water feature...

[Tim Lamb]

Now that the block paving project is nearing completion (road entrance to be excavated and re-concreted) management attention has moved to the idea of installing a *water feature*!

Google offers a plethora but this is d-i-y and we already have an imitation terracotta water butt which meets artistic approval so...

Any thoughts?

Some things are obvious:-

The pump head will need to overcome the lift height with a bit spare for flow.

When the pump stops, all the water in the system will gravitate to the sump. Thus huge sump, big variation in water level or take up space in water butt with something. Perhaps water:-)

Solar powered + battery/mains back up sounds nice but may have non obvious issues.

Algae formation??

Frost? Drain down provision?

Dribbling water down the side of a glass fibre terracotta container may not prove very exciting.

regards

[Owain]

If you put a sump under your block paving project you could have your entire driveway a water feature, with some nice LED uplights etc.

With a remote control in the house you could squirt doorstep salesmen.

Some strategically placed nozzles could also act as window or car washers.

Argos have =A324 off a Boy and Girl Water Fountain in Luxury Poly Resin.

Owain

[Jim K]

does it come with a free "crying boy with unfeasibly large eyes" print to hang in "pride of place" just above the Fing ornaments?

Jim K

[The Medway Handyman]

Have a look here

install awnings for these guys. I can buy the awnings trade so maybe I could get you a bit off.

[Owain]

Are you suggesting it might appeal to people who gloss-paint their lightswitches?

Owain

[Tim Lamb]

I like the plastic milk churn. Very authentic:-) But discontinued.

It is very easy to spend lots of money!

I'm still pursuing the d-i-y ideas but thanks for the offer.

regards

[Tim Lamb]

It is actually the yard where my father's dairy cows stood waiting to be milked.

I am confident that s-i-l will find cleaning his car there irresistible.

I did notice that the solar powered, battery back up jobs have a 1 hour timed to off feature to protect the batteries from fully discharging.

regards

[Owain]

An eternally dribbling pump and barrel might be more the thing then.

[The Natural Philosopher]

how about an authentic two holer,. complete with newspaper, buckets and flies?

Oh.. you wanted water as well. Hmm. dig a cess pit and plumb in a couple of cisterns then.

I cant understand why people who love all things Victorian, never seem to install Victorian toilets.

A coal fired cooking range, single glazing, zero insulation, and the odd paraffin stove, Hurricane lamps and a bit of rotting lino to ensure copious condensation would complete the experience I feel.

[geoff]

In message , Tim Lamb writes

Just ask yourself "is it REALLY worth the bother and hassle I'm stacking up for myself"

Yes, algae and freezing, clogging and failing

How much are you really going to appreciate it ?

If you're sure, go ahead, don't forget the work it'll take with maintenance

[Adam Aglionby]

Water feature can be very satisfying and worth the fairly minimal maitenance.

Do want look or look and sound?

Waterfalls at any drop into plastic, sound like a plastic bucket filling....

Fountains into a pool make a great sound, but need some unobstructed depth to the pool.

Dissapearing into gravel is popular, can do fountains , urns or even a stream that dissapears into gravel if it suits the hard landscaping better.

jets alrady been mentioned, and they go well into gravel catchers, Oase make some reasonable cost ones but its DIY

[Tim Lamb]

Unfortunately it didn't come up to managerial expectations.

A friend has put the word *gurgle* in her mind!

regards

[Tim Lamb]

Mains drainage since 1975 but, in this drought, you can see the weeper pipe routes under the lawn from the old dairy waste system.

The previous tenants to my father took in washing and he *inherited* two solid fuel boilers; a bit like engineered missionary cooking pots.

Part of my youth was Friday night stoking the boiler cooking beetroot for sale the following day.

One of those would make a really serious *gurgle*:-)

regards

[Tim Lamb]

In message , geoff writes

Umm.. Happy relationships are a mutual exchange system with unwritten rules. As I wish to continue being well fed as certain effort is necessary. Sometimes it is better to fail visibly than attempt reasoned persuasion.

Me? Not at all. Something simple which trickles top up water to the existing main pond when the sun shines would be fine. Unfortunately that is functional and not artistic.

Or fight a rear-guard action? The plan so far is to check the depth of existing obstructive underground pipe runs, lay in a cable duct while it is easy and send her off on a tour of outlets; hoping the idea will wither:-)

regards

[Pete Verdon]

My eye was taken by the plastic meerkat. I'm sure having that stood in the middle of my lawn would really make the place look nice.

Pete

[Tim Lamb]

Just look. Sound would be incidental. Rather than pave the whole yard, I have retained a rectangular area around 3mx4m which I have been *told* to fill with blue slate chippings. The *Victorian bucket and pump* would suit the location but have fallen short of ambition elsewhere.

some future feature once we find out how the new space is used.

regards