Best Pond Liners 2018 – Buyer’s Guide

The addition of a pond can take your property from being a mundane, boring place to one of tranquility and peaceful beauty.

Pond’s can also be helpful in growing vegetation thanks to their ability to utilize the hydroponic equipment needed to do so.

This project can also add value to your home and property, lending a unique and magical ambiance rather than just a plain, old backyard with grass and dirt.

The use of a quality pond liner will protect your investment in many ways.

From keeping the water inside to keeping rocks and roots out, this item is a necessity for any pond project. There are many different versions currently available made from different materials with a vast array of specifications.

We’ve demystified the world of pond liners and provided you with a buyer’s guide to help you sort through your options. We’ve also reviewed the most popular pond liners to save you time and money.

Selecting the Best Pond Liners 2018

1. Firestone EPDM Pond Liner : Best For Creatively Designed or Very Shallow Ponds

The Firestone EPDM pond liner arrives precut, so it’s perfect for anyone who is busy and on the go. Its versatility is demonstrated by its ability to work amazingly within a plethora of projects.

You can use this liner in ponds, fountains, water gardens, and so many other applications.

The Firestone liner is built to last, resisting tears and punctures beautifully.

2. Firestone W56PL452020 EPDM Rubber : Most Versatile Option

The Firestone W56PL452020 EPDM Rubber Pond Liner is an extremely versatile option.

This model is perfect for use in almost any type of pond, bog gardens, water gardens, fountain basins, cracked hard shell ponds, and much more.

This liner features a highly flexible membrane that’s also waterproof.

3. TotalPond Skins Pond Liner : Great Lightweight Option

The TotalPond Skins Pond Liner is a lightweight option, which makes it easy to handle.

This PVC liner has been engineered to weigh 30 percent less than other PVC liners while retaining supreme strength and flexibility thanks to it being weaved with strong, durable polyester.

It is an excellent choice for larger ponds and can accommodate capacities of up to 1,000 gallons of water.

4. Beckett Corporation 35-Gallon Preformed Pond Liner : Best for Those Individuals That Are New to Ponds

The Becket Corporation makes lining your pond easier than ever with their 35-gallon capacity preformed liner.

This plastic lining option is sturdy and durable.

Its preformed with a flat bottom, which provides stability for plant life and fish.

5. Aquanique Pond Skin Pond Liner : Best Lightweight Option for Ponds with Fish and Plant Life

The Aquanique Pond Skin Liner is a PVC based liner that is thinner than many of the liners crafted from PVC or EPDM.

It’s super flexible making it one of the easier liners to handle.

It has a durable mesh weave that aids in its resistance to punctures and tears.

6. Firestone PondGard PL45-1010 : Best Value For Your Money

The PondGard is yet another outstanding product from Firestone. This pond liner is crafted from rubber.

This fact makes it highly malleable, so it is terrific for creatively shaped ponds or even waterfalls.

It is also extremely durable.

7. Algreen Avonlea Rigid Preformed Pond Liner : Best for First Time Users Seeking a Small Pond

The Algreen Avonlea Rigid Preformed Pond Liner is a lovely choice for newbies to ponds.

It is a preformed liner, so you won’t need to stress over correct placements, corners, or curves.

This model accommodates up to 33 gallons of water and features a flat base to allow for easier placement of essential items such as a pump or stable plants.

8. Beckett Pond PVC Liner : Perfect for Larger Ponds

The Beckett Pond PVC Liner is sized at 17 feet by 12 feet, making it a wonderful choice for larger projects.

It can accommodate up to 945 gallons of water.

Made of PVC, it is on the thinner end of the spectrum at 20 ml so that it would be a great option for odd shapes.

9. Geotextile Underlayment : Best for Multitasking

The Geotextile Underlayment is actually a liner and underlayment all in one product.

This item adds a layer of cushion between your pond and any rocks or roots that may be hiding below.

It will reduce the wear and tear caused by these dangers as well as tears or punctures.

10. Aquascape EPDM 45 Mil Rubber Liner : Best for Ponds with Waterfalls or Streams

The Aquascape EPDM Rubber Liner provides excellent stretch while remaining resistant to punctures or tears.

It’s thin enough to be malleable yet protective enough to keep your pond looking serene year after year.

Its low upkeep means you can spend more time enjoying your pond and less time maintaining it.

Best Pond Liners – Buyer’s Guide

Whether you are constructing your first pond or your tenth, a liner is an essential part of the pond. The right liner will lend strength and integrity to your design.

With so many options and materials available, choosing the best one can get pretty confusing We’ve created this guide to help clarify the vast array of options available to you, so you are able to make an informed decision when purchasing a liner.

Do I Really Need to Purchase a Pond Liner?

