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How to Make a Garden Fountain Out of, Well, Anything You Wantby Thisoldhouse.com on May 5, 2010

Table of Contents

How to Make a Garden Fountain Out of, Well, Anything You Want . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: How to Make a Garden Fountain Out of, Well, Anything You Want . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Learn the anatomy and go to the store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 2: Dig the pump hole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 3: Set the basin and conduit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 4: Dry-fit the parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 5: Mark an opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 6: Connect the pipe and pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 7: Fit the decking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 8: Drill the stones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Step 9: Assemble the fountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Step 10: Finish up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 11: Don't stop now! You're on a roll! Pick up another project from thisoldhouse.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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Author:Thisoldhouse.com This Old HouseThe Emmy Award winning This Old House is television's premier home improvement series. The show that unlocked America's passion for home, celebratesits 29th season on PBS this year. The television program is accompanied by the award-winning This Old House magazine, and award-winningthisoldhouse.com

This Old House's mission is to demystify the home improvement process and to celebrate the fusion of old world craftsmanship and modern technology. ThisOld House magazine and thisoldhouse.com is chock full of content to provide creative ideas and how-to instructions to do it all yourself with confidence.

Intro: How to Make a Garden Fountain Out of, Well, Anything You WantYou 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 wonderyou're working too hard at relaxing. What youneed 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 buildyourself 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 totranquillity. 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 House technical editor MarkPowers 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. HS (Photos by Kolin Smith)

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http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Garden-Fountain-Out-of-Well-Anythi/

Step 1: Learn the anatomy and go to the storeA 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 ofsculpture, 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 stonesfound on-site, but pavers, some metals, or pottery will all work (see our Fountain Buying Guide ")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 forthe 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 alsoneeds 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 screwsonto 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 aformidable geyser.

Shopping List

1. Pump Available at home or garden centers. Look for one labeled submersible. Pumps are rated in gallons per hour (gph), a measure of how much water they can handle and

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how high they can push it. Anything larger than 250 gph is overkill for a basic fountain with a -inch pipe. We used Pondmaster's 250-gph model 2

2. -Inch Copper Pipe 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 Basinsuch as a plastic storage bin, masons mortar-mixing bucket, or washtub, to hold the pump and collect the water. It should be 6 inches wider than the fountain basesdiameter and 1 foot taller than the pump so that it fits all the pipe connections while still keeping the pump submerged.

4. Stonesor 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 thematerials should stand well on their own.

5. Small Rocks or large aggregate, such as terra-cotta shards or tumbled glass, to cover the top of the pit. One 5-gallon bucketful should be enough.

6. -inch-by--inch Compression Female Adapter to connect the pipe to the pump.

7. -inch Ball Valve to regulate the water flow.

8. Screen to protect the pump from debris. A fiberglass or aluminum window screen or grille, or anything that comes in a rigid frame, is best. Get one big enough to span the basin.

9. Composite Deckingsuch as Trex or TimberTech, to support the fountain.

10. Drainage Gravel for in and under the catch basin. Get two 50-pound bags.

11. 1-inch PVC Conduitto carry the pumps power cord underground to the outlet.

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Step 2: Dig the pump holeUsing a pointed shovel, dig a pit 2 inches deeper than the basin and wide enough to fit it. Put the soil in a wheelbarrow or on a tarp to protect nearby turf. Dig a narrow,shallow trench between the pit and the nearest exterior outlet. (Helpful information: Digging Dos and Don'ts)

Step 3: Set the basin and conduitLay a 2-inch-thick bed of drainage gravel in the pit. Place the basin atop the gravel. If necessary, shift the gravel so the basin doesnt rock.

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 thepumps 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 backfillover it.

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Step 4: Dry-fit the partsCenter the pump in the basin. Lay the screen over the pit and mark it at the spot directly over the threaded outlet on the pump. Also mark the screen at the edge closestto the conduit.

Step 5: Mark an openingUsing utility scissors, cut out a 1-inch-wide circle at the center mark. Then cut a three-sided flap at the conduit mark that is big enough to allow you to reach in andremove the pump for servicing

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Step 6: Connect the pipe and pumpUsing a pipe cutter, cut a 4-inch section off the end of the copper pipe. Unscrew the compression fittings on the ends of the ball valve. Slide a nut from the ball valve, thenthe brass ring, or ferrule, onto the long section of pipe. Insert the pipe into one end of the ball valve, then finger-tighten the nut over the ferrule onto the valve. Attach theshort section of pipe to the other end of the valve in the same manner.

