How to Build a Garden Fountain (page 2 of 2)

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Mixing and Buyer's Guide

Strong concrete mix has just the right amount of water
Too little water and the concrete mix will be stiff and unworkable. Too much water results in weak concrete prone to cracking and breaking. Start by dumping 1-1/2 bags of concrete mix into a wheelbarrow or plastic mixing tub. Then measure out the amount of water recommended on the bag and add it slowly while mixing the concrete with a hoe. Check for the proper consistency by making a trench with the hoe. The concrete should stand up on both sides of the trench. If it sags and fills the trench, it's too wet. Add more dry powder to make a stiffer mix. It should be about the consistency of potato salad.

It takes a little more effort to get this thick concrete mix to settle into the forms. The trick is to tap on the outside of the forms after they're filled with concrete. Tapping eliminates air pockets that would otherwise show up as holes in the concrete surface.

After filling and tapping the forms, you have to let the concrete harden for a while before smoothing the top surface. The length of time will vary between 45 minutes and three or four hours depending on the weather and other factors. The concrete is ready when the surface water is gone and you can barely indent the surface with your thumb.

Smoothing the top surface requires two steps: floating and troweling. Float the surface by rubbing the concrete in a circular motion with a block of wood until a thin layer of soupy, rock-free cement covers the surface. Next, flatten and smooth the surface with a steel trowel.

Remove the forms after the concrete has set up for at least 12 hours. If you don't plan to assemble the fountain immediately, cover the column and wheel with plastic and store them in a shady spot until you're ready. Otherwise, keep the fountain running for at least a week to keep the concrete wet while it cures.

CAUTION: Wear long rubber gloves and safety glasses when you're working with concrete. Wet concrete can seriously burn bare skin.

Use a hacksaw to cut the rebar to length. Be very careful when you're working with the hardware cloth - the cut edges have razor-sharp points. Wear leather gloves and bend all cut edges down before you install the cover over the tub. Don't cover the hardware cloth with stones until you've filled the tub with water and tested the pump. To avoid the risk of electrical shock, make sure the circuit you plug the pump into is GFCI protected.

Fountains require a little maintenance
Keep the tub full of water. If it dries up while the pump is running, it will ruin the pump. Check the intake grate or screen on the pump occasionally and remove leaves and debris. If you live in a cold climate, drain the fountain in the fall. Then clean out the liner and store the pump inside for the winter.

Buyer's Guide

BECKETT CORP.: (888) 232-5388. www.888beckett.com.
The pump we used is a Beckett M130AUL16, which is available but isn't on the Web site.

EPONDS.COM: (866) 620-6088. www.eponds.com.
Water gardening supplies and equipment.

MacCOURT: (800) 552-5473. www.maccourt.com.
Whiskey barrel liners (to use for tub).