Building your garden pond is work but for most they find it enjoyable work, and part of the tasks required to completing the job is to pick the proper garden pond products which includes choosing a pool liner.
You are going to have to make the decision about your pond liner before you actually start to construct your garden pond. If you decide to go with a preformed type, then your excavation has to be done according to the form. Using a soft liner is most often a choice that many make because if allows for more flexibility in designing a shape for the garden pond. People can be more creative when choosing these types.
There are things that you need to consider though when choosing your pond liner. The make and size are the two key issues.
Quality
The quality of your liner is very important. If you have been given a used one, be very cautious about using this. Often the older ones can become brittle and will crack when you try to lay them. Then there could be leaks that you cannot see but will soon discover when you fill your pond.
No doubt you have put a great deal of work into your pond and now is not the time to start cutting corners. Good quality garden pond liners are most affordable, and are a very important part of your water garden. You also want to be sure that the materials that the pond liners are constructed of contain no harmful chemicals, and will provide a safe environment for your fish and plant life.
Ease of Installation
Installing your pond liner should not be all that difficult. If you have purchased a liner that is of good quality it should be durable, and flexible. Many of these pond liners are lightweight enough that they are easy to maneuver and put into place.
Choosing the right size
This is a very important step to be sure that the liner fits properly. If it does not, it may not hold the water properly, and it will look unsightly. To determine the size that you need there is a simple formula.
For the width you need
Find the widest part of your pond and measure this. Then determine the depth of your pond and multiply this by 2 then add 2 more.
So for example, the widest point is 10 feet, it is 2 feet deep, this would mean for width you would need 10'+4'+2', for a total of 16 feet in width.
For the length you need
You would do the same for the length using the same formula. If the longest length was 15 feet, then you would need, 15'+4+2, for a total of 21feet in length.
Garden pond liners are normally sold in 5ft. increments. So for this example you would need to purchase a 20'x25' liner.
This formula takes into account the requirements needed for lining the walls of the pond and a safety overlap.
Showing posts with label Liners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liners. Show all posts
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Elegant an Overview of Pond Liners
An Overview of Pond Liners
When building a pond the first, and one of the most important decisions you will need to make is
choosing a pond liner. The three main types of pond liners are preformed shells, flexible liners and
concrete or concrete products. Each type of pond liner has its advantages and disadvantages, and care
should be taken to choose the liner that is best for you.
Preformed shells are pond liners that are molded into specific sizes, shapes and depths. Some shells
may also have a waterfall lip, stream, or a plant pocket or a shelf that is designed for water plants. (A
plant shelf should be at least 9 inches wide or it won't be usable.) The two materials used in preformed
shells are fiberglass and polyethylene (plastic); fiber glass is the material of choice. Although fiberglass is more expensive than polyethylene it is easily repaired, more resistant to ultraviolet light and if properly installed and maintained it will last up to 20 to 30 years. When shopping for a preformed shell the rule of thumb is: do some measuring at home before you leave for the store because they always look bigger in the store than when installed.
Flexible liners are the easiest to install, least expensive and most versatile of the three pond liners.
They are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or synthetic rubber; either butyl rubber or EPMD (ethylene propylene diene monomers); EPMD's is the better product. EPMD is malleable and it is this flexibility that lends to it's popularity, because it will allow you an almost unlimited choice in pond designs. EPMD can be used in most water features and this versatility is the very reason EPMD is the liner of choice in streams, waterfall, pond and disappearing waterfall kits. EPMD is resistant to ultra violet light and because it is thicker than PVC it will also last longer. Flexible liners are susceptible to puncture, and some of the hazards to watch for are rocks, broken tree roots and gravel. Flexible liners should be cushioned with an underlayment or a pad. The best underlayment is a special underlayment pad that is tough, flexible, and designed for ponds. Sand, carpet padding and newspapers can also be used, but with mixed results. When shopping for a flexible pond liner make sure your liner is made for ponds, because some types of PVC and EPMD can contain chemicals that are toxic to fish and plants.
Concrete or concrete products (blocks) are another option for a pond liner; they are used primarily in
formal or raised ponds. A formal pond is characterized by clean geometric lines, either straight or
curved and neat regular borders. Concrete or concrete products will give you these crisp lines, square
corners, and uniform geometric shapes. However concrete or concrete products require a high level of
skill and knowledge to install , are expensive, and if not installed properly are prone to cracking and
leakage. Years ago concrete and concrete products were the pond liner of choice, but with the advent
of the new pond liners its popularity has wained.
The following is a quick summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the three pond liners.
Advantages:
Preformed Shells: 1) easy cleaning 2) long lasting 3) no design concerns 4) puncture resistant 5) small units can be easy and quick to install.
Flexible Liners: 1) least expensive of the three choices, 2) shapes and sizes are unlimited, 3) edges are easy to conceal, 4) easy to transport, 5) can be easily customized for marginal and wetland plants.
