Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane Statue

1. Think about the Weather!

If you live in a location where the summers are very hot or the winters are very cold, your statue will need to hold up to the extreme temperatures and weather events. Even the finest statue will get damaged if not treated properly.

We strongly suggest you cover your most precious outdoor statues in severe freezing rain and snow to avoid cracking or damage. There is a high potential that the stone statue will crack from the expanding nature of water.

If you know a big storm is coming, consider putting a tarp over your outdoor statues to protect them from ice and or wind damage. If you have a statue that holds water, like a fountain or birdbath, be sure to remove all the water before the next freeze.

2. Worst Choice for Outdoor Statues

Resin / Plastic

You’ll love the lightweight feel of a resin or plastic and the price too as they are considerably less expensive than stone or metal, but will they hold up outdoors?

If your statue is made of a heavy-duty plastic and is specifically labeled for outdoor use, then it will remain in good shape for many years to come. If you have the room, it never hurts to bring a heavy-duty plastic statue indoors when the weather calls for snow and freezing rain.

Resin statues will most certainly suffer damage if left outside. They simply aren’t designed to endure the heat or the freezing temperatures and will crack easily.

Look for Outdoor Plastic statuary labeled for outdoor use and leave the resin statues for indoor use only.

3. Best Choice, Material is Key Stone, Marble or Concrete 

The statues that last the longest when kept outside are marble stone or concrete. They require no maintenance other than a quick clean with a bit of mild soap and a garden hose.

If your statue is painted, consider a clear statuary sealant sold at most home stores. This sealant will help keep the color on your statue vibrant for years and protect it from the damaging rays of the sun. See our video on how to protect your statue here.

Stone statues, specifically those made with marble tend to be a bit more expensive, but the look of marble is unrivaled. We highly suggest a protectant seal on your marble statue as they can become damaged in a very humid environment.

For our full buying guide, see our blog post Outdoor Garden Statue Buying Guide.

For more detailed information on weatherproofing your statue, take a look at Weatherproofing Your Catholic Garden Statue