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westes

How Can I Prevent This Birdbath From Falling Off Pedestal?

I have a birdbath on a pedestal and would like some strategies to keep it from falling over in a high wind, or if someone falls into it. The pedestal is a 350-pound beast. That thing is going nowhere and has an excellent base that will resist rain. The birdbath is unfortunately not so robust. It looks like a fragile concrete layer on some other material and the total weight is only around 70 pounds. So that is at risk of falling over in a high wind.

I am guessing I could sink some T-posts around the pedestal and then wrap some wires to that. I am hoping someone makes a wire loop that could be secured around the base and then pulled down at four points to provide equal downward pressure on the base. I want this to be secure but not an eyesore. What are my best options.




Comments (27)

  • 2 years ago

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

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked always_beezee
  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    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

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked zen_man
  • 2 years ago

    @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.

  • 2 years ago

    @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.

  • 2 years ago

    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.

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked HighDesert Now Z 6b was 7a
  • 2 years ago

    @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%.

  • 2 years ago

    @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.


  • 2 years ago

    A Good Steel Doweled Rod Fitted Between The Two!

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked HU-811797333
  • 2 years ago

    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?

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked ci_lantro
  • 2 years ago

    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

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked krnuttle
  • westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked rwiegand
  • 2 years ago

    @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. :)

  • 2 years ago

    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.

    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.

    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.

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked liasch
  • 2 years ago

    @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.

  • 2 years ago

    @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.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    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.

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked zen_man
  • 2 years ago

    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.

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked liasch
  • 2 years ago

    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?

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked morz8 - Washington Coast
  • 2 years ago

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

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked liasch
  • 2 years ago

    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

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked happyleg
  • 2 years ago

    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.

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked liasch
  • 2 years ago

    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.

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked krnuttle
  • 2 years ago

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

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked HU-811797333
  • last year

    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..

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked btydrvn
  • last year

    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.

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked cat_ky
  • last year
    last modified: last year

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

    Logger

    westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked Joe Wickware
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