Flexible waterproofing has several advantages over other methods of creating a reservoir. It is fairly easy to install. Everyone can deal with it. It also allows you to make a reservoir of any, arbitrary shape, which is not possible when using a ready-made form.

The first step in creating any reservoir is digging a pit. This is basic and very important point. Everything must be done without errors, because. it will be impossible to correct them later. A pond is not just a hole filled with water. It will contain containers with plants, so the pit is dug in steps or terraces.

The shallowest terrace is dug first. Usually its depth ranges from 30 to 40 cm, width from 35 to 50 cm, depending on the size of the reservoir. It will house plants of the coastal zone, such as a swamp, irises, pontederia, etc. The next step is already deeper, from 50 to 80 cm. The main soloists of the reservoir - nymphs, as well as other plants growing at this depth, will settle here. And the final stage will be the deepest part or the bottom of our pit. Minimum depth should be at least 1 m for warm areas and 1.5 for areas with harsh winters. Then the pond will not overheat on hot days, and on cold days fish will winter well in it.

The walls of the terraces should be made at a slight angle, and not sheer. This is required to prevent slipping of the soil and proper styling films.

The next step is to prepare the pit for covering it with a film. Inspect it for stones protruding from the ground and other sharp objects that could damage the fabric. All of them must be removed. If the soil is heterogeneous, rocky, then you should do sand cushion 4-7 cm thick. If the soil does not contain foreign, solid inclusions, then you can do without sand. Next, you need to line the pit with a special substrate (geotextile). This special material will protect our film from damage. Single pebbles, etc., which we may have overlooked. If you were unable to purchase given material or you are limited in funds, do not be sad. It can be replaced with other materials. Almost everything will fit. Old linoleum, carpet, laminate flooring, unnecessary raincoats or jackets, blankets, etc. All this can be put to work.

Next, we proceed to laying the actual film itself. Do not use plastic wrap. Of course, its price is several times less than that of special materials, but such a film will last you no more than one season. It is absolutely not designed for frost and the scorching sun. We need PVC film for ponds (polyvinyl chloride), or butyl rubber film. These are special materials intended for the construction of water bodies. Such films are not cheap, but they will serve you from 10 to 40 years! Worth spending, isn't it?

So, we choose the film itself. If your pond is not too large and deep (up to 1.5 m deep), then PVC film from 0.5 to 1 mm will be enough for you. thick. If the pond is large enough and deep enough, then PVC or butyl rubber film will be required. greater thickness, 1mm. and more. Butyl rubber is more durable and durable material(The service life of such a film can reach 30 years or more.), but it is also quite an expensive material. PVC film is slightly inferior in durability (it will serve you from 7 to 15 years), but its price is more acceptable. There are several colors of pond films, but black is considered the most successful and win-win.

After choosing the film, you need to calculate what size of the canvas we need. This is done quite simply. The length of the canvas will be equal to the length of the reservoir + two maximum depths + a small margin at the edges (usually no more than 50 cm.) The width is calculated in the same way. The width of the reservoir + two maximum depths + reserves at the edge.

The film should be laid with sufficient warm weather. It is best to spread the canvas in the sun and wait 2-3 hours. During this time, the film will heat up and become more plastic and pliable. We align the film in the center of the reservoir and, starting from the bottom, carefully line the pit. In this case, you should try to make fewer folds. Of course, they are inevitable and where you have to make a large fold, it is better to divide it into several smaller folds.

Water should be poured in stages. First, filling the deepest part of the reservoir, simultaneously correcting and smoothing the film where necessary. After the reservoir is completely filled, you should not immediately start decorating it. The edges of the film should be left unfixed for at least a few days. During this time, the film under water pressure will take the desired shape and stretch a little. After that, you can safely begin to equip the pond.

By all rules landscape works, when creating a decorative pond, it is required to use geotextiles. What is it for? Let's try to figure it out. But first I would like to make one small digression. Some owners country houses believe that this material is nothing more than a covering sheet used in horticulture to protect plants and prevent the growth of weeds. To some extent, they will be right. Indeed, they are used for these purposes. However, it is not suitable for arranging a reservoir - it is too thin.

