![]() ![]() Water-growing plants to add to the basin (each plant should be in its own submersible dish - you don't want the roots tangled in the pump).Gravel, stone or cement cinderblocks to stabilize an outdoor fountain.Various screws, nuts and bolts (these may come with the fountain, but if you're deviating at all from the manufacturer's setup you may need extra). ![]() Once you've set a fountain into the ground, it's not so easy to relocate it. Any fountain that requires digging or excavation needs to be treated like a pond: You have to contain and manage the water. A hanging cord can ruin the dramatic visual effect of a wall-mounted fountain.Īn outdoor fountain, beyond these components, may involve a plastic liner. If it's set too low, the fountain won't seem to circulate at all.īefore installing a wall fountain, you may want to have an electrician visit your house to install an outlet and a switch on the wall in question, in such a way that the power cord - but not the switch - will be behind the fountain when it's installed. If the pump is set too high, the fountain will splash (which can waste water, as well as damage the surrounding furniture, walls and flooring). You may need to experiment to find the appropriate pumping rate. Most pumps use suction to circulate water through the fountain. Now that you've chosen a fountain, what goes into its installation? Read on. Make sure you're up to the maintenance demands of an outdoor fountain. If they shed leaves, you'll need to clean leaves from the fountain periodically to keep them from clogging the pump or decomposing into unsightly muck - even if there aren't any plants in the direct vicinity, you'll still need to clean out the pump every so often. Consider any overhanging trees or shrubs. With garden fountains, think about the landscaping. You can go with a ready-made variety, or - for a bit more effort and not much expense - use the garden's natural topography to create a connected series of pools. To install a garden fountain, you may want to do a little excavation. They may involve statues or other decoration. Garden fountains can range from traditional classical styles - the sort that wouldn't be out of place among the sculpted topiary of 18th-century gardens - to modern series of bowls nestled into the ground. Are you inviting water damage? If you can resolve these issues satisfactorily, a wall fountain can add a dramatic cascade of water to your home or garden. That involves a whole other set of installation questions: What are your walls made of? Are they strong enough to hold up a fountain? Drywall and sheetrock can't support heavy fountains, so don't even try. Wall fountains, as the name implies, are wall-mounted. (Remember to think about the fountain's weight when full, not just its weight in the package. They're bigger and heavier than tabletop fountains, so you should make sure the floor is sturdy enough to support such a weight. These models are often "statement" pieces designed for indoor or outdoor use. It's also a good idea to check the stability and placement of the table itself - you don't want to put a bowl full of water on the wobbly end table everyone always bumps into on their way into the TV room.įloor fountains are often freestanding. You should, of course, make sure there's some sort of protection for the table surface - a fountain can cause both water damage and nicks and scrapes. Tabletop fountains are great options for offices, studio apartments and other relatively small spaces (and you'll be amazed at how much more space you seem to have when the air is full of the sound of flowing water). These units may be no larger than the basin of a bathroom sink. The smallest fountains are designed for tabletops. We'll also look at the plans and tools you should have on hand before you delve into the installation process. This article explores the different types of fountains in more detail. Outdoor fountains also need seasonal maintenance, so make sure you choose a relatively accessible spot. Some outdoor fountains have solar panels, but the rest will need to be within reach of electricity. Think about materials - stone, slate, bamboo, granite - that will coordinate with the rest of your decor.Īs you choose the location for your fountain, keep in mind that a fountain needs a power source. Look around to find a fountain in the appropriate scale for your setting. And no table fountain will look anything but diminutive if you install it on a floor. No amount of tinkering will make your table strong enough to support a floor fountain, or keep the end result from looking awkward as well as unstable. Different fountains work best in different places - tables, walls, floors, patios, gardens. But first things first: you should know what you're getting into. ![]()
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