PONDLESS WATERFALL COSTS
Your Go-To Guide For Pondless Water Feature Building In Washington, DC, Baltimore, And Surrounding Areas
1,000+ ponds constructed and repaired | 5,000+ ponds cleaned | Active in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia since 2001
Building a pondless water feature is a fantastic way to add value to your home and landscape. If you’ve always enjoyed being in the presence of water but you’re not ready for the maintenance a pond may require, you’re in the right place.
You’ll see your home in a new light once this natural asset is added to your landscape. Before starting on the journey towards a pondless water feature, find out what the process looks like and what kind of investment it requires.
Let’s dive in.
A Pricing Guideline for pondless waterfall construction
Basic Pondless Waterfall*
Quoted price $9,500
Here is what this specific design can include:
- A small basin starting at $5,000
- 10 ft. long stream at $450/linear ft.
- An average waterway of 1.5 ft. wide
- Small-sized boulders
- A 3000 gallon per hour pump
Average Pondless Waterfall*
Quoted price $19,250
Here is what this specific design can include:
- An average basin starting at $8,000
- 25 ft. long stream at $450/linear ft.
- An average waterway of 2 ft. wide
- Medium-sized boulders
- A 3000 gallon per hour upgraded pump
High-End Pondless Waterfall*
Quoted price $30,500+
Here is what this specific design can include:
- Large basin starting at $12,500
- 40 ft. long stream at $450/linear ft.
- An average waterway of 2 to 4 ft. wide
- Large-sized boulders
- A 5000 gallon per hour pump
Advanced options for your pondless water feature can include:
- Auto-fill: starts at $750
- Algae control: $1200
- Mystery waterfall: $990
- Rain exchange water retention system
- Plants
- Fountains
Outdoor lighting options for your pondless water feature can include:
- Small lighting package (3 lights) at $1,400
- Medium lighting package (6 lights) at $2,450
- Large lighting package (10 lights) at $3,850
*Prices are averages and may change depending on the size of your pondless waterfall and your choice of systems and upgrades. Extra upgrades are optional and are quoted separately. You’ll receive an exact quote for your unique pondless waterfall after the in-home consultation.
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- Pricing is for normal site conditions. Difficult site conditions can alter this number.
What drives the cost of your pondless water feature?
The cost of building a pondless water feature can be affected by many factors: the length of the stream, the size of the basin, the design of the project, and to some extent, and your personal preferences and custom upgrades. You can create a basic model for around $9.5k, while a more advanced version could cost you up to $30k or higher. Let’s see why these aspects matter.
Length of stream
The amount of material required to create your pondless water feature is partially driven by the length of your stream.
Simply put, pondless waterfalls are a re-circulating water system. They rely on an in-ground reservoir and a pump. The size of the basin depends on the size of the stream and the desired incline. In general, most basins are around 24 inches deep. For steeper and more dramatic waterfalls, you can choose to build a more extensive basin.
Shape and size
Pondless waterfalls are the go-to water feature option for many homeowners because of how versatile they are. From simple front entrance streams to large backyard waterfalls, a pondless waterfall adapts to any terrain.
For this reason, it can be challenging to give an exact price before a home consultation. What every water feature owner should always keep in mind is that, regardless of your available space, you can enjoy the beauty and soothing sounds of a pondless feature.
Design
The design of your pondless water feature can increase or decrease your costs. If you decide to upgrade your pondless feature with things like lighting, fountains, and bridges, your price will go up.
That’s why it’s essential to have a contractor who can help you plan your design as a whole before you start building. The great thing about pondless waterfalls is that it’s easier to add to them later compared to other water features.
Plants
Pondless waterfalls are more than rocks and boulders. Combined with different plants, they can truly transform your backyard into a natural paradise.
Depending on the number and type of plants you want to add, you’re looking at different costs. If you’d like to start small, we recommend you start with a more straightforward look with basic plants.
Fountains
Fountains are a great addition to a waterfall. From simple bowls to dramatic urns, they require almost zero maintenance.
A basic fountain will not be too expensive, so it’s a good choice if you’re not looking for something extravagant. If you want more than just the standard one-jet fountain, expansive fountainscapes are also available.
Your Personal Preferences
Water feature owners that own a pondless feature often want to upgrade or add onto their stream eventually. Choosing custom elements is the way to go when you get there. Over the years, we’ve successfully handled custom requests like using specific types of rocks, lining the outside of the pond with a particular kind of block, adding an extra feeder stream, or adding custom lighting fixtures.
If a custom waterfall is on your mind, here’s what you should consider:
- Rocks. The use of specific rocks will add to your costs because certain types can be more expensive than others. Using large stones and boulders instead of small rocks will add up to your price tag.
- Extra feeder stream. A throw-over type waterfall has a much different cost than a rock structure or spillway waterfall, so consider this when planning for your budget. In general, the design of your waterfall will determine what type of systems you'll need, and your contractor should be prepared to advise you on your options.
- Lighting fixtures. To make the most out of your waterfall, you'll want to have it visible day and night with upgraded lighting features. Whether it's electric or solar-powered lighting, you'll add elegance and that “wow” factor to your water feature.
Choosing Your Pondless Waterfall Contractor
A Perfect Waterfall Designed For You
Building a pondless water feature can be an exciting project for a homeowner looking to enhance his property. Once you decide what your backyard should look like, choosing the right contractor can help you get that exact result. But how do you know which contractor is the right choice?
There are a few key things to look out for when you’re searching for a contractor who can build your pondless water feature. Below, we’ve highlighted the ones we believe are the most important.
Key Qualities To Look Out For
- Background - Make sure that the team members are highly trained and 100% involved in your project. To reach that, ask for details on the work they'll be doing, including labor and equipment. The more facts you get about the whole process, the better prepared you will be for deciding.
