeat, just a crazy thought of mine. Keep up the great work can't wait until the next one!

[@VanOaksProps]

I appreciate that!

[@codyreynolds6333]

From doing dioramas and scale modeling wrinkled up tin foil ball for texture is the best way for random stone textures

[@daleanscomb365]

Looks really cool. I've done smaller versions using ceilling tiles. Will have to try using foam.

[@jasonbeavers9337]

Looks amazing, I’m going to make some more cemetery pillars for next Halloween and I’ll use this video for references 👍🏻 thanks

[@SwissFrogGuy]

Good stuff. This technique could probably be applied to terrariums as well!

[@catherineforbes9001]

This is amazing! How would one protect it if it’s for an outdoor application. Thank you so much!

[@VanOaksProps]

It's not really designed for long term outdoor use, but you could coat it with water sealer and that should help to extend the life of it. But again, it's more for temporary or interior use.

[@AphroditeLee]

DEFINITELY helpful! Thank you!!!!!!!!!

[@meryjimenezuwu7949]

😱Thank you for your time and sharing your talent.

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks for watching!

[@andyt1313]

Amazing looking! Man, AAXA must be giving these projectors out like candy. Lots of the Halloween DIYers I follow are demonstrating this specific brand and model.

[@Oilerrocker]

That’s impressive! Well done👏👏👏

[@VanOaksProps]

Thank you! 😃

[@mister_scott]

Another great choice of topic/technique on its own, and how useful this can be when making other (haunt) projects including tombstones, natural rock work and more. I enjoyed your particular color usage in your example, versus a typical monotone approach. Also helpful in your example is how scalable the technique can be. As you noted, the gaps between stones could have been narrower and deeper to create different shadow and texture effects, but can also be carved wider and/or shallower if one were carving large stone areas. All that can be achieved from a variety of tools as well, from wire brushes to fine Dremel tools. So many lessons and techniques to learn and apply to a variety of projects for makers. Keep up the great work!

[@VanOaksProps]

Exactly!

[@chezg806]

Nice work! I think the larger brush added some decent texture to your wall. The end product is amazing!

[@trytofinishsomething]

This was great as always!

[@androidfarmer8863]

Would love to see how to do this if you have to match up panels together to cover a much larger surface, without having to work with the foam, already mounted in place.

[@gierhedd75]

Fantastic! I want to use this technique to fleah out the facade of a snow white cottage for my little one. Any tips for making this stuff weatherproof, or should i just go with fiberglass?

[@VanOaksProps]

Fiberglass will definitely cover up any of the texture. So if you do decide to fiberglass, I'd make sure to cover the foam in foil to prevent it from melting when the fiberglass resin is applied, and then just go with a painted rock look rather than a textured rock look. @Hollywoodhaunter has a great vide on fiberglassing foam. Check out their Castle Greyskull build and you'll get some excellent advise on the subject.

[@dancdow]

subbed. I haven't seen your content before. Not sure why. but the algorithm knows best.

[@steven20919]

Imagine doing a entire wall with this method haha, BUT IT LOOKS SO GOOD!!

[@VanOaksProps]

That would be cool!

[@steven20919]

@@VanOaksProps I know right! If it would ever suit you, could you maybe do a video on how to make a 'fake' stone like inside a pyramid? And not out of foam, but from another material which I don't know the type of haha. Like, when you visit a themepark and tap on a wall of a themed ride you can hear its hollow

[@VanOaksProps]

@@steven20919 That's most commonly done with foam that is then hard coated with fiberglass and then textured. Once the fiberglass sets up the foam backing is removed, which is why they sound hollow.

[@steven20919]

@@VanOaksProps Ah like that!! And could they probably reuse the foam if needed? So it kinda acts like a mold?

[@robertovelarde_staff-marti9696]

You have a good narrator voice. You sound like a Bloodborne Pathogen video I have to listen to year after year. Doesn't sound like a compliment but there are other avenues you could take.

[@ChrisKluepfel]

Wow! Learned a lot and it looks stunning!

[@VanOaksProps]

I'm so glad!

[@NervousNecromancer]

Perfect. I was looking for something to make a mausaleum wall with. This is perfect

[@VanOaksProps]

Nice!

[@rhonda6082]

Love this! I just subscribed❤Thinking of doing this on a wood fake fireplace mantle that I have electric heater in with fake glowing flames in my rustic bedroom.Thank you for the ideas.

