Fountains Archives | Estate Fountains

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Category: Fountains

Before you purchase and install a fountain spray ring, there are a few things you should know first (when designing it) – as we have learned the following things over our years of making them for customers:

Tall 4-tier Fountain (54 inch diameter x 108 inch tall) in a 12 ft diameter x 18 inch tall pool surround, both items carved of giallo fantasia granite. Also includes a 10 Ft diameter copper spray ring.
  • First you should think about how TALL you want the arcs of water going in your fountain.
    • Many times, people will have the arcs of water land in the bottom bowl of a tiered centerpiece, and in that way – it causes a huge influx of water to pour off that bottom bowl – which contributes to the much louder fountain noise.
      • Or, some customers want the arcs of water to shoot up WAY taller than that…
      • It’s all a matter of preference.
    • Or, maybe there isn’t a centerpiece planned to be in your fountain at all?
    • Or, if you have a fairly large pool area, you could install an OUTWARDS facing copper spray ring, and in that way – you can save some money on the cost of the copper spray ring itself, and get a similar look.
      • But, that will only work if the arcs of water will come down in a location far enough away from the exterior wall of your pool area, that it won’t cause constant water loss from water splashing right outside of your pool.
      • Since as far as water is falling VERTICALLY is how far its going to splash HORIZONTALLY, so you’ll need to know that information to measure your pool surround – to make sure it’s large enough, vs how tall you intend to shoot the arcs of water.
    • Of course, there ARE pros/cons to how far up in the air you shoot those arcs of
      water though.
      • We have learned that for example – in an 8’ diameter spray ring, if you shoot the water up higher than 4’ tall, it creates a higher angle to the water that makes it easier for the Wind to push the arcs out of alignment – which would possibly cause some water loss or slip/fall hazards, with water landing outside of the pool area.
        • Also, if you are losing chlorinated water outside of your pool, it tends to kill nearby foliage/flowers / bushes that may be sensitive to the chemicals in the water.
        • Or, if it’s unavoidable (that sometimes you are losing water because of strong wind pushing on the fountain), then plant hard leaved foliage around the fountain (IE Irises are a good option) – as they won’t be nearly as affected by chlorine issues.
        • Vs. if you had something like roses planted around the fountain – they will start to look very bad very quickly with all the brown spots on the leaves from chlorine damage.
      • So, normally we recommend shooting the water no higher than the radius of the spray ring.
        • And if you are in a very windy location, having the arcs of water at an even lower angle than that would make them even more resistant to wind misdirection.
  • Next, you should consider the actual nozzles that will be installed / soldered into the
    spray ring:
    • We have noticed that 3/8” NPT and larger fountain nozzles seem make your fountain pool fairly resistant to water loss caused by gusts of wind (misdirection.)
    • Vs. using smaller nozzles (like 1⁄4” or 1/8” NPT nozzles) make it VERY easy for gusts of wind to throw the arcs of water around, which could cause your fountain to run dry very quickly – if it’s a windy day.
      • And typically the bad thing about that would be….
      • Normally fountain pumps are water-cooled, so if you have the pump running with hardly any water in the pool, sooner or later it’ll seize up the pump, and you’ll have to buy a new one to get your fountain running again.
Adjustable Nozzles sizes
  • Of course, the size of the nozzles also has a large impact on the cost of the spray ring as well, if you are installing 60 – 100 nozzles in the ring.
    • Thus, why sometimes you could accidentally be comparing apples to oranges when doing price checks between manufacturers.
    • Because not only does it matter how many nozzles are shown (IE how many times someone had to drill / solder a nozzle into the ring…)
    • But, even if you are looking at a similar diameter spray ring, with a similar number of nozzles – sometime they aren’t a similar size nozzle at all….
Adjustable Nozzles 3 piece item.
  • Also, using “adjustable” fountain nozzles is a very good idea…
    • And that way, if for example something is a little bit out of level (legs on the ring, floor of fountain, exact location the nozzles was soldered into the ring)
    • If you have adjustable nozzles – it won’t matter at all – because you’d be able to adjust the location of where the arcs of water are landing.
    • Vs. if you have nozzles that are NOT adjustable, it’ll be much harder to get the arcs of water looking all symmetrical.

