Pond construction with stepping stones - Advice

[DempseyLiverpool]

Future client is thinking of having a pond coming off patio leading onto garden area (ground level ) with the floating stepping stones running through it. Anybody have any advice on best way to build it ? No fish just plants and whatever wildlife makes it their home.

[seanandruby]

Think it will be costly. You'll need to waterproof it. I would blind it first, trowel it off to a good finish, waterproof on top of the blinding, blind again on that to protect the membrane. Build the plinths off the blinding. Sounds a good project to do. Be nice have stage photo's. Must be plenty advice on pond sites. Good luck.

[Tony McC]

Unless you're doing them every week, ponds are right bloody pain in the arse. They seem to have a perverse determination to fail for the smallest, most insignificant of reasons.

And for that reason, ponds was always something we subbed out to a pond specialist.

I was quite happy to do the excavation, and then put in copings, connecting paths or, as you mention, floating steps stones, but the pond itself, the lectrix, the pump, the filtration and the water feed, let some other poor bugger deal with that!

[DempseyLiverpool]

Thanks Tony, and Sean

[dig dug dan]

Unless you're doing them every week, ponds are right bloody pain in the arse. They seem to have a perverse determination to fail for the smallest, most insignificant of reasons.

And for that reason, ponds was always something we subbed out to a pond specialist.

I was quite happy to do the excavation, and then put in copings, connecting paths or, as you mention, floating steps stones, but the pond itself, the lectrix, the pump, the filtration and the water feed, let some other poor bugger deal with that!

Glad its not just me then!

[John156]

I've a done few and had problems like others but also had successes so if you do decide to go for it you should:

Assuming you're building a formal pool/pond with straight edges.


- concrete slab
- block work for the wall
- Underlay or you can use multiple layers of Terram
- butyll or greenseal liner. You can get box liners made up to your dimensions so that you don't get nasty awkward folds at the corners.
- you can build your piers for the stepping stones off the liner. It's a good idea to put a few extra layers of scrap liner under the piers for more protection.

The pumps and filters aren't difficult. It's stopping the thing leaking which is the the most challenging but I've found liners the best method.

Good luck if you go for it.

[DempseyLiverpool]

Cheers John, much appreciated.

[lemoncurd1702]

G4 pond sealer provides a clear plastic coating and is bullet proof. Waterproof in the render and fibres to prevent cracking.

[DempseyLiverpool]

Cheers mate I'll post up when it's done

[DNgroundworks]

I did one once and it wouldn't hold water, used a really expensive rubber liner

Anyway tried to fix it, failed again, then subbed it out to a specialist...

Bloody thing failed again.

Back filled and flagged over it