I build swimming pools and was trying to figure out a way to incorporate concrete and a liner into my koi pond I’m building. Where we build, in the mildest area of New York, a hundred freeze-thaw cycles is a gentle winter, temps regularly visit the 20’s and we can stay below freezing for weeks. Depending on the job, we may build both inner and outer walls of 4˝ block, or spray cement stucco over the geotextile, 3/8˝ at a time, with our little Tirolessa sprayer that we absolutely love for smaller jobs. A pond liner over the concrete is the best solution to insure it doesn’t leak. This enclosure is an approximate Golden Rectangle with walls 2.5″ (6cm) thick and measuring 31″ (79cm) X 19.5″ (50cm) X 7″ (18cm) on the inside. As the heavier dye sinks, it will be drawn out with the leaking water, creating an arrow right to the leak. Our waterproofing range has products for all types of jobs, such as basement walls, roofs and gutters, water tanks, troughs, fish ponds and house floors. Department. Roman aqueducts and fountains built two millennia ago are still in daily use today. Save time and money by applying a concrete pond sealant yourself, which can be purchased at many hardware and pool supply stores. The product contains a proprietary blend of siloxanes/silane to provide a clear concrete sealer that prevents chloride, deicing salt, and freeze-thaw damage. We recommend using this whilst the pond is dry, as it’s clear from reviews that people have had more success from this product when applied on a dry surface, although the tape is waterproof … The curing process doesn’t stop with mixing, either. But more than coming up with a solution, it is still better to prevent the problems and act to it even before it happens. Thanks dude This isn’t brain surgery. For those who want to read and not sure if you should go with Acryl-60. To make it as water retentive as possible, I’d recommend using an acrylic admixture like Acryl 60 and chopped nylon or poly fibers in the water to help keep it from cracking. Controlling the pH of the water in the pond … You may have to remove the bricks and mortar to find and fix the water loss, or you may have to live with the lower level if it’s too difficult to cut back the mortar without damaging the liner. Build a Lightweight, Waterproof Concrete Basin for Ponds and Plants. Assuming that the polyethylene sheet is a single piece and absolutely waterproof, the best advice I can possibly offer is to protect the liner as best you can. Large ponds – 4000 litres and up When dry, it will give the next layer of sand and cement something to adhere to. thank you for writing this great article. For Judy Kilpatrick, gardening is the best mental health therapy of all. The porosity will depend on both the mix and how it’s applied. Although liner and geotextile is an additional expense over plain concrete or cinderblock, it is usually comparable to the cost of acrylic additives or two-part coatings, and typically less expensive than sprayed polyurea foam, and it involves little additional technical expertise. I have seen a number of leaking concrete ponds & waterfalls without a liner placed underneath. Thanks for the helpful article. I’ve recently come across an issue whereas hawks are trying to swoop down and grab the koi fish therefore ripping the liner. This has many benefits. PREPARATION BEFORE ADDING FISH Important: For fish ponds, it will be necessary to neutralise the lime alkaline action of the cement in water; as that can be harmful to fish. This consultant/new man says that is OK, is good to be in the soil, That is how he has done it for years. Finally, we dump out a rich, fiber-reinforced mix on the floor a wheelbarrow at a time and trowel the sides and bottom smooth, working our way out as we go. It’s our best pond sealer for concrete because it’s designed to seal the porousness associated with concrete ponds. 99. Look up “Swimming Pool Leak Detection Dye” in your favorite browser. Spray, roll or brush on the waterproofing product. All Rights Reserved. Hi Betsy Make certain you will have enough rain-free days for cleaning, waterproofing and curing. Thanks! We combine flexible and concrete liners. Your website is very impressive and informational. This was incredibly helpful! Ponds, Fountains, Water Features & Landscaping Waterproofing ponds and other landscaping features has never been so easy! Concrete has tremendous compressive strength, capable of supporting thousands of pounds per square inch, but doesn’t bend or stretch very well, so the most critical requirement of any concrete structure is a proper foundation, set on undisturbed soil that will not move or settle. geotextile, leaving plenty of extra to pull up behind coping and bogs to above water level. Thanks again. Consider creating a design or covering the floor with pebbles if the job warrants a special touch – it’s always appreciated, even if it’s rarely