Do It Yourself Wall Fountain
One of the most fashionable things to have in your garden is a wall fountain. The interest and movement a fountain provides can transform a boring, drab corner into an attractive, relaxing area, and when it comes to disguising unwanted noise nothing beats the sound of babbling water. Don showed how easy it is to install a fountain at your place. All you need is a little bit of know how when it comes to fixing things to walls, and a friend to help you do the heavy lifting.
Tools required
- Tape measure
- Electric drill
- Masonry drill bits, 13mm
- Caulking gun – to apply silicone and liquid nails
- Angle grinder with masonry disc – to rough up the wall surface
- Extension leads (if necessary)
Materials
Fountain comprising two parts, bowl and plaque.
Available from nurseries and garden centres including:
NSW: Flower Power Nurseries (02) 9601 4555, Parker’s Nursery Turramurra (02) 9487 3888, The Parterre Garden Woollahra (02) 9363 5874, Michele Shennen Garden Centre Willoughby (02) 99586 631.
VIC: Paddington Pots (03) 9569 5384, Rietmans Cement Products (03) 9555 4500
WA: Waldecks Nurseries (03) 9381 8977
SA: the Flower Garden (08) 8388 6126, Garden Centre (08) 8295 4874, Newman’s Topiary Tea House (08) 8264 2661
TAS: Chandlers Nursery (03) 6223 5866
Cost: approximately $360
Pico 400/3 Submersible Pump
Available: garden centres, pump suppliers nationally
Cost: $45
Plastic Poly Pipe 13mm to connect pump to spout
Cost: $2 per metre
Hardie Pope 13mm Elbows and Clips used in conjunction with the poly pipe to allow it to sit flush with the wall.
Cost: 20c each
Bondcrete apply by brush to seal the bowl against leakage
Cost: Squeeze pack $10, brush $5
Selleys All Clear Silicone to seal around drill holes
Cost: $5.50 for a 90g tube
Ramset Ultra-fix Plus Chemical Anchor to apply to the inside of bolt holes
Cost:$26 for a 150ml pack
Ramset Ultra-Fix Plus Stud Bolts, 12 x 160mm
Cost: $9 for a pack of 4, includes nuts and washers (To reduce the risk of corrosion we replaced the washers with galvanised iron ones at 20c each.)
Selleys Liquid Nails Fast Grab
Cost: $4.50 for a 420gm tube
Extras, if you need them
240 volt plug – for attaching to the pump wiring
Cost: $1.80
Wall clips, Permastik and Selleys for tidying up any cords
Cost: Around $5.00 per pack
Note: the above hardware is available nationally at major hardware stores
Putting it all together
- Measure and mark on the wall the exact position for the fountain.
- Carefully measure the two parts of the fountain. (Tip: measure and remeasure, because the trough must be level. Do not assume the spout hole etc, will be centered). Then work out exactly where the holes for the support bolts and wiring should go, and mark their positions on the wall.
- Drill holes in the bowl to allow for the poly pipe and the pump wire.
- Paint the inside of the bowl with Bondcrete to help waterproof it.
- After making sure there is no danger of coming into contact with services such as power, phone or water pipes, drill holes in the wall. Insert the Ramset chemical adhesive in the bolt holes, and position the bolts. Allow to set as per package instructions. (Tip:when drilling the holes, start off with a small drill bit and get progressively bigger.)
- Position the pump in the bowl and attach the necessary amount of poly pipe, also attach enough poly pipe to the plaque to allow it to meet up on the other side of the wall.
- Seal around the holes where the wire and poly pipe protrude with silicone.
- Use an angle grinder with a masonry disc to rough up the wall surface. This will help the adhesive stick properly.
- Make sure the top bolt that will be used to hang the plaque has the nut and washer in position. This is to ensure the plaque does not slip off.
- Apply Liquid Nails to the rear of the plaque and to the wall. Carefully position the plaque onto the bolt, at the same time feeding the poly pipe through its appropriate hole. Press the plaque firmly onto the wall.
- Apply Liquid Nails to the rear of the bowl and to the wall. Carefully and quickly position the bowl over the supporting bolts. At the same time feed the poly pipe and electrical wire through their respective holes. Put washers and nuts onto bolts and tighten.
- Apply silicone over the nuts to help waterproof the bowl.
- At the rear of the wall join up the poly pipe, and attach a new plug to the pump wire if the original had to be removed, (Note: This must be done by a qualified electrician in Queensland).
- Use clips to tidy up wires and poly pipe.
- Fill up the bowl with water, plug the pump in and turn it on.