One of the most important stages of work when arranging a pond or pool in a summer cottage is good waterproofing. For this, various types of film are usually used, laying it directly on the bottom of the tank. To choose the right waterproofing material, you need to know what its varieties exist, as well as to study their characteristics. A description of the main types of film for the construction of the pond and their advantages, as well as step-by-step installation instructions and the rules for connecting the individual parts of the cover, are further described in the article.

Film specifications and requirements

Water film manufacturers offer a wide selection of modern products with various characteristics. You can get acquainted with the assortment in large specialized stores with goods for construction (for example, Leroy Merlin), where there is the opportunity to buy or order any covering material from American, Western and domestic suppliers.It is also possible to place a profitable order on the Internet, having studied all existing offers and indicating the delivery of the material selected from the catalog to your region of residence, and even get an excellent discount from the company. The pond waterproofing fabric has been used for many years, while being on the street even in winter, therefore it must meet certain requirements.

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When choosing a film, pay attention to the following characteristics of the material:

• absence of toxic components in the product, as well as elements that enter into a chemical reaction with other substances;
• low temperature resistance - the material must withstand frost up to –20 ...– 40 ° С, without cracking;
• maintaining shape in hot weather - many types of film do not wrinkle even when the temperature rises to + 50 ° C and above;
• high densityb - reduces the risk of damage and punctures;
• sufficient flexibility - necessary to create a reservoir of various shapes;
• suitable film thickness - it depends on the size of the reservoir, therefore, for depths of up to 0.75 m, up to 1.5 m and over 1.5 m, material with a thickness of 0.5 mm, 1 mm and 1.5 mm is selected, respectively;
• roll length and width - to calculate the required canvas size, you need to multiply the length (width) of the pond by its maximum depth, increased by 2 times, adding 60 cm from each edge for stock;
• material color - for decorative reservoirs, a black film is chosen that visually increases the depth, and when arranging a swimming pond, multi-colored waterproofing is used.

A special vinyl film with gravel can be laid on the waterproofing layer, giving the bottom a decorative appearance.

Types of materials for pond waterproofing

When arranging an artificial pond in a country house, several types of waterproofing materials are used in modern landscape design. They differ from each other not only in price, but also in technical characteristics, as well as durability of use. Each type of film has advantages and disadvantages that must be considered when choosing.

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Most often, materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene and synthetic rubber are used to equip ponds in the garden area. A separate type of film - reinforcing. It is made from all types of materials listed, and it contains a special reinforcing layer, which increases its strength, preventing the occurrence of mechanical damage.

PVC geomembrane

Such a film contains an inner reinforcing layer, and its outer surface is treated with harmless substances, which ensure the durability of the canvas in conditions of prolonged contact with water and microorganisms living in it. PVC coating is one of the most popular due to its low cost.

The main characteristics of the material:

• made from environmentally friendly raw materials, therefore not dangerous for fish and humans;
• the thickness of the canvas is from 0.5 to 1.2 mm, so it can be stacked on an uneven surface and stones;
• the length of the roll is from 25 to 50 m with a width of 2-8 m;
• can be used in conditions of low air temperature, withstanding frosts up to –50 ° С;
• resistant to chlorine and salts, has a repellent effect on dirt and limescale;
• fits snugly to the bottom, not requiring additional fixation;
• available in various colors (there are blue, cyan, yellow, black);
• the weight of 1 m² of coating is 0.5–1 kg;
• the stretching rate is 200%, therefore, such a film can be used to equip a pond of any shape;
• water permeability - at a pressure of 2 kPa;
• withstand load - up to 20 kg / m
• Warranty period of service - at least 10 years.

Video: glue the geomembrane film

Butyl rubber film

This rubber-based material is also called an EPDM membrane. Rubber film has a higher price compared to PVC waterproofing, but allows you to create a strong and durable cover that can be used to equip large, deep reservoirs. It consists of a two-layer sheet with reinforcement, which gives the film additional strength.

Important! If the butyl rubber is damaged, a complete replacement of the coating can be avoided. In this case, it is enough to seal the holes on the material with the help of special rubber mastic.

The main characteristics of the EPDM membrane:

• has an environmentally friendly composition, therefore it is compatible with the flora and fauna of the reservoir;
• the material is produced in rolls with a width of 1.7 to 15.2 m;
• weight of 1 m² of coating - about 1.5 kg;
• the stretching index is up to 450%, which makes the membrane very flexible and allows using it for reservoirs of any shape
• withstands temperatures from –50 ° С to + 150 ° С, and is also able to tolerate short-term heating up to + 250 ° С;
• the thickness of the membrane can be 0.8 and 1.14 mm;
• resistant to ultraviolet rays, therefore, does not fade in the sun;
• can be attached to any surface, including the vertical banks of the pond;
• the length of the film in a roll is from 15 to 61 m;
• the maximum allowable pressure is up to 2.5 kPa;
• due to its high density it can be used in combination with stone, metal, concrete;
• Warranty period is up to 25 years, but in practice the material retains its characteristics for 50 years.

