I have searched the internet and have come across liquid rubber and epoxy paint as the options?
Which ones work best and are any of the products to tintable to a particular color? Is there a particular product that you would recommend?
Hi @kashgenius. Many thanks for your question, I'd be happy to answer it.
The product I would recommend is Crommelin pond sealer which is specifically designed to paint a pond's inside wall. It is a flexible water-based membrane, UV stable, fish and plant friendly, and used for waterproofing ponds. It is available in the colours sandstone, blue, clear and black.
If you wanted a specific colour you could use an oxide mixed into a cement-based slurry to render the walls of the pond. You would then need to seal that with the Crommelins clear pond sealer for waterproofing purposes.
If you need further information about these products or had other questions, please let me know.
Mitchell
Thank you.
I have just discovered there are a few cracks and holes in the pond. What would be the best way to fill them up before I seal them with Crommelin?
Cheers,
Kash
Hi @kashgenius.
What is the pond made from, does it already have a coating on it, and how big are the cracks and holes? Some pictures would really assist me, however with the details provided I should hopefully be able to give you an answer.
Hi Mitchell, thanks for the super quick response.
The pond walls are brick and the pond inner surface feels like hard plastic. Not able to describe the material as this is an established home. At certain places inside the pond, I stand on the surface and it moves up and down.
The biggest hole is upto 2 cm in diameter. And there are maybe 3-4 more small ones. The pond was coated with a green material (although I do not what it is) and it is cracking as well. I am attaching photos and a video with this post.
@kashgenius,
That appears to be a fiberglass shell with a very deteriorated coating. The holes can be repaired with a fibreglass repair kit and most small cracks can be just painted over. My concern is that coating is really deteriorated and anything that is flakey or may come off needs to be removed with a scraper. It would also be a good idea to sand the whole interior down with a 120grit sandpaper. Correct PPE must be worn including a respirator, gloves, goggles and preferably disposable over-alls.
Brilliant! Thanks a lot. Yes the paint has deteriorated so the plan is to scrap it off. Sand the surface and then re-seal with the Crommelin. Hopefully all should come out well.
I had earlier intended to convert this pond into something but given the rain and the inability to help the water seep out, I decided I will keep the pond as is but renovate it a little.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Hi Mitchell
I have used a great product to rebuild this bird bath but have used Crommalin pond sealer and want to lighten the sandstone colour to match the rest of bird bath.
Can I add white paint to lighten? If so what type of paint? Also if not can i paint another paint over this product to make it look not so yellow? I would love your advice. Here are some pics..Thanks Eliza
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Eliza1. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about Crommelin pond sealer.
Unfortunately, at this stage, you'd be looking at stripping back the sealer with acetone and a wire brush to reveal the original colour. You can then use a clear pond sealer over it. You only need to seal to the waterline to hold the water—no real need to seal up the ornate pedestal and over the edges of the bowl. Perhaps if you removed the excess sandstone sealer back to just above the waterline, the discrepancy in colour would be less noticeable.
After speaking with Crommelins technical support to confirm, there's no paint they can recommend to go over the sealer nor a type which you could mix in to lighten the colour. You could take the risk and mix in some white acrylic paint, but it could compromise the coating to some extent. If this was my project, that's what I'd be doing, as even if it fails, you'd still be no worse off than you are now as the coating would need to be removed. Please bear in mind that the exterior acrylic paint is not designed for this use. Chemicals in the paint could leech into the water, which could be of concern if birds are drinking from the fountain.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Mitchell
Hi Mitchell, Thanks so much for getting back to me..
The bath was cracked and unused Dunlop mortar to repair and I wanted to make sure that with the hot and cold weather that it doesn't crack again as it's my mum's and just a feature in her garden.
I only used pond sealer as I was told so many different opinions when inquiring but mum doesn't keep water in it.
I thought if I mix a bit of white acrylic paint in it it should maybe take the yellow out?
But would it be ok to paint on the bowl or could it peel off having a bit of acrylic paint mixed in?
I appreciate your advice and thankyou
Eliza
Just to clarify @Eliza1, where are you at now? Is the top layer the sandstone pond sealer or the Dunlop product? Is the pond sealer on top of the Dunlop product or below it?
