Exterior Table Top??

kwikfishron

How tall is the stump? It looks a little short, you’d want about 28” for a table.

The rebar and mesh will rust to dust in only 2” of concrete so I’m not sure if that’s the best idea for longevity.

Is there some sentimental value to this stump or are they thinking turning it into a table would be cheaper than removing it?

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forresth

Siberian Elm would have been one of my guesses.

remember its not going to just be a stump sitting there. Kids will be climbing on it and the height and table top will give it more leverage than just a stump out in the woods.

Master Brian

I didn't get a height on it, but I don't recall thinking it would be too high or too low, when I looked at it.

Honestly, I'm not entirely certain why they want to keep the stump. I believe the tree was recently cut down. My best guess is the lady in charge of beautifying the courtyard where the stump is, just thinks it would be neat.

As for the rebar, mesh, concrete, stump that's where I'm a bit torn....half the people I speak with say it will last for years, the other half say it won't last but a couple.

Master Brian

I was talking with my wife about this last night and she thought it was some sort of pine tree that had been there..... I thought the bark looked elmish, in the picture, but I do sort of recall a pine tree of some sort being in that courtyard and with the summer we had, a lot of pines died this past summer.

You are correct, I'm sure at some point kids will climb on it, but even if this goes forward, I am trying to figure out as best as possible how to keep it from just suddenly failing. If it were a gradual failure, one would hope someone would take care of it and get rid of it, eliminating a greater possibility for danger.

I had thought running pins into stump at angle would create opposing force, so it wouldn't want to fall one way or the other. Thinner, would be lighter meaning it wouldn't pose as much danger if it were to break and fall, but with the above post saying the rebar would rust out, makes me curious about that. I do have some old chain link fence material laying around, which is thicker than the wire mesh I have and it's galvanized. Would that be better??

kwikfishron

I have no idea how long it would last but there’s a reason code says no rebar within 2” from the edges of the concrete.

Don’t know where you’re located but in Oregon it’s pretty easy to get big slabs of Cedar cut with an Alaska Mill. They make quite nice table tops that that can easily be carved or inlayed.

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sdsester

I hope those recommending a concrete top are on the same page as I am. I am not thinking of something you form yourself and pour from bags of coarse Sakrete mix over some mesh. Find a company that does nice artisan concrete countertops. I specified them for kitchens, indoors and out, often. Created by the right hands, they can be beautiful and sealed once in awhile will last a long time. An artisan can etch and stain the school logo into the table top. For examples:

http://www.customconcretecreations.net/index.html

http://www.uptownconcrete.com

http://www.concretenetwork.com/concr...FQUKKgodGkwj_Q

You could also sandblast the logo into a concrete top and fill it with colored resin or something.

That said? I would never trust a tree stump as a base for any heavy table top around kids. They are going to be sitting, standing or jumping on the thing for sure. That stump will rot and scream for mercy at a time you least expect and someone is going to break something or need some stitches when it gives.

Your insurance company will cringe at the use of dead tree stump for a table base, I promise. And if you do this? Make sure you send a copy of the news release to the local legal newspaper so personal injury attorneys get wind of it sooner rather than later. If the tree is sacred or special, carve it into special pieces and make awards or special gifts you can sell for fundraising out of it. My Uncle hired a guy who cast metal to make some beautiful things with chunks of an old sacred tree on the Eau Claire Wisconsin University of Wisconsin campus.