How to Treat Plaster Yard Art to Turn Green

Yard art is often created with cement plaster because it is durable, weighty and water-resistant. However, many types of cement plasters dry white, and when a new, plaster sculpture is placed in a home's landscape, the plain white stands out like a sore thumb in the surrounding, natural vegetation. Integrate white ornaments into the environment by treating them with patina green concrete stain. A green patina will give plaster yard art the look of antique bronze.

Concrete etch cleaner
Scrub brush
Water-based patina green concrete stain
Paintbrush
Concrete and masonry sealer

Instructions

- 1
  Wash the yard art with a concrete etch cleaner, using a scrub brush. The etch cleaner will prepare the concrete's pores for absorption of the patina stain.
- 2
  Rinse the yard art with fresh water and leave to dry.
- 3
  Dilute some water-based stain, using 1 part water to 6 parts stain. Make enough to cover the yard art with one coat.
- 4
  Paint the entire statue with the diluted, transparent stain. Leave the stain to dry.
- 5
  Dilute more stain, this time using 1 part water to 8 to 12 parts stain.
- 6
  Paint the entire statue with the slightly more opaque stain. Rub off stain from broad, flat areas, using a rag. Rubbing to leave the stain near the crevices and concavities will add the effect of shading and depth to the yard art. Leave the stain to dry.
- 7
  Squeeze nondiluted stain directly into crevices with a sponge to darken them more and complete the look of naturally evolving patina. Wipe off any excess or blend, using a rag. Leave the yard art to dry for one day.
- 8
  Paint the yard art with concrete and masonry sealer. Apply two to four coats to create an effective, protective barrier.

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