Are Bronze Religious Statues Suitable for Outdoor Use?
Many of us may go traditional and prefer investing in marble or granite religious statues but a number of American homeowners today find bronze religious statues to be a fine choice for displaying in homes, gardens, churches, parks as well as mausoleums and cemeteries. There is no way you can go wrong with investing in bronze religious statues. That’s because bronze is a durable and versatile metal that does not corrode or get hunkered down with weathering.
To put it succinctly, bronze religious statues are destined to last because of the following reasons:
Resistance to Weathering and Corrosion
Bronze religious statues are resistant to weathering and corrosion. Bronze is composed mostly of copper and tin alloy metals. They do not contain iron which will rust when exposed to moisture and water. The other reason why bronze is resistant to corrosion and weathering is because of the natural bronze patina finish the bronze develops when exposed to the elements. This process is called oxidation and it is a protective layer that keeps rust from occurring.
Bronze is Durable
Bronze religious statues are also durable and designed to last for generations if properly cared for. Because bronze is a time tested material created through the ancient lost wax process, you can be sure that your bronze religious statues will not buckle up and crack unlike other metal statues like iron or with other materials like concrete. Bronze is a time tested material and religious statues made of bronze will endure a long life sometimes crossing over a century or more because they are given the right care and maintenance.
Bronze Material Has a High Tensile Strength
With proper care and maintenance, bronze religious statues will not break because of the tough material it is made of. However, breakages have been known to happen with improper care and mishandling as can happen with shipping leading to a fine crack on a leg piece or a metal strip breaking loose from a part of the statue. As with any statue, you need to accord proper care and maintenance in caring for your bronze religious statues.
Generally, bronze religious statues are suitable choices for a cemetery or mausoleum or for leaving out in the church garden. That’s because the bronze alloy has a high tensile strength between 350 to 635 MPa making bronze religious statues a stronger consideration than other metals like brass or copper. If your bronze statues contain manganese, that is an added plus because manganese bronze withstands when used in saltwater for extended periods of time and does not corrode.
Bronze is Wind Resistant
Bronze is heavy and because of this, you do not have to worry about the sculpture toppling over. Depending on the size and shape of the bronze statue, a typical bronze religious statue can weigh between 170-400 lbs. if created life size. Some foundries may also include rods in the statues so you can buckle the statue down into the ground or anchor them into a cement foundation block or a hard ground. This most often ensures that your bronze religious statue does not get blown away by extremely strong winds which is in any case, most unlikely with very large bronze religious statues.
Bronze Has a High Melting Point
The average melting point of bronze is between 1790–1900°F (977–1040°C) which means that it is unlikely for your bronze religious statues to melt or crack under extremely hot weather. While it depends on the composition of the bronze alloy, bronze does melt but only in very severe heating conditions.
Please exercise caution on hot days though when exposing your bronze religious statues to extreme temperatures as bronze is a good conductor of heat and your statue could get really hot to the touch. If possible, place your bronze religious statues in a covered area but you can always leave it exposed to the elements because of its durability and reliability to work with extreme weather conditions.
Bronze religious statues are a fine option for adding to the garden. These statues will withstand cold or hot temperatures as well as stand sturdy in very windy conditions. Many Americans treasure the use of keeping bronze religious statues and value them for the character and beauty they deliver to the garden landscape. You can find many bronze religious statues at TimelessBronze.con with a wide choice in Virgin Mary statues, angels, saints and Jesus statues. Please email us at tion_art@yahoo.com for help with our bronze religious statues.