Concrete Care and Maintenance
by First Concrete Ltd.
Care and Maintenance of Your Concrete
One of the most common questions asked is "Can I leave my concrete out in the winter". The answer is yes with proper care. Any water allowed to lay or pool during freezing temperatures will damage any concrete piece. The following recommendations will help ensure your concrete purchases give years of enjoyment.
Statues
Statues with designs that may retain or collect water should be tipped, or stored upside down, or covered, or stored indoors to stop water from collecting; i.e. a garage, gardener's she or basement are all ideal.
Fountains, Birdbaths and Planters
1. Drain bowl throughly
2. Remove pump and store indoors
3. Small birdbath bowls or fountains may be inverted so water will not pool inside
4. Large bowls can be covered with heavy-duty plastic sheeting and secured tightly
Tips for Handling Concrete
- Metal garden cards need a protective layer or piece of cardboard. Concrete sitting on the metal flatbed and then being pulled along an uneven surface can cause the piece to bounce, and thus chipping on edges will occur.
- When using a dolly, cover it with a protective layer like cardboard as any edges of concrete statue will break if bounced or laid against the metal bars of the dolly.
- It is better to use two people on heavy pieces tan attempt with one person. Using wings, arms or hands of statue as lifting handles, or one person rolling a concrete piece along any ground will chip the piece.
- Set a concrete state on any patio or driveway with care to place it down flat, tipping it up on an edge with chip edges.