When designing an artificial reservoir in its own area there are many questions that need to be solved correctly. One of them is waterproofing. You can, of course, try to do without it or use the mechanical version of the bottom finish, but in this case or the work will be either even more time-consuming, or it will not be possible to achieve a constant purity of the pond. That is why many designers and professional builders apply the optimal technology - the bottom covering with a special film. What it happens and what is the difference, you will learn from this article.

Why do you need a film for a pond?

Before buying a film for a pond, it will not be easy to understand what is still the benefit of its use. It is as follows:

• the ability to give any, even the most complicated geometric shape of the water;
• renigation and flowering of water excluded;
• for a long time, clear lines of the selected design of the artificial lake are saved;
• less water consumption, as it does not succify and does not absorb soil;
• effective barrier for insects and harmful microorganisms;
• ability to use on any basis - soil, concrete and stone thickets of pools, plastic and metal frame ponds;
• the correctly selected original shade or drawing on the film makes it possible to increase the aesthetic appeal of the entire pond;
• it is much easier to carry out water and plants in such a lake;
• high level of safety due to the effect of anti-slip film surface;
• at any time you can easily make reorganization or repair of the pond with your own hands with minimal costs of effort and time.

What is the film?

The construction and landscape design uses several variants of this material, but the most popular solutions are:

• pVC film for the pond;
• butyl rubber canvas.
  

  Important! The price of butyl rubber film for the pond is somewhat higher, but the usual PVC, although it costs little, also has a number of advantages. What they are concluded, see below.

Characteristics of PVC film

To create a waterproofing of an artificial water branch on a plot and pools, two-layer canvas with internal reinforcement are used. The top layer is processed by special chemical harmless to human means, which create the natural protection of water from population by pathological microorganisms.

PVC Film Parameters for Pond

1. Thickness - 0.5-0.8-1.0-1.2 mm. When choosing a thickness, follow the following rule: the deeper the bottom, the more thickness is suitable for high-quality protection.
2. Length - 25 and 50 meters. This indicator is standardized, so different manufacturers are not different.
3. Width - 2-4-6-8 meters. When buying, keep in mind that a broader web will provide a smaller amount of seams, and respectively saving the accompanying consumables and a higher tightness indicator. But to take such a canvas for a small pond is irrational - the price, the number of waste and remnants of the material does not correspond to the practical approach.

Specifications

PVC film has sufficiently high performance. If we talk about specific indicators, it is necessary to note such:

• stretching - 200%;
• refractory - class E;
• water permeability - at a pressure of 2 kPa;
• static strength - up to 20 kg / m.

Advantages of PVC film

To make the right choice of film for the pond waterproofing, read in advance with the advantages and disadvantages of each type. The polyvinyl chloride canvas distinguish the following advantages:

• environmental purity - at the heart of a high-quality raw material for a person, which makes it possible not only to decorate the pond by plants, but also to breed fish in it;
• the high level of resistance in mechanical exposure and the gap - it is not damaged when laying on stones, uneven surfaces, when germinating roots of plants planted near plants;
• the destruction and allocation of harmful substances under the influence of microorganisms is excluded;
• when combustion does not release toxic substances;
• available in the cold season, including in winter according to DIN 53363 - the threshold of stability to -50 C;
• excellent elasticity in combination with ease, which provides simplicity of laying, even with a complex reservoir configuration;
• excellent resistance to any chemical impact, including salts and chlorine;
• a big density than the water guarantees its dense fit along the bottom and eliminates the pop-up to the surface, even without additional fixation;
• wide design capabilities due to the diversity of the shades and patterns on the canvas;
• excellent resistance to ultraviolet;
• repellent effect for dirt and lime plates;
• the variable dimensions of the canvas make it possible to design artificial reservoirs of any area, configuration, depth.
• saving construction, as PVC film is both waterproofing and decormaterial.

Important! The service life of such a film is usually up to 10 years under warranty. With the neat operation of the reservoir and the timely proper care for it, this period is easily extended for another 5-10 years.

Montage rules

Installation of PVC film for the waterproofing of the pond is performed in 2 ways:

1. Using special glue to connect the seams.
2. By welding the edges of the canvas on the joints.

Important! One of the significant conditions - the conditions recommended by experts for laying weather:

• the air temperature is below +15;
• lack of natural precipitation.

If this rule fails to comply with this rule, the quality of the setting may noticeably deteriorate, and, accordingly, the overall life of the reservoir will become less.

Characteristics of butyl rubber film

Butyl accepted film for waterproofing the pond is more expensive material, but the price fully justifies himself. According to the strength characteristics, such a web is at times exceeds PVC film. In addition, it is very convenient to work with it - it is easily cut and glued.

Butyl rubber film is also made by a two-layer blade with reinforcement, which practically eliminates the likelihood of breakthrough and leakage during operation. In essence, it is the same tires, the basis of which is ethylene dien propylene, terpolymer.

Film parameters

At different manufacturers, the parameters of the material of this species can be varied. Standard options correspond to the following numbers:

• width - 1, 7-2.1-3.3-4.8-6.1-7.6-9.1-12.2-15.2 meters;
• thickness - 1.02; 1,14 mm;
• length - 15-30-45-61 meters.

Specifications

The most important distinctive characteristics that determine the advantages of this material and its advantages over PVC film are:

• stretching - 300-450%;
• operating temperatures - from -50c to 120s, short-term heating up to 250 ° C;
• possible contact with drinking water according to ANSI / NSF-61;
• the integrity and stability of the size of the web during the elongation - 100%;
• the ozone resistance and exposure to ultraviolet - not destroyed according to DIN 7864 and ASTM G 53-84 standards.

Advantages of rubber film

The advantages of this material are as follows:

• the maximum strength that provides stable preservation of the integrity of the canvas in any mechanical exposure - blows, pressure, stretching loads, punzes;
• the ability to carry out installation work at any time of the year with any weather;
• great for the arrangement of large ponds;
• convenient and easy to use;
• at the heart of environmentally friendly components, which makes it possible to use even for decoration of pools, reservoirs for breeding fish and plants;
• a wide range of operating temperatures, therefore suitable for organizing an artificial lake in any climatic strip;
• great for registration of the pond even on the stony ground, as it is absolutely resistant to the rupture;
• the possibility of combination with any materials - concrete, soil, wood, stone, metal;
• ideal for the maximum clear recreation of the reservoir lines according to the design project - the relief of the bottom and the slopes of any angle does not matter and do not create difficulties when laying the canvas;
• the features of the composition of the material completely exclude posture or destruction even with long-term contact with water;
• wide decorative possibilities, up to the imitation of finishes with various materials.
  

  Important! The service life of the butyl rubber film under the guarantee of any manufacturer is 25 years. In practice, it serves at least 50 years even in difficult and unfavorable conditions.

Installation of butyl rubber film for the pond

Laying this canvas is carried out by 2 methods:

1. With the use of special tape for waterproofing butyl rubber.
2. Using the adhesive solution to seal the seams.
   

   Important! Each of the options is available for mounting the waterproofing of the pond with their own hands and does not require specific equipment or professional skills.

Video

Review the video example, how to properly lay a film on the bottom of the pond to create a high-quality reservoir insulation on its site.

Conclusion

Both of the material described above are quite good. What exactly prefer is to solve only you. To make the right choice, repel from such criteria:

• sizes of the pond;
• requirements for the duration of operation;
• planning for reconstruction and expansion or change of the design and transfer of the pond in subsequent years;
• affordable budget.