ground type safe for liner?

[scapegoat]

ambiguous question!

so, we've got a space next to our house that i want to install a pondless waterfall... so same thing as a pond, just full of rocks.

however, the ground is questionable, to me. it looks like someone at some point used pebbles for aesthetics, so this area is literally a mix of dirt and stone. it would be a huge pain in the butt to dig out the area entirely.

now, would it be safe to follow the usual steps in putting in a pond? I am hopeful that i would end up digging down far to get past these damn pebbles, but i'm hoping i don't have to excavate the entire area.

though, the only flip side is that i could sift out the stones and use them in the pond liner instead of having to have some delivered.

[ua hua]

It's a good idea to use some type of underlayment under your liner first to keep sharp rocks from puncturing the liner. What thickness of liner are you going to use?

[dbosman@msu.edu]

You mention pebbles and then stones. To me that's a vast difference. In my experience pebbles are more dangerous to your liner than stones. Even the rigid liners can be damaged by a small sharp pebble.

The usual recommendation is two inches of sifted sand, tamped in place, under the liner.

Please trust me on this. You do NOT want to have a leaky pond or pool that needs repair or a rebuild because you didn't do the job right the first time.

[Diana]

I have used old carpeting under mine. Works really well except that it does not bend sharp corners (Neither does pond liner). But it does stay in place up the walls.

[scapegoat]

Originally Posted by dbosman@msu.edu

You mention pebbles and then stones. To me that's a vast difference. In my experience pebbles are more dangerous to your liner than stones. Even the rigid liners can be damaged by a small sharp pebble.

The usual recommendation is two inches of sifted sand, tamped in place, under the liner.

Please trust me on this. You do NOT want to have a leaky pond or pool that needs repair or a rebuild because you didn't do the job right the first time.

probably the thickest i can buy

Originally Posted by Diana

I have used old carpeting under mine. Works really well except that it does not bend sharp corners (Neither does pond liner). But it does stay in place up the walls.

not a bad idea... i've got a bunch of that green carpet crap people put outside, left here by the last owner.

[FIT BMX]

I used a ton of old carpet under my pond, and it worked great! Are ground is very rock here in KS, and I just used a swimming pool liner, which is not near as thick as EPDM!!!

[junko]

Originally Posted by Diana

I have used old carpeting under mine. Works really well except that it does not bend sharp corners (Neither does pond liner). But it does stay in place up the walls.

+1 for old carpet