For ponds, a different geotextile is used, which differs from the garden cloth in its thickness and structure. Outwardly, it resembles felt, consisting of the same synthetic fibers firmly bonded to each other by thermal sintering. Only there will be more of them. This fabric production technology gives it special properties and characteristics:

• It is strong enough, and it will be very, very difficult to break it.
• It is not subject to decay, which allows it to be used for arranging a country pond.
• The canvas has a soft structure and is quite elastic. That gives him the ability to repeat any relief.

What is geotextile used for when creating a pond?

There are a number of reasons for this.

1. Protection waterproofing film from damage.
2. Protection of the walls of the foundation pit of the future pond from shedding and erosion.
3. Prevention of water bloom.
4. Preventing the accumulation of river sand and pebbles in one place.

But first things first.

In order for the water level to artificial reservoir did not go down, its bottom must be covered with a special waterproofing film. No matter how ideal the bottom and walls of the pond are, there is always a risk of damage to the film by sharp pebbles and the roots of plants growing nearby. By laying a sheet of geotextile on the bottom of the pond, damage to the film can be prevented.

At the same time, geotextiles help prevent the destruction of the walls of the pond. The pit of the reservoir during the construction process can collapse for many reasons. For example, dry sandy soil tends to crumble. Or, precipitation will contribute to the erosion of the dug bowl. Add to this the laying of a heavy waterproofing sheet, which also does not in the best way affect the integrity of the walls.

If you cover the bowl of the pond during its construction with geotextiles, then you can simultaneously prevent its shedding and erosion. In addition, the structure of the material will allow you to repeat the relief of the excavated pit and its walls as accurately as possible. In the future, you can walk on such a substrate without fear that something will crumble or collapse. This is very convenient when laying a waterproofing film. According to the laid geotextile, it can be special efforts move, without any risk to the integrity of the pond bowl and the film itself.

INTERESTING: If, on top of the film waterproofing the bottom of the pond, dark-colored geotextiles are laid, then such a phenomenon as water bloom can be prevented. And this means that the owners will have to deal with cleaning the bottom of the reservoir less often.

Geotextiles can also be used to improve the bottom created pond. Laying it on top of the waterproofing makes it possible to correctly arrange the bottom of the reservoir. The material allows you to easily evenly distribute river sand over the entire surface of the bowl. It is also possible to evenly lay river or sea pebbles on top of geotextiles. The rough surface of the geotextile fabric will prevent the design elements from moving to one side when the pond is filled with water. In addition, the use of pebbles will allow, in the future, to place most aquatic plants.

So we considered the question of why geotextiles are needed when arranging ponds. Now directly about how to properly lay it on the bottom of the pond.

How to lay geotextile on the bottom of a pond

Laying a specialized geotextile fabric on the bottom of the pond should be done immediately after the bowl is prepared. It is often difficult to calculate the required material. Therefore, there is no need to buy geotextiles in advance. It is best to buy it after all the preparatory work. In order to most accurately measure, you will need a skein of twine. With this material, you can precisely set the maximum width of the pond and its maximum length laying the twine on the surface of the pond bowl.

FACT: The larger the area water surface pond, the more attractive and interesting it will be.

Before laying geotextiles on the bottom of the pond, the following preparatory manipulations are required:

• Remove all small, large and sharp stones that could damage the material.
• Sprinkle all unplanned irregularities with a sand-soil mixture (SGM).
• Compact and level the bottom of the pond.

After everything preparatory work completed, geotextiles are laid on the bottom of the pond. To do this, rolls of canvas are rolled out and cut into strips. In this case, it should be borne in mind that the material is overlapped. The most effective grip is considered to be about 15-20 cm. This is necessary so that the canvas does not part on the sides from the gravity of the water.

The owners of a suburban land plot there are two ways: use square meters purely under the garden and lawn, or break flower beds and gazebos on them. Maybe we exaggerate a little, but there is something in it. Usually, those who choose the second option try to place everything on their site at once: both a gazebo and summer kitchen, and a place for barbecue, and flower beds, and a pond for swimming or breeding fish. And when you want to carry out so many plans, it is very important that everything is well planned. In this article, we invite you to discuss how it would be better to build a pond on your land.

Why is film better?

Most likely, few people want to dispute the fact that the pond is the most beautiful decoration suburban area. Therefore, it is very important that those who decide to build such a building find answers to all questions that arise during the construction process. The quality and durability of the pond depends on this.

Pond in the country - how to do it yourself

Pond maintenance is not easy. Therefore, it is very important that the waterproofing is on high level. After all, it is reliable waterproofing that ensures high-quality and durable operation of the structure. Film for garden pond is the best insulating material for reservoirs. We will now consider its features.

