How To Repair Concrete Garden Statues

Garden statues are a slap-up way to add a focal bespeak to a garden, to add peak and shape among delicate blooms and leafy hedges. When chosen correctly they can provide an attractive centrepiece to your garden throughout all the seasons.

While you can purchase your garden ornaments new, at that place are many bargains to be had second manus in flea markets and charity shops. All the same, these may have small cracks, which come winter can expand and cause more serious damage.

Use our guide to repairing a garden statue to fix harm then that frost and freezing temperatures come those cooler months, won't make things worse. For more outdoor decor inspiration, have a look at our garden ideas characteristic.

Planning a bigger garden pattern project? Be certain to bank check out our advice piece.

An expert guide to repairing garden statues

Garden statuary first became popular in the 17th and 18th centuries when well-heeled travellers returning domicile from the K Tour wanted to emulate the glorious ornamental Italian gardens they had seen, featuring stone pillars, seats, fountains and figures.

Stone is the customary material used for statuary. Information technology is durable and can accommodate fine carved detailing. Nowadays modernistic machine tools supplement the craftsman'due south traditional mallets, chisels and rasps. This speeds upwards the process simply stone carving still demands a good bargain of skilled adroitness and the price of stone products reflects this.

A less expensive option for statuary is reconstituted or cast stone by companies such as Haddonstone and Chilstone, who beat out and grind natural stone, so mix it with a binding agent before it is re-bonded and pressed into moulds. The finished item tin can be made to look like marble, granite, sandstone or limestone, appearing and so like to natural carved stone that at first glance it is often hard to tell them apart.

Don't try to repair a valuable antique statue, as visible DIY work can lessen the value. Instead, find a professional restorer through a reputable umbrella trunk such as The Institute of Conservation (opens in new tab).

Yous will need:

Bristle castor (opens in new tab)
Mild detergent (opens in new tab)
Milliput epoxy putty
Epoxy adhesive such as Araldite Precision (opens in new tab)
Narrow spatula (opens in new tab) or knife
Craft pocketknife (opens in new tab)
Cloth
Thin plastic gloves (opens in new tab)

How to restore a garden statue steps 1 and 2

For more than communication on DIY projects, visit our dedicated DIY section.

one. Clean up statue'southward stone surface

Castor away moss, loose dirt and aging stone from the damaged area. Make clean with balmy detergent diluted in warm water to get rid of whatsoever ingrained clay or grease. Rinse away balance with make clean h2o and allow rock to dry out. Careful preparation now will allow the adhesive to bond well with the stone.

2. Make good the cruddy gap

First deal with the gap in the stone by filling with epoxy putty, known as Milliput. This product can be plant in arts and crafts and hardware shops, and plumbers' merchants. Information technology'due south available in v colours, Silver Grey being the closest to the colour of the stone in this example. Take equal quantities from each of the ii Milliput sticks.

How to restore a garden statue steps 3 and 4

3. Ready the Milliput putty

Knead and roll the two pieces of Milliput in your hands for five minutes until the colours merge and get uniform and no visible streaks remain. Mix for a farther minute. If you have sensitive peel, wear rubber or polythene gloves. Gently press the putty into the gap using a knife or spatula.

4. Smooth the putty into shape

Use a wet finger or a moisture narrow spatula to shape and smooth the putty repair. At start the putty is soft but it will become stone hard later iii to four hours. A hairdryer volition gear up the putty in a few minutes, which is useful if y'all demand to build up a repair in stages. Clean tools directly away before the putty hardens.

How to restore a garden statue steps 5 and 6

5. Brand upwardly a missing function with putty

The putty tin be fashioned to create a missing or damaged part, such as a toe on this statue. If you are interrupted while yous are mixing or shaping, put the Milliput into the freezer where it will keep for 36 hours. When you resume take it out of the freezer and warm information technology in your hands until it becomes soft and pliable.

half dozen. Fix the hairline crack in the rock

Bargain with the hairline scissure before moisture tin can be drawn into the stone, freeze and expand, leading to further impairment. Choose an epoxy agglutinative recommended for rock, such every bit Araldite Precision. Clasp out equal amounts of the two-function resin kit and mix together thoroughly before applying.

How to restore a garden statue steps 7 and 8

7. Apply the adhesive with intendance

Wearing thin plastic gloves, apply a circular action to rub a quantity of adhesive well into the crack – I used a cocktail stick to help guide it in. Surplus adhesive can look ugly if allowed to remain, and sets rock hard, then wipe excess off with a cloth dampened with white spirit taking care not to disturb the affected area.

8. Encourage an antique finish

Whatsoever unsightly hardened adhesive tin can be removed with a sharp blade. Blend in the repair by encouraging moss and lichen growth. People accept their favourite recipes to stimulate this including painting on milk, or rubbing with compost or manure, but most reliable is an occasional coat of plain natural yoghurt.

How to source reclaimed garden statues

From big architectural items to bird baths, planters and ornaments, reclaimed garden pieces accept a wonderful weathered patina that can just be achieved through years of being outside. The advantage of buying an older slice is that you know it won't crack during the kickoff frost – chances are that if it's already survived several winters, it's likely to last a long time to come.

Fountain boy garden statue — *Fountain male child statue from Jardinique*

How to choose a garden statue

Buy what y'all similar, as it's for you to savor, but always ask nearly condition, especially if not buying in person. Older garden items obviously won't be in perfect status but it is best to avoid annihilation with cracks, particularly planters. Once something has a cleft, the frost can get in and interruption it unless it has been restored correctly. Also check for rot on wooden items.

Common restoration issues

*Antique garden statue on a pedestal, for like try* *The Hoarde* (opens in new tab)

The main issues people face are matching the texture and colour of the repair, every bit well every bit making sure information technology is stable. If the item is antique, information technology is advisable to use a professional restorer. However, if you want to have a become yourself, an epoxy resin – a stiff mucilage that will stick concrete and stone – is recommended. The stone must exist completely dry out for information technology to be effective.

How to clean rock garden ornaments

Cleaning stone garden statues is very simple but does require a bird of elbow grease. Plus this method will besides piece of work regardless of the material, whether bronze, concrete, wood or marble.

All you lot need is a saucepan of warm h2o, a few drop of eco-friendly washing up liquid and a brush (the sort you'd use for your nails or cleaning vegetables).

Cull a warm day to aid with the drying process and to forestall the water from freezing in cracks or pores in the statue causing cracks.

First past rinsing your statue, either with a hose with a gentle sprayer nozzle or with a watering tin and a rose. Do not utilize any pressurised hose setting or a power washer every bit these can damage the statue.

Then simply wash using the brush or cloth to remove debris. Empty your saucepan when the water gets dingy. When finished gently rinse the lather from the statue and wipe dry.

For garden ornament inspiration, be certain to read our feature.

What should I pay for a garden statue?

Prices can vary enormously so it's best to store around. Bear in mind that you'll also need to factor in the commitment costs unless collecting information technology yourself, but most good dealers will be able to arrange this with trusted and reliable couriers. Sites such as Decorative Commonage (opens in new tab)and The Hoarde represent lots of dealers in one place, then yous can search for items you're interested in ownership and come across the range of prices.