What You Should Know Before Buying a Polished Stainless Steel Sculpture

If you've been shopping for outdoor artwork, you've probably seen them: the shiny mirror shapes that catch the sun and reflect the landscape around them. A shiny stainless steel sculpture photographs well, but if you buy one without educating yourself on the material choices and the realities of maintenance, you may be disappointed. Some pieces hold up beautifully for decades. Others get rust spots or dull patches after a few years. The difference is typically a few key decisions made prior to the purchase.

Most sculptures are made from the standard stainless steel, grade 304. It performs well for indoor installations, or outdoor sites that are far from salt water. But take it near the ocean, a swimming pool, or a road that is salted in winter, and problems soon appear. Chlorides attack the surface and small pits start to form. Grade 316 has molybdenum in it that provides it with real resistance to that type of corrosion. The difference in price between the two grades is slight compared with the cost of replacing a pitted sculpture. If you're putting a sculpture outside where it could be subject to moisture or chemicals, then a polished stainless steel sculpture made of 316 just makes sense.

Mirror polishing is the hardest finish to keep looking good. Every weld must be ground flush then use progressive abrasives then buffed. The end result is a surface that reads, almost, like liquid metal. But that same reflectiveness shows every fingerprint, every smudge of dust and every light scratch. Those marks are much better hidden on the satin surfaces and brushed finishes. For example, a polished stainless steel sculpture with a mirror finish will require regular wiping with the right cloth and cleaner. If you use the wrong product, such as abrasive pads or steel wool, the damage is permanent and can't be buffed out without professional refinishing.

Stainless steel is like a looking glass. It gets the color of the sky, the lawn, the pool and whatever else is around it. "That's what makes the piece come alive in changing light." But problems arise when a sculpture with a mirror polish is placed in the wrong place. From afar, a shiny shape sitting in the middle of an empty lawn can look like a generic shiny blob. Put the same piece in front of a dark hedge, a board formed concrete wall or a shady corner, and the reflections give it shape and depth. Buyers tend not to think about placement and end up having to reposition the sculpture after installation. That's a costly correction. The best place for a polished stainless steel sculpture is where the buyer thinks about the location as much as the sculpture.

Water and mild soap will do just fine for general cleaning. Dust and bird droppings are easily removed without scratching using a soft sponge and light wiping. Never let harsh chemicals, vinegar or bleach come in contact with your surface. Tree sap and bird droppings need to be washed off quickly because they can etch the finish if left to sit. Clean outdoor installs when the area around them is washed down and give them a good clean at least once a year. When you buy a polished stainless steel sculpture, you are buying that the mirror finish requires that kind of attention.