How To Build A Lava - Clamshell Fountain In One Day

Pages: 1 17 replies

B bongofury Grand Member (6 years) Ventura County Joined: Oct 15, 2002 Posts: 1565	B bongofury Posted posted on Wed, Feb 4, 2009 8:57 PM This was the last area of the yard that needed to be finished. Mrs. Fury requested a trickling lava fountain. A little late posting this as it was completed in the summer. I wanted to make it 5' high, but didn't want to wait to build a block wall with rebar etc. I had already installed a GFCI outlet and had some stacking blocks and lava rock left over. The fiberglass shells were then installed and rocks locked them in place Installed a liner that is pitched toward the plastic basin where the pump will go. We set the blocks in morter and as the wall got taller, stacked a second wall behind it for stability. Covered it with morter and added charcoal grout for the areas that would show through the lava rocks that were just buttered on with the same morter mixture. Add plants, lights, and water. I posted this pic a while ago. It took about 6 1/2 hours to do (3 people) not including landscaping. The concrete grout locked everything in. I pushed on it pretty hard the next day and it did not budge. I was glad we were able to utilize some of our construction leftovers.
M Monkeyman Tiki Socialite Vista, CA Joined: Mar 04, 2003 Posts: 2386	M Monkeyman Posted posted on Wed, Feb 4, 2009 9:07 PM you two are awesome... Your backyard is incredible as is your home and your ability to be handy and creative in all mediums is fantastic. I need my Rincon Room Fix....
BB Bora Boris Mr. Unreasonable Boogie Wonderland Joined: Mar 25, 2005 Posts: 2616	BB Bora Boris Posted posted on Wed, Feb 4, 2009 9:17 PM You did a great job on this Bongofury! When you enter your backyard it’s one of the first things you see that let’s you know you’ve just entered an amazing place.
M MadDogMike Grand Member (8 years) The Anvil of the Sun Joined: Mar 30, 2008 Posts: 10861	M MadDogMike Posted posted on Thu, Feb 5, 2009 6:55 AM Beautiful! Where do you get the fiberglas clamshells?
TD TIKI DAVID Member North Coast/ DEAD Joined: Apr 07, 2004 Posts: 1961	TD TIKI DAVID Posted posted on Thu, Feb 5, 2009 7:24 AM On 2009-02-05 06:55, MadDogMike wrote: Beautiful! Where do you get the fiberglas clamshells? i do not think that those are fiberglass. great job,love it. i may just steal the concept/design.
T Tiki-Kate Member Yucaipa, CA Joined: Sep 21, 2003 Posts: 1700	T Tiki-Kate Posted posted on Thu, Feb 5, 2009 11:24 AM The fountain is amazing, Ron. Thanks for sharing the step by step. I'd love to see you post some more pictures of The Case, please. :wink:
QK Queen Kamehameha Member So Cal Joined: Oct 21, 2003 Posts: 1413	QK Queen Kamehameha Posted posted on Thu, Feb 5, 2009 11:27 AM really beautiful! Amy
H Hakalugi Special Tiki Central Agent Redondo Beach, CA Joined: Aug 10, 2004 Posts: 3465	H Hakalugi Posted posted on Thu, Feb 5, 2009 12:53 PM On 2009-02-05 07:24, TIKI DAVID wrote: On 2009-02-05 06:55, MadDogMike wrote: Beautiful! Where do you get the fiberglas clamshells? i do not think that those are fiberglass. great job,love it. i may just steal the concept/design. According to what bongofury posted above, they are fiberglass. However, they sure do look real. On 2009-02-04 20:57, bongofury wrote: ... The fiberglass shells were then installed and rocks locked them in place...
TD TIKI DAVID Member North Coast/ DEAD Joined: Apr 07, 2004 Posts: 1961	TD TIKI DAVID Posted posted on Thu, Feb 5, 2009 2:33 PM opps .... missed that.
L leleliz Tiki Socialite NorCal Joined: Sep 02, 2008 Posts: 1982	L leleliz Posted posted on Thu, Feb 5, 2009 4:58 PM Wow that came out so nice! Where did you find the shells? Inquiring minds want to know :)
B bongofury Grand Member (6 years) Ventura County Joined: Oct 15, 2002 Posts: 1565	B bongofury Posted posted on Fri, Feb 6, 2009 4:35 PM Thanks everyone! I had some real clams, but they were pretty heavy and the lava wall is almost vertical. The fiberglass shells came from http://www.zgallerie.com/search.aspx?SearchTerm=clam+shell the smaller shell sizes were on close out at Kohl's for 29.95. They say not to use outdoors. After a while the yellowish coating on the inside has started to flake off, leaving a mother of pearl color underneath that looks fine.
TJ tyger jymmy Member califorina Joined: Apr 14, 2003 Posts: 554	TJ tyger jymmy Posted posted on Sat, Feb 7, 2009 8:58 AM very kool dude .
R RevBambooBen Tiki Socialite Huntikington Beach Joined: Nov 12, 2002 Posts: 7942	R RevBambooBen Posted posted on Sat, Feb 7, 2009 10:44 AM Awesome Bongo! I've got one coming up in the near future. Queen K's pad.
RH Robb Hamel Member Ohio Joined: Mar 07, 2008 Posts: 1013	RH Robb Hamel Posted posted on Sun, Feb 8, 2009 4:53 PM Very fast. Very cool. Good work. Love the night shot!
GT GO TIKI Member <B> SURF CITY HUNTINGTON BEACH</B> Joined: Feb 21, 2004 Posts: 610	GT GO TIKI Posted posted on Sun, Feb 8, 2009 5:37 PM Awesome Work! Very Cool! Cheers! Gogo
H Headnjry Member Joined: May 07, 2009 Posts: 2	H Headnjry Posted posted on Fri, May 8, 2009 2:26 PM What size pump(GPH)did you settle on? I bet a swamp cooler pump would be sufficient to move the trickled water.
T tikiyaki Tiki Socialite The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA Joined: May 18, 2004 Posts: 2725	T tikiyaki Posted posted on Fri, May 8, 2009 3:03 PM SWEET ! Kirby, we need to do this at the Rumpus Room !
K KreepyTiki Member Joined: Mar 18, 2007 Posts: 217	K KreepyTiki Posted posted on Fri, May 8, 2009 4:57 PM GORGEOUS job! Me WANT!!!!! NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers & Mahalos :drink: :tiki:

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