Small Pond Liners: Materials, Installation and Suppliers
Lining small backyard ponds or water features requires durable yet flexible barrier materials. Small ponds have unique containment needs with typically exposed conditions, decorative shapes and lower water volumes. Selecting quality liner solutions ensures these water bodies provide years of landscape enjoyment.
This guide covers key materials, installation steps and leading suppliers of small pond liners.
Materials for Small Pond Liners
The most suitable materials for small pond liners include:
- EPDM – Ethylene propylene diene rubber offers the greatest flexibility to contour around creative pond shapes. It has good weathering resistance but lower strength. Best for ponds under 500 sqft.
- PVC – Polyvinyl chloride liners provide reasonable flexibility combined with good chemical resistance. Useful for ponds with fountains.
- PE Liners – Polyethylene liners like HDPE and LDPE offer balanced durability, flexibility and cost. The workhorse liner choice.
- Bentonite – Compacted bentonite clay liners are a low-cost natural option. Limitations are vulnerability to desiccation and cracking.
Liner thickness between 0.5mm to 1mm are common for small ponds. Reinforced materials provide extra assurance.
Key Properties for Small Pond Liners
Ideal small pond liner properties include:
- Flexibility to contour around designs
- Puncture and tear resistance
- UV and weathering resistance
- Reasonable cost for small sizes
- Ability to form watertight seams/joins
- Safe for aquatic plants and fish
- Easy install for homeowners or landscapers
Matching needs of small ponds to liner properties ensures performance.
Installation of Small Pond Liners
Key steps in small pond liner installation:
- Smoothing and compacting soil bottom and sides
- Positioning liner to minimize seams
- Securing liner in perimeter trench
- Sealing seams using adhesive welding strips or tapes
- Waterproof sealing penetrations through liner
- Adding coping stones or vegetation edge protectors
- Covering liner with geotextile and decorative stone
Simple tools and techniques make small pond liner installation straightforward.
Leading Small Pond Liner Brands
Top brands known for quality include:
- Firestone - Renowned EPDM liners like Firestone PondGard offer maximum flexibility
- NDS - Leading supplier of PVC and polyethylene pond liners and accessories
- HBH - Specialist in reinforced PVC and fish-safe liners for small water features
- Beckett - Provide durable pre-cut EPDM, PVC and rubber liners to suit common pond sizes
- EasyPro - Offer complete pond liner kits including liner, tape, edge protectors and coping stones
Choosing established brands provides assurance of liner quality and performance.
Conclusion
Small backyard ponds have unique containment needs compared to large-scale water bodies. Flexible, UV-resistant and easily installable liner materials like EPDM, PVC and polyethylene offer cost-effective solutions. Leading brands coupled with sound construction allow small ponds to provide years of safe water retention and aesthetic enjoyment.
