Water Features Contractor

04 Apr 2015

Sticky Post By WaterfallNow Posted in Pondless Water Features, Pondless Waterfall, Pondless Waterfalls, Ponds, Water Feature, water features, Water Features Contractor, Water Garden, Waterfall Contractors Permalink

Landscape Ponds, Water Features, And Supplies

Sticky Post By WaterfallNow On April 4, 2015

Water features, Pond Pumps, And Accessories

In the architecture of landscape as well as garden design, water features are items that range from; ponds fountains, pools, streams, cascades and waterfalls, and streams. Prior to the 18th century most water features were typically powered by gravity. With pond planning and construction comes a good number of accessories that can enhance the aesthetics as well as functionality of the pond. An affordable and well reviewed pond pump is made by Jebao. Jebao manufactures pumps in China for waterfalls, ponds, and fountains. They range from simple to more complex construction. These are powerful, and can cost a fraction of what other leading name brands will cost. Cost is typically an issue for the average homeowner who doesn’t want to spend thousands of dollars every few years to replace a brand name pump. It is a misconception that water features can increase property value.

In some cases, a large pond may scare some potential home buyers away as they do not want to deal with the costs to maintain the pond.

There are many things that could go wrong with a pump including damage from freezing in the winter, poor filtration, pump drying out due to low water levels and so on. The lower cost pump will do the same job without the same risk in cost. We recommend spending the difference in cost savings on a higher quality pond contractor to properly construct and service the pond.

Pond liners

Pond liners come in a variety of forms. You can find premade fiberglass/plastic pond liners from most landscape garden supply stores. These are easy to install. Simply dig a hole, put the pond liner in making sure it is level, and backfill it in. Of course there are more steps involved but you get the idea. Another form is an impermeable geomembrane (EPDM) that is used for retention of water in the lining of garden ponds; it even includes the lining of lakes and artificial streams in gardens and parks. These pond liners require protection from sharp objects such as stones, tree roots, or anything else that could penetrate the liner causing a leak. If you have a leak in a larger pond, god bless your soul in trying to find it. For added protection a pond contractor may install several layers of sand, concrete or even fiber-matting among other materials. Pond liners are always manufactured in rolls and you can buy them in custom sizes. There are a few places in Surrey, BC that we know of that sells pond liner at exceptional prices (at least good enough to not bother with the hassle of buying from Amazon). While pond liner strips may be seamed or even welded together during construction, it is better to use one uniform piece. Additional flexible types of pond liners like PVC and EPDM are able to have their panels pre-fabricated in the factory to fit the design and shape of the pond.

Jebao Pumps for water gardens, ponds, fountains, and waterfalls

WaterfallNow carries many different pumps including Jebao pumps or any other brand of pumps our customers wish to use. We work with our customers to source the parts needed if they are items we do not currently have in stock ourselves. A lot of it boils down to costs and budgets to provide a working solution at the best available prices. This is together with services of installation of the same product. Our skilled personnel offer water features services at an affordable price which is often 20-50% less than the competitors pricing. It doesn’t matter what is needed at your pond, through amazon.com pond supplies and products associated with pond liner is an easy thing to acquirer. We also offer complete lines of the following; pond vacuums, pond filters, pond lines, garden pond-heaters among other products which will ensure that your pond keeps working well all year long

Click HERE for reviews on Jebao Submersible Pumps

Jebao JGP series pond pumps are available both as submersible and non-submersible pumps (inline). They are a quiet workhorse providing overload-protection devices. These are specifically designed for use in garden ponds, fountains, terraced fountains and indoor fountains. The large pre-filters are easy to disassemble without requiring any tools. Simply engage the pressure tabs to remove, clean the filters, and snap back into place. Keep in mind that the built-in foam filter is NOT a substitute for a legitimate biofilter. WaterfallNow carries pond filters that will help to reduce algae and introduce good bacteria into the pond to maintain a sustainable ecosystem. This means your fish are happy and free from diseases! There are also additional uv filters that wll reduce algae and eliminate harmful pathogens. Overall the benefits are reduced frequency of pump cleaning, optimum water flow, and a clean pond. We recommend Jebao pumps for small to large ponds, waterfalls, or water features. The built-in wear-resistant ceramic bearings allow for continuous and trouble-free use. Jebao has been able to exhibit the best kind of pumps needed for ponds. One of the larger parts costs involved in pond construction is the pump. It is vital to buy the right kind of pond pump for an optimal flow rate. Want to add vertical elements such as a waterfall to the pond? We strongly suggest you give Jebao pumps a try and compare its performance with other brands. Note: Waterfalls are a great addition to ponds as they will add oxygen to the water which reduces the growth of algae and keeps fish happy. Don’t want a pond but want a water feature? Why not add a pondless waterfall? You can enjoy the soothing sounds of a natural waterfall that is simple to maintain. Submersible and External Pond Pumps

Submersible pumps are ‘submerged’ in the water of the pond itself.
External pumps sit outside the pond. Pipes will connect the pump and the pond together.
There are also other new models which can be used both externally and submerged.

