DIY Waterfall Wall

Protect the areas designated for your waterfall by installing sections of waterproof sheet rock or drywall product used in bathrooms to keep water from penetrating walls on your floor and wall. Use plumber’s epoxy to attach the sheets and pipe more along the periphery to make a tight seal. Follow curing time recommendations on the epoxy package so the bond seals tightly. Mark the wall with a pencil to indicate the water wall’s summit.

Run a power line to the waterfall wall site to provide the electricity needed to run the pump that circulates the water. Test the submersible pump in your bathtub first by attaching a length of rubber tubing to the pump and then let it run a while to check the rate and flow of water, ensuring enough water pressure exists to meet your needs.

Seat a plastic collection pool on the floor and against the wall. Secure it to the sheet rock with plumber’s epoxy, if you’re worried about movement. Allow the epoxy to dry before proceeding. Add a rubber liner to the collection pool’s interior if you have concerns about the thickness of the plastic used to make the pool. Check the liner package to ensure pool clips are included. Buy them separately if need be.

Install the pipes or tubing. Choose among PVC pipes, or plastic or rubber tubing. Achieve a more abundant flow with pipes, though they can be more difficult to disguise or opt for rubber or plastic tubing that’s more manipulative and easier to hide. Mount the pipes or tubing on the wall using brackets and screws, starting at the pool collection point. Place the final bracket just short of the water wall’s summit. Earmark one area of the wall installation as your “escape hatch” so you can make repairs in the future if you have a plumbing problem.

Hook up the re-circulating pump to the pipes or tubes, fill the pool, submerge the pump and test the water pressure a final time to ensure that the circulating water falls properly and you don't have any leaks. Drain the pool if you’re satisfied so you can begin working on aesthetics.

Build a mini-wall to surround the pool. Craft a frame of 2-x-4s and nail plywood over the frame so it completely obscures the collection pool. Plaster the pool surround. Create a smooth finish that’s ready to be painted or press rocks, shells or decorative touches into the plaster while it’s wet so the finish hardens with the embellishments in place. Disguise the tubes or pipes with more plaster, trim or greenery, remembering to leave that escape hatch exposed in case you have to make repairs down the road.