Advantages of a film for artificial reservoirs

Pond care is not easy technical process. Good insulating coating will help you avoid a lot of hassle. What is it - quality coating for swimming pools, ponds, reservoirs and artificial lakes?

Film laying

Modern manufacturers of insulation materials have invented a reliable waterproofing agent, which has a lot of advantages:

• An environmentally friendly product, which means that it will not harm anyone environment, nor people;
• Democratic price;
• Large selection of colors and patterns;
• Significant resistance to mechanical and chemical damage;
• Material High Quality can last up to 50 years;
• Easy and convenient use when finishing an artificial pond.

Agree that these listed advantages are enough to pay attention to such material as a film insulator. Among the owners of suburban areas and landscape designers The film for the pond has gained wide popularity. This material is not hard to work with..

Naturalness first

Any body of water begins with a foundation pit. Then a purchased polymer one-piece bowl is installed or a concrete one is poured. The polymer bowl has its pros and cons. Among the minuses, first of all, we will name the tendency to damage and the stamped shape. Therefore, if you have the physical and financial ability, give preference to a concrete pond. It's over durable material, and a concrete bowl gives more opportunities for further decorative transformation of the reservoir.

film coating with concrete pouring pond

So that the concrete does not crumble over time from exposure to moisture, it is tiled, glass mosaic or even marble. But, if we are talking about an artificial pond, then he will only lose from this. Ponds in the garden are built to get closer to nature, and not to emphasize the man-made design.

Therefore, relatively new method film waterproofing helps to cope with this task. The coating will be even, but at the same time will not emphasize the unnaturalness of the reservoir.

Film coating can be divided into three types:

• Ultra-thin coating is a film up to 1 mm;

• Ultra durable coating- this is a film from 1.5 mm and above;
• Air sac-durable cover with air cushions that prevent injury from falls.

These films are commercially available both in black and in various bright colors. Just look at the names: Blue Lagoon, Golden Sand, White Pearl.

Types and characteristics of a film for an artificial reservoir

Modern market landscape design offers us such options for waterproofing: polyethylene film, PVC material (polyvinyl chloride) and butyl rubber pond film.

PVC film

Polyethylene film is the most inexpensive material of this kind, but at the same time the most fragile (warranty of use is only 2-3 years).

PVC film is a very durable material that has high elasticity and waterproofing.

Technical PVC characteristics films:

• Weight of one m2 from 0.5 kg to 1 kg;
• Thickness 0.5-1.2mm;
• Elasticity index 200%;
• To violate the integrity of the PVC film coating, it is necessary mechanical impact sharp glass or metal.

Installation of PVC film on a small pond (video)

Butyl rubber film

Butyl rubber film - durable and reliable material which will serve you for a long time (up to 50 years). Favorite material of builders because it is easy to work with. Also such material is not subject to destruction from sun rays (no cracks) and temperatures(this is very convenient, because you do not need to drain the water from the pond for the winter). Safe for aquatic environment(compatible with fauna and flora). Another plus is that such a film is black, and this helps to create the appearance of a deep bottom in finished version pond.

Butyl rubber film

Specifications of rubber film:

• The weight of one m2 is approximately 1.5 kg;
• Thickness 1.02mm;
• Elasticity index 300%;
• To break the integrity of the butyl rubber film coating, mechanical action of wood or metal is necessary.

If, nevertheless, you were able to cut or somehow damage the film, then with the help of rubber mastic you can repair any hole (such as a repair kit).

Rolls of rubber film are produced in a sufficiently large width (3-15 meters), which allows you to make a holistic, seamless coating small ponds.

Mounting the rubber film is as easy as pvc film. True, due to the fact that rubber rolls are produced much harder, at least one or two more pairs of hands are needed. Pieces of film are glued together with tape. Places of such soldering remain waterproof.

Flexible butyl rubber material will follow any shape and shape of the pond. And the folds will hide behind water, stones and plants. Experts advise using a geo-substrate to protect the rubber film from the effects of rhizomes.

Not without helpers!

