How Statues Add Life To Your Garden

Statues bring life to a garden. They can also make a statement about who you are and what is important to you. When adding statues to your garden, there are three important elements to consider: 1) the different types of statues; 2) the weight and size of the statues; and 3) the material the statues are made from.

Different Types of Statues

Garden (nature inspired.), Classical (reproductions of the world’s most famous statues), Religious (statues of religious figures from all different religions, including Catholic and Buddha statues), Animal (wildlife, marine life, domestic animals), Mythical and Fantasy creatures (ie: dragons, wizards, fairies, mermaids, etc), Busts (political leaders, composers, philosophers, etc), Cultural, Regional and Historical (Egyptian, Native American, African, Asian, etc) and Lifestyle (family, golfing, dancing, etc)

Weight and Size of Statues

The weight of the statue is influenced by its size and the materials used to create the statue. Keep these factors in mind when choosing your statue. The size of the statue should be balanced to match your garden and any furniture you have. The statue should also weigh enough so that it does not blow away or fall over in light wind, but light enough to move around if desired.

Materials Statues are Made From

When looking at a statue, it is important to consider the type of material the statue is made from. The material will influence the feel and look of the statue, as well as determine how durable a statue will be and therefore whether it can be placed indoors or outdoors. The different types of material are marble; bronze; concrete and cement; resin; fiberglass; and stone.

• Marble statues can be either one piece of sold marble, or more common, a non-porous mixture of marble powder, resin and binding agents called “bonded marble”. This strong material is water and weather resistant and will not yellow over time. It doesn’t have bubbles, will not crack and can be washed with most cleaning agents.
• Bronze statues are usually made from a cast mold when the bronze is in a liquid state, so very detailed statues can be created. Bronze is also malleable, so even more details and modifications can be made to the statue.
• Concrete statues are cheaper to buy and are generally found in outdoor garden statues and fountains. Concrete statues are made of a mixture of cement, sand, gravel and water, which is poured into molds. These statues generally do not have fine details, as the wet concrete mix is grainy and will not fill the fine details of a mold. Concrete statues are hard and will stand up well to outdoor weather conditions, but they are also heavy. In addition, concrete statues can break if they are kicked or fall over.
• Resin statues are made of a synthetic polymer and can be made to look like other materials such as stone, bronze, marble or porcelain. Resin statues can be very detailed and can be hand painted if desired. They are light weight, yet strong and durable. However, it is recommended that resin statues be brought indoors once temperatures fall below freezing. Ice can build up in the crevices of the statue, which may crack the piece.
• Fibreglass is a type of resin, but made from threads of glass. It is poured as a liquid into molds; therefore, the statues can have fine details. Like resin, fibreglass statues weigh less than concrete statues, making it easier to move larger statues and cheaper to ship. Fibreglass statues are very strong and durable. It is reinforced and is the same material used to make boat hulls that are designed to withstand the shock and the elements of the sea without breaking.
• Stone statues are made from stone like marble, limestone or rock, as well as stone substitutes like Tuffstone and Durastone. Tuffstone is the highest quality casting plaster available. It has great durability and reduced chalkiness when compared to other plaster products. Tuffstone and Durastone however are not suited to the outdoors.

 

 

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