Garden Waterfall

26 May 2014
Sticky Post By Posted in Artificial Rock Wall, Backyard Waterfall, Garden Fountain, Garden Landscaping Waterfalls, Garden Waterfall, outdoor garden water features, Outdoor Living Designs, Water Feature, Waterfall For Garden, Waterfall Landscaping Permalink

Waterfall Landscaping For Gardens

Sticky Post By On May 26, 2014

Are you looking to add a waterfall for your garden? Here are some tips and helpful words of advice.

Adding even a small waterfall can change the ambiance of not only your yard but of your neighbors. The sounds of trickling water are very enjoyable when sitting outside in your garden. Whether you like to host parties, relax by the patio, or spend time with the kids or dogs a water feature is a great addition to the yard. If you like to host parties then the addition of a pool may be something of interest to you.

Where to Start?

First things first. You will need to make a list of the things that you need ON PAPER. Don’t make the mistake of doing it in your head and make a habit of getting things down in writing. Not only is writing things down a good habit in general but a good principle for organizing tasks for landscaping projects.

You can think of your next landscaping project almost as a simplified version of a business plan. You want want such and such to get done and will need such and such resources. Many people underestimate the amount of money they will need to change their garden. It can help to look at photos of completed jobs along with the budget spent and reverse engineer the process from there. It can help to do some of the work yourself but it will also be beneficial to hire a professional do the work.

For those not limited by a budget and who want the absolute best the biggest challenge is simply in finding the right contractor for the job. Waterfall landscaping contractors are plentiful yet only a few have the ability to give clients what they really want. Having several decades of landscaping experience in both residential and commercial landscaping, WaterfallNow’s crew is well aware of all waterfall and water feature designs. The crew has created multiple designs using natural stone as well as concrete, styrofoam, bricks, mortar, and other materials. The biggest issue with the natural stone cascading rocks was the huge amount of maintenance required.

Many water feature landscaping contractors don’t mention the amount of maintenance that these can require. While they look great for the first few weeks just a few days of heavy rain or a few weeks without care can turn it into a swamp. It is advised that you check with your contractor on their maintenance rates and make sure that you can afford them long-term.

The moss and algae that grows within the cracks and within the water stream quickly becomes dirty and requires the rocks to be pulled out, thoroughly rinsed, and laid back into place. It requires almost as much work to thoroughly clean one than it does to have one installed in the first place. This isn’t to say that they aren’t a viable option but just a word of caution to the less informed.

Do you have a small yard? Many garden landscaping projects are aimed at maximizing smaller spaces. If for example your yard is on a slope you may want to consider adding a deck. Alternatives to a deck would be to install a retaining wall (usually from concrete, wood, or bricks).

Do you like to cook outdoors? If so, it would naturally follow that the addition of an outdoor kitchen would be a great move to further enhance your outdoor living design – if you can afford it.

While WaterfallNow encourages even a dinky water feature over nothing, it is also important to consider the types of flowers you plan to use. Colour schemes from certain flower arrangements can affect different moods.

Remember that it is your garden and you can do what you like with it. Some people find that it helps to give their garden a name or a theme. Do you like birds? WaterfallNow has created some fountains in the past that became a regular visiting area for birds in one of our clients yards. That is an additional benefit that our client continues to enjoy.

Pergola’s are a nice addition to backyard landscaping projects that can offer shade to sit and relax by the waterfall. Don’t forget to plant some vines.

Want a private resort in your own backyard? WaterfallNow’s rocks are lightweight enough to create any size rock. We also have experience in concrete forming and concrete rock waterfalls. The weight becomes an issue for larger projects but if that is your preferences then let us know. It costs 40-50% more than our popular lightweight version but if you request it then WaterfallNow will handle it. Call the Vancouver number for details on that.

Here is a great looking waterfall. Virtually anything is possible with artificial rock waterfalls. The only real limit is ones budget and how much they are willing to spend.

25 May 2014
Sticky Post By Posted in Artificial Rock Wall, Artificial Rock Waterfalls, Backyard Waterfall, Custom Rock Waterfalls, Garden Waterfall, How To Build A Waterfall, Landscape Waterfall, outdoor garden water features, Outdoor Living Designs, Outdoor Rock Waterfall, Pondless Waterfalls, Water Features Vancouver, Waterfall Design Permalink

Hiring Water Features Contractors For Your Garden Renovation

Sticky Post By On May 25, 2014

Water features for the garden are a staple for outdoor living.

As the weather grows warmer more people begin to shift their attention towards how they will redesign their yards. Considering the average person will spend a significant portion of their time it just makes sense to spruce things up.

There is a large variety of choices to be made when considering the type of garden renovation ideas one has in mind. Having many decades of landscaping experience under our belts we’ve heard the common issues most people had with their own yards. Most people want their yards to look nice but many don’t even know where to begin. Some believe they want a large amount of flowers only to find that they don’t have the time to maintain it themselves.

When most people look to add a water feature to their yard it is usually because they saw something online or they were in their friends yard and their neighbour had one. So what most people end up doing is going with the first company that they can find. I recommend getting a minimum of 3 estimates from different companies or contractors to get a better understanding of what the project will look like.

When choosing a contractor pick one that has a portfolio of past projects that you like. It is not enough to take one’s word for it and assume that they will create exactly what you had in mind. When in doubt ask for references.

