DIY fountain: diagrams, drawings, step-by-step instructions with photos

Content

In addition, a well-placed fountain in a summer cottage is a key component of the entire garden design, which unites all other landscape elements in meaning.

But, in addition to their decorative and refreshing function, fountains have another important positive influence - this is the effect of running water on the mental, emotional state of a person. Watching the falling jets relieves stress, pacifies, puts all thoughts in order

And this is a real luxury in the modern world, which is oversaturated with chaos and bustle.

So, once for the arrangement of the fountain it was necessary to lay a rather complex system of pipes - and this is not a cheap pleasure, not to mention the hassle. And not everyone knew how to make a fountain with their own hands at their summer cottage. But modern fountains do not need to be connected to a centralized water supply system at all - their principle of operation is extremely simple and understandable even for an inexperienced person. All you need is a good water tank and a durable electric pump. Such a reservoir can be a pond, a swimming pool and an artificial reservoir. And it is very easy to care for a fountain, especially if it is located in a more or less large body of water.

Beautiful small fountain

Small fountain device

Small garden fountains can be made of a wide variety of materials - plastic, concrete, natural stone or even glass. And all kinds of light effects and water movement give them exclusivity and a kind of luxury.

For the smooth operation of garden fountains, they must consist of the following components:

• a water tank (usually in the form of a bowl);
• hoses supplying water to pumps;
• pumps that create the movement of water;
• the outer part of the fountain, which can be in the form of a waterfall, sculpture or cascades;
• nozzles that spray water;
• special filters and sensors that control the level and purify the water.

Arrangement of a fountain with architecture

But, whatever the shape of the fountain, the dimensions of the main tank should be at least 1.5x1.2 m, and the depth should be at least 1 m.Only then the water level will be sufficient for the normal pressure of the jet, and the water itself will not quickly evaporate, and, therefore, the tank will need to be replenished less often.

And a beautiful, mesmerizing look fountain with your own hands can be made even by an inexperienced summer resident - it is only important to do everything in stages and slowly

Tips for keeping a fountain in the country

Any country pond and fountain, including, needs careful maintenance. To maintain order and transparency of the water, a pleasant external appearance of the structure, it is necessary to regularly clean the tank. With the help of special devices, it is required to remove leaves, seeds, fluff and other objects from the surface of the water that can not only spoil the appearance of the reservoir, but also lead to a malfunction of the fountain.

At the end of the summer cottage, it is necessary to drain all the water, transfer the removable parts of the structure to a closed room, and cover the remaining parts and the bowl with a film so that dirt does not get into them.

To build a fountain with your own hands in the country or even in an apartment will not be difficult and will not require large financial resources. Before building a decorative fountain, you need to decide on the shape, size and installation location. There are many options for the location of such structures - near the gazebo, on the lawn, in the garden. After the construction of the fountain, you need to carefully monitor the purity of the water, regularly remove debris and add water, as it will evaporate.

Such designs are widely used in the design of suburban areas.Fountains can decorate any abandoned area or become a highlight of a summer cottage. And by connecting imagination and decorative elements, you can make it even more beautiful and unusual.

Decorating and lighting

In addition to stones of a beautiful shape and color, the decor of the waterfall and the banks of the pond is aquatic and coastal plants. This is a separate big topic. But in the construction of a mini-waterfall, we recommend including an element such as evening lighting. And then he will become the main "hero" of the landscape in the dark days. There are many lighting options: floating lanterns, directional lighting, lighting trees and shrubs by the pond. The most interesting and mesmerizing are the so-called festive and carnival effects, which are created using fiber-optic cables. These unique devices are not afraid of water, they can be stepped on and even picked up.

Evening lights and coastal plants in the pond

The decor can be complemented by sculptures, figurines of fairy-tale characters, floating flower beds.

How to make a bowl for a fountain

If you need a classic shape - a round, square or oval bowl, from which a stream of water gushes, the easiest way is to find a suitable plastic tank. They are of different shapes and volumes - from tens of liters to several tons. They are mainly black and blue in color. Although it seems that for our purposes it is better to take the blue color, keep in mind that against this background, the pollution is more visible. To prevent your fountain from looking like a swamp, you will have to clean such a bowl often. From this point of view, it is more practical to take black - the water looks the same, and you need to wash it less often.

