PLEASE PASS ON ANY ADVICE, COMMENTS OR ASSISTANCE!

We have a concrete pond alongside the pathway to our house. There is a 2 m, kidney-shaped pond that overflows into a larger, 7 m figure-eight shaped pond. The top "circle" of the figure-eight is very elongated and shallower than the second, irregular-shaped "circle" so using a pond liner would be very difficult. We don't know how it was built (we are not the original owners of the property), but it is certainly very attractive.

Because of the length and shape and the excessively dry summer, a second crack has appeared in the larger section. We fixed a previous one with silicone and that seems to be okay.

However, after cleaning the whole thing out and waterblasting the surface we are confused as to the best product for painting or recoating it. Resene suggested we telephone Jansens in Auckland who said to use Pondflex by Holdfast. However, they no longer have stock! I've emailed Holdfast, but in the meantime any input would be GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Altex Coatings also have a product called Shield 2000 - I'm also waiting for an email from them.

I'm no spring chicken, so having to paint the inside needs to be relatively easy. Then again, if not too expensive, we could always use a contractor. Where does one stop???

Suppose there are other options - eg plaster, another coat of concrete, swimming pool paint (providing it is non-toxic), etc, etc. In the meantime, the fish and plants are happily ensconced in some plastic troughs that are to be re-located into the new paddocks.

would you be able to dry out the pond and put a bit of cement in the crack

Contact Stone and Water world in Ellerslie, Auckland

I know they have concrete sealer for sale

they are open 7 days so you can phone them up.

Have you tried talking to Carine's Garden centre just past Te Puna?

They do ponds and water features, and have a reasonable selection of fish also.

There is stuff you can buy to paint the inside of concrete water storage tanks. Use that. Don't know what it's called but that is what they used on our pond.

Hello !

The one everyone seems to use around CHCH for this purpose is one called FintKote. It is now made by Shell.

Any industrial coatings place should be able to help you.

It is used in hydroponics and fish ponds ect as it is a different base product than others.

Good luck !

Rachel.

Before you even contemplate the sealing, you have to find the reason a pond that for ages has been there, decides to crack.

This has to be remedied, then the crack sealed by chiseling it wider and using an epoxy grout in the joint.

This ia semi liquid and when set ia akso elastic to a degree,

You'll have to make enquires as to the most suitable product.

As suggested "Flintcote" could be used baut you will need seveal coats of this also.

We also used a product called "Isinglas", not sure if I spelt that correctly, but it is a product that our forebears used for preserving eggs, brewers use it for clearing their wee drop, and we, as chippies, used it on cowshed floors to stop the milk from eating into the concrete, also need three coats or so, but it is very easy to apply as it is like water and a mop is a useful applicant.

An easy way out is to use UV resistant ensilge stack polythene.

It is black and after a month or two any ugly creases will not be able to be seen.

Hope this gives you some ideas.