Easy, Illustrated Instructions on How to Make a Concrete Patio Umbrella Stand
I didn't need to fill the tub to the very top, as shown. As long as the concrete is flat on top, the holder will sit flat.
Immediately wash concrete off of the tools. If any concrete oversprayed your project, wash that up too.
Once the concrete was in place, I could remove the tape on the bottom. Let the cement dry for at least 20 hours before dumping it out of its mold.
The downside of having a 120 lbs. umbrella stand is that your have to be strong enough to move a 120 lbs. umbrella stand.
I carefully rolled over the mold and pulled it up, off of the new concrete block.
It looked great! The little details from the plastic tub were transferred to the concrete, and the hole was just the right size for the umbrella pole.
The completed umbrella stand is a monster. It doesn't need a table to stay upright, which kept this part of my patio looking inviting and open. It's not going to blow over in a windstorm.
The cost of the plastic tub mold was $8, and the bags of concrete were $2.60 each, making the total price for this project around $14. If I re-use the plastic tub, subsequent umbrella stands would only cost about $5.50 each. That's a great savings over comparable umbrella stands weighing half as much.
I could also paint the stand black if I thought it would match my decor better that way.
A strong, upright pole is irresistible to children and go go dancers, so an unattended umbrella stand of this magnatude might reveal the next-weakest link in patio umbrella design.
