Service · Water Features
Water features — ponds, streams, and naturalistic basins for Chicagoland.
Recirculating systems with skimmer and autofill, designed for the Chicagoland freeze cycle and built to be maintained without drama.
What's included
What's included
A water feature build at Kings is one scope — design integrated with the property, recirculation system sized to the feature, skimmer and autofill standard, winterization protocol declared up front.
- · Custom design: pond, stream, basin, or sheet-flow feature scaled to property and integrated with hardscape and planting plan
- · Recirculating pump system sized to feature volume, with skimmer for surface debris and autofill to handle evaporation
- · Liner, underlayment, and edge treatment — naturalistic stone-edge or formal-coping options sized to feature
- · Lighting integration where the feature is part of an outdoor-living plan
- · Winterization protocol: drain-down or freeze-tolerant overwinter routine, scheduled before first hard freeze
[confirm-with-sean — confirm whether Kings standardizes on a specific pump/filtration brand to name inline, or keeps brand vendor-agnostic in copy]
Our approach
How we think about water
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Closed-loop, not perpetual debris-fishing
Recirculating means a closed-loop water system: the same water moves through the pump, returns through the feature, and the skimmer pulls debris on the way. That's the difference between a feature that runs clean and one that turns green every July.
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Naturalistic vs formal — design call up front
Naturalistic basins read like landscape; formal coping reads like architecture. We scope which one fits the property at consultation, before the liner gets staked.
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Maintenance is optional, but on the menu
We'll keep the system tuned through the season. See our recurring Landscape Maintenance program for the full schedule.
How we work
Three steps, commissioned and tuned
- Step 01
Consultation
Free, on-site. We walk the property, hear what you want the water to do (sound, sight, both), and scope the system that fits.
- Step 02
Design
Pump sizing, liner plan, edge treatment, lighting integration, and winterization plan declared up front.
- Step 03
Install + commission
Built, filled, run-cycled, and tuned. Winterization plan handed off — DIY or via our maintenance program.
Want water that runs clean
Want water that runs clean?
Recirculating, skimmer, autofill — designed for Chicagoland freeze cycles and built to be maintained without drama.
Request a free consultationCommon questions
Water features FAQ
How much maintenance does a recirculating water feature need?
A properly sized recirculating system with skimmer and autofill runs largely on its own through the season. Expected touches: monthly skimmer-basket clean, occasional debris pull after big storms, and winterization before first hard freeze.
What happens to the feature in a Chicagoland winter?
Either drain-down (water out, pump stored, liner protected) or a freeze-tolerant overwinter routine, depending on feature type. Scheduled before the first hard freeze and handed off as DIY or via our maintenance program.
Can a water feature be added to an existing landscape?
Yes. Retrofit feature builds are common — we scope the spot, run the recirculation lines, and integrate with existing planting and hardscape. Lighting and edge treatment match the surroundings.
Naturalistic or formal — how do we decide?
Naturalistic basins (boulder edges, stream beds, planted margins) suit informal grounds and woodland sites. Formal coping (cut stone, geometric basins, sheet-flow walls) suits architectural settings and terraced patios. We scope at consultation.
Begin a conversation
Design your water feature with us.
Free, on-site consultation across DuPage, Cook, and Will Counties. We scope sound, sight, and the system that fits.