How much does it cost? That will depend on the company you hire to do the work. Generally they will ask for a smaller deposit to begin the work. If a contractor asks for 50% of the total cost up front it should raise some alarms. Most companies work out smaller payments as the work progresses. There are times, especially with smaller companies just starting out, where the contractors ask for 50% upfront to fund an existing project that isn’t yet completed due to lack of funds.

It is safest for you as the customer to deal with contractors that only require small payments as the work progresses. Doing business simply because you like someone even if you know they might not do a good job or are inexperienced always comes with a risk. Things don’t always go as planned as is apparent in the world of contract work but there are precautionary steps you can take to avoid these setbacks. Such costs may entail having to re-hire someone else to fix the ‘fix.’

On the other hand, if you are a contractor reading this you must develop the ability to say ‘no’ to clients who will only cause more problems. It is not worth the headache and heart ache to deal with bad clients.

In summary:

1. Check the contractors portfolio. Ideally you want photos of projects they’ve done themselves. If they are in the custom crafting arena then bring your imagination to the table and plan things out beforehand.

2. Get multiple estimates before picking the water features contractor you plan to work with. Don’t overpay for something that anyone can do (eg. installing a DIY water feature from natural stones). The costs for things that cost less upfront often cost more in the long-run. Have in mind the type of water feature you want with the right budget in mind. Avoid attempts to haggle with something that is clearly out of your budget range in hopes of getting a deal. It’s not worth it.

3. Ask lots of questions. One of the ‘catches’ with most water features is that they lose their appeal after 1-2 years. The high maintenance costs of hiring someone to restore the pond and rocks from looking like green pea soup can be costly and time consuming over a long period of time. If you are a fan of maintenance free (hands off, minds off) and just want to relax then seek out low-maintenance options. Ideally you want something that suffers no cracking from ice (freeze-thaw), has no permit requirements, no excessive weight that may cause sinking and cracking, nothing that takes up too much of your yards real estate, nothing potentially dangerous for children, and something that lasts a lifetime.

4. While I recommend negotiating to get the best price try to avoid excessive haggling (see point 2) with contractors because it is a waste of your time and a waste of theirs. You will not get the best quality from asking for too much and giving too little. Often times trying to get things for cheap results in poor quality and a lower level of service. Water features, fountains, and waterfalls don’t come cheap but that is the point. The cheap variety can be found from Home Depot or Rona in a do-it-yourself kit. Doing it yourself is something that I recommend everyone try at least once. Why? Because it will yield a greater appreciation for the many years of experience that landscapers put in to the point where they make it ‘look easy.’

The bottom line for anyone seeking to renovate their yard is to pick something that gets a ‘wow’ out of themselves, their guests, and makes them feel good. WaterfallNow’s waterfalls are custom designed with you in mind so that you know you have a one of a kind custom hand-made piece of art. Go ahead, show off your yard.

07 May 2014
Sticky Post By Posted in Custom Rock Waterfalls, Garden Fountain, Garden Waterfall, Landscape Waterfall, outdoor garden water features, Outdoor Living Designs, Outdoor Rock Feature, Outdoor Rock Waterfall, outdoor water features, Water Feature, water features Permalink

Garden Water Features: Can They Save Your Life?

Sticky Post By On May 7, 2014

Can a water feature save your life? Well… Maybe not, but they may help.

Imagine coming home from a hard working day and relaxing by the patio next to a soothing garden water fountain waterfall.

The soothing sounds of running water helps to relax the mind, providing a sense of calm.

Have you ever experienced the joy of having a water feature in your yard? Having a beautiful water feature will not only increase the property value (if properly maintained) but will also create a harmonious environment.

There are health benefits of having water features as well.

Stress is the number one killer of human beings in the world. The compounded effect of stress from our everyday lives causes major health issues which can unnecessarily shorten ones lifespan.

So what can we do? Having a water feature can be part of the solution to reducing stress levels. There are many other things you can do to further reduce your stress levels.

1. One effective method that has worked for thousands of years is meditation. It is never too late to learn how to do this or take a local class.

2. Breathe deeply. Did you know that most people either take shallow breaths or breathe incorrectly through their mouth? Diaphragmatic (belly) breathing is a simple way to ensure that you are getting the correct flow of oxygen through your body.

3. Being more present. Slowing down for at a few intervals can actually help you be more productive throughout the day. Being more conscientious about where you are in the world, relaxing tense muscles can all help to improve your health.

4. Fad diets are just that ‘fads’. Take a long-term approach to your health by making healthy eating a habit. Things such as eating more omega 3 fatty oils than omega 6 or trans fats, eating less processed foods, more vegetables, getting enough vitamins and minerals through natural food sources, drinking lots of water, and doing a detox every now and then are all going to help you feel better.

By being more self aware about your health you can extend your life by 10-20 years. Good health doesn’t start at the mouth, rather it starts in the mind. A healthy mind is far more likely to take measures to care for the body and avoid self-destructive behaviour.

Enough stress can cause heart attacks. The relaxation benefits offered by garden water features can in a way help to reduce the stresses that surrounds everyday life.

Garden Water Feature Fountain Waterfall

You don’t need to call WaterfallNow to get a big luxury custom waterfall fountain but we still recommend getting something that you can enjoy everyday – even if it is just a small tabletop fountain made in China.

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