Guide · Restoration
Restore or replace: how to decide.
A failing fountain is not always a lost fountain. Here’s how to tell when restoration makes sense and when it’s time to rebuild.
Should you restore or replace a failing fountain?
Restore when the structure is sound or the fountain has heritage or design value, and the problems are in the pumps, piping, lighting or waterproofing. Replace when the structure itself has failed, or when the site needs something the old design cannot deliver. An inspection with repair costing is the fastest way to know.
Many projects end up as a mix. The shell and stone stay, and the systems inside are new.
Start with an inspection, not a guess.
A proper inspection looks at the structure, waterproofing, mechanical and electrical systems separately. Each one ages on its own timeline, and one failed part does not condemn the rest.
Our inspections and condition reports end with findings and repair costing. Boards, buyers and municipalities can use the report to budget and compare options side by side.
Restoring older municipal systems has been a specialty at Fountain Place for over 50 years. That history helps us read what an old fountain is telling us.
Signs restoration makes sense.
- The basin and structure are sound
- The fountain is a landmark or has heritage value
- Problems are in pumps, piping, nozzles or lights
- Stone, tile or coping can be repaired
- The display design still suits the site
- Water loss traces to waterproofing that can be renewed
Signs replacement makes sense.
- The structure has cracked or settled beyond repair
- The slab or membrane below needs full access
- Pipes are buried, broken or filled with concrete
- The site’s use has changed and the fountain no longer fits
- Repairs would cost close to a new build
- Public safety can’t be met with the existing design
One or two of these does not settle it. Weigh them against what the fountain means to the site.
Questions to ask before you decide.
What does the fountain mean to the site? A landmark or memorial feature carries value that a new build cannot replace, and that should weigh in the decision.
What is under it? Fountains on condo podium decks sit over underground parking, so the membrane and slab may need work whatever happens to the fountain. Plan both together rather than opening the deck twice.
How will it be run afterward? A restored or new fountain needs a maintenance program, a proper spring start-up and fall closing, and staff who know how to operate it. Build that into the budget from the start.
Three projects, three answers.
At the Belfountain in Caledon, the aquifer supply and original pipes no longer worked. The historic stone was restored by Clifford Restoration, and we installed new pumps and nozzles on copper pipe that keeps its early-1900s character.
The Pembroke Centennial Fountain was built in 1967, and its mechanical and electrical systems had reached the end of their life. We installed new pump vaults, control panels, wind sensors and engineered nozzles. It now runs on windy days and loses less water to splash.
At a Toronto condominium, the 35-year-old suspended-slab landscape had to come out. That was a replacement: a new infinity-edge fountain built from the top of the first parking level, with engineered waterproofing and structural insulation to reduce the slab load.
How a restoration project runs.
01
Inspect and audit
We inspect the existing fountain and report findings with repair costing.
02
Evaluate and plan
A site evaluation sets the project layout, followed by a demolition engineering and restoration plan.
03
Engineer the systems
Mechanical and electrical engineering, plus environmental studies where the fountain will be automated.
04
Demolish what must go
Demolition with rubble disposal, keeping the parts worth saving.
05
Rebuild
Reconstruction of the fountain and structural elements, often with tile work and new submersible LED lighting.
06
Commission and hand over
Commissioning reports, as-built drawings, maintenance documents and training for your operations staff.
What drives the cost?
Cost depends on access, structure and how much must be rebuilt. Podium decks over underground parking, heritage stone and long pipe or cable runs all add work.
Parts are rarely the obstacle. We make our own parts for maintenance and restoration, so parts for older fountains are readily available.
There are options for every budget, and we help from start to finish. If replacement is the answer, our design and installation team builds the new fountain, and our restoration crew handles the demolition.
Our sister company
Parts, pumps and fountains ship from Fountain Depot.
Nozzles, lights and commercial fountain equipment are also available through Fountain Depot, our sister company in Markham.
Restoration questions.
Is restoration cheaper than replacement?
Often, when the structure is sound, because the heaviest work is avoided. When the structure has failed, replacement can be the better value, and an inspection with repair costing shows which applies.
Can you restore a fountain someone else built?
Yes. Most restorations start with a fountain built by others, and restoring older municipal systems has been our specialty for over 50 years.
Can a restoration add LED lighting?
Yes. Many restorations finish with new submersible LED lighting, which uses far less power than halogen. See fountain lighting.
What do we receive at the end?
Commissioning reports, as-built drawings, maintenance documents for the new system and training for your staff.