building my own water fountain

[Tim Wagner]

Has anyone here built there own fountain? I was going to use some 1X2's and some welded wire mesh for the skeliton, but what I need to know is what Kind of concrete to use? Or should I even use concrete?

Thanks.

[Joe Pelonio]

I built a pond with waterfall in the back yard. Mines a hole in the ground about 3'x6', 12" to 24" deep, lined with rubber pond liner. For the waterfall I did cast regular concrete by shaping wet sand on the ground, lined it with reinforcing chicken wire. tha sand gave it a natural rock-like appearance.

Fir what you are doing I'd suggest that wood is a weak area, since if it ever cracks the wood would rot. Rebar or a heavy gauge wire, like the thickness of welding rod might be better for the frame.

[Jim Becker]

The June 2007 issue of This Old House magazine has an article on constructing a fountain on page 67. While it uses flat stones (drilled for the pipe) for construction, all the plumbing and other underpinnings would apply well to your project.