Making a wall fountain or spout



How to Make a Wall Fountain or Spout A wall-mounted fountain or water spout on an outside wall will enhance even the smallest courtyard or patio . Although wall fountains look very stylish they are surprisingly easy to put together and maintain. You might find a few complete kits in aquatic centres and larger garden centres but more often than not you will choose the ornamental part i.e. the terracotta, fibreglass or plastic wall plaque, mask or head first then buy the pump and reservoir separately. The reservoir collects the water and houses a small submersible pump that re-circulates the water back to the wall plaque. Some reservoirs are features in their own right, for example, carved stone bowls, semi-circular wooden barrels or decorative fibreglass but you could also recycle old tanks or use a sunken reservoir covered in cobbles. When a wall fountain is fitted to a house wall, it is easier to keep the water pipe in front of the wall but to hide it behind a false front or behind a lush planting. Sometimes you can chisel out a groove in a wall for a flatter finish.

Wall plaque or mask; reservoir; submersible pump; plug; RCD; 2cm diameter flexible water pipe; conduit pipe for pump cable. If you are building a false wall: wooden battens, screws, rawplugs, outdoor tiles or trellis panel. If you are using plants: evergreen climbers such as ivy or a selection of aquatic plants in aquatic planting baskets. Tools needed: electric drill with masonry bit; screwdriver; saw; chisel; hammer.

Drill a hole through to take the electric cable from the pump. The hole should be low down so it will be hidden by the reservoir. Feed the cable through the conduit pipe and put this through the hole, put on a plug and plug in to an indoor socket fitted with an RCD.

Put reservoir in it's final position, fill with water and put pump in. Mark on the wall where the plaque should go, just below eye level is best but much depends on the design of the plaque or mask and whether you will be viewing in seated or standing. Mark where the waterpipe will be. If you are building a false wall, mark where it will start and finish. The waterpipe needs to go between each horizontal wooden batten – so saw each batten in half and attach them so there is a suitable gap, position the water pipe in this gap. Attach the false wall or trellis to the battens.

Position the wall plaque or mask with the waterpipe coming through the mouth. Attach the feature either to the false wall or the real wall. Some features can be hung, others are screwed on or mortared to a wall. If using mortar, allow several days for it to set and support the plaque with temporary wooden battens during this time.

The moment of truth, switch on the power and water should flow out down into the reservoir. Use the flow adjuster on the pump make sure the flow of water is such that all the water discharged is returned to the reservoir and does not splash too much. If plants are used, put these in position now.

Prepare the site adding holes for pipes

Fix the reservoir in the desired position

Fix the wall mask over the outlet pipe

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