Choosing Designs For Swimming Pool Waterfalls
Pools, by itself, instantly upgrade both the value & the aesthetics of a property. Adding any type of waterfall feature to your pools can make it even more appealing. They definitely add an aesthetic upgrade to any basic pool, no matter the size. Waterfall features are definitely a sensory experience – the sound it makes, its beauty & motion, the feel of the water, and its ripples. It all comes together to create a focal point in your home.
Some simple things to consider when designing your pool are:
- Budget
- Architectural style of the house/building
- Proportion & layout
For the Chinese & other Feng Shui believers, pools, when well-designed and well-placed, could bring wealth and energy to your home. If water is kept still, however, it traps energy, so it is recommended to keep it flowing to help circulate positive chi. One of the ways to achieve that is by adding waterfalls. Not only does it look good & keep the water flowing, but the sound of the water makes the space feel more lively and, at the same time, relaxing.
Swimming Pool with Artificial Waterfall Designs
There are many types of waterfall features for swimming pools. But we can break it down into these categories:
Rock/Natural waterfalls – this type mimics naturally occurring waterfalls, as it uses elements & materials that closely resemble real falls. This can be made from natural materials, artificial materials, or a combination of both. Custom-made rock waterfalls can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 (excluding installation cost) on average and up $30,000 or higher for larger and more complicated designs. Pre-made DIY waterfall kits can also be bought for $450 up to around $3,500.
Cascade / Sheet waterfalls – these are usually installed on walls or accent walls beside pools, using a narrow horizontal water spout, creating a thin, straight stream of water. If you want a more modern design, then this type would be more appropriate than the natural waterfalls. A professionally installed cascading fall would range from $250 to $5,000, depending on size and design complexity.
Water wall – unlike sheer waterfalls where the water flows outward from the wall, water walls flow along the walls (or sometimes, glass and other materials) and flow into the pool. This produces a gorgeous yet subtle water feature perfect for modern designs. The cost average would be around the same as cascade waterfalls.
Water curtain – water curtains usually use spouts that resemble an oversized faucet. It produces straight, curtain-like streams and is usually placed on the sides and edges, allowing you to use it to engulf your head in water.
Rainfall curtain – this type produces a wall of water droplets mimicking real rain. These are often installed on horizontal beams or pipes placed above the pools.
Water spouts/scupper/sconces (decorative) – these are also attached on a wall, but instead of long horizontal spouts, it uses normal-sized spouts in a variety of shapes and sizes. These are inexpensive and relatively easy to install.
Spillovers – usually found on multi-level pools. Inground pools (that have a higher elevation) would continuously spill over the lower area through a spout or a small indent and then be pumped back into the elevated area. These are often applied on attached kiddie pools, spas, or jacuzzi.
Vase Fountain / Water Bowl – instead of using spouts or wall openings, this type uses large ceramic or concrete bowls placed on an elevated area, in which the water spills from the bowl and into the structure.
Rock/Column Fountain – this is actually similar to a water wall, but instead of a wall, rocks or concrete columns are used. The water spills out from a small opening at the topmost portion of the rock and engulfs the rock/column.
There are many other types of water features you can add to your design, and it will all depend on the look you’re going for and, of course, the budget.
Some other common popular features of pools are:
- Deck Jet or Fountain Spitter – this is installed on the deck area and shoots a thin arc of water. This is very common and relatively inexpensive
- Slides – kids and adults both love water slides. There are many custom and ready-made options you can find.
- Jets and Bubblers – this water feature shoots out water from the inside.
Pool Waterfall Kits
If you think adding waterfalls to your swimming area is too expensive, there are already many waterfall kits available on the market. These DIY kits are prefabricated waterfalls with a complete set of materials and manuals, so you can easily install them on your own at half the price of custom waterfalls. On average, waterfall kits could cost around $500 to $3,500, depending on size and design. Here are some of the common types of waterfalls with kits you can find on the market:
- Rock waterfalls
- Fountain waterfall
- Cascading falls
- Vase fountains
- Retaining wall waterfalls
Suppose you have a certain design on your mind that is not common on complete waterfall kits, and you have access to materials, time, knowledge, and skills to DIY your waterfalls. In that case, you can instead buy kits that only include pumps and other basic machines and materials you need to achieve your dream waterfalls for pools.
This is a stainless steel water curtain spout attached to the deck, with a very simple and clean modern design. You can simply install a few of these around your pool, and it will instantly give it more life.
This is an example of sheet waterfalls installed on a low wall at the pool’s edge. It creates a nice and clean sheet of water that seems to gush out from inside the wall because of the very low profile spout it uses. This type of waterfall can be custom-made, DIY, or even bought as a kit. This is perfect for simpler designs and for smaller spaces.
DIY Pool Waterfalls
There are popular types of waterfall flows one can choose, from a gentle trickle to a cascading watersheet. Prefab waterfalls come in an assortment of designs to compliment your backyard style, whether it be rustic or modern. The spouts for waterfalls are commonly made of stainless steel and are inset on walls. Most of them are designed in a way that makes them almost invisible once installed. The type of waterfall it creates would depend on the water pump setting you choose.
Adding a waterfall will consist of creating a solid base and modifying the structure to accommodate the spillway spout. Some of the most popular structures used for a waterfall base include tile for a traditional style, stacked stone for a contemporary design, or loose river rock for a more natural look.
Pools with Waterfall Design Ideas
Instead of a recessed-mounted sheet waterfall spout, a surface-mounted stainless steel spout was used in this modern design. A large Asian-style pool cabana provides a place to escape the sun for outdoor dining, while the wood pergola is perfect for relaxation.
The excellent landscape design definitely helps enhance the overall look of this pool-like lagoon. For large lagoon pools, a waterfall helps keep the water flowing & moving, avoiding stagnant water, which can be a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. This design features plants densely arranged in a way that looks wild & natural. The plant seems to frame the high rock waterfalls, which use dark-colored stones to give them even more depth.
