How to Build Outside Water Features With Vases & Urns
- 1). Drill a 3/4-inch hole in the back of the urn, two inches below the top rim. Drill a 3/4-inch hole in the back of the smallest vase, two inches from the bottom rim. Cut a hole 6 inches in diameter in the side of the remaining vase. This vase will be placed on its side, so the opening should be large enough to catch the water flowing from the top vase.
- 2). Place the urn outside in the desired location of the water feature. Stack slate stones on the back side of the urn, 4 inches higher than the urn's rim. Apply waterproof construction adhesive between each stone to hold the slate platform together.
- 3). Make another slate platform perpendicular to the first. The second platform should be 6 inches taller than the first platform. The platforms form an L shape with the longest leg behind the urn. Remember to glue each of the stones together with waterproof adhesive.
- 4). Stack a 3-inch lip of slate stones on the tallest platform where the two platforms meet. This is the support for the tilted top vase. Allow the adhesive to dry on both platforms and on the support lip.
- 5). Place the smallest vase on top of the tallest platform. Tilt it so that the mouth of the vase is leaning over the shortest platform. Make sure that the drilled hole is turned to the back, away from the urn. Glue the bottom rim and side of the vase in place where it touches the slate platform and support lip. Place a few more slate stones behind the tilted vase to support the base. Glue the stones in place.
- 6). Place the vase with the large hole on its side on top of the shortest platform. The hole should be facing up directly beneath the mouth of the top vase. The mouth of the second vase should fall over the top of the urn. Glue the vase in place.
- 7). Cut a length of plastic tubing to fit from the hole in the top vase to the bottom of the urn. The tubing should not be seen, so run it around the back of the slate platforms. Insert one end of the tubing inside the drilled hole in the top vase.
- 8). Place the submersible fountain pump inside the urn. Run the electrical cord outside through the drilled hole. Insert the other end of the plastic tubing through the hole in the urn and attach it to the spout on the fountain. Seal the holes around the tubing in the urn and in the vase with silicone sealant. Allow the sealant to dry.
- 9). Fill the urn and both vases with water before turning on the fountain pump.
