How To:  Monkey Exhibit Logs

Materials required:

– RockMolds Vertical Stamps
– Vertical Stamp Mix
– RockMolds Stone Sealer
– RockMolds Integral Color
– RockMolds Powdered Release
– Marking Paint – Water – Wheelbarrow – Shovel

STEP 1

Establish a rebar substrate, with ends of rebar doweled into the concrete wall, floors, and block. Secure with epoxy. If in doubt, use more rebar, on average no less than a 12″ square grid.

STEP 2

Diamond lathe is then wrapped and tied onto the rebar structure, creating a steel substrate. Make sure the diamond lathe is installed to “hold” the concrete mix.

STEP 3

A scratch coat is then applied of S-Type Mortar. All the diamond lathe is covered, and a Rockmolds Scarifier Rake is used to prepare the surface for the texture coat of a vertical stamp mix.

STEP 4

The following day, after the scratch coat has been allowed to dry, hose down completely to saturate thoroughly. Then apply a ½”- 2″ thick texture coat of vertical stamp mix where you want the bark peeling away, exposing the cambium layer.

Tip: Trowel this exposed cambium layer out smooth, then run a chip brush to add some texture. Then use a sharp tool to add in the knots and deeper lines.

STEP 5

After the cambium layers are complete, apply the vertical stamp mix as a bark coat on the remaining area of the logs. Trowel smooth, and immediately spray with theRockMolds Liquid Release and use RockMolds Heavy Bark Roller to apply the bark texture.

Tip: Before this step take a field trip out into nature and observe how the texture of bark runs down trees, and how it connects into limbs.

STEP 6

After the vertical mix has sufficiently firmed up, usually within 4-6 hours, the bark edges can be accented by carving out. A RockMolds tuck-point trowel works great.

Tip: A chip brush dipped in water may be used at this time as well to clean up the edges between the peeled back bark and cambium layer.

STEP 7

Let your logs cure 24 hours minimum. Hose off any loose debris.

STEP 8

Color the logs with RockMolds Stone Color water-based stains. Start with lighter colors, and layer in the darker colors until a certain look is obtained. You can always go darker! We used the gray stain Dove for the aged exposed cambium layer and a combination of Sequoia and Expresso for the bark.

Tip: We like to use a gravity fed paint sprayer with a fine tip for the RockMolds Stone Color water-based stains. Use a concrete sponge to blot the surface for any runs.

STEP 9

Seal the stones with RockMolds Stone Sealer. This will give the most natural appearance to the logs, without a sheen.

Tip: Seal every 2 years to refresh the color and protect your investment!