A Guide for Building a Natural Rock Waterfall in a Residential Swimming Pool

Posted on: 15 March 2021

A great swimming pool design is often achieved by combining various water attributes, including reflection, appearance, colour, and refraction. However, you can give your pool a wow factor by integrating a vertical element of flowing water. One such element is a natural rock waterfall, which introduces unique sounds, sights, and a sense of calmness to a swimming pool. Notably, a natural rock waterfall can accommodate a range of pool budgets. Therefore, homeowners wishing to build or remodel their pools should consider the custom feature. Here is a guide for building a natural rock waterfall in a residential swimming pool.

Benefits

A waterfall is a welcome addition to a swimming pool, especially if you are using a natural rock. Since a waterfall ensures the constant flow of water, your swimming pool's ability to clean itself is enhanced. Most importantly, an improved filtration system ensures that the water is safe for use. Besides, rocks add more natural and organic beauty to a pool than a waterfall feature made from faux stone or prefabricated materials. Moreover, you can customise the size, height, and style of natural rock material based on the overall pool design, budget, and preference.

Installation and Operation Costs

Although the topography and space of your home might affect the scope of water features, such as a natural rock waterfall, your budget could also be a limiting factor. Rock waterfalls require one or several pumps, increasing pool utility costs by 5% to 8%. Besides, the weight of rocks and positioning style can increase the cost of labour significantly. Experts note that a waterfall feature, such as a natural rock waterfall, represents 10% to 15% of a pool's overall construction cost. Therefore, operating costs, such as maintenance, lighting, and pumping, must be incorporated into your budget. 

Types of Rocks

The choice of rocks for a swimming pool waterfall varies from one region to another based on the availability of raw materials. Some of the common natural stones used in the construction of waterfalls include limestone, granite, quartzite, firestone, flagstone, fieldstone, and sandstone. Some pool builders opt to combine different types of rocks. Indigenous rocks supplied locally are better since they cost less than shipping specific types of rocks across the country.

Rock Size and Shape

Swimming pool builders often consider different rock sizes and shapes when designing and building pools with waterfall features. Most designs incorporate small and large stones, which assume different shapes and forms. However, if you want a contemporary swimming pool, opt for machine-cut rocks with a consistent size and shape. 

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Happy Families and Healthy Pools: A Pool Blog

Welcome! I am a mom of three kids, and they love to swim. Our pool is truly the centerpiece of our home—my kids play and exercise there, we host parties there, and my husband and I love our midnight swims alone. Because we use our pool so much, it's critical that we keep it healthy. I don't want any scum or bacteria in our pool. As a result, my family stays happy. My name is Michelle, and in this blog, I am going to write all about pools: keeping them clean, designing them, troubleshooting issues and much more. Thank you for reading my posts and enjoy your new pool!