How to Build an Above Ground Pond with Blocks

A pond on the yard adds final touches to the perfection of beautification. Many of the lawn owners want to build ponds on their lawn but feel uncertainty with how they will do it, what does it cost, duration to make it and so many queries. Today, you will get the process of doing it broadly. Considering all of your needs, we will explain to you “How to Build an Above Ground Pond with Blocks.” We hope you will definitely start building an above-ground pond to increase the more beauty of your lawn soon undoubtedly.

Choose the Best Location

You have to choose a leveled location for the pond. A suitable location should be viewed from multiple places in the garden. Another thing is that the site should not be selected under the tree because the leaves of the tree will drop into the pond. Clean all the garbage from the construction area chosen of the pond. If you want to add a pump inside of it, need electricity. So, you have to be ensured about the mentioned issue.
There are some steps to execute it through the below procedure. Let’s read this article carefully and build up a beautiful pond on the lawn.

How to Build an Above Ground Pond with Blocks

Building above ground pond with blocks requires some steps. If you follow them, your task will be easy and systematic. Let’s find the steps.

Materials Needed

• Sand
• Blocks
• Wall cap
• Rocks
• Plastic liner
• Stones
• Tools Needed
• Measure tap
• Work gloves
• Shovel
• Pot
• String
• Leveler
• String
• Hammer

Step-1

Place twine or something like that for measuring the proper size or dimension of the pond, the tape may be a good option for measurement.

Step-2:

Add sand about 2 inches layer as per the outline of the pond. The sand will support the initial block on it.

Step-3:

Place the blocks for the first layer on the sand by touching the inner top corners.

Step-4:

Check each of the blocks is at the place with the required level.

Step-5:

Recheck the blocks for the first layer are leveled with a line or a string level. This will be perfect if you check it from several points of your proposed pond.

Step-6:

Put the blocks for the second layer on the top of the initial one placing with level.

Step-7:

Lining the inside is necessary. Roofing felt may help you with inside overlapping and outside overhanging. You will need two pieces of them.

Step-8:

When building two layers are appropriately done, add the third layer of the blocks on the second layer.

Step-9:

Pond liner to be placed now inside the pond on felt. Ensure that the coating should completely cover the blocks using 2 feet overlap at the bottom level.

Step-10:

Place the flat rocks around the ponds to cover the liner fully, and small gaps will be filled up by the smaller rocks, soil, or dirt for the natural look.

Step-11:

Give a plentiful of the soil on the liner. Keep stones to round the bottom of the coating and sides of the pond. Lay additional dirt and rocks to fill the gaps if required.

Step-12:

Water into the pond and fill up fully.

Step-13:

Now, landscape the outside of the area of the pond by planting grasses and local plants to make it greenly.

Build a Pond with Retaining Wall Blocks

Now, considering all of your needs, we will explain to you “How to Build a Pond with Retaining Wall Blocks.” We hope you will start building a pond to increase the more beauty of your lawn soon.
There are some steps to execute it through the below procedure. Let’s read the rest of this article carefully and build up a beautiful one on the lawn.

Tools and Supplies:

You will need the following items for building the pond.

• Hosepipe
• Chalk
• Shovel
• Measuring tape
• Hardware cloth
• Rope
• Laser Level
• Underlayment
• Pond Liner
• Retaining wall blocks
• Cement building blocks
• Small smooth stone
• Natural stone

Which One Will You Prefer For Flexible Pond Liner?

There are two types of flexible liners in which you can choose one for your pond. One is made of PVC, and another is EPDM made by synthetic rubber. PVC liners are suitable for small ponds, and EPDM is the best for the big. The liners are normally 12 x 15 feet in size. You can use this as customized depending on the shape and size of your pond. For the larger one, you can use it by joining two or more together with the same taping materials. Although the liner is the most important factor in building a pond, so you will never try to purchase a cheap one to save your money.

Guidelines/Tips for Building a Pond

• Get all the related permission to build your pond from the planning department for the legality.
• Before digging, notify your local utility locator services to get help you avoiding issues like gas, electricity, water, and so on.
• Choose the best time of the year to start digging your pond so that it will be easier for you to dig it when it is dry, and the soil is loose. Work when you get strong energy during the day and also wear warm, protected work clothes as this is a dirty job. After completing the task, you might through away your dirty clothes.
• Keep lots of time in your hand to do this work, considering the size of your pond. From the start digging soil with a shovel to fill the water in the pond, it might take time for a month or more.

Step-1: Layout the boundary

Scratch the outline on the ground of the pond. You can use a garden hose to mark the boundaries of it or can use chalk to mark around the hosepipe.
Most of the experts’ advice to build a pond with plants and fishes as it is a balanced one. A balanced pond is about fifty square feet minimum. The depth of the pond should be 18 to 24 inches as standard and up to 32 inches for the large one

Step-2: Dig out the Border

Now, you have the time to excavate the border of the pond. Use shovel to do this work in a narrow motion cut. Mark the boundaries clearly and take away the hose pipe from there.

