Choosing materials

Metal: Aluminium and stainless steel are perfect for contemporary water features. Both durable and low maintenance, they can be turned into sculptural water walls, spheres and tubes. Corten steel is incredibly strong and develops a striking rust-like appearance as it ages, creating rich, warm textures, which also protects the steel below. Stone: Natural sandstone, granite and flint can create water features that look like a riverbed or babbling waterfall in a countryside stream. They look elegant, especially when colonised by lichens and mosses and are stable but can be costly and heavy to move. Stonecrete, a stone and concrete mix, is cheaper. Polyresin: This long-lasting durable form of plastic is UV and frost resistant. It can be cast smooth or to take on the rough texture of natural materials, giving an instant aged or mature look and feel. It’s much lighter than stone, so features are easy to work with and move around.