Shell with Bird Concrete Bird Bath - Giannini #401

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 concrete 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.
  
• An authorized Giannini foundation 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. 
  
• Giannini wall fountains have a steel bar along the back, near the top. The fountain should be secured to a wall with galvanized wire, chain, etc.

Basin/Pond Fountains

• It is recommended to install these on a thin layer of sand (between 0.5" and 1.0" in depth) on top of a concrete slab to aid in self-leveling and to help prevent stress cracks.  
• Review Giannini Pad Guidance for Pond Fountains

Resources

• Final Finish, Aging Process, Preparation & Maintenance – Giannini
• Owner's Manual – Giannini
• Manufacturing Process – Giannini
• Pad Guidance for Basin/Pond Fountains
  

Cold Weather States

➤ Please review Fountainful's Cleaning & Care Page in full.

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 be damaged by the winter freeze-thaw cycles.

Where Originality Counts

Giannini stains and finishes have wide color variations, mottling, & intentional unevenness for a rustic look that is normal and usually desired. Color results will always vary from piece to piece.

• Giannini finishes are made to look like they have always been in your garden or that you found them on an antiquing trip!
• Giannini finishes are also 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.
  

Giannini Garden Ornament’s finishes are another testament to the unique beauty of products handcrafted by the Giannini family for more than 30 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.
  

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

From their family studio in Northern California, Giannini Garden Ornaments has been producing beautiful, Italian inspired pieces since 1993. Founded by Marino and Piera Giannini, their first designs were hanging wall fountains, planters, and small garden ornaments. As a truly hands-on business, it takes two to three months to take one of Marino’s drawings from start to finish and involves a skilled process of hand sculpting and mold making.

When the mold is ready for production, it's filled with a slurry of high-quality cement, aggregates, water, steel, synthetic fibers, and additives to ensure strength and durability. The product is then cured and finished with one of their beautiful signature colors applied by hand.