Many children have a great fascination towards small creatures found in gardens, fields or ponds such as earthworms, frogs, tadpoles and newts. As a result of my daughters interest in pond wildlife, I find myself constantly on the look out for ponds noting the various species of aquatic plants, the type of edging added to protect the pond liner and whether there are fish present. Continue reading →

PVC pond liner repair is possible although there is the risk of it becoming brittle. Some pond liner repair kits are designed for use on rubber pond liners only so read the label first.

Pond liners if installed correctly and placed above a protective underlay liner, are less likely to puncture. However, a PVC pond liner doesn’t have the same UV resistant qualities as Butyl and Epalyn (EPDM) pond liner therefore over time there is a risk of the pond liner becoming britle and, as a result become more vulnerable to puncturing. The claws or sharp beaks of visiting wildlife can also be the perpetrator of a damaged pond liner. A drop in water level through evaporation will expose a pond liner to higher levels of UV radiation, weakening the pond liner and again heightening the risk of puncturing and the resulting drop in pond water level.

A PVC pond liner doesn’t repair as well as a rubber pond liner such as that of Butyl or Epalyn (EPDM), so depending on how big the puncture is, you will need to weigh up whether to try and repair the leak or just replace your pond liner given that PVC have a life span of around 10 to 15 years.

Finding the puncture to your PVC pond liner? 

If the water level of your pond drops at a faster rate than expected from evaporation alone then the next step is to find the cause. This may mean draining the water out, but only to the point where the puncture becomes visible. Use a garden hose to drain out the water.

For ponds that are home to fish, they will need to be removed and put in a temporary holding tank or plastic bath before draining your pond. Fill the tank with water from your pond first to reduce stress and risk to the health of your fish.

• If the leak is at the bottom of your pond, then repairs will be more of a challenge but not an impossible one. 
• Clean a wide area around the puncturea of algae, grit and any plant life using a clean rag.
• Rinse the area and dry it thoroughly (you can use a hair dryer to make sure that the surface is thoroughly dry) before roughing up the damaged surface with a wire brush. A rougher surface is more porous and holds the glue more effectively.  
• Mark the punctured pond liner by circling it with a piece of chalk.
• Cut a piece of PVC liner in a circular shape. The shape will need to be larger than the size of the hole.
• Spread PVC liner patching glue or waterproof sealant over the surface of the tear and the surface of the patch. Allow the glue to dry until it is no longer tacky to the touch. Press the patch, glue side down, over the hole in the pond liner so that the two glued sides are sandwiched together. Apply the patch uniformly over the hole to prevent wrinkles. Hold for 30 seconds. 
• Wait 48 hours for the glue to cure before refilling your pond and re-introducing your fish back into your pond.

Pond liner repair kits such as the traditional Mastic Tape are not suitable for repairs to PVC pond liner. 

Knowing which pond liner is considered to be a high quality pond liner, how much to order and where to buy are questions many aspiring garden pond owners want an answer to. It is also about the financial outlay and getting the best value for your spend.

A high quality pond liner will play a vital role in the containment of water particularly for those built on porous ground. A pond liner manufactured from synthetic rubber material is considered high quality. Should they tear or get punctured, they can be repaired without too much disruption to the pond. Although, this will depend where in the pond the leak occurs and therefore where the liner is punctured. Synthetic rubber pond liners, Butyl and Epalyn (also know as EPDM) are available to order from a number of pond supply websites and garden centres. Pond liners can be purchased according to your own set of dimensions or you can select from pre-cut pond liner kits.

Which high quality pond liner to order?

Butyl and Epalyn rubber pond liners (EPDM) are considered to be the best on the market based on the following features:

• Display excellent properties of both durability and flexibility which means they can be readily manipulated into various pond shapes and sizes
• They are better for cool climates and have superior UV resistance
• High expansion and contraction characteristics that enable it to conform to objects below the pond
• Should earth movement occur, such as settling, Epalyn high elongation properties will enable it to stretch
• Very stable in extreme temperatures and other environmental conditions
• Easy to repair either of these materials (although damage is minimal when installed above a protective underlay)
• Epalyn and Butyl feel and perform in a very similar way
• Non-toxic to fish and other pond inhabitants
• Kind to the environment as they don’t leach chemicals into the ground

The technical difference, however between Epalyn and Butyl is the polymer. To be called Butyl the sheet must contain more than 50% butyl polymer. The polymer is the ingredient that makes the sheet elastic. In most pond grade Butyl there is usually a percentage of EPDM polymer mixed in. Epalyn, however is made with 100% EPDM polymer. EPDM polymer is more readily used around the world in a range of industries as well as for lining ponds and it is generally cheaper.

