My yard has been busy with a lot of bird activity lately! It’s wonderful to see & hear the birds so I felt I should offer them a spa. I really needed to ‘reno’ their bathing facility. If you’re thinking the same, here’s; how to fix (resurface) a Concrete Birdbath.
Adding the Leaf Textures:
This concrete Bird bath is quite large so I needed a few leaves together. I quickly smeared enough of the Rapidset Cementall concrete mixture (about consistency of peanut butter) to allow my to push the leaf into the surface. Since the bowl was still quite thick (no cracks or leak ) I only needed enough to get a good coverage for the leaf.
Remember that the stem veins are the thickest portion of the leaf. They will make quite deep details in the concrete. Do not worry about overlaps as long as there isn’t concrete on top of the leaves because they will be removed after the curing process.
Which Concrete (Cement) Should I use?
Make sure the existing concrete is thoroughly moistened before adding any new concrete to resurface it. It will “suck” the moisture out of the new mix like a sponge if it isn’t, which increases the likelihood that the adhesion and curing won’t work. I keep a spray bottle near by.
The commercial mix I like to use is Rapidset Cementall. It is not a typical mix, is very dense and will not absorb water as much as a sand-mix. To create a bond no extra bonding agents are needed. The particles are much finer and therefore the finish is quite smooth, almost not concrete-like.
This post will assist if you are new to concrete crafting.
Since this mix will start to stiffen very quickly I tend to work small sections at a time. If you are hoping for more working time there is a product to slow the setting called Set Control. Using extra cold water will help a little as well, as warm water (and weather) will make it cure faster.
I have a concrete tiered bird foutain/bath. It has a leak somewhere near the bottom. I can identify the location, but I can’t see any holes or cracks. I need something non-toxic to paint the outside. Can I use something waterproof? Will that stop the leak? Sponsored.
FAQ
Can you use Flex Seal on a bird bath?
What is a safe sealant for bird baths?
What can I use to seal a concrete bird bath?