Whether you decided to buy a gnome to add to your collection in your garden or an ancient vessel for your fish tank, you are probably now wondering: “Are stone resin figurines waterproof?” You surely don’t want your newly purchased gnome to form a crack with the first fall storm, nor do you want your ancient vessel to release harmful colors in your fish tank.

This is why, today we are here to explore this topic in depth. But, before we begin, let’s take a second to understand what resin figurines are.

What are resin figurines?

As the name suggests, resin figurines are statues made from resin. This is one of the most popular materials to cast statues due to its many benefits. For instance, resin statues are quite light, meaning that they can be easily carried around. On top of this, it is quite easy to make resin statues look as if they were made from marble, stone, porcelain, and bronze, one of the main reasons why they are often used in movies.

How are resin figurines made?

Nowadays, most resin figurine manufacturers use synthetic resin for their products, including ourselves. This is simply poured into a mold and left to harden with time. Ok, no more chatting! Let’s address the elephant in the room. Are stone resin figurines waterproof? 

Are stone resin figurines waterproof?

Unfortunately, the answer is not so straightforward. In fact, while most figurines won’t mind a bit of water every now and then, constant exposure to it may cause damage. In other words, if you live in a very dry area and you’re planning to leave your gnome statue outside, you’ll probably be fine. However, it may not be the best idea to leave your gnome outdoors during monsoon season in Thailand or during fall in Ireland. The same goes for your old vessel. Leaving it in your tank 24/7 may make your fish happy but will most likely cause damage to your figurine. So, does this mean you cannot decorate your garden and aquarium? Of course not!

How to waterproof your resin figurines

You can easily protect your statues with a polyurethane sealer spray. Don’t let this complicated name intimidate you. You can buy this product in most home improvement retail stores for a price ranging from $5 to $10. But how does it all work? To put it simply, polyurethane sealer spray contains polyethylene particles suspended in a liquid. This quickly evaporates once you apply your spray to your statue, allowing the polyurethanes left behind to bond to the resin surface. Quite simple, right? Okay, now that you have all the information you need, let’s get down to the business.

Waterproofing your resin figurines is quite easy. Start by cleaning your statue from any dust that may have accumulated over time. You can do so with a simple cloth. You can then spray a good amount of product making sure to keep a distance of a few centimeters from your figurine. Ideally, you want to wear a face mask during the process to avoid inhaling harmful substances. Let your first coat dry out and wait until your statue is completely dry to apply a second layer. And voilá! Your figurine is ready. Keep in mind that this process should be repeated roughly every year to prevent your statue from being damaged by the water. But what about damages caused by temperature extremes? 

Dealing with extreme temperatures

Unfortunately, resin statues don’t do well under extreme temperatures. If you live in a country where the thermometer often goes below 0 ℃ or where the sun gets so intense that going out seems like venturing into the Sahara desert, you may want to give your statue that extra layer of protection. Of course, an easy way to fix this is simply by bringing your figurines inside whenever the weather conditions become critical.

If your statue is way too big to be stored in your home, you can decide to cover your artwork with something to provide that extra layer of protection from the sun. However, this is useless if you’re dealing with freezing temperatures.

Fixing damaged statues

If it’s now too late and your statue has already been damaged don’t panic. We have good news for you. Repairing resin figurines is not too difficult but make sure to do so when the crack is still at the beginning. Simply start by cleaning your statue with some water and a toothbrush and wait for it to dry. You can also consider the idea of sanding your statue with some sandpaper before trying to fix the crack. This process is quite easy. All you will need is the right glue. Some of the best include Epoxy resin adhesive and Cyanoacrylate, also known as super glue. Simply apply your glue and voilá, your statue will be back to normal in no time.

Conclusion

So, are resin statues waterproof? Not really. Even though some water now and then probably won’t cause damage, prolonged exposure to it will. Spray your statue with some polyurethane sealer spray and you will be able to leave your figurines outdoors even in the middle of a storm!