seen after the pond grows in. Is there an easy way to take the old liquid epdm off and put on epoxy back on. Do you think expansion joints are even necessary in the construction? I’d also recommended a ‘wet’ cure, where the mix is kept constantly damp while curing. Dear Frank Thank you! If we’re going to use block we make the excavation a little wider all the way around so there’s a little room to work: we’ll backfill after the walls are set. Thanks for so informative article. To ensure compatibility, use repair tape and bonding materials of the same brand as the primer and waterproofing agent. Burying a flexible liner inside a concrete wall offers advantages over either method alone. The waterproofing of ponds, fountains and waterfalls to protect them from the possibility of efflorescence, water leaking and general deterioration of materials when water and chemicals are present is an absolute necessity in today’s market place. Since you are from the San Diego area, your concrete will not require air entrainment. The concrete must be carefully mixed and vibrated into place to eliminate air bubbles, and the additives can be costly, but in warm climates where frost isn’t an issue this method works very well. Good luck with your project! SPI’s Polyshield HT™ 100F was chosen for its reliable waterproofing properties, and its ability to form a performance coating guaranteed to stay effective for years to come. Contact me at demi@atlanticwatergardens.com with questions; I’d be delighted to help. Anyhow, I am reshaping and changing aspect of the pond and decided that this tine we are going to pour concrete. While brick ponds offer many aesthetic benefits to a landscape, the porous nature of bricks can make their structural integrity difficult for pond keepers to maintain. However, concrete is a porous material and can eventually leach lime and other chemicals into your pond unless you seal the pond with a waterproofing compound. Be Well, Demi. That is FL and County Code. In winter cover all concrete surfaces against frost for four days. Back to top. Your responses will be greatly appreciated (via this site or to surf1939@gmail.com). Thanks for sharing such a great and informational article. Nitocote CM210 is a protective flexible waterproof coating for water retaining and water excluding masonry (brickwork and blockwork) and concrete structures. Latex or acrylic waterproofing solutions are added to the mixing water, to close the pores in the concrete and eliminate seepage through the walls. You apply at least two coats to the concrete surface. After all, that’s what it was … He used brick for the edging and brought the mortar about 3-4 inches down the walls. To detect a low spot or hole (or holes), I recommend the use of a commercial leak detecting solution. Waterproof; For Interior & Exterior Use; Ideal for Use in Basements/Cellars but may also be Used as an External Coating for Concrete, Brick, Block & Bonded Renders; More Info. © 2020 POND Trade Magazine. Hier die Übersetzung Englisch ↔ Deutsch für concrete waterproofing nachschlagen! Free UK Delivery by Amazon . Waterproofing & Sealing Waterproofing & Sealing 146 results for Waterproofing & Sealing. A pond liner over the concrete is the best solution to insure it doesn’t leak. There are a number of requirements to be met if it is to last. Thank you! Serving professionals with the latest trade news, advertising and marketing in the pond and water feature industry. Discover our waterproof solutions for your ponds !#AbeMauritius #Superlaykold #Fishponds #waterprooftheabeway #defeatthedamp #waterproofingsolutions #mauritius The market provides different products that provide a flexible, rubber-like, Kostenfreier Vokabeltrainer, Konjugationstabellen, Aussprachefunktion. According to this site, regular concrete is what you have when you mix the cement according to what’s written in the instructions on the packet. It’s nice to know there are still caring people willing to help others. However, as you noticed, since the water temperatures only reach into the 80s, the water is buffering the worst of the summer air temps. Very informative and helpful article. They needed a protective lining solution that could completely seal the 15x15m concrete pond, providing a waterproof protective coating to prevent any corrosion or abrasion. Thanks very much. Plan construction so that the actual laying of the concrete floor and the pouring of the concrete into the wall shuttering is completed in one day, to ensure that the finished pool is waterproof. I would recommend using layers of geotextile fabric to cover the liner if possible. bags of Type S mortar, a great mix I first heard about online from Doug Hoover of Aquamedia (many thanks for giving this great formula away for free!) The key to these applications is proper surface preparation, so the manufacturer’s instructions must be strictly followed. FREE