When comparing pond liners, there are many factors to take into consideration. A pond liner's material, thickness and cost are some of the main considerations, but these are far from all the things that you'll need to take into account. If you're in the process of building a pond, here are five other considerations to take into account to ensure that you get the right liner and are able to install it easily.
Check for Sticks and Stones in Your Hole
Once you've dug the hole for your pond, check over it to make sure there aren't any large sticks or stones that could puncture the pond liner. Even if you're putting a pond underlay beneath the liner to protect it, pointy sticks and sharp stones can still puncture both layers and cause leaks.
You should also consider that once your pond is filled with water, it'll be a lot of work to repair any holes created by sticks or stones. You'll need to drain the pond below the level of the leak, apply a patch, and refill the pond. Save yourself such a hassle by removing any sticks or stones that could rip the liner before putting the liner down.
Make Sure the Liner is Large Enough
It's of the utmost importance to make sure the liner is large enough. Not only should it fully cover your pond, but you should have a 2-foot border around the entire perimeter of the pond. This border will make anchoring the liner easier.
Decide if You'll One Day Want Fish
Some fish require a pond to be a certain depth. Koi ponds, for example, should be at least 3 to 4 feet deep. The deep water provides a cool place for the fish to retreat to on hot summer days.
Even if you aren't planning on getting fish for your pond right now, you should still think about whether you'll one day want them. If you do want fish, you might need a deeper pond -- and a larger liner. Larger liners are needed for deeper ponds, because the surface area of the pond's bottom increases as its depth increases.
If you don't design your pond to be deep enough for fish -- and order a liner that's large enough for a deep pond -- you'll have to rip up the entire liner and dig a deeper hole if you ever want fish like koi. This is a lot of work. If there's even a remote possibility that you'll one day want fish, make your pond deep enough and purchase a liner that's big enough now so that you don't have to redo the entire pond in the future.
Look for a Pond Liner That's One Piece or Factory Joined
When looking at pond liners, look for one that's the proper size for your pond that comes in one piece or is factory joined. If you get a pond liner that comes in multiple pieces, you'll need to join them together yourself. Joining pieces of liner together is possible, but it's tedious work -- and any mistakes will cause leaks. By limiting your search for single-piece or factory-joined liners, you'll both save yourself time putting the liner in and reduce the likelihood of leaks developing from improper joining.
Check the Weather on Installation Day
After you get your liner, plan on installing it on a day that has little wind. Even small ponds pond liners can be close to 100 square feet. According to one source, a liner for a pond that's just 4 feet wide and 6 feet long should be 9 feet by 11 feet -- or 99 square feet. On a windy day, a liner that's this size can be picked up by the wind and hurled into the air. This not only makes working with the liner more difficult, but the wind can also make the liner catch on something when it's blowing around and tear. On a calm day, this is less of a concern.
For more information and options for pond liners, talk with a local supplier in your area, such as those at Billboard Tarps.
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