Outdoor water features come in a variety of styles and materials to fit your home’s architecture, your décor and the space you have available. Whatever the style or material, water features bring the relaxing sight and sound of flowing, splashing water to the outdoor space of your Holiday, FL, home. Read on to learn more about choosing the best outdoor water feature.
Consider the Style You Want
Informal, natural waterfalls flow over rocks, while formal waterfalls feature a more architectural look with water emerging from a wall of concrete, landscape block or pavers. In disappearing water features, flowing water appears to disappear into the ground. Actually, a layer of gravel below the feature covers the basin that collects the water. That way, it can recirculate back to the top of the fountain.
Spitter fountains may look like animals, people or mythological figures. The water shoots out of the figure, while fire fountains combine fire and water. Pond and lake fountains shoot a spray of water from the center of natural or man-made lakes. These fountains aerate the water and also help to provide enough movement to discourage the growth of algae; they may also discourage mosquitoes from laying eggs.
Garden fountains consist of self-contained pedestals with one or more tiers and often a formal, classic look. The water emerges from the top and sprays or flows over the edges of the tiers into a basin. If you have only a small space, such as an apartment patio or balcony, wall fountains either lean against, hang from or mount into an exterior wall.
Consider the Materials You Want
With durable cast stone, motifs can have a variety of molds in their surfaces, and they can also accept antiquing. Polystone costs and weighs much less than cast stone but has the same durability. Versatile polystone duplicates the look of many other materials.
Glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) has a greater tensile strength than steel and represents the most durable material for outdoor fountains. Fiberglass (glass fiber reinforced plastic – GFRP), much lighter than cast stone, captures fine details when molded. The lightweight nature of fiberglass makes fountains of this material easy to assemble and move, but they also lack some durability and can blow over in high winds.
Strong, durable and lightweight stainless steel resists staining and oxidation and offers a less expensive material for fountains. Copper, one of the more expensive materials for fountains, nevertheless takes on unique, natural patinas over time when it’s exposed to the elements. Marble, granite and other natural stones create the most natural-looking fountains, and their designs often exude simplicity, but more expensive sculpted stones represent intricate works of art.
Hire a Professional
Visit our photo gallery to get ideas for your outdoor water feature. When you’ve decided on the best water feature for your Holiday, FL, home, contact Tampa Bay Ponds & Rocks for all of your supplies.
Image provided by iStock
