Bronze is one of the oldest materials used in creating beautiful headstones. Together with granite, both of these materials became globally known because we often see them in cemeteries. This is because both components are perfectly fitted for headstones, and they have all the required traits a headstone must-have, especially bronze.
To know more about bronze and why it is perfect for a headstone, you can get more information from online resources all about headstones in bronze. But if you already experienced buying a bronze headstone, you surely have an idea of how challenging it is to maintain and protect a bronze headstone, right? Well, let’s help you in finding a solution for that.
Apply new coating every month
The coating will protect your bronze headstone from daily elemental exposure such as rain, sunlight, dust, and dirt. Elemental exposures are the leading cause of that greenish patina seen in every bronze headstone, so if you want to avoid having those make sure to re-apply new coating every month.
Before applying the new coating, make sure to remove all the debris first and use a steel brush to scrub the surface and eliminate debris. After that, you should polish the lettering, borders, and other decoration that you have with sandpaper.
Finish it off by cleaning the bronze with soap and water. You can now apply the new coating once the bronze is completely dried up.
Remove oxidation immediately
Oxidation is also one of the causes of having a greenish patina in your bronze headstone. To protect your bronze headstone from changing its color, make sure that you remove oxidation every week if you have the time.
Removing oxidation is a simple process and it only needs either simple green, ivory soap or Brasso. These chemicals can be bought in some shops, and they are effective in removing oxidation on your bronze headstone. But if you want to save some expenses, you can also use vinegar and salt. Mixing white vinegar with salt can also remove the oxidation in your bronze headstone.
The process is also simple: mix the white vinegar and salt until it turns into a paste. After it forms like a paste, scrub it directly in the bronze headstone then rinse it with water. This should be able to remove the oxidation, but if you love the growing plants or flowers beside the headstone, make sure not to drop some of the salt and vinegar mixtures in them. This mixture is harmful to plants and if you drop some in their soil, it will prevent them from growing.
Professional bronze restoration company
If you don’t have time in your hands and you cannot protect and maintain your bronze headstone all the time, you can hire a professional bronze restoration company. They can restore your bronze headstone and protect it from external exposures and other harmful components that could do some permanent damage. Their methods are often long-term, so you rest assured your bronze headstone will be protected for years.
There are still many more ways on how you can protect your bronze headstone. You can do your research on things that can damage any bronze material and search for ways to prevent it from happening to your bronze headstone. But I am sure that you can protect your bronze headstone with all the tips that I stated above.