3 pieces of an adjustable nozzle.
  • FYI, an adjustable nozzle comes in 3 pieces, the actual “nozzle”, the nut that it moves around in and then the seat that actually screws into the spray ring.
    • You cannot just use only 1 or 2 of the pieces, they are a SET needed to make the nozzle work correctly, and the thread pattern of the bottom part ONLY goes with that specific nut.

The type of Fountain spray ring you purchase can have a huge impact on its longevity in your climate. 

Granite Fountain Pool with Bronze Mermaid and Spray Ring This granite pool surround recirculates the water for this bronze mermaid fountain accented by a spray ring.
Granite Fountain Pool with Bronze Mermaid and Spray Ring This granite pool surround recirculates the water for this bronze mermaid fountain accented by a spray ring.

  • Since if you are in a very sunny climate, and end up buying a PVC fountain spray ring, the  damage caused by UV Rays can make your spray ring very brittle in only 2- 4 years. 
    • Vs if you are in a more northerly climate, it may take as long as 8-10 years before it  becomes brittle and falls apart with the slightest impact. 
  • Also, some manufacturers will actually coat their PVC pipe with copper colored paint, to make  it look more like a high-end version (as well as to protect the plastic from UV rays.)
    • But, we really question how long that copper paint will last in an underwater situation  where chlorine or chemicals are always working on the paint, likely causing it to flake /  chip off over time. 
  • So, from our point of view, a fountain spray ring made of stainless steel or copper is a lot better  option – for ANY climate. 
    • And here at Carved Stone Creations, we only use Copper Spray Rings with Brass Nozzles soldered into them. 
      • As after about a year of exposure to the elements / chemicals in the water, the  copper turns a pleasing silvery greyish green color – which tends to look nice in  the fountain pool. 
      • We tend to have “some” spray rings in stock in our warehouse, but the majority of  our spray rings are made to order, in exactly the diameter and number of nozzles  the customer wants for their specific fountain. 
    • FYI, almost unbelievably, we received a call years ago from a customer that said he just took over his Grandma’s estate, and wanted to get her approximately 100 year old  copper fountain spray ring working again… 
      • And all he needed was just some replacement nozzles to put into the ring.
      • As over time, the brass nozzle can sometimes get a little “eaten” by chemicals or  possibly “lost” if someone took them off to clean out a blockage in the stream of  water. 
      • Thus, we felt justified in our thought that the copper spray rings were the best  option for our customers. 

