A concrete pond makes your landscape look better.Whether you want a pond for aesthetic purposes, or for irrigation and swimming, building a concrete pond is a project that you can do yourself with the right equipment and a lot of sweat.Make sure to excavate the pond, pour concrete to the right thickness, and reinforce it with wire mesh in order to create a concrete pond that will last for years.
Step 1: The area where your pond will go should be clear.
Rocks and debris can be removed with a wheelbarrow.The roots of any trees or bushes that are near the sides of the pond will not grow through them.To make sure there are no utility lines in the area where you want your pond, you should check the construction plans for your house or contact the civil authorities.A pond can be found on level land away from trees or bushes.
Step 2: The shape of the pond can be made with marking paint or rope.
Use a spray can or bottle of marking paint to mark the outline.If you don't have marking paint, use a rope or cord to outline the pond.The size of your pond is up to you, just keep in mind that the bigger it is, the more work it will be to dig and pour the concrete.The excavation can be difficult if you have rocky soil.You can hire a crew or use a jackhammer.If you want to swim, a pond that is 25–30 ft long by 9.1 m wide is a good size, although smaller ponds can be used as well.A fish pond should be about 12 ft by 10 ft and hold up to 10 adult fish.
Step 3: You can dig the pond out with a shovel or a front-end loader.
You can dig small-scale ponds using a wheelbarrow and shovel.If the pond is too large to be excavated by hand, hire a tractor driver with a front-end loader.If you are planning on swimming in your pond and want to jump in, 5 ft is a good depth.A good size for a pond that you could dig out yourself is 5 ft by 8 ft and 2 ft deep.
Step 4: Slope the sides at a 45 degree angle.
To dig out the sides, use a shovel or front-end loader.It is easy to cover the sides in concrete with this angle.Remove any loose dirt from the bottom of the pool and pack the soil with your shovel or front-end loader when you are done excavating and sloping the sides.
Step 5: Beneath the lowest edge, dig a spillway 4–6 in.
The pond slopes naturally.Use a shovel to dig a channel 4–6 in (10–15 cm) deep, 6–8 in (15–20 cm), and at least 2 ft (0.61 m) long leading away from the side of the pond.If it is not obvious to the eye, place a level around the sides.To use water from your pond to irrigate your property, dig a channel towards a garden or plants.To add visual appeal, you can line the channel with river rocks.
Step 6: The pond should be lined with a heavy-gauge polythene sheet.
There is a plastic liner that is 0.75mm thick.The sides and base of the pond should be covered with a liner.To determine the length and width of liner that you need, double the depth of your pond and add this number to the width and length of the pond.You need a piece of plastic that is 14 ft by 13 ft if your pond is 10 ft and 2 ft deep.The plastic will act as a barrier and provide something for the concrete to grab onto.
Step 7: The concrete package has instructions for mixing concrete.
Put in the correct ratio of concrete to water by turning on your electric mixer.There are no dry spots to start pouring it if you wait until it is thoroughly mixed.To figure out how many bags of concrete you will need to complete the project, you can use an online concrete calculator.A small drum on wheels that tilts back and forth on an axis is a type of electric concrete mixer.The drum rotates when you plug it in and turn it on.If your pond is small and you don't need a lot of concrete, you can mix it in a wheelbarrow with a shovel.
Step 8: The sides and base have to be covered with 10 cm of concrete.
Work your way around the pond from one side to the other.Pour the mixed concrete onto the sides and base with a shovel until there is a 4 in (10 cm) layer covering all sides.If the concrete is too watery, it will run down the sides of the pond when you pour it on them.Reducing the amount of water in the mix is what you should do if you notice this happening.If you want to spread the concrete out without having to go into the pond, you can use a long rake with tape over the tips.If your pond is too deep to reach the bottom with a rake or shovel, you can carry buckets of concrete down to it.Start at one end of the pond and spread the concrete evenly with a shovel or rake, working backwards until you reach the other end and have covered the entire bottom.
Step 9: Chicken wire mesh can be put into the concrete.
2 in chicken wire mesh is all you need.If you want to overlap the wire, push it into the freshly poured concrete.There are large rolls of galvanised steel chicken wire mesh at a home improvement center.The mesh will help reinforce the concrete.Measure the side slopes and the bottom of the pool to figure out how much mesh you need to purchase.
Step 10: Put another layer of concrete on top of the wire mesh and smooth it with a trowel.
2 in of concrete can be poured over the chicken wire.To smooth it out, use a trowel.The recommended thickness for the concrete is 2 in.It's a good idea to have the concrete completely smoothed out by 2 hours.You can spread the concrete with a rake or broom before using a trowel.If the pond is too deep to cover the whole sides with a rake or broom, you can spread concrete from the bottom to the top with buckets.If you make your way up towards the sides of the pond, you can smooth out any footprints.
Step 11: Put plastic sheets over the pond and let it cure for a few days.
anchor the sheets to the pond with rocks or other heavy objects by spreading them out.Allow the concrete to dry for 3 days and then remove the sheets.If you want to filter the water for swimming or fish, you can install a pond filter system once the pond is cured.
Step 12: If you use the pond for fish, spray on a rubber liner to seal it.
Hold the can from the concrete, spray it on from top to bottom, and use a dark colored rubber liner.The lime in the concrete is harmful to fish.You can use a paint-on rubber liner.If you want to coat the concrete from top to bottom, you have to use a flat brush.