It can be seen that materials for covering pools and artificial reservoirs enough now. Therefore it is very important to do right choice. We hope that these criteria will help you:

• The size and depth of the pond. If the depth of the reservoir less than a meter, then a polyethylene film 0.5 mm thick will be enough; if the depth is up to 2 meters, then you need a PVC film 1mm thick; if your pond is more than two meters deep and wide enough, then use a butyl rubber sheet for covering;
• Your choice should also be dictated by what you plan to place in the pond (additional objects - cascades of water, a waterfall, a fountain, fish or plan to swim in the pond).

Material manufacturers and price overview

Like many other products, films for artificial ponds there is a division into elite and public products. For example, elite film is one that imitates natural materials(stone, gravel). The price of such a film will start from 700 rubles / m2. The leading position is occupied by the Italians. They are following them German firms and manufacturers from the USA compete with them.

There are a lot of film manufacturers, so proceed from your requirements for the reservoir

We bring to your attention an overview of the most well-known manufacturers swimming pool covers:

• Agrilac is Italian company specializing in the manufacture and sale of PVC material. The products of this company are of the highest quality and affordable. Agrilac film is best option. The price of products starts from 150 rubles / m2;
• IZOFOL is a Polish manufacturer specializing in the production of waterproofing films. Most important principle company is the quality of products, so the films of this company are not inferior in the market. The price starts from 200 rubles / m2;
• WTB ELBEsecur is the most famous manufacturer waterproofing materials on the German market. Produces and distributes several types pvc material. The strength of the proposed product more than compensates for the small assortment. The films of this company can withstand even overload. The price starts from 230 rubles / m2;
• RENOLIT is another world famous German company. Products are of high quality and a wide range. The price starts from 200 rubles / m2;
• Gardena is a European association engaged in the production of items for landscape design. The price starts from 200 rubles / m2;
• Heissner is a German brand whose specialty is chemical industry. Therefore, they are quite well versed in the production of PVC films.

There are not so many manufacturers of butyl rubber film on the market, because the production of such material is quite complicated and expensive:

• EPDM PondLiner is the leader of such products in the US market and in the world too. Trade is conducted with more than 100 countries. The price starts from 270 rubles / m2;
• Larex is an Italian company. To make the price more affordable, they reduced the thickness of the membrane film. The price starts from 160 rubles / m2;
• Ergis is a Polish brand that has tried to find a favorable price / quality ratio for everyone. Worthy company. The price starts from 200 rubles / m2;
• OASE and Pontec are German manufacturers of butyl rubber film. Products can be classified as elite. Therefore, the price starts from 300 rubles / m2.

It is clear that the list of manufacturers is not complete, but these listed are of the highest level.

Step-by-step installation of a film for a pond (video)

Your choice - butyl rubber film or PVC coating - should be influenced by a qualitative analysis of your reservoir. Consider the size and purpose of your reservoir. Film material made of butyl rubber does not react with pool chemicals and is not damaged during water filtration. In order not to re-order, calculate required amount material. Also, be careful that you are provided with guarantees for service, certificates, adherence to all manufacturer's requirements, the possibility of an exchange.

The landscaping market is very competitive these days, so choose the pool protection material that suits your needs. Gone are the days when cracks were covered with clay. Polymers that have come to replace natural material nature adequately respond to all necessary requirements for high quality waterproofing.

A garden pond can be built using various materials.

My first decorative pond It was an aquarium dug into the ground. I settled two nymphs in it, the rhizomes of which were kept all winter in the refrigerator, in a bag with moss. In early spring roots were planted in plastic containers(with holes drilled in the bottom) and lowered into the aquarium.

Nymphaeums bloomed in this small garden pond all summer long. And then the containers with rhizomes safely overwintered in storage along with potatoes.
In the spring, the overgrown nymphs were removed from the containers. I divided each rhizome into several divisions with growth points.

The number of nymphs increased, and it was necessary to solve the problem of building a real decorative pond in the garden.

Garden pond device options

When building a small garden pond, the easiest option is to purchase a special plastic bowl - the base of the reservoir. It remains to dig the purchased bowl into the ground and pour water into it.
This is convenient, but I wanted to have a much more capacious decorative pond in the garden.

I had no time to make a pond thoroughly (with a special film for reservoirs, with a lining of geotextile under the film, etc.). Decided to do it easier.