  • In terms of maintenance on a Copper Spray Ring, there are a few things you should  know about the way we design them: 
    • If you are in a climate that gets freezing weather, please ensure you disconnect the  pump from the spray ring (before the freezing weather arrives) and bring it inside to  protect the pump from the weather. 
      • While the pump is inside, take the time to clean it (inside and outside) – then  place it in a bucket of water in a warm location for the Winter season. 
      • That ensures that the pump will be ready to go in Spring – when it’s time to get  your fountain going again. 
    • Also, when the pump is disconnected, that ALSO drains the spray ring itself, to protect it  from the freezing weather as well.
    • As even just an inch of freezing water can have a hugely damaging effect (not  only on the copper spray ring itself), but also on the stone fountain too.
      • Thus, draining the water out of all parts of your fountain and centerpiece is  absolutely needed to have a fountain that will last generations. 
    • Our pump systems for spray rings typically come with a filtration sock (a large filter  that’s attached to the pumps suction port), to allow more time before you need to clean  the debris out of your pool. 
      • As if you ever notice the arcs of water coming out of your spray ring “pulsing” –  that typically means there has been a recent rain, and the water level in the pool  is causing your nozzles to be underwater for a second – and then come bursting  through the water surface in a rhythmic action. 
        • Normally, we set the height of our spray rings to have the ring just UNDER  the water surface, and then just the nozzles sticking out of the surface, to  make the spray ring less noticeable. 
        • So, to fix that pulsing action, you can just wait for natural water loss (via  splashes/ evaporation / etc) or you can drain your pool slightly. 
        • Though, normally the pvc stand pipes set inside the drain fitting in the floor of your fountain pool will be at a height level that would automatically let  extra water go down the drain as it rains.  
          • So, in that case, you might be able just to cut some height off that  drain stand pipe – keeping in mind you should really have the water as deep as possible at all times (with an autofill) in order to keep the water cooler and less apt to fill with algae quickly.  
          • So don’t cut off any more than you need to, in order to keep the nozzles sticking out of the water, but NOT the ring itself sticking out… 
    • Or, if you notice your arcs of water going lower and lower, that typically means  the pump is running out of water to push, as its filter is getting totally occluded  with debris. 
      • In that case, turn off the pump, then take the sock off the structure, turning  it inside out as you are pulling it off – to capture all the debris inside of it. 
        • Do not run the pump WITHOUT a filter sock on it, as you could suck a lot of debris into the pump, and accidentally occlude many of your nozzles in the spray ring that way. 
      • Then, turn it right side out again (outside the pool) to spray it off, and put it  back on the structure and turn your pump back on again. 
        • And hopefully you notice this issue before the pump is completely  not pushing water at all, as that can cause it to burn up and need to be replaced. 
      • Or, if there is not much for “debris” on the filter sock, it’s also possible that  the pump itself is getting filled with debris or calcium scale on the inside  (by the impeller/armature), and thus it’s another instance where you need  to clean the pump quickly before it seizes up completely. 
        • As a pump that has completely stopped pumping is very hard to bring “back” to working condition again. 
    • Lastly, during the Spring / Summer / Fall if you notice a couple nozzles are just  “spluttering” and don’t have a pleasing arc of water coming out of them…
      • Normally what I would do is set something narrow (like a long smooth nail or  narrow branch) on the edge of the pool within easy reach. 
      • Then step into the pool, and use one hand to hold the nozzle pointed away from  you (so you don’t get all wet while working), and the other hand to unscrew the  finger tight nut to take the top part of the nozzle OFF of the spray ring. 
        • After that, the water will bubble upwards from the hole left in the ring but won’t normally squirt you while you are working on the nozzle. 
      • As normally what is happening is that there is a bug or weed seed or algae or  some kind of debris stuck in the nozzle occluding its flow. 
        • So, if you aren’t squeamish about germs, you can blow the debris out of  the nozzle by pushing air through the small side, and having the debris  land OUTSIDE the pool.  
        • Or, you can poke the smooth nail through the small end of the nozzle, and  get the debris out that way. 
      • Now, putting the adjustable nozzle back ON the spray ring DOES tend to get you  a bit wet though… 
        • As if you have ever tried to attach a nozzle to a running hose of water,  you’ll know why – with water squirting everywhere temporarily until you get  it twisted on far enough.… 
      • Therefore, keeping your filter sock cleaned off periodically would help you with  not having to complete the above actions too often.

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For lots of fountain sparkle in the sunlight plus additional fountain sound – a spray ring will fit your needs nicely! And adding a copper spray ring to your fountain is a relatively easy thing to accomplish, even if it’s years after your fountain was originally installed.

  • Sometimes the decision to add a spray ring later is made for the following reasons:
  • There wasn’t enough initial budget for the project to supply it when the main fountain was being installed.
    • If there has been a change at your estate – for example maybe there are a lot more annoying traffic noises in the area which you would like to muffle with the sound of your fountain.
    • Or, maybe you just want to add a bit of PIZZAZ to the fountain you have now, as fountain spray rings tend to cause a lot of sparkle on sunny days?
    • Normally the spray ring can be made to fit right over the top of the centerpiece in your fountain.
      • And then all you have to do is connect it to a pump (large enough to pump the arcs of water to the height you would like).Then, connect the pump to the power source (temporarily) and turn on the pump.
    • Once it’s running for that initial time, you’ll likely have to wade into the pool to adjust each of the nozzle directions by hand (and then tighten down the nut to finger tight).
      • This is to make sure the arcs of water are all shooting the correct direction, and all arcs are equidistant apart where they are landing in the central bowl.
    • Maybe you installed a relatively quiet fountain, with just a few rivulets of water coming off the central bowls and then hitting the pool below, and you would now like to make the fountain more of a welcoming statement piece at the front of your residence.

In terms of the pump needed to run your fountain:

  • You can either leave it as a 2-pump system – with one pump to run the centerpiece and then a separate pump for the spray ring.
    • And that way, if it’s really windy, or if you temporarily want a much quieter fountain for some reason (maybe during a wedding ceremony) – you can turn off the spray ring and just run the centerpiece alone for now.
    • Or, you can get a large enough pump to run the spray ring AND the centerpiece at the same time, and connect the water hoses from the centerpiece and the spray ring to the pump with a manifold that has valve handles on it.
      • Then, with those 2 valves, you can control the height of the spray ring water vs how fast the centerpiece water is going.
54" D x 108" Tall 3-tier Deep Relief Fountain in 14' Diameter Acanthus relief carved pool surround with copper spray ring (not runinng).
54" D x 108" Tall 3-tier Deep Relief Fountain in 14' Diameter Acanthus relief carved pool surround with copper spray ring.

