First of all, a proven tip is to look at the diverse selection of water features at Shooting Company, mostly because you can find a variety here in regards to materials, shapes, sizes, and colors.

You can fund fountains that suit your idea and fit perfectly into your overall exterior design. Given such a wide selection, we present a compass with basic navigation on evaluating when choosing a fountain and making the best decision for yourself.

Place

You have to base the whole idea based on the place where the fountain will be located. This specifies and narrows the choice, considering that it determines the size and material from which the fountain is made.

Suppose you plan to place the fountain under a covered area in the yard, such as a balcony. In that case, you can consider more diverse materials because the covered fountain is exposed to slightly different weather conditions than those fountains that are entirely in open space. In contrast, if you plan to place a fountain directly on your garden pond, the considerations can be slightly different. For these pond fountains, materials that are durable and resistant to weathering might be crucial.  

Also, consider the fountain’s mobility. You need to think carefully about whether you plan to make the fountain static, that is, to position it in a place that would be a more permanent solution, or you might prefer to have the possibility of mobility to different positions in the yard.

Depending on what you decide on, you can decide on the fountain’s size and weight, i.e., the material from which it’s made and the complexity of the appearance and water installation.

Material

Logically, one of the fundamental factors in the long-term functionality of outdoor fountains is the material from which they are made, and you must take special care of this.

Suppose concrete seems like the perfect choice for you, because it’s cheap and easy to make different shapes. We think you should completely discard that idea, given the short life of concrete when exposed to different atmospheric conditions. Then cracking occurs often, and this can completely deform your fountain.

Instead, we advise you to choose a cast stone fountain because it can withstand the challenge of all weather conditions with proper care.

Another suitable material is fiberglass, mostly because fiberglass is lightweight and therefore ideal for transport. This material’s lightness also has a negative side because it’s incredibly susceptible to wind influences and is not recommended for the yard if you live in windy areas.

It’s best to combine fiberglass with some other material because fiberglass is excellent insulation. Plus, it’s easy and straightforward to recycle, so in that way, you’re protecting the environment.

Finials

You would be mistaken if, at first, you might think that finials have only a decorative function and that their only purpose is whether they’ll be in the shape of a naked boy with a stomach that lets out water or a fish that lets water from its mouth. Believe us, that’s not the case.

How the final is positioned and its shape determine the water’s direction and intensity that would be released from the fountain, so this seemingly small detail determines the overall size and shape.

Cleaning Tips

It’s recommended that you clean the fountain every 2-3 months and whenever you see that dirty water has accumulated in it.

If you live in areas with a strong winter, it’s crucial to prevent the water in the pipes from freezing. You’ll achieve this by draining all the water from the entire plumbing system during periods of low temperatures and frost.

After that, clean all the remaining dirt in the pipes, such as fallen leaves, so that they don’t rot, and it’s also necessary to remove and completely clean the water filter so that it doesn’t break down during the passive period of low temperatures.

At the end of winter preparation, fill the fountain’s inside with non-absorbent and water-resistant materials and then cover the fountain with a sufficiently large wrapper. If you don’t have a cover specially designed for that fountain, it can practically often be a tented wing for that purpose.

When you want to reactivate the fountain in the yard, insert the filter into the bottom and fill it with clean water. That way, your fountain stays clean and accurate for many years.

Conclusion

The installation of an outdoor fountain is undoubtedly a beautiful and creative idea, and we support you in that. This decorative element in the yard often changed its visual appearance and size, but it never lost its relevance. Fountains are an indispensable element of every great exterior designer, and with these simple tips, you can become one of them!