*
I’m looking for detailed information of designing and building a small
‘waterwall’ in a residential application. I can’t find information on this
anywhere, and as a loyal subscriber I thought this would be the place to ask.
Chuck Mills
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Skim-coating with joint compound covers texture, renews old drywall and plaster, and leaves smooth surfaces ready to paint.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
Interesting request. A "wet wall" to contain plumbing lines, or a fountain effect wall? Is it for sound, looks, humidification, dehumidification? What minerals are in the water, and how much cleaning will be required? I'd say call a sculptor/plumber, and stick to granite, glass and stainless. Follow the architect Charles Moore's advice to make sure there is randomness in the final effect.
*
Call fountain companies or fountain consultants. No endorsement other than I sat next to him on an airplane, try Peter Crego, Waterworks International, (800) 932-3123.
*
The idea is that of an interior (aesthetic) water feature which is to part of a Japanese Zen garden. The basic shape is a sloping, tapered granite monolith w/ randomly cut groves on the face. The water is moved from the pan/pool at the bottom to a hidden waterfall tray at the top via an aquarium pump. The water should then cascade gently down the walls granite face.
*
I built one in Bellevue WA for a couple the same way (for the most part) like a shower wall out of slate. Kick the wall out at the bottom twice the amount of the largest "outcropping" so the water will never fall totaly to the bottom, use large irregular pieces so as to not look like a grid wall and use low volume pumps, (fish tank type with regulators)and above all, MAKE ACCESS FROM THE BACK OR OTHER CONVIENIENT PLACE! the place had a basement where the water tank was and drained(through stainless grids)into, to give a flush look (like a heating duct)and easy access for water replacement and or cleaning. Creative use of can lights or small halogens are real neat looking to accent the stone/water. Be happy to send some rough draft designs if you want. E-mail at "[email protected]"
*
I'm working on the same idea. My space is 20 feet high and hopefully this will work with poured concrete with horizontal indents. A place in Loveland Colorado works with stainless and quotes 15 ft high for 20K. A sculptor in Denver estimated 18K for three round 18inch columns with water down the side over fins. Still too much dough. I've seen in a mall in St. Louis the marble/granite rectangular monolith with water down both sides. Not sure who did it. Not many of the fountain builders/designers have web sites. Finally we've talked to a guy who will build a stainless twisted piece, but again too much coin. I'm searching and thinking with ya buddy. Mike Hehmann
*20' high for poured concrete? Ouch! Could you stucco a framed wall? How about a grid of rebar and expanded metal lath, then mortar over that? I have seen both on a smaller scaled used for fountains.
*
What a wonderful topic! I, too, am fascinated w/fountain design, and have found woefully few sites that give any info except how to buy their designs or constructions (mostly freestanding, smaller, tabletop, etc.) This is a particularly hot item here in CA, where the large influx of people from Asian countries has made Feng Shui an important part of buying/designing/decorating all living and working areas. Moving water signifies many things, including life, health, and wealth, and, gosh, it just sounds good and soothing! I hope this thread stays alive for a long time.
*where did I see something about using some kind of porous lava rock wall, in which plants would take root and grow while the water trickled down the face of the rock.... sounded like a great idea, cleaned the air too, I'll see if I can find it tomorrow.... yes, this is a refreshing new thread, I always wanted water splashing down into my imaginary pool in my imaginary solar greenhouse, looks like you've just added several grand more to the dream addition....
*
One could probably cast such a wall out of "hypertufa", which is a concrete mixture that contains a lot a vermiculite. From stuff I've seen you can get all kinds of moss and other plant life to grow on this stuff; pretty cool. Its also very light of course.
*
Thanks for the new word, hypertufa. A google search came up w/quite a few hits, which will keep me busy for a while.
*The humidity would be raining off the windows in my climate with a free flowing source of water like that! Like the idea none the less.I regularily build water holding containers using 3/4 ply, 2X framing and heavy poly as a liner. Fortunately building codes around here have stepped up the thickness required for VB, so thick poly is much easier to find than it used to be. I cut the poly and fold it (kind of like origami) so that the liner is one continous piece with no seams to seal and leak. These are semi-permanent holding tanks for tropical fish and plants, so it doesn't need to be pretty.What does this have to do with fountains? Well, If I were to build one on a grand scale (like that 20 footer somebody mentioned) I think I'd do the same thing only in reverse. I would start with a boxed plywood subframe, covered in a single (or maybe double just to be safe), un-punctured, heavy weight poly wrap. Wrapped and folded to avoid seams. Then I would wire a light weight rebar cage over it and wire mesh on top of that. All the time being careful not to puncture the poly. Over the mesh frame I'd use a cement product and parge the whole thing (scratch coat). From there you're pretty much free to surface it anyway you desire, rock, tile, etc. The bar will provide the strength and that box underneath will provide the support. I would even try to allow some for some kind of ventilation to the inside of the box just to allow any excess humidity to escape. I've never tried this. Budget allowing you could probably come up with a many more variations on this idea.Remember that any cement product (and many stones and surfaces) will leach minerals into the water. Over time, these are going to be evaporated into ugly mineral deposits. Likewise, even under dim interior light, eventually algae will form (the stuff can grow anywhere) or at the very least bacteria growth (scummy build up). If you can seal off the surfaces to prevent minerals and organics entering the water, you could try filling it with distilled water. Algae and bacteria take longer to grow if there's nothing to feed them. You might try heavy filtering with carbon and demineralizing resins to keep things clear, but that leads to regular maintenance issues. You could try some kind of additive to the water to kill these organisms, but I don't know if that's the kind of water I'd like free flowing in my living space. You could also take the opposite approach and encourage life by working with plants and moss to compete for nutrients. Eventually the whole system will reach its own equilibrium (algae usually can't compete with higher plants and eventually starves out). Don't expect the system to adjust itself overnight. It may take many months and some less than desirable intermediate stages. My worries would always be less about the fountain and more about the excess humidity (mildew, condsation, etc) that results. Bathrooms are designed to put up with the excess moisture (most times). The rest of your house may not be.When I was younger, my vision of a dream home was a dome house buried underground. The top center of the dome would be nothing but skylights (the only above ground portion). The center circle of the first dome floor (grand entrance) would open to the level below. There would be a large fig tree planted on the lower level growing up through the opening to the first level (under those skylights). Along the inside wall of the first level would be a continuous knee high pond with a sitting edge and somewhere feeding that long narrow pond would be a waterfall to complete the effect. Of course, at the time I never considered things like stairs, ventilation and head room, but it's fun dreaming none the less.
*
I'm looking for detailed information of designing and building a small
'waterwall' in a residential application. I can't find information on this
anywhere, and as a loyal subscriber I thought this would be the place to ask.
Chuck Mills