Garden fountain made of plastic bowl

The selected tank can either be buried flush with the ground, or left with a side. Most often, the sides are decorated with stone or pebbles. Depending on this, the depth of the pit is chosen. It is dug out in size slightly larger than the bowl.

When the required depth is reached, all stones, roots, driftwood are removed, the bottom is leveled, tamped, sand is added, with a layer of about 10 cm. It is well leveled and spilled so that it thickens. A bowl is placed on the prepared base, filled with water. Sand or soil is poured into the gap between the walls of the bowl and the pit. Sand - if the soil is clay, and the soil - if it is normally draining. Having filled in a small layer, it is compacted - neatly, with a sixth or a deck, falling into the filled gap. But no matter how well you compact, be prepared for the fact that in a couple of weeks, you will have to add more: the soil will sit down a few centimeters.

Bowl protrudes above ground level

You can do without a plastic bowl. There are two other options: make the tank out of in-situ concrete. In this case, you can make a fountain with sides. The process is long and costly, and you need to worry about waterproofing.

The cheapest option is to dig a pit and cover it with foil. In principle, any high density polyethylene will do, but it will last a year, maybe two. Then she begins to let water through. More reliable in this regard are special films for pools, but they cost a lot of money, but they can be used for years. The manufacturing technology of such a bowl for a fountain is captured in the photo.

Pit marking and earthworks

The first stage is digging a pit and leveling the walls. After the required shape and dimensions are reached, the horizontal platforms are leveled and covered with a layer of sand. It will protect the film from possible damage.

We put the film into the finished foundation pit. Inside, it should lie without tension, freely. Its edges are covered with soil, pressed against by boulders. To prevent the germination of plant roots through the film, it is not advisable to spread geotextiles underneath. It is a non-woven fabric that is highly tear-resistant. It is used when laying roads so that the soil is not crushed and trees do not germinate. So she can easily protect the fountain.

Laying the film in the pit

Boulders are laid out on the laid out film. If the pit is stepped, boulders should lie at each step. When the bowl is almost complete, the pump is put on. The bowl is filled with water and testing is carried out - and the bowl is tested for tightness and pump performance.

The film laid in the pit is decorated with boulders. After they put the pump

Actually, everything, if the electricity is supplied, you can start the fountain.

How to start building a fountain in the country

Modern garden fountains are mostly solid structures, not built in a hurry, but according to a carefully thought out plan. Well-groomed and loved by all household members. For the construction of this holiday destination, you will need a knowledge base that will help in choosing equipment and decor.

Important! If in the construction of the fountain one is guided only by one's own calculations, without coordinating them with the opinion of specialists, critical errors are possible, the correction of which will require the reconstruction of the structure.

In order to avoid such incidents, you need to focus on proven practice recommendations and the best projects implemented by summer residents.

In its most general terms, a garden fountain consists of the following elements:

• water intake point;
• pump equipment;
• bowl;
• nozzle;
• decor.

Before you start designing your fountain, you need to decide on several points:

• where it will be located;
• what size it will be;
• what type it will be;
• will you need a backlight;
• what decor is needed;
• what costs and labor costs will be required.

An overview of the spectacular designs erected by gardeners with their own hands will help answer all these questions.

Care and maintenance rules

The same water, circulating in a circle, gradually evaporates. Refilling a new portion is the very first thing you will have to face when operating a fountain.

Periodically, the water must be completely replaced to avoid deterioration. Over time, dust settles in the liquid, polluting it. The water becomes cloudy and an unpleasant odor appears. To reduce the amount of dirt coming from outside, simple measures allow - it is enough to close the fountain from above with any available material after each use.

When draining the water, it is necessary to clean all the inner surfaces of the fountain. The filter, fixed at the pump nozzle, is rubbed with a brush.

Shading the fountain helps to delay the blooming of water.

Before the onset of the winter months, all the water is removed for good, and the fountain is dried. The pump is removed and transported indoors until spring. If the device is to be stored in a cold room, after drying it is cleaned of deposits. If the room is warm, then you can avoid the cleaning procedure by storing the pump in a bucket of water.

If the size allows and the fountain is mobile, it is moved entirely under the shelter. If not, the structure is covered with a film.

