[Comfreypatch]

Anyone have any experience of buying pond liner. Have looked up various sites. Don't want to spend a fortune . Pond is for wildlife area on allotment. Using a grant so finances are an issue as there is plenty more to spend the money on. Some companies seem to say that if you don't buy an under liner the liner will not be guaranteed. I have so far lined mine with old carpet. The ground is very stony and was used a machanics garage so is full of rubbish, although I have dug out a lot!! Any advice would be helpful.

[Steveharford]

Butyl is best but v expensive. There are some very good pvc liners about and worth shopping around on tinternet. I have used sand and then carpet on average sized ponds with great success. On a large pond (swimming pool size) I have used industrial bubble wrap as an underlay.  That particular job survived being attacked with a fork from a fork lift truck which somehow dropped off while loading a piece of test equipment. That was a pvc liner.

[BabbyAnn]

I "inherited" a pond on my allotment plot in a very poor state and in need of a new liner which was easier than having to fill it in.  I got one from e-bay which was very cheap but did the job.  Just be aware that you will need a liner much bigger than you think.  In my case, I used old carpet and an old tarpaulin to reline the pond.

[sunshineband]

I bought our liner from Bradshaws and it has been trouble free for many years. Our local aquarium shop also sells it by the metre and it looks good quality.

As long as you line the hole with something so stones don't puncture it with the weight of the water and keep the edges covered so it is not in the sunshine, they last for at least ten years

[Hayleynotts]

I brought mine from b&q there only plastic but pretty thick and fairly cheap

[JayG]

I used the PVC liner with a matching piece of woven plastic 'underlay' (like horticultural fleece but thicker), both bought from the same Aquarium shop.

Although buying underlay adds to the cost, at least you won't invalidate any guarantee, and can be sure it won't rot away after a few years. Must be 10 years or more since I built my pond and I've had no leaks in that time.

Try to pick a warm day to fit it - you will still have a wrestling match on your hands but at least will have some chance of winning by the end of the bout! 

[Comfreypatch]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Have now bought liner and underlay, have old carpet already down, the ground is very stony so extra underneath will help. Liner arrived Monday. Itching to fit it but of course it is too cold! Also water butts are half frozen so no water! Hopefully the weather will improve in the next couple of weeks.