Support

Whenever possible your local dealer is the best source for information regarding fountains and statuary.

Fiore Stone, Inc., the manufacturers of Al’s Garden Art fountains and statuary provides direct customer support and we are committed to provide you with the best customer experience. Please refer to the Contact Us page for the appropriate contact information.

Warranty

Fiore Stone, Inc., the manufacturer of Al's Garden Art, offers a one year manufacturers warranty facilitated by the dealer. Replacements and/or warranty orders are placed with authorized retailers. In all cases we require pictures or inspection of the item(s) to identify the item/color and to ensure the products is determined defective under the limited warranty policy. Warranty items are offered F.O.B. our factory in Colton, California. Freight charges are covered only when the replacement(s) are shipped via company trucks on a routine delivery to the retailer/dealer. Generally, Fiore Stone ships qualified orders in about 4 to 6 weeks.

Warranty

Helpful Hints

FOUNTAIN PLACEMENT A fountain assembly sheet, fittings as well as tubing are included for each fountain type. Contact your dealer if you did not receive all necessary pieces. Copies of assembly sheet are available under assembly instructions.

All fountains can have some amount of over splash regardless of style or design. Placement location of any fountain is the sole responsibility and liability of the purchaser. Fiore Stone produces two types of fountains: Pedestal and Basin styles and each have their own installation requirements. PEDESTAL TYPE FOUNTAINS should be placed on a solid surface like concrete, brick pavers or an optional matching fountain skirt. Most pedestals are hollow inside and rain and/or sprinklers may erode the soil underneath, jeopardizing the fountain’s stability.

BASIN FOUNTAINS - must be placed on a soft surface like sand or gravel. If a basin type fountain is to be installed on a hard surface like concrete or tile, a 1” to 1½” layer of sand must be applied over the surface. This will help with leveling by allowing the basin to settle and be completely supported, reducing the risk of possible stress fractures caused by the added weight of water and fountain components inside the basin. This sand should be grouted after the installation. Basins come in various sizes and shapes. Most basins have a 1” coupling (or hole) near the center that a rubber grommet fits in. The pump’s power cord runs through this, and out beneath the basin. Placing a sweep of minimum 1½” conduit or PVC underneath the basin from the center out to the edge or to the power source is a smart consideration. This will prevent major dismantling should the pump need to be replaced. Please consult an electrician regarding local code requirements.

PEDESTAL STYLE FOUNTAINS - Place pedestal/base style fountains on a firm, level foundation. If the fountain or statue is to be placed on dirt, a 24" concrete stepping stone is recommended to avoid erosion. Most pedestals are hollow inside and splash, rain and/or sprinklers may wash away dirt and cause your fountain or statue to tumble.

WALL FOUNTAINS - can be configured as either pedestal or basin style fountains. All wall fountains must have a solid wall support such as a brick or stucco wall with studs (drywall or plywood will not provide adequate support). Most wall fountains are supplied with brackets to mount top components firmly to a wall structure. Generally wall fountains allow for the power cord to escape from behind between the wall and the fountain. Small hanging-style wall fountains need to be mounted using proper heavy duty attachments for the structure to which they are being mounted. Consult your local hardware store regarding hardware, weight of the item and your wall material. Keep fountain bowls filled to proper level to maintain its proper operation.

CAST-STONE WINTER CARE
Fiore Stone, Inc., The manufacturer of Al’s Garden Art, wants to make sure that your purchase will last and remain the accent of your landscape for many generations to come. To make this possible some consideration and preparation should be taken into account.

One of the characteristics of cured concrete is that it absorbs moisture. Water expands under freezing conditions and it is at this state that concrete is at its weakest when facing extreme cold weather elements. Please take the following precautionary suggestions to prevent damage to your decorative concrete purchase. Frost disintegration occurs when water absorbed in concrete, freezes. Snow and ice accumulate inside basins, bowls and other cavities of your Al’s Garden Art product and during the day melts to absorb into the concrete.

Although our concrete mix is designed to have cold weather flexibility, in many cases the rock aggregate near the surface does not. And so, when temperatures drop, there could be a potential for cured concrete to chip, pit and in some cases even crack.

