Fountain contractor in Boise, Idaho

A lot of Boise backyards sit close to a busy road or a neighbor's air conditioner. A pond is too much for some of those yards, but a small fountain can cover the noise, bring in birds and give you something to look at from the patio. As a fountain contractor in Boise, I put in fountains that sound good, stay full and hold up through winter.

I'm Kabe Hockema. I build with Aquascape fountain components, and most fountains I install are pondless. That means there's no open water. The fountain sits on top of a hidden basin buried under rock, and a small pump sends the water back up to spill over again. Here's each fountain service I offer.

Fountain installation

Fountain installation covers the whole job: digging the basin, setting the reservoir, running the pump and plumbing, leveling the fountain piece, and hiding it all under rock and plants. Aquascape fountain kits start at $5,500. The piece you choose and the site work around it set the final price. Power has to reach the spot, so I plan an outdoor outlet early.

Fountain repair

Fountain repair fixes the common problems: a pump that hums but won't push water, a fountain that leans after the ground settled, a cracked urn, or water that sprays past the basin. Often the fix is a new pump, a releveled base or a better splash zone. Sometimes a store-bought fountain just needs a real basin under it.

Custom fountain design

Custom fountain design is for when a kit isn't quite right. I match the fountain to the house and yard: tall basalt columns for a modern home, a drilled boulder for a natural garden, or a group of urns at different heights. I also tune the flow, since a gentle bubble and a loud splash feel very different.

Pondless fountain installation

Pondless fountain installation puts the water underground. The basin is buried and covered with gravel, so there's no open pool for kids or pets to fall into and very little surface to grow algae. Pondless fountains also lose less water to Boise's dry wind than an open bowl does, so you top them off less often.

Fountain leak detection

If your fountain keeps running low, fountain leak detection finds out why. I start with the simple causes: splash landing outside the basin, wind blowing spray away, or soil and plant roots wicking water over the liner edge. Then I check the plumbing fittings and the basin itself. Many fountain leaks turn out to be simple fixes once they're found.

Backyard fountain installation

Backyard fountain installation is about placement. I put the fountain where you'll hear it from your favorite chair and see it from the kitchen window. On my Caldwell outdoor living room project, an Aquascape fountain sits with the pavers, stone fireplace and fire pit in a space built to face the sunrise.

Landscape fountain design

Landscape fountain design treats the fountain as part of the planting plan, not a piece of yard art set on the lawn. I pick the spot, then design the beds, boulders and paths around it so the fountain looks settled. It works well as the center of a front entry garden or the end of a long path.

Architectural water features

Architectural water features are the more built, formal kind: water spilling from a wall, a spillway into a trough, a sheet of water off a ledge, or a bowl set into a patio. They pair well with clean lines and modern homes. Because they tie into walls and paving, I plan them with the hardscape from the start.

Patio fountain installation

A patio fountain installation brings the sound right next to where you sit. I set the basin beside or inside the patio edge, plan the splash so the pavers stay dry and don't grow slick, and hide the cord. A small bubbling urn or column works well here, since it adds sound without taking much floor space.

Fountain landscaping

Fountain landscaping is the planting and stone around a fountain. Grasses that move in the wind, low perennials, boulders and gravel make it look like it belongs. I keep plants with heavy leaf drop back from the basin, and I add low-voltage lights so the water catches light at night.

Fountains

If you're not sure what you want yet, my fountains page walks through the main types: bubbling rocks, basalt columns, ceramic urns, stacked stone and spillway bowls. Each one has its own look and sound. I usually bring options to the consultation so you can compare them against your yard.

Outdoor water features

Fountains are one part of a bigger family. My main page on outdoor water features covers fountains, ponds, streams and waterfalls side by side, so you can see which kind fits your space, your budget and how much upkeep you want.

Waterfall installation

Some yards want more water than a fountain gives. Waterfall installation adds a stream and falls, either feeding a pond or running pondless into a buried basin. A waterfall makes a much bigger sound than a fountain, so it's a better fit for larger yards or louder streets.

Fountain, pond or waterfall?

If you're deciding between them, it helps to see the three side by side. A fountain is the smallest and simplest: little upkeep, a soft sound, and it fits a patio corner. Aquascape fountain kits start at $5,500. A pondless waterfall with a small stream starts at $9,500 and gives you a bigger sound and a stream to look at. An 8' x 11' Aquascape system pond with a waterfall starts at $15,500 and is the one to pick if you want fish and plants in open water.

How I install a fountain

I take on a limited number of projects each season so I can be on every job myself, from consultation through installation. You get my direct number.

• Consultation. We look at where you'll sit, where power can come from and how much sound you want.
• Choose the piece. I show you fountain options and how each would look in your yard.
• Install. I dig and set the basin, plumb the pump, level the fountain, then finish with rock, plants and lighting.
• Walkthrough. I show you how to top it off, clean the pump intake and shut it down for winter.

What drives the cost is the fountain piece itself, the basin size, how far power has to run, and how much planting and stone go around it. Hockema Landscape Design & Build holds Idaho contractor license #6871843 and is bonded and insured.

Fountains and Boise weather

Our climate is hard on fountains in a few ways. Hot, dry summers and steady wind pull water out fast, so I size the basin to hold enough water between top-offs and can add an auto-fill. Winter freezes can crack ceramic pieces and stall a pump in ice, so most people shut the fountain down for the coldest months and drain the bowl. Hard water leaves white mineral scale on stone and pottery, which a regular rinse keeps under control.

Caring for a pondless fountain

A pondless fountain is about as low-care as water gets, but it still needs a little attention.

• Top it off. On hot July weeks you may add water every few days. An auto-fill valve handles it for you.
• Clean the pump intake. Leaves and grit collect where the pump sits. A quick rinse every few weeks keeps the flow strong.
• Watch the level. If it drops faster than usual, look for splash or a plant leaning over the edge before you suspect a leak.
• Start it up in spring. Put the pump back, refill the basin and check the fittings for any cracks from the cold.

Fountains across the Treasure Valley

I install and repair fountains in Boise first, including the North End, the Bench and Harris Ranch. I also work in Eagle, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Star, Middleton, Kuna, Garden City and Hidden Springs, and take projects in Sun Valley and Ketchum.

A fountain is often one piece of a larger plan. See my landscape designer work for full yard design and my landscaper services for planting and stone. If you'd rather have a full pond with fish, see my pond contractor page.

If you want a fountain contractor in Boise who will help you pick the right piece and install it himself, schedule a consultation or call (541) 961-7269, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.