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Example: If you have a 20 foot long x 10 foot wide pond that is 6 feet deep at the deepest point, the calculation would look like this:

20 (width) + 6 (depth) + 6 (depth) + 2 (overlap) = 34 feet in length minimum membrane liner width size required according to the pond liner calculator.

10 (length) + 6 (depth) + 6 (depth) + 2 (overlap) = 24 feet in width minimum membrane liner width size required according to the pond liner calculator.

In this example you would need a liner at least 34' x 24'...unless you have a custom cutting facility nearby you may need to buy a standard sized roll. Many manufacturers offer standard rolls of 45 MIL, 30 MIL and 20 MIL liner at low-cost.

Remember it can be much cheaper to modify your pond plans to accommodate a standard liner roll size. In the above example a 30 foot by 30 foot liner can be bought for 15% less than a 34 foot by 24 foot custom piece! Be flexible...that's what pond life is all about!

Don't forget to add whatever you will need to cover the waterfall spillway if your design calls for that. You can use scrap or leftover pieces for this, but just be sure you have enough left to do the job you've intended. As my Bass fishing buddy Jared said to me one day as we drifted into the shoreline reeds, pond liner is a bit like Budweiser...it's better to have a bit left at the end of the game instead of running out before the end of the fourth quarter!

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Here's a vocabulary list of terms that will come in handy when talking about liner:

ML - Thickness of pond liners are shown in mils. 1 ml equals 1/1000 of an inch or 1/40 of a millimeter. A 30 ml EPDM rubber liner is a good all-around choice for smaller freeform ponds with a lot of twists and turns, especially if you are on a tight budget. It is flexible and easy to handle. For larger ponds with rubber liners, 40 ml and even 45 ml will work well and last for years. Synthetic plastic liners are usually sold in 20-40 mil thickness for home use. 40 is better but 20 or 30 may be just fine in some instances.

EPDM - Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer: This is an industrial grade rubber available in varying thickens, and is the best bet for most all pond installations, but is also the most expensive option. It is flexible and easy to work with, and conforms nicely even when twists and turns are involved in the pond installation.

HDPE - High density polyethylene - This is a heavy duty synthetic plastic liner sold in 20-40 ml and up thickens for home pond use. It is a bit less expensive than rubber liner, molds nicely to tight corners, and usually comes with a 20 year guarantee. In some situations, especially large ponds that need to be done economically, this is a good choice.

PVC - Poly Vinyl Chloride: Synthetic plastic liner. This is a budget liner and is the one that you will probably find at the local home center. It usually comes in 20-40 ml thickens and will mold nicely around twists and curves. PVC liners come with a 10-20 year warranty for perfect conditions, but are definitely not as durable as rubber or even HDPE.

Fish Safe - Always be sure that the pond liner you buy has a "fish safe" guarantee. The manufacturing process for fish safe pond liners is different than for other uses, and some liners that at first glance look like they could work well in a pond will emit gasses and chemicals that are fatal to fish. For instance, if you know someone who does roofing work, they might come across some roofing liner that looks like it would work for your pond. Do not use this, because it will almost surely kill anything you put in that pond.

One thing to remember is that the heavy-duty membrane is heavy stuff! Large pieces need to be lifted by several people or by machines. Even a small 10 x 10 foot piece of 45 MIL membrane can really buckle the knees so be prepared to carry the weight...it's always best to have a few well-fed friends on-site to help haul the liner from the UPS delivery van down to the pond location!!

Cheap pond liner is perfect for building a pond. It allows the pond owner to create ponds of various shapes and depths. Sometime, when it comes to small backyard ponds I often prefer to use the pre-molded ponds instead of using an EPDM Firestone 45 Mil Liner...I dunno...it just works great to use a ready-made pond in the small scale.

I've installed many of those hard shell ponds and they are fairly easy to install except for maybe some issue with leveling things out after you've dug the pond hole. For large ponds over 8 x 10 there really isn't an option for a molded pond so a liner is the only way to go. Many complete pond kits on the market include a large piece of pond liner along with the skimmer and filter falls.

