I recently purchased a new wall mounted waterfall to hang on a column in my great room. I was so excited when I found this item because its colors, style and size were simply perfect for what had been a hard to decorate area.
So, I went ahead, got out the step ladder, measured for wall anchor locations to insure perfect symmetry. I then drilled holes, installed the wall anchors, hung the waterfall, filled up the base and stepped back to enjoy the fruits of my labor. You know what is coming next, don’t you?
Yes, I left for a couple of hours and returned home to find a beautiful oak chair sopping wet. Apparently, the base pot was not properly treated, so it leaked like a sieve. I went to return the base for a new one and was informed that the product had been discontinued.
Disappointed, but not wanting to give up on this beautiful waterfall, I set out to make my own repair.
Now, there were literally 10 different ways I could have repaired the base pot (i.e. line it with rubber). Because the water pump vibrates as it pumps water throughout the waterfall, it was important to me to line the base pot with a product that would resist wear from that vibration. I decided to use a two-part epoxy.
Here are some tips to make this type of repair safer and easier to do.
First, when using an epoxy, always work in a well-ventilated area. Because, well-ventilated areas are often outdoors, it is important to remember that the item will need to sit in a relatively warm area to insure proper curing. I applied the epoxy out in my workshop and let the piece sit there for four hours during daylight hours. I then placed it in my basement for the night.
Because the base is about eight inches deep, I decided to brush the epoxy coating on with a 12-inch long artist brush. Once done, always be certain to properly dispose of any container, brushes, etc.
It has now been two weeks since my repair and I am happy to report that all is well and dry.
My point is, if you have an attachment to a special piece in your home that is broken, don’t give up on it. There are countless products on the market today that can fix virtually everything made of wood, metal, plastic, etc. With a little research and conviction, you can craft just about any repair.
Kaile Warren of Windham is CEO/Founder of the national handyman franchise Rent-A-Husband. Kaile is also a national home improvement expert for the CBS Early Show, HGTV and Parade Magazine and appears locally on WCSH’s 207. When not on the road or working he spends his time teaching his newly adopted white shepherd, Maintenance, how-to ... Send your questions for Kaile to editor@themaineswitch.com.