- Experience - When choosing a contractor, experience counts. You want to find someone with extensive knowledge and practical construction skills who has undertaken dozens of pondless water feature projects before. Consider how well your contractor will understand your goals and vision before bringing your project to life.
- Responsiveness - It should be easy to get in touch with the company. If they are hard to get a hold of or take too long to respond, you should reconsider your options.
- References - Ask for references and follow up on them. They must have a solid track record in your community and your general geographical area. Reliable contractors will be more than happy to provide you with basic info about their company and portfolio of completed projects. Also, check customer reviews online that can confirm their skills and background.
The Premier Ponds Approach
At Premier Ponds, our goal is to give our customers the best experience at all times. So when you choose to work with us, you’ll have a team that’s ready to turn your ideas to life while exceeding your expectations.
Common language
When you work with Premier Ponds, you can rest assured that our team will fully understand your needs and expectations from the beginning.
Our team members are native English-speakers or are otherwise fluent in English. They’re always ready to answer your questions.
Vast Portfolio
We’ve been in business for over two decades and have built over 1,000 water features. We’ve completed all our projects with great attention to detail and care.
If you have any custom ideas or requirements, feel free to share them with us and we’ll help you turn them into reality.
Highly-Skilled Team
Our team is highly trained and able to tackle any situation related to the pondless waterfall construction process.
We’ll offer our advice and recommendations related to your unique water feature and provide a report card when we’ve finished working on your project.
Availability
Although our schedule is typically full from March until mid-May, we do get cancellations which gives our calendar some leeway with availability.
If your water feature requires urgent care, give us a call and we’ll be happy to check on our availability for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you’re planning to have your pondless waterfall built by a professional team, it’s only natural to have some questions about the whole process. That’s even more likely to happen if you haven’t been happy with your previous pond contractor.
When choosing the right team to build your pondless waterfall, it’s essential to ensure an excellent fit for personality and work ethic. We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions on pondless waterfall construction to save you some time while doing your research.
At Premier Ponds, you’ll find a team of highly qualified specialists aimed at helping you build a beautiful pondless waterfall in no time and with maximum efficiency. They’re all native English speaking or otherwise speak English fluently, and will be able to walk you through every step of the building process.
Also, they’ll be offering you valuable advice on your specific water feature design. At the same time, you’ll get recommendations on some things you can do by yourself to keep your pondless water feature in great shape for many years.
Building a new pondless waterfall can be a different experience for each homeowner (find out more about that here).
Still, most of the time, it will include:
- Location – determining the most appropriate place for your pondless waterfall, digging the basin, and preparing the site for the streamflow.
- Preparation – if we build a large basin, this is where we’re adding anything needed to make it safe for fish and wildlife (waterfall plumbing, filtration system, etc.). We’ll also add additional upgrades such as lighting, auto-fill, algae control, fountains, or mystery waterfalls.
- Landscaping – adding the edges and rocks will turn your new water feature into a pond landscape.
- Waterfall – install the main feature and make sure it’s perfectly functional.
- Planting – adding aquatic plants and other plants to your pondless waterfall landscape.
- Final pondless water feature inspection – your new water feature is finished. You will have a last check to make sure it meets safety codes and that we did everything the way you wanted it.
We’re usually booked two-three months in advance, but sometimes cancellations do happen as well. When that’s the case, we might have an extra opening. So if you’re in a hurry with your pondless water feature project, give us a call, and we’ll be happy to check on our availability for you.
The timeline for completing a new pondless waterfall depends on its size, materials used, and upgrades you wish to add. A general timeframe is somewhere between a few days and a few weeks. We’ll provide you with an ETA so you can plan accordingly.
Every pondless waterfall has unique features that can either enhance or complicate the construction process. We like being transparent about costs, so you can find the information you need in our Pricing section. You can also use our cost calculator to determine your pondless waterfall construction estimate based on your specific vision.
Sometimes, homeowners look for the cheapest contractor or low-cost materials to stay within their budget. However, this does not always work. That’s because quality matters when water features costs are concerned. Remember that pondless waterfall building is an investment in the future of your property, so you’ll need to do it right.
When you go for low-quality pond supplies or cheap contractors with little to no experience, additional repair costs will be a matter of time.
Honest Feedback From Real Pondless Waterfall owners
Not “good quality”, but “GREAT” quality. Our townhouse backyard is now a highlight in our daily life. The sound of the waterfall, the growth of our fish, the blooming water lily, our frogs. The whole scene draws us daily to enjoy the wonderful landscaped setting. Premier Ponds the best.
Harold L.
ARTISTRY: Came home to our completed projects earlier today: a natural stone wall around a grouping of trees AND a beautiful stream (including two waterfalls) alongside our entryway. When I spoke to Mike last week, he said he was looking forward to “blowing us away” with these projects.
I thought it was slightly dangerous to be setting the bar so high, yet when I walked up my driveway earlier today I was greeted by an amazing WORK OF ART. We are beyond pleased; blown away! I knew my wife would have a similar reaction and I caught that on video. I asked, “0 to 10?” and she answered “Eleven!”
We can’t stop gazing at it. And we’re as excited to share it with our friends and family as we are to sit on our porch and soak it all in every chance we get. We are amazed at the attention to detail and thoughtfulness that makes it: 1) stunning from every possible angle, 2) balances textures both day and night, and 3) creates a look that is exactly like what you might find in nature.
Steve D.
I had a problem with my backyard water feature built by another company. The other company was unable to fix the problem but Premier Ponds got the system working and it has continued to work without issue for over a year. (Previously I was happy to see it work right for a day or two.) They know their stuff and were friendly and helpful.
Michael B.