Of course, the size of the pump (or number of pumps) needed to run your fountain spray ring is affected by the following things:

The village of Kenilworth IL has long been the proud owner of a community fountain at a central roundabout near their city hall location.  The original idea was that they “wanted a hospitable entrance” to greet new visitors arriving from the train station. Thus a fountain of running water was constructed in the center of the open square.

According to the Encyclopedia of Chicago History: “The fountain was originally designed by George W. Maher, a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright. Maher lived in Kenilworth and saw nearly 40 of his designs constructed between 1893 and 1926. His designs plus Kenilworth’s distinctive stone commuter train station built in 1890, its numerous Tudor revival residences, and the Old English–style street lamps continue to evoke the pastoral image of an earlier time and vision of community.”

Per the Kenilworth Historical Society, the fountain was originally constructed in 1910.  As you can see from this photo, it was an idyllic time of top hats, tails and ornately bustled dresses as passersby admired the sparkling grandeur of the new limestone fountain.

Original Village of Kenilworth Limestone Fountain, designed by architect George Maher

Since Limestone is a porous stone though, it’s not really known to last all that long in the freeze / thaw climate of really any location north of Dallas TX. 

Our general “rule of thumb” is if you live in growing zone 1 – 8, you really should have a fountain made of granite, in order to have a very long-lasting fountain and carefree maintenance for generations.

  • As other more porous fountains (like marble, limestone, travertine, cantera and concrete) tend to start to crack when they are rained on (or get wet) in Fall and then the moisture sinks inside the stone, and then freezes that night. 
  • So over time – those micro cracks deep within the porous stone get larger and larger before portions of the stone just start to cleave off the main structure, kind of like large swaths of ice off an ice burg. 

Therefore, the City of Kenilworth’s Public Works Department  had a difficult task, trying to keep that fountain looking like the jewel it had always been intended to be. 

  • According to our discussions with the City Manager, for about 30-40 years they had been covering the fountain surfaces with concrete periodically, trying to disguise the cracks / chips on the surface of the limestone. 
  • And as you can see, the porous concrete didn’t fare much better, in terms of its ability to stand up to the seasons, as well as dirt / algae. 

Thus, with such a visible location in the middle of a roundabout, and probably several 1000 cars passing it every day, there were lots of passersby (and possible donors) concerned with the dilapidated condition of the fountain and its spray ring / bronze fish finial centerpiece….

Original Village of Kenilworth Limestone Fountain, designed by architect George Maher
  • Especially when the local Garden Club would plant their gorgeous flowers around the fountain each Spring and would get a very close look at the damage.
  • So, in 2020 Carved Stone Creations was commissioned to re-create the fountain out of a stone that will last a LOT longer than the original fountain, but in a similar light beige color to the original limestone. 
  • Thus, the city selected our Golden Cypress Granite,  for a fountain option that’ll last generations!

You can see in this following demolition photo the layers of concrete cracking away to reveal the original stone underneath, which was a little darker than the concrete that covered it.

Demolition of original limestone fountain

Then, our crew brought the fish finial back to our shop in WI, to give it a much-needed cleaning and rebuild of the spray nozzle in its mouth. 

After the new granite parts were hand carved into the same shape/design as the original fountain (from the original 1910 design – not what it looked like with all the concrete added onto the centerpiece foot to keep it  from toppling over with its cracked structure).

  • It was then time to install those granite parts in the center of that very busy roundabout. 
  • The good news is only ¼ of that roundabout had to be blocked off for about 4 hours, and then the large telehandler could be moved away to let the traffic pass normally and glance in wonder at the workers laboring in the middle, working on the spray ring, lights, caulk, etc.
Installation of Granite Pool Surround
  • The above is how the granite pool surround curb pieces are installed, with a ¼” seam between each piece (temporarily held apart with cardboard while each curb is set.)  And then those seams are filled with a vertical grade/non-slump pool caulk, to make a waterpoof pool.
MIracle 511 Impregnator sealer drying on the granite pool surround
  • The above is what the pool surround looked like right after sealing it with Miracle 511 Impregnator sealer, to keep the stone the lightest color possible – even when it’s raining or the fountain is running.

Lastly, here is what the fountain looked like and sounded like for their annual 4th of July Parade.

