Materials

There are a variety of materials appropriate for the construction of water features.

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Installation seeking a natural appearance may use a native soil material if it is sufficiently
impermeable or a clay or flexible liner with nominal edge treatment. The more formal and
primarily urban installations could incorporate choices of concrete, stone, brick, and in case
of smaller installations wood, metal or fibreglass.

Native soil and clay

Mostly used for large ponds, lakes and reservoirs.

Concrete

Most widely used material for urban installations. It is durable, economical, reasonably
waterproof and amenable to a wide range of configurations, finishes and construction
techniques.

Stone

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Widely used and imparts richness and permanence compared to concrete. Granite is by far
the most common and appropriate stone for fountain use.stone used should be preferably dark
to enhance the water effect.

Stone used may be monolithic, cut, finished, naturally occurring boulders, polished finishes.
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Brick

Generally provides a finish intermediate to concrete and stone in terms of both cost and
aesthetics. It intergrates well with suroundings. Bricks requires sealing if unglazed bricks are
used.

Wood, Metal and Fibreglass

Wood absobs water and sealing of joints is very essential. They are simple to construct.
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Metal

Either cast or fabricated sheets is water proof and offers a richness.suitable metals include
bronze, brass, copper and stainless steel.

Fibreglass

It is water proof and can be coloured or filled with ground or crushed stone to suite the
surroundings.

Types of Ponds

Preformed ponds are usually made of strong plastic such as high density polythene or
fibreglass.
 They are available in a variety of standard forms.
A professional preformed pond installation is very simple to install. It involves digging the
hole, backfilling around the pond. The edge of the pond should be an inch or two above the

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surrounding ground to avoid surrounding surface run-off entering the pond and possibly
contaminating or flooding the pond. Two inches of sand should be placed in the bottom of the
excavation, as well as on the surface of shelf excavations. This requires a decision prior to
excavation.
Pre formed ponds will work well for fountains,

before any excavation is begun the prefomed pond is set in its proposed location and the
entire ground levels are checked. a common option to correct he level gradations is to use the
excavated soil for the portions of the perimeter that is not level. This I turn helps to
camouflage into the surrounding ground to achieve a natural appearance and tampering it
firmly is very important to avoid settling and loss of the level.

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once the excavation is completed, use a spirit level to verify the perfect levels. Clear away
any loose soil, rock or roots. Smooth a two inches sand cushion over the entire bottom and
tamping till the levels are maintained. Set the pond into excavation and check the levels of
the top edges. As the pond gets filled, gently backfill the sides with sand. Flush the loose sand
into the sides of the excavation so that backfilling and waterfilling are performed at about the
same level. Once the pond has been backfilled to the excavated level for the edge
reinforcement the top edge is perfectly levelled with concrete or layered of crushed stone.
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two ponds with a cross over

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