Fill the column form by dropping in scoops of concrete on all four sides. The kids are trying to convince me to take out the pot and add some small fish. increments until the concrete is 4 in. If you are digging the chic look of concrete you can stack cinderblocks around the trough to occlude it from view. round disc (D) with a drywall saw. Slide a 2x4 back and forth as you drag it across the form to screed off the excess concrete. The risk of the sand collapsing is significant. In this instructable, I show you how to make a waterfall fountain with an original design. A little spray paint and there you have it! What would the term for pomegranate orchard be in latin or ancient greek? Be sure to pack the sand well so that it retains the desired shape after removing the box. Any residue got sanded off with a 220 grit sandpaper. Once it was all filled and was 4-5" thick, I pressed a PVC pipe into the back in between the two pipes. You can build forms from wood, but we found that rigid foam insulation is perfect for a small project like this. The colours of the LED spotlights that I used can be controlled remotely. wire mesh (called hardware cloth). Be sure to pack the sand well so that it retains the desired shape after removing the box. To remove the outer forms of the column and basin, simply slice the tape with a utility knife. We are looking to make our own fountain, soon, and yours is one of the better how to guides Ive found. After the concrete has completely dried, I start by cleaning the project and removing the dust from the cement using a dry brush. Truly amazing! I wanted the corners to be rounded so I added caulk around the whole thing and added extra to the corners. Will be attempting!! If you simply fill the basin with pebbles, you'll greatly reduce the water holding capacity. The bottom piece of the smaller (box) form had to be chipped out. Or you can use rocks you find on your land, or salvaged bricks or timbers or stucco it or whatever you like. Fill the basin with water and start the pump (the outlet that powers the pump must be GFCI protected). How did you secure the top piece so you dont risk it tipping over? The fountain consists of three separate parts: a sphere, a hollow column and a basin. Shake the form to drive out large air pockets. So all of the photos of the concrete process are all screen grabs from the video. Then pour 3 in. Site design / logo 2022 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. A clear coat of resin also provides added protection from general wear or scratches. I don't know if it is the type of concrete to buy or if it is how to mix it correctly with tools or is it the water ratio.Thanks for any feedback and I am so jealous of your talent! You can create this fountain in one weekend. To put the fountain into operation, it is necessary to start by pouring a quantity of 4 litres of water into the basins. Yes, concrete with rebars placed on the stable ground will be very durable. Filed Under: DIY & Tutorials, Favorites, Outdoor Projects & Gardening 15 Comments. We move on to the preparation of the concrete mix. Mark a 4 x 4-in. I have a lily pond that used to have a 2" concrete base below ground with mesh and rebar and it still cracked under 2 feet of water on top of it. Wow! Then finish filling the form. because the weight of one cubic foot of water is 7.48052 gallons times 8.3453 pounds, which equals 62. How to level a concrete fountain base on a concrete surface? The back used five 50 pound bags of concrete mix and the trough used sixteen bags. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. I ended up using 90 degree angled conduit with a shower flange. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. A lot of mixes have ingredients to make them stronger since portland cement on it's own is not that strong. Everything is made only from cement and sand. You could also get it by curbside pick up. What was the large green yellow thing streaking across the sky? You may have to hold the ring in place for a minute or two to prevent the ball from floating up. Cover the cribs with pebbles. The long piece with the spout is pinned between the garage and the bottom piece filled with water. I started looking around for a fountain spout and all of them were well over $100. Fountain: How to Build a Concrete Fountain, How to Build a Deck Over a Concrete Patio, How to Cover a Concrete Patio With Pavers, Renew Your Concrete Patio: How to Stain Concrete, Patio Tiles: How to Build a Patio With Ceramic Tile, How to Choose the Right Retaining Wall Material, Build a Circular Patio and Retaining Wall, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer). For the circulation of water and to operate the fountain, we need a submersible mini-pump, a PVC tube of the same diameter as the pump (6mm). For the installation of the middle and top mini barrel, I cut 4 identical pieces of oval polystyrene (8x14cm) and 4cm thick. Phenomenal job on not only the fountain, but providing quality photographs, and detailed instructions that will allow anyone else to recreate this projects!You not only used concrete, you mixed it with different consistencies, created forms, cast, and carved it in a truly creative, and incredibly artistic piece of work.My wife and I recently formed and cast two large, and larger elephant ear bird baths. You can use a spoon or directly with your fingers to pack the sand well. Covering it to maintain moisture or misting with water does help. Prices start at about $100 for a small fiberglass model. Then puncture the ball with a utility knife and pull it out through the ring. tall, 3-1/2 in. Before you assemble the fountain, mount a 3-in. Congratulations on winning the grand prize! If you want light weight ditch the foam and use a product like vermiculite. Thank you for sharing with us. I agree with what you said. Your Instructable may have us creating our own fountain to go alongside the leaves. inside the square) and insert anchors made from 10-gauge