Need advice on selection and care of a patio fountain. It will be in the Baja sun, wind, etc. Too much trouble? Help, you guys!postholedigger - 4-25-2009 at 07:47 AM
They've got a nice one at the Pyramid Resort... Could be a step in the right direction if you're so inclined. How big is your patio?Marla Daily - 4-25-2009 at 07:51 AM
I believe hand-cut cantera fountains are the most beautiful for a variety of reasons: they are produced locally "a mano," they don't require constant
cleaning from lime-build-up; and they are relatively affordable. Beware of those made of cement, for over time the cement breaks down and develops
leaks. Also be aware that tiled fountains require a lot of maintenance in keeping the tiles free of mineralization and salts that build up from water.
Last and most important, be sure your fountain basin and bowls have shallow places for the birds and bees! Add large rocks if need be. Otherwise baby
birds and other critters will fall in and drown! (I check out every fountain I see and silently judge it for its level of 'appropriateness.')grace59 - 4-29-2009 at 06:03 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Marla Daily
I believe hand-cut cantera fountains are the most beautiful for a variety of reasons: they are produced locally "a mano," they don't require constant
cleaning from lime-build-up; and they are relatively affordable.
I would like to know about what this is. I am beginning to build a home in San Felipe and would like to get a fountain. Something locally made by
hand and inexpensive sounds wonderful...especially if it is low maintainance. Where can I find a fountain like this and how will I know it when I see
it?vandenberg - 4-29-2009 at 07:41 AM
This one was bought in La Paz. Fairly easy to install.
They are work, especially when you have hard water.
vandenberg - 4-29-2009 at 07:50 AM
A better view.
Marla Daily - 4-29-2009 at 08:22 AM
Based on the dark color of the fountain in the photo and the fact that it is tiled on the sides of the basin, this one looks to me to be of cement
rather than cantera. Cantera is a natural limestone, generally light in color, which is also used for architectural details and to face buildings. (It
is used on the attractive remodel of the Mission Hotel in Loreto for example.) Cantera is a quarried stone which is hand cut, and the stone itself
requires no maintenance. All fountains must be cleaned periodically, the water changed, topped off, etc. Tiles in fountains, however, require a lot of
maintenance, and the glazes tend to break down over time.vandenberg - 4-29-2009 at 09:26 AM
Marla,
This one is indeed made of concrete. It's 4 years old and no leaks or visible deterioration. And explain to me why cantera fountains don't have lime
buildup like you claim in your initial post? I have an even larger fountain in the front yard, surrounded by a big elevated planter. It's at least 10
years old and no signs of leaks or deterioration anywhere. Keeping vinegar in the water cuts down on the mineral buildup, but still impossible to stop
altogether. And if you build a small cistern with an automatic float valve, topping off water is unnecessary. And both are on timers and work every
day during most daytime hours.Marla Daily - 4-29-2009 at 12:16 PM
I stated that cantera fountains "don't require constant cleaning from lime-build-up." This is because cantera is a lime-based naturally occurring
stone, and any lime deposits which may build up over time are simply absorbed and integrated into the natural limestone of the fountain itself.
Cantera fountains are hand cut of solid stone.
Concrete fountains are made of wet cement poured into a mold. You are fortunate to have good concrete fountains. Examples in Loreto of failed
concrete fountains are at La Fuente ['the fountain!'] restaurant; Mexico Que Lindo restaurant [now empty]; and the one recently removed from in front
of the water office.BajaGringo - 4-29-2009 at 12:22 PM
We are designing one for our new place. It will be built using all rock taken from the beach below with plants embedded around it and will have just a
trickle flow.
I like those better than any store bought variety...vandenberg - 4-29-2009 at 12:46 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Marla Daily
Concrete fountains are made of wet cement poured into a mold. You are fortunate to have good concrete fountains. Examples in Loreto of failed
concrete fountains are at La Fuente ['the fountain!'] restaurant; Mexico Que Lindo restaurant [now empty]; and the one recently removed from in front
of the water office.
Not so sure that plain lazyness and the amount of work required to keep those fountains going wasn't the main reason of their demise.
For another exemple, the 3 very large fountains found at the El Moro hotel in La Paz are around 20 years old and all made of concrete. And they're
fountaining along just fine, so to speak.
In short, I don't believe you're argument holds water.Marla Daily - 4-29-2009 at 06:36 PM
All running water is beautiful. Splashing water attracts birds. Cantera v.s concrete is simply a matter of personal choice.fishbuck - 4-29-2009 at 06:50 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo
We are designing one for our new place. It will be built using all rock taken from the beach below with plants embedded around it and will have just a
trickle flow.
I like those better than any store bought variety...
That's what I was thinking too. Rocks? Ya we got a few rocks in SQ!
I was even thinking solar so it only runs in daylight.
[Edited on 4-30-2009 by fishbuck]grace59 - 5-2-2009 at 06:54 AM
That's a beautiful fountain Vandenberg. That is the shape I am going for. Does anyone know if you can find a cantera fountain in the San Felipe
area? I'd like to see one and compare it with a concrete fountain. Thanks.BajaNuts - 5-2-2009 at 08:42 AM
vandenberg touched on the topic of "topping off". I visited with a La Paz resident who didn't run their fountain any more because of the cost of the
water. There will be significant evaporation, and you will need to keep the water level up so as to not run the pump dry. If water is expensive
where you are, it might influence the size or shape.Mexitron - 5-2-2009 at 10:34 AM
There's also the natural style waterfall--I built this in my backyard in Fort Worth but I was thinking of the Blue Palm canyons of Baja when I
designed it--the native rocks in North Texas don't look like Baja granitics so I just made these myself with cement.
Mexitron - 5-2-2009 at 10:35 AM
BajaGringo - 5-2-2009 at 10:36 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by fishbuck
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo
We are designing one for our new place. It will be built using all rock taken from the beach below with plants embedded around it and will have just a
trickle flow.
I like those better than any store bought variety...
That's what I was thinking too. Rocks? Ya we got a few rocks in SQ!
I was even thinking solar so it only runs in daylight.
[Edited on 4-30-2009 by fishbuck]
Yes Mike, we are not short on rocks in San Quintin. In fact the wife tells me I have a few in my head as well. I am even planning on covering the
entire outside of the house with rock. I hate having to scrape and paint every couple of years.
The pump will be solar powered...
BajaBruno - 5-2-2009 at 11:25 AM
Mexitron, those are cement rocks? Nice job.BajaBruno - 5-2-2009 at 01:47 PM
Cantera is a very attractive, workable stone, but I have never known what it really is.
After a little research, it turns out to be a sedimentary rock made from massive fields of compacted volcanic ash. Where the volcanic vent has broken
through a block of limestone, the cantera can contain aggregates of limestone, but the stone itself is mostly rhyolite.
