Top Pond Liner Review Guide For 2023-2024

February 15, 2023

In this Top Pond Liner Review Guide For 2023-2024, we’ll be talking about the 5 top pond liners that you can use for your garden pond. However, firstly we’re going to talk a little about pond liners, the different types, materials and sizes that you might find, and which one is suitable for certain types of usage. Either way, we’re sure that you’ll be confident knowing which pond liner is suitable for your specific needs after reading this Top Pond Liner Review Guide For 2023-2024. So, let’s begin!

What is a Pond Liner:

Pond Liners are water-tight, impervious geomembranes that are used for the reservation and withholding of water in a public or garden pond. They are commonly used and placed over an underlayment, helping to prevent damage and keep the geomembrane in optimum condition.

Types of Pond Liners:

There are several different types of pond liner material, the most common include EPDM, RPE and PVC liners. All of these have unique advantages and disadvantages, and the ideal type for you can be determined by your applicational usage. So let’s talk about each of the benefits and flaws:

EPDM/Rubber Liner :

Advantage:

Highly flexible, therefore suitable for very compact shaping, versatile for 90-degree angles.

Disadvantages:

Slightly softer than RPE liner, and requires pond underlayment to be installed before placing. Although once pond underlayment is installed, this greatly compensates for the softer material density.

PVC Liner :

Advantage:

Slightly stronger than EPDM liner, although this is not a general rule and may vary from brand to brand.

Disadvantages:

Not as flexible as EPDM pond liner

RPE Liner :

Advantage:

Doesn’t require pond underlayment
Lightweight

Disadvantages:

Not as flexible as EPDM
Not as commonly used or found

Pond Liner Sizes:

Pond Liners are made in a range of different sizes to help accommodate for different tastes/requirements for their garden pond creation. They usually begin around 5 x 5 feet (small pond liners), but can be found leading all the way up to 35 x 35 feet (large pond liners).

We’ve linked to all of the different sizes of pond liners that we’ve featured in this article, making the process quick and simple for those who know their liner size and dimension requirements.

Installation of Pond Liner:

We’ve featured all of the necessary steps for you to take, to help ensure a successful liner installation; So let’s get to it!

Do some research (potentially call your local council surrounding permission and whether or not there are pipes or obstructions below your garden, that would prevent you from installing a pond.

If everything is fine, get the appropriate equipment for your installation, this includes a rope, shovel, hose, and a horizontal measuring leveler.

Pick a level location in your garden where you would like your pond to be. Bear in mind that a partially shaded location is more ideal, to help keep your fish cool and prevent the growth of algae within the pond; For more information on controlling pond algae, Check out our article on how to control algae in a pond.

Design your water-garden on a detailed plan, with ideas about the size, shape, and depth; The depth can be variable, with certain parts being deeper than others, although bear in mind that this will dictate the required liner size. Also, keep in mind that most ponds have plant shelves that are 9-12 inches in size.

Begin digging your pond

Backyard pond liners are usually made from plastics/rubber, and therefore the main vulnerability for these liners is abrasion caused by sharp objects such as jagged-edged rocks and stones. Therefore it’s important to make sure that the area directly below where the liner will be placed is smooth and rid of any potential piercing objects,

Place a layer (2-3 inches) of sand over this area of ground will ensure that necessary steps have been made to reduce the risk of the liner being damaged. Alternatively, you can use pond underlayment material instead of sand.

Set the pond liner in the pond, and place some rounded rocks within the liner to keep it in place. If you’re adding a rock waterfall on the outside, you can add this now.

Begin filling the pond with water, and smooth out the pond liner if any major material wrinkles start to form.

Setup your pond pump, but do not plug in just yet (for solar pond pumps, place the UV panels out of direct sunlight for now), and either attach the outlet hose if you’re using it for your waterfall (Find best-selling Rock Waterfalls on Amazon), or attach the fountain head attachments which is usually included within the pump kit.

As the pond is filled, use decorative rocks to place along the outside of the liner, helping to secure it’s position further. Then trim the excess pond liner.

Plug in your pond pump to a GFCI-approved outdoor power outlet, or for solar pond pumps, place the UV panels in direct sunlight to begin the water flow and aeration.