In a pond equipped with a hydraulic structure, it is often difficult to change the water. Large debris floating on the surface is caught with nets with a long handle. Planting algae and populating it with mollusks allows you to start the process of purifying the reservoir. The more the pump nozzle sprays the jet, the more oxygen the pond will receive - this also has a positive effect on the freshness of the water.

A properly selected pump and a creative touch in the design are all that is required for the completeness of summer cottage happiness. They say that a person is able to look at fire and water endlessly. However, even five minutes spent at the bubbling fountain can give you a feeling of infinity.

Arrangement of a fountain without a reservoir

If it is not possible to make a reservoir, or you simply do not want to take care of it, the fountain can be installed without it. Correctly selected design will allow such a fountain to become a real decoration of the site. All work can be done in a day, it does not require any special skills.

The scheme of a fountain without a reservoir

To make a fountain, you will need a plastic bowl, a submersible pump, a filter, a thick film, a metal mesh with fine cells, as well as sand and stones for decorating the structure.

Table. Making a fountain with your own hands

Illustration
Description of work
Step 1
On the selected site, a circle is marked with a diameter twice as large as the diameter of the bowl. The soil is selected to a depth of 10 cm, and then a hole is dug in the center of the circle according to the size of a plastic container.
Step 2
In the pit, you need to make a sand pillow, on which the bowl is installed so that its edges rise above the surface by about 5 cm. The horizontal of the container must be controlled during installation. After that, water should be poured into the bowl, not topping up to the edges by 4-5 cm.
Step 3
A submersible pump is inserted into a bowl of water, a nozzle is put on it and the water supply is checked

It is very important to adjust the flow so that all the water falls back into the container rather than splashing around.
Step 4
A circle is cut out of the film along the diameter of the entire recess, cuts are made in the center so that the edges of the film sink into the bowl and completely cover its edges.
Step 5
Several metal rods are laid on the film at some distance from each other, and a mesh with a slot for a nozzle is laid on the rods.
Step 6
The fountain is being decorated: large and small stones, pebbles, shells are laid out on the grid. The stones must completely hide the grid

Plants can be planted around the perimeter.

The wire from the pump is laid in a trench and also covered with pebbles or gravel from above. With the onset of cold weather the water must be drained from the tank, the pump must be disconnected from the cable and removed for the winter. It is also recommended to cover the area with a film or other material so that debris does not accumulate between the stones.

To make a fountain, you can use any containers: barrels, flowerpots, old unnecessary baths, and so on. Here ample opportunities open up to show your imagination and creative approach.

A barrel fountain is a great solution for a rustic garden A good use of an old bath A small fountain in a concrete bowl

How to make a waterfall in the country with your own hands: process features

To create a structure, a pit should be dug, the shape and size of which correspond to the selected fountain scheme. It can have different depths, which is determined by the further purpose of the pond. If you plan to use a recess for breeding fish and underwater plants, its depth should be at least 1 m. The pit is multi-level. To prevent its walls from crumbling during operation, they should be periodically moistened and tamped.

Diy scheme for making a waterfall with a pond

At the bottom, you need to pour a layer of sand 10 cm thick and compact well. Next, the structure is waterproofed. To do this, you can use PVC film, which covers the entire area of ​​the pit, organizing steps, or the tank is poured with concrete.

The next step is to execute the cascade itself. To do this, it is recommended to use a ready-made form, which can be purchased at a specialized store, or to make a structure made of stone.

The second option will require a large amount of sandstone or boulders. In order for the elements to be well connected to each other, they should be fastened with cement mortar. You can create a rushing water stream that will break on the stones at the bottom of the structure. For this, the lower tier should be located at some distance from the upper one. The water will pass between the cascade of stones, foaming and breaking against the lower stone layer.

For waterproofing the structure, you can use PVC film

Helpful advice! To ensure a nice and even flow of water to create a waterfall, flat stones should be used to create a cascade.

The next step is to install the pump.For a waterfall 1.5 m high, it will be enough to purchase a 70 W unit. The outlet of the pressure hose from the pump is located at the highest point of the cascade. It is recommended to hide the pipeline behind stones so that it does not spoil the aesthetic appearance of the structure.

Place for a fountain

In order for the fountain created on the site not only to function properly, but also to please for more than one year, you will need to find the right place for its construction. In this case, it is necessary to comply with several important requirements that are put forward for the construction of such objects.