  • We are very proud of how this fountain turned out!
  • And so happy for the Village of Kenilworth – that they no longer need to spend so much money / time each year on their fountain maintenance!
Village of Kenilworth IL Granite Fountain

We had a customer contact us about an antique concrete fountain they had at their home, which had slowly been falling apart, cracking, and leaking over the years, and they finally decided they needed to do something to resurrect it.

  • The dismaying thing was this damage had been occurring even though they had been consistently covering the quite large fountain with a tarp before the freeze/thaw seasons of Southern Wisconsin, and living with a bit of an eyesore in front of their home for the 5 – 6 months of Fall /Winter / early Spring for years upon years.
  • This typically happens if there are small pinholes in your tarp or if there is any condensation on the underside of the tarp PLUS the fact that you can’t stop water from coming up UNDERNEATH the fountain from the ground.
  • The following are photos of what their fountain looked like originally, and the photos we sent to the carvers to get an initial quote for the project. (In this instance, the customers decided they want a bit larger of a fountain than the original concrete one, as well as matching granite pool coping and nearby benches)

Thus, began the process of re-creating their fountain in Golden Cypress Granite, so they’d never again have to cover their fountain, but could enjoy its pleasing shape all year round, even while the fountain is covered with icicles or snow.

  • This is possible because Granite is a non-porous stone, which not only LAUGHS at snow and ice, but is amazingly easy to clean / maintain if the water in your fountain has calcium or iron in it, which causes a milky white film or orangey / red iron stains on the stone surfaces.

Honestly, we would NEVER recommend the very porous Mexican Stone called Cantera ever be used for a fountain, as even the chemicals typically used in fountains to keep algae out will eat that stone like alka seltzer in a glass!!

So, our first step in the Special Order Fountain (or statue) process (after the 50% down payment is complete) is to get a shop drawing set started, and approved by the client before they are sent to the carvers to start their part:

  • Shop drawings essentially show “big picture” type details, sizes of stones needed for each part, general shape/size of each piece of the fountain, hole sizes needed for drainage or plumbing, etc.
  • Plus if there are any specific carving details the customer wants, those are sent as supplemental photos in the shop drawing set.
    • Normally we just direct customers to find those carving details on google images, and find exactly what they want (from any photos around the world) even if they are a detail not actually carved in stone, but rather wood / resin / ceramic / etc.
    • And those photos are what we’ll send along with our shop drawings, to explain to the carvers how the fountain should look.

Then, the next step is to get a clay model done, so that the details of the most important pieces of the design are definitely as the customer wants them before the carvers start actually carving the huge granite boulder pieces.

  • This tends to really only happen on statuary designs, as other designs like egg dart, acanthus leaf details, etc are very easy to explain with photos of those details.

The following are the clay models we did for this particular fountain, to ensure the customers liked the look before the artists went further

Then, once those details were approved, we went onto the granite carving portion of the project, then sent photos to the customer once all of those parts were carved to get their approval before the items were all crated and sent on their way to our shop here in Wisconsin.

  • Honestly, when a 40,000 lb shipping container arrives at our location, it feels a little like Christmas Day, to be able to take the tops off the crates and see all the amazing carving details on the special order items!
  • So, we just absolutely adore it when we get photos from the customers after the items are installed in their final locations, as by then (with the length of those projects), it almost feels like getting a hug from an old friend after they’ve been away for a long time!

And these are photos of the fountain once it arrived to our Wisconsin shop:

  • Since in this instance, the customer wanted our guys to install the fountain for them, we unpacked the parts which needed to have plumbing installed in them before the install day came.
  • Or, if you are intending to have a local landscaper install the fountain for you (including the plumbing), when the crates arrive we complete a visual inspection to make sure the crate is not damaged in any way, and peek at the carving details through the crate, then schedule the shipment to your location as soon as the project is paid off in full.
  • Notice how we sprayed some of the parts with water, so you could see the color the Golden Cypress Granite turns when it’s wet.
    • And if you like the dry color better, you’d seal it with Miracle 511 Impregnator sealer, and even when the fountain is running, it’d stay that dry color.
    • Or, if you like the darker color better, and you want the fountain to stay that color even in Winter when the fountain is NOT running, then you’d seal it with something called Miracle 511 Seal / Enhance sealer.
    • Or, if you don’t care that the stone is a bit of a chameleon in terms of color, there’s no need to seal the granite at all. (Though just so you know, sealed stone IS a bit easier to keep clean than unsealed stone…)
    And lastly, the following are photos of the fountain during install:

Plus this is what that fountain sounds like when it’s running.

