GENERAL MAINTAINANCE FOR ALL ORNAMENTS
WATER DOES THE JOB Water is the most useful substance for maintaining marble garden ornaments. Rain performs some of the basic maintenance, but a squirt from a garden hose from time to time will remove most of the accumulated dust and dirt. Use a scrub brush (we provide one, but any plastic or natural bristled scrub brush will work) along with the hose.

For stubborn dirt, or to freshen the object, mix a few drops of Ivory™ or Dove™ liquid in a pail of water and rub it on the ornament with the scrub brush. We suggest using this brush only on your marble ornaments to avoid contamination from grease and other chemicals. For especially tough spots, such as paint from a bump of a lawnmower, try gently rubbing the spot with a new, soaking wet Brillo™ pad.

Bird droppings, including the most indelible-looking, brightly colored bird marks, will wash away with rain and snow. To speed up the cleaning process, run water from the garden hose and use the scrub brush.

For more difficult stains, please contact us or consult a local marble specialist. Chemical solutions should be used with extreme caution and as a last resort.

Never use a pressure washer on marble ornaments. It can irreparably pit the surface of marble.

SURFACE FINISH Our ornaments have a fine honed (matte) finish. The vases and sculptures have a thin wax coating that gives the objects a semi-gloss sheen. This coating will wear off with exposure to the elements, and the underlying honed finish will develop a natural, patina-like finish. Some owners prefer the honed/matte surface, leaving the marble ornament to weather naturally over the years.

If you prefer the more glossy appearance, we suggest using Clean EnCounters® followed by Stone Color Enhancer®. These spray-bottle products are available from Stone Care International (800-839-1654; www.stonecare.com). The application process is quick and easy, and it is usually sufficient to apply annually in the spring.

ORNAMENTAL MARBLE VS FLOOR AND COUNTER TOP MARBLE Ornamental marble requires much less care and maintenance than slab marble which is highly polished and used for floors, walls, and counter tops. Ornamental marble works with the natural character of the stone, and the surface is honed (matte), not glossy. Beyond a squirt from the hose, combined with the scrub brush, ornamental marble mostly takes care of itself.

MAINTENCE FOR FOUNTAINS
REFILLING THE FOUNTAIN The fountain should be kept full, approximately 1" below the rim of the basin. When the water level in the basin drops to about 2" from the bottom, the fountain basin must be refilled. To refill the basin, run water from a garden hose for several minutes allowing the water to overflow. Refilling the basin can be done while the fountain pump is running. The pump should not be operated with less than 2" of water in the basin.

We are often asked, "How often will I have to refill my fountain?" The answer is: it depends.

The evaporation rate and the need to refill the fountain is determined by:

a. Location (sun vs shade),
b. Weather conditions (hot weather vs cool, and windy vs still air),
c. Nozzle (low spray vs high spray and splash)
d. Flow rate (controlled by the ball-valve on the pump),
e. Run time of pump (6 hrs total hours a day vs 12 hours), and
f. Type of system (tank systems need less refilling than closed systems). See: Fountain Systems.

In "average" conditions a fountain will need to be refilled every 2-3 days. In a sunny, hot, windy location with 8 hrs of run time a day, the fountain may need to be refilled daily. Running the pump dry will eventually damage it, and void the 2-year warranty from the manufacturer.

The bubbler nozzle has the lowest rate of evaporation. The rate of evaporation increases with the number of jets. The jet nozzle, our standard nozzle, has the lowest evaporation rate. The height of the spray can be controlled by adjusting the ball valve on the pump.

CLEANING Giving the basin a quick scrub with every filling will deter dirt and other sediment from building up. If the fountain has a tank system with an automatic fill, you should run fresh water in the basin and scrub it at least weekly to deter sediment build-up. This is not time consuming - about 5 minutes.

The more the fountain runs and the more frequently you refill the water, the cleaner the fountain will stay. To remove accumulated dirt or sediment, first turn off the pump and then bucket and sponge out most of the water in the basin. Scrub the basin and spray the dirt out of the basin until it is clean. Refill the basin with clean water, then turn-on the pump.

