Common questions

Is clay a good lining for a pond?

Is clay a good lining for a pond?

Clay is a natural product and the traditional method of lining ponds. Clay is still the best and certainly the most Eco friendly material for lining garden wildlife ponds and water features. Clay is spread in layers over the excavation and soaked with water. Each layer is then repeatedly trampled to remove all the air.

What is a clay liner for a pond?

bentonite
Clay liner or GCLs are constructed of two geotextiles encapsulating a layer of low permeability sodium bentonite to create an impermeable liner for use in landfills and ponds.

Do you need a pond liner with clay?

Although clay lined ponds are the most natural looking, clay is not the best choice of impermeable barriers for backyard ponds. The clay itself is very heavy and can leak if not installed correctly.

What is a bentonite liner?

Bentotex® is a Geosynthetic Clay Liner (GCL). The powdered Bentonite clay is sandwiched between a woven and non woven geotextile, resulting in a very strong robust product. The Bentonite clay gives the Bentotex® Geosynthetic Clay Liner its unique ‘self-healing’ properties.

Can you buy clay to line a pond?

A simple, cost-effective and natural way to line your pond. Our puddling clay can be used for the construction of ponds, leats etc. on golf courses, fish farms, and is suitable for both for commercial and private use. It can also be used for sealing contaminated ground.

Can you build a pond without a liner?

Most backyard ponds are small and built with liners to simplify construction. Through careful design and site considerations, however, you can construct a pond of any size without a liner that will blend into the surrounding landscape.

Will a clay pond hold water?

Clay is very sticky and creates a leak proof barrier that will completely retain water. When soil contains sand, you will need to add a clay layer on the pond’s bottom to retain water. If your soil is a silt and clay mix, it will likely hold water well enough to create a pond.

What are clay liners made of?

CLAYS, ECONOMIC USES The liner is composed of a layer of montmorillonitic clay (normally sodium ‘bentonite’) sandwiched between two non-woven geotextiles or bonded to a geomembrane. The thickness of the clay liner is typically about 6 mm.

How much clay is needed to line a pond?

For loam soils with some clay content, 2 pounds per square foot may be adequate to seal the pond bottom. Sand and gravel pond bottoms will require 6 pounds per square foot or more of bentonite clay to seal the pond bottom.

How much does clay cost for a pond?

Pond Liner Costs by Material

Liner Material Cost per Square Foot Cost for 12×12 Pond
Rigid Plastic $0.75 $108
Bentonite Clay $1.15 $165
HDPE $0.62 $90
EPDM $0.85 $122

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Ruth Doyle