Water Features
Waterfalls, streams and ponds that look as if they were always there
From a single bubbling urn to a recreational swim pond, each one sized to the yard and set in stone and planting.
Scaled to the yard, built for the winters
Every water feature starts with three questions we answer on the walk-through: how the ground falls, what you will see of the water from inside the house, and what you want to hear from the patio. Scale comes first. A feature sized right for the space and framed with stone and plants reads as part of the land, not something set down on top of it.
We build every size. Bubbling urns and basalt fountains bring the sound of water to a small bed or a terrace. Pondless waterfalls and streams give you moving water with no open pond to keep. Full ponds and recreational swim ponds are the largest of them.
Pumps, liners and stone are chosen for our region’s freeze-thaw cycles, so the feature runs clean and keeps its looks through the winter. We design it, build it and look after it afterward — ongoing maintenance is part of the service.
How it goes
From first walkthrough to flowing water
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Site walkthrough
Grade, sightlines and sound, assessed on site before anything is designed.
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Design and feature selection
A feature sized and styled for the landscape, anything from one urn to a full pond.
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Installation and care
Careful installation and clear maintenance guidance, so the water runs clean and looks natural for years.
Answers
Water Features: common questions
How much does a water feature cost?
It depends most on the kind of feature. A bubbling urn or basalt fountain is a small job; a pondless waterfall, a stream, a full pond or a swim pond each step up in excavation, stone, liner and pump. We price each one after seeing the grade, the access and where power can reach.
What is a pondless waterfall?
A pondless waterfall is a waterfall or stream with no open pond at the bottom. The water falls into a gravel-filled basin underground, and a pump sends it back to the top. You get the sound and movement of running water without a pond to keep, which suits smaller yards and families with young children.
Do water features need electricity?
Yes, nearly every water feature needs power for its pump, whether it is a single urn or a full pond. Where the power comes from is one of the things we look at on the walk-through, along with the grade, the sightlines from inside the house and the sound you want to hear from the patio.
What is a swimming pond?
A swimming pond is a pond built to swim in — boulders, stone and plantings around open water, instead of a concrete pool. We build recreational swim ponds as well as ornamental ponds, sized and shaped for the site so they look as if they have always been there.
How do I keep a water feature clean?
Start with a feature that is built right: a pump sized for the water, a sound liner, and stone set so debris has somewhere to settle. After that it is regular care. We give clear maintenance guidance with every installation, and we offer ongoing maintenance for the features we build.
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