The first step is to consider where you will place your Dinosaur. Do you have room in your yard? What are the weather conditions in your area that impact your property? Do you have a Homeowners Association? If so, check your CC&R’s and talk to your board members to avoid potential problems. Are there any local ordinances / regulations regarding what you can place on your property, especially in public view? Art is very subjective.
- If after careful consideration of all the issues that impact you and your property and it’s a go, then the next step is to adopt a Dinosaur (see Needing Rescue/Adoption page).
- If you have restrictions preventing Dinosaurs outside, you still might be able to have one indoors. They are housebroken. The right size Dinosaur could make a beautiful addition indoors.
Remember: Metal Dinosaurs have sharp edges. Use caution when handling and teach your family members & guests young and old how to carefully enjoy them.
Now that you have selected your site, do you want your Dinosaur on the bare ground? Moisture is not a friend to metal. Even if you follow instructions to reduce or prevent rust, a little foundation preparation can take those preventive measures to a higher level. My 3 Triceratops arrived in December 2015. With all the El Nino warning for California, I moved them inside the house for the winter & spring. Now it’s time for their finishing and placement outside. See January 2016 article “Dinosaur Transports” for suggestions on how to move your dinosaurs around.
A rake, shovel, leveler and work gloves will help you clear and level the site. I recommend spraying weed killer around the area before laying your foundation material. You may consider using a weed blocking fabric as well. I used a few 2 X 4’s and 4 X 4’s to keep the Triceratops off the ground after using the weed killer and prior to further foundation preparation.
There are numerous materials you can use as a base for your Dinosaur – Pavers, Bricks, Tile, Stone, Decorative Rock, Stepping Stones, etc… You can find what you need at Home Improvement Centers. Check out Building Material Companies too. I found them to have more of a selection of products and sizes.
I chose square smooth concrete stepping stones, which I purchased at a Building Supply Company. They come in various sizes and colors. I selected 15-inch X 15-inch smooth grey concrete stones for the adult Triceratops and 12-inch X 12-inch for the young Triceratops. I could have used larger stones. However, the smaller stones are much easier to handle by yourself. This is especially helpful, if I decide to move the Triceratops to another location in the future. Making some measurements of your dinosaur’s footprint will assist you in the final setting of the stones. Use the shovel to dig up the area and the rake to level each site. You can remove the roots of weeds that survived the killing spray at this time. Before placing the stones, poured some sand to help set them. After placing, check with a leveler, then fill the gaps will more sand or decorative bark, rock, etc. … A barranca runs across the front of my property so I have an endless supply of sand.
All places are ready for the Triceratops Family when finished.
Your feedback is appreciated. Thank you!