What about a tube of contractors adhesive between the birdbath and the pedestal?

Hi Westes,

T-posts and wire wrapping sound kind of "eye-sore-ish". How did you come by this? If it was already there when you moved in, it may not need any reinforcement. California has had more than its share of bad weather, including winds. Your nearby house may give it significant wind protection. My suggestion is to do nothing until the birdbath gets blown off the base. It may be that all you need to do is maybe put the birdbath back on the base when and if it gets blown off.

In my opinion, the saying "If it's not broke, don't fix it" applies here.

ZM

@always_beezee That might become a too-permanent installation that would make replacing the birdbath difficult. I also think the birdbath is fragile enough that trying to separate it from a strong adhesive might break it. A mechanical fastener has the advantage that it can be undone.

@zen_man I bought the pedestal and installed it years ago. Up to now, it had a small disposable statue on it. The birdbath in the photo now I just installed yesterday.

I don’t think you need to worry about wind. I live in an extremely high wind area, and my metal bird bath basin weighs a fraction of yours. I keep a heavy rock in it, that combined with the water has never shifted it even with 50 mph gusts. The concrete pedestal has never blown over either. in the bay area I would be more concerned about an earthquake toppling it, in which case I would take it off the pedestal so it has less distance to fall, and maybe create a rock free radius beneath it, so were it to fall it would land in soil.

It’s a very charming birdbath you have.

@HighDesert Now Z 6b was 7a 90% chance that it will never fall over. But it is quite exquisite and not replaceable, so I am just asking if there is a simple method to secure it to cover the other 10%.

@HighDesert Now Z 6b was 7a There is no place I could buy this if I broke it. It is a one-off lucky find, and although the materials are cheap concrete construction, the level of delicate detail is not something I would easily find a replacement for. So I just want to spend a tiny amount of time thinking through if there is an easy way to protect it.

A Good Steel Doweled Rod Fitted Between The Two!

It would be much less likely to get blown over if it was sitting on the ground instead of up on a pedestal.

Maybe dig a footing with a pad at ground level and mortar it in place for good measure?

What exactly are we talking about? There appears to be three pieces. One the bird bath (bowl), an upper light color pillar, and a dark ground piece.

If the connection is between the dark ground piece and the light colored pillar, I would be very concerned that it could be knocked over. I would apply one of the suggested solutions.

Based on the width of the top of the pillar, and the the width of the bowel, I don't think this would be a big problem

This should do it:

https://usa.sika.com/en/construction-products/residential-homeimprovement/multipurpose-adhesives/sikabond-constructionadhesive.html

@krnuttle The white birdbath is a single molded piece. I am trying to secure the white birdbath to the dark circular concrete base on which it rests.

Yes, I am concerned as well. That is why I started this thread. :)

The problem is that 70 pounds…it’s not exactly lightweight either. If it starts to topple over the chances are good that any construction that you put to attach the birdbath to the base, is simply going to damage your birdbath.

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The suggestion made by the individual above, to clear around the space and provide cushioning, or to set the piece actually on the ground, makes the most sense.

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If you really want to leave it on the heavy pedestal, cushioning could take the form of something planted around the base such as evergreens, like boxwood, that could be kept trimmed but would cushion the statue if it falls. It would also keep people from bumping into it.

@liasch Right, I was thinking along similar lines: a circular paver that is at least two inches thick underneath the bird bath. I could put anchor bolts into that paver, and then cinch stainless steel wires around the base and connect to the anchor bolts. That would put the base under tension in four places to a very heavy base.

@liasch The hard part of that idea is that no vendor of commercial pavers in my area manufactures a circular paver. They are all rectangles, for the obvious reason that they need to build a patio. Circular concrete designs are used in stepping stones, which are not heavy-duty at all and not a good fit for this application.

So maybe use a square paver. Or make a heavy-duty circular paver with some quickcrete. Or you could "float" the birdbath in a bed of sand.

That’s why my suggestion was to make your own circular base… out of quickret…but I would actually insert the birdbath base into the new wet concrete base. And I would do some research on it… as I am not at all informed about working with concrete per se. I still think your best option is to take it off the pedestal and set it on the ground, where it will likely not break if it topples over.

I'm in a coastal windy location and I'm having trouble picturing something weighing 70#s being blown over. And nobody but me had better be in my garden beds who might knock it over - only my feet go into my beds.

My glazed ceramic birdbath isn't nearly that heavy. We did the 'pick up' test when purchasing it, didn't want something so heavy it might take two or three men to move it. We do remove the top occasionally and really scrub and rinse it. Birds do bathe in it. It gets dirty.

I do keep a hand full of rocks in the middle for those smaller birds who might venture in and need something to climb on getting out. I don't imagine the rocks add much in the way of weight. Maybe just enjoy it and don't overthink it?

I’m in that camp as well. I don’t think it’s going to blow over.

The bird bath with look nice and a pot with a bunch of rocks in it like put it down maybe halfway or or 2/3 off the top or you may be good put scallops going around it that edging stuff or maybe you might have to stake it

That’s a good idea happy! Instead of the pedestal it’s on, put the birdbath in a very stable planter… partially fill the planter and then weight down with rocks p/bricks/concrete around and on the base of the birdbath… then you could put small plants in the planter around the base of the birdbath.

There is one way to secure the birdbath to the circular base, The first part would cut a circle from a piece of metal or similar ridge high strength material The circle should stick out from the bottom of the bird bath at least and inch maybe and inch and a half. Drill holes in the circle great than the diameter of the bird bath bottom

Center the circle on the base and using a cement drill drill holes in the base corresponding to the holes in the circle. Place bolts in the holes long enough to go deep into the hole and stick above the circle. Glue the bolts in place, and glue the circle to the bottom of the bird bath. Once every thing has set, set the birth bath on the base with the bolts going through the holes in the circle. Using nuts, bolt the bird bath to the base.

It should withstand the wind AND the accidental bump. Yet could be removed from the base in needed. There are ways to remove the adhesive that you used to attach the circle to the bottom of the bird bath.

Similar to the system used to attach a utliity light pole to the concrete base.

What is above the Birdbath? Thin Cables fitted to a Circle fitted to the Birdbath Anchoring up or down could add Safety.

A little backup plan..be sure if it does fall it is far enough away from anything that will be costly to replace or repair…most obviously…the window..

I would definitely be removing it off that pedestal. If it were mine, I would dig out an area of dirt, and set the base right down into the ground and push the dirt back over the base.

Design a Simple Metal Cage That Will Blend All In As Part Of The Design But Will Add Very Good Support.

Logger