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Luponds 316 Stainless Steel Spillway: Wall Wash & Projecting Curtain Effects

Water Wall Features

One Spillway. Two Stunning Effects. Why Luponds Marine Grade Stainless Steel Leaves Other Brands Behind.

Most water wall spillways lock you into a single look. Luponds 316 Marine Grade stainless steel spillways give you a wall wash cascade and a projecting curtain — from the same blade, on the same wall, at the turn of a dial.

When you’re investing in a water wall feature — whether it’s for a backyard entertainer’s deck, a poolside focal point, or a commercial landscape — you want it to work harder than just one look. That’s exactly where Luponds Marine Grade 316 stainless steel spillways set themselves apart from almost every competing product on the market.

The secret is in the open lip design and the physics of water flow — and once you understand it, you’ll see why it’s a feature no serious water feature builder should overlook.

The Two Effects Explained

Effect 1 — Wall Wash / Cascade

At lower pump flow rates (around 50–60 litres per minute per metre of blade width), water exits the spillway lip and gently falls back against the wall face. Surface tension causes the water to cling and sheet softly down the surface — like a curtain of glass washing over stone, render, or tile.

The result is an elegant, tranquil cascade. The wall itself becomes part of the feature, with the texture and colour of your cladding glowing beneath a moving layer of water. It’s a softer, more contemplative look — perfect for daytime ambience.

Effect 2 — Projecting Curtain Sheet

Push the flow up to around 230 litres per minute per metre and the water exits the lip with enough momentum to clear the wall face entirely. It shoots forward as a free-falling sheet — a crisp, glassy curtain of water hanging in the air, projecting 80–200mm out from the lip.

This is the dramatic, architectural showstopper. Backlit with LED lighting, it glows like a sheet of liquid crystal. It’s bold, contemporary, and commanding — exactly what you want when guests arrive or the sun goes down.

One Spillway, Both Modes — Here’s How

Because the two effects are driven by flow rate, all you need to switch between them is a variable speed pump or an inline flow regulator. Dial the pump back for a soft wall wash during the day. Open it up for the full projecting curtain at night. Same wall. Same blade. Completely different atmosphere.

The key is in the installation: mount the spillway lip slightly proud of the wall face — just enough clearance that at full flow the water projects freely, but at lower flow it naturally falls back to wall-wash. Luponds also recommend fitting a backflow kit — it not only lets you divert and regulate flow rate to stabilise the water sheet at either end of the range, but also protects your pump from backward pressure that can occur without one, extending the life of your pump significantly.

Setting Flow Rate Effect Best For
Low ~50–60 LPM/m Wall Wash / Cascade Daytime ambience, tranquil mood
High ~230 LPM/m Projecting Curtain Sheet Entertaining, evening with LED lighting

Why Other Brands Simply Can’t Match It

Most competing spillways are engineered for one effect only. Their lip geometry, internal baffle design, and construction tolerances are built around either a wall wash or a projecting sheet, not both. Trying to run them outside their designed flow range produces a messy, inconsistent water sheet that breaks up unevenly.

Here’s what makes the Luponds 316 Marine Grade stainless steel range different:

1
Open Lip Design

The open, unobstructed lip allows water to behave according to flow dynamics rather than being forced through a fixed-geometry slot. This is the physical basis for the dual-effect capability — and it requires precision fabrication to execute cleanly.

2
Marine Grade 316 Stainless Steel

316-grade stainless contains molybdenum, giving it superior resistance to chloride corrosion compared to 304-grade and coated steel alternatives — making it the right choice for chlorinated pool water, salt water, harsh Australian outdoor conditions, and coastal installations where salt-laden air accelerates corrosion on lesser materials. As with all stainless steel water features, maintaining correct water chemistry is the key to keeping your spillway looking its best long-term.

3
Commercial-Grade Construction

The structural rigidity of stainless steel means the blade doesn’t flex under water pressure — a critical issue with acrylic and plastic blades at higher flow rates. A consistent, warp-free lip edge is what produces a clean, even water sheet from end to end of the blade width.

4
Compatible with LED Lighting

Paired with Luponds’ multi-colour LED light bars, both effects become genuinely spectacular after dark. The projecting curtain effect in particular transforms into a glowing sheet of colour — a look that simply cannot be achieved with single-effect or opaque plastic spillways.

“Most water features have one personality. A Luponds stainless steel spillway has two — and you get to choose which one to show.”

The dual-effect advantage

Who This Is Perfect For

The dual-effect capability makes Luponds 316 stainless steel spillways ideal for:

  • Backyard entertainers who want a feature that looks different day vs. night
  • Pool builders and landscapers looking for a premium upsell with a wow factor
  • Commercial and hospitality spaces — restaurants, hotels, and office lobbies where atmosphere matters
  • DIYers who want one product that covers all their creative options without buying multiple blades

Available in 300mm, 600mm, 900mm, 1200mm, and 1500mm widths, there’s a size to suit everything from a compact courtyard feature to a full resort-scale water wall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really get both effects from the same Luponds spillway?

Yes. The open lip design of Luponds stainless steel spillways allows the water behaviour to be governed by pump flow rate. At low flow (~50–60 LPM/m) you get a wall wash cascade effect; at high flow (~230 LPM/m) you get a projecting curtain sheet. A variable speed pump or inline flow regulator lets you switch between them.

Does the lip position matter for achieving both effects?

Yes — installation positioning is critical. For dual-effect use, mount the spillway so the lip sits slightly proud (forward) of the wall face. This gives the water room to project freely at high flow, while still allowing it to fall back and contact the wall at low flow. If the lip is set too far behind the wall face, the projecting curtain effect will break up — the water hits the wall surface before it can form a clean sheet, producing a ragged, uneven flow rather than the crisp curtain you’re after. Getting the lip position right during installation is the single most important factor in achieving both effects cleanly.

Why choose 316 Marine Grade over 304 stainless steel?

Marine Grade 316 stainless contains molybdenum which provides superior resistance to chloride corrosion. This makes it the right choice for chlorinated pool water, salt water environments, and exposed outdoor installations in coastal areas. 304 grade is suitable for fresh water features only and should not be used in pool or marine water set-ups.

How high should I install the spillway for best results?

Luponds recommend installing the spillway no higher than 900mm above the water line for projecting curtain effect. The further the water drops, the more surface tension causes the sheet to narrow — so height has a direct impact on the visual result. For wall wash effect, height is more flexible.

Ready to Build Your Water Wall?

Shop Luponds Marine Grade 316 Stainless Steel spillways at DIYMegaStore — Australia’s water wall specialists. Expert advice, fast dispatch, and everything you need to build it yourself.

3rd May 2026 DIYMegaStore

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