Add fish and aquatic plants to the pond/koi pond or water garden if you so desire.

POND BOSS 032287 Pvc10X13 Pond Skins Liner, 10 13-Feet

Best for Garden Pond – Due to the recent online positive reviews of this pond liner, it is a way to explore new and affordable pond liners. This pond liner from pond boss comes in various sizes for various types of ponds. This product is very sturdy due to the fact that it is very thick, it can take a lot of roughing up without getting spoilt. Although they are very thick, they are made to weigh very light and they are made from a strong polyester weave which is combined with PVC to get this lovely combination. This means they would weigh 30% less than the traditional 20-millimeter liner but also as strong as it.

This pond liner is safe for the environment and it contains no toxic chemicals that would hinder the growth of your pond bacteria; this helps create the perfect home for your pond plants and fishes.

When buying this product, I suggest purchasig an underlayment as well which you can spread before you install this liner. This helps prevents further damages.

Product Details:

Durable Pond Liner
Safe For Fish
Easy To Install
Requires Traditional Pvc Polymers

Pros:

The thickness measures about 45 millimeters.
It is very easy to set up.
It is resistant to UV rays.
It is safe for the environment.
It comes with a 20-year warranty.

Cons:

It needs an underlayment for protection.

Our Opinion:

This pond boss liner is one of the best types of liners you can come across. It is affordable, durable, and comes with about 20 years of warranty. It is safe for your pond so you have no worries. I recommend it.

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AQUANIQUE Pond Skin Pond Liner, 13 by 20-Feet

Best for Koi – Measuring about 13 x 20 feet, this pond liner from Aquanique is one that is suitable and needed for larger types of ponds that hold up to 1200 gallons of water. It is made entirely out of PVC and it has one of the least thickness you can find on the list, 14.5 miles. Due to these attributes, it is very light in weight and very easy to install; both these features get sacrificed for its durability. Although it also offers some level of durability too.

This pond liner is protection oriented, it is totally UV resistant meaning it can’t be destroyed by the harsh conditions of the sun. The durability of this pond liner is at least prominent, it has a polyester weave which is placed within the layers of the PVC materials it was made with. It is also environmentally safe, the surface has a texture that helps promote the growth of bacteria thus providing a balanced ecosystem within the pond. The only disadvantage when it comes to this aquanique liner is that during installation, due to the fact it is very thin, it would be proven to be hard getting wrinkles out of it.

Product Details:

The 13 x 20 ft. PVC Pond Liner is ideal for large ponds up to 1,200 gallons, approximately 9 x 16 x 1.5 ft.
The 14.5-mil PVC Pond Liner is lightweight, ultra-durable, and easy to handle.
Our PVC liners are UV and puncture resistant, ensuring many years of continued use.
aquanique liners are reinforced with a strong polyester weave placed between the layers of PVC.
aquanique Pond Skins Pond Liners have a textured surface to promote positive bacteria growth providing just the right foundation for an environmentally balanced habitat.

Pros:

It is suitable for large ponds.
It is very light in weight and a bit durable.
It is resistant to UV rays.
It has a textured surface that promotes bacterial growth.
It is easy to work with.

Cons:

It is too thin therefore it would be hard to get the wrinkles out.

Our Opinion:

Our team loved this product because it has an led eco-friendly design that compliments the pond you are going to use it on. This product was made with fauna and flora in mind. The textured surface can support organisms and aquatic life. It can also be used in koi ponds as well, I recommend this product.

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TotalPond pond skins

Best PVC Pond Liner – If you want to build a medium-sized fountain or a pond, this product from TotalPond is one of the best products you can get. It is a high-quality liner that is made of PVC integrated with a polyester weave amongst the layers of the Polyvinyl Chloride material making it resistant to sun rays and also punctures. This pond liner can be able to hold up to 1,000 gallons of water.

This product is also light in weight and as well flexible to use, it weighs 30% less than most pond liners made out of PVC materials so installation would be very easy for users who purchase it. The construction is also high quality and the dark/black color gives it an attractive view merging with the pond’s natural environment.

The pond liner’s surface is engineered and textured to support the growth of bacterial sand organisms which makes it an important component in the ecosystem.

