Caring for your concrete, granite, and resin

"Staging" your creations

• Never place products directly on the ground
• Concrete, granite, and resin creations are porous - they can absorb water from the ground
• Water trapped inside can cause crumbling or cracking, as well as paint blistering and peeling
• Setting items on gravel, wood, patio blocks, stepping stones, or bricks provides protection and allows drainage

Checking the drains

• Drain holes on planters, urns, and baskets should be checked frequently
• Proper drainage will enhance the health of your creation and the plants inside

Getting ready for winter

• Prepare fountain tops, birdbath bowls and any planters, pots or urns for winter by inverting
• Move smaller items into the garage or basement by October 1st
• Do not leave water in fountains, bowls, or planters as freezing can cause cracking and crumbling
• Do not let your creations stand in ice
• Do not use salt or ice melting chemicals around your items, this can cause early deterioration
• Tight plastic wraps can intensify the effects of winter, leading to rapid deterioration
• Cover loosely (allowing air to circulate) to protect from snow and ice

Handling with care

• Resin is breakable
• Concrete and granite are strong, but brittle

• Dropping or knocking pieces together may result in chips or breaks
• Introducing very cold water on a hot day could "shock" the concrete into rapidly expanding and cracking

Treating "injuries"

• Expansion cracks should be repaired immediately to prevent water absorption
• An adhesive such as liquid nails works well
• Heavy Critters offers professional restoration of concrete, granite, and resin creations

Cleaning your creations

• Use a soft, clean cloth and water to clean
• Do not use power washers or sprayers

Maintaining your creation's surface and finish

• Natural or unpainted concrete: apply a water seal such as Thompson's Water Seal, an acrylic spray, or Binder Kote
• Finished concrete: 15 year exterior latex house paint should be sealed with a clear acrylic spray once or twice in the summer to help keep colors from fading
• Granite, Boulder Stone, Jade: not finished, requires no sprays
• Resin: spray with an acrylic spray

Cement or Concrete?
Many people often confuse the words "cement" and "concrete." Cement is a fine gray powder and just one of the ingredients in concrete. Combine cement with water and it becomes the "glue" in concrete. Concrete can last a very long time. In fact, Roman buildings, roads, and bridges built with concrete 2,000 years ago are still with us. Today, some folks call concrete cast stone. Did you know that concrete is recyclable?