Need to build a form for a water feature

[BrendonTW]

Hey folks,

I am a landscaper and I'm going to start messing around with plaster forming for water features for formal landscapes.

My first design I am going to attempt is a column about 3' high and about 1' square with the top as a 9" x 9" x 9" "pool" and one of the four side walls will have a lower lip which is where the water will run out of the pool and create a water fall over a lip. The water will come from the bottom of the pool from a pipe that will be plumbed from inside the column.

Anyway, I don't know how to go about building forms for this thing. I want it to be a light tan. I presume I need to build a form out of something and then use the netting I often see, but I don't know what I'm talking about. I have never messed with plaster or anything like it really. Looking for pointers to help me get going. What to use, where to buy, etc..

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

 

[essexandy]

@BrendonTW as you're probably aware this type of thing is just about always (in my experience) made from cast concrete.
I made a bird bath using fibre reinforced screed with added SBR back in 2002 and although it's passable for my rustic, cottage style garden I wouldn't be that happy with how it's dealt with the weather if I'd supplied it to a paying customer.

 

[flynnyman]

Do a search on the forum for wallcrete

 

[The Apprentice]

Have a look at the Lady Plasterer on facebook, she's into things like this and having seen her work it is very good. She's made a water feature and her latest is a base for the sun shade which is superb

 

[mikeadams1985]

Depends on the design of the column and base.

 

[BrendonTW]

Didn't realize I had replies on here.

So I have done a rendering of the thing and have made a few changes. I think I am going to do cast concrete with reinforcing fibers but I am still worried about hairline cracks. The black in this image is granite and the tan is dyed concrete.