Stone Water Fountains
Stone water fountains add an elegant touch to any Houston landscaping design. Stone is a natural substance that blends well with vegetation. It is also a substance that can be sculpted into very sophisticated forms. This makes stone suitable for any style of landscaping ranging from those very close to nature to the more minimalist, contemporary landscape designs.
The rocks used to make these fountains are either igneous or metamorphic rock. Igneous rocks are formed by volcanic activity. Metamorphic rocks are formed when igneous rocks or sedimentary rocks (rocks created by layers of silt) are subjected to extreme heat and pressure underground. Both igneous and metamorphic rocks have hard surfaces and unique color patterns. This makes them ideal for building a decorative structure such as a fountain.
Granite stone water fountains are a good example of this. Granite is an igneous rock that is found in a wide spectrum of natural colors. It can be sanded to a highly polished sheen, or it can be left in a near-natural state. Unpolished granite has a very rough look, however, and only works well with a handful of very eclectic designs. In most cases, granite fountains are polished to better blend their aesthetic with that of surrounding luxury hardscape surfaces.
A better material to use in an unpolished state is basalt. Like granite, it too is an igneous rock. It normally has a single, basic color that works very well with garden design. Imagine the rocks you see in lush natural areas covered with wildflowers, low-growth plants, and small trees. Rocks in these place look like they belong among plants. Basalt has this sense about it and is excellent to use in garden fountain design.
Stone water fountains made of marble have an unmistakably Classic look to them. They work well with Mediterranean and Italian homes built with architectural motifs rooted in the Greco-Roman world. Marble was the favored building material of these civilizations. A marble fountain immediately invokes a world of images in your mind that remind of you of this time in history. Marble was also used in sculpture, so a marble fountain can be sculpted into humanoid, divine, or animal forms with a high degree of sophistication.
If you have a more contemporary, traditional, or country home style landscape design, the many colors of slate can add a beautiful focal point to your yard. Stone water fountains made of this stone can be green, black, or multi-colored. The diversity of slate makes it equally suitable for a garden fountain or patio fountain. The choice of colors makes it an ideal compliment for custom or contemporary landscape designs.
A stone water fountains can be any size. It can be constructed as part of a wall, or it can be built as a standalone structure. One of the strengths of stone is that it can be molded into both abstract and recognizable forms. This makes it a hardscape material with universal application to the full spectrum of Houston landscaping styles ranging from the traditional to the ultra-modern.