A yard water fountain can add appeal and value to any home when it looks pristine. 

With busy schedules and tight budgets, it can become less of a priority to care for the fountain. In fact, the average homeowner spends an average of $1,204 a month on home costs. If you’re looking for ways to make your fountain maintenance quick and easy, check out these tips.

Take Care of the Pump

In order to prevent serious problems with your fountain, make sure you take care of the pump.

Most people notice their pump is the first thing that accumulates buildup and debris. Since the water flows through the filter via the pump, it can accumulate the most buildup. Making it a habit to clean the pump will prevent you from having to deal with excess buildup. To tend to the pump, all you have to do is remove it from the fountain and wipe it down with a clean sponge.

If the pump has small and tough to reach areas, you might need to use a toothbrush to ensure you take care of all the buildup. Keep in mind the pump also has to be completely submerged in water. Depending on the climate and region, your fountain might drain of water faster than expected.

Make sure you pay attention to how often your fountain runs out of water, so the pump always stays submerged.

Distilled water prevents excess algae buildup and gives you more time in between cleanings. Using distilled water might not be a problem for those with small fountains, however, large fountains might not be as easy.

If you have a large fountain, and distilled water is not an option, you can use other solutions to control the algae buildup. Using Chlorine tablets, bromine, salt or algaecide will control algae in large fountains.

The Type of Water You Use

Some fountain owners notice no matter how many times they clean their fountain, it’s always covered in algae. If you’re having this problem with your fountain, start using distilled water, or water that’s been “filtered” through your homes water softener system instead.

Distilled water prevents excess algae buildup and gives you more time in between cleanings. Using distilled water might not be a problem for those with small fountains, however, large fountains might not be as easy.

If you have a large fountain, and distilled water is not an option, you can use other solutions to control the algae buildup. Using a birdbath cleanser or fountain cleanser will control algae in large fountains.

Fountain Maintenance Tips: The Bottom Line

If you follow these tips, you will never feel burdened by fountain maintenance. Remember to keep in mind the material, the water, and the pump.

Looking for a new fountain for your home? Check out our complete fountain inventory.

A yard water fountain can add appeal and value to any home when it looks pristine. 

With busy schedules and tight budgets, it can become less of a priority to care for the fountain. In fact, the average homeowner spends an average of $1,204 a month on home costs. If you’re looking for ways to make your fountain maintenance quick and easy, check out these tips.

1. Take Care of the Pump

In order to prevent serious problems with your fountain, make sure you take care of the pump. 

Most people notice their pump is the first thing that accumulates buildup and debris. Since the water flows through the filter via the pump, it can accumulate the most buildup. Making it a habit to clean the pump will prevent you from having to deal with excess buildup. To tend to the pump, all you have to do is remove it from the fountain and wipe it down with a clean sponge.

If the pump has small and tough to reach areas, you might need to use a toothbrush to ensure you take care of all the buildup. Keep in mind the pump also has to be completely submerged in water. Depending on the climate and region, your fountain might drain of water faster than expected. 

Make sure you pay attention to how often your fountain runs out of water, so the pump always stays submerged.  

2. The Type of Water You Use

Some fountain owners notice no matter how many times they clean their fountain, it’s always covered in algae. If you’re having this problem with your fountain, start using distilled water, or at least water that has been routed through your homes filtration system first, rather than well water. 

Distilled water prevents excess algae buildup and gives you more time in between cleanings. Using distilled water might not be a problem for those with small fountains, however, large fountains might not be as easy.

If you have a large fountain, and distilled water is not an option, you can use other solutions to control the algae buildup. Using compressed chlorine tabs, birdbath cleanser or fountain cleanser will control algae in large fountains.

3. Pay Attention to the Material

Some fountain owners have a harder time keeping up with the maintenance of their fountain because they don’t tailor it to the material. 

If you want to simplify your fountain cleaning routine, you have to clean it according to the type of material.  For ceramic fountains, all you have to do is take a soft cloth or sponge and clean using water and soap. Copper fountains should be cleaned using a soft-cloth and high-quality furniture cleaner.  Porous stone fountains (like marble, limestone, travertine or concrete) need gentle cleansers, soft nylon brushes and a consistent maintenance plan. Stainless steel is a more delicate material and should be cleaned using a stainless steel cleaner. In order to prevent scratches, use a soft cloth (dry) and use gentle pressure.  Or, if you are lucky enough to own a granite fountain, your cleaning tasks will be MUCH easier than any other type of fountain option.

