Residential Projects

Benefits of Water Features

Home Improvement

Enhanced landscaping improves property value, and water features make your property stand out from the rest. A Pondless Waterfall in the front yard provides curb appeal, while a backyard Ecosystem Pond increases a homes value much like a deck, patio, or gazebo. The sound of a water feature will drown out noise from traffic or neighbors. In addition, water features provide an interesting backdrop for entertaining while adding aesthetic appeal to your landscape. Waterfront property is a prized commodity and you can easily incorporate water into your outdoor living space without having to move near a lake or ocean.

"Nearly 20% of buyers say they consider landscaping to be a "very important" factor in their decision to buy a house, according to a new study by the National Association of Realtors." (Wall Street Journal. Selling Houses by the Yard. August 17, 2007.)

"Property adjacent to water- whether a pond, lake, stream, river, or ocean, is often more expensive." (Kaplan, Kaplan, and Ryan. With People in Mind: Design and Management of Everyday Nature, p. 113.)

Quality Family Time

Backyard ponds create a gathering spot for family and friends. Young children, teenagers, parents, and grandparents enjoy relaxing by the pond’s edge, and water features act like a magnet pulling the family together. Enjoy family meals outside near the pond and spend the evening unwinding with your loved ones. Educate young children on the wonders of nature with an ecosystem pond. All ages love watching the fish glide underneath lily pads, and enjoy the surprise afforded by a frog poking its head above the surface of the water.

Health and Wellness

Water features provide soothing sights and sounds that help you relax and de-stress in today’s busy world. Lower your blood pressure and improve your physical and mental health as you prop your feet up and enjoy the therapeutic effects of Mother Nature.

“Hospital patients who have a view of natural landscapes recover faster from surgery and require less pain medication. In addition, heart rate, blood pressure, and other measures return to normal levels more quickly when people view natural rather than urban landscapes after a stressful experience". (The Sustainable Sites Initiative. Standards & Guidelines: Preliminary Report. November 1, 2007.)

Environmental Conservation

Environmental sustainability has taken center stage in todays world, and water plays an important role as the worlds greatest resource. An ecosystem pond is self-sustaining with very little maintenance. Although it takes many gallons of water to fill initially, over the long haul it requires less water than the expanse of lawn it replaced. Water features attract wildlife of all kinds, from birds to butterflies, to frogs and salamanders. Certified wildlife habitats are growing in popularity, and water is one of the elements required to achieve certification. Water gardening becomes your new hobby as you feel yourself drawn to its beauty and natural elements. A pond provides opportunity to have fish as pets, without the mess and maintenance of an aquarium. Aquatic plants give you the chance to broaden your gardening horizons with choices that go beyond the standard petunia and rose. In addition, bird lovers will delight in the new variety of feathered friends that flock to a water feature. Nature lovers simply can not go wrong with water features.

Landscaping can change the microclimate around a building by 20 - 25 degrees F. According to the US Department of Energy, energy-efficient landscaping can save up to 30% on home heating bills. Savings for cooling can be even more. Tests in Florida showed a 50% reduction in air conditioning costs. Most people can save at least a few hundred dollars a year by properly reworking their yard. Water also tempers heat. Even a small pond can help.” (http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/landscap.htm)

Outdoor Living Spaces

Most people think of outdoor grills and patio furniture when they think of outdoor living spaces. Once the outdoor meal is over, what more is there to do in your backyard? While many homeowners turn to pools or hot tubs, they are discouraged by the amount of maintenance and chemicals required with these amenities.

For the price of a hot tub or less, a beautiful ecosystem pond can be installed, and less maintenance is required thereby providing more time to relax and enjoy friends and family.

Pools and hot tubs utilize heavy use of chemicals to stay clean. An Ecosystem Pond maintains clarity and quality of water through a balance of fish, plants, aeration, and filtration, often eliminating the need for chemicals. In northern climates, outdoor grills and similar features are typically enjoyed during the warmer months, whereas a water feature can be enjoyed year-round.

