Even the smallest body of water can decorate your own summer cottage and give it a zest. And a hand-made fountain will not only become a favorite place for relaxation and will give aesthetic pleasure, but will also become an occasion for compliments from invited guests.

But not everyone decides to build this mysterious hydraulic device with their own hands. Some summer residents mistakenly believe that the construction of a fountain is a laborious and costly process, and one cannot do without the help of specialists in this matter. But every lover can give himself such a pleasure to spend time in nature, the main thing is to know all the nuances of building a fountain with his own hands.

SELECTING THE TYPE OF FOUNTAIN

Two types of fountains can be distinguished according to the type of construction.

1. The open version assumes water supply to the nozzle. The formation of a jet in this version of the device occurs due to the differences in the water level. The water pressure in this case is weak, therefore it is necessary to constantly monitor the water level. In addition, the water in such a fountain becomes polluted rather quickly. To create it, you need to install a small reservoir at a height of about one meter above the nozzle.
2. A fountain with pump mounting is the most practical and effective option. Due to the placement at the bottom of the pump, continuous circulation of water is ensured. Here, the pressure is stronger and the visual effect is more beautiful.

By design, pumps that act as fountains are subdivided into submersible and surface (stationary).

OPTIMAL PLACE FOR PLACING A FOUNTAIN

When choosing a convenient place for the construction of a fountain, it is recommended to take into account the degree of the slope of the ground. If the area is uneven, it is better to place a similar decoration in the lowlands. This option for the location of the reservoir will not only allow adjusting the volume of groundwater, but will increase the oxygen saturation of the air.

• too close to the house so that moisture in windy weather does not get on the walls;
• in open areas, in order to prevent water bloom due to sunlight hitting the reservoir;
• next to trees so that leaves, seeds, fluff falling from them do not clog it, and the roots do not damage the waterproofing.

The fountain should be positioned in such a way that it is not an obstacle on the way to other buildings and is visible from all points. It is recommended to place the structure near the resting place.

The minimum distance that must be maintained between the fountain and plants, buildings, furniture is 50 cm. So the plants will not die from excessive moisture, and the furniture will not become unusable. The ideal option for the location of the fountain is partial shade and a place protected from the wind, close to a source of water and electricity. This arrangement will save you from unnecessary wires and additional work to isolate them.

Having decided on the place, it's time to think about the shape and depth of the future fountain.

PREPARATION OF MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTION

To build a fountain in order to save money and effort, you can use the technology of building a decorative pond with its pump equipment.

Materials required for the construction of the fountain:

• container for the fountain;
• pumping station;
• durable film;
• bayonet shovel;
• natural stones of various sizes;
• sand, gravel;
• decorative elements.

SELECTING AND INSTALLING A CONTAINER

If you plan to build a miniature fountain, you can use an ordinary plastic basin or any other small container as a reservoir.

For large reservoirs, old baths or a self-dug pit are suitable. If a bathtub is used, a hole must be dug so that the edges are not above the ground. All holes are reliably sealed in the bath, after which it is lowered into the pit and strengthened with earth, stones and sand.

For a homemade reservoir, a pit of the required depth is made and covered with a dense, high-quality film, which is fixed along the edges on the surface with stones. At the bottom, stones of various shapes and sizes are also poured. It is important that the stones do not have sharp edges and cannot cut the film. The stones are evenly distributed over the entire bottom of the future fountain.

SELECTING A PUMP FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A FOUNTAIN

In order to design a fountain on the site on your own, it is not necessary to purchase expensive materials, you can adapt any old elements. However, do not spare money - the pump, the better it is, the more beautiful the fountain will turn out and the longer it will decorate the site without causing problems.

A submersible pump is the best option for building a fountain at a summer cottage. Works on the principle of a centrifuge. You can also install a surface pump, it is mounted on the edge of a pond, but is most often used on large fountains and cascading ponds.