Fiore Stone NEVER suggests Anti-freeze as a preventive measure to frost disintegration. Anti-freeze is a harmful product to humans, animals and wild life. PLEASE DO NOT USE ANTI-FREEZE in your fountain. It is recommended that any decorative cast-stone item is protected from the frost disintegration. Any cast-stone items that can be brought indoors should be stored indoors. Some products are too heavy to be moved and we suggest that they are covered with a moisture barrier. In doing so, we recommend that on the outer edges and lower portions moisture absorbent materials - such as blankets or towels are placed to absorb any condensation that may occur during the transition from day to night.

Concrete that is dry will not be harmed (in any way) by any natural temperature change no matter how drastic. Basins, pumps, pedestals, shells, pots, planters, urns, birdbaths other concrete components left outside and properly covered and prepared will survive any winter season as long as they do not stand in water. Pump removal is not recommended unless the plug or pipe that allows the power cords to move through components is the only available drain for water or condensation to escape the properly covered item(s).

Please note that the pump purchased with your fountain may not have been supplied by Fiore Stone. Fiore Stone, Inc. offers pumps as an option and dealers may source pumps from other manufacturers.

FOUNTAIN CARE
Do keep fountain bowls filled to proper levels to maintain proper operation. It is not recommended that fountains are left running during the night or when not at home as the water level cannot be monitored. NEVER LET THE FOUNTAIN RUN DRY!!! Lack of water will burn out the submersible pump.

CHANGE WATER FREQUENTLY
- Depending on the temperature and evaporation you may see a buildup of white residue on fountain surface from common minerals in water. Fountains may also experience effervescence as well as mineral deposits due to the natural occurrence of alkali content in cement. Do not use any abrasive that can damage the applied finish. Mineral buildup is difficult to prevent unless you use AG-60 Fiore Stone Water Clarifier.

DO USE WATER CLARIFIER – We highly recommend sourcing AG-60 Fiore Stone Water Clarifier from a local dealer. Fiore Stone Water Clarifier is great at reducing hard water mineral deposits and also as a measure to control algae up to ambient temperatures of up to 90 degrees. For those days where temperatures are over 90 degrees and when algae appears, we highly recommend supplementing with AG-134 Fountain and Pond Block Algae Control available in a 2 or 6 pack – and each block treats up to 150 gallons for up to a month.

Positively never use any abrasives, hard bristle scrub and/or wire brushes, or chemicals like Bromine Tablets, Chlorine, Bleach, Hydrogen Peroxide or any other chemical that can break down limestone-carbonate the process that binds cement. Two drops per gallon of AG-60 Fiore Stone Water Clarifier every two weeks will keep fountain surfaces clear and over time actually reduce hard water mineral deposits. Fountain Block offers a throw-and-forget solution independent from water levels and when fresh water is added. Hard water mineral deposits and algae can damage the fountain surface and clog the pump causing it to overheat and burn out. NEVER USE CARBONATION, CHLORIDES, SULFATES AND/OR DISTILLED WATER AS AN ALGAECIDE OR CLEANER. Products like Bleach, Chlorine and/or Hydrogen Peroxide can dissolve Limestone/Calcium Carbonate an ingredient of cement critical for binding concrete.

FOUNTAIN PLACEMENT - All fountains can have some amount of splash. Consider, shade, falling debris from nearby trees and possible plant damage due to an excess of water caused by splash. Placement of any fountain is the sole responsibility and liability of the purchaser.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH THE FITTINGS FOR EACH FOUNTAIN REGARDING PREPARATION AND FOUNTAIN ASSEMBLY. Links to assembly instructions are referenced further down on this page.

CAUTION: Excessive weight or pressure on any of the fountain bowls or other sections may cause it to fall. Most fountains have no interlocking parts and are held together by gravity only. Gluing or cementing parts together is not recommended as you may want to dismantle the parts to service your fountain or move it.

*** PLEASE KEEP PETS, CHILDREN OR ANYONE FROM SITTING, LEANING OR CLIMBING ON ANY OF THE FOUNTAIN COMPONENTS ***