With granite fountains ONLY, the following cleaning processes can be used:

  • For example, if you get calcium or iron stains on granite, just using a 50/50 solution of muriatic acid/water (for whitish / chalky calcium scale) or 50/50 ferrous acid / water (for orangey / reddish iron stains) will melt the stain away like magic. (Or, you could use CLR or RidORust instead.) Then, once the stain is gone, sluice liberally with water to get rid of the acid remnants…
    • Before you accomplish that cleaning with the acid though, make sure it’s a non-windy day, and you have all of your skin covered with pants / sleeves / a face mask (as it’s very pungent), etc…
    • Vs, if used those same caustic chemicals on a more porous stone (like marble, limestone, travertine, cantera or concrete), it would eat the stone AND the stain like alka seltzer in a glass.
    • Therefore, to keep a porous item clean (even in a non-freeze/thaw climate) requires more consistent maintenance, elbow grease and gentle cleansers.
  • And dirt / algae / lichen can’t grab hold too well in a non-porous item either, so therefore honed or polished granite items can look brand new for their whole lifespan of 100’s of years.
    • Please note – even if you don’t clean your granite item for many years, it’s possible to be brought back to looking brand new in just a day’s time, using the acids mentioned above…

Fountain Maintenance Tips: The Bottom Line

If you follow these tips, you will never feel burdened by fountain maintenance. Remember to keep in mind the material, the water, and the pump. 

Looking for a new fountain for your home? Check out our complete fountain inventory.

A bronze fountain is a perfect way to add timeless class to your garden. No matter the size of your outdoor space, a water feature adds a unique style that’ll impress. However, when you invest in such a stunning landscaping feature, you’ll want to make sure it’s noticed.

Create your landscaping designs with these hot tips to avoid losing the striking effect of your unique fountain feature.

3 Tips to Turn Your Bronze Fountain into a Stunning Garden Feature

Simple, yet effective, these three tips will highlight your fountain as a key feature in your landscaped garden.

1.Clear the Space

Avoid hiding your fountain behind lots of foliage. It deserves pride of place, so clear the area around the pedestal and bronze figures to make sure the fountain stands out at every angle.

Fountain features work well placed on wide pathways that allow people to step back and admire the sculpture. Keep border shrubs low to create a visual contrast in feature heights and really make your outdoor fountain stand out.

Consider making the space around your fountain more inviting by placing a seating area nearby. This will allow people to view and admire the feature, as well as take on the calming benefits of listening to running water.

2. Light It Up

Your fountain deserves to be seen at every hour of the day. Invest in garden spotlights angled towards the feature to make sure it is just as stunning at night as during the day.

Use warm and neutral LED lighting, compared to a cooler color temperature, to magnify the natural warmth of the bronze features.

Light from a range of angles, too. This will ensure the full fountain features can be seen at night, with none of the intricate details lost in darkness.

You can even lead the way to your fountain feature in your landscape garden by lighting the pathway with inviting spotlights or subtle string lights in the foliage.

3. Use Subtle Pointers

Use features in your overall landscape design to lead people towards your fountain feature, both physically and visually. Inviting pathways encourage people to walk up to your water feature. You can also use foliage – and the absence of it around the fountain – to create a contrast in visual texture.

Archways, garden seats, and subtle lighting can also be used to create a natural path that draws people towards your garden fountain. You could even use figure statues to gently guide the way as they face towards, or point to, the water feature from afar.

Use a Custom Design for a Truly Unique Feature Fountain

Landscaping is an extension of your personal style, so it’s important to find a bronze fountain that reflects your unique taste.

From wildlife-inspired figures to Renaissance cherubs or minimalist sculptures, a custom design is guaranteed to be an attractive centerpiece for your garden landscape.

Talk to us today about your vision and see how we can work with you to create a stunning fountain that makes your dreams of a perfect garden a reality.

There’s no denying the appeal of large outdoor water fountains, and they are becoming extremely popular with a vast segment of this country’s general population, just because of their broad, natural appeal. Few things look more attractive in your backyard than a stately and functional large garden fountain.