Did you know? The first fountains appeared on the territory of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia long before our era. They were built on the site of springs and were used exclusively for watering agricultural and ornamental plants.

First of all, you need to consider the following:

1. All tall vegetation should be located as far as possible from the selected location. Otherwise, the fallen leaves will clog the reservoir and malfunction the electrical component.
2. The fountain should be located at least 5 m from any garden structures. Such a structure can provoke flooding of the foundation, as well as cause increased air humidity (which has a particularly negative effect on wooden buildings).
3. The place should be located on a hill, this will greatly simplify the construction of an artificial slope.
4. It is not recommended to build a structure on arable garden soil, the soil base should be dense and minimally involved in economic activities. Otherwise, subsidence and destruction of the structure cannot be avoided.

Choosing a pump for a home fountain with your own hands

The pump is the main mechanism of the fountain, which carries out a continuous movement of water in the reservoir. The principle of its operation is as follows. Water is taken by a pump, on the suction line of which a filter is installed, where coarse and fine cleaning of the liquid is carried out, and is thrown into the reservoir through the nozzles.

When choosing a pump for a fountain, it is necessary to take into account the operating voltage, performance, height of water rise and the power of the unit. It is better to give preference to models equipped with various hoses, nozzles and spray heads, since additional items will be purchased extremely problematic in case needs.

For the fountain, two types of pumping units are used: piston and surface. The first option is installed at the bottom of the tank and works on the principle of a centrifuge. It is a small, low-power, inexpensive device suitable for small fountains. The unit works silently, consumes little electricity.

Important! The piston pump belongs to low-voltage devices and can be powered either from the mains or from a transformer

Two types of pumps are suitable for fountains: surface and piston

For more complex multi-level structures (in the form of do-it-yourself home waterfalls), a surface type of pumping equipment should be used. It is installed in the immediate vicinity of the tank and must be reliably protected from the effects of precipitation and direct sunlight. To do this, it can be covered with a special protective casing or placed in a pavilion or box. The pump is noisy and expensive. However, this is a reliable and durable type of unit that can last for many years without additional maintenance.

Stylistic design of a homemade fountain

The fountain must harmoniously fit into the exterior of the territory, therefore, its appearance should be properly thought out.

It is necessary to carefully consider the appearance of the fountain so that it fits into the overall design on the site

A stationary hydraulic engineering installation in the form of a sculpture of a young maiden, an angel, a mythical monster or an ancient deity is ideal for a classical garden.The natural style of the site design requires naturalness from the structures located on it. Waterfalls, geysers, springs framed of wood, pebbles or stone will look harmonious here.

For a modern style, a fountain made of concrete, steel, glass, polymers, artificial or natural stone is suitable.

When creating a structure, it is important to strictly adhere to clear lines and correct geometric shapes. Boulders, earthenware jugs, a millwheel or an old borehole are perfect for creating a country-style fountain

Water supply schemes

It is theoretically possible to supply water to the fountain according to three schemes:

• from a water pipe;
• using the "water pump";
• electric pump.

To create a fountain without a pump with your own hands, try using the pressure in the water pipe. However, a modern person, obviously, will not even consider this option, since pouring water into the sewer for the sake of aesthetic pleasure is an unacceptable undertaking, given, moreover, the huge bill for cold water supply.

The second option involves the use of a tank located above the level of the nozzle. The pressure here will be small, and water in the tank not long enough.

In addition, precious moisture, as in the first case, will leak into the pipe, which no summer resident will allow. If, for example, water is used in a circle, pumping it from bowl to barrel, then why barrel, if the electric motor can be used directly?

Thus, a real option can be considered a variant with an electric motor pumping water from the bowl into the nozzle, or supplying it from the bottom up to the source of the cascade. This is an ideal option for infinitely twisting one small volume of water, adjusting the pressure or flow rate. Of course, most summer residents prefer this particular scheme.

Varieties of waterfalls

If you decide to decorate the site with a decorative waterfall, you first need to determine the type of reservoir and its location.

Such structures are classified according to different characteristics. Regarding the type of water supply, there are waterfalls with or without pumps.

Distinguish between waterfalls in terms of size, as well as purpose. In such a decorative reservoir, you can settle fish, or make special bounces for planting plants.

