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Painting garden ornaments

MeomyeMeomye Posts: 949
in Problem solving

I have a few terracota and concrete ornaments in the garden and have previously used acrylics and masonry paints to decorate them but find that they can often wash/peel off by the following year. Has anyone got any good tips for painting outdoor figures which lasts please/? I have tried using varnish before but they went a horrible yellow colour image  Thanks

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Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    I'm more a fan of patination than paint

    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    The few I have were painted in their early days with natural yoghurt which encourages the growth of lichens and mosses. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    if you stand still for long in Devon, you attract lichen. I've never seen it grow so quickly

    Devon.
  • primrosecottageprimrosecottage Posts: 817

    The chairman of the board built a bridge back alongimage I keep threatening to paint pillar box red and go Japanese y image  it's weathered silver grey and the only one using it is Phil the Pheasant.  image lichen only grows well with clean air so that's goodimage makes a mess of patio slabs thoughimage (shouldn't paint Them even soimage)

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    For painting pots and concrete you need first to make sure they are completely clean and dry with no bits of hidden dirt or algae in nooks and cracks.

    Then you paint with a layer of PVA glue which acts as a primer and will help the acrylic paint stick.   Do at least 2 layers of your final colour allowing a  day to dry between coats no matter how quick the tin says it dries.   Once done, finish with up to 3 layers of acrylic varnish allowing a thorough dry between coats - no more than 3 as it will go milky. 

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • HmsHms Posts: 5

    Try  a good extior building paint it seems to work well.

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    Yes, but colour range can be a bit limited and paint pots rather large to buy unless you have some left over from a masonry job.

    My method allows the use of leftover indoor paint or tester pots or just small pots bought for the purpose.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • MeomyeMeomye Posts: 949

    Thanks for replies everyone.  Obelixx, I think I must have used an oil based varnish which would account for the yellowing. I will try your PVA method  and use an acrylic varnish. You are also right about the limited colours available with masonry paints. 

  • MeomyeMeomye Posts: 949

    Thanks Pansyface, if these are available in tester pots they will be great.

  • Lyn Plant-WellsLyn Plant-Wells Posts: 338

    Hi Folks

    I have a similar question. My very kind, well meaning next door neighbour has given me a resin 'water feature' in a colour that I can't stand.image  Has anyone had any success painting resin? I would rather it looked like old stone - beige/grey rather than this unnatural bluey colour! image photo to follow! 

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