Your ideas please - transforming an eyesore

[bbodb1]

So to one side of our driveway, for years we had a basketball goal. Kids have grown up and moved on but the goal still sat there unused until 2 years ago when a severe wind snapped the pole. That pole definitely has rust inside it and the wind no doubt stressed a weak spot to the breaking point.

The wife wanted this pole dug up but I recall how much concrete we placed around the base when we built this so that is a no go for that reason alone but also because of the pole's proximity to the driveway (and we do NOT want to disturb that concrete).

So here is an idea I had - take a section of PVC and slide over the exposed pipe. The section of PVC being long enough to hang a bird feeder, solar light, something just to change the optics from a broken off pole to something useful. I am assuming PVC can be painted......can anyone please confirm that?

Edit: I see several websites claim PVC is paintable and stainable if properly prepared. Since this is located in direct sun, will it need to be repainted / restained periodically?

Now, TUG being the place of ideas that it is, might any one have a better idea that something like this could be used for?

 

[Talent312]

For PVC, you need a specialty paint for plastics, such as Krylon Fusion.
It would help to sand the sheen off the PVC surface, first.

But I might try cutting the pole off w- a reciprocating saw & angle grinder,
then put a planter on it, such as a half whiskey barrel, and use it for flowers.

 

[bbodb1]

Thanks for that idea @Talent312 - but I neglected to mention there is concrete inside the pole (above the ground) as well....

 

[rickandcindy23]

Good idea with the whiskey barrel with flowers. Any pot would do.

Put a bush around it that would surround it eventually. Rust is good for the soil.

 

[Cornell]

Time for a new hobby? Set up a tether ball pole.

 

[bbodb1]

The whisky barrel / planter idea gets the wife's seal of approval. Especially since we have similar planters in the back yard...

 

[Panina]

You can cut the base of the whisky planter so it fits over the pole and if some of the pole still sticks out the plants around it will hide it.

 

[bbodb1]

Time for a new hobby? Set up a tether ball pole.

There are so.e neighborhood kids I'd like to introduce to tetherball though.....heh heh heh...

 

[jme]

Whatever purpose seems appropriate. If nothing else, to prevent vehicles from driving on your grass.
If left exposed visually, you could paint the small area of concrete around the base green to blend in with the grass, that would look better.
You could also place a Christmas tree over it every December, and thereby have a stable support base, just for an example.
If you don't like it, plant a nice decorative shrub next to it, one that will fill out and hide it, but not stick out into the driveway.

 

[bbodb1]

This is exactly why TUG'gers are the greatest!
Thanks to all of you for your ideas - after photos will be forthcoming!

 

[DaveNV]

Maybe you need to put up one of those "Get Off My Lawn!" signs. LOL!

Or one like this:

Dave

 

[DrQ]

Can you cut the pipe at the base with an angle grinder to make it flush with the concrete? You can then fill the remaining hole with some Quikrete.

 

[bbodb1]

Can you cut the pipe at the base with an angle grinder to make it flush with the concrete? You can then fill the remaining hole with some Quikrete.

@DrQ - If I recall correctly, we also put some concrete down the neck of the pipe in an attempt for more stability in case of storms (remember we live in Arkansas and tornadoes are a frequent occurrence). Where the pipe warped (expanded) is about 6 inches (or so) BELOW the level of the concrete inside the neck of the pipe. In other words, inside the remaining pipe, it is solid concrete.....

 

[DaveNV]

@DrQ - If I recall correctly, we also put some concrete down the neck of the pipe in an attempt for more stability in case of storms (remember we live in Arkansas and tornadoes are a frequent occurrence). Where the pipe warped (expanded) is about 6 inches (or so) BELOW the level of the concrete inside the neck of the pipe. In other words, inside the remaining pipe, it is solid concrete.....

I'd say just cut it off flat and put something on top of it. If you try to use the remaining metal as an attachment for something taller, it's only a matter of time before it rusts out again. Better to cut to the chase (literally) and cut off the pipe even with the ground. As someone suggested, paint the concrete grass-colored, and put a planter on top of it. If there is enough room, maybe add another planter or two or three along the same driveway edge, and make it look like a border planting you intended to go there. You could even connect a couple split-rail logs between the planters, and make it a nice low border fence. That would keep cars off the grass.