copper electrical wire. above the top of the column. Its fun to make and you can use it as an awesome decoration indoors or in your garden. Or check out this other DIY low-maintenance water feature. If the water spills down one side of the column but not the others, slip a flat pry bar under that side of the basin. Turn the flow control knob on the pump to adjust the water flow. After 24 hours of drying, I turn the barrel upside down and put it in its default position. This makes me sort of doubtful that even my small dimensions would hold up over time. I had never done a large scale concrete project before. I revealed the backyard landscaping project last week and you were all so kind! By this point I had sprained my ankle and wasn't much help other than filming. How do you get it to drip like cake batter? The spout is important for directing the flow of water. Slip the inner form into the column form and tape it in place. I've cast coasters with it that are only 1/4" thick! Because whatever you decide remember how much water you will want in the basin for the fountain to run. Pouring Concrete Patio: A First Timers Guide, How to Pour a Concrete Slab Successfully: 31 Tips, how to mix concrete so you get the right strength and consistency every time. I didn't use rebar or wire mesh at all and it has been great but it also wouldn't hurt (and would make it stronger) to add some to reinforce the concrete. screws. I have this saved in my email too! Did you use the pot because the water splashed too much or too loudly, just for aesthetics, or to house the pump? Also, be sure to place the printed side of the foam face out; the ink can stain the concrete. But then again, I have no idea and have limited experience in working with concrete. Best of all, you can place a fountain just about anywhere: among plants, inside a sun porch, or on a deck or patio. The ratio of a concrete mixture : 2,5 cups Cement + 1 cup sifted Sand (Construction Sand) + Water. Complete DIY projects like a pro! Once it had dried overnight, I unscrewed the form and tapped the form off of the cement. After at least 24 hours of drying, we move on to the stage of total sand discharge. Set the ball in place and position the pump. Home Improvement Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for contractors and serious DIYers. Or check out this other DIY low-maintenance water feature. When Shane and I were making the fountain, because we used quick set concrete, we had to work fast. If it was good enough for the pyramids, it is good enough for my garden fountain. Building work on concrete in a very wet environment - natural spring. We go directly to the building of the spout of this part of the fountain. Every time I watch a concrete video, whether it is in India, Mexico or USA or anywhere around the world, the concrete looks like perfect sculpting clay. A pump drives water up through the sphere, where it bubbles out, cascades down the column and returns to the basin. I have compared some of them. Slather margarine onto a small rag and coat the inside of the form so the concrete won't stick to it. For the best sand cleaning result, one can wash with water and use a paintbrush to scrub the inner walls of the barrel. Making it out of cement, it will not be light weight. Put the mini-pump into the pumping area through the 10cm hole. I love the look of the fountain and I like hearing it as I relax on the patio or as I'm weeding the garden. When working with concrete, the mixture does not 'dry', it needs to cure to give the cement time to react with the water. The installation of all the barrels is done by spraying water into the installation surface, then putting two to three spoons of lightly diluted concrete on the previously wet area. I'm Creative D2H, You can see in my posts how to make beautiful things, to create houses of history, fairy houses, recycling ideas, decorations, crafts,and paint. It's OK if the column rocks slightly, but it must be absolutely tip-proof since the fountain will attract curious kids. Nice idea and cool! But don't worry about slightly wavy cuts; they won't affect the final product. The materials for this fountain cost about $120. I'm Stacy and I blog about fixing up our 1938 cottage. How do I float 3/4" plywood sheets over above grade concrete without nailing, screwing or gluing to the slab? They come in a range of sizes. We start by gradually adding two wide belts, then I do the finishing and I eliminate the unnecessary parts. Only I vary the quantity of water to arrive at the consistency of the desired mixture. There is a mix called Rapidset Cementall that can used at a pourable consistency (no aggregate in it and super strong) , the only drawback is you need to work pretty fast (minutes) but in most cases I'm fine with that since I hate waiting days for a cure anyways. Hi! How much did the materials cost all together?? Tape the seams of the outer column form together and then wrap it with tape. This fountain is HEAVY! Leave the legs of each anchor protruding 3/4 in. If you have any ideas on how to get that piece out more easily, I'd love to know! In this step, we follow exactly the same steps described above to make two other identical mini barrels. We fill the box with wet sand. Why are the products of Grignard reaction on an alpha-chiral ketone diastereomers rather than a racemate? Then we move on to the second layer of concrete. Getting one big enough to line with some sort of brick/block material and still have the interior dimension desired would be the way to go. I order a combination of 4x8 sheets and smaller pieces meant for shelving. not getting bedded correctly will damage it after a move, go bigger and just plan on it staying there. I am excited to be sharing the tutorial for the DIY concrete fountain. Using the same wet sand, we form the shape with the dimensions shown in the attached photo. My overall dimensions will be approximately 3ft wide and long by about 14" in height. Follow the steps shown