Instructions for raised wood garden pond I built 15 years ago?

[Karen McDaniel]

I built a raised wood pond around 15 years ago and it's rotting and I printed out directions and I don't know where they are! I think the original builder who posted his directions may have been named Tim? This is the photo of the pond I copied. Looking for directions with photos again. Anyone?

 

[Karen McDaniel]

rotten and landscape timbers kicking out on end, rotten

 

[Karen McDaniel]

this is my pond, very dry here now, no rain

 

[Lisak1]

@Karen McDaniel - are you saying someone posted them here 15 years ago? Or just on the internet in general?

 

[Lisak1]

Your pond has held up very well for 15 years - is that treated or untreated lumber?

 

[Karen McDaniel]

@Karen McDaniel - are you saying someone posted them here 15 years ago? Or just on the internet in general?

Well after finding some papers I had printed out with original posters photos, it was NOT from this forum but one that apparently no longer exists: AMERICAN PONDERS. I learned everything from them. The person who posted a tutorial with photos was "Joey" Joeyb5980 was a user name. The tutorial was "How to build a raised wooden lily pond using 4X4's.

 

[Karen McDaniel]

Your pond has held up very well for 15 years - is that treated or untreated lumber?

It was treated 4X4's. And looking back at some dates, it may not be quite 15 years but close. The only rot is on end where water circulates through pump & back in to pond. I guess it sprayed or leaked out there over the years. We are going to have to do a complete rebuild. The liner is that old too. My husband was just diagnosed with cancer, so I'm hoping to get someone to build it for us.

 

[j.w]

I used to be on that pond forum before it closed. This might be him on this grave site. You could message him and ask:https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/46884643 Also appears to be a member on Dave's garden site:https://davesgarden.com/members/joeyb5980/
He is or was on Koiphen site also: https://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?43861-how-do-you-get-rid-of-a-tree-frog If you scroll down on that thread you will see him posting. Good luck.

 

[Jhn]

You are pretty much lapping the corners and as you stack the 4x4’s up drill down through each corner and every 18” the length of the timber and pin them together using either rebar and/or 8-12” 100d galvanized nails. Also, the treatment used for pressure treated lumber has changed (not all treated lumber is the same) make sure whoever you get to build it uses lumber that is treated for ground contact or marine use. This will prevent rot from water as well as where it touches the ground.

I built something similar a few years ago to hold my juvenile turtles, although I used 6x6’s, which I would recommend using instead of 4x4’s it will hold up much longer.

 

[lamby]

Very sorry to hear of your husband's diagnosis, Karen. Best wishes for a complete recovery.

 

[GBBUDD]

As jhn suggested 6x6 timbers will resist warping and rotting much longer then 4x4's and is the route i would look at as well but another easy method of building your retaining wall is with concrete pavers/retaining wall. don't let the idea scare you the designs today are so easy to build with you can watch a video on you tube and you can become an expert in a matter of minutes.