For those looking to build an
outdoor water feature, the first and most important decision that needs to be
made is choosing the right pond liner.
There are two major types of pond liners on the market today: preformed pond
liners and flexible pond liners. While either type of liner will work, each has
its advantages and disadvantages. It is strongly suggested that before you
purchase a pond liner you talk to a pond specialist at your local pond supply
shop in order to help you choose the liner that is best for you.
Preformed Pond Liners
Preformed pond liners are liners
that are typically made from specially treated plastic or fiberglass and molded
into specific sizes, shapes and depths. Fiberglass liners, while a little more
expensive than the plastic liners, are the liners recommended by most pond
professionals. Not only are they easier to repair, they are also more resistant
to damage from ultraviolet light. A properly installed fiberglass pond liner
can easily last 30 years or more if maintained properly. Some preformed pond
liners include features such as waterfall lips, streams and built-in shelves to
hold water plants.
Some of the advantages of preformed pond liners include:
- Easier to clean than flexible liners.
- More durable and longer lasting than flexible liners.
- Being more puncture resistant.
- Easy installation, depending on the pond size.
The disadvantages of preformed pond liners include:
- Being more expensive than flexible liners.
- Selection in limited sizes and shapes.
- Being difficult to hide.
- The need to be installed perfectly level and require a firm foundation with adequate back-fill in order to prevent warping.
Flexible Liners
Flexible liners are made of either
PVC plastic or synthetic rubber. Unlike the preformed pond liners, flexible
liners are malleable which enables them to be formed into almost any shape of
pond desired. In addition, flexible pond liners are easier to install, less
expensive and more versatile than preformed pond liners. Most flexible liners
are also resistant to ultraviolet light and won’t fade when exposed to bright
sunlight over a period of time. Flexible liners are susceptible to punctures
from hazards such as rocks, broken tree roots and gravel. Because of this,
flexible pond liners must be cushioned with either special padding designed for
flexible pond liners or with sand, carpet padding or newspapers.
In addition, some flexible
pond liners may contain chemicals that are toxic to fish and plants. It is
important to determine the style of pond you will have in order to select the
best liner.
Some of the advantages of flexible pond liners include:
- Being less expensive than preformed pond liners.
- The ability to be customized to fit almost any shape or size desired.
- It being easy to conceal the ponds edges with a flexible pond liner.
- Being easier to transport than preformed pond liners.
The disadvantages of flexible liners are:
- Requirement of an underlayment pad to help prevent punctures.
- They aren’t as durable as preformed pond liner.
- They susceptible to punctures.
- May contain chemicals that are toxic to fish and plants.
True Pump & Equipment has
been serving Denver since 1972. All of their sales staff are pond owners and
share your passion for water gardening! They have an extensive knowledge of
ponds, water features, aquatic plants and fish and they are here to put their
experience and passion to work for you. For more information on True Pump
please call 800-999-9021 or visit http://www.truepump.com.
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