LCM BLOG: Water Features
Want a Custom Water Feature Inside Your Home? Here are 8 Things to Consider
Water features can add a captivating element to any home. Whether it's an indoor fountain, a wall waterfall, or a fish pond in the garden, these installations bring a sense of tranquility and aesthetic appeal that is hard to compete with. However, incorporating something like this within the walls of your home require a lot of scrutinization upfront to ensure that it's done properly.
The process begins with understanding the purpose behind installing a water feature. This could range from enhancing interior design, to creating a calming environment, or creating a stunning place to gather during parties. When the weather is cold, an outdoor water feature gets used less, and if you live in a region that has long, cold winters, your outdoor living space might not get used as much as you'd like during the year. There are definite perks to getting a custom waterfall or pond installed indoors, but it's crucial to evaluate the space available for installation.
Determine the Purpose of Your Water Feature
Establishing the intended purpose of the desired water feature, whether for aesthetic enhancement, relaxation or environmental benefits, is a critical initial step in customizing a home's water element. The purpose will largely dictate the design and placement of this feature. For example, if the objective is to enhance aesthetics, an intricate water fountain in an entry room may be considered. If relaxation is sought after, however, a soothing water wall in a living area might be more fitting.
Feature functionality plays a significant role in determining how much maintenance would be required and what kind of materials should be used. A static decorative piece such as a sculpture with cascading water will have different needs compared to other options.
Assess Available Space for Installation
Determining the size and location of the proposed installation is a crucial initial step, as this will influence several subsequent decisions in the design process. The available space in your home can significantly determine the scale of the water feature that can be installed.
Installation logistics should also be considered when assessing available space. When we visit your home for a consultation, we will be able to help you understand clearly how the materials for the water feature will be transported into your home, where it will be situated, and how easy it would be to maintain once installed. As part of these considerations, we'll consider accessibility to power sources, the possibility of water leakages affecting other parts of the house, and how to optimize the ease of maintenance tasks such as cleaning.
Assessing available space for installation goes beyond just determining if there's room for a water feature. We will consider the aesthetic balance between existing elements within your home and newly added features, and help ensure maximum enjoyment from your custom water feature while maintaining harmony in your overall indoor or outdoor decor.
Consider the Overall Aesthetic of Your Home
Color coordination and material selection are two aspects that significantly contribute to the harmony between new additions and existing structures within a living space. For instance, if a home predominantly features wooden elements, incorporating a water feature made from stone or metal may disrupt this coherence. Alternatively, using materials such as bamboo or driftwood for the water feature could seamlessly complement the existing theme. Similarly, color plays an essential role in maintaining balance; choosing colors for your water feature that contrast sharply with those in your home might create visual discordance.
One of the reasons we custom-create faux rock for all water feature installations — not just interior ones — is the versatility they provide. Faux rock is almost a requirement for indoor features as they are durable and lightweight, but they can also be crafted to blend seamlessly with the existing aesthetic of the home.
A well-planned water installation can enhance the overall ambiance of a room while simultaneously preserving architectural integrity and interior design themes prevalent throughout the residence.
Evaluate the Maintenance Requirements
In our consultation, we can help assess how challenging upkeep will be for your water feature. Proper filtration system function and regular maintenance ensure the longevity and aesthetic appeal of the water feature, while also ensuring that it remains safe and operational.
Water quality can greatly influence the overall look and functionality of any water feature. For instance, hard water can lead to mineral deposits on surfaces which may require regular cleaning or treatment to prevent discoloration or damage.
Filter systems are extremely important in maintaining clean and clear water in home-based water features. They remove impurities from the water via physical methods (like screens) or biological means (such as beneficial bacteria). The choice between different types of filter systems largely depends on the size and sophistication of your chosen feature. Regular checks for clogs or malfunctions within these systems are advised to ensure their efficient functioning over time. When we discuss maintenance with you in the consultation and after the installation, we'll talk about routine inspections for potential issues alongside standard cleaning tasks to uphold functionality.
For some types of water features, accidents can occur without adequate precautions, and if childproofing is necessary we will have to consider that above every other factor. The most common type of assessment we'll do in our consultation, however, is accounting for possible structural damage or water leakage that may pose a risk to the property.
Insurance implications are important as well. Property insurance policies vary in terms of coverage for potential damages caused by such installations. Before we conduct a consultation and walk-through, you'll need to contact your homeowner's insurance company and ask about additional premiums or restrictions. This is also why it's extremely important — even more so for indoor installations than outdoor — to find and hire a professional contractor who has the understanding and resources to complete a job safely.
Budget and Financial Considerations
During our consultation, we will provide you with an estimate of the cost of the work to be done. Before we begin any work, we will also provide you with a 3D rendering of what your finished water feature will look like in your home. For budgeting that goes beyond the initiation installation, you'll need to consider the materials used, and energy and water consumption.
Cost Component | Initial Installation | Ongoing Costs |
Size & complexity of project | High impact on cost due to scale and intricacy of design | Little to no impact |
Materials selection | Directly impacts initial expenditure based on quality and durability of materials chosen | Can influence long-term maintenance costs |
Energy consumption (pumps, lights) | One-time purchase price factored into installation cost | A recurrent expenditure dependent on usage |
Financing options available | Can help distribute initial outlay over a longer period | Ongoing commitment until loan is paid off |
Research and Choose a Reliable Contractor or Supplier
We touched on this before, but it's very important. Even if you don't end up going with LCM Waterfalls and Ponds for your installation, please pick a licensed professional to do this work. An indoor water feature deals with electrical wiring and running water inside areas that may not normally be set up for that. There is a lot of electrocution and flooding risk involved, and shortcuts can be absolutely devastating to your property and the people on it.
The reputation of suppliers also plays a critical role in ensuring that high-quality materials and equipment are used in the construction process. We have a few select suppliers that we work with on a regular basis because we know that their materials are top-notch. We also hand-craft our own faux rock to blend with your home, and as of the writing of this, we are the only waterfall contractor in Colorado who creates their own custom faux rock from scratch.
Plan for Lighting and Additional Features
Incorporating a well-designed lighting scheme and additional elements into the aquatic installation can significantly enhance its visual appeal and functionality. We will discuss your options with you, which can range from soft ambient lighting, to dramatic spotlights that highlight particular water movements or architectural details. The choice of lighting should ideally complement the overall design aesthetic of the home, as well as serve practical needs such as visibility during night-time use. Proper placement of lights can create desired effects on the water's surface and surrounding areas.
Feature automation is an important aspect to consider. With advancements in technology, it is possible to automate many aspects of a water feature including lighting, temperature control, filtration systems, and even the movement of water itself. Automation not only provides convenience but also contributes to energy efficiency by allowing precise control over various components, thereby reducing unnecessary usage. Smart controls can be used for scheduling operations at optimal times or adjusting settings based on environmental conditions.
Conclusion
There are a lot of considerations when installing any water feature inside or outside of your home, but creating something that will work safely and aesthetically indoors requires a bit more planning. Call us for a consultation and we can help you find the best solution for whatever way you want to incorporate water features into your home.
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