Protecting outdoor tikis from theft (or just falling over). The how-to thread. - Tiki Carving

8T 8FT Tiki Tiki Socialite Kansas City, MO Joined: Nov 30, 2003 Posts: 1411	8T 8FT Tiki Posted posted on Tue, Jul 28, 2009 4:20 PM There have been a couple of older threads that touched on these issues. I will include a link to them below. But let's face it, this is a serious topic for anyone who has decided to, or may be considering putting a tiki outdoors. It can't be guarded 24/7 by even the most attentive owner so some sort of stabilization is necessary. I have used the following method for 2 carvings and both are solidly in place with no problems. Perhaps this will give someone else a few ideas to employ and if you have installed tikis outdoors and can add photos and tips to this thread, PLEASE DO! I had the opportunity to get a couple of nice sized logs from a family member who had this big walnut tree fall in his yard. All I had to do was help him cut it up. HAHA I really tricked him! The first completed carving has been outside for over 2 years now. It is just under 6 FT tall. Here is the second carving just finished this past weekend. Weighing in at almost 500 pounds! First you get a really big person (with a furniture dolly) to come over and help you. That is if the tiki weighs more than you can handle safely yourself. Then set it on a firm surface that will protect it from sinking into the ground. I am using a really heavy stone that I got from a highway constuction zone. The interstate was being widened and they had to do core drillings for the placement of new highway signs. They extracted dark gray limestone which is very dense and it was in a circular shape perfect for this use. You could also use flat patio blocks if the weight of the tiki isn't an issue. Those can be found at almost any store with a garden center. Prior to moving the tiki I had dug a 2 foot deep hole immediately behind the stone. After the tiki was in place on the stone, I added cement in the hole and inserted a strong metal support bar that you can get at Lowe's or Home Depot. It is slotted which allows you to secure the tiki by bolting through the metal bar and into the wood. Here's a closer look at how I secured the tiki using 2 inch long 3/8" bolts and washers. I used 6 for this carving. I don't worry about the theives now and I am sure the tikis won't fall over on their own. This method worked for me because I did not care about the metal rod being visible on the back side. I could paint them brown but neither of the tikis are in places where there will be people walking behind them. Hope this is helpful, here's the links I mentioned above: Good Luck, 8FT Tiki http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=11846&forum=7&hilite=securing tiki http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=7924&forum=7&hilite=planting seven I once was lost............but now I'm found [ Edited by: 8FT Tiki 2009-07-28 16:22 ]

There have been a couple of older threads that touched on these issues. I will include a link to them below.

But let's face it, this is a serious topic for anyone who has decided to, or may be considering putting a tiki outdoors. It can't be guarded 24/7 by even the most attentive owner so some sort of stabilization is necessary. I have used the following method for 2 carvings and both are solidly in place with no problems. Perhaps this will give someone else a few ideas to employ and if you have installed tikis outdoors and can add photos and tips to this thread, PLEASE DO!

I had the opportunity to get a couple of nice sized logs from a family member who had this big walnut tree fall in his yard. All I had to do was help him cut it up. HAHA I really tricked him!

The first completed carving has been outside for over 2 years now. It is just under 6 FT tall.

Here is the second carving just finished this past weekend.
Weighing in at almost 500 pounds!

First you get a really big person (with a furniture dolly) to come over and help you. That is if the tiki weighs more than you can handle safely yourself.

Then set it on a firm surface that will protect it from sinking into the ground. I am using a really heavy stone that I got from a highway constuction zone. The interstate was being widened and they had to do core drillings for the placement of new highway signs. They extracted dark gray limestone which is very dense and it was in a circular shape perfect for this use. You could also use flat patio blocks if the weight of the tiki isn't an issue. Those can be found at almost any store with a garden center.

Prior to moving the tiki I had dug a 2 foot deep hole immediately behind the stone. After the tiki was in place on the stone, I added cement in the hole and inserted a strong metal support bar that you can get at Lowe's or Home Depot. It is slotted which allows you to secure the tiki by bolting through the metal bar and into the wood.

Here's a closer look at how I secured the tiki using 2 inch long 3/8" bolts and washers. I used 6 for this carving.

I don't worry about the theives now and I am sure the tikis won't fall over on their own. This method worked for me because I did not care about the metal rod being visible on the back side. I could paint them brown but neither of the tikis are in places where there will be people walking behind them.

Hope this is helpful, here's the links I mentioned above:
Good Luck, 8FT Tiki

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=11846&forum=7&hilite=securing tiki

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=7924&forum=7&hilite=planting seven

I once was lost............but now I'm found

[ Edited by: 8FT Tiki 2009-07-28 16:22 ]

Post #472502 by 8FT Tiki on Tue, Jul 28, 2009 4:20 PM