Kilbel's Concrete Product Care

Although our Concrete Statuary can be used outdoors there is a certain amount of care to be taken to insure its long life.

1.  All Bird Baths and Fountain Bowls MUST be taken indoors for the winter months.

2.  Other Statuary can be left outside during the winter but must not be sitting where it  will absorb alot of moisture, such as in the grass or under an overhang.

3.  If the statue is sitting on the ground make sure it has a patio stone or a bed of mulch under it to keep it from absorbing water and moisture from the ground.

4.  If you have flower pots, with drain holes, sitting on a concrete patio or porch, be sure to place a spacer such as a flat washer or popsickle sticks under the pot to give an escape rout for the drainage.

5.  Tables and Benches because of their flat surface should be tipped in the winter to allow the rain and melting snow to run off.  This can be accomplished by placing a small wedge of wood such as a 2x4 cut at a 30 degree angle and placed between the top and the support legs.

Painting & Sealing  In our 40 years of experience we have found that the best way to enhance and protect your statuary from the weather is with Exterior Latex House Paint. All Latex colors seem to hold well, although solid white tends to Peel and Blister under water such as with a fountain or Bird Bath .  Here we can achieve a very nice finish by using semi-gloss colors starting two or three coats of a base color such as Black or Grey and then dry brushing another color over the base such as white to give an antique look.  Painting with enamel paint such as with an airbrush can have some very nice results but enamel paints tend to crack and peel over the years making it almost impossible to repaint. .  Latex on the other hand can give a nice appearance for many years, and when repainting becomes required the statue can look like new again. A clear coat sealer over Latex is NOT recommended but we do suggest a clear concrete sealer over "unpainted" or statuary painted with an enamel. For unpainted Statues apply the sealer after two or three years when it has weathered to the look you want.  For items painted with enamel then apply the sealer immediately. When Painting or applying sealer to a piece do not paint the bottom of the piece, this enables moisture to escape and allow the statue to breathe. 

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