How to Make a Concrete Bird Bath (DIY, Step by Step)

1. 1

   Step 1: Line the Molds

   Watch this step · 4:30

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   Kit builds the basin from two plastic trays that nest together and the pedestal from an old bucket. Before any concrete goes in, the inside of each mold needs a release coat so the cured pieces come out clean.

   Spray WD-40 over every surface the concrete will touch, then wipe it around with a rag until there is a thin, even film. Cooking oil or a proper mould release works too. Do not skip this - it is the difference between the pieces sliding out and cracking on the way.

   Tip:

   Watch this step Wipe off the excess so it does not pool. You want a film, not a puddle, or it can mark the surface of the concrete.

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   Used in this stepWD-40 multi-use spraylarge plastic storage traysrubber work gloves

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2. 2

   Step 2: Mix the Concrete

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   Tip your cement and sand into a big tub and mix it dry first so the color is even. Kit uses one part cement to two parts sand, which came out to six scoops of cement and twelve of sand for a couple of baths.

   Add water in small splashes and turn it over with a trowel or a gloved hand. Stop when it looks like thick porridge, wet enough to pour and settle but stiff enough to hold a peak on the scoop. Too runny and it will end up weak and full of shrinkage cracks.

   Tip:

   Watch this step Wear a dust mask while the cement is dry. The powder is harsh on your lungs, and it only takes a second to put one on.

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   Used in this stepmultipurpose cementsharp sandcement mixing tubdust mask

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3. 3

   Step 3: Fill the Molds

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   Start with the pedestal bucket and pack it right to the top. Then load concrete into the larger basin tray, filling it about halfway since the second tray still has to press down into it.

   As you fill, tap the sides and give each mold a good shake. Air pockets rise up and pop at the surface, and getting them out now means fewer holes in the finished piece. Level the top off with the back of your scoop.

   Tip:

   Watch this step Drop the whole mold flat onto the ground a few times. The jolt shakes trapped air loose better than poking at it.

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   Used in this stepconcrete mixing scoopplastic bucketgalvanised wire mesh

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4. 4

   Step 4: Shape the Basin and Weigh It Down

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   Push the second tray straight down into the half-filled basin mold. It squeezes the concrete up and around the sides, which forms the shallow dish the birds will drink from. Center it by eye and wiggle it to chase out any last bubbles.

   Pour water into the top tray to weigh it flush and stop it floating up as the concrete sets. Check it is sitting level, then walk away. Leave both molds untouched for at least 48 hours, because a single day is not enough and the concrete tears when you demold.

   Tip:

   Watch this step More water in the inner tray means more weight and a flatter, more even dish. Fill it close to the brim.

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   Used in this steppointing trowelrubber work gloves

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5. 5

   Step 5: Demold the Pieces

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   After a couple of days the concrete is hard enough to handle. Tip the water out of the basin, then work your fingers around the rim to break the grip between the plastic and the stone.

   Flex the tray and ease each piece free. The WD-40 does the heavy lifting here and most pieces drop straight out. The pedestal sits deeper in its bucket, so tip it and coax it rather than yanking, and do not worry about a hairline crack on the hidden underside.

   Tip:

   Watch this step If a piece is stubborn, leave it another day. Green concrete chips at the edges, but a fully cured piece pops much more willingly.

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   Used in this steprubber work gloves

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6. 6

   Step 6: Smooth the Edges

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   Fresh concrete is still soft enough to shape. Run a wire brush over the rim and down any ridge left by the seam between the two trays, knocking off the gritty high spots until the edges feel kind to the touch.

   Rinse the dust away with water and a sponge as you go so you can see what you are doing. Get it done in the first day or two, because within a week the surface sets rock hard and the brush just skates over it.

   Tip:

   Watch this step To weatherproof it for years outside, brush on an exterior concrete sealer once it has fully cured for a week.

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   Used in this stepwire brushsanding spongeexterior concrete sealer

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7. 7

   Step 7: Set It in the Garden

   Watch this step · 16:18

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   Rest the basin on top of the pedestal. Its own weight holds it in place, or you can bed it down with a dab of exterior adhesive. Carry the pair to a spot with a little cover nearby so birds feel safe stopping in.

   Sit it level on gravel or grass and fill the dish with clean water. Keep it shallow, top it up every few days, and tip it out to rinse now and then. Give it a week or so and the regulars will find it.

   Tip:

   Watch this step A few pebbles or a flat stone in the dish gives bees and small birds a safe place to perch while they drink.

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   Used in this stepexterior concrete sealeroutdoor masonry paint

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Keep going

How to Make Concrete House Numbers (DIY Address Sign)

8 steps · about 19 minutes

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