Screw the threaded end of the adapter onto the pump outlet. Take apart the compression end and slide the nut, then the ferrule, over the short section of pipe. Connectthe pipe to the pump with the compression fitting. Using an adjustable wrench, tighten all three compression nuts an extra quarter-turn.Pour a 2-inch layer of drainage gravel in the bottom of the basin. Lay the pump in the center of the basin with the pipe sticking up. Slide the screen over the pipe andarrange it so the access flap is near the conduit.

Step 7: Fit the deckingUsing a handsaw, cut sections of decking long enough to extend beyond the pit a few inches on either side. Lay the decking across the pit on top of the screen.

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Step 8: Drill the stonesStack the stones to create an aesthetically pleasing arrangement. Number the underside of each stone in pencil to keep track of the order as you unstack them.

Lay a stone on soft ground or gravel. Using a hammer drill fitted with a 5?8-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: Assemble the fountainThread the stones over the copper pipe until they're stacked and balanced. Mark the pipe where the stones end. Remove the top stone and use a pipe cutter to cut thecopper pipe 1/4 inch below the mark. Replace the stone.

Fill the bin from a garden hose, adding enough water to rise 5 inches above the pump. Open the ball valve, plug in the pump, turn it on, and check the flow. Adjust thepressure with the ball valve.

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Step 10: Finish upDirect 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 waterand 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'dlike 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.

Other cool ideas:Create a Backyard Pond10 Ways to Add Privacy to Your YardBuild a Fire PitPortable Patio Fire Pits

Step 11: Don't stop now! You're on a roll! Pick up another project from thisoldhouse.comYou can...

...Lay a Bluestone Patio

...Build a Shade Arbor

...Start a Vegetable Garden

...Create an Outdoor Living Room

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Comments33 comments Add Comment

dawoj says: Sep 25, 2010. 10:50 AM REPLYI like it

Mortisdei says: Aug 13, 2010. 1:17 AM REPLYThat is fantastic! I am planing to build one for my garden.

janetcunningham4 says: Jul 3, 2010. 3:59 AM REPLYThis adds a little bit of practical art either outdoor or even outdoor. This might even add a little bit of an Asian touch kind of decor. I wonder if there are othermaterials we could use. Any other ideas? Thanks

Kiteman says: May 14, 2010. 8:51 AM REPLYBeing riddled with external links makes this feel spammy to me.

Stevie89 says: Jul 2, 2010. 3:14 PM REPLYSame feeling plus the account name...........

regisd says: May 13, 2010. 9:29 AM REPLYNice!

Question from the land of cold winters: how would one winterize this? Does it have to be drained? Should the pump get pulled?

davidworld2k6 says: May 13, 2010. 10:27 AM REPLYhow bout adding anti freeze to it or add a bottle of alcohol to the water

pfred2 says: Jun 17, 2010. 4:20 PM REPLYLord knows what sort of wildlife you'd attract by adding alcohol to the fountain. If it is a single malt I may even have to stop by!

elizabethd22 says: May 13, 2010. 12:50 PM REPLYI've had outdoor fountains in water garden ponds and they are a magnet for birds and critters...you don't want to put additives like this in the water oryou will have some mighty sick wildlife on your hands. I've read that in some cases as long as you have the water running it will be ok, but what wealways did was disconnect the fountain and leave the pump running in the pond, with a livestock floating tank heater to keep the pond just abovefreezing (we had fish). With something smaller like this, you may just want to get the water out of the tubing, and remove or cover the fountain if it willbe affected by the freezing/thawing cycles. In the land of cold winters, sitting outdoors by a fountain wouldn't be that relaxing anyway...for that youneed a fireplace!

Sn-Dlouwho says: Jun 12, 2010. 10:30 AM REPLYMy sister lives up in Michigan, she made a pond in her yard. I think it was only 2 to 2 1/2 feet deep, made a bridge to go across the middle of herpond. At a party she had, someone brought gold fish and put them in her pond. She never had or put a fountain pump in the pond. And neverheated the water for the winter. Those goldfish survived and grew to be hugh fish, and the population grew. She did have a big mosquito farmgoing, by having stagnant water. The fish couldn't get them all... haha

fawie says: Jun 14, 2010. 2:43 AM REPLYthat's amazing and wonderful!!! like the idea!

incorrect says: May 14, 2010. 6:26 PM REPLYI'm looking to make a small version of this . Its a spigot seemingly suspended in the air with water coming from "nowhere," but there's really a clear plasticpipe hidden by the water flow. The problems that I'm running into are: how can I either lighten an existing spigot or fabricate a light-weight mock up,what specifically can I use as a pipe, how do I make the pipe both support and spew water at the top, and, finally, how do I spread the down flow of water sothat it does not just run down the outside of the pipe, ruining the illusion?

