Sealing Paper Mache Epic Fail!!!!!

Well, let just say sometime you succeed and sometimes you learn from your mistakes. I spent about 2 weeks creating a head for our jack skelington figure to go on our roof. Paper mache base, epoxy for around the eyes and joint compound around the mouth. I found out the hard way when torential rains came down that it was not sealed properly.

Step 1: What Did We Learn????

I believe my problem was not sealing it completely with joint compound and using spray paint instead of a latex paint brushed on. Just have to reconcstruct a new one. Leasons learned.

Comments

[nicolejoseph]

Love your Jack Skellington. Interior joint compound doesn't react well to water at all, it just sort of turns to mush, I agree with Mad Props that you can substitute thinset or if you are using joint compound, seal with with a few coats of exterior oil paint or spray on rubber. Good luck.

[Mad Props]

I live in rainy Vancouver and have had the exact same problem. I switched to Flex-bond thin-set mortar for my Halloween displays then seal it with a layer of exterior house-paint, then paint with acrylic paint. Good luck with the next one!

[blipvert]

I have had some luck undercoating my paper mache with DryloK Extreme Masonry waterproofer. We live in California so it hasn't been tested in heavy rains but I have had some luck with some paper mache getting rained on using it. He looked great on your roof.

[pikachu4592]

Thanks for the tip and the complements. My kiddo and I work hard on it. I was try to find some thing that would seal it like the 2 part spray paint that came out recently, but couldn't find it at Home Depot. We got 2 days straight of 6 inches of rain each day. Lots of flooding in surrounding areas. Jack didn't stand a chance. Hopefully the new one will hold up better.

[DIY Hacks and How Tos]

Well... It looked great to start with.

[pikachu4592]

Thanks. We didn't notice it at first, but it was heartbreaking when my 3 yr old asked "Mommy what happened to jack?"