Faux Brick/Faux Stone Front Porch Project

Note: this project is one I came up w/ on my own after lots of research. The finished result of the project appears to be a success. I will make an update video after this winter to see how well it has held up after the snow & ice season.

Materials I Used:
- Dust mask & gloves
- Mixing buckets & spatulas/scrappers
- Paint brushes (One extra soft bristle brush for cleaning off bricks/ stone after peeling up tape).
- Paint Stripper
- Heavy duty power washer
- Vinyl concrete mix (this was the only type of concrete mix used for entire project)
- Cement dye (Red, Buff, & Charcoal)
- 1/2" masking tape ( I found this tape at an auto body repair shop).
- Concrete bonding agent
- Concrete sealer
- Heavy duty exterior white paint for the foundation & porch posts.

Other Materials:
-Fresh mulch & flowers to clean up landscape around porch.
-Mosquito repellant candles.

Steps:
- Apply paint stripper to loosen old paint on porch & then remove all old paint w/ a heavy duty power washer (I rented mine at Home Depot's tool rental)

- After porch is clean & dry..apply the concrete bonding agent..allow it to dry according to instructions on bottle.

- Mix Vinyl cement w/ water (follow directions on bag). The natural color of this product is light grey..so no need to dye. Apply a thin, smooth, flat layer..similar to smoothly frosting a cake, & allow to dry. This layer will provide the grout lines & the textures for the brick & stone you'll apply on top.

- Tape out any pattern you like..I made mine up..make up your own..if people ask what kind of stone that is on your porch..just tell them it was special orderd from planet mars..or whatever planet you like!

- Now mix more Vinyl cement w/ whatever color dye you like..this will vary depending on what kind of stone/brick design you want on your porch..follow dying instructions on the bottle.

- Apply your cement mixture over your tapped pattern, & try to apply it in a texture you think best simulates the brick/stone look you are going for.

- Allow your cement to dry to a 'soft dry dough' something similar to a raw pie shell dough..then gently pull up the tape..gently brush the little crusty's, caused from pulling up the tape, off of your bricks/stones w/ a very soft bristle brush.

- Let your handy work dry over night..then apply a couple of coats of sealer to your entire project..make sure your sealer is specially made for fresh concrete work..some sealers can't be applied until 90 days after your concrete cures.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• faux
• brick
• stone
• concrete
• front
• porch
• design
• on

[5jtgarner]

so how does your porch look after the winter?

[768Kayshan]

@5jtgarner Hi, it still looks great! No cracks or chipping. Next month I'll be in town to visit the house & I will make a follow up video to show how it looks & how well it has held up.

[Wesslic]

Really nice job it looks wonderful. I thought it was going to turn out bad when you pulled the tape off, but it really does look great.

[768Kayshan]

@Wesslic Thank you! :)

[loganinvermont]

Hi nice work you are very talented  and seem to be good at everything lots of talent

[768Kayshan]

@loganinvermont Thank you! :)

[achimreinhardt]

Das wird ja immer besser :-)

v.g.

Achim

[fyrfytr03835]

very nice job

[768Kayshan]

@GARYMANDIEVAN Thank you! :)

[768Kayshan]

@AVTreasures Thank you! :)