How to Build a Stone Bird Bath | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House mason Mark McCullough shows host Kevin O'Connor how to turn two pieces of stone into a beautiful rustic birdbath.
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Kevin O'Connor meets mason Mark McCullough for a special project: a stone birdbath. Mark shows Kevin how he chooses matching stones for bases and the baths that sit on top before moving on to the heavy lifting.
Difficulty: ⅗
Cost: Under $50
Time: 1 Day
Where to find it?
Mark and Kevin work together to turn two large stones into a birdbath. Mark explains the base stone should be about 18-20 inches high and that the top stone is usually round, with a circumference of about 12-16 inches.
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Materials:
Two sandbags [amzn.to/3vHZpIa]
Eye protection [amzn.to/3kkjLlE]
Epoxy putty [amzn.to/36Snsvz]
Masonry pin [amzn.to/3vPms3M]
Tools:
Small sledgehammer [amzn.to/3vR2ZQt]
Masonry chisels [amzn.to/3keeJXM]
Circular saw [amzn.to/3LlqdVa] with HEPA vac and diamond blade (optional)
Hammer drill [amzn.to/3KfGz0p]
About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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How to Build a Stone Bird Bath | Ask This Old House
/ thisoldhouse

[@debiallen4053]

Dreamed of creating a stone birdbath for years, thanks so much guys. I'm ready now. Just need my boys to do the lifting.

[@BirdBath1]

Debi Allen, look at bird bath

[@lisaholgash2924]

I love it! Another purpose for our stones.

[@loumonte658]

Just in time for Spring projects.

[@BirdBath1]

Lou Monte, look at bird bath

[@andrewc6385]

Very cool. Thanks fellas

[@BirdBath1]

Andrew C, look at bird bath

[@francineh.7825]

I love this!

[@BirdBath1]

Francine H., look at bird bath

[@Juangaba]

Excellent

[@jake9705]

Really cool project 👌

[@BirdBath1]

Jake, look at bird bath

[@BirdBath1]

*Absolutely 💯 wonderful for birds 🐦⭐❤*

[@JNL37Dyxce5]

🌊🦅💧

[@donc-m4900]

Look at bird bath bird bath.

[@JNL37Dyxce5]

@@donc-m4900 😎

[@BirdBath1]

@@donc-m4900 🌟

[@Kevscancave]

Absolutely Bird Bath! Love it!

[@davidreali9642]

Born in maine in 87 of Sept watched this when growing up and still do new england classic

[@loumonte658]

Way back to the the Bob Villa era.

[@BirdBath1]

Look at bird bath 🐄🕊

[@6996katmom]

That is a great project and it turned out beautiful.

[@BirdBath1]

6996katmom, look at bird bath

[@6996katmom]

@@BirdBath1 Nice things over at bird bath

[@BirdBath1]

@@6996katmom 😁

[@brianlundeen1739]

I did pretty much the same thing about 5 years ago. I grinded and chiseled out a stone to make a water bowl for my dogs. Whenever people see it they think it’s the coolest thing. One day when I get some time I want to stack some smaller stones on it and use a little pump to make a small waterfall

[@justanotherguy8791]

thats awesome

[@BirdBath1]

Look at bird bath 🦢😋

[@tjav001]

Another project for the pond.

[@BirdBath1]

TJav, look at bird bath

[@javiergalvan242]

Another fine video! 🙂

[@BirdBath1]

Javier Galvan, look at bird bath

[@javiergalvan242]

@@BirdBath1 I did and they were beautiful, another fine video!

[@BirdBath1]

@@javiergalvan242 😎👍

[@bradpaulp]

4:06 “mines not flying off like yours did”. LEGIT burst out laughing. That O’Connor kills me.

[@BirdBath1]

Brad Poirier, look at bird bath

[@crazycarl00]

Fascinating. Now I just need some chisels.

[@marcodm]

My man 👌

[@BirdBath1]

Marco De Minico, look at bird bath

[@imaginarytube]

This project is for the birds.

[@BirdBath1]

imaginarytube, look at bird bath

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

You DO have a video on just about anything!

[@TwoPartyIllusion]

Finished project was awesome. Thanks.

[@BirdBath1]

Try me

[@trappinout18]

How a part two for the video to turn it into a fountain? Drill hole through fed by pump.

[@conniewojahn6445]

Love those rubber duckies! Do they have names?

[@AStanton1966]

I'm wondering if stone bird baths would attract clay pigeons?

[@BirdBath1]

A Stanton1966, look at bird bath.

[@rupe53]

I duno.... maybe a bunch of stoners?

[@BirdBath1]

@@rupe53 look at bird bath

[@rupe53]

@@BirdBath1 ... take a hike with this spam

[@johnroberts9560]

HI TOH , I like that bird bath , nice job Mark & Kevin ! 👍😊🛠

[@BirdBath1]

John Roberts, look at bird bath

[@angkorstone1325]

Good video I like videos. I have build stone too you I like job

[@ImTheJoker4u]

Great little project. I get my rocks for free from the river 😉

[@BirdBath1]

John Ulicky, look at bird bath

[@rruizproductions]

Maybe use an air chiseler. Saw some artisans using them on stone in Mexico.

