|
A fountain can add a great deal of panache to your garden; it’s relaxing to hear, beautiful to see… and now, easy to build! Although many people assume that it must be complicated to build a fountain, that is not necessarily so. Your materials can usually be found at any hardware store, and some fountains can be assembled in a few hours. Cost may be an issue, however. Individual purchases from retail chains can start adding up. A fountain manufacturing company buys in bulk and at wholesale prices from their suppliers allowing them to usually produce a complete fountain for 10 – 20% less than the price an individual consumer would pay.
Indoor fountains are typically a smaller variety. There are many types, however. From tabletop fountains to miniatures, foggers, misters, floating faucets, and more, these fountains are designed to bring style to your home. And because they are made to be indoors, there are some very important qualities they must have. They must not leak or splash, as this can be very bad for the surrounding décor. The exceptions to the smaller fountain guideline are the wall fountains. Usually constructed of either slate or materials that look like slate, these are often found in office or hotel lobbies and can be quite grand, indeed.
Outdoor fountains are usually larger and sturdier and can be made from any shape of container. Large watering cans, buckets, old wine barrels, a large ceramic pot… you name it, it will make a beautiful outdoor fountain container. Do consider the material you want to use to make a fountain. For instance, galvanized containers should be used for the watering cans or buckets. Other steels will rust quickly in the elements. You will need a piece of pool liner or barrel liner to keep the water from leaking out if you are using a non-watertight container. You’ll also need a plastic tube of some sort; you can use either rigid or flexible plastic, depending on what type of look you are seeking. You will need a pump, and you might consider using some stones or rocks to hide it. You can stack containers on top of each other for a fancy, tiered look, or use a single “barrel” container for something rustic.
First, you will want to seal your container, making it absolutely watertight. While that sounds like something that doesn’t need to be said… it does! As a company that produces fountains for wholesale and retail customers, we have learned to test everything. Besides wasting water and energy, leaking water can ruin your pump. For instance when you purchase a bucket or watering can at a hardware store, you assume it will be watertight. It may not be. Always check your container first. Our practice is to fill each container with water and let it sit for 24 hours before declaring it water tight, or leak tested. Then we proceed to modify that container for our finished fountains.
Position the pump in the bottom of the container, or in whichever container is lowest. Attach the tubing to the output vent in the pump and place the other end where you want the water to bubble up. Fill the container with enough water to cover the pump and then turn it on to find out if you like the rate at which the water is flowing. Adjust it accordingly, and then begin the fun part – decorating!
You can place the rocks around the pump for two reasons: to hide the pump, and to stabilize it and the tubing. Once you have enough rocks to keep the water from splashing, cut your tubing to the length you want and disguise it with more rocks or some aquarium-type plants. Either plastic or real greenery will keep the focus on the fountain effect instead of on the tube.
Find a great spot to display your hard work – it deserves to have the spotlight! Take care of the pump and the tubing and you can enjoy the fountain for years to come.
The Fountain Can Inc.
|
