Start building a pond with planning

Making plans for building a pond is more than just shape and size. Are you going to keep fish? If so, what type? The answers to this pose other questions, and they all will affect the design of your pond. My page on pond design will help you to be sure the design is right before you build it. Mistakes you make now can cost you money in the future, and make your pond difficult to maintain.

Pond liners

Liners can be used for building a pond of any shape or size. This is their biggest advantage over other methods of pond building. However, the installation should be carried out with care, as the liners can be easily punctured. Take care when selecting a liner. Avoid liners that are made of polythene, unless your pond is only temporary. Polythene degrades in sunlight and should not be used for a permanent pond, but if you do, make sure that it has a guaranteed life span. If you are using a liner for a pond that is permanent, then a butyl liner is a must. It will save you money in the long run. The disadvantages are, that pumps must be submersible. Care must be taken when doing any work around the pond as punctures will always be a possibility. My page on pond liners will lead you through building a pond using a pond liner.

Preformed ponds

Preformed ponds are shaped tanks, made from plastic or fibreglass, and are relatively easy to install. Both of these can be used for building a pond that is below ground. Fibreglass can also be used for building a raised pond, because it is stronger and therefore more rigid than the plastic. The disadvantage to both these ponds is that you are limited to the shapes and sizes that are available. If you are building a pond below ground, my page on preformed ponds gives you the necessary information. And for building a pond that is raised, take a look at my page on raised ponds.

Concrete ponds

Using concrete for pond building should be left to the experts. This is the biggest misconception I’ve come across in years. I have found this advice on the net more than anywhere else, and can’t see a good reason for it, when talking about a garden pond. There are three methods of building a pond using concrete. Two are all concrete and one uses concrete and blocks. These methods have their limitations, but if they suit your design, you can have a durable permanent pond.

This is the first concrete and block pond I built back in the seventy’s. This pond has not given any trouble since the day it was built to replace my first pond, constructed using a pond liner. You can find the full story behind these ponds on a separate page.





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