Rock Foaming Do's And Don'ts ?

[msr0459]

I've been wrestling with a couple of leaks on my waterfall build, and have a question regarding foaming rocks.

If I simply can't get to an area in front of a boulder, in order to foam it, does it make sense to foam on the other side of said boulder? In my case, this small leak is continuing down to a very problematic area in my liner that can't be fixed (all bunched up when large boulders were placed), and as such, I'm finding nearly impossible to reposition the liner to keep the water from exiting the feature.

Bottom line is, I really need to redirect this water,.. but am worried that if I can't redirect at the source, e.g., before it goes under the rock, I may make things worse?

I'm also considering just using some roofing caulk on the back side of the boulder, but again, I'm afraid instead of stopping the leak, I'd just force the water outward, creating a more difficult problem.

Frustrated in SC!

 

[tanyaclick]

Sounds like a tricky situation. I'd think the only true choice is to get that Boulder out of there and fix it. Maybe use a cherry picker for an engine or rent a tractor?

 

[GBBUDD]

I've been wrestling with a couple of leaks on my waterfall build, and have a question regarding foaming rocks.

If I simply can't get to an area in front of a boulder, in order to foam it, does it make sense to foam on the other side of said boulder? In my case, this small leak is continuing down to a very problematic area in my liner that can't be fixed (all bunched up when large boulders were placed), and as such, I'm finding nearly impossible to reposition the liner to keep the water from exiting the feature.

Bottom line is, I really need to redirect this water,.. but am worried that if I can't redirect at the source, e.g., before it goes under the rock, I may make things worse?

I'm also considering just using some roofing caulk on the back side of the boulder, but again, I'm afraid instead of stopping the leak, I'd just force the water outward, creating a more difficult problem.

Frustrated in SC!

pictures please thats the best way we can help. waterfall foam is as water proof as is a towel if you make a basket with the towel and hold all four sides up . when you dump a five gallon bucket in it it will control the water but it will flow right through it waterfall foam is not much better than the towel. if you have a trouble area you may be able to coat the foam with caulking making it far closer to stopping water.

 

[Lisak1]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding but I'm a bit confused - why are you foaming in front of the boulder? The best use of foam, to me, has always been BEHIND the boulder. If you foam in front, you're allowing the water to get under where it has no choice but to find a way out. And the foam won't stop it.

Foam behind the boulder and you'll redirect the water before it gets under the boulder. Better yet, create a bib liner behind your boulder. Fill the area with a generous amount of foam and then press a piece of liner or underlayment into the foam. The water can then pool behind the boulder and come up and over or find a more preferable path. Build a bowl behind the boulder that's higher on the side you want to prevent water from flowing out and lower where you want the water to go.

I'm sure you know all this already, but there may be some newbie like I once was who completely misunderstood the purpose and usefulness of waterfall foam.

 

[msr0459]

pictures please thats the best way we can help. waterfall foam is as water proof as is a towel if you make a basket with the towel and hold all four sides up . when you dump a five gallon bucket in it it will control the water but it will flow right through it waterfall foam is not much better than the towel. if you have a trouble area you may be able to coat the foam with caulking making it far closer to stopping water.

I'll try and get some better pictures of the problem area. It's been rainy here, so haven't been out messing with it.

 

[msr0459]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding but I'm a bit confused - why are you foaming in front of the boulder? The best use of foam, to me, has always been BEHIND the boulder. If you foam in front, you're allowing the water to get under where it has no choice but to find a way out. And the foam won't stop it.

Foam behind the boulder and you'll redirect the water before it gets under the boulder. Better yet, create a bib liner behind your boulder. Fill the area with a generous amount of foam and then press a piece of liner or underlayment into the foam. The water can then pool behind the boulder and come up and over or find a more preferable path. Build a bowl behind the boulder that's higher on the side you want to prevent water from flowing out and lower where you want the water to go.

I'm sure you know all this already, but there may be some newbie like I once was who completely misunderstood the purpose and usefulness of waterfall foam.

Definitely a misunderstanding. When I say I was foaming in front of, I meant "before" the water has a chance to get under the boulder, and out the other side. In this case I've redirected one small leak, and yet, up from there, another one appears, and then comes out on the side that the liner's all screwed up, making it very difficult to redirect. I can't get to that secondary leak before it goes under. If I could magically lift 2 large 500+ boulders, I'm sure I'd see where and what the heck's going on. I'm going to try a pry bar, just to see if I can lift enough and have my wife pull on the liner and straighten it all out. I'm pretty sure it's too much weight though. Not to mention the extreme slope it's on makes it ridiculously difficult to maneuver.

 

[GBBUDD]

1. Make an A frame and use straps and a comealong . It's a bit of work but safer than getting the Mrs involved USUALY. though we have some very resourceful ladies here. My wife not being one.
As she was more worried about me running over 5 dollar tiki torche as I was backing up a 80000 dollar 5th wheel instead of hitting the tree and damaging the camper. Perfect sense!

 

[msr0459]

1. Make an A frame and use straps and a comealong . It's a bit of work but safer than getting the Mrs involved USUALY. though we have some very resourceful ladies here. My wife not being one.
As she was more worried about me running over 5 dollar tiki torche as I was backing up a 80000 dollar 5th wheel instead of hitting the tree and damaging the camper. Perfect sense!

Lol,... I went out earlier and was in fact able to lift a corner of the boulder with a pry bar, which surprised me! I had my wife on the other side, so when I lifted (barely), she was able to pull out enough of the problematic fold in the liner to, I think, solve the leak routing issue.

I won't know for sure as I also culked a couple of areas, so need to let that cure a bit.

If none of that helps, the A frame, straps, and a come along sounds promising, but once again the steep hillside would make that very challenging, trying to level out the A frame. Maybe I could use some cinder blocks dug into the hill, to elevate the lower side of the A frame legs.

Hopefully it won't come to that, because if it is still leaking around that boulder,..and IF I can route it like it now appears I'll be able to, I'm probably going to call it good. Water wins again!

 

[msr0459]

Sounds like a tricky situation. I'd think the only true choice is to get that Boulder out of there and fix it. Maybe use a cherry picker for an engine or rent a tractor?

I wasn't that familiar with cherry pickers,.. looks like it could work, but would be very bulky and difficult to maneuver on my VERY steep hillside.

 

[GBBUDD]

True cherry pickers are made to lift a bucket with one or two men and some tools a small truck crane , or a spider would do the job