Some of the best designs of large outdoor fountains can quickly become the centerpiece of the entire backyard, drawing all attention to them from visitors and neighbors, as well as from your family members. Whether you’re in the planning stages of putting in a large outdoor water fountain with LED lights, or one without any lighting at all, there are some factors you should consider before you put cash on the counter to purchase one. Some of these considerations may be deal-breakers, while others are just essential details that you have to plan for.

Fountain location

One of the first things you should consider is the location where your extra large outdoor fountain will be placed. You might be tempted to locate it in the center of your backyard, but that’s not always the best solution, and there be may be other factors about your yard which need to be considered before deciding on a final location.

One thing you should make sure of is that the fountain is not placed against any other large object because you will need complete access to the fountain, on all sides, or around the entire circular perimeter. Another factor in deciding where your large outdoor water fountain should be placed in the proximity to electrical connections. You should either place the fountain close by an existing outdoor electrical connection, or you should be prepared to run a cable from an existing outlet to whatever location you have chosen for your fountain.

Lighting options

Most people who own a large outdoor garden fountain want it to be seen and enjoyed by everyone who visits, and possibly even everyone who walks by the house. If you plan to be in your backyard on some evenings to enjoy listening to your fountain and watching it, you should bear in mind that it will get dark eventually, and you’ll need some kind of lighting option that will emphasize and highlight your beautiful outdoor fountain.

In some cases, large outdoor water fountains come with their own lighting, but you should plan on installing a light source so that you can maximize the visibility of your garden fountain. Large outdoor fountains with LED lights have become a popular choice because of the efficiency and illuminating power of LED lights. This will be a personal preference, and you may opt for something straightforward, or you may opt for colored blinking lights.

You also should consider whether you want to make your lighting a subtle solution, or if you wish to illuminate the entire backyard with something brilliant. Keep in mind that the colored lights are not nearly as bright as white lights are, so if you intend to keep it subtle, colored lights are probably your best option.

Water source

Generally, during setup, an outdoor garden fountain will be hooked up to your home water supply, which means that you’ll have a continuous source of water, as long as it’s turned on inside the household. However, you may need to install a cutoff valve, so that you can stop the flow of water to the fountain when you want to. Otherwise, it will be running continuously along with your household water supply.

An excellent place to do this is right close to the fountain itself, so that for instance, when you’re ready to go inside for the evening, it will be a simple matter to shut the water off at the fountain and cause the water to stop flowing. You’ll also need to consider some connecting hose which would be placed between your household water supply and the garden fountain.

There are ways of making this connecting hose less conspicuous if you prefer not to have the connection visible. If that’s not an issue, you can run any garden hose between the house and the outdoor fountain to keep it supplied with water at all times.

Power source

Your large outdoor garden fountain will, of course, run on electricity, and that means you need a power source to keep it operating for as often and as long as you want. Some of the most common power sources for outdoor garden fountains are solar-powered energy sources and hard-wired energy sources. Hard-wired fountains get their source of energy from an electric power supply, and for this, you will probably have to engage the services of a licensed electrician.

It will be necessary to contract with one of these specialists because it will be considered by local authorities as an addition to your home’s electrical grid when you hard-wire a garden fountain to your power supply. If you choose to go the route where you power your garden fountain by solar energy, this can be a little easier and is considerably less technical. These kinds of fountains don’t need any electrical supply, since the solar panels provide all the power required to operate your outdoor garden fountain, including sufficient force to keep the pumps running indefinitely. Some garden fountains are constructed to work correctly with one kind of power source or another, so when you’re out browsing for ‘large outdoor 

fountains near me,’ pay attention to their power sources as well. Make sure they’re a good fit for your backyard, so you won’t have to go to tremendous extra expense to install some power source to keep your beautiful outdoor garden fountain operating.

Maintenance plan

This is not one of the most commonly remembered factors related to purchasing a large outdoor water fountain, but it is one of the most important. You should have a solid plan for regular maintenance on your outdoor water fountain because it can become clogged with dirt and debris much more quickly than any indoor fountain would.

It’s pretty easy for leaves and other material to be blown into your fountain, all of which can clog the water pump, and that will obstruct smooth water flow. Make sure someone is available regularly to shut the fountain off, pull the pump out of the water, and clean it up so that there are no obstructions. All other debris and obstruction should be removed from the fountain itself. With some regular attention to your fountain, it will continue to operate smoothly and provide many hours of enjoyment.