The following article is transcribed from the original, and appeared in Concrete Products, and originally appeared in the June, 1993 edition. Permission was granted for reprinting the article.

by Warren H. Sears

Homeowners who like to do attractive
and unusual things with their outdoor living spaces are in for a pleasant surprise. A small, growing company in Stevenson, Wash. has come up with an imaginative system of sculptured, precast concrete O-Rings that can be stacked in a virtually endless number of combinations to produce outdoor walls, planters, benches, tables, counters, paths, driveways, birdbaths, barbecues, fountains and other kinds of yard furniture.
The so-called Sta-Bil system was developed four years ago by Daryl Peterson, president of Peterson Precast Concrete Products. It has received two U.S. patents and has other patents pending. Peterson's customers include parks and picnic grounds in the states of Oregon and Washington. Besides producing the O-ring system, his company also supplies a variety of precast outdoor furniture such as picnic tables and trash container holders. "The principal advantages of the Sta-Bil system,", says Peterson, "are its unusual attractiveness, unlimited designs, low cost, ease and speed of installation. Moreover, since no mortar is required between the O-rings, any structure created can be easily and quickly modified or removed."

Product Line

The simplicity of the product line is also noteworthy. Only six sizes of O-rings are required to produce a wide range of configurations. The units are cast in the shape of truncated cones. The smallest O-rings, which measures 4 in. high by 10-1/4 in. diameter, weighs 16 lb. and costs approximately $3 each. The largest O-ring is 6-1/4 in. high by 25-1/4 in. diameter, weighs 80 lb. and costs approximately $15. The concrete used is a standard 3,500 to 4,000 psi mix with a special aggregate 1/4 in. or smaller. Admixtures include a water reducer and an accelerator. The O-rings are produced with either a smooth or an exposed aggregate finish as well as in various colors. They can be wet or dry cast. In the wet mix procedure, forms are stripped in 24 hours. 

Walls

A variety of walls for beauty or function can be built to any height or length and in a number of configurations. They can be free standing, terraced, circular, interlocking, retaining or made from planters. Because of their unique design, the O-rings are self-aligning, whether used in a straight line or around corners and curves. Mortar between stacked O-rings is not required, though it may be used if desired. A simple wall can be created by stacking O-rings to the desired height. For esthetic effect, the orientation of the O-rings can be alternated in different directions. Interlocking walls of greater strength can be created by alternating the O-rings in adjacent columns. This interlocks the columns and prevents them from moving independently. Wall strength is also increased by placing gravel, earth or reinforced concrete through the vertical stacks of O-rings. The type of wall erected, its dimension, the size of the O-rings used and the function of the wall all determine whether a concrete footing is required or whether a compacted gravel base will provide enough support. When a permanent or structural wall is needed, one can simply add a concrete footing, a vertical rebar through the O-rings and pour the created columns full of concrete. No special skills are required and do-it-yourself home owners can build just about anything they wish, says Peterson.
                      

Yard Furniture

While walls represent the largest market segment of the Sta-Bil system product line, a wide assortment of peripheral items are made from the same O-rings in conjunction with some additional precast shapes.
For example:

• A precast table top placed on four stacked O-rings creates an outdoor picnic table while three stacked O-rings and a precast cap becomes a chair.
• Two stacked O-rings placed around outdoor lighting fixtures provides attractive protection.
• A stack of O-rings of gradually smaller diameters and a submersible pump makes a water fountain.
• Two O-rings set on a precast base along with a metal grill makes a perfect barbecue.
• A handsome bench can be constructed of two stacks of O-rings spanned by a sculptured precast slab.
  Clearly, the things that can be created by merely assembling O-rings of various sizes and limited only by one's imagination.
  

  Franchising
  
  The Sta-Bil system is now available for licensed manufacture. To that end, Peterson is looking to landscapers, nurseries, concrete contractors, concrete product producers and others who are knowledgeable in precast concrete technology. Licensees need only invest a modest fee based on territory, location and size and return to the company 5% of gross sales. Requirements include a set of Peterson's patented fiberglass forms and/or machine forms and a concrete mixer.