When it comes to larger ponds I almost exclusively use the 45 mil fish-safe pond liner. After 2010 Firestone, one of the more familiar manufacturers, switched to a 40 mil thickness liner which is now the standard for landscapers and pond builders although 45 mil is still available. Unless you are using a molded plastic formed pond or are digging or excavating a large natural earth pond in blue clay then you will likely need to use a pond liner.

A pond liner is basically a resistant and watertight membrane that keeps the water in your pond. Pond liners can be the most expensive piece of the initial pond build so make sure you measure twice and order once because the planning of your pond is the key to success!

After you have done the initial layout of your pond and maybe even after you have sharpened your shovels and started digging the shape of your pond out of the front lawn you should stop and do some simple calculations to figure the size of the liner you will need.

Establish the size of the liner before going to far in to your planning as the importance of correct sizing when using a membrane cannot be overstated. When a liner is costing over $1.50 per square foot you want to be very careful before you order the sheet of EPDM that is 380 square feet only to discover you needed a piece that is 780 square feet! I've been there and it's a long way back!!

So we'll assume that you will be requiring a pond liner which is also called a membrane. Smaller basins and backyard ponds only require a lightweight material.

We use a PVC, polyvinyl chlorine, membrane that will resist frost and ultraviolet light. Sunlight will damage cheap materials so it is best to ensure your membrane has this protective feature, most do but you should ask your supplier.

Most 20 mil membrane should cost around $1 per square foot and can be bought in standard sized rolls or get a custom size piece cut at your local garden supply store as most such retailers carry this and the 35 mil liner that is slightly thicker and can buy for $1.50 per foot. The 20 mil and 35 mil materials should come with a 20 year warranty if you place a geo-textile protective barrier under and on top of the liner.

There is a 45 mil EPDM, ethylene-propylene-diene-terpolymer, heavy -duty membrane that is available and we often use this strong and puncture resistant material for waterfalls and streams between two basins.

It can cost from $0.80 - $1.50 per square foot. Using a thicker material will reduce the risk of a breech or puncture which could result in you're fixing a leaky pond. Luckily, these membranes can be repaired and sealing foam is available to help with sealing a pond.

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When looking at pond liner there are various thickness and strengths which resist tearing and puncturing to a lesser or greater degree. A pond liner, if installed in sharp rocky terrain may need a geo-textile covering and a sand underlay in order to prevent any sharp edges from causing a hole that may leak in the future. The 45 MIL liner is the industry standard and there are a few brands and manufacturers and as long as the thickness is guaranteed to be the 45 MIL then the only difference you need to consider is price.

EPDM Liners like the omnipresent PondGard by Firestone® is ideal for most backyard ponds and can be found in many local garden supply stores, the Firestone® PondGard 45-mil EPDM liner is the liner of choice for many do-it-yourself type of pond builder as well as professional contractors who need reliability and a long -life product and this rubber compound fits the bill. Extremely flexible, it is easy to work with and will stretch to conform to a pond's features. It is completely UV-resistant and will hold up well in direct sunlight. Carries a Firestone® 20-year warranty.

We All Want The Cheapest Pond Liner
When looking at pond liner there are various thickness and strengths which resist tearing and puncturing to a lesser or greater degree. A pond liner, if installed in sharp rocky terrain may need a geo-textile covering and a sand underlay in order to prevent any sharp edges from causing a hole that may leak in the future. The 45 MIL liner is the industry standard and there are a few brands and manufacturers and as long as the thickness is guaranteed to be the 45 MIL then the only difference you need to consider is price.

