Maintenance of Concrete Fountains & Birdbaths

You don't have to be a member of the National Audubon Society to enjoy watching those peppy little creatures that produce the most varied and lively wake up call in the mornings for those of us that do not hop out of bed way before daylight. You may even have concrete around your home meant for those little guys. If you have a concrete birdbath in your landscape, or if you have decorated your garden area with a concrete fountain, you will no doubt appreciate that these fixtures require maintenance and care to keep them looking their best. What kinds of care do these concrete furnishings need?

Water and Discoloration

The two may not seem to be a normal pair. But they are often found in the vicinity of one another. Where you have water constantly around concrete, you will most likely find discolorations of one sort or another. Water some of these discolorations and what do they have to do with care and maintenance? Let's take a look.

Rust Requires Moisture

Rust forms when metal (steel or iron) is exposed to oxygen and water for a period of time. You might not think that rust is something to worry about when it comes to a concrete birdbath or fountain. However, it does happen in various ways so it is good to be aware of the fact that there are rust removers for concrete fixtures available to remove rust from fountains and birdbaths made of concrete.

Mold and Mildew Thrives On Water

Another discoloring substance that you will likely find in a concrete birdbath or fountain is mold & mildew. Again, these build up and grow on the surface because of the water. As a general rule, where you find moisture and shade, you will find mold and mildew.

Because birdbaths are best placed near a wooded area, they have a tendency to get enough shade for them to be perfect breeding grounds for mold and mildew or other algae. Therefore, treating your birdbath or fountain with a mold remover or stain remover designed to remove mold and mildew periodically not only cleans the concrete piece, but also slows down the growth of the algae after the cleaning.

Sealer Repels Water & Moisture

If you are thinking that controlling the water would help to reduce the mold, mildew, algae, and rust, you are right. Since these discolorations depend on water and birdbaths and fountains have plenty, it is easy to see how these discolorations naturally are present with these concrete lawn or garden fixtures.

While you may not need to seal the inside of your concrete birdbath or water fountain since it is submerged in water most of the time, you will likely find that sealing the outside of a concrete birdbath or fountain will reduce the mold, algae, and mildew. Thus, making it easier to keep your concrete fixture looking its best.