So, you’ve decided to add a pond to your property and you wonder if you should do it yourself or hire a professional pond liner installer. Before you make this decision, here are some questions to ask yourself:
- How large of a pond liner do you want?
- What will the pond contain?
- Will there be any penetrations of the liner?
- Will the liner be buried or exposed to sunlight?
- In what part of the country will it be installed?
Your answers to these questions will impact what liner material will be the most affordable and the most effective for your pond area. The size, contents, geography, and weather all affect what kind of water feature would work best for your property. If the answers to these questions are fairly straightforward, then doing it yourself is a great option.
The decision of whether or not to DIY largely depends on whether your fish pond liner is in one piece or in a multitude of pieces that need to be welded together. If it is one piece, then you can definitely do it yourself with a minimum of effort. If it is several pieces, your best bet is to hire a professional who can weld those pieces together correctly. Professional pond liner installers such as Western Liner are experienced in large pond liner installation and can do the job correctly and efficiently. Pond liner installers (or you if you are doing it yourself) can measure the area using this pond liner pond liner calculator to find the right fit and size. These types of calculators can be found in the Internet and work well if you have a pond that is generally round or oval in shape. If you have or want an irregularly-shaped pond, such as one with a bend or kidney shape, you will want to ask your professional installer to prepare a better estimate of the size you will need.
Custom-sized pond liners are the best option to avoid seam leakage in any pond installation. Factory welding uses advanced technology that produces more consistent welds, which you won’t necessarily have with welds made in the field. There you have to deal with uneven ground, weather, less sophisticated welding equipment, and other factors that lead to less than perfect welds.
If you are wanting a smaller fish pond, the best material to use is a Reinforced Polypropylene – an excellent product with extra coating that gives the maximum resistance to ultraviolet rays and weathering. It provides the nontoxic flexibility, strength, and puncture resistance that works well in a small fish pond. It is very important to use a nontoxic material if you are wanting to add fish and create a new ecosystem on your land.
Whether you decide to DIY or hire a professional, adding a pond to your property is always a great investment. It will beautify your yard, provide a home for aquatic creatures, add a lovely water feature, and give you a quiet, calm place to rest and reflect.