EPDM Liners like the omnipresent PondGard by Firestone® is ideal for most backyard ponds and can be found in many local garden supply stores, the Firestone® PondGard 45-mil EPDM liner is the liner of choice for many do-it-yourself type of pond builder as well as professional contractors who need reliability and a long -life product and this rubber compound fits the bill. Extremely flexible, it is easy to work with and will stretch to conform to a pond's features. It is completely UV-resistant and will hold up well in direct sunlight. Carries a Firestone® 20-year warranty.

The EPDM liners can usually be bought for anywhere from $0.70 per square foot to $1.60 per square foot depending on the size and shape of the piece. Custom pieces cost more but standard sizes exist which can cost less per square foot.

The ultimate in pond liners are the EPDM Linerthat is made of fish-grade synthetic rubber (ethylene propylene diene monomer). When used as a liner for tanks or ponds, the stretchability of this premium membrane will be appreciated. This heavier and more user-friendly than either PVC or polyethylene liners as well as the most resistant and durable pond membrane on the market.

Vulcanized seams are guaranteed for the life of the liner. Sold in flat sheets only. The surface of the liner has been dusted with a light talc powder to improve handling and storage, so be sure to rinse thoroughly before adding fish. The actual weight is approximately 30 lbs per 100 ft². These liners ship direct from the factory so you are guaranteed low costs. The SweetH20® Custom EPDM Liner comes in standard roll lengths of 50' (priced below). The roll widths are 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50'. All dimensions ±4". Made in USA. 100' long rolls are also available,

Unless it is a fairly small project or if the contractor or builder knows exactly what they are doing we rarely use the 30 MIL liner or membrane. Although it can be implicated in a successful build this PVC (Vinyl) Liner, 30 mil that is usually specially-formulated, food-grade PVC material that is 30 mil thick yet remains pliable in cold weather can sometimes be a disappointment if extreme conditions are expected. In most fabrications of this thin pond liner all seams are overlapped and heat welded for strength. Actual weight is approximately .2 lbs/ft2. All sizes are "nominal" and may vary by ±3". Vinyl is easy to repair with vinyl repair kits and most of the liner of this caliber is, of course, made in the USA.

Another thing to ask yourself when building a pond or buying a liner is : Am I Cheap? Go on...ask yourself....are you cheap? Once upon a time I built a small pond on my property, nothing big, just a small pond about 800 square feet and I thought I knew better and checked out the different pond liner materials and I put this cheap plastic liner that was guaranteed for 10 years in my new pond, and guess what? Everything was fine for 7 years but then I started noticing some extreme pond liner degradation around the edges. As much as I ignored the problem I knew that all my landscaping and plantings and filters would have to be removed and I'd have to start again...all because I wanted to save $150 in pond liner! I now had to literally rebuild the whole pond because of a cheap streak running down my planning ledger!. Bad mistake.

Now I make sure my pond liner is guaranteed for 20 years minimum so I don't have to consider a rebuild every 10 years . If you have a store nearby that specializes in ponds supplies, buy your liner from there and if they are knowledgeable and respond to your questions they will sell you a quality liner if you ask for it.

Some of the big home garden supply outlets such as Home Depot or Lowes will often not have the highest quality liners available, as these all-in-one centers are geared towards smaller pond-system installations. If your pond project is a smaller one that's not too involved and budget is a factor, then a 20 or 30 mil liner from the Home Depot or True Value Hardware may be adequate for your needs.

Compare & Pricing
When comparing liners it is a good idea to look for forums and reviews that discuss the pros and cons of various systems. Since the principals of aeration are scientific and many companies offer products that do basically the same thing to various degrees of efficiency then it is up to us as consumers to use our due-diligence before buying a pond aerator. To compare prices with our recommended systems we have grouped some of the more popular bottom-diffuser aerator brands together for comparison with our best aerator systems.

