It took a while to figure the whole process out. We didn't know exactly how we were going to get to the top of the bumpa. I knew Sangye Dorje, who had worked on this Stupa the last time it was painted (I participated then, but as just a casual volunteer), had strapped a ladder to the upper steps and climbed up it. At the time I thought he was nuts. Today, I was eager to get up there!

Lisa Banana mixed the paint while Pete, Malik (her son) and I tinkered around with some webbing to configure a solution.

This paint is purchased in two parts, one part is a fixative, the potassium silicate. The other part is the pigment. In our case, since we want to paint the Stupa, our ratio is 4 parts pigment to 1 part fixative. The product can be used as a stain, where that ratio is reversed. This is our first time using it, so we're not sure what to expect. We chose this after over a year of agonizing research.

For those new to the blog, this whole renovation was undertaken as the result of that research. We found that ordinary paints, like latex or oil based, seal. Sounds good, except that concrete needs to breath. Our Stupas are built with concrete block foundations in the eternally moist Maryland soil, leading to water vapors rising through the pores of the concrete. The previous coatings we'd used were paints, oil based mostly, which then trapped those vapors under the seal. This led to both bubbling up and cracking of the paint, and slow deterioration of the surface layers of the concrete. We set out in March to change that situation, for all the Stupas! Today we're applying a paint (Silin paint, distributed by Cathedral Stone) which is formulated specifically for concrete and masonry. It performs like gortex, forming a coating that prevents rain or water from the outside from getting in, but does allow the smaller molecules of water vapor to escape from inside, allowing the Stupa to breath! So the products you see us use are not randomly chosen, they are the result of grueling research. Not that we're now experts, we'll keep you posted in the future as to whether these products live up to their claims! But they were recommended (finally) by a concrete restoration contractor as the best solution to our situation. So, today is our first day with the paint!