DIY Network

Installing a Water Garden: Pond Liner and Underlayment From "Waterscapes" episode DWAT-103

Heidi and Rick begin installation of the underlayment that forms a protective barrier beneath the rubber pond-liner.

In this segment of DIY's Waterscapes workshop, host Heidi Robinson and water garden expert Rick Bartel install the pond liner and protective underlayment.

Pond liner
Pond-liner underlayment
Measuring tape
Utility knife

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	A key to success for any water garden is a durable liner with no leaks. A protective fabric underlayment is laid down first to protect the rubber liner from potential punctures from underneath.
	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F

Installing the Pond Liner

• Before installing the rubber pond-liner, a felt underlayment is first put down. The layer of underlayment forms a protective barrier beneath the rubber pond-liner and will protect it from possible puncture by sharp stones, roots, etc. from underneath.

• Underlayment material comes from manufacturers in a variety of widths. Ours came in sections 5 feet wide by 15 feet long. Since our pond measures 14-1/2 feet wide 17 feet long, several sections of the material were pieced together to cover the entire bottom surface of the pond (figure A). According to Rick, it's not necessary for the underlayment to be one solid piece. The goal is simply to cover the entire surface to protect the liner from below.

• Overlap adjacent pieces a small amount so that no dirt is showing at all. When spreading the underlayment on the bottom of the pond, make sure to cover the waterfall tank and skimmer entirely. Then, using a utility knife, go back and trim away the excess material from around the skimmer and waterfall tank (figure B).

• The next step is one of the most critical ones in the installation of the water garden: the installation of the liner. The rubberized liner is what holds the water in the pond.

• The liner itself is a heavy-duty rubber sheet (45 millimeters thick) that is very tough and durable. Nevertheless, care must be taken to make certain that the liner is not damaged or punctured during installation. A perfectly intact liner is the key to a successful water garden. If installed properly, this type of liner should last for 45 to 50 years before deterioration sets in.

• Unlike the underlayment, the liner must obviously be a single, unbroken sheet. According to Rick, the principle to keep in mind when installing the liner is that you will be taking a flat sheet and molding it to fit a rounded hole. Therefore, a number of folds and pleats will need to be made in the liner to achieve a good fit. The objective is to lay the liner in such a way as to minimize the folding, wrinkling and pleating as much as possible, and to tuck any folds in a way that's not unsightly. Aside from being undesirable from a visual standpoint, large or numerous folds in the liner can trap dirt and debris, thereby reducing the efficiency of the water filtration.

• With the underlayment in place, Rick and Heidi begin laying the liner into the pond. When spreading out the liner, start from the middle (figure C) and work your way outward -- stretching the liner across the pond (figure D) and making sure to conform it to all contours in the surface.

• Work out any wrinkles as you move along, and neatly make folds where necessary to achieve a good fit (figure E).

• Don't worry about the excess liner material at this point. Any excess will be trimmed away later, once the rocks are in place. Drape the liner over the skimmer and water tank as well as the pond surface.

• Once the liner is installed, it helps to fill the pond partially with water (figure F). This should add enough weight to keep the liner from shifting.
  

RESOURCES :

The Water Garden Design Book
ISBN: 0764153730
Authors: Yvonne Rees, Peter May
Barrons Educational Series
(August 2001)
To order this book from Amazon, click here.

The Master Book of the Water Garden: The Ultimate Guide to the Design and Maintenance of the Water Garden
ISBN: 0821227963
Author: Philip Swindells
Publisher: Bulfinch
(April, 2002)
To order this book from Amazon, click here.

GUESTS :
Rick Bartel
Owner, Autumn Mist Aquatics
(423) 838-7663
www.AutumnMistAquatics.com