There are three types of garden waterfalls, differing in the number of ledges:

• cascading;
• mono-step;
• Creek.

The types of reservoirs also depend on the style in which they are decorated (classic, landscape, high-tech, etc.).

But in the matter of design style, the main influencing factor is the designer's imagination.

Classification of country fountains

When preparing for the construction of a water body in landscape design, it is important to choose the right place, correlating it with the scale of this element. A grandiose structure with a cascade over the entire courtyard does not make sense, just as a small trickle in the middle of a vast green lawn without flower beds is also not impressive.

The method of supplying water to a fountain at a site or a cascade is also important - in most cases, the pressure is provided by a pump from a well or well. In rare cases, it is supplied by gravity (from a difference in levels) or under pressure (from a column, a common water supply).

The cost of water today also "flows" into considerable expenses, therefore it is recommended to provide for the shutdown of the fountain in the absence of the owners and at night.

Pay attention to the types of fountains:

• Submersible.
• Stationary.
• Geyser.
• Cascading.
• Suspended.
• Classic (with statues and multiple jets).
• Combined.

The latter type is considered the most complex, where several types of water supply are combined. It is better to entrust their construction to a specialist, but it is better to take over some of the preparatory work so that it comes out more economically.

Do-it-yourself fountain in the country

Regardless of the type of construction, installation involves the following activities:

• digging trenches;
• its strengthening;
• installation of the tank;
• installation of the pump;

• decoration.

For a small structure, you can use a regular plastic container, while massive fountains require preliminary foundation construction. For water supply, it is recommended to use plastic pipes that do not rust and are connected with a soldering iron.

Pump equipment

Fountain pump

The operational life of the fountain largely depends on the quality of the pumping unit, so it is better not to save on this element. The pump operation scheme is quite simple: through the drain hole in the bowl, water enters the pipes and flows down them to the pump intake pipe. That, in turn, creates the necessary pressure and throws it out through the nozzle. Thus, the cycle repeats itself.

Types of fountains

The pump power depends on two factors:

• bowl volume;
• required ejection force.

Such models have a more natural look, but they can be equipped exclusively on sloping terrain. Here water circulates according to the principle of several communicating vessels located on different tiers.

When planning, you can use ready-made options that have been repeatedly tested in practice:

• a fountain of stones;
• construction from scrap materials.

Consider the technology for their manufacture.

How to make a stone mini-fountain in the country with your own hands

In order to make a small-sized fountain in the country with your own hands, you will need the following materials:

• plastic flowerpot without square holes;
• small pump for the fountain;
• plastic pipe 80 cm long, with a diameter corresponding to the outlet from the pump;
• a bag of small decorative pebbles;
• bricks in the amount of three pieces;
• slabs of red granite.

On a small summer cottage, a stone mini-fountain will look good

In the prepared place, a pit is made corresponding to the size of the pot. A flowerpot is inserted into it, into which three bricks are placed on the sides of the product. They provide stability to the structure and reduce the consumption of pebbles to fill the space of the fountain. Bricks are also a support for future granite stone structures. A pump is installed in the center of the tank with a tube put on it.

In granite slabs, holes are created in the central part of the products, the size of which corresponds to the diameter of the tube from the pump. The first slab is erected with bricks. The inner space of the fountain is filled with pebbles. All other slabs, like elements of the pyramid, are strung on the pipe. After placing the last stone, a mark is made on the pipe. The top element is removable. The pipe is cut just below the resulting mark. This solution allows you to create a waterfall with your own hands (the photos clearly demonstrate this), in which water runs directly from the stone. This design looks unusual and original.

Another option for creating a small fountain in the country with your own hands is to use a flexible hose instead of a pipe, and driftwood instead of stones. To create a structure, you will need a round plastic flowerpot. It can only be dug halfway into the ground for greater stability. Bricks and a pump are placed in the container. The top of the flowerpot is covered with a net. A flexible hose from the pump is displayed near the wall of the flowerpot. A wooden driftwood is installed in the net and fixed with a wire. The structure is covered with large pebbles. The hose is fixed along the driftwood. Thus, a fountain is obtained, in which the stream of water supplied from above breaks against the stones.

Installation plan for a mini fountain decorated with stones