How to Install a Contemporary Designer Fountain: No Foundations, No Builders

Most people assume a stone water feature means a weekend of groundwork, a hired builder and a concrete base. For our contemporary designer fountain range, none of that is true. Every fountain in the range has been designed from the outset to be installed by two people in an afternoon, with no foundations and no trade help.

Here's exactly what's involved.

Why these fountains install so easily

The whole range is built around a simple principle: keep the weight down and pre-cut everything at the factory, so the work left at your end is positioning rather than construction.

Even the largest fountain in this category can be carried by two people. That single fact changes the job entirely. There's no crane, no telehandler, no team of four, and no access problem for anyone with a normal side gate or garden path.

Just as importantly, none of these fountains need foundations. They sit directly on level ground. There's no digging, no concrete, no waiting for anything to cure.

Step one: prepare the ground

This is the only preparation worth taking your time over, because everything else depends on it.

You need a level, firm surface. An existing patio or paved area is ideal. On a lawn or a border, lift the turf, level the ground and firm it down, and consider a paving slab or a compacted bed of sharp sand and hardcore underneath to stop the fountain settling unevenly over time.

Check the level with a spirit level in two directions, not one. A fountain that's a couple of degrees out will spill water over one side of the bowl instead of falling evenly all the way round, and you'll notice it every single day.

Also worth thinking about before you commit to a spot: how far you'll normally be viewing it from, how close it is to a power supply, and whether there are deciduous trees overhead dropping leaves into the water.

Step two: position the fountain

With two people and a clear route, this is straightforward. Move the pieces individually rather than assembled, keep your back straight and take the weight low.

Set the base first, check it's level again once it's in place, and build upwards from there.

Step three: run the pump and light cables

There are provisions built into the base of every fountain in this range specifically to let you run the pump cable through, along with the lighting cable if you've bought lights.

Once the cables are threaded through, the openings are sealed with a waterproof silicone sealant. We use CT1, which is widely available and performs well outdoors, though other equivalent products will do the same job.

Do this properly. It's a five minute task that stops water finding its way out through the cable route, and it's much harder to redo once the fountain is full and running.

One piece of advice we'd add: if you think you might ever want lighting, run the lighting cable now even if you're not fitting lights yet. Retro-fitting means draining and partly dismantling the fountain, which is far more work than laying a spare cable on day one.

Step four: fit the decorative stonework

If you've chosen a fountain with decorative stone work, all of it arrives pre-cut at our factory. You aren't cutting stone in your garden.

The stones are bedded onto the top of the surround and sealed using a waterproof sealant, again something like CT1. Lay them out dry first without any sealant, check you're happy with the arrangement and the joints, and only then seal them down.

Step five: the centre fountain

If you've opted for a centre fountain, the installation is genuinely simple. It's designed to drop into position without any specialist setup, which is precisely why this range doesn't need builders or professional installers.

Step six: fill, test and adjust

Fill the fountain, switch on the pump and watch it for ten minutes before you tidy anything away.

You're checking three things: that the water falls evenly on all sides, which tells you the base is truly level, that nothing is escaping around the cable entry point, and that the flow rate looks right. Most pumps have an adjustable flow, and the setting that looks best in a photograph is often too strong in a real garden on a breezy day.

The one job worth leaving to a professional

We say these fountains don't need builders, and they don't. But the electrical supply is a different matter.

If there's no outdoor socket nearby, have a qualified electrician install one. Outdoor mains electrics in the UK need to be properly rated, RCD-protected and installed to current regulations, and this is not a corner worth cutting anywhere near standing water. Solar pumps are an alternative for smaller features and avoid the issue altogether, though output does drop on overcast days.

The fountain is a two-person afternoon. The power supply is a job for a professional.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really not need foundations?

No. Every fountain in this category is designed to sit on level ground. Preparing a firm, level base is all that's required.

How many people do I need?

Two. That covers the largest fountain in the range.

What sealant should I use?

A waterproof silicone sealant. We use CT1 and find it reliable outdoors, but comparable products are fine.

Can I move it later if I change my mind?

Yes, and this is an underrated advantage of a fountain with no foundations. Two people can relocate it, which is not something you can say about a traditionally built water feature.

What if I get stuck?

Call us on 01243 532 390 for a free one to one consultation. We'd far rather talk something through before you start than help unpick it afterwards.

Ready to choose one?

Browse the contemporary designer fountain range, or come and see them running at our Chichester showroom, open Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm and Saturday mornings. Everything is made here in the UK, and if you'd like to talk through installation before you order, our phone lines are open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.