Dave

 

[DrQ]

@DrQ - If I recall correctly, we also put some concrete down the neck of the pipe in an attempt for more stability in case of storms (remember we live in Arkansas and tornadoes are a frequent occurrence). Where the pipe warped (expanded) is about 6 inches (or so) BELOW the level of the concrete inside the neck of the pipe. In other words, inside the remaining pipe, it is solid concrete.....

I'd say just cut it off flat and put something on top of it. If you try to use the remaining metal as an attachment for something taller, it's only a matter of time before it rusts out again. Better to cut to the chase (literally) and cut off the pipe even with the ground. As someone suggested, paint the concrete grass-colored, and put a planter on top of it. If there is enough room, maybe add another planter or two or three along the same driveway edge, and make it look like a border planting you intended to go there. You could even connect a couple split-rail logs between the planters, and make it a nice low border fence. That would keep cars off the grass.

Dave

Unless you added rebar inside, you should be able to cut the metal outside with the angle grinder. Once the metal is cut, a good whack on the side at the base with a sledge hammer should shear the concrete (concrete is great in compression, but sucks at tension). You should then be able to level it out with a stone-cutter's chisel (use eye protection)

 

[pittle]

My first thought was to cut the pole down and then plant something along the driveway as a border. "Monkey Grass" lines many driveways in the area where you live. The ones on either side of the concrete would hide the concrete. It just grows and needs to be cut back once or twice a year. My parents had it along their front porch in a town in NE Arkansas and a friend has it on both sides of her driveway.

 

[easyrider]

I would remove the pole and cement around the pole. Then I would plant grass to match. It probably isn't a creative idea but it will increase resale value.

Bill

 

[bbodb1]

So here is what we ended up with today - after spending a bit at Home Depot we purchased another resin barrel similar to what we have in the back yard (although the one in the back yard has faded a bit..) and six happy looking petunia plants. We cut a hole in the bottom of the barrel now next to the driveway to allow for the old pole (and found a cap we were able to glue on to the top of the pole post after beating down the top edges with a maul). At the very least, it should be much harder for someone to accidentally stumble and fall on that pole and impale themself.....

Oh - I should note we did install a piece of rebar in the neck of the pipe when we installed this all those years ago. If we get tired of this set up, removing the pole will be the next step (even though we now know it will be harder due to the presence of the rebar).

 

[DrQ]

The wife wanted this pole dug up but I recall how much concrete we placed around the base when we built this so that is a no go for that reason alone but also because of the pole's proximity to the driveway (and we do NOT want to disturb that concrete).

Unless you drilled into the concrete in the driveway, they should not be attached. If you dug under the driveway so that concrete is underneath the driveway slab, could make it trickier.

If you want to get rid of it completely, you could find a landscaping service that has a mini-backhoe that could dig around it to remove it. Once the hole is dug, you should be able to pull it away from the driveway.

Another idea is renting an electric jackhammer. Just stay away from the driveway.

 

[stmartinfan]

We've got a basketball hoop we no longer use in a similar position, and I was hoping someone had an easy technique for removing the concrete around it. Ours still has the whole hoop structure, and I don't think we put down as much concrete bbodb1. The flower pot looks nice, but ours needs to go completely because it makes backing out of the one garage stall tricky because the driveway narrows at the end. Guess I need to start digging!

 

[Brett]

So here is what we ended up with today - after spending a bit at Home Depot we purchased another resin barrel similar to what we have in the back yard (although the one in the back yard has faded a bit..) and six happy looking petunia plants. We cut a hole in the bottom of the barrel now next to the driveway to allow for the old pole (and found a cap we were able to glue on to the top of the pole post after beating down the top edges with a maul). At the very least, it should be much harder for someone to accidentally stumble and fall on that pole and impale themself.....

Oh - I should note we did install a piece of rebar in the neck of the pipe when we installed this all those years ago. If we get tired of this set up, removing the pole will be the next step (even though we now know it will be harder due to the presence of the rebar).


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OK - I would have voted to remove the pole

 

[Sea Six]

I'd talk to a guy with a bobcat about just wrapping a chain around it and yanking it out of the ground. Get rid of it.