Installing a box-welded pond liner for any regular shaped vertically sided pond, is a straightforward process, once the design of the pond has been measured and dug-out.
The pre-installation planning and preparation will ultimately dictate the success of your pond project.
When locating the formal water feature, try to avoid being close to trees - not only are fallen leaves a nuisance in autumn, but tree roots can damage even the best protected pond liners.
In addition to choosing to build a regular shaped pond, it is also important to consider the type of edging you are going to lay around the perimeter.
The primary function of the edging is to secure the liner in place but also needs to blend in with the surrounding landscape and the formal nature of the pond.
Flagstone is a popular choice of edging material.
The edging needs to be a minimum of 8-10cms deep toprovide a secure anchor for the liner and make disguising the edge of the pool much easier.
It is important when ordering your box-welded liner to make sure that you allow for a sufficiently wide flange around the top edge to cater for all finishing details.
If the pond is to be used for koi carp, bottom drainage must be considered, with the floor of the pond sloping gently to one or more sumps from which soiled water can be taken to an external filter system.
Box-welded pond liners are principally used in ponds that have vertical or near-vertical sides, any pond deeper than 0.
5m should have brick or concrete block walls to prevent ground water eroding the surrounding soil into the gap behind the liner and eventually stretching and damaging the pond walls.
Before starting to install the pond liner, first make sure that the inside surface of the pond is smooth and stones or roots that could damage the liner, are removed.
Remember, once the pond is filled with water, there is a massive weight pressing down on the liner - a cubic metre of water weighs a metric tonne, so even a small pond measuring 3m x 2m and 1m deep will hold 6 tonnes of water.
The first process is to lay a protective layer of underlay, such as geotextile, which will not only protect the liner from being punctured but also allow natural gases formed underneath the lining to escape.
Geotextiles are tough, inert, permeable fabrics, usually made from polypropylene.
The underlay should be carefully bedded into all corners of the pond and adjacent sheets overlapped by at least 30cms.
It's a good idea to take off your shoes and get into the pond at this stage.
The underlay can be pinned to the soil with staples made from stainless steel wire to hold it in place before the lining is installed.
The staples can be covered by small pieces of geotextile held in place by tape.
Capacity Once the inside of the pond has been prepared, the box-welded pond liner can be lowered into place.
This should be done carefully to avoid stretching the lining material and to minimise wrinkles, which should not be necessary if the liner has been correctly measured.
Water can be added gradually as the wrinkles are worked out.
It's a good idea to measure the total capacity of the pond at this stage, as this information will be vital when it comes to populating the pond with fish and plant life or when treating the water.
If you don't have access to a flow meter, time how long it takes to fill a ten litre bucket, then time how long it takes to fill the pond.
You won't be far out.
When thepond lineris installed, you should add further protective geotextile underlay in those areas where gravel, rocks or stones are going to be placed, for example on the concrete border, other areas where the flange will be covered and also on any ledges where you are placing plants.
Bear in mind, if you are using cement or any other chemical compounds to fix the stonework in place, you need to take steps to avoid sediment falling into the water to avoid having to give it a thorough clean when the construction is complete.
Once your pond is filled, it is vital to get the water to the right condition before adding any fish.
If your water supply is chlorinated, you will need to apply a dechlorinator and then wait for a couple of days for the pond to reach ambient temperature, then add a filter starter - a special blend of friendly bacteria which enable your filter to start breaking down ammonia, and remove uneaten food and other waste.
Keep testing your water and when the conditions are right, add your fish.
The pre-installation planning and preparation will ultimately dictate the success of your pond project.
When locating the formal water feature, try to avoid being close to trees - not only are fallen leaves a nuisance in autumn, but tree roots can damage even the best protected pond liners.
In addition to choosing to build a regular shaped pond, it is also important to consider the type of edging you are going to lay around the perimeter.
The primary function of the edging is to secure the liner in place but also needs to blend in with the surrounding landscape and the formal nature of the pond.
Flagstone is a popular choice of edging material.
The edging needs to be a minimum of 8-10cms deep toprovide a secure anchor for the liner and make disguising the edge of the pool much easier.
It is important when ordering your box-welded liner to make sure that you allow for a sufficiently wide flange around the top edge to cater for all finishing details.
If the pond is to be used for koi carp, bottom drainage must be considered, with the floor of the pond sloping gently to one or more sumps from which soiled water can be taken to an external filter system.
Box-welded pond liners are principally used in ponds that have vertical or near-vertical sides, any pond deeper than 0.
5m should have brick or concrete block walls to prevent ground water eroding the surrounding soil into the gap behind the liner and eventually stretching and damaging the pond walls.
Before starting to install the pond liner, first make sure that the inside surface of the pond is smooth and stones or roots that could damage the liner, are removed.
Remember, once the pond is filled with water, there is a massive weight pressing down on the liner - a cubic metre of water weighs a metric tonne, so even a small pond measuring 3m x 2m and 1m deep will hold 6 tonnes of water.
The first process is to lay a protective layer of underlay, such as geotextile, which will not only protect the liner from being punctured but also allow natural gases formed underneath the lining to escape.
Geotextiles are tough, inert, permeable fabrics, usually made from polypropylene.
The underlay should be carefully bedded into all corners of the pond and adjacent sheets overlapped by at least 30cms.
It's a good idea to take off your shoes and get into the pond at this stage.
The underlay can be pinned to the soil with staples made from stainless steel wire to hold it in place before the lining is installed.
The staples can be covered by small pieces of geotextile held in place by tape.
Capacity Once the inside of the pond has been prepared, the box-welded pond liner can be lowered into place.
This should be done carefully to avoid stretching the lining material and to minimise wrinkles, which should not be necessary if the liner has been correctly measured.
Water can be added gradually as the wrinkles are worked out.
It's a good idea to measure the total capacity of the pond at this stage, as this information will be vital when it comes to populating the pond with fish and plant life or when treating the water.
If you don't have access to a flow meter, time how long it takes to fill a ten litre bucket, then time how long it takes to fill the pond.
You won't be far out.
When thepond lineris installed, you should add further protective geotextile underlay in those areas where gravel, rocks or stones are going to be placed, for example on the concrete border, other areas where the flange will be covered and also on any ledges where you are placing plants.
Bear in mind, if you are using cement or any other chemical compounds to fix the stonework in place, you need to take steps to avoid sediment falling into the water to avoid having to give it a thorough clean when the construction is complete.
Once your pond is filled, it is vital to get the water to the right condition before adding any fish.
If your water supply is chlorinated, you will need to apply a dechlorinator and then wait for a couple of days for the pond to reach ambient temperature, then add a filter starter - a special blend of friendly bacteria which enable your filter to start breaking down ammonia, and remove uneaten food and other waste.
Keep testing your water and when the conditions are right, add your fish.
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