How to Choose the Best Outdoor Fountains

Do you think the outdoors of your home needs a different feel? Are wondering what to add to give it that feel? Or perhaps, you realized that the best enhancement it needs right now is an outdoor fountain? If that’s the case, then you need a guide on how to choose the best outdoor fountains.

There are a lot of colors, sizes, and styles to choose from. As such, it might be difficult for you to make a choice. Not only that, installing an outdoor fountain costs time and money so you want to be very careful when making a choice.

That said, there are some factors to consider when choosing the best outdoor fountains which we will show you in this article.

Get to Know the Types of Outdoor Fountains

There are different types of outdoor fountains and they vary based on their advantages, and disadvantages, cost of maintenance, and aesthetic appeal. The following are some examples:

Self-contained Fountains

This type is very popular. And unlike others, it is easy to install and do not cost much. Not only that, they come with their plumbing so they do not necessarily have to be installed in a pond.

Spouting Fountains

Many people consider this type to be dramatic as they shoot water into the air from their nozzles. However, they are quite affordable and can be installed easily.

Tiered Fountains

This type is more traditional. They are mostly found in country yards. These fountains have tires that give the unique shape and release gentle sounds from the water.

Wall Fountains

This type is good if you don’t have sufficient space for a cascading fountain or proper spouting. They are of two types – freestanding and wall-mounted – and are usually installed into walls.

Cascading Fountains

Unlike other outdoor fountains, cascading fountains flow from one step to the other. The water comes from the top and flows to the steps lined downwards.

Disappearing Fountains

This type of fountain is also called a disappearing fountain. Of all outdoor fountains, these ones take a less traditional approach. Their pumps are usually installed underground, so it makes people wonder where the water comes out from.

Also, because it is installed underground, you get to spend less on maintenance as the risk of algae growth is quite low.

Swimming Pool Fountains

As the name implies, this type can only be installed in swimming pools and is mostly installed for people who feel that they have had enough of a dull pool appearance. They are not very expensive nor are they difficult to install.

Other types include animal fountains, bronze fountains, urn fountains, bubbling fountain. You can click here for more fountain types to consider.

Pick a Size and a Finial

After carefully choosing a fountain type and material, the next thing to do is pick a size. Before this, you have to consider where you want the fountain to be installed, if the space is too small or not.

If you have chosen a fountain type and you realize that the space is too small, you might need to change your decision.

Finally, a finial can add a nice touch to the fountain. However, there are some fountain types on which a finial cannot be installed. So, if you would like to include a finial, ensure that you put this into consideration before picking your preferred fountain type.

Get to Know the Building Materials

Different fountains are made with different materials. Get to know which material lasts longer than the other and which can stand harsh weather and other elements. Here are some examples:

Glass

Glass is usually very appealing to the eyes. However, they are not considered to be the best material for an outdoor fountain as they can break at any time.

Ceramic

Just like the glass material, the ceramic material is also quite appealing to the eyes, a contributing factor to this is the fact that they are quite small compared to other materials. However, following a few years after a winter season, the fountain might fall apart.

Cast Stone

This type of material sometimes looks like real stones after installation. They are also under the risk of falling apart because they do not take well to winter seasons, except they are covered up in tarpaulins or any other covering material.

Limestone

Limestone materials are usually soft. And as such, they require proper maintenance. Because of their texture, they have specific cleaning agents that are used to clean them. Not only that, chances are that they will not last long if they go through the winter seasons.

Travertine

This material is similar to that of limestone. They are both very delicate. The only difference is that the travertine material can start falling apart without your knowledge.

Because of their nature, they tend to have air pockets which can cause leakages from the inside.

Granite

This type of material is most sought for. They are not as delicate as the travertine and limestone materials and they last really long. Unlike most fountain materials that do not come in a variety of colors, this one does.

They are also not that hard to maintain as there are no specific instructions on the cleaning agents to use and whatnot. Click https://www.wikihow.com/Maintain-Outdoor-Fountains for general tips on how to maintain an outdoor fountain.

Conclusion

Installing an outdoor fountain is like a long-term commitment, so you need to consider a lot of factors before deciding on the one to install.

When you live in a really cold climate, you might want to consider buying one made with granite materials as they will last longer than any other material. Otherwise, the colder the climate, the more your fountain is at the risk of falling apart.

However, you’re in an area with a warmer climate, you can consider buying anyone as there is no risk of the fountain falling apart. But of course, you have to adhere to specific instructions where necessary.