ToughButterCup Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 Against my better judgement, I went to the the RHS Flower Show in Manchester recently. And let myself be enthused about water features. I looked at all the beautifully designed displays. "Look at that one sweetheart, she says - and we've got all the materials left over from the build - lying around - doing nothing" Trouble is she is right. And the displays were brilliant.... she's right .... too right. Damn. The jaws slammed shut. She'd got me hooked. No way out now. What about this one she asks looking at Pintrest - that SelfBuild Torture Chamber "We've got the bricks, we've got the cobbles left over. Our mate has a few RSJs lying around " Eyelids flutter...... She knows me too well. So I'm here scrabbling around for an excuse not to do it (just like @Pocster ) I bet those bricks will move won't they ? How do I secure a low stack of bricks like that (above) such that they never move? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oksleator Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 I presume those stones would get manky pretty quickly, so you'd need to factor in regular cleaning of them all. Ditto all the rest of it, I think. Show gardens do not translate well to real gardens. Try and find some examples of ones that haven't been freshly installed if you want a realistic picture of how it will look long term. Installation of water features is usually the easy bit, I think it's maintenance that equals time or money. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Ambrose Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 Versailles eat your heart out . Go for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 33 minutes ago, oksleator said: ... Installation of water features is usually the easy bit, I think it's maintenance that equals time or money. I tried that one. It didn't work. She says she'll do it. Oh God, I'm just going to have to do this aren't I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Ambrose Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell griffiths Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 Stick the bricks together with epoxy, the stuff you fix threaded rod in a hole with, just a blob needed like no nails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oksleator Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 10 minutes ago, ToughButterCup said: I tried that one. It didn't work. She says she'll do it. Oh God, I'm just going to have to do this aren't I? Yup. I'm sure it'll be lovely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 10 minutes ago, Russell griffiths said: Stick the bricks together with epoxy, the stuff you fix threaded rod in a hole with, just a blob needed like no nails. @Russell griffiths to the rescue. Cheers Russ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 Errmmmm, Mr Ambrose, sir. ( @Alan Ambrose above ) Our two male grandchildren need no encouragement. However, perhaps something a little more subtle would be Ok. Ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 1 hour ago, ToughButterCup said: Against my better judgement, I went to the the RHS Flower Show in Manchester recently. And let myself be enthused about water features. I looked at all the beautifully designed displays. "Look at that one sweetheart, she says - and we've got all the materials left over from the build - lying around - doing nothing" Trouble is she is right. And the displays were brilliant.... she's right .... too right. Damn. The jaws slammed shut. She'd got me hooked. No way out now. What about this one she asks looking at Pintrest - that SelfBuild Torture Chamber "We've got the bricks, we've got the cobbles left over. Our mate has a few RSJs lying around " Eyelids flutter...... She knows me too well. So I'm here scrabbling around for an excuse not to do it (just like @Pocster ) I bet those bricks will move won't they ? How do I secure a low stack of bricks like that (above) such that they never move? Looks like my build anyway . Rusty steel , rubble everywhere and a leak . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 2 hours ago, oksleator said: I presume those stones would get manky pretty quickly, so you'd need to factor in regular cleaning of them all. Ditto all the rest of it, I think. Show gardens do not translate well to real gardens. Try and find some examples of ones that haven't been freshly installed if you want a realistic picture of how it will look long term. Installation of water features is usually the easy bit, I think it's maintenance that equals time or money. Plus one. Also the amount of water that evaporates is quite surprising. I would treat it like pond water with a filter and UV light otherwise the bird poo will make it go bad. Good luck Marvin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 You have a canal on your doorstep, Would it not be easier to make a viewing platform to see that? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 1 hour ago, Marvin said: Plus one. Also the amount of water that evaporates is quite surprising. I would treat it like pond water with a filter and UV light .... The intended water feature is a 'diversion' in our SUDS water flow. At the moment, all the rainwater from our south facing roof is ducted to a sand filter (four tonnes of sharp sand buried under a water garden) and then through an attenuation pond (tiny) down to our pond - called Great Crested Newt Central. Debbie counted 15 the other evening. As many of you have hinted it is maintenance - not the construction - that's the long term issue : though at the moment its the construction than concerns me. I already have a diverter in our south roof rainwater downpipe (a swivelling 'S' bend). The water feature will need a holding tank (yet to be designed) and a system drainage point. Since we're on a slight slope, thats not going to be too hard to arrange. It strikes me that the essential thing to do is to make sure we can drain the water feature quickly and easily - so we can protect it from frost and for maintenance. Refilling it will be achieved with the water from one sharp rain shower, I should think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Jones Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 ome om the right looks like the hawk tua girl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 25 minutes ago, Dave Jones said: ome om the right looks like the hawk tua girl Spitting image of her 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 9 hours ago, ToughButterCup said: How do I secure a low stack of bricks like that (above) such that they never move? CT1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted August 2 Author Share Posted August 2 12 hours ago, Onoff said: CT1. Really? I trust you @Onoff, but I'm going to do a little experiment today. A little competition as it were between some Sika Resin stuff I have leftover and CT 1. Thanks for the image - brilliant idea - @Pocster, I'm going to CT1 a naked Barbie to the RSJ on the water feature. There's one in the kid's toy box upstairs That'll light the feminist fires among Debbie's lecturer mates when they visit and have their girls-who-lunch meetings. Mind if I tell them it's all your fault? Second thoughts I'm dobbing you in anyway. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 48 minutes ago, ToughButterCup said: Thanks for the image - brilliant idea - @Pocster, I'm going to CT1 a naked Barbie to the RSJ on the water feature. A couple of Barbie's, artfully arranged would get tongues wagging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 59 minutes ago, ToughButterCup said: Really? I trust you @Onoff, but I'm going to do a little experiment today. A little competition as it were between some Sika Resin stuff I have leftover and CT 1. Thanks for the image - brilliant idea - @Pocster, I'm going to CT1 a naked Barbie to the RSJ on the water feature. There's one in the kid's toy box upstairs That'll light the feminist fires among Debbie's lecturer mates when they visit and have their girls-who-lunch meetings. Mind if I tell them it's all your fault? Second thoughts I'm dobbing you in anyway. Only to happy to help as always Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted August 2 Author Share Posted August 2 U 2 don't know when to stop do ya? Phhhh, (Good idea) 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 When I used rainwater for a river/mini water fall I passed it through a sand to stone filter above ground and stored the water below ground using a 12 volt PV panel and mini battery pump system to pump water up to the filter and through the waterfall to the storage tank below ground. This meant it ran on sunny days... The sand to stone filter was self draining and when turned off all the water was below ground. Depending upon levels you could make a below ground storage tank fill by keeping the top of the tank at the same level as the supply pipe (bit like a rain water butt is filled). When running 1.5 meters horizontally and dropping twice about a total of 0.5m into a pond area at the bottom about 200 litres over sunny or windy days the water soon vanished.. Good luck Marvin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted August 2 Author Share Posted August 2 Thanks @Marvin. The idea of a 12volt PV panel coupled to a pump appeals. Both bits of the water feature will be placed on the south-face of the house: so plenty of opportunity for PV. But everything I have read about PV pumps and water features is that - to the limited extent I have read about it - they tend to be fairly weak. We have outdoor A/C available a meter or so away. Sketch diagram to follow soon. Might you have pump specification or maybe a trade / product name please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 1 hour ago, ToughButterCup said: Thanks @Marvin. The idea of a 12volt PV panel coupled to a pump appeals. Both bits of the water feature will be placed on the south-face of the house: so plenty of opportunity for PV. But everything I have read about PV pumps and water features is that - to the limited extent I have read about it - they tend to be fairly weak. We have outdoor A/C available a meter or so away. Sketch diagram to follow soon. Might you have pump specification or maybe a trade / product name please? Yes.. well.. as er @Pocster would say... er.. size matters. It depends what height and volume of water your trying to move. I agree that big and lots is A/C. Other clients fitted an internal on/off switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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