Drylok

[Bro bott]

Hi I’m making an indoor enclosure for my Russian tortoise and im wondering what kind of sealer I should use. I’m thinking drylok original but I’m wondering what you think.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello! I saw in other threads that Drylok doesn't hold very good in "high traffic" areas - tortoise shell damages the coating. Pond liner should work better (and easier to repair).
Or you can use water resistant materials - like PVC. Or maybe a thin ABS plastic sheet to protect wood.

 

[Tom]

Hi I’m making an indoor enclosure for my Russian tortoise and im wondering what kind of sealer I should use. I’m thinking drylok original but I’m wondering what you think.

Don't build with wood. There is nothing that you can coat it with that will hold up to the constant moisture. You can use "Pond Shield", but its expensive and difficult to work with, and it will rub off over time as Alex described.

I used a thick layer of Kilz2 Primer, and 3 full thick coats of DryLok, and the bottom of my plywood enclosure literally rotted and fell out in 15 months. The tortoises were on the edge looking down at the mess.

 

[Bro bott]

Thanks Alex and tom. So if pond liner is weak and Drylok doesn’t hold up very well, what do you suggest?

 

[Bro bott]

Unless should I not build with wood. What material should I build it out of?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thanks Alex and tom. So if pond liner is weak and Drylok doesn’t hold up very well, what do you suggest?

I heard that marine-grade epoxy-based paint holds well. But, likely, it's the same pain to work with as Pond Shield.

Pond liner is a protective film, 1/20-1/10 inch thick - should be resistant enough to digging.

Much depends on tortoise behaviour too: scratching the same corner for hours can destroy any kind of coating.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Unless should I not build with wood. What material should I build it out of?

Expanded PVC is the most common plastic for enclosures and relatively easy to work with. Can be found in HomeDepot sometimes or most advertising signs companies carry it (I buy it from a glass cutter).

Another option could be is to build a wooden enclosure and use Coroplast, polycarbonate or HIPS panels to protect inner surfaces.

 

[Tom]

Thanks Alex and tom. So if pond liner is weak and Drylok doesn’t hold up very well, what do you suggest?

Don't use wood. There is nothing that works for this application. Use a material like expanded PVC that is impervious to water.