Preserving stone sculptures

If you want to preserve the existing look then you might get away with painting them with Thomsons Waterseal (or similar). Test an area first as it may darken slightly but the effect is fairly minor. I've used it on some stone work outside the house and it really is effective. Not had to reapply it after about 4 years so far. It seemed to penetrate slightly dirty stone work quite easily.

If you scrub them back to a 'new' look and want to preserve it you could then apply this.. We've used it on stone floors in the house and on a hearth, it is pretty colourless (bringing out the natural colour a bit if anything) but I think it would ideally be applied to clean stone.

I'd wonder if the metal (?copper) collars will corrode and stain the stone if left outside without protection.

Bruce

They look friendly. I thought it was a follow up to the Doctor Who thread.
As regards your question the only time I have seen anything about preserving stone work (admittedly ancient stone) it has been a negative report. It would seem that any protective coating traps moisture in the stone and accelerates the degradation.
A breathing coating would seem counter productive.
What about where you ought them couldn't they help?

Report back if you find out anything.

Haddonstone do products to clean stone, but I'm sure they wouldn't recommend a surface treatment, and it certainly doesn't sound like a good idea to me. They are the experts, so check out their site.
Info here

Count'd

I would leave them, forget about poncing around with them and just enjoy them knowing that they are naturally ageing like the rest of us.

Slopping some gunk over them is the equivilent of plastic surgury and that always ends up looking a mess.

You have some nice statues so let them grow old with charm and dignity.

Regards

Mick

Thanks chaps.

Maybe I'm fussing a little bit too much, but when I buy something new I tend to read up on the subject. It's then I start worrying about the effects of frost damage and erosion. If I could simply protect them (without adverse effects) now for a few quid, I would.

I've sent the shop an email to see if they will ask the manufacturer for advice.

I'll report back anything.

I think that your best bet to make sure they look good, would be grind them down, and use the stone to make paving slabs.... What exactly were you thinking when you made the purchase?