Natural stone fountains are quite an expensive purchase if they are bought ready-made. The beautiful pieces can easily be made by a reasonably experienced DIY enthusiast, which makes very special natural stone fountains possible:
Advantages of a natural stone fountain
- The natural stone fountain in the garden is extremely decorative and you can have a relaxing watering hole in the garden with little effort.
- The natural stone fountain helps the animals that visit your garden, whether as a watering place or as a bathing opportunity.
- Gardening work is also made easier, you always have water at hand in a new spot in the garden.
- If you build your natural stone fountain yourself, you can design a very individual shape.
Disadvantages of a self-built natural stone fountain
Like all things you build yourself, the natural stone fountain will occupy your thoughts for a while and may even require more work than planned. Once that's done, the pump just needs a little attention.
Build your own natural stone fountain
- While finished fountains start in price ranges around 500 euros, a larger natural stone as the heart of the fountain system is available for much less money. The price of course depends on the stone material, larger natural-shaped slate stones are available from around 80 euros, sandstones with a circumference of around 50 cm for around 100 euros. Marble is becoming more expensive, a stone with a diameter of around 60 cm costs around 300 euros, if you want to put small rocks in the garden you have to spend around 400 euros for about a meter, a rock almost 2 meters high costs already well over 1.000 euros, both made of sandstone. Marble stones with a height of around 2 meters will cost your budget over 2,500 euros.
- The natural stone for your fountain does not necessarily have to be in the shape of a natural rock; you can also choose a ball or a column, made of granite for example. Small granite balls with a diameter of 20 cm cost around 80 euros, those with a diameter of 60 cm cost 400 euros. They can already be drilled upon request. Granite columns can also be used; they are available in a height of almost 50 cm for around 300 euros. If the water is to run through the column, the hole should already be there; the tools are usually difficult for do-it-yourselfers to obtain. These formal pieces can then be accentuated with stainless steel balls, this is the most modern design.
- Once you have purchased the centerpiece of your fountain, you can move on to fountain design. You can simply group the stone or several smaller stones and get the water moving with a garden fountain pump placed between them. You can let the water run through the stone, through the pre-drilled or self-drilled hole. It is important to choose the right tool here, otherwise both the stone and the drill can quickly break.
- The stone or stones are arranged in a collecting basin that stands free (stone basin) or is buried in the ground (plastic basin). The pump goes into the bottom of the pool, held securely by some stones. The rest of the pool is filled with gravel. Another way to mount the pump is to place it in a waterproof container that is buried in the ground and filled with water. A lid with holes for cables and riser pipe is then placed on this vessel.
- Now place the decorative stones of your fountain on the gravel or the lid. The piece of hose from the pump is now either inserted into the hole in the stone or placed between the stones. You can also design the shape of the fountain through masonry work, for example by building your own collecting basin or upper parts of the fountain. The masonry work must then be sealed with special waterproof cement plaster or synthetic resin plaster. When the whole unit is standing, it is filled with water, then the pump can be turned on.
- You can integrate lots of nice accessories into your new fountain, perhaps lighting rings for the water outlet (5 cm around 55 euros), or water feature pumps with LEDs and other extras (around 100 euros).
Natural stone fountains – dealers and manufacturers
- If it's going to be boulders, it's worth getting information from the building materials dealer or stonemason, Gebr. Riehm Baustoffe & Baumarkt KG in Weil der Stadt, for example, has a lot of stones in stock that are suitable for natural stone fountains, www.riehm-baustoffe.de. Many specialized suppliers offer natural and shaped stones, for example the company Garten-Steinkunst from 08496 Neumark/OT Reuth, www.gartensteinkunst.de or Derspezial Garten GmbH & Co. KG in 88147 Esseratsweiler / Achberg, www.der-besondere-garten.com. Sandstones and Söker marble are available at www.brunnenwelt.eu, as well as unusual stones such as granite monoliths or Black Angel marble (black marble with white inclusions).
- These companies usually also offer a lot of accessories for well construction, including unusual solutions such as the decorative tap as a water outlet. Almost every hardware store offers a wide variety of pumps for building your own, for example Praktiker, www.praktiker.de. You can also find the accessories in garden centers or from companies that sell pond accessories, such as Schlegel & Co. Gartenprodukte GmbH, information at www.der-gartenteich.com.
Conclusion
If you are a talented do-it-yourselfer, it is definitely worth thinking about building a natural stone fountain yourself. You can also give the self-built natural stone fountain as a gift and make a loved one very happy.
Tips
- The location for the natural stone fountain should be carefully considered; if you use larger stones, it will not be so easy to move.
- Unless you build a sandstone fountain, which, thanks to its lower weight, makes it possible to move it even if it is of considerable size.
- But he is a little more sensitive than his tougher colleagues and needs special treatment.
