Water Wall out of Pallets and Recycled Materials

If you like the It’s Gravy, Baby! Facebook page, then you’ve already had a sneak peek of this project.  If you don’t, what are you waiting for!?  It’s fun over there and I share bits and pieces of our daily lives.

When I first decided to make a water wall, I knew that if it turned out well, I would want to share the details with y’all.  So, I also knew that I wanted to use items that are easy to find and affordable.  Fortunately, it turned out to be so super simple so I’m excited to share the details!

Water Wall Cost & Supplies

Pallets – FREE  (hubby’s work – ask around & you’ll find them for free or super cheap)
Funnels – $0.58 each  (auto department at Walmart)
Hose – $18 (plumbing department at Home Depot)
Plumbing Ts, Elbows, etc – $.50 – $2 (plumbing department at Home Depot)
Recycled Containers – FREE

Final Cost – $25

As you can see, our biggest expense was the hose.  You might have something already on hand or there are cheaper options.  I chose this hose because it’s clear so the kids could see the water running through it.  It’s also very thick and sturdy, so I know it will hold up.  With a different hose, you could probably make a water wall for less than 10 bucks!

The plumbing department will be your best friend during this project.  If it looked like it would be fun for the kids and it was cheap, I threw it in the shopping cart.  Running traps, elbows, Ts- I purchased all kinds of things that I have no idea what they are really used for, but they are fun on a water wall.

My husband and I are great team.  I come up with these crazy ideas that I have no idea how to actually build.  He tackles ’em for me and makes it happen, usually better than I had even imagined.  This water wall was no different- I told him what I wanted, helped pick out supplies, then he built the base and we attached the accessories together.

 Justin made the base into a “V” or house (as my kids call it) by nailing boards on each side.  He sawed those down so they weren’t sticking out.  This wasn’t my original idea, but as I mentioned above- he usually  takes my ideas and makes them better.  Bryson calls this his “water house” and both kids crawl in the middle to hang out in their house.  Building it this way also gives each kid their own side to play at, if they want.  They play together well so having their own side isn’t important right now.

After the base was built, we started attaching the accessories.  There was no rhyme or rhythm to this and you can’t mess it up.  Justin used screws to attach all the pieces.  If you put something up and it doesn’t work like you want, take it down, rearrange, and screw it back in.  Seriously, it’s SO easy!  We used empty bottles (salsa, mouthwash, drinks, etc.) and poked holes in them for different effects.  My favorite is the mouthwash bottle on the bottom- hubby put holes in the front of it, so when it’s filled with water- the water sprays out toward the kids like a shower.

It’s still a work in progress.  As we grocery shopped over the weekend, we picked out some new bottles to add when they are emptied.  It went something like this:

Me:  We need orange juice.
Hubby:  Here’s your favorite brand.
Me:  Oh, look- it comes in a cool bottle.
Hubby:  That will be great for the water wall.
Me:  Score!

Yes, we selected our groceries based on how “cool” the bottles were and how much fun they would be on the water wall.  LOL

It doesn’t look like much, I know.  And it isn’t much at all, but that’s the beauty of it.  It’s basically wooden pallets with funnels, hoses, and empty bottles screwed into them and the kids love it.   That’s all that matters- the kids love it.  It’s fun.  It’s cheap and easy.  What’s not to love!?

We’ll keep adding to it as we come across empty containers.  For now, Bryson uses the emptiness to climb up and down it so it doubles as a jungle gym.

If you are inspired to make something similar, please e-mail me photos so I can see!

*Linking up at It’s Playtime!