[@BirdBath1]

Raul Ruiz, look at bird bath

[@justanotherguy8791]

This seems like an outdoor build project

[@BirdBath1]

Just Another Guy, look at bird bath

[@mikeFPS1980]

I can’t believe those stones only cost like 20 bucks, my sister just paid someone like 200 bucks for one of these!

[@BirdBath1]

Mike C, look at bird bath

[@QIKWIA]

🅰️➕ LOVE IT!👊🏿

[@BirdBath1]

QUEEN'IKnoWhoIam, look at bird bath

[@QIKWIA]

@@BirdBath1 👌🏿OK!😂 I'll take a look at your channel..👊🏿.thanks!

[@BirdBath1]

@@QIKWIA 🥰

[@artherrightus7399]

How do you keep the mosquitoes out?

[@troymilleraz]

👍

[@BirdBath1]

Troy Miller, look at bird bath

[@ROOSTER333]

Thank yall for this. I appreciate the idea of power tools but this will keep my mind off all the insane culture war stuff for a couple days. Thanks guys.

[@BirdBath1]

Rooster 1488, look at bird bath

[@LisaBeergutHolst]

"Insane culture war stuff", says the guy with Nazi slogans all over his channel 🙄

[@ROOSTER333]

@@LisaBeergutHolst haha

[@adriennem3168]

1:30 from where? By me they charge $50 just for one stone and forget about delivery.

[@johnnyutah1053]

I wish I could find stone like that for $10!

[@BirdBath1]

Johnny Utah, look at bird bath

[@Philitron128]

You can find them for free if you're willing to lug one up from a river

[@bobmariano3731]

👍👏⚾️

[@CP-iw6ou]

special chisel?

[@TwoPartyIllusion]

I want to know the name of the stone yard ...ten bucks ea but more than a few delivery must be a killah!

[@BirdBath1]

two party illusion, look at bird bath

[@TwoPartyIllusion]

Are you the one who made that art piece? Did you travel?

[@BirdBath1]

@@TwoPartyIllusion look at the birds i have

[@TwoPartyIllusion]

Ahh I did my dear friend :) I watched several of your videos... What a beautiful place you live in! Our hummingbirds just showed up for the season, Where I live we have a short growing season and cold snowy winters. For some years now we've had cool rainy growing seasons, and mild winters, almost no snow with wildly swinging very warm to very cold temperatures. It's happening all over the country(usa). Is it like that where you live? What I'm asking, sir, is your your weather different than it has been from years ago? Thank you for responding :)

[@BirdBath1]

@@TwoPartyIllusion sunny all year round

[@johnp82]

This would've been a useful video in 8,000 BC.

[@jjjohn5914]

Hey Gents...ending was a bit abrupt...don't u think? How about the hole for the bowl?? Also, bowl too shallow...water will evaporate in the sun in about 5 minutes.

[@williamcoulston7788]

After lifting the stone Kevin is getting a hernia repair

[@AStanton1966]

He may have dropped a stone.

[@BirdBath1]

Look at bird bath 🐬🦋

[@arcanondrum6543]

...AND? _"....So easy to clean."_

[@BirdBath1]

Arc Anon Drum, look at bird bath

[@arcanondrum6543]

@@BirdBath1 Arc Anon Drum see Bird Bath. Bird Bath get dirty when Bird take bath in Bird Bath. Arc Anon Drum see garden hose and too much water necessary to clean bacteria from Bird Bath.

[@Mikidy303]

One looks like a foot, the other is a big toe...Hidden message? Maybe. But still good stuff.

[@BirdBath1]

Mike Horan, look at bird bath

[@Ramdodge582]

What about stone selection? does any type of stone work? i tired ballsalt and a piece chipped off and flew into my wifes butt cheek. i had to dig it out with tweezers, we though it was a splinter for a couple of days, nope, small piece of rock shrapnel.

[@BirdBath1]

Ram-n_dodge, look at bird bath

[@iceman846]

Never wrap your thumb around the chisel , if you miss hit you will break your hand

[@BirdBath1]

Jim Theriault, look at bird bath

[@calebmallen]

Go to ya stone yawd 😄

[@BirdBath1]

Caleb Allen, look at bird bath

[@Yellow.Dog.]

My dog would jump on it to get a drink and it would tip over and break his leg. Otherwise, kind of cool.

[@BirdBath1]

William @ Yellowdog Welding, look at bird bath

[@nultari1]

Too shallow innit

[@BirdBath1]

Nultari, look at bird bath

[@Retiredin]

I don’t think it’s a good idea now with the bird flu that’s going around and I am removing my bird feeder as well

[@BirdBath1]

Retiredin, look at bird bath

[@mikem4883]

There never was a bird flu. Call it starve the people