When choosing a pump, it is worth starting from the pressure that is constantly present in the pipe and the differences in this pressure. Therefore, the purchase of the most powerful pump may be unjustified, since not in all cases it will be able to work out its full power.

Regardless of which type of pump is chosen, it is important to remember that its power must be correlated with the pipe diameter. The fountain jet should come out under a powerful pressure, and not slowly flow out of the pipe, since there will be no effect from such a structure.

HOW TO MAKE A FOUNTAIN WITH YOUR HANDS: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

The construction of the fountain includes several main stages:

• pit preparation;
• securing the trench;
• installation of a container or covering the bottom and edges with a film;
• installation of pumping equipment;
• fountain decoration.

FOUNTAIN WITH WATER COVER FROM OLD COVER

To build such a fountain you will need:

• old tire from a truck or tractor;
• cement mixture, water, gravel and sand;
• a container for mixing cement and a shovel;
• sealant;
• building level;
• mastic;
• stones;
• pump.

Stages of work:

VIDEO - FOUNTAIN FROM A COVER WITH YOUR OWN HANDS

FOUNTAIN FOR COTTAGE WITH FILM USE

For such a fountain, you will need to prepare:

• thick film;
• shovel;
• sand;
• pump;
• stones of different sizes without sharp corners.

Stages of work:

• we dig a hole, clear it of stones and tamp the bottom;

NEW LIFE OF AN OLD BATH

For this version of the country fountain, you must prepare:

• shovel;
• pebbles;
• pump equipment;
• bath;
• insulating tape;
• scissors for metal;
• colored iron sheet;
• drill.

Stages of construction of the fountain:

• we dig a pit corresponding to the size of the existing container;
• we put the bath inside and plug all the holes;

• we cut out wide strips from iron and put them around the bathtub, close them with stones;

MINI FOUNTAIN FROM PLASTIC BOTTLE

For such a sprinkler you will need:

• plastic bottle;
• metal, strong wire or nail;
• insulating tape;
• garden hose.

Materials for a decorative fountain

Construction stages:

• decorate the pot with paints;
• make a small hole in the bottom of the pot;
• we install a pump under the pallet;
• we drag the pump tube through the hole made in the pot;
• fill the bottom with pebbles;
• decorate with artificial plants and figurines;
• fill the pot with water.

VIDEO - DECORATIVE FOUNTAIN WITH YOUR HANDS

FOUNTAIN DECORATION

You can emphasize the uniqueness of a hand-made fountain by decorating it. It is recommended to lay out beautiful, multi-colored stones of different sizes around the reservoir, put flowers in pots, place cute figurines of animals, birds, and more.

In order for the fountain to amaze with its beauty and uniqueness at night, you can make an illumination with the help of special equipment. Lamps installed around the perimeter of the fountain and illumination at its bottom will create a fabulous, magical atmosphere.

The bottom of the reservoir can be landscaped with the help of special plants, bushes can be planted around the fountain.

Any country pond and fountain, including, needs careful maintenance. To maintain order and transparency of the water, a pleasant external appearance of the structure, it is necessary to regularly clean the tank. With the help of special devices, it is required to remove leaves, seeds, fluff and other objects from the surface of the water that can not only spoil the appearance of the reservoir, but also lead to a malfunction of the fountain.

At the end of the summer cottage, it is necessary to drain all the water, transfer the removable parts of the structure to a closed room, and cover the remaining parts and the bowl with a film so that dirt does not get into them.

Build a fountain with your own hands in the country or even in an apartment is not difficult and does not require large financial resources. Before building a decorative fountain, you need to decide on the shape, size and installation location. There are many options for the location of such structures - near the gazebo, on the lawn, in the garden. After the construction of the fountain, you need to carefully monitor the purity of the water, regularly remove debris and add water, as it will evaporate.

Such designs are widely used in the design of suburban areas. Fountains can decorate any abandoned area or become a highlight of a summer cottage. And by connecting imagination and decorative elements, you can make it even more beautiful and unusual.

Landscape design