Bronze for long had been used to adorn human body and noble palaces. And since man by nature is creative, he found bronze's place even in the most sophisticated to the simplest of gardens.

Bronze garden decor such as fountains and other adornments are great (and more commonly used) as effective focal points. We find them greeting us often whenever we visit a garden or they stand at corners to display emotions. Such sensations that are communicated through them may be solitude, peace, loveliness or nature. Perhaps you are seeking for ways to express your embedded emotions in a subtle way, you may try conveying them by means of bronze garden dcor.

And since bronze was not primarily made to endure harsh elements from nature itself, it is wise that anyone who owns a piece or two should be informed of the ways by which the lifespan of the item can be prolonged.

The first step to bronze preservation is to understand, eliminate and if not, minimize the risks against damage. The latter stages cover the maintenance. And since the subject is much too broad to be briefed into this article, we have cut the article into two parts- the first part being the information on what cause bronze damage and second, prevention of damage aggregation.

Instead of having you labor in seeking means of bronze preservation, we already have gathered them here for you. So please read on

Tradition has revealed us that patina, a certain form of corrosion, has been aesthetically valued among bronze lovers. Often, chemical substances are even rubbed on the bronze surface to taint it with a pale green to dark brown. Others have it done naturally. However, anyone must be aware of the potential damage of the patina on the bronze item.

Inappropriate storage, poor handling and corrosion are three major causes of bronze damage. Since bronze is a copper alloy, it is most likely to be more repellant to corrosion as compared to other materials but only if properly taken cared of.

As we have already noted earlier, corrosion may be a healthy cycle but may also work otherwise.

What is safe corrosion?

If by all means, you can keep your uncoated bronze dry and safe from harsh elements, you are assured of one stable item. However, this seldom works. But with stable surfaces, it would be likely that you find green to blue, black to brown or reddish taint on the bronze which are oftentimes referred to as tarnish. Brown and black tarnishes are the end results of the natural process. This may accumulate thickly and will provide external covering for the bronze garden dcor. To copy this natural component for protection, some people apply patinas that appears in different colors. All of which work as an added protection for the material.

What is problem corrosion? Bronze disease (not a medical one, obviously) is a condition by which the bronze item is suffering from green powdery stuff that grows on the bronze surface. This may not be a serious case (one that must incur serious alarm) if the corrosion layer does not easily flake off.

Meanwhile, another type of such condition is characterized by the appearance of whitish, waxy green powder that forms in the cavities of the surface. This is a positive indication of advanced active erosion, which if left untreated may cause the eventual loss of metal.

All these may be attributed to the incorporation of moisture into the deeper layers of the bronze garden dcor. Varnish and lacquer may prove great ways to avoid total corrosion. However, they may only provide protection in a limited number of years. Coating must never be lost, and so maintenance is important.