How Do I Seal a Leaking Pond Membrane?

If your pond membrane is leaking there are three main ways to fix it: the blanket method, the mixed blanket method, and the Sprinkle Method. Once you decide on a method you will need to test your soil to determine what the application rate of your sealant needs to be.

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Testing the Pond's Soil

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Testing your soil is something that you must do to find out what kind of soil you have at the bottom of your pond. Take a can and perforate the bottom of it and then fill the bottom with about two inches of gravel. Cover the gravel with six inches of soil from the bottom of your pond and then tap it. Elevate the can so that the bottom is open and then fill the can with water.

The sealant you choose should have directions on how much should be used per square foot of soil on the bottom of your pond. Typically these application rates differ depending on what kind of soil you've used.

The Blanket Method

This is the most effective method for sealing your leaking pond membrane, but you will need to take more care when applying it. After you prepare the surface that needs to be sealed, remove between four and six inches of the soil at the bottom of the pond. Fill any deep crevices or holes with your sealant-the mixture should be one part sealant to five parts of soil, then smooth everything over with a drag or a roller. After that, cover the area with your sealant-make sure that the sealant layer is even and that there aren't any thin or bare spots. When the sealant is as even as you can get it to be, replace the soil you removed, but take care to not disturb your layer of sealant.

The Mixed Blanket Method

Prepare the area that you need to seal just like you did with the blanket method. If the soil is dry then you will need to add enough water to moisten it lightly and then disc or plow the bottom of the pond between four and twelve inches deep and then drag or roll the surface until the surface is smooth. When everything is smooth, apply your sealant in the correct amount. Mix the sealant with the to four to twelve inches of soil by hand raking, tilling or dicing until it has mixed uniformly, and then compact the bottom of the pond by tamping or rolling.

The Sprinkle Method

You should only use the sprinkle method when you can't drain the pond or if there is an isolated leak in which spotted treatment might be an alternative. This is the least effective method because the accurate and uniform application of the sealant is hard and because the bottom of the pond might not be clear of debris. Simply sprinkle the appropriate amount of sealant onto the water's surface and allow it to fall down into place and plug the leaks. The particles will be drawn to the leaks naturally and will repair the leaks without much effort on your part.

How Do I Seal a Leaking Pond Membrane?

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