Most people like the sound of running water, from the sound of a gentle rain after a hot summer's day to the sound of water trickling down a stream over pebbles and rocks. It makes them relaxed and calm and gives them a feeling of peace and serenity. The sound of water is everywhere in nature so there is nothing more natural than bringing the sound into our own homes.
There are many beautiful styles of water features for homes all with different looks and sounds to create different affects in the home. Choosing the right water feature depends not only on the look and the affect they bring to the home but also on the cost, material and ongoing maintenance required. So this article will attempt to summarize the different types of water features available to assist with choosing the right style for your home.
Styles of Water Features
Rock Formation/Waterfalls
These are great for giving the water feature a natural look and feel. If you don’t have an existing rocky area in your garden, most garden suppliers have a good range of rocks for purchase. It is also possible to buy complete kits. The costs can widely vary depending on the materials that are used, and whether a landscaper performs the work or you "do-it-yourself".
The Water Wall
This is the one of my favourites. This is where the water feature is made up of a wall and water runs over in a sheet pattern. This can be built into an existing wall if one exists in a suitable position or a new wall can be built.
Contemporary Water Feature
This is also one of my favourites. These are great for the modern backyard. They come in a range of styles and can be installed anywhere you can think of. They can be any size from a small feature on a table to a large pond in the garden. Costs vary depending on the size of the water feature.
Mosaic Water Feature
The mosaics are great for showing your own personality onto the outdoor area. There are different types of mosaics. They can be simple, complex, colourful, subtle, or picturesque to suit your personal style. Second-hand tiles can be cheaply purchased and yet can make a wonderful effect for your feature.
The Pot Water Feature
Any pot can be used regardless of shape or size provided they are waterproof and sealed. All you need to do is add a pump and water. This is probably the cheapest water feature available and yet can look stunning, showing your personal taste to great effect.
Fountain Water Feature
Fountains have many different sizes that you can choose from. They may be wall fountains or free-standing. In fountains the water may flow over varied surfaces of stone, concrete or metal. Many fountains are located in small, artificial, ornamental ponds, basins and formal garden pools, and often they include sculptures too.
Spillways
Spillways create the soothing sound of running water as water trickles, spouts, or gushes into a pond. Spillways naturally aerate the water to allow the use of fish which will obviously make the water feature more visually interesting.
Maintenance of Water Features
Having a water feature in the outdoor area requires regular maintenance.
Caring for outdoor water features and ponds can be quite a challenge because many foreign materials can fall into the water as the result of strong winds, weather, animals and other bacterial threats. Filters should be checked and cleared weekly. On a monthly basis it makes good sense to give the pump a good once over, this should include giving it a good clean and removing any lime scale and dirt from the pump.
Do you have a water feature in your garden? We would love to see how you have included it into your garden.
Choosing a Water Feature
.
Linear Mode
