Thread: Styrofoam Hard Coating

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Hello

Does anyone know of a paintable coating that you can paint onto styrofoam that will harden the surface ( other than epoxy, which costs too much ) that won't damage or eat the styrofoam?

Is there some sort of hardcoat acrylic paint? There are some styrofoam skulls at Walmart that have a skin tinted coating that is harder than the styrofoam itself. Sorta feels like a crust on the surface because you can see in some places where it has chipped off reveiling the white styrofoam underneath. They are made in China.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

I have used white roof coating for this. Sounds nuts but it works. The product that I have used is called cool seal or something like that. it thats paint very well. Hope this helps.

There was another post from someone who used something called Gel Coat over his tombstones which I think might be some kind of fiberglass resin product - not sure though.

I would be cautious of gel coat it may eat through your tombstones. I want to put a coating on mine but I am unsure what will work.

I am telling you that if you use a roof coating it will work! it is made (out herer in az) to go over foam.

Thanks bro. I will look into that

Originally Posted by keepsmiling

Hello

Does anyone know of a paintable coating that you can paint onto styrofoam that will harden the surface ( other than epoxy, which costs too much ) that won't damage or eat the styrofoam?

Is there some sort of hardcoat acrylic paint? There are some styrofoam skulls at Walmart that have a skin tinted coating that is harder than the styrofoam itself. Sorta feels like a crust on the surface because you can see in some places where it has chipped off reveiling the white styrofoam underneath. They are made in China.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

Try this stuff. Works great.
Sculpt or Coat - Foam coating, adhesive, clearcoat, texturing agent

At $53+ a gallon for sculpt coat (plus shipping) I think id try the roofing stuff first. I'm guessing its the white stuff thats made for the tops of mobile homes etc?

Something I've been working with is simply mixing plaster of paris in with latex paint.
It sticks, doesn't crack in thin coats, and is sandable.
...and best of all, you can adjust the mix of plaster to paint to get the consistency you need for whatever the application is.

I'll admit, I haven't put this to a weathering test yet, but I'm also covering this with acrylic paints for the final look (I'm using excess latex house paint I have laying around, and it's usually not the final color I want for the application)