How Much Does a Water Feature Cost?

Bring your home, garden, pool and business to life with the soothing soundscape of a water feature. They’re wonderful for creating an ambiance while adding a genuine wow factor as a stunning centerpiece that requires little maintenance, the occasional filter clean and top up of water. 

Refreshing, calming and the ultimate in feng-shui within a modern world increasing in disorder while lacking in time, water features add to the value of the property while also offering a warm welcome to visitors of all kinds - from humans to birds and furry footed friends.  

Several different types of qualified and licensed professionals can be counted upon to design and coordinate the build and installation of water features, from landscapers to landscaping companies, specialist water feature companies, plumbers and electricians. 

Average costs for water features range between $72 and $4000+. Given our time-poor lifestyles, with a general lacking in artistry, skill and know-how, the value-add to our properties and their pacifying ambiance, hiring a professional to install a water feature verges on an indulgent but erstwhile necessity. 

There are many types of water features to suit different environments and styles. Water features are only limited by your imagination and materials, with professionals creating bespoke creations to suit you. Years of innovation has seen to it that options for water features are endless. A water feature to suit any budget, and limits in space and design isn’t just a possibility; it’s a reality.

Certainly, you can DIY: you might not care whether the job takes all year and hauling around rocks sounds more fun than keeping your gym membership, while the creativity process will bring you genuine joy and a sense of achievement. But what you can count on is a professional will install your water feature efficiently and correctly, allowing for water flow and waterproofing while avoiding any potential expenses with water damage and disaster. When you’re lacking in the stamina and would prefer to avoid the problems with design and installation, you have all the security and confidence the project will be professionally completed.

Common Inclusions in Water Features

While water features are fairly low-maintenance, they do require some regular attention. The different types of water features range from a simple bubbling pot to a fish-friendly pond or waterfall wall with or without plants and gurgling ornate fountain in a swimming pool. Each feature presents their own challenges. Essentially, they start with a submersible pump moving and aerating the water, adding oxygen and breaking the surface to keep leaf litter, bugs, mosquitos, pests, grime and algae at bay. Pumps need to be connected to electricity to run whether electricity of solar powered, maybe even allowing for a programmable system to turn the pump off and on, which in turn requires water proofing to prevent short circuiting. If fish are involved, foliage breakdown needs to be prevented from poisoning the water with equaliser often added, while covers and filters are cleaned without harsh chemicals, with water top ups and the pond cleaned frequently.   

Your Water Feature builder may include some or all of the following services

• Land Clearing. Preparing the area often requires the land being cleared, such as pruning or cutting back garden, and removing pavers or bricks. It could be as simple as laying a few bricks or digging up the garden and moving plants and furniture around to make space.
  
  

• Levelling. The toughest job in installing fountains is perfecting the water flow for the lowest splash and the most aesthetically-pleasing sound. This starts with levelling the ground. Levelling also needs to take the ground beneath into account, allowing for a conduit to be established for the power to be hooked up.
  
  

• Trenching. Drainage is incredibly important with all water features, where a trenching shovel is required to create a narrow channel to allow for the installation of irrigation piping. 
  
  

• Retaining Walls & Landscape Lighting. Waterfalls are often installed into a variety of wall types and around gardens and backyards to drama. LED lights create a spectacular evening display, rotating through a variety of colours or set to just one. This usually requires the expertise of an electrician and a landscaper to make sure everything is well designed and safely set up. For these features, it’s all about the look and the sound.
   

• Garden Design. From a simple pond to an elaborate waterfall, incorporating a water feature into your existing garden requires designing, planning, gathering and installation with a garden redesign.
  
  

• Garden Landscaping. Building a large scale feature can support large plants, adding height and structure. Garden fountains lend themselves to any kind and style of feature, from oversized galvinised tubs to outdoor water fountains. This often requires large scale landscaping of the entire garden where the garden is redesigned around the new feature, rather than the feature harmonically blending into the existing garden. This is likely to involve design, planning, levelling, drainage and installation, with the coordination of an electrician to hook up the electricity, be it solar or electrical powered. 
  
  

• Backyard Landscaping. Extensive water features require a great deal of design, planning, levelling, drainage and installation when the entire backyard is transformed into a visual showpiece. The more intricate and labour intensive the project, the more likely plans are required for design, with the coordination of a plumber, landscaper,  electrician and specialist tools required for the project’s success.
  
  

• Commercial Landscaping. Water features definitely provide a stunning backdrop in a business, so a build, plan and installation for commercial landscaping including levelling, drainage, programmable watering systems using solar power or electricity with the coordination of a plumber, landscaper and electrician and specialist tools.
  
  

• Landscape Architecture. A build of a large scale project such a glass tiled water walls, garden rooms, custom-shaped fountains and tiled spas and pools that integrate with boxwood hedging, custom wood fencing, sandstone coping, paved decking or patios, sculptures, intricate stonework and a cabana require architectural designs incorporating some aspects of engineering. The area is likely to require levelling, drainage, programmable watering systems using solar power or electricity with the coordination of a designer, landscaper, architect, builder, plumber and electrician and specialist tools.
  
  

• Lawn Sprinklers. Lawn sprinklers are a great way to keep your garden and lawn green or if new turf has been laid. Sprinklers can range from pop ups, to nozzles, gear drive sprinklers, impact sprinklers and tools and need to be durable to withstand the weather. Sprinkler types vary, depending on lawn height, ability to not flood the lawn and water efficiency. 
  