I'll assume your first image is where you're at and you need to lighten the colour. You could mix white paint into the next coat, but there has been no testing done by the manufacturer so it's hard to tell what will happen.
In hindsight, if no water was to be kept in the fountain, then I would have recommended you simply paint over the Dunlop product with your choice of exterior paints.
Thanks Mitchell. The top layer is the pond sealer. Bugger as I asked so many people and said it was only a feature and not used for birds/water.
I was told the pond sealer will help protect the weathering of the pond from cracking again.
I guess now I can only try and mix some white paint and do a trial on a section but do you think it would bond properly? I know it hasn't been tested but maybe it could work..
I've also been told by a painting shop that because it's water based that I could apply an acrylic paint over the sealer.. this was the pond at the start so I'm sure it won't crack again with everything I have done.. Also could the pond sealer fade in time?
Thanks so much, I wish I knew about this sight earlier..
Oh, wow! You've done an amazing job there, @Eliza1.
The pond sealer quite possibly could assist in preventing the concrete from cracking again, and if it weren't for this colour discrepancy, I too would advise you to use it. It's just a shame that it's turned out a bit yellow. If you mix white paint with the pond sealer, I think it will likely bond properly. I'm not so sure about just using straight paint over the pond sealer. Just because two products are acrylic doesn't mean they are compatible. Chances are it will be fine, but we can never know for sure. A test section would be your best option. Paint a small area and wait for it to fully cure over a few days. Take some masking tape and lay it over the area, adhering it well. Wait five minutes and then rip it off quickly at a 90-degree angle to the surface. They haven't bonded well if it pulls the paint off the sealer.
The pond sealer could fade in time, but I'm not confident that it will be a fast process or that it will ever match well with the off-white colour.
Thanks Mitchell, I did it all by hand then used a paint brush with water to keep the swell look. Fiddly but it worked.
Great idea with the tape and will try that. My mum lives in Launceston TAS and the frost and warm weather has been the problem I'm guessing.
Just checking that it does need to be acrylic paint? Also do you recommend a particular brand etc that is good?
I presume white is the best colour to achieve a lighter sandstone colour as so many products out there.
Thanks again
It would be best if you stuck with acrylic products @Eliza1. I don't think the quality will be all that important as you're mixing it into a waterproofer. However, something like Dulux Weathershield would be more than adequate. White would be the best colour to lighten the sandstone colour.
Sorry to clarify again but when I messaged you Sat o also emailed Crommalin rep and today he has advised not to mix acrylic paint as pond sealer is a membrane not paint and has different chemical makeup and to paint over pond sealer with water based acrylic paint.
This is where it gets confusing as I don't want to wreck my hard work and just don't know who's advice to take?
I hope you understand as I don't know what to do as different opinions.
Thanks Eliza
Hi @Eliza1,
That matches up with my original comment where I advised that there are no paints Crommelins can recommend, which you could mix in to lighten the colour. The advice I received was that they couldn't guarantee any paint that goes over it either. It sounds like you've received slightly different information there, though.
Basically, water-proofing membranes and paints don't go together. However, if they advise that you can paint over the membrane with acrylic paint, I'd certainly do a test section, as discussed earlier. That could be the solution you need. 😀
Hi Mitchell,
I am a Paint team member at Bunnings and today I had a question about painting under the clear Crommelin pond sealer. We reviewed this thread, but the only thing mentioned was to use oxide in a slurry underneath. Is there a possibility of applying paint before the sealer in order to produce the desired colour or is the sealer best applied to the surface with no paint or likewise barrier in between?
Thanks in advance, Jake.
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @jake_k06. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about the Crommelin pond sealer.This sealer needs to be applied directly to a porous material, specifically concrete/cement. Unfortunately, paint isn't a suitable substrate for the sealer, and Crommelins does not recommend its application over it. Their concern is that an adequate bond can not be achieved. That's why I've suggested an oxide mixed into the cement to achieve a suitable colouring. Obviously, you also have the black, blue, and sandstone versions.Please let me know if you have any questions.Mitchell