[@BuggSmasher]

Awesome work That texture just looks amazing !! . . . . Now I just need to invent a shrinking machine so I can use with miniatures . . . .lol

[@VanOaksProps]

Add a little baking soda to your paints and that should give you some good texture for miniatures.

[@colemyst]

I swear I would love to do something like this inside my someday house, but would be a little timid know how flammable foam insulation is. That said great job and thanks for the video.

[@northerntranquility1614]

That looks ausome .,almost like the real thing .I didn't catch what material you used to carve with ,was it a kind of foam. . I would love to do a whole wall Thanks Dale

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks! It's XPS foam that you can often find in the insulation department at most larger hardware stores.

[@aninasalerno873]

This may sound crazy, but I have a stone fireplace in my living room, and they stopped the stone about 18 inches from the ceiling, because a structural beam runs across it. I want to make a thin sheet of faux stone to match the existing stone. This looks like it might do the trick. I would just need to slice the foam so that it doesn’t protrude farther than the existing stone.

[@lawrencewilhelm7095]

I was the manager for a 30 acre Halloween park for 19 years. The owners had me rebuild it new every year. My sets were massive enough to fully enclose our 65' long hayrides. While I had built some modular walls using foam for detailed relief, over time I found this unnecessary & too time consuming for very large projects. Also, once you're seeing it under the typical dim and/or colored lighting conditions, the detail is all lost. This is how I did it. On a sheet of whatever sheathing you're using, roll the wall with your base color. This can be a medium grey, brown, green, whatever. Then you paint in the grout lines with a fairly dark grey. Next, shade the blocks by painting a black line along the bottoms & 1 side of every block, always using the same side (left or right). Then do the same with white along the top & the remaining sides. Lastly, dry-brush stipple randomly across the whole wall with each color & you're done. It isn't museum quality but it gets the job done. Last comment, while creating 'drips' is all fine, this gets totaly lost for the most part unless you do the wash much, much darker. Extreme contrast not subtle realism is the key. - Scary Larry

[@VanOaksProps]

Great suggestions. I think there's a lot of different ways to create similar effects and it varies based on time/money/manpower/how close people will get to it.

[@MaryOKC]

I am so impressed!

[@premramsita8354]

You are an amazing craftsman. I am so inspired.

[@Melissa-xe6er]

Love this. It looks great! I greatly appreciate how you clearly explain what you are doing as you are doing it. I've learned so much from your videos. Thank you!

[@VanOaksProps]

You are so welcome!

[@lucegene5223]

Super helpful. Great outcome. Thank you.

[@VanOaksProps]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching

[@paintandcreate]

This is fantastic! I’m a faux/decorative artist and can’t wait to try this technique. Thanks for sharing!

[@oldsmerchik]

Excellent result! I like.

[@nancyhagan2520]

I just found your videos this year and am new to doing Halloween at my home for young and old. Very informative and creative please keep them coming.

[@VanOaksProps]

Welcome!!

[@aberrantartist2982]

I’d use it for a faux stone fireplace :D

[@KimberlyMWylie]

What could you use to make this weather resistant? Or do you think it would hold up outside pretty well? Thanks for sharing your talent!!!!

[@VanOaksProps]

You could use a water seal, like Thompson's. I can't say how long it would protect it for since the foam is likely to expand/contract with the weather. So even if sealed it may crack or loosen with the seasons.

[@GawainSSB]

EPS foam is underrated in the amateur haunt community in my opinion. Everyone goes for the pink/blue stuff but as long as you use the right techniques EPS can be really nice

[@VanOaksProps]

XPS has always been my foam of choice because it's far more rigid and not nearly as messy, but I agree. People tend to shy away from EPS foam.

[@GawainSSB]

@@VanOaksProps Yeah for sure, XPS is more versatile and it is better in most ways I think. But in my current area I can only get EPS and for the longest time I avoided it because of what I read from others, but if you have the right tools and techniques it can get great results

[@edtsch]

You do great work, man. Thanks for sharing your techniques with us!

[@Nula7]

that is so pretty!!! can i use foam for wall stamping ?

[@MugiwaraRuffy]

Hello. I see this video is from early 2021. And for some reason YT flushed it into my recommendation feed. Great, yet unexpected video. Never the less, a suggestion: wouldn't it be easier to create the lines and gabs with a loop-tool, which is commonly used for clay sculpting?

