Showroom Water Garden
Zephyr Thomas Home Improvement Co. in Lancaster, Pa., decided to build an indoor water feature to increase the ambience of the showroom.
Posted: April 28, 2008
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| The water garden added a welcoming ambience to the Zephyr Thomas Home Improvement Co. showroom in Lancaster, Pa. | Zephyr Thomas Home Improvement Co. in Lancaster, Pa., decided to build an indoor water feature to increase the ambience of the showroom. The company consulted with James Pontz and Michael Ferrari of C.E. Pontz Sons, also based in Lancaster. Together, they created an inviting atmosphere for homeowners looking to remodel their houses.
The biggest challenge revealed itself as they excavated the concrete floor. They discovered an insulated floor with 5 inches of concrete, 4 inches of insulation material and another 4-inch layer of concrete. The project took two months to complete with a three-man crew.
Because of limited access to the room, the materials had to be hand-carried into the room from an outside loading dock 75 feet away from the showroom. Boulders for the waterfall were carted in by wheelbarrow.
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| Stamped concrete walks and a composite wood bridge lead to the three-tiered waterfall against the hand-painted murals. | Pontz and Ferrari also faced the reality that an indoor waterfall would create a deafening roar if not built properly. To avoid this problem, Pontz and Ferrari designed a three-tiered waterfall, creating several points of interest and sound sources.
The completed project features stamped concrete walks and a composite wood patio surrounding the pond. The planting beds around the pond were filled with artificial plants and flowers, such as broad-leaf deciduous shrubs, geraniums and grasses. They selected artificial plants because of the low level of natural sunlight in the showroom.
Zephyr Thomas Home Improvement Co. wanted to show prospective clients their showrooms to help them visualize possibilities for their homes. For this purpose, painted landscape murals surround the waterfall. The showroom water garden proved successful for Zephyr Thomas Home Improvement Co. and C.E. Pontz Sons. Ferrari said many customers who have seen the showroom waterfall are referred to his company. The showroom water garden is also a stop on the firm’s annual pond tour.
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SPECIFICATIONS:
Designer/Installer: James Pontz and Michael Ferrari of C.E. Pontz Sons Landscaping
Contact information: Michael Ferrari, 717-394-9923, 2355 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601, www.cepontzsons.com
Project location: Zephyr Thomas Home Improvement Co., Lancaster, Pa.
Construction: The indoor water feature includes a three-tiered, 6-foot-high waterfall that empties into a 5-by-10-foot pond. It includes a 30-foot stream. Two tons of Pocono stone and 12 tons of Canadian Glacier boulders were used to build the water feature, which holds about 2,000 gallons of water. Nightscaping and Kichler low-voltage lighting appear throughout the feature. The pond features assorted artificial aquatic plants, including ferns and papyrus, and fish including comets, shubunkins and koi.
Components: Aquascape Signature Bio-Falls, micro snorkel vault and centipede and Aquascape 4500 pump
Time to complete: Two months
Project Cost: About $15,000 |
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Showroom Water Garden
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