[Yorky]

Thanks for the replies. I asked for the top of the posts to be sealed with the bitumen-based paint also as they are 'dished' and therefore a water trap. I noticed the other day that the top of one of them had only been coated in spray paint rather than the bitumen paint.

Will this have the same sealing effect as trowel mastic?

[Foxylock]

Hi Yorky.

It depends on what type of spray paint was used but I'd hazard a guess and say it will wear off quickly especially with the weather we get. Another option would be to make a cap for it with a small piece of malleable metal like lead or copper.