Having birds frequently visit your house for snacks and cool water is one of the most satisfying and peaceful experiences.
Bird baths are a great addition to a backyard, but they require occasional maintenance to stay functional.
Some substances and chemicals can be toxic for birds, which is why you should do extensive research before using any chemical-based product for bird baths or houses.
Some products may be toxic for birds and hurt your little feathered friends in innumerable ways.
Bird baths tend to crack with exposure to tough weather and frequent use. Concrete, which is bird bath used to make most bird baths, is porous and absorbs water.
This absorbed water can freeze and expand inside the pores in winters, causing the concrete to crack. You may need to seal these cracks with epoxy, sealant, resin, cement, or any other material based on the size of the cracks.
Wondering what a non-toxic sealant for bird baths is? Keep on reading to find out.
What is Flex Seal?
Flex Seal is a rubber-like substance in a can. It is pressurized and comes out in the form of a thick liquid.
When it dries, Flex Seal is flexible and waterproof and provides a strong, adhering coating. Flex seal blocks out moisture and air and is a non-flammable, rust-resistant substance that prevents mildew and corrosion.
It is even chemical resistant and is used to repair cracks and chips in objects that hold water.
Flex seal is easy to use and works great for DIY projects, especially when you want to save money.
You can use it on any surface ranging from metal, wood, concrete, tiles, fabric, plastic, glass, porcelain, aluminum, rubber, vinyl, cement, and drywall.
Flex Seal, a urethane rubber sealant, is quite aromatic.
Urethanes are acclaimed for the highest level of toughness, resistance, longevity, and acidic resistance. Flex seal is durable and lasts for years with appropriate use.
Is Flex Seal Safe for Birds?
Yes, the short answer is that flex seal is safe for use around birds and in bird baths but only if it is cured before birds have access to it.
It may be toxic if not properly cured. Flex seal dries within 3-4 hours but requires an entire day to cure completely.
Flexsealproducts.com recommends that you wait 24 hours before putting it back in your yard for birds to use.
Why Use Flex Seal
Apart from fixing cracks and chips in a bath, this thick and mastic rubber coating will provide a water-resistant surface for the bird bath and elongate its life in the process.
Flex seal can make its way into cracks and holes easily, which makes it the perfect product for repairing a damaged bird bath.
No matter how high-quality your bird bath is, even the strongest material cannot withstand continuous exposure to the elements. Over time, your bird bath will sustain wear and tear.
You can prevent future damage to bird baths by using Flex Seal.
Moisture-related problems are not uncommon for bird baths. In fact, you may experience mold or even flooding.
Flex Seal can help create a barrier between water and concrete so that your bird bath may become waterproof. You can even save money on paint!
It bird bath is best to keep a bottle of flex seal spray handy if you own a bird bath because it is a useful tool that will help you quickly repair cracks and prevent the damage from getting worse.
The sooner you address cracks, the easier they will be to fix, bird bath ensures your bird bath’s lifespan. Consider sealing your bird bath once a year for optimum function.
How to seal a leaking concrete bird bath
Fixing a leaking bird bath is easy and even fun. The product you use depends on how big the crack is or what type of leak you have on your hands.
If the water is seeping through the concrete without any apparent crack or hole, you may have to seal the entire surface. You can seal cracks separately if they are leaking water.
However, you won’t need to seal the entire surface.
Follow these simple instructions given below to bird bath seal your bird bath safely:
Step 1
Drain the water from the bath and thoroughly dry it using a cloth or any other absorbent material.
You may want to dry out the bath for a couple of days or more so that the moisture in the concrete may evaporate thoroughly.
This will allow the sealant to adhere effectively to concrete.
You can choose to dry your bird bath under the sun, but cover the bath with a mesh or net so that birds may not sit on it while it dries.
Step 2
Find a well-ventilated area, preferably indoors, where birds will not have access to the bath.
Fill a bucket with lukewarm water and concrete cleaner according to the instructions given on the manual.
Use a scrubbing brush with stiff bristles to scrub off any debris or algae that may be present on the bowl of the bath and give the bath a thorough clean.
Clean the bird bath twice with concrete cleaner for the most effective results.
Step 3
Use epoxy paint or concrete sealing paint to brush up the entire bowl with a paintbrush.
Be sure only to apply a thin layer to not let the product pool in the bird bath. Allow this paint to dry before you move on to the next step.
You may prefer to apply two coats of epoxy or sealing paint, it depends on what your bird bath needs, but a single coat is enough in most situations.
Step 4
Apply flex seal on cracks and holes. Flex seal comes in numerous forms ranging from sprays to paste, glue, tape, liquid, and shot.
It is best to use sprays for this particular use.
You may use silicone tubes or resin to seal larger cracks, but flex seal is pretty effective in waterproofing and protecting any size of cracks.
You may also coat the entire bird bath with Flex Seal to prevent future damage as well.
Whichever sealer you choose, read the instructions carefully to avoid any mistakes.
Step 5
Allow the flex seal to dry for 24 hours before you reintroduce the bird bath to your yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we know how to use and apply flex seal, let’s explore some FAQs to clear up some basic things regarding the nature of this product and the various uses.
How Can I remove Flex Seal?
Made a mistake or accidentally got the sealant somewhere you didn’t want it to be? Not to worry!
Flex seal can be easily cleaned.
Just grab a damp rag and some acetone, scrub the surface until Flex Seal is removed. You may need to put a little strength behind the scrubbing but it will come off.
How Long Does Flex Seal Last?
It depends on the environment that the bird bath is exposed to, and the number of coats that are applied.
With proper maintenance and careful use, flex seal can last anywhere from a year to several years without peeling, cracking or needing repairs.
As long as you use flex seal on a clean, dry surface and follow the instructions well, flex seal is a highly dependable product and will last for years.
Is Flex Seal Environmentally Friendly?
Flex seal is an environmentally friendly, VOC-free product that is also UV resistant.
It has a wide temperature range and works in even the most extreme conditions, creating a water-tight barrier that is flexible and extremely strong.
How Much Pressure Can Flex Seal Withstand?
Flex Seal can hold under normal water pressure such as pool water, rainwater, etc.
However, it is not made to withstand extreme pressure, such as hydraulics, pressurized water, engines and machinery. Flex seal is pretty durable for bird baths.
What Other Products Can I Use To Seal My Bird bath?
If flex seal ’isn’t readily available, you may use other sealants to seal your bird bath as well.
Silicone sealants are a popular and common alternative. Silicone sealants come in tubes, which are easy to apply into cracks. Just squeeze some of the product into the cracks along their length and spread it using a small, flat plastic spreader or applicator.
Silicone is a great option because it is easily available at most hardware or home improvement stores.
Another great option is to use a concrete sealant such as the SILOXA-TEK 8510 penetrating concrete sealer wet-on-wet.
Three or four coats of the Siloxa-Tek 8510 concrete sealer will help to reduce moisture seepage and is a great solution to help seal a concrete fountain or bird bath.
Durapond is a somewhat expensive option, but it is made especially for ponds and baths.
It is a polyurethane pond sealer that is perfect for water troughs of livestock, potted plant containers, fish ponds, or birth baths.
It forms a non-toxic waterproofing barrier that withstands lasting use in water. Durapond is a non-toxic, odorless, supple, and tough.
Super Laykold is a comparatively less expensive choice and is designed to be ideal for baths and ponds, and it is safe for birds.
Conclusion
Keeping birds safe and providing them a friendly environment with plenty of food and water is a constructive and highly commendable hobby.
We wish you the best of luck in sealing your bird bath.
Reach out to us if you have further questions. We will be sure to answer.
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