Click image to enlarge.
1. Haul in
your boulders and stones and place them around the worksite. Outline the
location of your stream with a garden hose, then paint a line around it. Also
use paint to mark waterfall locations and ideal spots for large decorative
boulders.
2. Dig the
hole for the lower basin so it sits below the level of the streambed. Place
boulders to build up the sides of the upper pool and upper portion of the
stream, which are above the original grade (Figure A). Pack dirt and gravel to
hold all stones in place.
3. Drill holes
in the basin using three different size hole saw bits (see Figure C). Prime,
cement and attach the hose adapter to the
pump.
4. Lay the
fabric underlayment and rubber liner in the basin hole, then add the pump basin
with pump. Attach the hose. Then add stone layers (Figure C) and the basin
lid.
Click image to enlarge.
5. Carve a
winding streambed 6 to 8 in. deep, 2 to 3-1/2 ft. wide. Dig the channel so it
stair-steps down at waterfall No. 3, and dig 3- to 4-in. deep pools below
waterfalls No. 2 and 3 (Figure A).
Click image to enlarge.
6. Pack dirt
and gravel around the border stones to build waterfalls No. 1 and 2 above the
existing grade. Level the rows. Inspect the entire streambed and remove
anything sharp. Tamp down the entire stream, banks and upper pool
area.
7. Lay the
underlayment and a rubber liner into the streambed. Leave 3 to 4 in. of slack
in the liner at the base of the waterfalls, extend about 2 ft. up each bank and
overlap the basin liner by 2 ft. Place decorative boulders at waterfall
locations.
8. Lay the
underlayment and liner over the upper pool, overlapping the built-up boulder
edges. Overlap the lower liner by about 2 ft. Backfill stream edging boulders
for stability.
Click image to enlarge.
9. Set
decorative boulders at each side of waterfalls No. 1 and 2. Then coat the
bottom of the flat spill stones with foam sealant so they adhere to the liner.
Wedge stones into cracks between the spill stones and the sides of the stream
bank.
10. Force
gravel along all sides and under spill stones, then apply foam sealant in the
gaps so water flows only over the top of all spill
stones.
11. Add a top
layer of small boulders to complete the upper pool and streambed. Place
steppingstones in the middle of the stream and the stones below the waterfalls.
Cover the rest of the streambed liner with gravel.
Click image to enlarge.
12. Fill the
bottom basin with water and plug in the pump. Spray down all stones and the
stream until the water from the pump runs clear. Place the hose from the pump
into the upper pool. Trim off remaining exposed liner and adjust stream flow by
moving rocks and adjusting the ball valve.
