Cleaning Outdoor Stone Sculptures

     

There are lots of great articles on maintaining outdoor stone sculptures on the internet. And a few not-so-great. When you have questions, the internet is a great place to visit, but sometimes I wonder if some of these folks have actually done it themselves. Twenty-five years ago, I got a commission to fix nineteen Zimbabwean sculptures. Maintaining my client’s collection became a job I did every year. I confess to a lot of trials and errors, but I can tell you what I learned.

To start with, I always go to the site to see what’s really needed. If I’m lucky, it may be just sealer, followed by a coat of wax to create a barrier from the sun and weather. I always check the surface for scratches, etching (weather can do that), tree tar, moss, bird droppings, and water damage from sprinklers. If the surface is really bad, the whole sculpture might need sanding.

I usually start out washing the pieces, using sponges, brushes, even Scotch Brite pads on the harder surfaces. Generally, I treat sculptures like a car. Dishwashing soap is gentle and good. Then, a thorough rinse and dry with a soft towel or rag. And as with a car, it’s best to do this on a sunny day. Once it’s clean, it’s easier to see if a sealant is needed. If it is, I’ll use a wax stripper to get all the old wax off and wash the piece with soap and water again to get the remains of the stripper off and then carefully dry it.

After the sealer is applied, it needs to sit for ten minutes to saturate into the stone. Then It’s very important to rub all the excess off. Be sure to always read the instructions on the can of sealant you are using to check for variations on this technique. The next day, I wax the whole piece, and it’s done.

The products I’ve come to respect and use come from Braxton and Braggs. I’m familiar with them and know they will provide the proper surface, and the price is reasonable besides. There are many good products out there that will do the job, I’m sure, but I’m happy with these. Stone Shield for porous surfaces and the one for polished surfaces (both in natural tone) are good for white stone and for textured surfaces. For a wet look, use Stone Shield enhancement sealer. I use Bowling Alley wax. This is tinted, so It’s best on colored stone. I use Tenax Cera on light-colored or white stone, but it’s good for all stone. Once again, you can’t go wrong if you read the back of the can.