When you hear the term "outdoor wall fountains," you may think of intricately carved marble statues in antique European churches, missions along the California coast, or a variety of other similar locations - but would you think about hand carved stone statues and fountains gracing the presence of flourishing, colorful gardens, along decks and walkways, or even indoors?
Most people do not realize how versatile wall fountains really are. There are fountains that easily fill corners, grace walkways, or hang perfectly from walls indoors. Because they come in so many different shapes, sizes and materials, it is not difficult in the least to find ones that suit your needs and the requirements of your home. There are also fountains that are perfect for yards and gardens.
Outdoor wall fountains are ideal for decorating gazebos and decks, stone walls, fences, and a variety of other flat surfaces that are drab or that otherwise could use some livening up. They are ideal in situations like these because the benefits they bring to the garden are twofold: First, fountains add a touch of serenity, calmness and tranquility that only water is capable of creating. Water is naturally quite calming, and adds a bit of soft simplicity and tranquility to a busy yard. Fountains also add drama and stark beauty, especially when they stand out well in a garden or yard that needs some decoration.
If you really want to explore the versatility of outdoor wall fountains, the best way to do so is to explore all of the various ways that you can place a fountain. Each fountain has its own "best fits", where it looks best, or best fits into a room. All fountains have some sort of over splash but it depends upon the style or the design of the fountain, and there are two main types of fountains: pedestal fountains and basin type fountains.
Pedestal type fountains make good wall fountains, but they need to be placed on a solid surface against a wall, such as concrete, a fountain skirt or brick pavers of some kind. Most pedestal fountains are actually hollow inside, and the reason that the fountain needs to be placed on a solid surface is because rain and sprinkler systems can erode soil, jeopardizing the stability of the fountain in many cases.
Outdoor basin wall fountains need to be placed on soft surfaces on the other hand, like sand or like gravel for example. If these fountains are installed on hard surfaces, you need to apply sand to the surface before you proceed. This allows the basin fountain to be leveled and to be completely supported when it settles, and these things significantly reduce the risk of any possible stress fractures from occurring, because the weight of the water in the fountain as well as other fountain components in the basin can negatively impact the structure of the basin fountain if it is not on the right surface.
Fountains can be configured either as basin style fountains, or as pedestal fountains. All outdoor wall fountains require strong and solid wall support, such as stucco or brick with studs. In most cases drywall and plywood are not strong enough, but there are exceptions to this rule, especially in the case of wall fountains that are built specifically for indoor purposes. Most wall fountains are built so that the power cord can escape behind the wall and the fountain to be completely hidden at all times.
Outdoor wall fountains have their own uses and benefits depending upon what you need and how and where you would like your water feature decorations; in your garden or in your home.
Elizabeth Jean is a frequent contributor to Garden-Fountains.com, the Internet's #1 resource for wall fountains, garden statuary and indoor fountains.
No comments:
Post a Comment