How to repaint concrete birdbath and pavers?

hops98

I am wanting to fresh'n up an already painted birdbath and also paint some concrete pavers surrounding it. I have come across the Cromellin limestone coloured paint for the pavers and outside of bowl and pedestal. Have you something that I could use inside the bowl that is safe for the birds.

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @hops98. It's fantastic to have you join us and many thanks for your question on coating a birdbath.

Great project, that’ll make a big difference to the space.

For inside the bowl, you’ll need something that’s safe for constant water immersion and birds, which rules out most standard paints. The main suitable option in a coloured finish would be a pond sealer like https://www.bunnings.com.au/crommelin-4l-sandstone-pond-sealer_p0960198 . It’s designed for ponds and water features, so it’s safe for fish and plants and can handle being permanently wet.

The only thing to keep in mind is that it will come out quite a bit darker than a typical limestone colour, so it won’t be an exact match to what you’re using on the outside.

The only alternative would be a clear pond sealer (Crommelin also do one), which is safe and will protect the surface, but it won’t really improve the appearance, you’ll still see the original finish underneath.

So it really comes down to:

• Go with a pond sealer (coloured) for safety + durability, but accept the colour difference
• Or, go clear if you want to keep the existing look

Anything not rated for pond use isn’t recommended inside the bowl, as it can break down or be unsafe for birds. The https://www.bunnings.com.au/crommelin-1l-limestone-liquidstone_p1560418 is suitable for the pavers and exterior of the bowl.

Let me tag one of our pond enthusiasts, @Jewelleryrescue, to see if they have any preferred pond coatings.

Shout out if you’d like help matching the outside colour a bit closer or prepping the surface before applying it.

Mitchell