Delivery. My contractor upgraded my old small pond-5×7. Pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendation for coat thickness to obtain the recommended mileage of your finished product. Well, there might be two different things going on here, and the answer to which one could depend on how long it takes the water to drop below the level of the mortar. There’s no reason to shy away; concrete is far easier to use than ever before, thanks to advances in additive technology and delivery systems, and adding an impermeable liner makes ponds that are literally bulletproof. Maintenance is even lower than in the warm weather ponds, since there’s no coating to scratch or wear off and settling cracks do no harm, and the liners can last virtually forever protected by their stony armor. However, the pool and spa industry continues to refer to them colloquially as Gunite (dry mix) = dry until mixed at the nozzle and Shotcrete (wet mix) mixed wet before entering Shotcrete hose. Concrete and mortar have been favored by pond and fountain builders since the Roman Empire, and the formula has changed little in the past 2000 years. Allow the recommended drying time between coats. Where you find a competitor's lower price on the same stocked item, we'll beat it by 10 % Excludes trade quotes, stock liquidations, commercial quantities and MarketLink products. Thanks for the informative article. Combining her interests in both of these fields, Kilpatrick is a professional flower grower and a practicing, licensed mental health therapist. If you have a backyard pond or water feature project on the go, Liquid Rubber seals and waterproofs around the most complex shape.Liquid Rubber has excellent adhesion to polyethylene liners, rock, and concrete.This makes Liquid Rubber waterproofing membranes an […] A latex additive will help in terms of flexural strength and curing. Remove dried vegetation with a power washer -- with the nozzle pointed at a 45-degree angle -- or scrape and brush the material off the concrete surfaces. With a range of perhaps high 30s to high 80s, no icing, no heat extremes, I would agree you probably don’t need expansion joints for such a small pond. Thank you, that is exactly what I needed to know. Brush concrete with the cleaning solution and rinse thoroughly. Thanks for the help. Use High-Strength Concrete. Same in-stock item available for same-day delivery or collection, including GST and delivery charges. My counties Engineers say the Rebar is not allowed to touch the soil, must be UP in the concrete Footer. £27.99 £ 27. In contrast to straight concrete, seams and small cracks cannot leak, so integrated gaskets, waterproofing additives and coatings are unnecessary, and freeze-thaw cycles are no longer a concern. Let us know how it works! I don’t plan to have fish or plants in the pond either. I like the concrete surface work that my crew did and don’t want a heavy epoxy or slurry sealer covering it up. I have just built a small pond with interior dimensions of 3,2′ by 6,4′ . How would you suggest to fix this? Repair cracks in the concrete before you apply waterproofing materials. If we’re going to pour the walls, the soil can serve as the outer form for the pour if we’re careful and cut the walls vertical. Hard troweling the surface when the mix is “thumbprint hard” will help close the pores on the surface. This was incredibly helpful! Follow label directions for mixing the herbicide with water and application procedures. The best solution is Permacon. Always choose what can most possibly solve these problems to get the result you aim for. Great information. can be built and waterproofed many different ways, so they’re easily adaptable to most sites; provide strong, lasting, virtually limitless structure regardless of soil conditions; can be shaped and smoothed to make cleaning easier and safer than liner ponds; properly constructed and waterproofed, are very low maintenance; offer resistance to damage and vandalism that bare liner, or even gravel-bottom ponds cannot match. The coping is set on top of the walls with a simple, strong, waterproof mortar made by mixing one 45lb. Promotion Available. Concrete planter basin designed for an open terrarium planting. Most koi ponds are deeper than the frost line, into undisturbed soil, so the depth of the footing is often of no great concern. The key difference is the effectiveness of the method you choose. Properly mixed and applied, under the right conditions concrete can last a very long time – the intact, magnificent roof of the Pantheon is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome almost two thousand years after it was built. In colder climes footings must be set below the frost line to avoid movement during freeze-thaw cycles, usually 3 to 4 feet below grade. I almost gave up searching for an article on concrete ponds not plain liner ones. Covering the pond and water garden business in greater depth. Portland is hydraulic cement, meaning it hardens and cures upon contact with water, but the exact process is so complicated that we don’t fully understand it even today. The flexible gasket is set on the footing before the wall is poured on top of it, sealing the joint from the inside as the gasket swells on contact with water. Thanks so much for the information. Epoxy paint is the first choice of pond owners and there are good reasons behind that. It consists of a base as a curing agent. Those seal without changing the appearance of the concrete. 