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Does anyone know of a good sealer to use for some wood cages I have? I went to Home Depot and there were so many choices that I decided to post this question to you all. These are large cages that I will be keeping boas in and I would like to use something that will make them relatively easy to clean should there be any seepage through the newspaper. Thanks for your help.

Jeremy

You're right, there are several options.

First let me say that with a species such as a boa, lining the floor with something durable and easy to clean is always a good idea. Vinyl flooring, FRP board or PVCX are all good choices. PVCX is especially good if you want to incorporate "belly" heat into your cages.

I would do this regardless of what sealer you use. Unless you ended up using an epoxy.

The sealer itself should probably be limited to an oil-based product or an epoxy. For a boa I would avoid water based products.

If you want a clear finish you're either limited to the oil based polyurethanes or epoxies. All of the epoxies are difficult to use and have nasty solvents. Once exception to this is Envirotex Epoxy - expensive, but my favorite sealer.

If a solid color is okay then you can use oil-based paints.

Understand that if you only seal the floor and do not use a covering of some sort you will likely have to go in a touch up or redo the paint every year or so. This will likely be the case with both the oil based paints and polys.

The two part epoxies will be a much longer lasting finish.

Here is a picture of a cage sealed with envirotex epoxy. There is about $50 worth in this 4'x2.5'x4' cage.

Do you know where I can fing the envirotex epoxy? Is it available at a chain like Home Depot or do you know of a web site I can go to and have some shipped to me? Thanks

Jeremy

Hi Jeremy,

I purchased mine at Menard's - a home improvement Store in the Central/Midwest US.

I have seen it online but it has always been more expensive, even before factoring in shipping. I'll check and see if I have any links to online sources when I get back to my regular computer next week.

I have also seen kits for small projects at ACE Hardware. They have been very expensive compared to the one gallon kits I found at Menards. Even those is expensive when you figure that one gallon costs $50 and basically only coats one side of one sheet of plywood.

But well worth it, IMO.

I looked at Menards and could not find it, so I had to get some other epoxy resin. it was $18 for both bottles and I used 3 on a 4x2x2 cage. I also live up here in the midwest (its to damn cold).