| Good concrete pond construction means not | | | | should be done in one day, unless the pond is |
| taking shortcuts. Improper methods can lead to | | | | very large, and then it must be poured in sections. |
| more money spent on maintenance, repairs, or | | | | Pour cement in the bottom of the pool first, then |
| replacement than on the cost of the initial | | | | the sides. If shelves have been dug out, pour |
| construction. Since good concrete pond | | | | cement there, next. Finally, pour cement for the |
| construction equates to having one that lasts a | | | | top of the pond and for any coping that may be |
| lifetime or longer, follow these rules of thumb to | | | | involved. |
| get it right - the first time! | | | | After you have completed these first steps of |
| Keep in mind that for suitable concrete pond | | | | your concrete pond construction project, you |
| construction, you need to pour the concrete to a | | | | need to let the cement cure for several days |
| thickness of four to six inches. After deciding on | | | | under plastic. Treating with muriatic acid at this |
| the dimensions and outlining the area, all soil (and | | | | stage helps prevent high pH levels in water later, |
| rocks!) should then be dug out. Forms then need | | | | which benefits fish and plants. After the acid |
| to be built and placed where concrete is to be | | | | treatment, apply several coats of paint made for |
| poured, along with the proper placement of | | | | pools or masonry sealant, allowing each coat to |
| cut-to-fit reinforcement bars (rebar). | | | | dry thoroughly. |
| For digging out the area for concrete pond | | | | Concrete pond construction can be a true learning |
| construction, you will need shovels, picks, a | | | | experience. It's best to start with a smaller pond, |
| crowbar, and, of course, a wheelbarrow. Some | | | | then if you meet with success, you can then |
| other necessary items include a carpenter's level, | | | | move on to a larger project. But once you get |
| string, stakes, sheets of plastic, and a long | | | | the hang of concrete pond construction, there's |
| two-by-four. | | | | no limit to where you can go from there. So |
| Pouring the cement in concrete pond construction | | | | learn, build, and then build some more! |