Sn-Dlouwho says: Jun 12, 2010. 10:14 AM REPLYI made one of those along time ago, that I saw at a garage sale. It's easy!!! You need to get a clear tube that fits into the spigot, and cut it to the lenth youneed...(It took me forever to find the right tube, I found it at the pet store in the fish dept., they use it for the aquarians. If they don't have it in the size youneed, don't freak out. They can order it, I think that's what I had to do. The tricky part is glueing it into the spigot, I drilled small holes going around thetube about 1/2" below the lip of the spigot, after putting the tube all the way up into the spigot. Then put the point of the exacto knife in the hole and sliceit down to the end of the tube that goes into the spigot. you'll be able to bend it open like a lantern you made from elementry school. Glue the end up intothe spigot. That's how the water comes out the top and down the tube...You'll probably have to play around with it to get it right, that's what I had to do. Ihope this helped ya. Good luck! It is a cool looking fountain!

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kindfirez says: Jun 11, 2010. 7:42 AM REPLYMade this one a couple of weeks ago. Drove my neighbors crazy (at least thats why Im guessing they started blaring their music) when i was drilling throughthe rock but it looks amazing now. Ill post pictures to share later today

killerkham says: May 19, 2010. 7:03 PM REPLYlove it :)

nesiory says: May 15, 2010. 6:25 AM REPLY Grate pic and disription

copernicus66 says: May 6, 2010. 11:31 AM REPLYNice! I've been waiting for an ible like this!

GeeDeeKay says: May 13, 2010. 7:51 AM REPLYTechnically, it's an "-able"... ;^P

Kiteman says: May 14, 2010. 8:50 AM REPLYTraditionally, though, it's an ible.

GeeDeeKay says: May 14, 2010. 11:05 AM REPLYHence the emoticon following my initial comment. ;^) Grammar rules say that the adjectival -ible suffix should attach to a noun like "instruct" but the website uses a "different" one.Curiously, http://www.instructibles.com directs to the "ables" page...

Besides, rules were made to be broken!

pdub77 says: May 13, 2010. 1:38 PM REPLYI've been thinking that for a long time. . . Well played, GDK!

ii_awesum says: May 14, 2010. 5:37 AM REPLYYou "can" add a toilet tank valve, actually that's a pretty good enhancement to keep pressure available and never run dry on hot summer days - a good opportunity to add or tie into an undergroundsprinkler system feed which would top up the fountain tank every evening while watering the gardens. There is a low profile valve/float assembly that is available at Lowes and many plumbingdepartments elsewhere, and is only a couple of inches high compared to the normal rod/float claptrap design. It has a dial control right on it for tank level adjustment too!http://www.lowes.com/pd_246712-143-PP830-15L_0_?productId=3133283&Ntt=toilet%20valve&Ntk=i_products&Ns=p_product_price|1&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?Ntk=i_products$rpp=15$Ntt=toilet%20valve$Ns=p_product_price|1$identifier=

ArpitM says: May 14, 2010. 3:41 AM REPLYWow..what a nice presentation.....

rredmon says: May 7, 2010. 3:06 PM REPLYpretty sweet. i wish I had a backyard to build this in. One day....

rallen71366 says: May 13, 2010. 11:38 AM REPLY Don't let that stop you! My grandparents lived the RV lifestyle for quite a few years, and one of their favorite things was a kiddie pool Grandpa lined withplaster, mounted a fountain pump in, and painted. You knew their RV by the stylish fountain in front. When they were parked on pavement and couldn'tset it into the ground, they attached a "skirt" with velcro, that was made of indoor/outdoor carpet.

That's the same idea behind the "tabletop" fountains you see in the stores. No one has a lock on the idea! Be creative! You can do it! Send pics!

crossword says: May 13, 2010. 8:47 AM REPLYGreat project. But I'm thinking that eventually the pump screen will get plugged with debris, how do you clear it?

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Weissensteinburg says: May 13, 2010. 11:18 AM REPLYThe pump will have it's own little filter. All you have to do is detach it and rinse it off.

WarHawk-AVG says: May 13, 2010. 7:23 AM REPLYAwesome!

Could you build an automatic water level system using waterhose and a toilet bowl float?

MadScott says: May 9, 2010. 3:43 PM REPLYNicely done, but I'd use the silicone adhesive before getting it wet to ensure a good bond with the stone.

Nameless37 says: May 6, 2010. 4:16 AM REPLYSimple and easy to follow, 5 stars.Also, nice quality and angles for the pictures.

Ghost Wolf says: May 5, 2010. 11:59 PM REPLYThat is the best fountain project I've ever seen! Five Stars all the way.

tbone121 says: May 5, 2010. 5:21 PM REPLYsweet

fungus amungus says: May 5, 2010. 5:15 PM REPLYNice!