in the attached photos. bottles of Quikrete Cement Color or equivalent, Four 80-lb. This will be a modern austere look/style. The fish would not survive! I wanted my fountain to be roughly the same width as the window so it ended up being 4 feet long and 2 feet wide. https://www.amazonasmagazine.com/2020/01/09/build-a-lightweight-waterproof-concrete-basin-for-ponds-and-plants/. I look up videos on how to make perfect concrete and still cannot do it. bags of concrete mix (or five 60-lb. I use concrete/cement on many simple projects, but never is it like yours in the video. I live in the desert so it'll never freeze. What is meant by the term "beeline" in an address (latitude/longitude)? Work fastthe joint compound will start to stiffen after about 10 minutes. Learn how your comment data is processed. Tie the anchors together with the same wire you used for the anchors. Thank you :) You made my day. It's OK if the mix is a bit lumpy. Best of all, you can assemble sections of foam with the ultimate quick-and-simple fastening system: duct tape! This leaves all the space below the cribs open for water storage. I plan to run some pvc through the back in order to have a small ball valve inside the basin to automatically fill the basin with water as it evaporates over time. Then the box is removed from the mold gently and slowly in one upward direction. To use the fountain outdoors, be sure to better protect the wires and electrical connectors from the rain. It is absolutely lovely! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The concrete mix of this layer is less diluted. Overall height: 42 in. What is the difference Between Active Acoustics Monitoring (AAM) and Passive Acoustics Monitoring (PAM)? I built it to be 2 feet wide by 4 feet tall. When Shane started adding cement mix to the form, I held them in place until the concrete was smoothed and held it on its own. When you've dropped in about 6 in. You could even build a pair to flank a gateway or path. :). You could have left it un-painted - and it still looks great. Wait, so HOW did Quentin Beck know that Earth was 616? To begin, cut out the foam parts and assemble them. Yup. We cover the sand with the same thickness (1cm) as the concrete. This is absolutely beautiful and I watched the entire video. I put pieces of fine metallic mesh to give more robustness to the base. from the foam. Then I dig the basin (15cm deep) and empty the unnecessary volume of sand. Each winter, remove the pump, empty the basin and either move the fountain indoors or cover it with a plastic bag. square on the block to represent the opening at the bottom of the column. I love it! An oval shaped part (9 x 22 cm) was taken from the upper part of the barrel. Once you buy the water trough you are done. Can I create concrete driveway with forms to get the paver stone look without the need for all the aggregate beneath? The cement and the melamine boards came to $176 and change. Be sure to cover all the fine mesh with the same thickness. Since the concrete isn't reinforced with wire mesh or rebar, concrete mix that contains tiny threads of fiberglass is best for this project (Quikrete Crack-Resistant concrete is one brand). Thank you SO much for sharing the details on your beautiful fountain. Whatever surface texture you want, be consistent with your tamping all the way up for a uniform appearance. I would provide a layer of liner on the interior face to prevent leaks from potential cracks, If landscaping block/brick is available, it works for a small to medium-sized pond too. Finally, the barrel is gently placed on the concrete and the concrete released from both sides is wiped out. Does absence of evidence mean evidence of absence? Figure B: Column Form andFigure C: Basin Formshows the dimensions of the column and basin form parts. Be sure to use plastic-coated wire. I also puttied where the screws were so you wouldn't see an impression of a screw head in the finished fountain. Thank you for sharing your phenomenal talents!Bravo! I followed a technique called "Faux Bois" which refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains in various media. It's difficult to make perfectly straight cuts with a circular saw because the blade can easily wander in the soft foam. In a cold climate, freezing water could crack the basin and destroy the pump. At least to find out if you really want a fountain. I used Liquid Nails Fuse It since it was recommended for metal and concrete. I appreciate all the research you did and passed forward! I measured and marked where the holes needed to be for the pump tubing. All the trim will be purely decorative which frees you up as regards choices. They will hold water a long time. I always try to maintain the same thickness of concrete throughout the surface. Then we move on to the second layer of concrete. of compound into the pot and set the ball into it with the air plug facing straight up. I constantly hit the sides with the mallet to release the air bubbles and help level the cement. Taken from this website: Tell me in the comments :). In total, we need three mini barrels to make a waterfall. Cut the 8-in. At the bottom of each barrel, I glue a waterproof LED spotlight using hot glue. After an hour, I start by delicately drawing straight, equidistant lines. from the top of the form. extruded polystyrene foam insulation. I have a standard pond liner ( HPDM ?) Then I pour diluted cement on the sand. I am hoping to test this out very soon. x 12-in. 12 months ago Troughs like that come in many sizes and materials. Inside in the center of the trough I'm going to place a water pump so that a spring will shoot up about ten to twelve inches into the air to create that relaxing sound of splashing water. Otherwise, if making one in solid concrete with rebar and wire enforcements for strength and longevity is the way to go I'll stick with that. Always the first layer of concrete is the most diluted. The inside box didn't need to be as structurally sound.