4´ deep koi pond with 4˝ bottom drain, 2˝ fiber reinforced concrete sprayed over 45mil EPDM liner. (Called everyone in the area asociated with fountains but none really knew how to do this. The greatest width for the base is 2.5ft with surface area of ~12ft^2. I saw too many people that did use Acryl-60 and only one who didn't. Give concrete construction a try next time you need a long-lasting, low maintenance, virtually indestructible pond. To create a waterproof structure there are several options For one, a liner should be placed underneath the stone. Although the entire shell of a good-sized pond can be poured all at once by an experienced crew, we prefer doing the footing first, then pouring the walls, then the floor, sealing the seams between the three elements with waterstop gasketing. Prepare a cleaning solution with water and a few squirts of dish detergent or laundry detergent. I wonder why I have to seal it all? Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates. 4 Press chicken wire mesh into the wet concrete. The final step is to cover the liner/geotextile ‘sandwich’ completely. Liners, pond paints, and more, there’s no shortage pond waterproofing options. It rained a week ago and water filled the pond an inch and didn’t go anywhere for days. From Demi Fortuna: The market provides different products that provide a flexible, rubber-like, waterproof coating for your concrete pond. Brush new concrete with a stiff brush to remove calcium sulfate -- concrete dust -- on the surface. View all: Sika Waterproof Sealants. I do have a questions regarding the use of an expansion joint between the base and the walls with the waterproof coating (second method). If cost is not an issue, my personal preference is cover the PE with another layer of geotextile before applying the layer of sand. Apply a coat of primer, using a brush, nap roller or pressure pot applicator to thoroughly dry concrete following product instructions. The second method dispenses with the cost and additional labor of integral concrete waterproofing by applying a waterproofing coating on the inner surfaces of the pond after the shell is constructed, and it works with either poured shells or with cinder block construction. Look up Active Bog Filtration for some really cool ideas to keep koi ponds algae-free. Waterproof, protect, and preserve your concrete with the Siloxa-Tek 8500 ready-to-use concrete sealer. The walls don’t come all the way to the level of the water surface; we stop 8-10˝ below the intended water level to create a Rock Shelf for the natural rock coping to come. The only problem I can think of is that the rebar could corrode, expand and crack the concrete. Latex or acrylic waterproofing solutions are added to the mixing water, to close the pores in the concrete and eliminate seepage through the walls. negative and positive hydrostatic pressures), which means we … Keep sharing the good work! Once the walls are in, we backfill and level the soil behind them to create a broad shelf for the coping (and any Perimeter Bogs we might install behind the coping). The Cement and Concrete Institute (CNCI) shows you how to construct a fish pond from concrete. Our Solution. The concrete must be carefully mixed and vibrated into place … The pond is excavated, a footing poured, the appropriate reinforcement rods and wire set in place and forms built. THIS is what I needed to read. This is one of the biggest cost involved in pond build. In colder climates, using a membrane buried in the concrete shell to waterproof the pond offers all of the previous advantages, and is impervious to leaking from cracking and crazing that’s almost inevitable where winter holds an icy grip. In my opinion and I was undecided as well. The reason is Epoxy is resistant to chemical agents which makes it last longer. An 8˝ x12˝ footing may sound like overkill, but it ensures the walls will stay straight and solid and support any load likely to be set on them, and with 8˝ walls the 12˝ wide footing provides a 4˝ shelf that the floor will key into later. Thank you to all wet (and dry) animal lovers. Another good side of Epoxy Paint is it is fully safe for fish, pond plants and any other animal. Hi Ralph. Using a complete and highly durable system, such as the Wolfin and Cosmofin waterproofing membranes, as