How to install EPDM pond liners in ground or above ground ponds
Have you decided to go for an unusual shape or larger pond ... then EPDM pond liner is your perfect choice. Find the right place, measure the right size and the rest is easy
For larger ponds use black plastic liner designed for pond building. You have the choice between PVC, Polyethylene, Butyl rubber or EPDM rubber. EPDM rubber is probably the best .
The ideal liner thickness for most ponds is 500 micron (0.5mm) but go thicker if you think you need to; it just gets more difficult to handle the liner and of course more expensive. In virtually all aspects of pond keeping bigger is better.
Do NOT use a liner if your animals like to swim in the pond. They will damage it in a short space of time with their sharp claws and your pond will leak and you will tear your hair out.
However do not be scared of using liner - many smaller dams are made with this material. An important point with liner is to ensure that the exposed liner above the pond surface is protected from continuous direct sunlight by creating an edging that will shade the exposed liner surface. Plastics and rubbers tend to suffer from UV attack especially under strong sunlight conditions.
Shapes and sizes for diy ponds
In
deciding the shape of the pond take a hosepipe as above. View it from a
distance; can you see it from your house? Can you sit close to it? Are there no
sharp corner or edges? Is the ground level? No large trees nearby?
Using A Liner initial considerations
It is important to measure your liner properly before ordering. Use the method outlined below to decide what size liner you need to buy to fit your desired pond dimensions (all liner comes in square or rectangular form).
First of all the width of the liner:
you need to know the width of the final pond at its widest point and add at the very least 60 cm for edging. You must then also add the depth and the depth again. For example if you want a pond 2 metres wide and 1 metre deep the width of liner will be 2+1+1+0.6 (for edging) = 4.6 metres.
For the length repeat this process. For example if you want the above pond to be 3 metres long then the length of the liner must be 3+1+1+0.6 (for edging) = 5.6 metres.
The complete specification for the liner must be 5.6 metres by 4.6 metres. Do not forget to allow for the edging.
All liner ponds will have folds or pleats of liner within them as you can see in the next picture. Do not let this bother you because after a while you will not notice the folds which will become even more disguised as beneficial algae will build up on the sides of the pond.
This web page is an extract from Tony Roocroft's "The Complete Pond Solver" ... you can read more about it at http://www.really-useful-books.comHow to Make a Small Pond Filter Bigger ... It's Easy.
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