Water Feature DIY

Why Install a Water Feature?

A well-placed water feature changes the entire feel of an outdoor space. It adds sound, movement, and a sense of calm that's hard to achieve any other way. Whether you're drawn to the simplicity of a self-contained fountain or the craftsmanship of a fully custom installation, water features are among the most versatile and rewarding DIY landscaping projects you can take on. They attract wildlife, reduce stress, add genuine property value, and with today's energy-efficient pumps and programmable timers, they cost far less to run than most people expect.

Not sure where to begin? Our seminars on How to Build a Water Feature cover the whole process from planning to finishing touches in a way that makes it approachable for any skill level.

How to Start

Start by deciding what kind of water feature you're trying to create. This single decision will shape everything that follows. A self-contained decorative fountain is a great entry point, since many models require very little assembly and our staff can walk you through the specifics of whatever you choose. For custom features, placement comes first. Identify a location where you'll get the most enjoyment from both the sight and sound of the water, and confirm that electrical access is either already available or can be brought to that spot.

Once your location is set, spend some time browsing different styles and designs to narrow down your vision and establish a realistic budget.

Then gather your measurements (length, width, height, and any changes in grade) and use our Material Calculator to estimate how much product you'll need.

Tools You May Need

Paper & pen • Tape measure • Stakes & string • Marking paint • Square • Level • Shovel • Wheelbarrow • Rake • Gloves • Chisel • Safety glasses • Knee pads • Rubber mallet • Hose

Products You May Need

Water feature • Basin • Tubing • Pump • Clamps • Decorative gravel • Night lighting

Additional Machinery (optional)*

Skidsteer • Stone Saw

*Make sure you are qualified to run any equipment you may rent, or have someone experienced with machinery come out and help.

Installation

1. Plan

Review the How to Start checklist and put together a solid plan. Include your measurements, the specific products you need, and your estimated quantities before you do anything else.

2. Preparation

Choose your water feature. Pick something that gives you the look and sound you'd genuinely love coming home to every day.

From there, select your basin size based on the type, weight, and splash factor of your chosen feature. Ask our staff to help you match the right pump and tubing to get the water flow you want. Consider night lighting, as it adds striking beauty and genuine value to the feature, especially after dark. 

Finally, choose a decorative stone to surround the feature: decorative gravel, flagstone, or pavers.

3. Excavate*

Mark out the area to be excavated, and remember to call the appropriate utility companies before you dig (phone, cable, internet, gas, hydro, waterlines, and city piping all need to be located first).

Excavate the area 6–10" deeper than your basin's depth, with the very top of the basin sitting flush with the surrounding ground. If a basin doesn't suit your project, liner and underlay can be used instead.

*If you are placing the basin on a deck, pre-existing structure, or setting it on the ground and building up around it, skip this step.

4. Base

Add Advanced Performance Bedding to the excavated area and level it. The gravel base should bring the hole to a depth where the remaining space will hold your basin flush with the outside ground.

5. Basin Placement

Set the basin into the levelled hole and backfill around the sides. Once backfilling is complete, use a rubber mallet to level the basin fully.

6. Attachments

Place the pump in the bottom of the basin. Attach the tubing to the pump and tighten with a clamp, then feed the tubing up through the basin's center hole.

7. Feature Attachment

Place your feature onto the basin while feeding the tubing through it, positioning the feature as close to centre as possible. If you're using a core light, install it before the tubing. Place the light into the feature and let the cord hang through the hole, then run the tubing. The cord should sit between the feature and tubing, not inside the tubing.

8. Water Flow

Fill the basin with water, plug in the pump, and adjust the height of the tubing to control the flow. Go higher for a bigger bubble, or lower for a smaller one. 

If the water flow is uneven, check the angle of the feature itself. Small wedges underneath can help achieve the angle and flow you're after.

9. Finishing Touches

Surround the feature with your chosen decorative stone. If pavers are part of the design, sweep them clean and compact with a plate compactor, passing over the area at least three times in varying directions to let the pavers settle properly.

Then sit back and enjoy your handy work.

Ready to get started? Come in or call us & we'll help you put it all together.