How to Care for Your Italpark Products
Since 1968, every piece we make — from garden statues to ornamental vases and working fountains — is crafted from agglomerato cementizio composto da graniglia di marmo di Carrara e cemento bianco RCK 52,5. This material is built to last outdoors for decades, but like all natural-based surfaces, it rewards a little attention. These are the care guidelines we share with every customer, written the way we'd explain them in person.
1. General Maintenance — Statues, Vases and All Products
Our products are designed to live outside, through sun, rain and frost. With a few simple habits, they'll keep their beauty for many years.
Repairs and Fixing
If a piece chips or a small section breaks, use weather-resistant mortars or adhesives suitable for outdoor use. Standard interior-grade products won't hold up against temperature changes and moisture. When in doubt, ask us — we're happy to recommend the right product for your specific piece.
Waterproofing Treatment
We recommend applying a periodic transparent waterproofing treatment to all exposed surfaces. This protects the material from water absorption, reduces the risk of frost damage and helps the piece maintain its original finish over time. For our statues and decorative items, ART. SI05 is the product we use and trust.
Cleaning
Keep it simple. Water and a soft sponge are all you need — and once a year is genuinely enough for most pieces. Avoid detergents, degreasers or any chemical cleaner on visible surfaces: they can alter the finish and, over time, damage the material itself.
If you use a pressure washer, keep the pressure low and maintain a safe distance from the surface. Be especially careful with coloured finishes, which are more sensitive to abrasive water jets.
2. Vase Maintenance
Our garden vases are rifiniti a mano and made to hold plants beautifully for years — as long as water can drain freely.
Drainage
Before adding soil, always place 4–5 cm of small stones or gravel at the bottom of the vase, over the drainage hole. This prevents the hole from clogging and keeps roots healthy.
Raise the Vase Off the Ground
Lift the vase 3–4 cm from the ground using feet or small supports. This allows water to drain freely from the base and prevents the vase from sitting in standing water.
Frost Risk
This is the most important point: water stagnating inside a vase in freezing temperatures will crack it. The expansion of ice is powerful enough to split even solid stone. Good drainage and raising the vase off the ground are your best protection against frost breakage.
3. Working Fountain Maintenance
A working fountain brings movement and sound to any garden. Keeping it in perfect condition is straightforward — it just requires a little regularity.
How the System Works
Our fountains operate on a closed-circuit pump: the water recirculates continuously, so no external water connection is needed. Simply fill the basin and plug in the pump.
Keep the Water Level Up
Check the water level regularly, especially in summer. The pump must never run dry — even a short period without water can damage the rotor irreparably. Top up as needed, and make it part of your weekly routine.
Anti-Limescale and Anti-Algae Treatment
To keep the water clean and protect the pump, treat the basin regularly with ART. CH02, our anti-limescale and anti-algae powder. Limescale build-up on the rotor is one of the most common causes of pump failure — and it voids the warranty. A small, consistent effort here saves a much bigger problem later.
Winter Care — Below 3°C
When temperatures drop below 3°C, it's time to winterise your fountain. Drain the crown, pipes, basin and pump completely — any water left inside will freeze and can crack the stone or damage the pump beyond repair.
- Switch off and remove the pump
- Drain all water from the basin, pipes and crown
- Cover the fountain with a waterproof material to protect it from rain and snow
- In areas with harsh winters, apply a waterproofing treatment — ART. SI05 — before covering
For a full step-by-step seasonal guide, read the complete fountain maintenance guide — it covers everything from first installation to spring restart.
Explore Our Collections
Looking for a new piece for your garden? Browse our working garden fountains or discover our full range of garden statues — each one rifinito a mano in our workshop, just as we've done since 1968.