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Indoor waterfalls add tremendously to the inside environment of a home. The quiet melodic flow of the water and the slight tinge of humidity are relaxing and quickly become the focal point much as a fireplace crackling in the hearth.
Normally, indoor waterfalls are encountered in restaurants, hotel lobbies and other high end commercial architecture. But more and more, private homes are taking advantage of the uniqueness of having nature indoors.
If you are wondering how much an indoor waterfall would cost, you would normally think that you would first need to find some special company with the know-how for such an unusual installation. And that is not an easy thing to do. Given the laws of supply and demand, most contractors will place a premium on the design and installation of a waterfall; mostly to cover the unexpected costs associated with an unfamiliar project. However, the construction of an indoor waterfall is relatively simple as it combines basic construction, plumbing and a bit of electrical work. In fact, as the popularity of indoor waterfalls has become trendy, there are companies that offer prefab kits ready for assembly.
Just to provide an idea of what the basic construction of an indoor water fall looks like, please refer to the accompanying diagram:
A typical design incorporates a lower holding basin reservoir which can range from 10-30 gallons. This forms the base of the waterfall where the submerged pump recirculates water up to the upper reservoir tank-usually about 2 gallon capacity. The open flange of the upper tank releases the water to move down the faade of the water fall where it returns to the lower holding basin where it is closed looped until the pump has been turned off. The size of the submersible pump depends on the height the water must be pumped up to the upper basin. Usually, a one-third horsepower pump will suffice. The lower holding basin uses an automatic refill float to make sure the basin is replenished due to evaporation. However, it is recommended that the automatic refill not be used to avoid the possibility of a jammed float. Rather, it is easy to manually refill the lower basin.
Making sure that both top and bottom holding basins are watertight is, needless to say, perhaps the most important consideration; however, whenever electricity and water are in close proximity, special precautions must be made such as making sure that all electrical outlets are GFRs and properly grounded.
The choice of the faade materials are usually one of the most costly and important decisions to make in the design. For example, marble, slate, copper, brass, stainless steel and polyglass are some of the most popular materials for facades. In addition, a typical design can incorporate lighting and wall installed planters for indoor plants to help accent the borders of the indoor waterfall.
Typically, an indoor waterfall measuring eight feet long by eight feet high can cost as little as $3,000-$5,000 depending largely on the type of faade materials.
So, if you want to add an interesting and cost effective inside decorative, animated feature, that will provide a special feel and look, consider an indoor waterfall. They are unique; add value and enjoyment by bringing nature into the home on a year round basis.
