Mid-South Ornamental Concrete

CONGRATULATIONS on becoming the proud owner of a beautiful piece of statuary from Mid-South Ornamental Concrete! We want to ensure that you understand all about ornamental concrete so that you can take good care of it and enjoy it for years to come. Concrete is an amazing construction material that is tough and durable; however, it may have some limitations that can cause issues. One crucial aspect is handling the piece with care as it is brittle and can get chipped or broken when mishandled. Therefore, you need to be cautious while transporting it and placing it in a safe and stable location.

You can add water to your bird bath or fountain at any time, but it is best to avoid filling it during the hot summer afternoons. Doing so may cause a sudden rise in the temperature, creating stress that can lead to small cracks that remain hidden until later. You should avoid this problem by filling the bird bath or fountain in the early morning while the temperature is still low.

Before freezing winter weather starts, it is essential to prepare your bird bath and/or fountain. You should empty it by pulling the stoppers inside each of the bowls of your fountain, sponge it out, place loose burlap inside the bowls, and then cover it with plastic wrap if indoor storage is unavailable. Some people prefer to invert the bowl and place it on top of the pedestal. However, you must still prevent water from freezing in the hole in the back of the bowl, so covering it with plastic wrap may be helpful. Always make sure there is no debris inside your fountain’s bowls that can clog the drain hole causing it to hold water, which may cause it to crack.

The most common issue with concrete statuary that needs to be avoided is absorption and subsequent freezing of concrete that contains a lot of moisture.  It is virtually impossible to make statuary that is entirely waterproof; thus, it is crucial to provide adequate drainage to avoid issues. To do this, you may place your concrete on bricks or a bed of coarse rocks like those found in rock gardens. The best method is to use one of our 24″ round or square pads, specially designed to hold our fountains and large concrete pieces. When statuary is left in standing water, it absorbs moisture, which expands as it freezes, causing it to break out of the cell containing it. Each freeze-thaw cycle continues this process, leading to the disintegration of the cement. You can now appreciate the significance of purchasing high-quality statuary and taking care of it properly.