The reason I don’t think it is an umbrella stand is that it is too big for one. I realize that the scale is hard to grasp from the photos. This could easily hold 30-40 umbrellas, the handles would barely show above the rim, and starting a collection is not what I want to do. I am hoping to find some other use for it. Casey, I have seen trench art from spent shells in antique stores: very interesting things indeed. I think then the base would show something typical of a shell: and it does not. The base is absolutely flat and plain. It is actually constructed in 3 sections riveted together : the base is one solid piece, like a plain cup: the sides are a sheet rolled into a cylinder; and the top is another cylinder, decoratively stamped, with edge rolled.

Oh, the design and raw materials that go into packaging!!!!! Some of these packaging materials/containers are amazing! What a waste, though, for all of that engineering and precious resources to go into something that is to be used for once for some dubious purpose and cast into the mountain of waste. We must do better than that! I read somewhere that most of what we purchase ends up in the waste stream within six months. True, or not true, it is certainly believable. All of this head scratching to find ways to use these excess packaging materials is a good example of a solution that is looking for a problem. Normally, you have a problem/need and you look for something to fill that need. But, what I see more and more often is that there is no need, but plenty of solutions to that non need. So, we create needs by saving and storing our excess stuff in repurposed containers, thus leading us to save and store excess stuff that is probably not worth it. How many small items does one have to store and how many old containers? Some of this packaging is wonderous to behold, indeed! I love, love, love the packaging that Apple uses. That is the best cardboard, ever! I have a passion for cardboard as a building material and usually have a small stash of unusual and interesting cardboard to play with. When grandson was little I made all manner of things for him from cardboard. I love cardboard as a building medium. We are awash in way too much seriously good stuff. The best we can do is to reduce our consumption, and even more importantly, we need to adjust our expectations of what we think we deserve to have and to have it for as cheap as possible. Consumption of cheap consumer items is not good for the health of our only home, Earth. The store that you bought the item from is not where the responsibility rests. The major responsibility rests with the manufacturer and us, the consumer. I agree that those who produce the product should bear responsibilty for it. But, quit buying all manner of stuff that leaves you with empty containers and quit buying all of that stuff that gets stored in these containers.. There is good life without the major portion of all that. Our expectations are way beyond reasonable. We really do think that we are all that special! We cant buy our way out of this extraordinary and unprecented mess by trying to find stuff to store in our endless supply of used containers. We are only fooling ourselves, not Mother Nature or the polar bears.

Wall to wall carpet (edge tacked). Use a carpet underpad that is NOT water proof! Your land lord should be doing this FOR YOU! Don't let this one slide. The landlord rented you a 'bonus room' that is toxic and not done properly or up to code (I'm pretty sure). Push hard for a decent carpet that is NOT glued! That is your only option.

Just keeping this updated in case it's useful for anyone in the future. I decided to clean them up with a stiff brush to get off any loose dirt and concrete. After that I'll apply a Sodium Silicate penetrative concrete densifier which is supposed to harden and strengthen concrete without changing the surface texture. I plan to apply the sealer until it won't absorb any more. Just going to mop it on with a brush or old rag. I think this type of product is often used to densify concrete before polishing it. It won't make the planters waterproof but since I want to use them indoors and I won't be planting directly into them that's fine. I'll also add a plastic drip tray under my plants so they don't wick water from the drain holes in the plastic pots.