So you’re dreaming of a beautiful marble fountain for your garden. You can already picture it—the sparkling water, the elegant carvings, the way it will become the heart of your outdoor space. Then comes the practical question: “How long will this take?” It’s a fair question. And as a marble fountain factory with 43 years of experience serving clients worldwide, we’d like to give you an honest, detailed answer.
Not a simple number. But a realistic timeline that helps you understand what goes into creating your future heirloom. First, let’s look at What Affects the timeline. Before we talk about weeks and months, you need to know this: No two marble fountains are the same.
It depends on your specific vision, but based on our 43 years of experience crafting thousands of fountains for clients worldwide, here is the realistic range.
A simple, standard-sized fountain from our catalog typically takes about 2 to 4 weeks to complete after design confirmation.
A medium-sized, semi-custom fountain with modified details usually requires 6 to 8 weeks.
For large, fully custom projects with complex sculptures—like our Trevi Fountain replica for a European castle—you should expect 3 to 4 months or more, as these masterpieces demand extensive design work, careful marble selection, and hundreds of hours of hand carving.
After the fountain is ready, please remember to add time for custom crating (about 1 week) and ocean shipping (typically 30-60 days).
The time it takes depends on three main factors
1. Design Complexity: Simple Copy or Original Art?
This is the biggest factor.
Choosing an existing design from our catalog is faster. We already have the catalog, the proportions figured out, and the carving plans ready. Design confirmation usually takes 1-2 weeks.
Customizing an existing design (changing the size, adding your family symbol, modifying details) adds time. We need to redraw, recalculate proportions, and make sure everything stays balanced. This adds about 1-2 weeks to the design phase.
Creating a completely original design from your sketch or idea takes the longest. First, we discuss your vision. Then our artists create sketches. Then we make a design drawing for you to approve. Only after you say “yes” to every detail do we move forward. This process can take 2-3 weeks, but it guarantees your fountain is truly one-of-a-kind.
Example from our workshop: When a European castle client asked us to recreate the famous Trevi Fountain, the design research alone took months. We studied photos, calculated proportions, and made sure every detail matched the original’s spirit. That project wasn’t just a fountain—it was a historical tribute.
Design drawings of the lion sculpture fountain
2. Marble Selection: Finding Nature’s Perfect Block
Here’s something many people don’t realize: Marble is a natural material. No two blocks are identical.
When you order a custom fountain, we don’t just grab any stone from the warehouse. We search for blocks with consistent color, beautiful veining, and zero hidden cracks. For large fountains, finding several matching blocks can take time.
For standard white marble, sourcing is usually quick—1 week.
For rare colors (like specific beige, pink, or black marble) or for very large blocks, we might need 2-3 weeks to find the perfect material.
Our advantage: With 43 years in the business, we have established relationships with quarries worldwide. We know where to find quality stone, and we often secure the best blocks before they hit the open market.
Lion sculpture fountain with simple shape and design
3. Carving Depth: Simple Shapes vs. Living Details
This is where the magic—and the time—really happens.
A smooth, simple-tiered fountain carves relatively quickly. But a fountain covered with lifelike lion heads, flowing floral patterns, or human figures? That’s a different story.
Think of it this way:
Removing stone is fast.
Creating art is slow.
Every muscle on a lion statue, every fold in a robe, every expression on a face—these are made by hand, one careful cut at a time. A fountain with rich details can easily take 3-5 times longer to carve than a simple one.
Exquisitely designed and sculpted lion fountain
A Realistic Timeline: What to Expect
Based on thousands of projects we’ve completed for clients around the world, here’s what you can generally expect:
Important Note: These are factory-ready times. After the fountain is finished, we need to add:
Crating & Packaging: 1 week (custom wooden crates, shock-proof materials)
Ocean Shipping: Usually 30-60 days, depending on your location
So if you’re planning a fountain for a specific date (like a garden opening or summer party), we recommend starting the conversation at least 3 months in advance for medium projects, and 3-4 months for large custom work.
Our factory has many fountains of different designs.
Why YouFine’s Timelines Are More Reliable
You might wonder: “Can you really promise these timelines?”
The honest answer is: we don’t just promise. We deliver. Here’s why our timelines are trustworthy.
1. We Have 43 Years of Data
When we tell you a project will take 14 weeks, it’s not a guess. It’s based on thousands of similar projects we’ve already completed. We know exactly how many hours each stage requires because we’ve done it before—many times.
2. We Control Everything In-House
We are not a trading company that outsources to different workshops. We are the factory. Our carving team, our finishing artists, our quality inspectors—they all work under one roof. No waiting for outside sculptors. No delays from subcontractors. The schedule is in our hands.
3. We Show You the Journey
We don’t let you wait in the dark. During your fountain’s creation, we send you:
Photos of the raw marble blocks selected for you
Pictures of the rough carving stage
Updates during detailed carving
Final photos before shipping
You watch your fountain come to life. And you never have to wonder, “Is anything happening?”
Professional Quality Control Team
Two Stories That Show the Value of Time
Story A: The American Client’s Lion Fountain
A client from the United States wanted a marble fountain with two guardian lions for her luxury courtyard. She sent us photos of her space, and we spent 1 week discussing design and proportions. Then our carvers spent 6 weeks bringing those lions to life—every muscle, every claw, every watchful expression.
When the fountain arrived, she emailed us: “Every detail is better than I imagined. The wait was absolutely worth it.”
Why it worked: Clear communication upfront meant zero misunderstandings. The 12 weeks of carving were pure creation, not wasted time.
Feedback from customers regarding the lion fountain
Story B: The European Castle Project
This was one of our most challenging projects. A castle owner wanted a replica of Rome’s Trevi Fountain for their estate. The design phase alone took months—we studied historical photos, calculated every proportion, and made sure the spirit of the original was captured.
The carving took nearly a year. But because we planned meticulously, the fountain was installed exactly when the castle needed it, becoming an instant landmark for visitors.
The lesson: Complex projects take time. But with experienced planning, that time becomes an investment in perfection.
Feedback from our castle customer regarding the Trevi fountain.
What This Means for You
When you order a custom marble fountain from YouFine, you’re not just buying a product. You’re commissioning a piece of art that will last for generations.
The time it takes is the time it deserves.
We don’t rush. We don’t cut corners. But we also don’t waste time. Our 43 years of experience mean we know exactly how to schedule every step efficiently.
The result? A realistic timeline you can plan around, and a finished fountain that exceeds your expectations.
Based on the initial design, different styles of Trevi fountains were created.
Ready to Start Your Fountain Journey?
Now you know what goes into creating a custom marble fountain. The timeline depends on your vision—simple or complex, small or grand.
The best next step? Talk to us.
Share your ideas, your space, your dreams. We’ll give you a clear, honest timeline based on your specific project. No guessing. No surprises. Just a beautiful fountain, delivered when promised.
Contact YouFine today. Let’s start creating something timeless together.
Different styles of Trevi fountains
With 43 years of experience crafting marble fountains for clients worldwide, YouFine combines traditional artistry with reliable project management. From design to delivery, we’re your trusted partner in creating outdoor masterpieces.