Creating a backyard bocce ball court can provide endless entertainment for family and friends.
A well-designed court needs a durable concrete table. This adds functionality — for corraling scorecards or drinks — and boosts the court’s aesthetic appeal.
Whether you’re a seasoned DIY enthusiast or a beginner looking to tackle a new project, here’s the step-by-step process of building a concrete table for your bocce ball court.
How to Make a Concrete Table
Create the tabletop. To do this, you need a form. In this case, we used a water heater drain pan.
Make the post hole. We cut a short section of a 4-inch fence post and taped it at the center of the water heater drain pan to form the post hole.
Prepare the rebar. Around the fence post, arrange four pieces of rebar to provide structural strength for the concrete. Then, secure the rebar pieces with tie wire, so you can grab and move them, as one unit, out of the way for now — and easily place them when the time comes.
Seal the form. Seal the drain hole in the water heater drain pan with foil tape and wrap the center plug with several layers of tape. This ensures the concrete top, once dry, will slide over the fence post, a temporary piece that you won’t need later.
Mix the concrete. Mix Quikrete Countertop Mix, as directed, and pour it into the form. Then, lower the rebar frame into the mix to reinforce the concrete.
Release air bubbles. Tap the sides of the form with a mallet to release any air bubbles.
Fill the gaps. Once the concrete dries, remove the tabletop from the form and inspect it for rough areas. Coat low spots that the concrete didn’t cover with Polyblend grout, and then sand the entire piece so it’s smooth.
Install the post. Use a post-hole digger to remove dirt at the site. Have a buddy place the permanent post in the hole; then, pour some Quikrete Fast Setting Concrete Mix into the hole, along with water, as directed.
Add a collar. Next, grab a power drill and attach a 2-by-4 collar around the post to support the concrete top. Make sure it’s level, and then, lower the top into position.
Finally, install a solar-powered light to cap off the post and the project.