Polyethylene

This material used to be often used for waterproofing a pond, but with the advent of PVC film and synthetic rubber, it lost popularity. Polyethylene waterproofing is the most inexpensive option, but significantly inferior to other types of coating in terms of operation and strength, although it may contain a thin reinforcing layer.

Important! It is recommended to use ordinary plastic film as a waterproofing material only for small or temporary reservoirs, since such a membrane will have to be changed regularly.

Main characteristics of ordinary polyethylene oilcloth:

• has a transparent texture, can be painted white or black;
• withstands temperatures from –60 ° С to + 50 ° С;
• the thickness of the material is from 0.5 to 1 mm;
• differs in low resistance to ultraviolet;
• produced in rolls 50 and 100 m long, and its width is 1-2 m;
• resistant to decay;
• may cause turbidity and "bloom" of water in the pond;
• It is particularly easy to install and replace due to its light weight;
• possesses low extensibility, therefore it is suitable only for the arrangement of ponds of simple geometric shape;
• Warranty period of use - up to 3 years.

To improve the properties of this brittle material, special substances are added to it - stabilizers. This made it possible to obtain new varieties of waterproofing cover - high density and low pressure polyethylene (HDPE), as well as low density and high pressure polyethylene (LDPE).

The main distinguishing qualities of the HDPE film:

• strong and tough;
• resistant to various chemicals (alkalis, acids);
• tolerates high temperatures well, but in the cold it becomes fragile;
• resistant to mechanical stress;
• It has a low ability to deform, so it can only be used on flat surfaces.

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• The main features of the LDPE film:
• soft, but has high elasticity;
• strong, resistant to deformation;
• withstands temperatures from –120 ° С to + 100 ° С;
• has a smooth, translucent structure;
• can be used on uneven surfaces, as well as on unstable ground.

Installation Rules

Independently covering the inside of a pond with a waterproofing film will not be difficult. All work is recommended to be carried out in dry weather at an air temperature of at least + 15 ° C so that the material lays well on the bottom surface and does not deform from the cold.

Step-by-step installation instructions:

1. Level the surface of the pit dug under the pond. Tamp down its bottom and walls.
2. Calculate what size the film should have. Prepare appropriate cuts, determining the pattern of their location in the pit.
3. Cover the recess with a substrate using geotextiles. The edges of the coating should protrude beyond the boundaries of the pit by about 50 cm.
4. Lay the waterproofing material at the bottom of the future pond. Spread the folds, and bring the edges out of the pit.
5. In the presence of several component parts, connect them using special means.
6. Lay sand, gravel on the surface of the film, large stones can be placed in the corners. Perform planting.
7. Fill the pond with water, pouring it with a hose into the central part of the pit. If necessary, tighten the edges of the waterproofing material again.
8. To fix the edges brought ashore by means of special clips and hairpins.
9. Decorate the shore so that the edges of the waterproofing material are invisible. You can use tiles, stones, gravel, coconut mats, as well as a layer of turf.

Video: Step-by-step installation of a film with your own hands

How to glue a film

When arranging a pond, its dimensions must be taken into account in order to prepare the appropriate piece of waterproofing material. But if the area or depth of the pond is large enough, then cutting out a whole web from the film roll will not work. In this case, prepare several separate parts that are interconnected in various ways.

Important! So that the connecting seam on the film does not disperse, its surface is rolled across, and then along the silicone roller. After this, the junction is leveled and treated with sealant.

You can glue the waterproofing film with the help of such devices:

• double-sided adhesive tape - connecting surfaces are pre-treated with a primer to improve the tightness of the connection;
• mounting glue - it contains neopron, so it provides a reliable connection of the layers of all types of film to each other;
• special glue for PVC cloths - it is designed specifically for use in conditions of constant contact with water, therefore it provides a reliable connection;
• adhesive-sealant for PVC - before using it, you must carefully clean the edges of the joints from contamination;
• apparatus for welding - allows you to reliably connect soft surfaces to each other due to exposure to high temperature.

In order to independently cover the bottom of the pond with a film, you will need to make some efforts and spend a little time. Using the recommendations listed in the article, you can choose the most suitable material and properly fix it in the inner part of the pond, getting a reliable waterproofing coating that will last a long time.