Water Gardens

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The ponds that Tropical Waterscapes constructs are probably unlike anything you have ever seen before. Unlike traditionally built ponds that use stacked rock construction, with components from various manufacturers that are piecemealed together, to create an unsightly, unnatural appearing water feature, our ponds are built in a totally different way.

We start off by using only professional grade products manufactured by our partner Aquascape, Inc. By using their 20 step, 20 product system we eliminate any and all guesswork that plague traditionally built ponds. From there we hand carve the soil creating a stair step style pond, place heavy duty geotextile Underlayment over the entire excavated area, line it with a heavy duty liner that carries a true 20 year warranty, and dry stack beautiful natural boulders on the vertical sides of the pond. Finally we spread decorative gravel over all the exposed areas of the liner, and use gravel to fill any voids between the boulders, which helps to lock them into place. The end result is a stunningly beautiful water garden with all of the mechanics hidden out of sight!

But that is not all. All of our ponds include a waterfall, hand built by some of the most talented waterfall builders in Missouri. The waterfall helps to both oxygenate and circulate the water in the pond, helping to maintain a healthy and beneficial ecosystem in your water feature.

Sizes of our ponds begin at 8'x6', and can be built as large as a multi acre lake. Prices begin at only $2995, and the average 16'x11' pond is priced at a very reasonable $6995.

Additional options that many people like to add to their new ponds include: streams, underwater lighting, automatic water fill valves, bridges, decorative statuary, wetland filtration, negative edge effects, islands, lighting around the perimeter of the pond, large character boulders, maintenance programs, and much more!

If you would like to experience the water gardening lifestyle for yourself, we invite you to schedule a consultation with one of our pond designers today!

See additional pictures in our gallery!

The Pondless® Waterfall

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Are you intersted in installing a water feature in your yard, but concerened about the safety and liablilities of having a pond? Or are you apprehensive about taking on the responibility of maintaining a full-fledged ecosystem? Well, we have the answer for you. The Pondless® Waterfall is basically that — a waterfall and a stream, without the pond.

Great aternative for a front yard pond Fits in small spaces where a pond might be crowded.

Perfect for public setttings (ex: building entrances, children's gardens, zoos, etc.) Where the liabilities of a pond are a concern.

Virtually maintenance-free! Simply refill the reservoir every few weeks to compensate for water loss due to evaporation.

Energy efficient No ecological need to run the system continuousy.

Set a timer Ideal for vactions and night/day settings.

No ecosystem to worry about (fish, etc.).

SafeIf you have small children and safety is a concern, you can start with a Pondless® Waterfall. With the simple addition of a skimmer and larger liner, you can convert your system to a pond when the kids are older.

Attractive Freshen up the entrance to your office or home. A Pondless® Waterfall can add great curb appeal to any home or business looking to add to the aesthetic value of their property. The low cost and easy maintenance make this system an easy choice for those wanting to add some zest to their existing landscape plan.

See additional pictures in our gallery!

Pebble Ponds™

View The Pebble Pond Brochure By Clicking Here

The Pebble Pond is the newest addition to our product line. Featuring a small footprint with even a smaller price tag, the Pebble Pond is a great option for those wishing to add the sights and sounds of a low maintenance water feature to their property without breaking the budget.

Each Pebble Pond begins with an extremely durable and rigid 4'x4'x 14" basin capable of supporting over 2,000 pounds, which is carved into the ground. From there we install a decorative item (average height of 28"), and connect it to the pump located in the basin. We finish it off by adding decorative gravel, and a few boulders to give it a finished look. The end result is a stunning water feature that fits nearly anywhere, and looks especially good near a front entryway.

Best of all is you get to choose from one of nine decorative items which are included FREE with installation. A few of the more popular options are shown below.

See additional pictures in our gallery!