You can keep your artefact outside. However, heat, cold and water pose challenges that need to be considered to protect your artefact. Porous ceramics absorb water and expand when heated or frozen. This can cause cracks. For this reason, high-fired vitrified ceramics withstand outdoor conditions more successfully.

In addition to choosing the mud that is vitrified, you can also take other steps to protect your artefact. Let's take a look at them now. This way you can keep your artefact outside without worrying about it being damaged.

It is not surprising that ceramics show signs of wear over time when exposed to external factors such as heat, cold or rain.

Cracks, spalling, flaking, encrustations, erosion and salt damage are among the most common conditions you may encounter when storing ceramics outdoors. For example, changing humidity levels can increase the damaging effects of salts in ceramics.

Moisture dissolves the salt and moves it through the ceramic structure. The salt then travels up to the surface of the ceramic and leaves a white crust, known as salt bloom, which makes itself recognisable.

Most ceramics, with the exception of porcelain, which is not highly vitrified, have a certain porosity. Pores and other microscopic imperfections in the mud form open structures that allow the free flow of liquid. When exposed to rain, for example, these pores can act as stress foci. This can weaken the integrity of the ceramic over time.

In some cases, it may be a manufacturing defect. This can create cracks in the body or cracks in the varnish in the final product. Such damage is often caused by sudden changes in temperature. For example, from direct sunlight or spotlights.

The complexities involved in storing ceramics outdoors may seem a bit much and a little worrying. However, there are things you can do to protect your ceramics. Here are some of these solutions.

Exposure of your pottery to the sun, especially under intense and direct sunlight, can lead to various problems. As the clay must dry thoroughly before firing, it is important to pay attention to the drying process in the sun. Sunlight can quickly evaporate water from absorbent clay, but in case of sudden heating, the evaporated water can crack the pottery. It is therefore best to store your pots in a shaded area to protect them from direct sunlight.

If you plan to display your crockery outdoors, you can take this into consideration during the design phase. Adding pot stands protects the pot from direct contact with the ground and allows air to circulate.

Cold Protection:

Cold weather can also pose a risk to pottery. Ceramics that absorb water at low temperatures are prone to cracking due to freezing. Glazed pots are more durable than unglazed ones because the glaze creates a protective surface that repels water. However, you can still move the pots closer to the house or cover them to reduce the risk of frost.

Rain Protection:

Rain is another source of danger for pottery. In porous ceramics, water can create a medium for the reaction of chemicals. Pottery fired at high temperatures and vitrified is more resistant to rain. You can also protect your pottery from rain by using waterproofing and surface sealing products. However, since this sealing process can affect the aesthetics of the pottery, storing your pottery in storage may also be an option.

As a result, it is possible to display your pottery outdoors, but it is important to take the right precautions. You can achieve a long-lasting display experience by keeping your pottery in the shade to protect it from the negative effects of sun, cold and rain, by choosing highly fired pottery against temperature fluctuations and by using waterproof materials if necessary.