What can I use to line a pond?

Question

I am looking into building a pond and am trying to find what to line it with. My pond is going to be about 7'x14' and 4' deep. The pond liners that I have been looking at cost about $300. Does anyone know of something cheap that I could line my pond with? Is there a kind of soil that I could use? Must be fish safe. Thank you!

Answer 1

Cheap means you will be doing it over in a short period of time --the liners are great and last over 10 years if care for and installed right--such on a layer of fine sand--no soil would hold water in for long periods and ask the dealer if the liner you are looking at is safe for fish--I know of none that would harm fish

Answer 2

You're probably better off spending the money and getting a regular pond liner. If you don't, and you use something cheap like plastic sheets, it may leak or kill the fish or plants, or both. Then you'll spend more time and money trying to fix it than you saved with the expensive liner.

Besides, the liner will be one of the cheaper things you buy. The plants, the fish, the pump, running an electrical line out to the pond for the pump, all will cost. Unless you plan to dig the hole yourself (or already have one), the excavator will cost much more than that. If you can't afford this small part of it, how can you afford the whole thing?

You want this to be a peaceful, quiet place to sit and relax, right? Why do it cheap, and make it a place where you will be constantly worrying that something will leak or go wrong?

Answer 3

A liner is fine and allows you to dictate the shape of your pond. Pre-formed ponds are easier to install but the problem is that you never get much depth with these (30 inches is usually the deepest you'll find). A lot of liners (don't go for Butyl because they're a waste of moiney) come with a life-time guarantee but that's only a guarantee that the UV rays from the sun won't fade the liner. I have been selling a 0.5mm PVC liner for 6 years which is very strong, yet flexible, and I've never had any come backs on it. A good quality liner should cost you anywhere between £2.50 - £3.50 per square metre. When fitting the liner just ensure that you add a few inches of water to the pond as you are putting it in place. This will help you tuck the liner into the corners much easier and reduce the possibility of folds or creases in the liner. The best thing to do with your pavers is to coat them with a concrete sealer called G4 (available from any good aquatic store) ... this is a concrete sealer which will stop anything leaching out of the concrete into your pond. E-mail me if yuou have any further queries

Answer 4

My friend used a kiddie pool liner that he bought at a yard sale. He dug a hole for the pond and layed down play sand. (that you buy for a sand box--really cheap) cut the pool liner to fit his pond with enough to overlap on the upper ground. He made a waterfall and put rocks around the edge to keep the liner in place. Then planted plants around the edge. He put fish in and even frogs found their way and loved his pond. It looked professional and I was completely surprised how well it came out. I use a pre-fab molded pond but that would be much more expensive for the size you want.

Answer 5

When I made my 10x20' five foot deep pond three years ago, I too was looking for a "cheap " liner. The solution came from the "oil patch". When drilling for oil they dig a pit, line it with plastic and fill it with mud used as a drilling lubricant. When a friend on the rigs brought me some to use I was unimpressed, it seemed way too thin and fragile compared to pond liner. He insisted I try it, so I did but I hedged a little and spread "bentonite" in the hole before installing the pit liner. Bentonite is a component of drilling mud used to seal porous soil and in the best mud for ladies mud wrestling !(probably more info than you were looking for LOL). It's held up to three North Dakota winters and claws from a large dog every summer. If you were to buy it, it would probably cost more than a pond liner but it never hurts to ask around, mine was free and five bags of bentonite was $20. RScott

Answer 6

Pond liner

Answer 7

i just put a pond in and used an above ground pool liner that i got for cheap on ebay just make sure you have a good underlayment it won't last as long as a pond liner but it does work.

Answer 8

A friend of mind went to a roofing company they have rubber that they install on the roofs of buildings. They had a large scrap piece they sold to him real cheap. It was large enough for his pond and worked great. He has had his pond for years. Might need to check that out could save you some money.

Answer 9

I don't have a pond but I heard that the blow-up kiddie pools make good liners and are cheap.

Answer 10

if you live near a home depot or some store like that i know they sell like little tubs so where you can dig into the ground and u place the tub in the and fill it with water it works very well..hope it works out for u!