Made to live outside.
Six simple steps to place, protect, and maintain your handcrafted steel sculpture.
Keep it level, keep water moving away from the base, clean it gently, and touch up chips when you see them.
Place it well. Keep it clean. Let it age.
Steel changes with its surroundings. These are the practices that help your piece look intentional through sun, wind, rain, and time.
Unpack it slowly.
Keep the original packaging and inspect the sculpture before placing it. If anything was damaged in transit, photograph it before making adjustments and contact the studio.
- Lift from the base or body, never from a leaf or petal.
- Keep the sculpture dry while it is being unpacked.
- Save the packaging in case you move or ship the piece later.
Start with stable ground.
Choose a level surface with room around the silhouette. Gravel, decomposed granite, concrete, and a well-drained garden bed all work well.
- Leave about 18 inches of clear space around the sculpture.
- Keep sprinklers from spraying directly onto the steel.
- Avoid places where water or wet leaves collect around the base.
Anchor when the site calls for it.
Use the ground anchor for larger pieces, sloped ground, exposed locations, or anywhere you want extra security. Choose the final location before driving the rod.
- Drive the rod with a rubber mallet, leaving 4–6 inches above ground.
- Slide the base over the rod and tighten the clamp with the included Allen key.
- Never strike the anchor with a steel hammer.
Use water, not force.
A seasonal rinse is usually enough. Wipe with a soft damp cloth, or use mild soap and water for stuck-on dirt. Rinse thoroughly and let the surface dry naturally.
- Clean more often in coastal or dusty environments.
- Do not pressure-wash the sculpture.
- Avoid steel wool, abrasive pads, vinegar, bleach, and ammonia.
Let the surface develop character.
Color and texture may deepen slightly as the finish settles outdoors. That change is part of the piece. If a chip exposes raw metal, touch it up promptly with a matching outdoor enamel.
- Do not use household polish or automotive compounds.
- Rinse monthly if you live within a mile of the ocean.
- Ask the studio before applying a new clear coat or changing the finish.
Give it a quick once-over.
Once or twice a year, look at the base, anchor, and finish. Small maintenance early keeps the sculpture stable and prevents a minor chip from becoming a larger repair.
- Give an anchored piece a gentle sideways nudge and tighten the clamp if needed.
- Brush snow off when convenient; do not chip ice with metal.
- Before a major storm, lay an unanchored piece flat in a protected area.
Questions about your piece?
Send the studio a photo and a short note about what you are seeing. We are happy to help with placement, finish care, or repairs.
axeldecorla@gmail.com