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Preparing to Install Your Beutyliner

Like most things, correct preparation of your pond prior to the installation of your Beutyliner pond liner can be the difference between years of enjoyment and months of frustration. By spending some extra time properly preparing your pond area you should be able to sit back and enjoy your pond for many years, safe in the knowledge you have made all the right decisions. On this page we will outline some common problems that customers encounter that are all related to preparation.

Municipal Regulations and Permits

A question we are often asked is “do I require a fence around my pond?” and the simple answer is we do not know. Different municipalities throughout the country have different regulations on pond fencing and your local council are the best people to ask. You may also need a building permit for your pond, but again the requirement for a building permit differs across municipalities. Whenever undertaking a building project of any size it is a good idea to check with your local councils planning department for any restrictions you may have and whether or not you require a permit. It is better to do the work now rather than having to remove your pond in the future.

When talking to your council, it is also a good opportunity to discover the location of power, water and waste services on your property. Some of these services are exceptionally easy to damage and quite costly to have repaired. In the case of 240 volt electricity, they can also be deadly. Knowing the location of all your services beforehand is very important prior to commencing any excavation.

Excavation & Structural Stability

Many customers we have had over the years have made some very impressive pond excavations, but the biggest mistake we see is people ignoring the stability of the ground and digging their hole at an almost vertical angle. Creating an excavation like this is only suitable if you plan on constructing a structural frame inside your pond to achieve your vertical walls. If you plan on simply using the existing earth as your vertical wall you run the risk of the side wall collapsing when weight is placed too close to the edge or after a heavy rain.

If you are not planning on constructing an internal structure to your excavation we recommend that you dig your sides at no less than 20° from vertical (75mm inwards for every 225mm of depth).

If your pond is an above ground construction you must also remember the amount of pressure that the water will be exerting onto your structure. The higher you go, the higher the amount of pressure. And if you are building your water feature on a deck or other above ground construction, you will need to take into account the weight of the water feature structure and the weight of the water. Remember, 1 litre of water weighs 1 kilogram.

Overflow & Filling

When building an outdoor water garden, you must also consider what to do in the event of overflow. An overflow can occur when you forget to turn off the hose during a filling procedure, or during heavy rain. This overflow water can potentially cause unwanted damage and flow to places you do not want it to be. A simple solution is to install an overflow pipe and set it to the maximum water level. This pipe can be connected to storm water or simply taken to an area of garden where excess water will not be an issue.

The opposite problem to overflowing is filling. Your pond will lose water over time for many and various reasons, and during summer this can happen at an alarming rate. Some ponds are designed to dry out, while to other ponds this can be devastating. If you have fish or a pump that runs continuously, a dry pond is catastrophic. If you spend a large amount of time away from your pond and do not want to run the risk of the pond drying out, you can install a simple float system (similar to a toilet cistern) which will keep your pond filled to a desired level.

Water Reticulation Systems

Now is also the time to plan and install any plumbing required for water reticulation systems. Installing your plumbing now allows you to hide your pipes under the liner, rather than trying to hide the pipes later.
When installing pipes that will penetrate the liner we recommend using a minimum of 32mm diameter, non-flexible PVC. Make sure you have the pipe extending well into the pond as it is much easier to cut a pipe down later than it is to connect an extra piece on.

Safety

Ponds, like any large body of water, can be extremely dangerous areas and should always be considered as such. The dangers of a pond area are really brought into focus when young children are playing nearby. A small child can drown in less than two inches (five centimetres) of water. There are a few steps which can be taken to reduce the hazards of a pond to young children, but none of them are a substitute for parental supervision.

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