Safety Bollards

[Toomanytools?]

Just wonder if anybody has put these in front of their shop/garage?

I have a RV/vehicle shop with two 12' wide doors that I will be backing a 24' long trailer into with a camper on the truck. I'm pretty good at backing up and all but thought just for kicks it's cheaper than fixing the shop wall.

The main concern is the building is pretty visible to neighbors don't really want it to look like a loading dock. I would paint them same color as bottom trim with a reflective stripe in top.
Anyway just looking for thoughts.
Thanks

 

[KRB52]

Who's property is it? Do as you want. I was going to suggest the "paint to match" , but you have that covered.

 

[rustyjames]

There's two types, the kind you can bolt down to concrete (no good on asphalt), or set in concrete. Obviously, the latter is more robust.

 

[kd3pc]

They are only as strong as their material and installation. I would go for it, and not be too worried about what other passersby would think.

 

[Thumper68]

In one of my old shops we had the kind you see on very old serviced stations, kind of a curved plate that bolted down to the apron. I wonder what happened to them after we pulled them to re pour the apron, they might be out back of the current shop, have to remember to look for them.

I had some sched 20 8 inch pipe I was going to use for the current shop but some POS scrapper wandered off with it.

 

[wssix99]

Just wonder if anybody has put these in front of their shop/garage?

Yes. I have them to protect some sensitive structural columns, as my garage is at the end of an "S" turn at the end of our alley.

View media item 75045

The main concern is the building is pretty visible to neighbors don't really want it to look like a loading dock. I would paint them same color as bottom trim with a reflective stripe in top.

The reflective trim would make them look like a loading dock.

Our doors are only 8' wide and I've already destroyed a fender on one of these things, but I guess that's better than destroying a fender and damaging the house at the same time... (BTW - 8' doors was a bad idea.)

We thought about the visibility problem and our plan has to put a reflective clear coat over these if we need them. So far, there has been no need. (Purple is the accent color of our house and that has proven to be sufficient.)

So, there are glitter and reflective clear coats you can use, but I would recommend a different color than your trim - but one that fits your decor.

 

[Ironcrow]

I'd get a couple of heavy concrete planters and plant petunias in them.

 

[kbs2244]

Put some skinny evergreens in pots at the door edges.
They will look pretty and give you some aiming points.
Put some solar powered XMas lights on them if night work is involved.

 

[wssix99]

I'd get a couple of heavy concrete planters and plant petunias in them.

Why stop there?

I'd get a couple of heavy concrete planters and plant petunias in them.

^ This is a GREAT idea and should achieve the intended purpose for much less cost.

Bollards are really expensive. The steel pipe isn't cheap and it has to be sunk deep with footers. I think ours were around $800+ each, with materials, concrete pours, and labor. (We need them for structural reasons, so couldn't get out of them. We actually cut the number down to the bare minimum.)

 

[NUTTSGT]

I really don't have a place for them where we are now with the garage I have. However, if a place place would exist, they just might appear. I'd never rule them out.

 

[crf731]

Just get someone to guide you while backing up.
Tell them to wave and yell STOP before you hit the wall

 

[PassnThru]

Curb feelers.

Maybe the only real use for them after all these years.

You are doing the backing - you are aware of the risks. That alone should prevent an accident unless you have an angle that prevents you from seeing one side.

I have on occasion needed to protect me from myself but......

 

[Lelandwelds]

Put some skinny evergreens in pots at the door edges.
They will look pretty and give you some aiming points.
Put some solar powered XMas lights on them if night work is involved.

This could really class up the place. An alternative might a shade structure for car detailing or keeping sun and rain from door opening.

Metal buildings are easy to patch. (Raise door. Loosen door track. Cut out bad purlin. Splice in new. Screw down door track. Screw in complete new panel. Replace entire trim piece. Matching paint is most annoying part.)

I like the Italian cypress in a flower pot. Or bamboo or nandina. Maybe a red/white six inch PVC spiral barber pole art piece in a cement filled plastic flower pot. Or, something like the WE 2 Ranch entrance

 

[Blk88GT]

I did 4 cedars in composite barrel-looking pots. Much nicer to look at that the posts.

JMHO.

 

[Toomanytools?]

I'd get a couple of heavy concrete planters and plant petunias in them.

Hey! Wow thanks for that idea and to the rest that chimed in about the planters, the peeing cherub would certainly get some attention.

Sometimes I'm a black and white thinker. The heavy planter with some sort of plant would really look good and break up the front face.
I wasn't looking forward to digging four post holes 3-4 feet deep the soil is mostly rock.
Thanks again.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Just get someone to guide you while backing up.
Tell them to wave and yell STOP before you hit the wall

In a perfect world, yes. But it doesn't always happen like that.

 

[kbs2244]

Originally Posted by crf731 View Post
"Just get someone to guide you while backing up.
Tell them to wave and yell STOP before you hit the wall"

Years ago, I worked at Bass Pro.
When those FRS radios first hit the market I had an older couple come in to look at them.
When I cautioned the on the 2 mile range they said that was fine.
"They only need to go 50 feet."
It turned out they has a 35 foot motorhome and her job was to go out and yell instructions at him when backing into a camping spot.
He was getting hard of hearing and she was getting a sore throat.

 

[goingtoarizona]

If you have a helper guide you, make sure they know what they're doing. My wife guided me with our motor home and my car trailer. I thought it was about to jack knife but she said all was good, seconds later I jack knifed the sucker. She's no longer allowed to "help".

 

[NUTTSGT]

If you have a helper guide you, make sure they know what they're doing. My wife guided me with our motor home and my car trailer. I thought it was about to jack knife but she said all was good, seconds later I jack knifed the sucker. She's no longer allowed to "help".

See post #16.....

 

[brownbagg]

yes, I got them. I have a metal building, even the lawn mower could dent it. just pipe filled with concretet