Concrete Fountain Slab/Ground Prep 24"-30"-36" - Massarellis

Fountain Safety

Traditional fountains have no interlocking components and are held together by gravity. Gluing/cementing parts together is not recommended as they may need to be dismantled to replace the pump, hardware, or to relocate the fountain. 

⚠️ CAUTION: Excessive weight or pressure on a concrete fountain may cause it to fall. Keep children & others from climbing, sitting, or leaning on the fountain.

Placements

Benches

Nestle into pea gravel for the ultimate support. Otherwise, any stable surface will work.

Birdbaths - Statuary - Planters

Nestle into pea gravel for the ultimate support. Otherwise, any stable surface will work.

A Massarelli foundation will provide solid support when needed.

Fountains

Non-basin tiered fountains

• A concrete fountain must be placed on a level and firm surface and not raised off the ground more than the inch or two that would occur if using a foundation.
  
• A Massarelli foundation slab will additionally help prevent unplanned erosion from the weather, sprinkler system, and fountain splash.
  
• For both safety and optimal performance, do not place fountain on a pedestal or riser, unless included as part of the fountain design. 

Wall Fountains

• If recessing the fountain into a wall or structure, use professional contractors who understand concrete expansion principles and the required joint spacing and materials to help with the buildup of stress when concrete naturally expands and contracts seasonally. 
  
• Wall fountains should be secured to a wall with galvanized wire, chain, etc. whenever possible.

Basin/Pond Fountains

• Massarelli pool-style fountains generally work best on either a 4" concrete slab or 6" of pea gravel (or crushed rock). Call us with any questions.

Warranty

• Massarelli's Limited Consumer Warranty

Care & Cold Weather State Guidance

• Guide: Massarellis Cast Stone Concrete Maintenance & Winterization
• See Fountainful's Cleaning & Care Page

While high-density cast stone concrete is designed to produce a strong and durable product, proper maintenance is recommended to protect our product from the freeze-thaw cycles that occur in winter.

Any piece which can hold water, snow or ice, (e.g., fountain top or bowl, birdbath, planter, saucer) AND any piece placed directly onto the ground surface (e.g., statue, fountain/birdbath base, planter, bench leg) can potentially be damaged by the winter freeze-thaw cycles if proper steps are not taken.

The Mark of Craftsmanship

• From warm earth tones to stately shades of stone, and from subtle antique hues to classic bronzes – the selection is inspiring, the possibilities are endless.
• Massarelli's finishes are specially formulated to enhance with the passage of time as they patina from exposure to the elements and conditions around them.
• Remember: these color finishes are stains – not paint. Stains are formulated to enhance and complement the hand-sculpted concrete, not hide it! It’s natural for the cast stone to show through in parts.

Massarelli's finishes are another testament to the true beauty of products handcrafted by the Massarelli family for more than 50 years.

Give us a call if we can help with color selection!

Color Representation

• Products are photographed in a variety of settings, including natural and artificial lighting.
  
• When viewed in person, the actual color, shape, size and texture of products will vary from those shown on color medallions and in catalogs, promotional materials, digital screens and online as every single product is handcrafted and painted.
• Curing time, the weather on the day the finish is applied, and material textures all determine the unique outcome of each finish.
  

These factors add to the uniqueness and authenticity of your product! No two are alike, and variations are normal.

There are no warranties on applied finishes or guarantee that a finish will exactly match a color medallion or media photography.

Shipping Made Simple

Fountainful provides free standard shipping in the Lower 48 U.S. thanks to our partnership with 20+ freight carriers.  Residents of Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada: please contact us for available options.

Delivery Methods That Appear at Checkout

"Standard Shipping" – Free to our customers

• Arrives on a pallet via LTL freight truck (similar to large furniture).
• Placed near the bottom of the driveway and off to one side, wherever you direct. 
• Signature by someone over 18 is almost always required. 
• Does not include setup, assembly, or package disposal.

"UPS Insured or USPS Priority" – Free to our customers

• Automatically selected for small/light items that are delivered in a parcel box by UPS or the U.S. Mail. 
• When ordered in addition to a palletized item, the design team will include it on the pallet if possible so that both items arrive together. 

Upgrade: "Threshold/Inside Property" – Rates provided at checkout

• Same as Standard Shipping, except the freight carrier will cross your property line (i.e., the threshold) and lower the pallet outside of the first dry area (e.g., garage, covered porch). 
• Sometimes referred to as "Top of Driveway."
• Does not include setup, assembly, or package disposal.

Hard-to-Reach Addresses for Pallet Shipments

• Most LTL carriers use a standard 28-foot trailer, and it is the driver's discretion if they can safely drive down your street.
• For hard-to-reach addresses (i.e., narrow or dead-end streets) or unusual driveway configurations, some carriers may charge extra or require the shipment to be "rescued" by a different carrier. If this happens, we'll relay the additional cost for which you are responsible.

Help prevent an unplanned extra cost by using the Order & Delivery Instructions box on the Shopping Cart page to give us a heads up about any potential delivery considerations before the order is ready to ship.

➤ When in doubt, opt for the Threshold Upgrade, as this covers a lot of tricky delivery requirements with the freight carrier. 

Delivery Timeframes

The disclosed timeframes are estimates based on each design studio's extensive track record and typical production capacities.

REMEMBER: casting, curing, and staining decorative concrete is not an exact science. The strict attention to detail is why these products are so well loved! Learn more about concrete production in our FAQs. You'll be notified of unexpected delays (i.e., long cure times because of humidity). These are beyond Fountainful's control.

Ready-to-Ship

Items designated as "ready-to-ship" generally leave the warehouse within 5-7 business days.

Misc. Delivery Terms (pallet shipments only)

Always inspect your delivery. See the Refund Policy for a Delivery Inspection Checklist.

Located in central New Jersey, the Massarelli design studio was founded in 1972 by Mario Massarelli when he was just 17 years old. Mario wore every hat required to deliver the finest stone garden accents: designer, mold-maker, retailer, wholesaler, and market researcher. Fifty years later, Mario is still hands-on and Massarelli's owns two production locations across 37 acres. Selecting from Massarelli's premium color finishes will be the cherry on top of your shopping experience: from warm earthy and antique tones to stately shades of stone and classic bronzes. Every Massarelli's product is handcrafted and a testament to the company's 50-year success as a garden center leader across the United States and Canada.