Bird Bath to Patio Table with DIY Project

A few weeks ago Chris started a new feature here on the TwoClassyChics blog called Fun Frugal Finds. Well today, I get to share with all of you one of my frugal finds and some DIY instructions on how I completely upgraded an old cement bird bath.

Several weeks ago my hubby and I were down at the flea market and I came across an old 2-piece cement outdoor bird bath. It wasn’t looking beautiful any more but the sellers only wanted $10.00 for it. I quickly snagged it up and brought it home.

I didn’t like the color of it at all and it had a few scratches and some peeling. The first thing you want to do is thoroughly clean it. I did this by using a garden hose, scrub brush and some household bleach. Let it completely dry before you do the next steps.

At my local home improvement store (Lowe’s) I bought 1 tube of caulking and 2 cans of outdoor spray paint that had a granite finish & texture to it. The caulking was $5.00 and the spray paint was $10.00 per can. Total spent $25.00.

I had sand paper already on hand and lightly sanded off some of the areas that had crusty things on them. I then wiped it down with a damp cloth to remove all debris. I used the caulking to fix the fine line scratches & cracks. Left it dry and then lightly sanded again so I had a smooth surface. Wipe with damp cloth again to remove any debris.

A few days later we had a hot & sunny day so I decided to paint it. Shake up the spray paint cans thoroughly before using. In addition, ONLY do this outside in a well-ventilated area. Stand back from your bird bath and lightly spray each piece until coated. If the paint runs or forms drip marks…you are standing too close & putting it on too heavy.

Let the first coat dry and then apply a second coat; let dry again. Flip your two pieces over and repeat the painting process. Let dry for a full 24 hours.

We decided to use ours as a patio table. It has a flat bottom to the bowl portion. When we are not using it as a table…I have a large glass jar sitting on it that is filled with beach treasures that I’ve collected over the years. You could also put a flower planter or anything else that you would like. If you want to spend some additional money, have a glass cutter cut you a glass top for it.

I’ve paired it up with 2 white Bistro Patio chairs that I also snagged at a Flea Market and I did a re-do on those too! I will save that for another post in the next few weeks.

A new comparable bird bath of this quality and size would of cost me around $90 to $100. The total amount spent on this project re-do was $10 for the bird bath and $25 for paint & caulking. Total cost $35.00. I think it turned out fabulous!!!