Covering a Bollard

• Commercially manufactured covers are available for bollards. Bollard covers are usually manufactured of plastic and simply slip over the concrete post. This is the most common treatment for bollards in retail settings. The gray concrete becomes a brightly colored plastic post. The bollard cover color can be selected to match the paint scheme of the building or the predominant colors of the business. Some manufacturers produce multicolored bollard covers, while others can include the business name or logo. Reflective tape can be included in the bollard cover to improve the visibility of the bollard and to serve as traffic control.
  
  

Specialized Bollards

• Residential bollards can be built from materials other than standard concrete. These bollards can be constructed from stone, timber or concrete with a specialty finish. These bollards are designed to match the exterior of the home. A home with a rustic wood exterior may utilize a timber bollard. A home with a more modern look may utilize a bollard made from steel or metal.
  
  

Finishing a Bollard

• There are options for dealing with a plain concrete bollard. The bollard can be painted to match the exterior of the surrounding buildings. Use paints formulated for concrete and follow label directions.
  
  Bollards can also be incorporated into a fence or other landscape element. This can take a little creativity. The bollards can serve as posts in the fence or as supports for planters or other landscape pieces. The bollards can be covered or left natural in these applications. In some cases the raw concrete of the bollard may offer a nice look to the landscape design.
  
  

Maintaining the Bollard

• No matter how it is decorated, the bollard still needs to serve its purpose as a protective element to the building. Coverings, paint or even the addition of plants to the bollard do not detract from the strength of the bollard. Actions that weaken the bollard, such as drilling holes near the base or making cuts in the concrete, weaken the bollard and limit the usefulness of the post in protecting the building.