Direct Colors DIY Home Improvement · Episode 1
Listen to this episode
Phillip Cooper and Shawna Turner on why a water feature needs color that soaks in rather than sitting on top — which acid stain suits a curved, tiered shape, how to spray one without leaving run marks, and why a penetrating sealer is the only sensible choice on concrete that is wet most of the year.
5 min 26 sec · Download MP3 (7.5 MB)
For this job you need: EverStain™ · DecoGel™ · ProSeal Li™
Not sure which is right for your slab? Send us the details — the free project consultation is a person, not a form letter.
The full written method, with photographs of each stage, is here: How to Stain a Concrete Fountain.
Editor’s note. This episode was recorded some years ago and the transcript below has been corrected where the facts have changed. Nothing about the technique has been altered.
- The sealer discussed was then sold as the “Penetrating Lithium Hardener/Sealer” and the “Penetrating Sealer, Hardener & Densifier”. It is now ProSeal Li™ Penetrating Concrete Sealer.
- The episode mentions buying a quart of it. ProSeal Li™ now ships in one-gallon units only.
- Two durability statements have been softened to what we can support: a penetrating sealer avoids the periodic recoating a film sealer needs, and it improves freeze–thaw resistance — neither is a guarantee for the life of the piece.
- The series is no longer in production, so the closing invitation to a twice-monthly schedule reads in the past tense, and the spoken “directcolors.com/listen” now points here, to this archive.
- ⚠ A caution this episode does not give. Two of the projects below use Shifting Sand and Azure Blue on water features. Our episode 3 explains that the blue and green acid stains — Avocado, Shifting Sand, Seagrass and Azure Blue — are copper-based and will patina toward brown or bronze where water gets past the sealer, and advises against them on fountains and birdbaths specifically. Nothing here has been altered, but read the two together: those pieces can look superb, and on anything that holds water the color may move over time.
- Housekeeping, applied to every episode in this archive. The spoken sign-off has been rewritten to point here rather than at the old directcolors.com/listen address. The RSS-feed line, the social-media list and any pointers to retired photo-gallery, blog or video pages have been dropped, along with pointers to pages that have since been retired or superseded by the links under What’s Next — in some episodes that removes a whole sentence or a short exchange. Every speaker says “design consultation”; the service is now called the free project consultation, and we have used the current name throughout rather than send you to a page that no longer exists. Run-on speaker turns, duplicated intro lines and obvious transcription slips have been repaired without changing meaning. Nothing bearing on technique, safety or product choice has been altered; those changes are itemized above.
Still accurate: EverStain™ is offered in ten colors and DecoGel™ in nine, and ProSeal Li™ still dries completely matte.
What you need for this job
A fountain or birdbath holds standing water, which is what makes it different from a patio. Everything below is current.
- Color that reacts with the concrete
- EverStain™ Acid Stain — ten colors.
- Color that stays exactly where you put it
- DecoGel™ — a gel, so it will not run down a curved basin.
- Seal something that holds water
- ProSeal Li™ — penetrating and completely matte, so there is no film to peel.
- Clean it first
- ProClean Degreaser™, then neutralize with ProClean Neutralizer™.
Copper-reactive blues and greens can patina in standing water — see the blue and green episode, then send your color choice through the free project consultation.
Full transcript
Phillip Cooper: Today, our discussion centers on the coloring and sealing of concrete water fountains and bird baths. So, let’s dive right in.
PC: We receive numerous inquiries from our DIY concrete décor customers. Just last week, a woman asked us about the best way to color her concrete water fountain. Shawna, could you provide some insights on this?
Shawna Turner: Water fountains are indeed a popular project. I often hear from customers looking to enhance concrete bird baths and water fountains purchased from their local hardware stores. However, these items require special care due to the constant flow of water over them. It’s necessary to choose a colorant that can penetrate the concrete pores, color it, and then be sealed to protect it from the elements.
ST: When handling such projects, I usually opt for our EverStain™ acid stain or our DecoGel™ Acid Stain. The latter is a gelled acid stain that’s particularly effective for vertical surfaces. I’ll elaborate more on that shortly. We offer ten different acid stain colors that can be sprayed on or applied with a foam brush with ease. But remember, while spraying the acid stain onto a bird bath or similar surfaces, it’s important to avoid drips that could result in unsightly lines on your project. If drips do occur while using the liquid acid stain, make sure to address them promptly.
ST: In addition to that, we have DecoGel™, a gelled acid stain available in nine colors. Its oil paint-like consistency makes it excellent for getting into the crevices of a concrete project, providing darker accents, or creating a multi-colored design. For example, I worked on a concrete planter with leaves and grape designs on the surface. I used one DecoGel™ color for the leaves and another for the grapes. The outcome was impressive, but it’s critical to apply and remove the product carefully to maintain the color distinctions.
PC: We understand that choosing a sealer for a water fountain or bird bath can be challenging, particularly since the concrete is frequently submerged in water. What would you recommend as the best option?
ST: I typically suggest our ProSeal Li™ Penetrating Concrete Sealer, available on our website. It’s particularly suitable for the basin part of bird baths and any part of water fountains. The main advantage is that this sealer is penetrating, meaning it doesn’t leave anything on the surface. Instead, it penetrates the concrete pores. You might wonder why it matters. Wouldn’t a surface sealant work just fine? While surface sealers are great for floors, driveways, or patios, they’re less suitable for submerged concrete. Over time, water can get under the surface sealer, causing discoloration and even detachment from the concrete. You want to avoid this.
ST: ProSeal Li™, however, seals from within the concrete pores, preventing water from penetrating and damaging your piece. Additionally, it has several other benefits. For instance, it strengthens the concrete, making it more resistant to potential weather damage during winter months. So, freeze–thaw cycles are far less likely to cause your concrete to deteriorate.
ST: One more advantage is that it does not need the periodic recoating a film-forming sealer does — there is no coating sitting on the surface to wear through or peel. It also has a good coverage area, and a single gallon goes a long way on a piece this size. However, do note that this sealer leaves a matte finish. When the water is turned off, it might appear somewhat dull when dry. So, consider this factor when making your decision.
PC: That’s great and I’m sure these suggestions will be a big help to people with planned fountain and birdbath projects. If you have questions, call one of our expert technicians at 877-255-2656 and we’ll help you select the best products and technique for your needs. If you prefer email, send in a free online project consultation and we’ll get back to you within 24–48 hours.
PC: DIY Home Improvement podcasts were produced twice monthly for your enjoyment, and the show notes live here in the Direct Colors listening archive. Thanks again for joining us!
Projects mentioned in this episode
The original show notes carried photographs of six pieces. The photographs are not reproduced here, but the projects and the colors used are worth keeping on the record.
One color note. The original notes credited the planter to “Seagrass, Desert Amber, Cola and Shifting Sand DecoGel™”. Desert Amber is not offered in DecoGel™ — it is an EverStain™ color — so either that piece used both lines or the gel color has since been dropped. We have left it out rather than name a color you cannot buy in that product.
What’s Next
- The written how-to, with photographs of every stage → How to Stain a Concrete Fountain
- The full staining method → How to Apply Acid Stain
- Getting the neutralizing right → How to Neutralize Acid Stain
- More small projects like these → Concrete Craft Project Gallery
- Shop → EverStain™ · DecoGel™ · ProSeal Li™
