How To Repair Pond Liner
Patching Pond Liner Properly with a Seam Tape Kit could Save you the Trouble of Rebuilding your Water Feature..
There comes a time in the life of a pond when leaks happen. Whether it’s from an overlapped liner, roots pushing through, or a hole chewed from a rodent, it does not necessarily mean tearing everything out and starting over. Many patches and repairs can be made with a Seam Tape and Primer Kit.
Seaming Overlapped Liners in a Stream:
1. Ensure the liner is completely dry and free of mud and other debris.
a. Unleaded gasoline or rubbing alcohol is helpful for cleaning the liner of algae and calcium deposits before seaming.
2. Overlap the adjacent liners by a minimum of 4 inches.
a. Be sure the overlap allows water to flow over the seam like shingles on a roof.
3. Use a scrubber pad to apply primer to the top surfaces of the overlapped liners. Cover a minimum of 4 inches on both sides of the overlapped edge.
4. Allow the primer to become tacky. Test by touching the primed area with your finger. The primer should not string as you slide your finger across and away from the area.
5. Install the 6-inch seaming tape starting near you and moving away from your body. As you move forward, peel away the backing paper and hold it under your knee.
6. Use a roller to press the seam firmly together. Roll over the tape, along the seam as well as across the seam, to secure a good bond.
7. Examine the edges of the tape to be sure there are no bubbles or ruffled edges.
*It is always advisable to use one single piece of liner wherever possible to reduce the likelihood of leaks or liner separation.
Repairing Ruffled Edges or Gaps on a Seam or Patch:
1. Press firmly and squeeze the gap with your fingers, or attempt to roll the gap to the edge of the tape with the roller, or your palm.
2. If the gap forms a void all the way under the tape to the overlap’s edge; tape over and beyond the void with a separate patch.
a. Make sure to extend the tape and primer a minimum of 3 inches on all sides.
Removing a Bubble from a Tape Seam or Patch:
1. Attempt to press with your palm or roll the bubble out toward the edge of the tape.
2. If this is unsuccessful, put a small slice in the bubble to release the trapped air.
3. Cover the sliced hole with a separate patch, extending the tape and primer a minimum of 3 inches beyond the cut.
Patching a Hole in the Liner:
1. Be sure that the liner is clean and completely dry.
a. Unleaded gasoline is helpful for cleaning the liner of algae and calcium deposits before seaming.
2. Ensure that you have a flat surface to lay your patch.
a. Folds and wrinkles will not allow for a strong bond.
3. Cut your patch larger than the hole by a minimum of 3-4 inches on every side.
a. Rounded or diagonal corners are less likely to peel after application.
4. Use the scrubber pad to apply the primer to the liner; extending past the hole by a minimum of 4 inches all the way around.
5. Peel the backing from your patch and press the center of the patch over the hole and smooth the patch outward.
6. Roll the patch in all directions to secure a solid bond.
7. Ensure that there are no bubbles or ruffled edges.
*For best results, it is manufacturer recommended to let your patch or seam rest for 12 hours before running water over it.