Rinse the tension from your bones with this calm, cascading
backyard enhancement. Build it in just 8 hours
HARRY SAWYERSTHIS OLD HOUSE MAGAZINE
1. Pump
to carry the water from the pump to the top of the fountain. Buy a piece 2 feet
longer than your fountains height.
3. Waterproof Basin
or other material to make the fountain body. Choose something that stacks
easily; stones should have flat faces. The copper pipe will give some support,
but the materials should stand well on their own.
5. Small Rocks
for in and under the catch basin. Get two 50-pound bags.
11. 1-inch PVC Conduit
Introduction
You tried sweating it out in the sauna, you can't let go in a yoga pose, and om isn't exactly hitting home. And no wonder
you're working too hard at relaxing. What you need is a place to sit quietly and contemplate the sounds of nature: birds
chirping, breezes blowing, brooks babbling. Whatno backyard brook? Not a problem. Just build yourself the next best
thing, with a softly trickling garden fountain.
The project is nothing to get stressed about. In a mere weekend, you can fountain-ize most any leftover garden ornament,
turning it into an enduring monument to tranquillity. Revive a defunct birdbath, declare your own ode to a Grecian urn, or
drill holes in a stack of rocks you found on-site, as This Old Housetechnical editor Mark Powers did for a friend one hot
afternoon. When the job is finished and your fountain runneth over, you'll rinse the tension from your bones in calm,
cascading rivulets. Relaxation never seemed so easy.
A fountain Is composed of three things: water, which flows up a pipe and trickles back down in a continuous cycle; a
pump, which propels the water; and a piece of sculpture, over which the water flows. The sculpture can be built from any
material that will withstand constant water. For the project shown here, we used large stones found on-site, but pavers,
some metals, or pottery will all work (see Product)
Regardless of the fountain material, the guts of the system remain the same. It starts with a waterproof tub or basin that
lines a hole in the ground to make a reservoir for the water. Above that is a rigid mesh screen that blocks large debris from
getting into the tub. The screen is topped with a support system made from a strong but water-resistant material, such as
composite decking, to keep the body of the fountain from falling into the basin.
The submersible pump is the heart of the system. It sits below the water line in the basin, recirculating and fine-filtering
the runoff from above. Since the pump is electric, the fountain needs to be within reach of an exterior outletpump cords
rarely reach beyond 50 feet, and manufacturers discourage the use of extension cords. It also needs to be accessible for
maintenance after the fountain is built, so youll need to cut a trap door in the screen thats big enough for you to reach in,
unhook the pump, and pull it out. (The screen and support decking can be camouflaged with small stones or even mulch.)
The pipe that carries the water to the top of the sculpture screws onto the pump. It also includes a small ball valve that will
allow you to adjust the fountains flow, giving you the option of creating anything from a calming trickle to a formidable
geyser.
Measure the distance from the outlet to the edge of the pit. Cut a section of PVC conduit to this length. Thread a string
through the conduit and tape one end of it to the pumps plug. Pull the plug through the conduit. Tape the plug securely to
the end of the conduit so it doesnt get pulled back in. Lay the conduit in the trench and backfill over it.
Lay a stone on soft ground or gravel. Using a hammer drill fitted with a 58-inch masonry bit, drill through the flat side of
the stone. Repeat for all the stones.
Tip: Keep a bucket of water near the drill. Intermittently pour some on the stone to keep it wetand the drill bits coolas
you work.
Step 9: Finish up
Direct the water by spinning stacked stones. Wedge smaller stones into the gaps to keep the structure stable. To make
the arrangement permanent, turn off the water and squeeze dabsof clear silicone adhesive between the stones. Allow the
adhesive to dry before you turn on the fountain again. Once the fountain flows the way you'd like it to, close the screen
and camouflage the base with small stones.
Tip: Check the basin's water level regularlyespecially in a heat waveand replenish it to keep the pump constantly
submerged.