The bottom of the pondin the garden can be made of various materials. The most popular is lining the bottom of the pond with foil, but in some situations it is worth considering other technologiesconstruction of the pondSee what other materials can be usedto make the bottom of the pond , when for the bottom of the pond, concrete, laminate, clay will be better, and when the finished form is made of plastic.
What to make the bottom of the pond to make it aesthetic and durable?
There are many materials that we can use forpond construction The tanks can be built of heavy materials, such as concrete, stone or brick, you can also use ready-made ponds or cover the bottom of a garden pond with a special foil for ponds. The rightmaterial for the bottom of the pondmust be selected depending on the size of the planned water garden, the functions it is to fulfill, the expected aesthetic values and our financial capabilities. The material for the construction of the bottom of the pond will determine the resistance of the reservoir to external factors (e.g. temperature changes), longevity, tightness, the possibility of shaping and adapting to the appearance and size of the garden, ease of care and possible repairs, as well as the need to hire a specialized pond. companies.
Pond bottom foil
Due to the possibility of free shaping of the bottom of the reservoir and the low price, the most frequently chosenmaterial for the bottom of the pondare pond films.This term is used to describe various elastic linings designed to seal ponds. Thanks to their use, the construction of a small pond in the garden becomes quite simple and possible to do on your own. Unfortunately, their durability is limited, so it is worth knowing which foil to choose so that it will serve us as long as possible. The problems that we will encounter when buildingfoil water pondwill be the way of joining foil sheets from a roll (in the case of larger tanks), ensuring proper tightness of the pond, and masking the ends of the foil protruding onto the shore . It is worth knowing, however, that with the use of a good foil and its proper arrangement, a pond may be more durable than with the use of a ready-made plastic mold!
Plastic molds for the bottom of the pond
Rigid plastic moldis the perfect solution if you want to quickly and easily set up a small pond.In stores, there are many forms of various shapes and sizes, in black, blue or green, with ready-made shelves for plants in the pond. They are usually made of polyethylene or glass-fiber reinforced plastic. They are very durable (usually over a dozen years), allow easy and quick installation, as well as placing a pond above ground level or on a terrace (then the tank must be enclosed). In addition, you can buy additional elements to build water cascades.
Buyinga ready-made form for the bottom of the pondyou will save time and effort needed to shape the edges of the pond lined with elastic lining (foil), but unfortunately you will spend a bit more money. You will also have to get the means of transport needed to transport the finished form (it will not fit into a passenger car), properly excavate the mold (if the tank is not properly seated, it may crack), and accept the fact that the edges of such a tank are quite difficult mask it and unfortunately it will not take on the natural appearance of a water pool. Ready-made pondsare also too shallow (usually not more than 60 cm deep) for fish to winter in them.
When using the ready-madeform for the bottom of the pond , you must also be careful not to make some mistakes. Well, pay special attention to the proper digging of the pit for the finished form (the shape of the pit must exactly match the shape of the purchased form) and then leveling the tank. Also remember that the edges of the finished tank are usually very steep and smooth, which can cause the death of small animals that have fallen into it and have no way to get out. Therefore, try to arrange places where these animals can get ashore. If the water level drops a bit, the edges of such a reservoir can get hot from the sun, which may burn water creatures.
Despite the aforementioned drawbacks, the ease of use of ready-made forms and their increasing availability mean that they are more and more often used by beginner lovers of water gardens.
Pond laminates
The lamination technique seems to be the most appropriate in the case of ponds that not only have a decorative function, but also allow us to swim. Before placingof the laminate on the bottom of the pond , a layer of concrete must be poured as a form of a reservoir. Then the entire surface of the tank is covered with several layers of glass mat saturated with resins. Such tanks are very durable (up to several dozen years), it is easy to give them any shape, it is easy to repair any damage. Depending on their size, they can be used as a paddling pool or swimming pool. Unfortunately, to build such a pond you will have to hire a specialized company with qualified employees, and take into account the considerable cost of such an investment.
Clay for the bottom of the pond
Sealing the bottom of the garden pond with clay makes sense in the case of large tanks (area over 40 m²).This method usesoily clay blocks or brickyard wasteHowever, before laying the clay - the surface of the excavation must be sprinkled with a thin layer of sand and covered with strips of polyethylene foil. The clay is placed in layers with a thickness of 25 cm. The clay layer must be tamped (specialist equipment required) and then a synthetic mat should be placed on it. A 20 cm layer of gravel is placed on the mat to prevent the clay from being washed away. The mat, on the other hand, will prevent the gravel from collapsing into the clay. A pond constructed in this way will have a long durability (several dozen years). Clay is a material of natural origin, very cheap, which becomes self-sealing when saturated with water. The reservoir built with this method can be shaped into any shape (the inclination of the shore cannot exceed 20 °, however) and the edges of the pond will look very natural. Unfortunately, you have to take into account the high costs of transport and labor. The execution of the sealing layer is very labor-intensive and requires the employment of a specialized company.Besides, when it is hot and sunny, the clay dries quickly. The work must therefore be done quite quickly. In turn, when it rains, remember to cover the clay blocks with a foil that protects against excessive soaking.
Concrete for the bottom of the pond
Executionconcrete water pondis probably the most complicated method that must be outsourced to a specialized company. However, it is noteworthy due to the long durability of such a structure (up to 50 years), the possibility of forming a lake of any shape and the relatively low price of the material. However, such a structure will be adequately durable only if it is properly made. The technology is complex and requires all concrete to be poured in one day. Then, in order for the concrete not to crack, it must be kept moist for two weeks (sprinkled with water). If plants or fish are to be grown in the pond, the concrete must also be neutralized with a special agent to remove alkaline components.
