Cast concrete is very dense and is easy to waterproof. It resists erosion and calcium deposits better than shotcrete. Artificial rock also holds up to salt systems better than natural rock, and salt chlorine generators have almost become the standard in aquatic facilities.
If strong colours are used, there will be facing over the years. The major theme parks have full-time maintenance staff, however they often do not want to be bothered with annual touch-up work. Most projects should go four to five years before any touch-up colour is needed.
Choosing artificial rock
Artificial rock is very lightweight; it is at about 10 per cent the weight of real rock. In addition, artificial rock often comes in kits to create water features that provide a consistent finished look, so consumers can always get what they are expecting. Even if the consumer does not specifically ask for a cave, grotto, waterfall, or jumper rock for their pool, these unique features visually help builders integrate nature into the backyard landscape and should be suggested to the homeowner.
Creating water features with natural stone can be unpredictable. Builders often spend all day arranging the natural boulders and then clients can ask to see the stones arranged in another way. Much like artwork, working with natural stone can often be dubious and can lead to a rapid increase in labour costs. Using a component water feature made of artificial rock eliminates this circumstance.
More importantly, these water features can be built in one to two days with certainty, which is faster than trying to build with natural stone. Artificial rock is easier to work with, the colour matches, and the work involved is predictable because these rocks are designed to be used specifically around pools and to build swimming pool water features.
The labour savings factor alone makes the component system extremely price competitive in the marketplace, not to mention attractive to builders to stay on schedule and maximize their building season.
Artificial waterfalls weigh far less than the equivalent in natural stone and cost less to transport and install—not to mention the final look and assembly is much easier to control and ensure proper waterflow. The Rico Rock cast concrete rocks component systems also look real because they are cast from actual rocks to provide the same shape, character, and texture as natural stone.
The real artisan work comes in the cutting, sizing and placement of the cast concrete rocks. Many experienced pool professionals place natural stones along either side of the waterfall and work to mimic and match the colour and texture of those natural stones with the cast concrete stones. Adding planting around the water feature will also help to truly replicate the look of a natural waterfall along a pond where plants grow on the rocks.
Author
Zayvian Camacho is part of the design and fabrication team at Rico Rock, developing new climbing wall, water features, and working on commercial aquatic and non-aquatic construction projects. Camacho has studied landscape design and has overseen construction for dozens of unique cast concrete artificial rock projects in backyards, hotel resorts, bowling alleys, zoos, and more. Camacho finds his rock construction work meshes perfectly with his passion for rock climbing. He can be reached at zayvian@ricorock.com.
