Reader DIY: Wood and concrete

Reader Bill Morgan sent in some pics of his DIY project. It started as a quarterpipe painted to look like concrete. It sits in his rather short driveway, but there’s a hell of a lip where the driveway meets street. So what’s a skater to do? How about poring a nice little micro transition to make the approach work without having to ollie it? And while you’re at it, why not put some thin set on the rough patch of street? You’ve go to be in good with your neighbors to get away with that!

The quarterpipe is:
6′ wide x 3′ tall
Tedder pool coping mated to a plywood deck using liquid nails
Painted to mimic the look of concrete skateparks (complete with faux blue tiles).
Tight, but not too tight, elliptical transitions
1 layer of 3/8″ plywood, 3 layers of 1/4″ plywood and 1 layer of masonite.
First layer of 3/8″ plywood had to be scored to bend to the tight-ish trannys without cracking
18 gauge galvanized sheet metal where the ramp surface meets concrete

Thanks to Mike at Shrunken Head for a couple of free 6″ pieces of pool coping.

Poured concrete this weekend to smooth out a 2″ lip where the driveway meets the street.

Used one type of concrete for the 2″ gap, then a different type of concrete designed to be just 2-4MM thick to cover a portion of the rough street.  It cured quickly in the hot Portland summer sun and was skateable the next day.  It’s a big improvement over the rough street surface and I am already considering pouring more!