During the excavation or hole digging phase of your pond project, you may be tempted to skip using a liner. You do not want to skip this imperative step. The pond liner is a waterproof fabric which will keep your pond filled with water, instead of it just leeching back into the earth. It also protects any fish or plants that have made their home there.

Most liners are attached sheets of fabrics. These joined areas, or “joints,” are sealed in the factory to ensure their strength and durability. Purchasing a liner meant strictly for ponds is an essential part of ensuring your pond stays beautiful, safe, and fresh for years and years to come.

Key Factors to Consider when Choosing a Pond Liner

There are several important factors to examine while searching for the perfect pond liner.

Exposure

The type of exposure your liner will be under is an important point to think about. Assessing whether your new liner will be exposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays is an excellent place to start. UV rays aren’t just harmful to our sensitive skin. In many cases, the liner will be covered with cement, so this isn’t as much of an issue. If you live in a particularly sunny area, this may be of more importance to you and your pond.

Environmentally Friendly

Some of the materials that liners are crafted from can be prone to disrupting the various forms of flora and fauna found within your pond’s ecosystem. PVC liners fall into this category. If you’ll be filling your pond with fish or flowers, closely examining the materials constituting the liner is crucial. Additionally, some liners contain arsenic, which is extremely deadly to plants and animals no matter how low the amount.

Flexibility

You need your liner to be flexible so that it can be properly shaped to align with your pond or similar water project. Depending on the materials that your liner is crafted from, it will have varying degrees of malleability. Some of the more popular pond shapes like kidney bean shaped or freeform will require a liner that is easy to manipulate into the curves and crevices presented.

What are the Different Materials Available?

Let’s take a closer look at the components that pond liners are crafted from.

Reinforced Polyethylene Pond Liners

Reinforced Polyethylene Pond Liners, RPEs, are quite possibly the most durable type of liner. They are extremely solid and resist punctures and tears beautifully. This version is thinner than others and can be welded together using heat methods. RPEs are able to last over 40 years, which is an extremely long time as it pertains to liner lifespans.

RPEs are easier to pack and install thanks to their thickness. They are also lighter. Due to their thin characteristic, you will need to utilize an underlayment. This version is also safe for plant and animal life and costs less than other materials.

On the downside they aren’t very resistant to UV rays. As such, RPEs are best used in areas that aren’t subjected to much direct sunlight. You may be able to avoid this with cement or extra soil.

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Pond Liners

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer, EPDM, is heavier making it more difficult to ship and handle. These liners are easily folded, especially around corners, which is due to its high flexibility degree. EPMS are safe for plants and animals as well.

Unlike RPEs, EPDMs cannot be heat welded together, but you can attach them with tape. This particular material is not very resistant to punctures, so you’ll need to use an underlayment with this version. They are extremely UV resistant though.

Polyvinyl Chloride Pond Liners

Polyvinyl Chloride, PVC, is heavier than RPE but slighter than EPDM liners. They are the least expensive version available. Some of these liners may contain trace elements such as arsenic, so they shouldn’t be used for fish or plant-filled ponds if they contain these kinds of ingredients.

PVC liners often have added in plasticizers to increase flexibility, which may tend to split and crack. This makes them a dangerous hazard to many different types of wildlife. They are fairly easy to lay down and fold and fall in the middle of the puncture resistance spectrum when compared to RPE liners and EPDM liners. They are the least UV resistance and do not last nearly as long as other versions which may also make them undesirable for many products.

Calculating the Right Amount of Liner Needed

To figure out the size of lining needed, you’ll just need to perform some simple math equations. You can use these calculations in inches, feet, yards, or even meters. These equations will also include the overlap needed for the top lip portion of the pond.

• Necessary Liner Length = Length of pond + 2(depth of pond) + 2
• Necessary Liner Width = Width of pond + 2(depth of pond) + 2

Understanding Underlays

Underlays are a crucial piece of the pond puzzle. They will be laid down before your insert your liner. The purpose of this item is to add protection from both above and below pressures that could harm the liner. From sharp stones that could puncture or tear the liner to the weight of the water filling the pond, underlining is an imperative part of ensuring your pond’s structural integrity.

Underlays will also guard against dangers such as plant roots which continue to grow sight unseen beneath your pond. These roots may not be an issue currently, but eventually, they can become a thorn in your pond’s side, literally. An efficient underlay will act as a barrier to prevent such problems.

Thinking about what type of pond you want is the first step in determining which lining will be the perfect fit. If you plan to have a peaceful Koi fish pond, steer away from any liners with dangerous trace elements like arsenic. If your pond is very large, using RPEs may be your best bet, since they are easily welded together using heat. Understanding your needs and comparing them with each type of liner should make it much easier to find the best liner for your pond. Don’t forget to leave us a comment with your thoughts and tips.