Pond Liners & Geotextiles for Canadian Ponds
We only sell fish-grade 45 mil EPDM pond liners from Firestone and Carlisle. They are available in 200 different standard and roll sizes. We also supply geotextile fabric underlay in a variety of dimensions, as well as a full selection of seaming accessories. 45 mil EPDM Pond Liners 45 mil EPDM Pond Liners PondGard Details Videos View step-by-step videos of the most common PondGard installation details or download a printed version of the same steps. Important Pond liners are not suitable for or approved for roofing applications. If you are measuring off a completed excavation, use a flexible measuring tape or a rope that completely conforms to the contours of the excavation. To determine the full length of liner required, run the tape or rope down into the pond, exactly following the contours of the excavation, across all the ledges, to the bottom of the pond, and back out the other side. Then add at least 2 feet or 60 cm (minimum 1 foot or 30 cm per side) to allow for sufficient liner overlap outside of the pond. Use the same method to determine the width of the liner. Be sure to measure across the maximum length and width and at right angles to each other. Example Using one of the above formulas and including a minimum liner overlap of 2 feet (60 cm) for both length and width, you determine a required liner size of 19' x 23'. Now all you have to do is select from either Firestone or Carlisle and look for a suitable size. In this case, the only suitable liner size is 20' x 25'. You can find more information on this and other subjects on our Pond Planner page. Available in at:

Pond Liners & Water Garden Liners
Pond Liner, Pondliners, Water Garden Liners, Garden Pool Liners, Firestone Pond Liners, PondGard Liners Our discounted pond liners, water garden liners and pool liners are fish and frog safe, highly flexible and remain flexible in extreme temperatures from -40°F to +175°F. They are weather and UV resistant and will not get brittle with age. They have a 20 year manufacturer's warranty. These pond liners are usually shipped next day via UPS or Motor Freight. Please inquire with size of pond liner, city, state and zip code for a price on S&H. Large pond liners above 125 lbs. are delivered by motor freight and are a tailgate delivery. The pond liners over 125 lbs. come on a large roll like a roll of carpeting. A tailgate delivery is where the trucking company will bring it to a place of business or residence and it's up to the customer to get it off the truck. Some areas handle this differently and may have equipment to get it off the truck during delivery. Additional residential deliveries may apply. Be sure to include correct address and daytime phone number that you can be reached when placing your order so the trucking company can contact you (if they need to) in order to deliver the product to you. Some areas require you to be there to sign for the delivery. Save $$$ with our 45 mil pond liners! Buy by the roll and save! Many sizes to choose from! (Why pay over $1.25 per square foot at your local garden center when you can buy it here at nearly half the price!)
Available at: www.pondsolutions.com

Flexible Pond Liners at World of Water - worldofwater.com
Oasis: Aqua Teichfolie available off the roll. Stephens: Pre Packed Aqua Plan Pond Liner. To buy now click here. Firestone: Heavy Duty rubber liner 1mm thick. To buy now click here. Underlay: Aquashield the ultimate protection for you liner against sharp stones and roots. To buy now click here. Preformed Pond Liners... Pre-formed ponds are great for smaller areas, where forming a shape using a flexible pond liner would create numerous folds which could look unsightly. There are many different installation techniques from a sunken informal finish to a raised formal pool. An informally shaped pre-formed pond is an ideal habitat for plenty of wildlife and plants along with a few fish. The edging can be laid informally or formally depending on the desired finished effect., Basic Rules for Pre-formed Pools Never position a pool in a area where there is a high water table or flash flooding. Pre-formed pools must have all round support, ensure you have created a sand bed for the pool to sit on and pack sand down between the excavation and the pool sides. Take care over ensuring your pool is level (see Level Edging) Allow the filled pond to settle for at least a week, then recheck levels before placing any edging around the pool. With raised pre-formed ponds it is best to use a dry sand / cement mix (6/1 mix) between the pool’s side and supporting walls. Pre Formed Ponds at World of Water... Atlantis: A range of glass fibre ponds from 91 litres to 4500litres Lotus: Made from high density polyethylene ponds from 75 litres to 1365 litres Preformed ponds only available from our stores... Delivery service available please check with local store for details. Available at: www.worldofwater.com

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