The Many Reasons to Include a Fountain

Wall fountains are a good alternative if your yard is small because they do not require much space in comparison to a spouting or cascading fountain. You can choose to install a stand-alone fountain with a flat back and an attached basin propped against a fence or wall in your backyard, or a wall-mounted type which is self-contained and suspended from a wall. Adding a fountain to an existing wall requires that you add a fountain mask as well as a basin at the bottom to collect the water. The plumbing and masonry work necessary for this kind of work requires expertise, so it is best to employ a skilled person rather than go at it yourself.

Where did Garden Water Fountains Come From?

From the beginning, outdoor fountains were simply there to serve as functional elements. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, via aqueducts or springs in the area. Used until the nineteenth century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their origin of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also provided clean, fresh drinking water. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often used by Romans to decorate their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to illustrate his superiority over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains built to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.

The end of the 19th century saw the rise in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to purely decorative elements. Gravity was replaced by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.

These days, fountains adorn public spaces and are used to recognize individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.

Choose from Any Number of Outdoor Wall Fountain Styles

Depending on your wishes, you can pick from mounted or freestanding types. Small, self-contained models can be hung on a wall are called mounted wall fountains. Typically made of resin (to resemble stone) or fiber glass, these types of fountains are lightweight and easy to hang. In large stand-alone fountains, otherwise known as wall fountains, the basin is set on the ground with the smooth side positioned against a wall. Generally constructed of cast stone, this style of water feature is not limited in weight.

Customized fountains which can be incorporated into a new or existing wall are often prescribed by landscaping designers. Installing the basin against the wall and installing all the plumbing work needs a professional mason to do it properly. The wall will need to have a spout or fountain mask incorporated into it. A custom-made wall fountain blends into the landscape instead of standing out because it was a later addition, which contributes to a cohesive appearance.