My husband is building a small pond and water feature. After filling it with water, we can see the wrinkles in the liner. Any suggestions on how to smooth them out so that they are not noticable.
Thanks
alexa100
Liner
Is it actual wrinkles that did not get smoothed out or is where fabric needs to be folded to fit round spots or corners? How big is the pond? I imagine it is fairly cold up in PA so jumping in to fix them may not be possible. LOL I usually stay in the pond while I am filling to straighten as the water weight will hold the liner in place.
If the "wrinkles" are actually folds in the liner... places where you had to mold the liner to fit the pond shape...you will just have to live with them. You can try to hide them somewhat with lily pots etc. During the summer they wont be as noticeable with plants, algea etc.
I bought several bags of black smooth riverstone at Lowes for the bottom on mine. (I'm assuming you used black liner) It hides wrinkles and gives you a more natural enviroment for the fish to pick around, instead of your plants. I only have them one layer thick, I didn't want to lose too much depth.
Thank you all for your response.
It is a very small pond about 15 feet in diameter and 5 ft deep. There are a few folds ... but the wrinkling is all around them. Can we empty the pond and refill it while stretching the liner somehow to avoid the wrinkles.
Thanks
alexa100
If you have wrinkles around the folds, you normally have to gather up the folds, like pull them into long straight folds, smooth out the wrinkles then lay the folds over again. It is possible to get them smooth but it takes some work. Rounded spots want to pucker. I usually straighten from the bottom up and lay the fold to the left or right then if it goes up a step, fold above the step to the opposite direction to even out the slack. I don't know that emptying the pond would help unless they are all the way on the bottom. Of course you have to get in to get a really good grip on them and I think it is pretty darn cold right now. LOL
Yes, you can empty the pond and pull the liner as it fills, to even out the wrinkles....that's the time to do it, it's nearly impossible once filled.
But, the good news is, if you're willing to empty it, it's a very doable thing....
You should only be so lucky if those folds are still visable on the bottom in 6 months from now. My guess is they won't be. In addition as you add plants and other things they will be irrelevant. If you truly want an "anal" pond I suggest buying a preformed liner...but have fun installing it. I guess what I'm saying is that you are worrying a bit too much.. David
Thanks again everyone for your advise.
I'm the anal one, having seen puckered liners... yuck... but my husband likes things to look nice too.... and, per your suggestions, will wait until warmer weather to empty the pond and straighten it out.
alexa100
Giggling here. Welcome to DG alexa. Just realized your are newer. :) Oh, and 15x5 is not all that small. I just built my third (don't have three, did three different ones) and my latest is 10x15x4. When it warms up, I am building on some different height ones with water features. Have you taken any pics of yours? Will you need plants?
We don't have recent pics...hmmm... wait a minute... I think my husband might have some... I'll have to ask him... And YES... we will need plants. We have a small area around one of the ponds that we created space for bog plants.... small ones. Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks
alexa100
Welcome Alexa! When spring arrives you can bet someone will have plants to share! Its cold down here, wouldn't want to get into any water up your way!
I don't know any one that has a wrinkle-free liner, it is just the nature of the ground. Question....do you have an felt underlay under the liner? If not, I wouldn't recommend pulling it.
Sheila
Leave that liner right where it is. All You will do by pulling it out is screw things up. Everybody has wrinkles in EPDM lined ponds...even me LOL
You disguise them with plants and ornaments and structures as time goes by and they cease to exist
Yes, we do have felt under the liner. It's such a small pool that the wrinkles are really obvious. I think we're going refill the pond while working out the wrinkles and then plant. After that... what will be... will be !!! :)
Thanks for the advise.
alexa100