For construction ornamental pond dug a pit 50 cm deep in the garden. Leveled the bottom of the pit, smoothed the walls (at an angle of about 45 degrees) and lined the bowl of the future pond with an ordinary greenhouse film made of stabilized polyethylene 150 microns thick.
The walls of the reservoir at the top ended with a step for stones, with which I pressed the edges of the film.
The film was placed in the pond bed freely, with folds, to avoid excessive tension when filling the reservoir with water.
Further upper part I covered the walls of the pond above the water with black lutrasil (spunbond). The pond looks much better this way. In addition, under black lutrasil, polyethylene ages more slowly - it does not lose its elasticity so quickly.

I will sum up the results of many years of operation of the simplest garden pond using a conventional stabilized polyethylene film.
Firstly, such a design of an ornamental reservoir turned out to be quite viable. There were no problems with mechanical damage to the film (plant roots,) and other horrors.
Secondly, the plastic film for the winter can not be removed. Then in the spring there will be less trouble with the launch of the reservoir, and the starting supply of water in the pond will be automatically formed.
And the last output: polyethylene film in the reservoir it serves at least two seasons, and with careful handling - even longer.
Thus, as simple option garden pond film construction is quite acceptable.

Of course, if there is a desire and opportunity, then it is better to immediately build a decorative pond more thoroughly.
First of all, when constructing a garden pond, it is advisable to use a special film for ponds. It is more reliable and durable than polyethylene.
To protect the special film from damage, it is useful to pre-line the prepared reservoir bed with geotextile - a special synthetic non-woven material.
This is exactly what I did in 2007 during the reconstruction of my “Small Pond”.

Below is a series of photographs illustrating the stages of this reconstruction:

1 - a bed of a pond with steps for plants and stones;
2 - the pond bed is covered with geotextile;

3 - pond film is laid out with folds;
4 - the pond is ready.

Plants in a garden pond

On site site

Weekly Free Website Digest website

Every week, for 10 years, for our 100,000 subscribers, a wonderful selection relevant materials about flowers and the garden, as well as other useful information.

Subscribe and receive!

We choose a place. This is very milestone. The soil should be clayey, and the place itself should be open from the southwest so that the pond is illuminated by the sun 4-6 hours a day. It is not recommended to place the pond under deciduous trees, falling leaves will inevitably pollute it.

If you plan to run fish into the pond, then its depth should be at least 2 meters, for carp - at least 2.5 m. Then the pond will not freeze in winter.

Making markup, scattering sand around the perimeter of the future pond. To even out surface irregularities, we mentally imagine the estimated water level in the pond.

swarm excavation, but a little deeper than the actual pond would be. Remove large stones and roots. Next, we mark the zones of the pond with sand: coastal, shallow and deep.

Part of the excavated land will be used in the future to create differences in the stream bed in height. We get a planned recess according to the marking of the zones. The size of the film is determined using cords, arranging them in width and length and adding 50 cm on each side.

Equipping the coast. There are several options. The easiest way is to dig a ditch around the pond, put geotextiles and film on the resulting edge and tuck them in, and cover the resulting depression with rubble. Then the edging of the pond, reinforced with a solid bottom structure, will be more stable.

For this purpose, stones, wood or plastic pipes . We chose plastic pipes. In the case of rocky ground, the bottom is covered with a layer of sand to protect the film. However, as a rule, it is enough to line it with geotextile. You should press it down well and cut off the protruding ends.

Concerning films, then not only strength is important for it, but also such a characteristic as structure. For example, the structured surface of the OASE film allows microorganisms to better adhere to it. Thus, the film quickly takes on a natural look.

for edges choose flooring with stone decor. We hide the hoses and the pump cable in folds, after which we carefully smooth the film. We glue the film for the stream with the film for the pond with special glue.

Protruding film ends we wrap it in a fold 10 cm wide. This is the so-called capillary barrier that prevents soil from entering the pond.

We plant trees and shrubs: plants are placed in special containers and covered with a substrate. First, we plant plants in the deep part of the pond and install a pump in it, then we decorate the bottom with stones.

There should be no stones in the water suction area, since a reduction in the suction area reduces the power of the pump. We fill the bottom with crushed stone and install the selected pump.

Fill the deep part of the pond with water. It is recommended to use tap water.

Now we plant plants in a shallow part of the pond. For this, special containers are used. For a steep bank, special bags are recommended to strengthen the slopes, which are attached to the bank with stones, and then covered with rubble.

For landscaping the coastal zone we cut coconut mats and cover the shallow part of the pond with them. We press the mats along the edges of the pond with stones so that they do not slide down.