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PILINGS AS LAWN DECOR
Using pilings as lawn décor is very popular in fishing communities and homes wishing to convey a nautical theme. I live along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and I've seen many variations. As I drove around I noticed many people had pilings at their driveway entrances and that got me thinking of different ways I could make attractive lawn ornaments. I started making a few featuring a seagull and solar light, and they became a popular item. I even made some with ducks, shorebirds, and herons. My construction techniques improved, and before long I had friends, coworkers, and local homeowners asking me to make them.
So how can you make them? Well you need to get some pilings first. You won't find them at Lowe's or Home Depot. The only place I've found them are at the marinas. You'll have to call around. A 10' long piling 6” in diameter is around $30. The prices go up for the larger ones obviously. The hardest part (other than lifting the heavy piling pieces) is attaching the 3 piles together. The best way I've found is to drill completely through them and use 3/8” all-thread with washers, lock nuts, and nuts on each end. It's important to drill in the area where you'll be wrapping the structure with rope, otherwise you'll see big holes in the side of your pilings. You can pick up the hardware and rope at your local hardware store.
You can cut the pilings with a chainsaw. Good luck if you want to try it with a handsaw, you'll be tired. They're too big and cumbersome to cut on a chop saw or band saw, so don't even try it. You can rent or borrow a chainsaw. Measure 3 pilings and stagger the heights. It's personal preference, but I like the largest one to be 36 to 40” tall, the others 10” shorter than the last one. Drill completely through the pilings in the same place. You'll need to drill a large countersink hole at the ends where the nuts and washers go – I've found a forstner bit to work the best. It's tricky getting it started and centered, but goes easily after that. Keep it centered on the original holes and be sure to use a bit sized just slightly larger than the flat washer. Countersink deep enough to recess the nuts – you don't want anything protruding once it's all tight. Tighten everything up with a deep 9/16” socket. Trust me, once they're tight they won't be coming apart. Now you've got something heavy, be careful you don't get a hernia moving it.
Now comes the rope. As I mentioned, you want to wrap the rope around the areas of the holes to cover them. What kind of rope to use? Well, don't use the cheesy nylon rope or the white braided kind – those stretch and will sag over time. I like to use typical brown hemp rope – it looks natural and is quite taut. I like the 3/4” diameter stuff. You can use fence staples to hold the rope in place if you'd like. I have a pneumatic staple gun that shoots those big 2” long staples, but you don't need one.. Either will work. Just put some in a few areas to hold it there after you wrap it around. Three or four wraps will suffice, just keep it tight while wrapping around the pilings.
Now it's up to you to decide what to put on the piles. Use it like it is, or decorate it with fish net, lobster buoys, a seagull statue, your house number, anything. Top it off with a solar light on the largest piling. Voila, now you have an awesome nautical lawn ornament sure to draw attention. Soon your neighbors will be asking you to build them one. There are some photos of the ones I've built over the years. Use your imagination! |
