Thread: Condemned Townhouse Facade '09

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I started this thread to get ideas for my 2009 Condemned Townhouse Facade. I'm basically trying to make my house look dilapidated and old... Here is a pic of my blank canvas:



... and here is my plan:



The biggest part of this project will be making fake window frames to cover the existing ones. They'll be made of card board, and painted to look like old splintered and peeling wood. I might even make a fake door to cover my glass storm door... I'm hoping that will be enough to fool anyone looking at the house at night. My back up plan is to just board up the windows if the frames don't work out. Here are some of my favorite "old haunted house" facades that inspired me:




Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Smitty

Whoa! What's that one that's all red? Never seen that one! I love this idea and hope to do this one day to my house as well. Good luck, it looks like quite the undertaking!

As if Northern Virginia isn't scary enough! (I lived there for 6 years...barely escaped with my sanity! )

Originally Posted by eanderso13

Whoa! What's that one that's all red? Never seen that one! I....

I recognize it:
The Fright Gallery 2002 - Construction 1

Yes, the first facade is a Fright Gallery Project. They do some awesome work; I actually think they are set designers or something... they live in California. I only wish I had the resources to make something that spectactular. For now, I'm sticking to windows!

You could use plexiglass (or real glass if you like living dangerously) and cut out pieces to give the appearance of a broken window. You could add scrim, lighting and a scare. Turn on the lighting at the right time to reveal the scare to people outside.

Have you considered using foam board instead of wood to reduce the weight and chance of injuring someone if it falls?

I guess your HOA will not let the grass get tall to add to the look.

By the way, what part of NOVA? I'm in Reston.

Originally Posted by ducdukgoose68

You could use plexiglass (or real glass if you like living dangerously) and cut out pieces to give the appearance of a broken window. You could add scrim, lighting and a scare. Turn on the lighting at the right time to reveal the scare to people outside.

Have you considered using foam board instead of wood to reduce the weight and chance of injuring someone if it falls?

I guess your HOA will not let the grass get tall to add to the look.

By the way, what part of NOVA? I'm in Reston.

I'm in Cascades in Sterling... hi neighbor!

Adding broken looking windows is a good idea. I was considering a window sticker though that just looks like broken glass as opposed to real glass or plexi, both of which would be too heavy because I'm use just using cardboard, not wood, for the frames.

I am definitely doing some pop-up skeletons or mosters in the yard and windows. The bushes are perfect hiding spots. I wonder what I could use to have lighting turned on at the right time to highlight the props? what would you use?

I was starting to feel all alone in NOVA. Other than a pumpkin here and there, I'm the only one that decorates for Halloween in my neighborhood. Good to know there are some others in the area.

I use motion sensors to trigger my props. I bought cheap motion sensor flood lights and an extension cord from Home Depot. I spliced the two together. Obvously be careful when dealing with electricity. The bad thing about the motion sensor (at least the several I have) is you can only choose the test mode (about 5 seconds duration) or 1 minute. So I purchased a couple different controllers this year for more flexibility.

I just checked out your pics and your haunt is pretty cool. Did you do all that with foam? I want to use foam, but don't think I have the right tools. If I wanted to do basic tombstones or signs without investing a ton of money, what tools would I absolutely need to get the job done?

Thanks, I hope to get better pics this year. The ones I took last year were more so I remember where things go.

The "let me out" pic shows a little of the facade I built out of foam and the "cemetery sign" pic shows the sign I made. I live in a townhouse as well, so storage is an issue. For the facade and cemetery sign I used the cheap white foam since I was going to throw it out. I used a dremel to carve the mortar lines, used flat black spray paint to color and eat away the foam to give it a stone look, and construction adhesive to attach it to the frame I built across the walkway. This year I'm going to build out and up from the garage.

For tombstones you'll want to use the pink foam for durability, and it is easier to carve.

I think a dremel is the most essential tool and is always generally helpful around the house. It makes quick work of the foam. You can probably find one on craigslist pretty cheap.

Not sure if the glass is easy to get out of your door, but if you check out this youtube video of the Bates haunt starting at 3:30 into the clip you'll see the way they hand out candy. I really want to do this, but I get so few ToTs it doesn't seem worth the time.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQLejhwN11g]YouTube - Bates Haunt 2007[/ame]