Care and Maintenance of Cast Stone
Little or nothing needs to be done to protect the finish of natural concrete fountains and statuaries. Many people find the aging and weathering of natural stone to be appealing. The aging can be impeded with a clear concrete sealer available from your local hardware store.
Our color finished cast stone (concrete) statuaries and fountains have a penetrating sealer designed to resist the elements for years. The fountains clear luster may be revived yearly with a light coat of sealer available from your local hardware/lumber store.
You may choose to refinish your fountain after a number of years, whether in the original or a new color. For cast stone products manufactured by Henri Studio, we can provide you with a refinishing kit complete with all materials and instructions. Contact us to find out if we have a kit for your item.
Finishing raw concrete items. You can contact your local hardware or craft store for advice on the best paing finish to use. You can also try Tricker's for concrete products.
To camoflage minor dings, nicks, and scratches, use a dab of almost any type of paint that is not water soluble. Dab the paint onto the mar and wipe off the excess. your touchup should blend in nicely.
If your concrete product has cracked over the years, try a silicone sealant or ask your local hardware or hbby store for advice on repairing cracked concrete.
You may safely and easily remove the buildup with a fountain cleaner and lime remover. Do not use it as a water additive but as a suface cleaner. Apply only a little at a time and gently wipe until the buildup is gone. Take care to not remove the finish.
If you have heavy mineral deposits on your concrete product, please check with your local hardware or hobby store for advice and suitalbe products for the finish on your item.
Water clarifier available from your local aquarium store can help keep the fountain water clear from slugde, algae, and cloudiness. You can also purchase algicide to prevent the dreaded algae. Tricker's may be able to supply these products.
Depending on temperature, evaporation, and mineral content in your tap and rain water, you may notice white residue building up on the surface of the bowl. This is normal. Frequent rinsing and water changes will help to minimize this. If you have heavy water, you can try gently softening the water. Do not use alot of water softener because it may eat away the concrete structure. Please get the advice of your local hardware store before using chemicals in your fountain.
DO NOT USE sealer or lime remover on finishes on stain finishes (vs. paints).
DO NOT ALLOW SALT or melting snow with salt to come into contact with your concrete item. This will invalidate the warranty.
Download Winter Care (Acrobat pdf file 37 kb). |