  

• Sprinkler System Installation. A variety of sprinkler systems are available for every use, from discreet micro sprays for small garden beds, to border jet sprays which are also excellent for garden beds though more durable, especially around chewing dogs and football loving kids. Shrub sprays and pop-up sprinklers are great all-rounders, and ideal for automatic systems and best installed by a professional  
  
  

• Drip Irrigation Systems. As the most efficient form of watering, drip irrigation minimses evaporation and distributes water directly to the roots of our plants and lawns by a drip tube. Given the installation and operation are kept underground with less moving parts, there are less expenses down the track. A plumber with specialist tools will make sure this project is correctly installed and running. 
  
  

• Irrigation & Water Feature Repairs. Systems and features will require an overhaul or upgrade to address any problems due to wear and tear, incorrect installation, refits, maintenance, repairs and replacements. Experienced repairers and plumbers with specialist tools are required for these services.
  
  

• Garden Ponds. Inground, garden, multi-level, stand-alone or koi ponds, large and small, can be integrated into backyards and fountains to match any size and style. Plants add texture to ponds, though foliage breakdown needs to be monitored and prevented from poisoning the water with equaliser frequently added. Covers and filters need to be cleaned with ponds kept free of harsh chemicals including frequent general clean outs. As a live system, ponds do require attention, but huge advances in materials saves significantly on water bills.
  
  

• Water Fountain Design & Installation. From fountains made of urns, pots and repurposed materials with customised water feeders, a water fountain can be as simple, elaborate, big or bold as you like. They can accent the design aesthetic of the space or fit into a large scale design from a backyard. They do need to take the area size into account as well as your gardening time, and should be ideal as natural, stylish, low-maintenance ideas in confined spaces.
  
  

• Water Feature Design & Installation. From streams to sloping garden fountains, table-top or patio-sized fountains, basin, pedestal, or spout water features, repurposed materials, birdbaths, boulder water gardens, waterfalls, garden rooms, resort-style spas and pools, water walls, pool spillways, cascade features, multi-level waterfalls, lagoons, designers, electricians and plumbers with specialist tools are coordinated for this project to be correctly installed and running.
  
  

• Pool Excavations. With size, complexity and materials factoring into pool water features, these are the more large scale projects involving plans, certificates, permits, paperwork and excavation heavy machinery. Specialists such as steel fixers, concreters and pre-plumbers are required to work alongside landscape and pool designers, architects, civil engineers, plumbers and electricians with specialists tools and machinery for building, coping, landscaping and fencing.  
  
  

• Boring Excavation & Earthmoving Contractors. The extremism in irrigation systems, boring excavations and earthmoving contractors offer excavating, fencing, and drilling services to remove rock or locate underground water sources. Heavy machinery is required with skilled operators following the assessment of underlying soil and rock layers with civil engineers.  

Different Water Features include difference services within their package and prices may vary accordingly. Depending on which services are included in the package you purchase Water Features, you might pay more or less than average. 

Factors that Affect Water Feature Prices

Aside from service packages and the fact they are cost and energy efficient, other factors also affect the cost of Water Features. 

Design. The simpler the design, build and connection, the cheaper the installation and upkeep. The more elaborate the design with LED Lights and expensive materials such as stone or copper, the greater the risk and the more expensive the design, build, maintenance and coordination of qualified professionals from landscapers to plumbers, electricians and more to complete the project. 

Materials. The simpler and less complex the materials used, the less the cost in installation, but the greater the cost may be when repairing and replacing. Durable materials are especially important, whether moulded resin, stoneware with silicone, liners and waterproofing membranes adding to the operational staying power. Style might also contribute to costs, whether its Balinese, Minimal, Natural, Stone, Vintage, Retro or period inspired.

Big jobs versus contractors. Depending on the environment, tools, operational machinery, design and build, certified professionals might be required for the safe connection and install of every aspect to the water feature.

Example Pricing by Water Feature Services

Now that you know all of the services a Water Feature entails and which factors impact the pricing for such services, it’s time to take a look at average Water Feature prices in Australia, broken down by the type of services required.

Clearing & Levelling. Preparing the area for the build and installation of the water feature can be a simple task or a complicated one, ranging from $100 to $485+

Retaining Walls & Landscape Lighting. Waterfalls are often installed into a variety of wall types and around gardens and backyards to drama. LED lights create a spectacular evening display, rotating through a variety of colours or set to just one. This usually requires the expertise of an electrician and a landscaper to make sure everything is well designed and safely set up. For these features, it’s all about the look and the sound.
 

Garden Pond, Water Feature, Fountain Design, Architecture & Landscape. From a simple pond to building a large scale feature involving landscaping for backyards and commercial properties using qualified, certified, licensed professionals, packages require skill, time, effort, labour, build, design, project coordination, sourcing and removal of materials with costs range from $105 to $500+.

Sprinklers & Irrigation System Installations and Repairs.  With sprinkler types varying, depending on lawn height, ability to not flood the lawn, water efficiency, materials and general connection and installation, costs can range from $72 to $150.

Excavations. With size, complexity and materials factoring into pool water features, these are the more large scale projects involving plans, certificates, permits, paperwork and heavy machinery excavations including the operation of heavy machinery the along with the equipment and its transporation to and for, prices range from $80 to $200+.

Water Feature prices on Airtasker can vary by location. Here is a breakdown of average prices on a city-by-city basis: