Attaching steel spouts to granite water fountain
Hi,
I want to replace the water spout of my fountain, and I would like some tips on how best to do that.
The fountain is concrete with Xypex added to imrpove waterproofing. The exterior is faced with polished granite. The spouts are simple U-shaped steel pieces, insered into openings after the concrete is cured. Other than caulk around the edges, I don’t think any adhesive was used. (See the picture below.)
What I want to do is to swap out the simple spouts for more elaborate ones. I can just pull out the old spouts after removing the caulk.
But I don’t know best to attach the new spouts. For example, if the new spouts look like half a bowl (picture below again), for the water to fill and flowing over the rim, is it possible to just “glue” this piece to the granite with caulk like DAP Dynaflex 230 by apply a generous amount to the blue area? Should I worry about damages to the stone, thinset, and grout because they will be submerged?
Thanks. Any help is appreciated.
Bill
Replies
I don't think you know what you're getting yourself into.
re: I don't think you know what you're getting yourself into.
Hi, Dan,
You're right. I have no experience at this and didnt find anything useful on the web. Would you care to give me some ideas or point me in the right directon?
Thanks.
Bill
The joints will be submerged. If they are made with anything resembling conventional grout, it is NOT waterproof, and water will ooze through the joint. At best you will get a deposit of "salts" along the adjacent grout lines, just outside of your spout. And over time salts may build up behind the granite and tend to pry the pieces away from the thinset.
re: The joints will be submerged
Dan,
Thanks for pointing that out. That outcome did and still does worry me.
When the fountain was built, I asked the tile setter whether moisture would cause problems in the long run. I brought it up because some granite would be underwater and another area would always be wet from the splashes. He replied he took the necessary precautions. Unfortunately, I should but didn't probe further.
In any case, my goal is to understand my options and limits. It sounds like I should choose a scupper that keeps the stone dry. Below is a mock-up following your suggestion.
What are some other problems in my approach? I appreaciate your help and advice.
Bill
Certainly not with DAP but a good marine epoxy will do the job just fine.
re: Certainly not with DAP but a good marine epoxy will do
Hi,
Thank you. Following your suggestion, I did some research online. It turns out a lot of marine epoxy and sealant don't work well on stone and concrete, but I found one that does. It's 3M 550FC polyurethane adhesive sealant. It seems it's exactly what I need.
Bill