Decorative fountains and waterfalls to give

Each summer resident wants his site and garden to be the most original and beautiful. The installation of small architectural forms and statues will help to unusual decorate the house adjoining zone. But also modern courtyards will be able to improve the courtyard. There are many models that differ in design, installation method and appearance. Therefore, before installing a fountain or waterfall, it is recommended that you carefully study their main characteristics and the rules for selecting the best options. You can also not only buy a decorative fountain, but also make it yourself. This will help you step by step instructions for making an artificial reservoir of scrap materials. A simple assembly scheme and useful tips on the selection of main and additional equipment will allow you to easily make a beautiful fountain and arrange an unusual recreation area at the cottage.

Types of fountains

By the number of water jets knocked out, single- and multi-stream models are distinguished. At the same time, they can be equipped with a pump, and they can work according to the mechanical principle by “squeezing” water upward due to the pressure difference between the three connected containers. By the type and number of jets produced there are such fountains:

By design, fountains are cup-shaped (they are equipped at the bottom with a pallet bowl in which water accumulates), open (constitute a platform from which jets are knocked out) and frame (the bowl is easily assembled and disassembled).

Submersible

Submersible fountains are fairly simple units. These include a pontoon, a pump and a fountain nozzle. To install such models, it is only necessary to place the entire unit in the reservoir to be equipped and connect the device to the power supply. Additional equipment for them are the lights and anchor, eliminating the constant movement of the pontoon. Also for masking the fountain pontoon can be equipped with special nozzles that generate fog around the structure. The advantage of this type is low cost, ease of installation and the absence of special requirements for the reservoir itself, in which they are placed. In addition, submersible units are mobile: they can easily be moved to another reservoir or stored for winter storage.

To safely connect the immersion fountain, it is necessary to take into account the rules of wire insulation.

Stationary

Stationary fountains are much more expensive than submersible. They are a combined unit that includes a pump (which will be submerged in a reservoir), a fountain nozzle protruding above the water. Typically, the height of such units is no more than 40 cm. But for high-quality and long-lasting operation of the device in a “bottomless” film reservoir, installation of a special stand (for example, from concrete) is required. This requirement is due to the greater power of stationary models.

In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the pipes are supplied for supplying and pumping out water, which will be laid at the bottom of the equipped reservoir or supplied to it. Models can be complemented by lighting, be equipped with one permanent nozzle or allow for changing nozzles. Usually used to create a vertical, cascading or multi-tiered fountain.

Fountain waterfall

Fountain waterfall type can be attributed to a separate category. In it, the water supply is carried out not in the form of jets, but in the form of flat streams flowing along multi-level protrusions, or simply flowing from a wall, a statue. Such objects may have large dimensions or be located in a remote corner of the park. Due to the neat design and ease of setup are ideal for installation on the summer cottage.

An important requirement for such models are the special working conditions of the installed pump: it must produce a large flow of water under low pressure. Such a scheme is exactly the opposite of the characteristics of pumps selected to equip conventional fountains. In addition, in the bowl itself, where the stream of waterfall water flows down, pipes can be separately removed to create several small fountains (with a height of a jet of about 20-30 cm) of vertical or circular type.

Create a fountain with your own hands

If you have time and enough money, the display of the fountain bowls in the country can be made of bricks. To do this, you will need to dig a pit, make a solid foundation and build brick walls. Additionally, you need to protect the walls from exposure to water. But you can also make a summer fountain with your own hands and quite inexpensively, using available materials. The work is carried out in the following master class:

1. The ditch is pulled out to the size of the container used.
2. Capacity is installed in the pit.
3. Waterproofing homemade bowl (you can use the film).
4. The pump is installed.
5. The film is decorated around the container (for example, with stones or special mats for swimming pools). If necessary, the pond itself is decorated: you can make lighting, install a statue or a special nozzle on the pump.

Choosing a location

When choosing the location of the summer fountain, the following criteria should be considered:

• remoteness of buildings: water drops blown down the walls of household buildings or houses will damage the facades. Therefore, it is recommended to locate the reservoir at a distance of at least 2 meters from the buildings.
• Illumination of the site during the day: constant exposure to sunlight will lead to the need for frequent cleaning of the reservoir due to the active appearance of greenery, flowering of water.
• the presence of living trees and shrubs: the constant ingress of leaves or branches into the fountain bowl will entail its unsightly appearance and the need for permanent removal of trash that has fallen.

The best option would be the location of the reservoir in the center of the open area, which in the morning and afternoon will be protected by a shadow from the trees or the house. Thus, the fountain will be easily viewed from any part of the courtyard and will retain its original appeal.

Choice of bowl or container

If the independent construction of the fountain allows for the availability of purchased items, and not only available means, then the right decision would be to purchase a finished bowl. They are made of concrete, may have various shapes and sizes. Capacities that are suitable for use as a budget bowl include:

• barrel: an old plastic barrel can be sawn and used as the bowl itself. A wooden barrel with waterproofing inside can become an original addition for installing the pump and supplying water from it in an even flow (this design is called “bottomless barrel”).
• plastic basins, bowls: perfect for low-cost installation of the fountain, but they are recommended to be removed for the winter (they may burst from the cold).
• old bath: having insulated the drain / overflow system, you can get a reliable, durable bowl (you don’t have to dig it out for the winter).

Pump - Selection and Installation

The quality of the installed fountain is directly dependent on the characteristics of the selected pump. There are models of the following types of equipment:

1. Surface.
   The device is installed in the maximum proximity to the reservoir. From him to the reservoir leaves the hose to create jets and streams. Differs economical power consumption, easy to maintain (due to "outdoor" placement). True, it produces a lot of noise and therefore should be mounted in a soundproof box + should be hidden to preserve the attractiveness of landscape design.
2. Submersible.
   They are located directly under water. They have a higher productivity, but their maintenance is quite a long procedure: before removing the block, a complete drainage of the reservoir is necessary. It features a simplified installation: it should be placed on a rigid platform made of concrete or plastic.

The pump chosen for the fountain must supply a small volume of water under high pressure.

Decor and accessories

As a useful auxiliary equipment for the fountain in the country can be installed filters. They are mandatory when arranging the waterfall, since debris entering the pump will lead to its rapid breakdown. But the original decorative additions include:

1. Interior lighting: suitable for large park type fountains with a deep bowl-tray.
2. External lighting: there are many models of solar-powered and 220V powered, installed around the pond. They may have the appearance of animals, disguised as stones or plants.
3. Mills: with the right direction of flow, launches blades and causes them to rotate. There are also full-fledged mill-fountains for summer houses.
4. Fog generator: creates a beautiful haze over the surface of the reservoir (can be equipped with LED lighting).
5. Floating and fixed plastic decor: ducks, lilies and artificial plants will help to decorate any fountain in an original way.

Conclusion

It is quite simple to equip an original fountain in the country with your own hands, knowing all the nuances of assembling the structure and selecting the main and auxiliary equipment. First of all, it is recommended to study the data on the types of existing fountains, their differences and features of work. This will help to choose the right elements without errors for assembling the original construction. The finished fountain can have the dimensions of an ordinary interior element (small models installed in houses) or it can have overall dimensions, complemented by numerous nozzles. At will beautiful gardeners gardeners can do their own hands from scratch. To do this, you will need to study the instructions above and follow them exactly when assembling the structure. To highlight the created waterfall or fountain, you can plant around it different plants and flowers. But you can also decorate the construction itself with any objects: floating plastic decoration, statues or living water plants.