Step-3: Excavate the middle

When the boundaries established, start for digging the soil from the center of the pond. Now, take out all the mud from the mentioned area. Remember that the soil should not take out as deeper than the thickness of the border.
Then, dig the soil down to the lowest position of the pond; the position locates near the middle of the pond. As a result, this will help you to establish the base-line for the depth of the pond. The other areas of the pond bottom should not be excavated deeper than that position. Now it is the moment to start digging out soil from the center to the sides.

Step-4: Create Tiers

Hence, the excavation is moving downward, and toward the pond’s sides, you have to create the flat-bottom tiers. Every tier will be high about 8 inches. Concrete blocks will be the ideal boundaries for these tiers.
A large pond requires about three tiers of 24 inches center depth, but the small pond needs two tiers. Maintain the tier’s walls short because one or two rocks will be added on these tiers as the later step.

Step-5: Strengthen the Walls with Retaining Wall Blocks

To strengthen, the boundaries of the pond lay the retaining wall blocks on the top of the concrete building blocks. This action requires where the site has loose soil and sandy. These blocks will help to retain the shape and height of the pond. It is easier to work with the small retaining wall blocks flexibility.

Step-6: Checking the Level

A laser level tool is the most important while building a pond. If you have a plan to process a bubble level or nothing at all, you need to buy a laser level. Because it’s critical to check tiers of the pond frequently to make sure that the placement is with perfect level and height.

Step-7: Lay Hardware Cloth

Lay the hardware cloth on the bottom of the pond to protect from burrowing animals. If there are burrowing animals in your yard, they might find it in your pond. Buy the hardware cloth of ¼ inch grid and place where necessary then give at least 2 inches of dirt on it.

Step-8: Measuring and Cutting the Liner

The pond liner is pricey. It will be wise to wait until digging work finishes to measure the liner. Go to purchase a liner and cut it accordingly to fit the pond.
To measure the pond, place one part of the rope 2 feet outside the boundary and run it down in the pond. Reach the bottom of every tier and other parts of the pond by finishing 2 feet outside the border. Now, measure the rope with a measuring tape to find out the actual dimension of the liner.
Apply for the parallel dimension of the pond then calculate the total amount of rope required for spanning the pond. As a result, your pond becomes regularly shaped. This measurement is sufficient enough to purchase a pond liner to cover.

Step-9: Install the Pond Liner

Put the folded liner on the bottom of the pond. Unfold it and hand over the sides of the pond. Force down the liner on the bottom of the pond. Make sure that it will not take overhand about 1 to 2 feet of the side of the pond. To protect the edges of the pond liner, use stones to grip it in position strongly.

Step-10: Attach Rocks to the Wall

Now, you have to cover up the sidewalls of the pond with natural stones. Use large and medium sizes of rocks first. Keep continuing to use rocks to build up the sides until the pond liner is visible. Use small stones when the whole walls are covered and then fill up the bottom of the pond.

Step-11: Water fillup

You can water in the pond with the hose pipe now. To fill the maximum level, it may take several hours. You can also add fishes and plants in your pond with the consultant. You can also be adding filtering types of equipment there if you wish.

By following the above methods, you can build a pond with retaining blocks. We hope you have got the entire system since you were looking for. Let’s start to develop your desired pond without a doubt.

Questions You May Ask

How do you build a above ground pond?

Answer: Using a water bin may be the easiest and cheapest way.

How do you build a block pond?

Answer: You will get all steps here.

Can a preformed pond be used above ground?

Answer: Yes, it is possible with some extensive efforts. Find more here.

Can you put concrete blocks in a pond?

Answer: Yes, you can put concrete blocks in your pond. You will need extra concern for a slightly higher PH. Goldfish is quite happy with that but for other species, you need care on water.

How do you waterproof a concrete pond?

Answer: You may paint the final layer with a pond sealer designed for concrete. You may use synthetic rubber or latex paint with water-resistant features.

How deep should a raised pond be?

Answer: Ideally a medium-sized pond may be 18-inch deep. If the pond size is larger enough, you may go for double the depth-36 inches.

How do you waterproof a brick pond?

Answer: Apply sealers to waterproof a brick pond. Sodium silicate-based, foaming polyurethane or bentonite clay-based sealer may help you in this regard.

Can you make a koi pond out of concrete?

Answer: Yes, you can and you are suggested. Concrete pond best suits koi pond by allowing you flexibility in design and durability.

How thick does concrete need to be for a pond?

Answer: Four to six inches of thickness serves well for concrete pond.

Can fish live in concrete ponds?

Answer: Yes, fish can live in concrete ponds. Concrete ponds are most common in urban areas for fish as it provides easy and low-cost water curing facilities. Find how to use a hedge trimmer, string trimmer, and garden tiller.

Finishing

Follow the above process and build up an above-ground pond on your ground to increase the beauty of your land and get a fresh environment with a green atmosphere. Watch the video below for more clarification.