A garden pond is quite often a do-it-yourself project - and you can do it yourself without any problems. However, you should always pay attention to a few things. The professional installation of the foil is important, because the later impermeability and service life of the foil depend on it. Read how to do it right here.

Pond liner must be weighed down when laying

Plan pond liner

First of all, you have to decide on a certain type of slide - we will give you a little help in this article.

Once you have selected the film material that is right for you, you must determine and order the required size (length and width) of the film. Depending on how complicated the pond shape is, calculating the size of the liner can be quite a challenge. In this special article we explain in detail how it works and how to calculate correctly.

You can then order the film from the manufacturer. When it is delivered, you can start laying it.

Note outside temperature

It is best to always lay the foils in summer. At low temperatures, most films are less flexible and stretchy, making them much more difficult to install.

In addition, the brittleness that PVC foils have in the cold can mean that the foil tears as soon as it is laid. Such damage is more than annoying when the pond that has just been completed has to be repaired later.

Important when laying

There are a few things you should definitely pay attention to when laying:

  • First, familiarize yourself with how the film is rolled up or folded when it is delivered.
  • Wear suitable footwear when laying (rounded rubber soles, in which no stones can get stuck, if in doubt, it is better to walk barefoot)
  • It is imperative that you ensure that there are no stresses or tensile loads on the foil when laying it. This must be avoided at all costs.

Laying pond liner - step-by-step instructions

  • pond liner
  • sand
  • Pond fleece, cut to fit
  • Gravel for patio steps
  • Gravel for capillary barrier
  • Stones to weigh down the foil in the edge area
  • Helpers (always recommended, essential for larger ponds, 1 helper per 100 m² of foil)
  • rake
  • spade

1. Prepare pond liner

Bring the pond liner made by the manufacturer to the bank of the planned pond at a corner of the pond. Check if there are any special installation instructions from the manufacturer. Such instructions exist in many cases - you should always follow them exactly.

2. Prepare sub-layers

First, always lay any cable ducts that may be required on the bottom of the pond. Then apply a layer of sand about 5 cm thick. This layer effectively protects the film from damage later on and should have been taken into account in the planning.

Now lay out the pond fleece on the even layer of sand. It must be wrinkle-free, pay attention to that. Then attach the pond fleece to the edges so that it cannot slip when the liner is laid over it.

3. Lay the foil

Together with the helpers, unfold the foil from the edge into the pit. Always smooth folds into a larger fold and fold over. Fill the pond about a third full with water to weigh down the liner and place pebbles on any patio steps. This pushes the liner deeper into the pond. Leave it like that for at least a day. The film edges must be weighted.

4. Finish pond

Fill the pond completely. When the water is filled, you can start to build the capillary barrier. Build a mound about 10 cm high around the edge of the pond, behind it an equally deep ditch. Pull the foil edges over the hill into the ditch and fasten them there (between two stones, for example). Fill in the trench with gravel. You may also be able to attach a bank or embankment mat over the foil.

tips

Terraces, peninsulas and especially terrace corners often cause real difficulties when laying the pond liner. If you build a pond yourself, you should better avoid such complicated structures, unless there is no other way.

Category:

Garden design