Pond Liners

Pre-formed Ponds

Staring with the very basics of a ponds life, the retainment of water - typically ponds are purchased from garden centres as pre-formed rigid plastic or fibreglass moulds. These ponds offer great durability and come in an extensive range of shapes and depths, with near exact stated volume capacities - making the pump and filtration selection much easier. The downsides to pre-manufactured pond liners lie within the lack of creativity, forming limited design options with one-off custom made liners costing a small fortune. These rigid ponds can also pose problems with any required leak repairs from accidental damage and have been known to crack under temperature extremes.

Material Pond Liners

There are many different types of material pond liner, but the most popular are HDPE (high-density polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber. All of these materials are impermeable and help to create a physical barrier between the ground around your pond and the water inside. Below we touch upon the pro`s and con`s of these three types of liners- 

EPDM Rubber Pond Liners

These flexible yet durable garden pond liners are widely considered the best type of pond liner available, should your budget stretch to them. 

Pros

• Supple, highly flexible material, makes installation quick and easy

• Great choice for custom-shaped ponds

• Resistant to punctures, UV rays, frost, and general wear and tear

• Reliable in very high and low temperatures, doesn't expand or contract

• Completely safe for fish and other aquatic life

Cons

• Susceptible to damage from cleaning chemicals 

• More expensive than other pond liner materials

HDPE Pond Liners

These pond liners are amongst the most popular, not only because of their durability, but their affordability too.

Pros

• Very UV resistant and performs well in cold temperatures

• Great chemical resistance (often used in landfills and chemical containment sites)

• Relatively inexpensive compared to alternative pond liner materials

• Completely safe for fish and other aquatic life

Cons

• Fairly stiff and heavy, tougher to install than EPDM rubber pond liners

• More prone to punctures and surface scratches than other pond liner materials

PVC pond liners

This material is more commonly associated with pipes and plumbing, but it's also a popular pond liner material.

Pros

• Extremely flexible, easily conforms to tight corners and crevices

• Great chemical resistance

• Inexpensive, amongst the cheapest pond liner materials available

• Completely safe for fish and other aquatic life

Cons

• Not as UV-resistant as other pond liner materials

• Likely to degrade quicker than other pond liner materials

• Prone to cracks and splits in very low temperatures

Underlay

With all types of material pond liner you're going to need a layer of protective underlay to protect it from any underlying twigs and stones. This layer of protective underlay also prevents your pond liner from shifting due to any ground movement and also acts as a layer of insulation.