If you are planning to build an ornamental pond whether to house KOI fish or for a display of water lilies then a box-welded pond liner is best suited to this design. Box-welded or tailored-to-fit liners are most frequently fabricated from Epalyn rubber liner material. The main advantage of this type of liner is that it fits perfectly into a vertically-sided formal pond design without any creases or folds thereby creating a neat finish.

For Koi enthusiasts wanting to build an formal shaped Koi pond, Liners Online pond liner supplier will need the exact dimensions of your pond to fabricate a box-welded pond liner for a snug fit.

For all other creative pond designs we supply flat sheet pond liners and have a pond liner size calculator on our website to help customers with measurements.

Liners Online have more than thirty years experience in the water containment and waterproofing industry so can offer support and expert advice on garden pond construction as well as pond liner installation.  

The use of a flexible pond liner offers design flexibility. They allow you to create a pond that works well with your surrounding garden landscape. A preformed fibreglass mould allows you to create a garden pond just as easily but are generally a more expensive way to achieve a stunning water feature in your garden. The real benefit of a pond liner is that you can expand the size of your pond at a later date if you so choose or you can add features such as a waterfall or bottom drain.

Want to build a wildlife pond in your garden with a beached are and planting shelves? All that can be achieved with a rubber pond liner. The design flexibility offered means that you can create easy access for wildlife. Your pond liner is also likely to last more than 25 years.

Flat sheet pond liners offers the flexibility to build a pond that suits your requirements. Types to choose from include Epalyn (EPDM rubber), Butyl and PVC. Overall, pond liners made of rubber are recommended, as they are more durable, resistant to extreme weather conditions and easy to work with. 

Butyl pond liners can withstand the severity of both frost and UV radiation. Although thicker than the PVC pond liners, Butyl is still remarkably flexible and easy to use. Butyl is ideal for larger installations due to its much tougher qualities.

Epalyn pond liners are also more rugged than PVC liners. They are better for cool climates and offers UV resistance and has high expansion as well as contraction characteristics. Epalyn can be obtained in various”grades” (thicknesses).

Unlike preformed ponds, rubber pond liners can be easily shaped to fit the contours of the pond shape, allowing for a more unique design. Once a rubber pond liner has been installed correctly, it will require little or no regular maintenance. 

For a lined pond, it is also wise to invest in a protective underlay, which acts as cushioning material between the pond liner and the surface of your pond excavation. Before buying your pond liner and and underlay make sure you know the exact pond liner size required.

When building a pond it really is all down to choice and wether you want a more natural looking pond build that you are likely to take on as a growing hobby.

A few tips to keep you occupied during the summer months!

All garden ponds require regular, simple maintenance to keep it looking good as well as to attract the wildlife that develop a working ecosystem. Deep ponds do tend to remain cleaner than shallow ones. Algae, particularly blanket weed tends to occur in newer ponds where a balanced ecosystem Continue reading →

There are a wide range of pond pumps on the market generally of two main types: external or surface pumps and submersible pumps. Both are designed to circulate water in the same way. 

Continue reading →

There is an increase in popularity on subjects to do with the importance of gardening for wildlife with a lot of mention on the topic in various media sources. Attracting wildlife to your garden does have great benefits to the environment. The natural habitats of all forms of wildlife are continuing to disappear – what with changes in farming, increase in the number of buildings being constructed, renovations to old buildings etc.
With the increase in wildlife friendly gardening the trend is to move away from manicured gardens with sterile lawns, Continue reading →

Probably the most serious problem for many ornamental garden pond fish keepers is the loss of fish to the heron. Herons are wading birds and mostly associated with wetlands. They prey on fish, frogs and invertebrates and obtain their food by wading through wetlands and visiting garden ponds. Continue reading →

There are so many types and designs of homes for wildlife creatures, which can be purchased through various gardening related websites and garden centres. But, why not get creative and make your own funky design. A great idea is to get a few old decaying logs and stack them on top of each other to make an interesting feature while also making a home for a variety of insects.  To make it more specific to the likes of lady birds, bees etc., place a number of hollow dried sticks into the centre of a decaying log. Continue reading →