Submersible pump pros or advantages

Simple to setup – Just connect the hoses/wiring and drop the pump in the water in the desired location.
Very quiet, cheap with a very high water turn rate. Available in almost all needed GPH gallon per hour. Add a valve as needed.
Suitable for all pond sizes.

Submersible Pumps cons or disadvantages

Clogs easily as do most pumps when a filter is not installed and must be cleaned regularly from debris.
Maintaining the pump is a somewhat tough task to do. Cheaper case construction but this does not affect performance.

External Pumps pros or advantages

These pumps are outside the pond, this means dry hands installation as well as maintenance.
Better for use in larger ponds.
Energy efficient

External Pumps cons or disadvantages

Relatively expensive to purchase, but has a lower power usage which makes up for the investment costs soon after buying.
Relatively harder to install there’s also the, fittings, piping and the pump also needs protection from direct rain.
The pump has to be hidden from the “landscape” and in the meantime it should be kept accessible for maintenance purposes.

Most people normally prefer submersible Jebao pond pumps as they are easy to install, reliable and fit well in smaller ponds.

Pond filters

Pond filters are essential for maintaining a clean, and healthy pond. One can choose from our wide range of selection of filters that are for sure of great qualities which suit the issues of ponds and water garden without depending on whether one has a small ornamental pond or an idyllic ram bling waterfall. WaterfallNow has biofilters and uv clarifiers available for customers pond projects.

Pond contractors Surrey, BC

Need installation of a new pond or require pond cleaning? Facing problems with green and smelly pond water or has the filter stopped working? We do have and offer all the contractor services that you may need for the efficiency of your pond.

Pond lighting

WaterfallNow offers a large range of pond lighting in both low energy LED and halogen. The range includes pond lights that are submersible fully. These are suitable for garden installation. These can be LED ring lights for bubbler nozzles, waterjet laminar LED lighting, and dozens more.

09 Mar 2015

Sticky Post By WaterfallNow Posted in Faux Rock, Fiberglass, Fiberglass Rock, Fibreglass Rock, Water Feature, water features, Water Features Contractor Permalink

Artificial Rock Advantages And Benefits

Sticky Post By WaterfallNow On March 9, 2015

Any Shape Or Size

One of the many advantages of artificial rocks or man-made rocks is that they can be made to can be made to any shape or size.

Where real rocks often come in random shapes and sizes, they are often not as easy to manipulate as artificial rocks despite a mason’s best efforts.

There are many different types of artificial rocks. The most popular being shotcrete, GFRC rock paneling, polyurethane foam, styrofoam, plastic, or fiberglass panels which is what WaterfallNow specializes in.

Natural stone can only stack so high and comes in limited supply depending on where one is located. It requires a lot of manpower as well as heavy machinery.

While we appreciate the beauty of natural rocks, we noticed over 30 years of landscaping, that many water features made with natural stone tend to operate for 2-3 years until they run into ongoing maintenance issues.

Artificial rocks can be designed as pondless waterfalls to reduce maintenance and maximize uptime.

Weight

Artificial rocks weigh less than natural rocks which can require heavy equipment and machinery to maneuver.

Fake rocks such as foam or fiberglass rocks can be lifted by a single person with ease.

Shotcrete rocks are sprayed on-site into a rebar structure and then carved. One of the major disadvantages with concrete is their tendency to crack.

It is often common for most swimming pool water features to be constructed using concrete.

This because most concrete contractors specialize in building swimming pools already.

This isn’t however to say that a swimming pool water feature is always best built with shotcrete.

There are instances where due to large size, it is better to use a hollow structure that is far more cost efficient and affordable.

Weight is not an issue with fiberglass rocks so a special permit is not required.

The creation of large overhangs is much more affordable and safer overall when using artificial rock (hollowed out) as opposed to natural stone which can crack, fall, and potentially crush whoever is underneath.

Color

Artificial rocks can come in any number of colors. Special paints and coatings can be applied to create realistic rock surfaces that you cannot tell apart from real rocks.

Another advantage of artificial rocks is that you can change their color from one year to the next. Tired of brown? The contractor can simply paint over top to another desired color.

