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Making a pedestal for your sandcast birdbath is simple, but there are a few things to do ahead of time to prepare.
First, you need a form. Most hardware stores carry cardboard tubular concrete forms that are used for deck footings. They come in different lengths and diameters. The one I got was 6 feet long with an 8-inch diameter. Since 6 feet seemed extreme for a birdbath pedestal, I cut the form in half with a hand saw. You can make the pedestal any height you want to. Just remember the taller the pedestal is, the heavier it will be when you're done.
Now that you have your form cut to the height you want take the leftover piece and cut off a 2-inch ring. Set it aside to use in step five of the leaf project. Now you're ready to get started.
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• 1 bag of concrete
• Water
• Tubular concrete form
• Paint or concrete dye (optional)
• Concrete sealer
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• Bucket or mixing tray for concrete
• Hoe to mix concrete
• Saw to cut the form
• Paintbrush
• Foam brush for sealer
• 2 premade steppers (optional)
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Step one — Add the concrete. Cover the smooth side of a pre-made stepper or any smooth surface — it can even be your sidewalk or driveway — with plastic wrap and set the end of the cardboard form you cut up. This way if your earlier cut wasn't perfectly straight, you won't have an uneven base. Placing the form on a smooth surface will help keep the pedestal level, too.
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Mix the concrete with water until it's the consistency of pudding. The photo at left shows a good mix — not too watery, but not too stiff. Then pour the concrete into the form. This is a good time to have a friend around to hold the form while you pour. Not only does it keep the form steady but, by holding the form down firmly, the concrete won't be able to leak out the bottom. Give it a good shake to get rid of any air pockets.
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Step two — Top it off. When the form is as full of concrete as you want it, center the other stepper on the top as in this photo. This will keep concrete from oozing out the bottom. Let it dry for 48 hours.
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Step three — Finished product. When the concrete is dry, the form can be peeled off just like in the photo. When the cardboard is off, let your pedestal cure for one week.
After it has cured you can leave it as it is or decorate it with color. Either way, a coat of concrete sealer will help preserve your pedestal.
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Sand-cast Birdbath | Birdbath Instructions | Leaf Gallery | Step-by-step Video
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Gallery of Leaves.