For stubborn marks, add a few drops of Ivory or Dove liquid to a pail of water. Use the scrub brush to rub in the mixture and then flush generously with fresh water.

Bird residue, including colored deposits, washes away with rain and leaves no permanent stain. Running water from a garden hose combined with a scrub brush will speed up the process.

To return the original shine to the brass nozzle and drain stem, drain the fountain, and rub the nozzle with Brasso™ polish. Wipe away the polish with a cloth and rinse thoroughly with water before re-starting the fountain. Remember to turn off the pump before draining the basin.

READYING FOR WINTER Before the first below-freezing night, disconnect the power to the pump at the circuit breaker. For the closed circulation system, open the access cover of the pump enclosure and unscrew the clamp in the bulkhead drain fitting. Disconnecting the drain prevents harmful ice build-up in the pump, pipes and tubing.

For the tank system, you only need to drain the tank. The basin drain flows by gravity to the tank; there is no bulkhead to cause ice blockage. If the tank has a drain, leave it open in the winter. Reverse the procedure in spring.

Our marble fountains require no cover in the winter. We have designed them to drain standing water from all carved elements, thus avoiding damaging ice dams. With the drain opened, you can leave a solid marble fountain from Marble Styles exposed to the elements year-round.

MAINTAINANCE FOR THE GROUND FOUNTAIN
KEEP IT FILLED The Ground Fountain must be filled with fresh water regularly, daily in sunny locations and every 2-3 days in shady locations. This assumes about 10 hours of total operation per day using the jet nozzle.

The water in the basin must not be allowed to go below 1" from the bottom. Running the pump dry will eventually damage it, and void the 2-year warranty from the manufacturer.

The 2-tier nozzle has twice the rate of evaporation and splash loss as the jet nozzle. The Ground Fountain may also be operated without a nozzle, leaving the threads of the nozzle receptacle exposed, and gives the slowest evaporation rate.

LOCATIONS WITH PETS For locations with pets, we recommend locating your Ground Fountain in a shady spot to keep the water cool. Refill the basin daily with fresh water. Run cold water vigorously into the basin for at least three minutes while the fountain pump is running. This will allow fresh water to run through the pump system and keep it free of bacteria. Marble will naturally cool the water, but on very hot days the water will warm up and should be refilled and refreshed for your pets.

REFILLING To refill the Ground Fountain, run water from a garden hose for at least a couple of minutes allowing the water to overflow. Refilling the basin can be done while the fountain pump is running, which is recommended when pets drink from it. When the fountain is filled while the pump is running the entire system (pump & tubing, as well as basin) is purged of stale water.

CLEANING The more the Ground Fountain runs and the more frequently you refill the water, the cleaner the fountain will stay. When dirt or sediment remains, rub the basin with a medium bristled scrub brush and rinse with a hose.

For stubborn marks, add a few drops of Ivory or Dove liquid to a pail of water. Use the scrub brush to rub in the mixture and then flush generously with fresh water, especially if pets drink from the fountain.

Bird residue, including colored deposits, washes away with rain and leaves no permanent stain. Running water from a garden hose combined with a scrub brush will speed up the process.

Remove the 1" brass drain plug for draining the basin entirely. Remember to turn off the pump while the basin is empty.

To return the original shine to the brass nozzle and drain stem, drain the fountain, and rub the nozzle and stem with Brasso™ polish. Wipe away the polish with a cloth and rinse thoroughly (especially thoroughly if you have pets) with water from a hose before re-starting the fountain.

READYING FOR WINTER Before the first below-freezing night, disconnect the power to the Ground Fountain at the circuit breaker. Open the fountain drain to drain the basin entirely. This requires lifting the fountain to the side, unscrewing a clamp, and re-positioning the fountain on the enclosure/stand. In spring, the process is reversed.

Disconnecting the drain prevents harmful ice build-up in the pump, pipes and tubing.

The Ground Fountain requires no cover in the winter. With the drain opened, you can leave the Ground Fountain exposed to the elements year-round.