Pieces from Krebbs Concrete are reinforced with some combination of rebar, galvanized wire mesh, poly fibers, pozzolanic materials, polymer additives and/or concrete sealants. While they are  made of cementitious materials and look like rock, they can can still be damaged.  If you try to butt heads with a piece from Krebb's Concrete you will inevitably be on the losing end of that confrontation.   Despite that,  you should transport and install your piece delicately, as if it were porcelain.  Concrete has enormous compressive strength but relatively weak tensile strength.  Do not jump on your art.  Do not drop it or drop kick it.  Do not whack it with anything or address it in anger.   Follow these simple rules and your piece will become an heirloom where your children will applaud your good taste.

Many of the pieces from Krebbs Concrete will look even better once they obtain a natural patina of moss and lichens.  Pieces placed in areas of your garden that already have moss will naturally absorb and grow moss spores if kept moist.  To jumpstart the process, paint your piece with undiluted buttermilk and wait for nature to fill in.  If you are really impatient, gather some moss, wash off the dirt, and put it into the blender with some buttermilk or plain yogurt.  Blend it until you get a fine slurry and then paint the slurry on your piece. Keep it moist and in partial shade.   Your moss slurry has no health benefits so don't taste it.

Any plant suitable for growing in containers in your gardening zone will thrive if its recommended care requirements are met (sun/shade, soil type, watering, fertilizing, etc).   Additionally, all planters from Krebb's Concrete are made out of hypertufa, a material that allows the gardener to create micro-environments ideal for bonsai and the cultivation of alpine miniatures.  

Many of our planters come planted with slow growing alpine plants,  cold hardy succulents,  and attractive dwarf perennials that require minimal care for maximum effect. 

Pieces from Krebbs Concrete use a cement formula* that has successfully withstood Alaskan winters and should have no problems in the zone 6 region where they are made .  Still, Nature doesn't like concrete.  Each winter Nature unleashes a potent combination of water and ice to attack your garden art.  First, water penetrates into an object and then cold weather freezes it there.  Since water expands as it becomes ice, it pushes against the molecular strength of the object to bust it apart.  That's the reason why potholes appear in winter and why  terracotta pots crack.  We are confident in the physical strength of our art but recommend these four tips when it gets below freezing:

1.  Make sure all planters use a well-draining soil mix so they don't collect water.  If empty, turn your planter upside down or move it into a shed or garage.
2.  Turn off water features and drain the holding pool or pond to just beneath the base of your fountain.
3.  Wrap your sculpture in plastic to keep out the winter elements.
4.  Apply a concrete or wood sealant like Thompson's every two or three years.

* Our mix can be customized to include natural and synthetic additives to ensure the strongest concrete possible .  Please inquire for pricing.

COLOR FASTNESS

Some pieces are painted, stained, or  integrally pigmented.   As a general rule, colors will stay fast for a number of years but will inevitably fade over time due to exposure to ultraviolet light.  This mellowing of color is very gradual and should be seen as part of the graceful aging of a piece.   All colorants used are specifically manufactured for longevity in use with concrete.