Building and Decorating a Dolls House
using Realistic Brick Compound and Stencils

Introduction
This is a step-by-step guide to creating realistic brick and stone finishes using Realistic Brick Compound and Stencils. The basic principle is very simple and not unlike other types of decorative stencilling. The only real difference is that instead of using paint you will be applying Realistic Brick Compound which produces the authentic look and feel of real bricks or stone. The material is very versatile so with a little experience users can develop their technique and create their own unique finished effects.

Before starting is important to keep in mind that the Realistic Brick Compound is a very easy material to work with. The key to it's ease of use is the air drying quality of the compound as it allows unlimited working time so there's no need to rush and very little material is wasted. If you do make a mistake or get in a mess there's no need to worry - simply scrape the compound off and wipe the wall surface clean, then have another go. After application the compound will dry and set hard after about an hour or so, but it can still be cleaned off if required by first re-wetting it. When the house is finished and you are completely happy with the application, the compound should be sealed with a clear matt varnish which will make it permanent and waterproof as well as enhancing the finished colour.

Application to a Typical Dolls House
The dolls house featured here is the Main Street Corner Shop (1:12 scale) which is a typical MDF kit. This house is relatively small and can easily be finished with one bag of Realistic Brick Compound and one stencil (unless you choose to combine other colours and patterns as we are doing here).

< >
Before < > After

Preparation
As with most dolls house decoration it is generally easier to apply the realistic brick compound to houses before assembly. It can be applied to houses that have already been built if necessary, but depending on the design of the particular house it may take a little longer as it can be fiddly working around all the mouldings and window frames etc. Either way it's a good idea to plan ahead.

The first stage is to prepare the various parts of the kit prior to application. It is usually a good idea to assemble the kit without fixing, just to see how all the parts fit together and sand parts where necessary. Then identify all of the surfaces which are to be bricked and paint with a cement mortar colour using matt emulsion paint (after the finish is applied, this mortar colour will be visible in between the bricks). Finally, mask any areas on the walls where you do not want to apply the brick finish i.e. where window sills / frames and signs fit etc..

< >
Dry assembley of parts < > Walls painted and masked

The next stage is to prepare the Realistic Brick / Stone stencil ready for use. Spray the back of the stencil thoroughly with a low-tack stencil adhesive and allow it to dry for a few minutes. When using a new stencil second coat of adhesive is recommended. The stencil should feel tacky to touch, but the adhesive should not come off on your fingers, if it does you should leave it to dry for a little longer. It should remain tacky for several hours of use, but when necessary it should be re-sprayed with adhesive. This is very important to achieve good results, otherwise when the Realistic Brick Compound is applied it may bleed underneath the stencil.

Apply stencil adhesive to the stencil

Prepare some Realistic Brick Compound by adding water and mixing until it reaches a smooth easily spreadable consistency - it should be smooth, but not runny. The consistency is not absolutely critical, but it does affect the ease of use. The realistic brick compound mix will remain workable all the while it is kept moist so if it starts to dry after a while simply add more water to extend the working time. This makes the material very easy to work with as you can work at your own pace without rushing. Also, it is very easy to clean up and to rectify any mistakes.

Mix compound with water to an easily dpreadable consistency

Application
Position the stencil on the wall of the house so that the bricks are correctly aligned with the edges of the wall and press it down firmly ensuring all areas are in contact with the wall. Spread the compound mix over the stencil ensuring it is all covered then use a pallet knife to remove the surplus compound to the level of the stencil. The technique is similar to icing a cake so I am told. Once it is smooth and level carefully remove the stencil to reveal the bricks (there's no need to wait for the compound to dry).

< >
Brick stencil positioned on wall < > Apply compound and smooth out evenly

Remove the stencil to reveal the bricks

The stencil should now be rinsed in clean water and dried by pressing between two towels on a flat surface. The stencil adhesive is not water-soluble so the stencil should remain tacky once dried.

The application can now be continued by applying the stencil to the wall next to the bricks which were previously applied and overlapping one or two courses - this will ensure that the bricks remain in alignment and there will be no visible joins. The compound can now be applied as before up to the edge of the bricks already applied, and the stencil removed to reveal the continued bricks. The whole process is repeated over and over until the whole wall is covered.

< >
Brick stencil positioned on wall < > Apply compound and smooth out evenly

Continuation af brick application by overlapping stencil

The edges of panels are finished in a similar way, but it is important to ensure that the stencil is correctly aligned at the corners so the compound joins creating the effect of whole bricks.

< >
Brick stencil positioned on wall < > Apply compound, smooth out evenly & remove stencil

Several detail stencils are available for creating quoins etc. These can easily be applied in a similar way.

< >
Quoin stencils positioned on wall < > Apply compound and smooth out evenly

Remove the stencil to reveal the Quoins

The stone finish is applied here using Grey compound and a Rough Stone stencil. The technique is similar to applying the brick finish except that the compound is applied slightly thicker and the surface is made uneven using the pallet knife to create a more authentic rough face on the stones. Although the stone pattern appears random, there is a repeat in the stencil pattern which allows it to be continued without any visible joins.

< >
Rough stone stencil positioned on wall < > Apply compound and create uneven texture on surface

Remove the stencil to reveal the stones

Finishing off
After the finish has been applied it should be left for several hours to completely dry, it should then be lightly sanded to remove any imperfections. It is easy to remove any unwanted compound at this stage by wetting it, scraping off and wiping clean. Areas can easily re-applied by repositioning the stencil and applying more compound as necessary. Once completely finished the masking tape can be removed to expose any areas which were masked previously.

< >
Brick and stone applied < > Finish shaded with acrylic paints

If desired, the finish can be shaded to create a more authentic or weathered effect - we find that watercolour or acrylic paints work best. Once dry the compound material is very absorbent, so if gently tinted acrylic paint is dabbed onto random bricks it will soak in and spread - this makes the process very quick and easy. With a bit of practice this can greatly enhance the finished result, but you should keep in mind that the colours may change slightly when later sealed with varnish so it is a good idea to practice on a test piece first to ensure you achieve the desired effect.

Unvarnished < > Varnished (solvent based)

The final step is to seal the finish by applying a coat of clear matt varnish. This will waterproof and protect the finish and also enhance the colours. We recommend Liberon Cleat Matt Acrylic Varnish or a solvent based varnish such as Ronseal Ultra Tough Matt Coat. Many other types are suitable, but we strongly advise testing on a small sample before use as results can vary. We have found that solvent based varnishes usually produce deeper finished colours than acrylic ones. Care should be taken as some types of acrylic varnish may dissolve the realistic brick compound finish when brushed on.

< >
Finished stone & brick quoins < > Finished Bricks

The finished house

Materials Used (available from Bromley Craft Products)

Realistic Brick Compound - Red & Grey colours.
each bag will cover an area of 0.5 square metre approx.

Realistic Brick & Stone stencils - STR12, RST12, QS12A, QS12B
One stencil is usually sufficient as they are re-useable.

Pallet Knife
Clear matt varnish - Liberon Clear Matt Natural Finish Varnish recommended.
Low tack stencil adhesive spray - Humbrol Country House Stencil Adhesive recommended.

Other Materials:
Matt Emulsion paint for mortar colour- small sample pots from DIY stores are ideal.
Masking tape

Ordering
Products can be ordered directly by telephone on 01825 732515 or to order directly from this website click here. We also attend all major dolls house shows where we demonstrate our products and sell at discounted prices. See Show Dates or phone for further details.