Help please...I want to paint my old birdbath

[reema]

I have a birdbath (kinda ceramic/terracotta/concretish.
I want to clean it up and paint it. Can I just paint it with acrylic
based paint? Then should I "waterproof" it in any other ways????
Anybody have any ideas or should I just jump right in??
Thanks!!
Reema

[Nono Rayne]

In article <477d448.02061...@posting.google.com>,
reem...@yahoo.com says...

>
>I have a birdbath (kinda ceramic/terracotta/concretish.

The rule for painting any sort of container
made from clay, flower pots included, is to
make sure and seal them on the inside. If
you don't the water will penetrate - you may
not see it but it will - and cause the exterior
coating to blister and peel. Choice of what
to use: ask your local paint store would be
my suggestion. Acrylic is subject to water
damage depending on how its formulated so you
need to observe the labeling on the product
to see if it's recommended for water submersion.
I'm speaking of the choice of sealer.

[AuntieM]

Dear Reema,
I am not sure if you have painted your bird-bath yet, but...
I have ceramics that I have painted in simple craft acrylic paint such
as Folk Art and many done with paints from ceramic mold companies, in
my yard. We recently had a catasrophic hailstorm event in my area and
I lost only one outdoor ceramic, not from the hail, but from the
swingset that the wind picked up and crashed down on the one piece.
Wish my roof would have been as durable as the ceramics!
You could get Folk Art Acrylics ( a reliable craft and ceramic
paint ) at you local Wal-Mart crafts section. To seal the birdbath,
after painting with your color choice, use Delta All-Purpose Sealer
available at Wal-Mart or try to find a ceramics studio that handles
Doc Holiday paints and ask for Weather It Sealer. Both are water
clean-up and brush applied. If using Delta, I would suggest applying 2
heavy coats allowing to dry completely between coats. I would add a
3rd coat to the basin area and would allow @ least 48 hrs dry time
before adding water. Doc Holiday Weather It is used in sealing
fountains done in acrylics for the area that contacts water. I am
pretty sure that Weather it is non-toxic, but am not sure about
Delta's sealer. You definately want to ensure the health of the
visitors to your bath, so check all products used on it.
Happy birding,
AuntieM
Hope you enjoy the traffic at your birdbath!

reem...@yahoo.com (reema) wrote in message news:<477d448.02061...@posting.google.com>...