DIY Brick Fountain

Fountains add a focal point in a yard.

Create a beautiful water feature for your yard by building your own brick fountain. The fountain can be any size you like, from small to large. Add soothing sounds of splashing water to make the area a place to relax. Look for unique fountain heads to complement your yard design and personal style. You can make a brick fountain in a day, or less. Supplies for the fountain are available at many home improvement stores, as well as fountain and statuary landscape supply outlets.

Things You'll Need

• Brick pavers
• Pond liner
• Utility knife
• Fountain pump and tubing
• Fountain head
• Water
• Algaecide

Instructions

1. Prepare the area for the fountain. Clear the ground of any debris, making it as level as possible. If the surface is very uneven, add dirt and tamp it down well.

2. Lay out the first row of pavers. Keep them tight together, as they are the foundation of the fountain. Build at least two more courses of the bricks for the wall of the fountain. Stagger each course of bricks so that the edge of the top brick rests on the center of the brick below it.

3. Set the pond liner into the fountain area and position it so the sides of the liner come up the walls and hang over the edge of the top brick course. Remove any wrinkles in the liner by stretching it out. Place bricks on the inside of the fountain bottom to help the liner stay in place.

4. Add another course of bricks on top of the liner, securing it into place. Trim away excess liner.

5. Set the pump into the center of the fountain. Attach the tubing to the pump and run it through the fountain head. Set the fountain head over the pump. If the bottom of the head is not hollow or does not fit over the pump, set the head on more bricks. Trim away any excess tubing from the top of the fountain head. Run the electrical cord out of the fountain and plug it into an appropriate outlet.

6. Fill the pond with water, taking care not to fill higher than the liner. Turn the fountain on to test it. Adjust the water pressure on the pump, if needed. Add algaecide to the water per the manufacturer's directions.

Tips & Warnings

• Brick pavers come in a variety of shapes and sizes; your fountain can be round or square, depending on what you want.

• Adjusting the pressure of the pump allows you to control the amount of water coming out of the top of the fountain head. Less pressure provides a trickle, while a higher pressure can shoot water a few inches into the air.

• Keep the fountain clean so the pump does not get plugged up and burned out.

• If you live in a climate with freezing winter temperatures, be sure to drain your fountain and the pump lines to avoid damaging the pump and fountain.

References

• Long Island Fountain Company: Fountain Design Process
• The Water Garden: Disappearing Waterfalls and Fountains