Congratulations on your purchase! Please keep in mind that you have purchased a piece of wood, unlike other sculptures made of clay, or plastic your sculpture may check and crack. The checking and cracking does not affect the integrity of the wood. We do not warranty carvings against checking and cracking, this is normal and we think it adds to their character. Here are some guidelines to limit checking and cracking to help your carving have the longest life possible:
Outdoor Carvings: -Keep your carving out of direct sunlight. It is best if you can put your sculpture under a porch, or in significant shade.
-Your carving should not come in direct contact with the ground. You can elevate it with stones, or bricks to promote airflow between the ground and the carving.
-Re-coat your carving with a high-end oil based exterior deck finish or polyurethane when it starts to look dry, or grey.
-CWF Oil by Flood, Cabot’s Timberoil are some good exterior sealers or any high quality exterior polyurethane. These can usually be found in local hardware stores or Home Depot. Make sure they are OIL BASED!
Indoor Carvings: -Keep the carving away from a heat source (fireplace, heat registers) or direct sunlight that may enter through a window or door.
-Re-coat with an oil based polyurethane, and make sure you cover all of it, from the top to UNDER the base!
-Be sure you slowly introduce your carving to the indoors. Up until the point you purchased your carving i that lived outdoors. From the time it was a live tree in the ground, to the sculpture it is now it is used to an outdoor climate. I you can leave your carving in a well covered area then bring it into a garage then eventually into your home it will draw out the drying process, instead of shocking it with a change in moisture!
This is all dependent on your one of a kind piece so for further information please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help you in this process! Also beetles are a natural occurrence as well as other little critters who live in wood. Please keep this in mind as you purchase, and treat your carving. These are all regional and we can help resolve any bug issues. Usually the best option is re sealing as stated above, also if any bugs leave little holes WD-40 is a very convinient option to spray in the holes to kill any bugs.