Easy Step-By-Step Guide For Building A Garden Pond

How to build a garden pond - eclipse

Larger Ponds with liner requirements in excess of 200m2 that are complex in design may benefit from our staggered panels; simply Email us (en*******@bu***********.uk) with a dimensioned sketch or drawing and we’ll be pleased to provide pricing for a custom made staggered panel to perfectly suit your requirement.

How to build a garden pond - pear and free form

Ok… Let’s dig!

When you’re ready to start, the first thing you need is to plan the shape of your pond.
• Mark out the shape of your pond using a length of rope or hosepipe. Inspect your shape from different angles to be sure you are happy with it.
• When you are satisfied with the shape, mark it out by pouring sand around the perimeter and then remove the rope / hosepipe.
• Start digging out the pond crater from just inside the sand mark, keeping all sides of the pond sloped at around 20 degrees to avoid soil collapsing into the hole.
• If required, dig a series of steps descending to the bottom of the pond.
• Outside the sand line, remove a strip of turf approx. 450mm wide and
approximately 50mm deep all the way around for the liner overlap.
• Using a spirit level placed on a flat plank, check that the edges of the pond are level all the way around. Use the spoil from your excavation to build up any low areas.
• Check that any underwater steps are also level, as any irregularities will be apparent when the water is added.
• Remove any protruding stones or other debris that could damage the liner.
• Compact the sides of the pond so that it doesn’t collapse later on.
You’re now ready to line your pond !

So how do I calculate the size of the flat sheet liner I need?

Measure your excavation: taking measurements at maximum length, maximum width and maximum depth. Now calculate your liner size as follows:


The additional 0.6m (2ft) is to allow for anchoring the liner around the periphery (up to 0.3m (1ft) on each side) either below stones, railway sleepers or anchored into the ground in an anchor trench or beneath the turf.
Example calculation for a pond 20ft (6.09m) long x 12ft (3.66m) wide x 3ft (0.91m)

How to build a garden pond - kidney layout

Formal Geometric Ponds with vertical sides can make a fantastic feature in any garden. They are popular with Koi keepers and can easily be built above ground as well as below. Straightforward rectangular or square shaped liners made to exactly fit your formal pond can easily be ordered on our site. If you’d like to edge your pond with sleepers, slabs or coping stones, you’ll need a lip around the topmost edge of your liner. We call this a flange. A flange would typically measure between 4 and 6”.
This will help keep the sides of the pond secure by tucking neatly under your edging materials.
We can also supply Polypropylene battening by the metre to fix the sides of your pond if required.

How to build a garden pond - box diagrams

Our skilled factory technicians can custom make pre-formed 3 dimensional box welded liners to exactly fit stepped ponds with more than one depth as well as L shaped

How to build a garden pond - sections

Simply Email Us (en*******@bu********.uk) with your dimensional sketch or drawing and we’ll be pleased to provide pricing for a custom made liner that fits like a glove.
The beauty of our liners is that we make each and every one to order so you’ll never pay for more
material than you need or deal with disposing of excess / wasted material.

Do I need Pipe Sleeves ? What are they?
If your pond has a filler or overflow pipe through the liner, then you’ll need a pipe sleeve. These are
specially made rubber sleeves designed to fit over the pipe and seal to your liner, preventing leaks. We can supply a made to measure kit that you can easily install on site. All we need to know is the outside diameter measurement of the pipe.

How to build a garden pond - pipesleeve diagram

For a small additional fee we can weld your pipe sleeve into your liner in our factory before we despatch your order to you. All we need from you is a sketch or drawing showing us exactly where it needs to be positioned. You can attach this to an email and send to en*******@bu***********.uk

How to build a garden pond - Pipe sleeve diagram

Pipe sleeves are available at both 90 and 45 degree angles. Kits can be purchased from our website
www.butylproducts.co.uk.
Made to Measure kits are easy to install, please see instructions on the following page.

Rubber Pipe Sleeve Kit
The rubber pipe sleeve kit comprises:
1 x 10 meter roll ‘FIPEC’ double sided cold bonding tape
1 x Jubilee Clip
1 x Rubber pipe sleeve in your chosen material complete with flange
1 x Neoprene sponge strip

How to build a garden pond - neoprene and clip diagram

Instructions

Tighten the jubilee clip and pipe sleeve where the neoprene sponge is located.

Cut a circle in the liner around the circumference of the pipe, leaving approximately 1” clearance.

Place the pipe sleeve over the pipe and offer the flange up to the liner, mark around the flange with a crayon.

Ensure that the liner is clean within the crayon border (a mild solvent such as Acetone or Toluene used sparingly with a cloth is suitable as a cleaning material). Apply the ‘FIPEC’ double sided cold bonding tape around the inside edge of the crayon border.

Remove the backing paper from the ‘FIPEC’ double sided cold bonding tape. Place the pipe sleeve over the pipe and press the flange firmly into the ‘FIPEC’ tape all around the edge.

Using the seam roller, apply pressure all the way around to expel air and create a good bond.

OK.. You’ve designed and dug your pond, ordered your liner and now you’re ready to install it.
These few steps will have your liner installed simply and easily.

  1. Clear the pond and surrounding area of any roots, stones or debris
How to build a garden pond - dig and clear your pond
  1. Lay the underlay to fit the contours of the pond and allow at least 50mm of
    overlap between strips.
How to build a garden pond - Lay the underlay

3. Unroll the pond liner following the directions on the wrapping, and manoeuvre it across the pond using a flapping motion to ‘float’ it into place.

How to build a garden pond - Float the liner
  1. Avoid stretching the rubber as you position it, just let it wrinkle and pleat
    naturally to fit the contours of the pond. If you are not using overlay, you can skip step 5 and go straight to 6.
  2. Now lay the overlay in the same way as the underlay – then cover it with soil, sand or stones, working from the centre out towards the anchor trench.
How to build a garden pond - Lay the edges
  1. Fill the pond with water, letting the liner slip freely into the excavation, filling the
    contours. At this point you can smooth out any wrinkles or folds as the pond fills. If you need to be IN the pond to do this please remember that some footwear may damage your liner so great care must be taken, soft shoes or bare feet are always best.

Note: Children should be supervised around the area during the construction and filling of your pond.
The permanent water level of your pond should be at least 0.15m below the top of your liner to prevent water loss due to capillary action into the surrounding soil. If you are using overlay, its outer edge should be below the edge of your rubber liner as this too may cause ‘wicking’ of water out of the pond and into the surrounding earth. To avoid this, allow an extra 0.6m on both the length and width of your liner and simply fold the edges of your rubber liner over the top of your overlay. This will prevent water from escaping from your pond through the geotextile protection material.

How to build a garden pond - fold the liner

OR dig an anchor trench to ensure your liner & geotextile layer(s) are totally secure …

How to build a garden pond - Anchor trench option
  1. There may be a small amount of excess lining material, depending on the shape of your pond. This can be trimmed, but be sure to leave enough material for
    anchoring the liner under stones, railway sleepers, slabs or under the turf. Once your liner is trimmed and you’re happy – the trench can be backfilled with soil to secure the liner & underlay.
  2. Finish off any edging detail you require.
How to build a garden pond - Finished Pond

Got a Question or need help?

Please submit your details below and we will contact you to discuss your needs. Alternatively, you can call us on 01277 653 281.

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