Cast Stone Care Guide

Short answer: Care for cast stone gently. Clean it with clean water and a soft brush, never a pressure washer or harsh chemicals. Stand it where water drains away, raise planters on feet in winter, and bring painted or delicate pieces in during hard frost. Indoors, a soft damp cloth is all it needs.

Looking for the pieces themselves? See our unusual garden ornaments.

How do you clean cast stone?

Start with clean water and a soft brush. Historic England's guidance warns that pressure washers, wire brushes and harsh chemicals can damage stone surfaces. Our step-by-step cleaning guide covers moss, algae and stains.

Does cast stone need sealing?

Usually not. Our guide to sealing garden ornaments explains when a breathable sealer helps.

How do you protect cast stone in winter?

Water freezing inside a wet piece does the damage. Keep ornaments off ground that stays wet, raise planters on pot feet, and remove saucers, as the RHS advises for containers. Bring a piece in when its product page says so: several of ours say to bring them in during hard frost.

How do you care for painted cast stone?

Many of our pieces are cast stone painted by hand. Wipe them with a soft, damp cloth and avoid harsh chemicals. A sheltered spot outside helps the paint last, and some painted pieces are for indoors only. Each product page says which.

Which of our ornaments live outdoors?

Questions

How do you clean cast stone?

With clean water and a soft brush. Avoid pressure washers, wire brushes and harsh chemicals.

Can cast stone stay outside in winter?

Many pieces can. Keep them out of standing water, raise planters on feet and bring painted pieces in during hard frost.

Does cast stone need sealing?

Usually not; a breathable sealer can help in some cases.

Browse unusual garden ornaments

Sources

• Historic England: cleaning guidance for stone, brick and concrete
• RHS: Growing plants in containers
• Marshalls cast stone data sheet CSTB8: cleaning, protecting and repair