[@VanOaksProps]

Great question. I’ve never tried sculpting tools on rigid foam, but my guess is that it may not be able to cut through the foam. But now I need to try it!

[@libbylaurinitis2620]

Great video. I am going to try this to make my "plain" cement step face in front of my door match the stone on my house. Cross your fingers.

[@VanOaksProps]

You got this!

[@Skoden_lures]

Have you ever tried sepia for aging or as a wash colour? I find it softer and adds a more natural tone.

[@VanOaksProps]

Absolutely. I think for most Halloween settings subtle/natural isn’t quite dramatic enough, hence the black wash. But if it were in a natural light or brighter setting I would definitely go for a mix of color instead of just black.

[@ksmithrn2402]

Looks good. I have done a few foam stone props. I don't think you large wire brush looked bad at all. You probably know this but acetone in a spray bottle does a decent job at making a Stone surface.

[@VanOaksProps]

I didn’t, but I do now! Thanks for the tip!!

[@janosaurus2001]

That's amazing! , But my question is... how can I put it on the wall and making sure it will not fall down for years ? What kind of glue? Or mortar is better ? Hope u help and thank you.

[@VanOaksProps]

You can use construction adhesive and it should stick for a long time.

[@Justthemow]

You can use a hot knife on the end of a soldering iron to sculpt that foam quite literally like a hot knife threw butter

[@jenandrews1770]

I was hoping you would do something like this. I'd like to make a stone fence. I just wish foam wasn't so expensive where I live. Do you think stone walls could be created from ply backing and paper clay stones? I'm sure I'd only need 5000 newspapers and 10,000 hours. 😂

[@VanOaksProps]

No clue about the paper clay, but for me it always comes down to time vs money. How much is my time worth vs the cost of materials is ALWAYS a consideration.

[@603VIL]

Great work Derek (as always). If I'm being honest, I wasn't a fan of the paint choices up until your squirted it with water. That last step made a world of difference. At least on camera anyway. Also, I've been wanting to do the effect with embedded skulls (perhaps milk jug skulls). Any tips and tricks you can give to add these in and make them look cohesive? As always, thank you 🤘 💀

[@603VIL]

Also, instead of using a blade to carve the stones, I've seen people use a soldering gun with a flat tip. Just make sure to use a respirator.

[@gregnorvell9730]

I don't think the larger wire brush made it look too hateful. Turned out nice.

[@damentesch]

That looks great!

[@66boogie]

You’re work and tutorials are so awesome. I sure appreciate them. Oh, and I don’t know if anyone has told you but you sound a lot like Casey Kasem.(probably before your time..lol) You have an excellent speaking voice and great narration.

[@VanOaksProps]

Thank you! I’m older than I look, so I definitely know who Casey Kasem is. Lol

[@elizabethhatton7650]

Excellent

[@ryanbeichner5264]

Great video as always. Enjoy your how to. Keep up great work

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks Ryan!

[@peterbathum2775]

if you have carved it so you can get cheese cloth into the cracks, painting down a complete layer of cheese cloth over the entire surface of the foam front and back, using latex house paint, will make it extremely durable. I've always done a rough scumble of 3 tones as the base paint ...

[@VanOaksProps]

Good to know!

[@jackconnolly2665]

You could make a more realistic feeling wall by creating an inverted stamp mold and pushing it into a layer of synthetic stucco applied over a substrate like drywall. The styrofoam is great for a prop though

[@VanOaksProps]

Absolutely.

[@jvanamb]

Really good video production. Two suggestions however. Instead of a box cutter to cut out the grout line try using a small "V" gouge. The size and type used in chip carving. Next to avoid setting your self ablaze use a heat gun or your wife's hair dryer to distress and temper the foam. NOT A TORCH. One additional thought, instead of black paint or wash try using a darker tone of the stone color with a tile grout lightly sprinkled into the wet paint. Jim

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks for the tips! A note on the torch vs heat gun, I use the torch because a heat gun isn't hot enough to create the texture without the foam first absorbing the heat and then releasing that energy in unpredictable ways. So it's not that I'm against using one, it's that it doesn't provide the result I'm after. And a hair dryer simply isn't hot enough to create any texture. Just figured I'd give context to my decision to use the torch over something else.