How to winterize your concrete product.

If your statuary comes from a temperate climate be sure you know the manufacturer has a good reputation before you take it home to a mid or northern climate.

Unless you use an electric bird-bath heater you should not allow rain, snow or ice to accumulate on or in your statuary if possible. While it is best to move it indoors during winter it is often not feasible.

Turning a bird-bath bowl upside down isn’t wise because ice can accumulate in the base recess.

Never tightly seal statuary in a plastic wrap because condensation during freeze-thaw cycles adds moisture inside and can wind up being worse than open exposure. You can use plastic if you first wrap the statue with shredded paper, cellulose or similar product. Try to allow a vent space at the bottom so trapped condensation can evaporate.

If you use a bird-bath heater be sure to purchase one that is thermostatically controlled to avoid a hot spot on the concrete bowl.

When choosing a location for your statuary you should pick a place with good drainage. Most rocks make an excellent base allowing water to drain away. Bricks or stepping stones also work well. The worst thing you can to is to place it in direct contact with soil or sand, which will trap and hold moisture.

Besides running a risk of freezing internally, moisture laden concrete can also cause paint to release from the surface, and diminish it’s beauty.