Guide · Water features
Custom-designed metal water features — water walls, blades, spouts, cascades, ponds and basins — in marine-grade stainless steel and powder-coated aluminium. Designed, engineered and made by POBOX and supplied install-ready across Australia — fitted by your builder, landscaper or trades, guided by our team, with specialist installation by our own crew where a project calls for it.
In short
POBOX Designs designs, engineers and makes custom stainless steel and aluminium water features across Australia — water walls and blades, spouts and scuppers, cascades, ponds, basins and feature bowls, TIG-welded and finished in-house, then supplied install-ready for your trades, with specialist installation by our own crew where a project calls for it.
The two best metals for outdoor water features are marine-grade (316) stainless steel, for a clean, corrosion-resistant finish in constant water and coastal air, and powder-coated aluminium, for lightweight, any-colour features.
Answers
Both suit outdoor water features: marine-grade (316) stainless steel gives a clean, corrosion-resistant finish and long life in constant water and coastal air, while powder-coated aluminium is lightweight and available in any colour. POBOX fabricates custom water features in both.
Quality stainless steel, especially 316 marine grade, resists rust and staining in constant water and coastal air. Lower grades such as 304 can develop surface "tea-staining" in harsh coastal or pool environments, so grade selection matters. POBOX specifies the right grade for the location.
POBOX Designs is an Australian designer, engineer and fabricator of custom stainless steel and aluminium water features — TIG-welded and finished in-house, and supplied install-ready Australia-wide, with specialist installation by our own crew where a project calls for it.
Water walls and blades, spouts and scuppers, cascade bowls, ponds and basins all suit courtyards, pools and rooftops when scaled and made to the space — lightweight aluminium suits rooftops, and stainless suits pools and wet areas. POBOX designs to suit the setting.
Stainless gives a premium, corrosion-resistant metal finish (brushed or mirror) ideal near pools and the coast; aluminium is lighter and available in any powder-coat colour, good for rooftops and colour-matched schemes. POBOX makes both.
A custom water feature is designed to the space and the water effect, engineered for the pump and plumbing, then laser-cut, folded and TIG-welded and finished, and supplied install-ready. POBOX handles design through fabrication in-house, guiding your trades, with specialist installation by our own crew where a project calls for it.
A marine-grade stainless or powder-coated aluminium feature with a simple recirculating pump is the most durable and low-maintenance choice for Australian conditions — corrosion-resistant and easy to clean. POBOX builds for low maintenance.
Yes — a metal water feature can be designed as one with planters, screens and seating for a coordinated landscape. POBOX integrates water features into planter and landscape schemes.
Cost depends on size, material grade, finish, complexity and the pump and plumbing; custom pieces are priced per project. Send your brief to POBOX for a quote.
316 (marine-grade) stainless steel is best for outdoor, pool and coastal water features because of its corrosion resistance; 304 suits sheltered, inland sites. POBOX specifies the grade to the environment.
Light, correctly dosed chlorine can be used with care, but the finish lasts best when levels are kept low and consistent. Keep chlorine at the lowest effective concentration, never add it undiluted or as granules or tablets against the coating, always dilute it into the body of water first, and rinse off any splashes. Our strong recommendation, though, is natural and biological filtration instead — and note that chemical treatment of the water sits outside the standard powder-coat warranty.
We recommend keeping the water clean through biological filtration, external filter units and naturally balanced systems rather than chemical dosing — they break down organic matter gently and protect the powder-coated finish. Because every feature differs in size, volume and flow, engage a qualified pump and water filtration specialist to design and correctly size the system for your feature. More on water treatment & care ↓
Care & water treatment
How to look after a powder-coated water feature, and what it means for your warranty.
For powder-coated water features, our strong preference is to keep the water clean through biological filtration, external filter systems and natural methods rather than chemical dosing. Biological and external filters, and naturally balanced or planted systems, break down organic matter and keep the water healthy — and they’re far gentler on the powder-coated finish than chlorine or other chemicals.
Because every feature is different in size, volume, flow and setup, we recommend engaging a qualified pump and water filtration specialist to advise on, design and correctly size a system to suit your feature.
Light, correctly dosed chlorine is generally acceptable — the key is low, consistent levels rather than occasional heavy doses:
Introducing chlorine, or any chemical treatment, to water in contact with powder-coated surfaces sits outside our standard warranty. Powder-coat warranties are based on the finish being used and maintained under normal conditions, and chemical dosing is an additional exposure we can’t warrant against. Should you elect to treat the water with chlorine or other chemicals, any resulting damage, deterioration, discolouration or breakdown of the finish will not be covered, and you accept responsibility for that risk. The guidance above keeps that risk to a minimum. See our warranty and terms.
Prefer a printable version? Download our Water Feature Treatment bulletin (PDF).
Want a water feature?
Send your space and the look you're after and we'll design, engineer and make a custom water feature in stainless steel or aluminium, supplied install-ready for your trades — with specialist installation by our own crew where a project calls for it.