Fixing a leak + adding more depth?

Joined
Apr 18, 2017
Messages
30
Reaction score
5
Country
United States
It looks like you have steppers (small flagstone) for your edging rock, which is great - very easy to stabilize. HOWEVER stacked steppers are not easy to stabilize... so it's a two edged sword there. You want the edge rock to be resting on the ground - not on top of another rock. You need to start with your edge (the ground level) to be relatively flat. Your liner comes up and over that flat edge and extends behind your edging rock. Place the rock on top of the liner, making sure the rock is level and stable and then pull the liner up behind the rock, folding the edge flat against the back of the rock and then bring your dirt or mulch up against the back of the rock to conceal the liner. It's much easier to see than to explain. Here's a link to the Ponddigger demonstrating various edging approaches:


He's a great teacher and loves to share his knowledge. The whole series on How to Build a Fish Pond is great. This one deal specifically with edging.

Thanks! I'll check it out!
 
Joined
Apr 18, 2017
Messages
30
Reaction score
5
Country
United States
Bump. Do my added pictures give any clarity? I just went out with my headlamp and a brush and scrubbed along the side where I see the water has leaked and I don't see a darn thing. The grand plan is to dig out to make it deeper and to expand further to the right of the pond (and add a little bridge that crosses) but we don't have the money to spend on it (roof, floors, and driveway are our priority right now). Any more advice would be much appreciated!
 
Joined
Oct 28, 2013
Messages
13,348
Reaction score
13,777
Location
Northern IL
Showcase(s):
1
You're assuming the liner has a leak. It's more likely you are wicking water out of the pond. Pick up the edge rocks and check the liner - especially the folds. You may find the water has found a way to follow those folds right over the edge of the pond.
 
Joined
Apr 18, 2017
Messages
30
Reaction score
5
Country
United States
You're assuming the liner has a leak. It's more likely you are wicking water out of the pond. Pick up the edge rocks and check the liner - especially the folds. You may find the water has found a way to follow those folds right over the edge of the pond.

Interesting. I do see folds along the side. How can I remove those without taking up the whole liner?
 
Joined
May 5, 2013
Messages
1,142
Reaction score
530
Location
Le Roy, New York
If this was my pond I would drain it, remove the rocks and put a second liner in on top of the original one. If you cant find the leak after all you have done so far then you need to do something else.
 
Joined
Oct 28, 2013
Messages
13,348
Reaction score
13,777
Location
Northern IL
Showcase(s):
1
You can't really get rid of the folds, but you can try to refold to stop the wicking, if that's what is indeed happening. I would also suggest you bring the liner out behind your rock edge and backfill behind it. (Like I explained in my previous post.) That raises the liner above the water level, so even if the water finds it's way into the folds, it will stay in the pond - water can't run uphill.
 
Joined
Apr 18, 2017
Messages
30
Reaction score
5
Country
United States
You can't really get rid of the folds, but you can try to refold to stop the wicking, if that's what is indeed happening. I would also suggest you bring the liner out behind your rock edge and backfill behind it. (Like I explained in my previous post.) That raises the liner above the water level, so even if the water finds it's way into the folds, it will stay in the pond - water can't run uphill.

Currently the liner is above the water level? Here's some pics of the liner where it is leaking. Thanks for all the advice Lisa!! Sorry for the newb questions.
 

Attachments

  • 20170722_094611.jpg
    20170722_094611.jpg
    84.8 KB · Views: 200
  • 20170722_094621.jpg
    20170722_094621.jpg
    112.4 KB · Views: 195
  • 20170722_094624.jpg
    20170722_094624.jpg
    109.9 KB · Views: 173
Joined
Oct 28, 2013
Messages
13,348
Reaction score
13,777
Location
Northern IL
Showcase(s):
1
Right. But those folds can wick water up and over the edge. If the liner behind the rock is raised, the water will run back down into the pond. I'm not saying for sure that's your issue, but it's much more likely than a hole in the liner.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
31,488
Messages
517,713
Members
13,688
Latest member
Dana D

Latest Threads

Top