30 Jan 2015

Sticky Post By WaterfallNow Posted in Water Feature, water features, Water Walls, Waterfall, Waterfall Design With No Comments Permalink

Different Types Of Water Features

Sticky Post By WaterfallNow On January 30, 2015 With No Comments

Here are some different types of water features

Rock waterfall:

This is the type of waterfall that WaterfallNow is known for specializing in. There are different materials ranging from natural stone, veneer panels, boulders, concrete, brick, fiberglass, gfrc and even styrofoam. WaterfallNow prefers fiberglass over the alternatives due to the lightweight and flexible nature of the rock. As it is molded off of real rocks, the rocks maintain the same textures that natural rocks would. The rocks can be painted to any color and even painted again to change the color for a different season. Rock waterfalls with natural stone are usually seen in everyday landscaping gardens whereas artificial rock waterfalls are seen around tropical pool resort-like environments. Note: When retrofitting a waterfall onto an existing pool, it is important to note that the weight of concrete or other materials can cause damage such as cracking if not careful. Fiberglass rocks are a safer and more cost-effective alternative.

Waterwall

This kind of feature is where water slowly trickles or cascades down from the top of the wall. The water is fed back up from a pump and tube to the top and this process continues. Note that most water walls require a filter to be installed to avoid clogging from mineral build up. These are an elegant water feature idea that can go both indoors and outdoors. There are different sounds of cascading water depending on the type of material used for the front panel. These are increasing in popularity especially in corporate settings. Many companies are opting to have an acrylic or glass water wall with their logo engraved. The addition of LED lighting makes for a truly spectacular piece of decor.

Rain Curtain

Rain curtains are a great design piece to add moving water to a room. These can be built both indoors or outdoors. Indoor units are typically made with thin clear strands that run from the top of the unit to the water channels where the water is then fed back up through a pump to fall back down again in a continuous motion. There are many excellent photos of rain curtains that can be found online. These pieces can be customized in virtually any design. Speak to your local water features experts to learn about some of the possibilities.

Scupper / Waterfall Spillway / Sheer Descent / Ledge Fall / Sheet Fall

Scuppers are water features where water flows down a small ledge before descending into a pool, pond, or water container. There are many variations and names as well as materials (aluminum, acrylic, plastic, fiberglass). These produce more sound than a rain curtain or water wall and are a spectacular at night with the addition of LED strip lights built into the spillways. Waterfall spillways and sheet falls are similar in that they are thin flattened flows of water coming down in a long line the width of the spillway unit.

Sconce

These are similar to a water jet however there are different types of flows. These units are typically wall-mounted to the side of a pool wall or retaining wall and has water shooting out in a thin line or flowing down. One common version of a sconce water feature is a lions head with water flowing from the mouth.

Laminar Jet

These are a water feature with increasing DIY (do it yourself) popularity. Many high end laminar jets that are programmable can go for more than $2000 USD per unit. WaterfallNow carries some custom made stationary units for customers that simply want a unit that flows in a straight line into a pool without any special controlling requirements. These laminar flows create the impression of a solid LED lighted tube. At night you will see the LED lighting flowing through the tube cast light into the area where the water meets the pool. A definite must-have for nighttime pool enthusiasts.

Bubbler / Gurgler

These are often sold in landscape supply stores or custom-made by water features specialists. They are water features with a pump that channels water through and out the top of hollow cored out faux or real rocks. The more common material used is basalt rock. These can weigh thousands of pounds or can be made light enough for a single person to carry depending on the materials used.

Fountain / Geyser / Foam Jet / Sun Jet / Umbrella / Dandelion

There are an infinite number of fountain variations. WaterfallNow can make customized programmable fountain units with aluminum and other materials for Vegas Bellagio style light shows. These water features shoot water up out of the pond, pool, or basin and fall back onto themselves or at an angle. They come in an infinite variety of designs and styles.

Have fun designing your next water feature project!

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.

Completed – new photos to come. Custom fiberglass rock waterfall feature in Zero Ave, High Point, Langley, BC, Canada.

Also see

2575 Marine Drive West Vancouver

2575 Marine Drive West Van

14 Nov 2014

Sticky Post By WaterfallNow Posted in outdoor water features, Pondless Water Features, Pondless Waterfall, Pondless Waterfalls, Rock Waterfall, Water Feature, water features, Water Garden, Waterfall For Garden, Waterfall Landscaping Permalink

How To Winterize A Pond: Pondless Waterfall, Water Feature, Or Fountain

Sticky Post By WaterfallNow On November 14, 2014

How To Winterize A Pond: Pondless Waterfall, Water Feature, Or Fountain

Whether you have a pondless waterfall, koi pond, or outdoor fountain, there are a few important steps to take to winterize any water features that you may have in your backyard.

One step to take is to ensure that the pond area is free from debris such as fallen leaves, branches, or dead plants. The presence of these is often the largest contributor to maintenance requirements. Proper placement of a water feature away from potential debris can lead to a maintenance-free waterfall. In other cases, more notably in the fall months, such organic materials will deteriorate in the pond. This lowers the quality of water which can in turn decrease the lifespan of the pond pump. It is recommended to cover the pond water supply using a net or trimming nearby branches.

Much like a pool, it is essential to keep the pond free basin free of decomposed organic sludge. If draining of the pond followed by a sweep is not possible, it is recommended to use a pond vacuum. One should not over clean because the fish, frogs, tadpoles, and other organisms will often use the organic sludge at the bottom of the pond to nest in.

Another concern if you have fish is that the levels of ammonia, hydrogen sulfite, and nitrates will be increased as a result of the debris. Hydrogen sulfide in particular is poisonous to fish. Also, because fish require oxygen to survive, it is recommended that an open hole is maintained to allow oxygen in and to let carbon dioxide out. If you find that the water has frozen over, it is recommended to open the hole using boiling water as banging on the ice can irritate the fish.

Proper pump care for a pondless waterfall is necessary in harsh climates that are well below freezing temperatures during the winter months. It is recommended that you disconnect the pump, drain, and store in a dry place. It is also recommended that the waterfall be drained and covered to protect the internal hose/plumbing systems. If you have fish, it is recommended to try and leave some form of aeration system on for the pond to provide a fresh supply of oxygen to the pond. If the weather is too cold then a regular aquarium air pump will do in a pinch (even if the water is freezing). Floating pond heaters are available in stores and serve the purpose of keeping the pond surface from freezing over.

Pond owners will find that the deeper and larger the pond, the less maintenance is required in the long-run as a natural ecosystem builds up over-time. Smaller ponds that are shallow tend to require more careful attention. this is especially true in the winter as they can freeze over killing the fish inside. Fish often stay near the deepest areas of a pond during the winter months.

WaterfallNow’s waterfalls on the other hand can run year-round as Vancouver’s temperature is not as harsh. Because water rarely freezes in the Lower Mainland, BC, we are able to operate almost all of our waterfalls in any season without any issues. The fiberglass kevlar backed membrane can withstand even harsh freezing temperatures without fear of cracking that could cause significant damage to the structure or worse – leaks.