| A great deal about fountains has changed over | | | | a clear sealant put on them. Otherwise the water |
| the last decade. Now there are really high class | | | | will seep through to the steel, which will rust. |
| ones made of copper, stainless steel, bronze, | | | | Eventually, the fountain is likely to crack. One final |
| concrete, and stone, and some fairly nice ones | | | | word of advice on concrete, beware of "cute." |
| made of resin and fiberglass. There are several | | | | Cute fountains (mama dogs with baby dogs, boys |
| things to consider, though. As a pump wholesaler, | | | | peeing) sometimes don't look so cute over time. |
| I speak with fountain owners all the time and also | | | | Ask yourself if you'll still think the fountain is cute |
| look at lots of samples of fountains at trade | | | | years later. Remember, concrete fountains can |
| shows and in magazines. Before purchasing a | | | | last hundreds of years. And they are difficult to |
| fountain, there are quite a few questions to ask. | | | | move so pick something that will stay put. The |
| What looks good in a store might not look good | | | | traditional Italian 3-tier fountain is always a safe |
| at your home or business. | | | | bet. |
| Bronze and Stainless Steel Fountains | | | | Resin and Fiberglass Fountains |
| These are at the high end of fountains, and can | | | | The quality of these has gotten a lot better, and |
| retail for ten to twenty thousand dollars. They are | | | | they have the clear advantage of being more |
| plain classy. But will one of these fit in where you | | | | easily handled than concrete ones. Some do look |
| want to put it? Do you have the right yard or | | | | like concrete and stone, though they tend to look |
| business or location for such a classic kind of | | | | much more realistic at first glance than they do |
| display? Also, do you like the aging process (the | | | | after a week has passed. Then it is pretty clear |
| verdigris patina) that bronze undergoes? Can you | | | | that they are faux. These are also a lot easier on |
| afford one of these? If you answered yes to | | | | employees who work in tores, as they don't have |
| these questions, a bronze or stainless steel | | | | to worry as much about their backs. We would |
| fountain might be right for you. It will last your | | | | sell these at our store but just don't like their |
| lifetime, your kids' lifetimes, their kids' lifetimes, | | | | looks as well as the real thing. |
| etc. And they are durable enough to be moved | | | | Stone Fountains |
| from house to house. | | | | These look incredibly good or mediocre. The |
| Copper Fountains | | | | handcrafted stone fountains out of Mexico and |
| Like bronze fountains, these too tend to be | | | | many of the large ones out of China are beautiful. |
| classy, especially the name brand ones like Water | | | | But there are also mass-produced stone |
| Wonders, which mix copper with glass and slate. | | | | fountains, which use crushed stone mixed with |
| These make especially nice Wall fountainswall | | | | resin. These just don't look like real stone to us |
| fountains. There are certain things to think about, | | | | even though they are. |
| though. Are you locating the fountain in a room | | | | Making Your Own Water Fountain |
| with good acoustics? Some rooms make the | | | | There are lots of ways to make your own |
| pump noise really echo, especially small rooms | | | | fountains. The easiest way, perhaps, is to place a |
| with walls that are close together. Do you know | | | | pump in a small tub or on some liner. Then place a |
| someone or can you hire an electrician to hide the | | | | wire or plastic grate on top of the tub or the liner, |
| cord in the wall? These fountains are a bit too | | | | and layer pebbles, rocks, etc. over the wire or |
| expensive to buy if you're going to let the cord | | | | plastic grate. Your pump and plumbing will be |
| run outside the wall for everyone to see. Finally, it | | | | hidden! No one will no where your water is coming |
| is a good idea to go listen to them run at a store | | | | from. You can then connect black PVC piping to |
| before purchasing. Some of them make little | | | | the pump (black sprinkler pipe is incredibly |
| water noise and some make a lot. To increase | | | | inexpensive yet professional looking) and let the |
| water sound you might have to turn up the pump | | | | water rise up seemingly out of rocks in your |
| to the point of there being slight splash. | | | | yard. You won't have to worry much about pets |
| Concrete Fountains | | | | as the water source is covered with stones. |
| These still provide the most bang for the buck, | | | | Likewise, you won't have to worry about kids |
| primarily because concrete is so inexpensive. In | | | | drowning. You can also build a little waterfall over |
| fact, a huge part of the cost of concrete | | | | such a pit if you want, just throwing in boulders |
| fountains is in transporting them to stores for sale | | | | to hide your electric and tubing, etc. Some people |
| and in the labor of painting them. The concrete | | | | use bamboo for spouts. You can also drill holes |
| itself is the least expensive part of the fountains' | | | | through slate (we've found it's really easy if you |
| manufacture. Most concrete companies (though | | | | soak the slate for a day first). Slate is so porous, |
| not all) reinforce their fountains with steel. This | | | | however, you ought to seal it once you're done |
| makes them strong but also means the concrete | | | | drilling. You can also find rocks in nature that |
| must be sealed. If not painted (as most fountains | | | | already have holes in them. How Big of a Pump |
| from Mexico are not), then they do need to have | | | | do I need? |