well as a professional installer, will go a long way to ensuring your pond retains its waterproof status for a long time. That may sound very deep, but if we’re considering the expense of concrete to start with, then we’re generally talking about a more elaborate pond, perhaps a koi pond where the deeper the water is, the better. I’m not sure. FREE Delivery on orders over £10 for books or over £20 for other categories shipped by Amazon. I intend to build a large fish pond measuring 1000 ft x 400 ft. with concrete lining along the brims and polythene sheet covered by sand on the floor, in a sandy soil in temperate region of Pakistan. How to Seal a Brick Pond. May you suggest me how to make it durable and leak-proof, to save from future damages. This is the perfect information. Sounds like you and the crew did a great job. My previous “contractor” (actually a scam artist), was installing the Rebar by driving the verticals into the ground (amongst other not to code work). That said, concrete is NOT a “set it and forget it” material. Deciding what material to make a pond of is very important. We have a huge husky in our neighborhood who likes to play in the pond on a hot day and leaves punctures in the lining. Limestone and clay are mixed, heated and ground to the silky powder we call cement. If I do need to seal it, is there a lighweight penetrating or no sheen sealer I could use? Your article is just what we needed to read. Concrete planter basin designed for an open terrarium planting. The places which normally fill with moisture, a gel arises which is solid and immobile. I am replacing an existing fiberglass shell over 3/4 in plywood that lasted about 5yt. Bless mj. There are many types of coatings, ranging from liquid EPDM rubber compounds to two-part epoxies to cement-based slurries to simple paints, so there’s a waterproofing compound for every job. Apart from making it waterproof, the right products, like this one, will actually promote the growth of algae, creating a natural environment for fish. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Watch the weather forecast before you begin your pond waterproofing project. Hope you and the girls have fun with your project! Hi, just wonder if I mix 45 lbs thinset and 2, 70 lbs type S mortar, it will make that mix waterproof for a waterfall job for southern California.?? Can You Use a Paint Roller to Put on Driveway Sealer? I live in north Texas and water temperatures in the pond reaches low 80’s during the summer no freezes during the winter due to water flow. A concrete koi pond adds interest to the landscape by providing habitat for these colorful fish. It isn’t optimal where freeze-thaw cycles are a concern. Polyethylene tends to stretch very well, which means that settling usually isn’t much of an issue, but PE is very easily cut by sharp objects, even sharp rocks. On the contrary, this simple, obvious method is easier and more tolerant of adverse conditions or less-than-ideal preparation, so we’ve found it adapts well to any jobsite. The rigors of raising and harvesting fish can easily displace the sand on the bottom, exposing the liner to sunlight or damage. Kostenfreier Vokabeltrainer, Konjugationstabellen, Aussprachefunktion. Be well, Demi. This can be as simple as regularly spaced rebar rods set into the wet concrete, or a groove in the top of the footing that the wall can lock into. While we set stones, we smeared the rubber liner with a thin Portland slurry. Great advice Apply any good quality silicone based clear sealer, look for matte finish. Monday, October 4, 2010. Bulk savings; QTY Price per item Saving; 1 £16.99 (£3.40 / Kg) - 2 + £16.14 (£3.23 / Kg) Save 5% £ 16.99 INC VAT (£3.40 / Kg) QTY. It is important to realize neither mortar or concrete are inheritably waterproof. POND TRADE ARTICLES POND TRADE NEWS If you want to be sure, use chopped fiber reinforcement in the concrete you make or order. The pond is excavated, a footing poured, the appropriate reinforcement rods and wire set in place and forms built. The first method is the conventional way to pour a fully waterproof concrete shell. For koi ponds, we lay in smaller stones dry in front of Perimeter Bogs, simple gravel beds 6 to 8˝ deep on 2 to 3-foot wide areas of the Rock shelf with the liner pulled up at the outer edge, so water can filter in and get filtered by the roots. We’ve used this technique for ponds from 250 to 10000 gallons, and I’m pretty sure it’s adaptable to much more than I’ve run into. He said, in a monolithic pour (all at once sprayed Shotcrete) it is all self supporting. reinforced. Wow! Wait until vegetation turns brown before moving on to the next step. Therefore, we advise using a pond tape such as the Gorilla 4612502 Waterproof Patch & Seal Tape (Buy on Amazon), which is available in several different sizes and provides an easy to use, strong adhesive tape to patch/repair your pond…. Since the mid-1960s, the American Shotcrete Association refers to both forms of pneumatically applied concrete as shotcrete, with one called wet-mix and the other dry-mix. Both of these methods are well known and the steps involved in their construction well documented, so I won’t go into further detail, but unless you’re planning on draining the water feature for the winter, we’ve found neither is ideal in harsh winter country. I had no idea. They normally just put a small basin on 6″ of gravel and pour a pad.). ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING A LARGE CONCRETE POND (mine will be 15,000 gallons). It can be colored also for decorative effect. I believe, regardless of whether the cement is poured into forms or shot (as in Shotcrete) a minimum 8″ thick by 12″ wide footer is mandatory. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for making repairs. Our waterproof liner, usually 45mil EPDM, goes over the geotextile, again leaving enough above the walls to cover the shelf then come up another foot to well above the water line. We could cover the liner directly with concrete at this point, but we’ve found it’s both safer and much easier to cover the liner with another layer of geotextile, not just for protection, but because cement sticks to it like crazy, even vertically. After you have finished painting your concrete pond, it will give a durable waterproof surface. He first poured sand onto the dirt floor to level it, then put in 45 ml rubber liner. A waterproofing product that is ideal for swimming pools, decks, planter boxes, and areas subject to movement. I would strongly recommend lining the excavation with geotextile, or if cost is an issue, with a layer of sand, before installing the liner. NOTE: To waterproof the walls and floor: follow specifications for “Waterproofing Existing Concrete or Cement Render“. We’ll usually dig out the pond as carefully as possible first, leaving the walls vertical, then we’ll excavate the trench for the footing at least 8˝ deeper than the rest of the pond, always below the frost line and at least 12˝ wide, to provide a solid, stable base that’s a little wider than the walls. If your pond is too deep to reach the bottom with a rake or shovel, then carry buckets of concrete down to the bottom. Hi- thank you for writing this great article. Trade Magazine. Double Sided Butyl Tape Used for Membrane Jointing, Waterproofing, Pond Liner Repair (50MM X 1.5MM X 10M) ... TA Paints Chlorinated Rubber Swimming Pool Paint For Concrete,Primed Fiberglass,Brick,Stone Excellent waterproofing & chemical protection ornamental ponds (1 Litre, Solent Mid Blue BS 18 e 53) 4.4 out of 5 stars 81. Concrete needs to be kept evenly moist for as long as feasible after pouring to develop its full strength, at least 3 days, but it will continue to strengthen for a year or more if kept moist. Great post about pond construction. This enclosure is an approximate Golden Rectangle with walls 2.5″ (6cm) thick and measuring 31″ (79cm) X 19.5″ (50cm) X 7″ (18cm) on the inside. It was super helpful. A graduate of East Carolina University, Kilpatrick writes for national and regional publications. The water will drop to the lowest point the mortar extends and stop there. So glad I accidentally ended up on this page reading your article. I really love to read such a nice article. The more stable the base, the better the coating will perform, so this method of pond construction also works best where winters are mild. Yesterday I had a man who says he builds ponds tell my contractor and myself, that we DO NOT need a Footer. The obvious possibility is that you have a small perforation at the level the water settles at, or a spot where the liner is very low, hidden in the mortar. Build a Lightweight, Waterproof Concrete Basin for Ponds and Plants. Step 1 Drain the pond of all its water. How to Patch or Fix a Broken Concrete Subfloor, How to Keep Grass From Sticking to Lawnmower Wheels, Ames Research Laboratories: How to Seal and Waterproof Concrete and Foundations, Pond Armor: A Checklist for Concrete Pond Repairs, ConcreteNetwork.com: Choosing a Concrete Cleaner or Degreaser, Cement Concrete and Aggregates: Removing Stains From Concrete, Pond Trade Magazine: Pond Construction with Concrete, How to Paint Dry Cracked Wood on a Home's Exterior. In my first pond, I used 11 pounds of 4,800-psi poured concrete. Pond waterproofing at this size is a bit more challenging. Thoroseal - Acryl-60 16 Oct 2010 This is a posting from somebody who doesn't recommend Acryl-60. Besides, the product has a hydrophobic nature that prevents vapor transmission and moisture intrusion. I worked on building a Coast Guard Base in north Florida in the late 1960s and all our rebar was set OFF the Ground, the slab’s Rebars were on ‘Chairs’, (small metal props to lift the rebar 3″ off the soil) which will thus position the rebar INSIDE the concrete.