Concrete or concrete products: 1) good for a formal or raised pond, 2) if installed properly it can last a lifetime.
Disadvantages:
Preformed Shells: 1) edges are hard to conceal, 2) has to be perfectly level, 3) sizes and shapes are limited, 4) more costly than a flexible liner, 5) hard to customize for wetland and marginal plants, 6) to prevent buckling and warping a firm foundation and adequate backfill is required.
Flexible Liners: 1) requires an underlayment pad to help prevent punctures 3) less durable and will eventually degrades in sunlight, 4) exposed edges must be covered.
Concrete: 1) requires skill and knowledge to install, 2) installation is labor intensive, 3) can be prone to cracking and leakage, 4) most expensive of the three pond liners, 5) leaks are almost impossible to permanently repair.
Pond liners are the base for your pond, and care should be taken to choose the best pond liner.
Preformed shells, flexible liners, and concrete or concrete products are the three best pond lining
materials, and by weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each you will have a water feature that
will provide you with hours of relaxing enjoyment.
When building a pond the first, and one of the most important decisions you will need to make is
choosing a pond liner. The three main types of pond liners are preformed shells, flexible liners and
concrete or concrete products. Each type of pond liner has its advantages and disadvantages, and care
should be taken to choose the liner that is best for you.
Preformed shells are pond liners that are molded into specific sizes, shapes and depths. Some shells
may also have a waterfall lip, stream, or a plant pocket or a shelf that is designed for water plants. (A
plant shelf should be at least 9 inches wide or it won't be usable.) The two materials used in preformed
shells are fiberglass and polyethylene (plastic); fiber glass is the material of choice. Although fiberglass is more expensive than polyethylene it is easily repaired, more resistant to ultraviolet light and if properly installed and maintained it will last up to 20 to 30 years. When shopping for a preformed shell the rule of thumb is: do some measuring at home before you leave for the store because they always look bigger in the store than when installed.
Flexible liners are the easiest to install, least expensive and most versatile of the three pond liners.
They are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or synthetic rubber; either butyl rubber or EPMD (ethylene propylene diene monomers); EPMD's is the better product. EPMD is malleable and it is this flexibility that lends to it's popularity, because it will allow you an almost unlimited choice in pond designs. EPMD can be used in most water features and this versatility is the very reason EPMD is the liner of choice in streams, waterfall, pond and disappearing waterfall kits. EPMD is resistant to ultra violet light and because it is thicker than PVC it will also last longer. Flexible liners are susceptible to puncture, and some of the hazards to watch for are rocks, broken tree roots and gravel. Flexible liners should be cushioned with an underlayment or a pad. The best underlayment is a special underlayment pad that is tough, flexible, and designed for ponds. Sand, carpet padding and newspapers can also be used, but with mixed results. When shopping for a flexible pond liner make sure your liner is made for ponds, because some types of PVC and EPMD can contain chemicals that are toxic to fish and plants.
Concrete or concrete products (blocks) are another option for a pond liner; they are used primarily in
formal or raised ponds. A formal pond is characterized by clean geometric lines, either straight or
curved and neat regular borders. Concrete or concrete products will give you these crisp lines, square
corners, and uniform geometric shapes. However concrete or concrete products require a high level of
skill and knowledge to install , are expensive, and if not installed properly are prone to cracking and
leakage. Years ago concrete and concrete products were the pond liner of choice, but with the advent
of the new pond liners its popularity has wained.
The following is a quick summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the three pond liners.
Advantages:
Preformed Shells: 1) easy cleaning 2) long lasting 3) no design concerns 4) puncture resistant 5) small units can be easy and quick to install.
Flexible Liners: 1) least expensive of the three choices, 2) shapes and sizes are unlimited, 3) edges are easy to conceal, 4) easy to transport, 5) can be easily customized for marginal and wetland plants.
Concrete or concrete products: 1) good for a formal or raised pond, 2) if installed properly it can last a lifetime.
Disadvantages:
Preformed Shells: 1) edges are hard to conceal, 2) has to be perfectly level, 3) sizes and shapes are limited, 4) more costly than a flexible liner, 5) hard to customize for wetland and marginal plants, 6) to prevent buckling and warping a firm foundation and adequate backfill is required.
Flexible Liners: 1) requires an underlayment pad to help prevent punctures 3) less durable and will eventually degrades in sunlight, 4) exposed edges must be covered.
Concrete: 1) requires skill and knowledge to install, 2) installation is labor intensive, 3) can be prone to cracking and leakage, 4) most expensive of the three pond liners, 5) leaks are almost impossible to permanently repair.
Pond liners are the base for your pond, and care should be taken to choose the best pond liner.
Preformed shells, flexible liners, and concrete or concrete products are the three best pond lining
materials, and by weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each you will have a water feature that
will provide you with hours of relaxing enjoyment.
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