WaterfallNow uses a special compound that allows algae to form on the rocks which creates a more realistic appearance over time.

Durability

Fiberglass for example is an extremely durable material. When hardened it is pound for pound many times stronger than steel. It is very water resistant and not prone to cracking due to freeze-thaw action in freezing climates. It also lasts in hot climates.

When built to a commercial thickness, water features made using fiberglass can last for many decades without need of repairs.

Plumbing is protected and easily accessible with pondless waterfalls built using fiberglass. An access to the inner workings can always be made available. On the other hand, internal plumbing issues can be costly to remedy with shotcrete rocks should there be a hidden leak somewhere inside the structure. Once the concrete hardens, it is difficult and costly to repair.

Any Location

You can put artificial rocks anywhere. They can even go in small doorways where natural rocks cannot pass through, rooftops where you can crane up the lightweight artificial rocks, in malls, amusement parks, theme parks, hotels, and anywhere else you can imagine would be suitable. They can be made to be hollow and used as covers for electrical or manholes.

Concrete rocks are recommended for walkways whereas fiberglass rocks are recommended for decorative elements such as to build the caves, overhangs, and rock walls. The versatility of fiberglass allows contractors to add in custom elements such as LED lighting and other features even after construction has finished. One can simply cut into the fiberglass, add the elements, and then re finish the area.

Patterns

Artificial rock contractors can imitate natural rock patterns to add onto existing natural rock features. With a fiberglass molded rock, you essentially have a rock face that is identical to that of real rock. Shotcrete does not have this advantage and the rock texture is really up to the individual artist to carve out realistic patterns which is not always easy to do.

This is apparent on larger rockwork where one portion may look completely different from another and inconsistent as different workers have different levels of talent.

Sometimes, it is recommended to have a concrete contractor working with other contractors (polyurethane foam or fiberglass) where one focuses on the paving and the other focuses on creating the rock caves and walls.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both concrete and fiberglass but they balance eachother out when combined.

Special resins and paints are available to reduce the shine from fiberglass rocks.

There are definitely great instances of shotcrete used for decorative purposes. Many of the world’s most famous amusement park water features (Big Thunder Mountain @ Disney Land) were designed using shotcrete.

Cost

Real rocks would be financially unrealistic or impossible as a solution for most largescale projects. The biggest advantage of artificial rocks is their lower cost in comparison to real rocks.

For the same price you can expect a rock that is over 50% larger if you choose to go with artificial rock at a lower price. This is because there is less need for heavy machinery, labourers, and manpower.

Fiberglass is one of the most cost effective solutions that we currently offer and specialize in because of the competitive pricing and due to the fact that there are very few competitors. Nearly 90% of all of WaterfallNow’s work is made using a special fiberglass reinforced rock.

Cave rock or custom pool rock waterfalls always range in pricing and there is no real set standard pricing. It is up to the contractors experience, labour costs, material costs, time, overhead, and more to determine what they need to charge in order to make a profit.

Fortunately WaterfallNow has this all figured out and operates with small but highly skilled crews that works year-round. Our simple yet effective process allows us to cost 50% less than the next leading competitor for artificial rock projects.

Turn a boring landscape into something extraordinary with the addition of a custom artificial rock water feature. There are no limits to the possibilities and custom options. Except maybe your budget – Let’s be real here. Call WaterfallNow for your free estimate today.

Some photos to show you why most companies do not touch fiberglass. It is a VERY messy process to create the rock panels.

WaterfallNow’s designers have manufactured over 90% of the fiberglass rock panels used, locally, in Surrey, BC for many years. We can attest to the difficulty of the process and how damaging it can be on ones health. For this reason we do not employ entry level workers and prefer to do all of our manufacturing ourselves which is also a factor in our competitive pricing.

19 Nov 2014

Sticky Post By WaterfallNow Posted in Artificial Rock Wall, Artificial Rock Waterfalls, Backyard Waterfall, Fiberglass Rock, Retaining Wall, Rock Water Wall, Rock Waterfall, Vancouver, Water Feature, water features, Water Features Contractor, Water Features Vancouver Permalink

1413 Sandhurst – Water Features Construction Underway

Sticky Post By WaterfallNow On November 19, 2014

WaterfallNow was recently referred to construct multiple rock water features for this beautiful custom built home in West Vancouver at 1413 Sandhurst Place intersecting at Chartwell Drive in West Vancouver, BC, Canada.

1413 sandhurst place West vancouver

Sample Photos During Construction Process. The final product always looks completely different once attention to detail, water, lighting, touch ups, and coloring are added.