Product Details:

The 13 x 20 ft. PVC Pond Liner is ideal for large ponds up to 1,200 gallons, approximately 9 x 16 x 1.5 ft.
The 14.5-mil PVC Pond Liner is lightweight, ultra-durable, and easy to handle.
Our PVC liners are UV and puncture resistant, ensuring many years of continued use.
TotalPond liners are reinforced with a strong polyester weave placed between the layers of PVC.
TotalPond’s pond skins pond liners have a textured surface to promote positive bacteria growth providing just the right foundation for an environmentally balanced habitat.

Pros:

It has a high-quality value for the money.
It is used in heavy construction.
It is flexible as well as durable.
It is easy to set up.
It is resistant to weather conditions and sunlight.

Cons:

It is impossible to differentiate the right side up.

Our Opinion:

The company also gives users a list of sizes they can pick from but if you purchase a size bigger than the size of the pond you want to use it on, you can adjust the size to fit the hole and if the product you bought is too small, you can join multiple products together to get a bigger pond. I recommend this product.

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Firestone W56PL451015 EPDM, 10 x 15 Feet x 0.045-Inch

Best Rubber Pond Liner – If you are financially stable or you have extra cash to spend, you might want to get one of the best products by looking into this Firestone pond liner with product number W56PL451015. This liner is known to be about 0.045 inches thick which makes it a perfect candidate for different types of fountains, water gardens, and ponds. This product is made out of ethylene propylene diene monomer which is a synthetic fiber that is known to be durable. This also makes installation easy without any mistakes.

When it comes to protection, firestone did a number on this one. Our team lived the fact that this product is resistant to sun rays or otherwise known as UV rays.

It is also environmentally safe and ozone-free which makes it a good choice for huge ponds with cleaners and ponds which are also exposed to the direct sunlight.
The surface is also textured, encouraging positive bacterial growth while hindering build-ups from substances like algae.

Product Details:

EPDM rubber pre cut and boxed pond liner
Flexible for creative designs
Environmentally friendly; fish friendly
Easy maintenance; lasting beauty
Measures 10-feet length by 15-feet width by 0.045-inch thick

Pros:

It is very durable.
It is UV resistant as well as resistant to mold buildup.
It is easy to fix or install.
It is environmentally safe.

Cons:

It is a bit expensive.
It comes in only one size.

Our Opinion:

Want to keep a really healthy pond, this product can help satisfy your pond needs. Over the landscape and pond community, the accumulation of optimistic reviews has led to the fact of how good this product is. This pond liner is thick and built to last. Although it is a bit inexpensive, the quality of this liner would satisfy your needs. If you have little to spare, you can go for this product.

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Billboard Tarps Vinyl Pond Liner 20 oz. 22 mil Heavy Duty Black Tarp

Best Waterproof – This Vinyl pond liners from Billboard Tarps is one which is heavy-duty as well as having up to 3-plus or coated vinyl. This makes it tear-resistant, anti-mildew, and also tough protection from UV rays. This liner is totally waterproof and it is environmentally safe for both fishes as well as plants and other aquatic creatures and bacterias.

It is known to be thick as 22 mills but it is not as thick as most products on this list which measure 45 mils. Due to the fact that it is not as thick as most pond liners, this gives it the ability to be flexible and easily shaped into the desired nature of the pond.

You can also easily install it while trimming it if it is too big or adding fragments of it if it is too small.
It also comes in various sizes so you can just purchase the desired size you want. One thing we loved about this tarp liner as a pond liner is that it is very affordable. The only fact we don’t like in this product is how thin the material is, therefore, it may not be as durable as most of the liners on our list. It may also need underlayment to protect your liner from sharp rocks and stones alike.

Product Details:

20 oz. per sq. yd. – 22 mil thickness
3-ply coated vinyl, UV protected, Anti-mildew, Tear-resistant
100% waterproof, fish-safe, great for ponds of all kinds
Black on both sides, both sides are UV protected
Does not come with grommets or pipe sleeves/pole pockets

Pros:

It is cheap.
It is a heavy-duty tarp coated with 3-ply vinyl.
It comes with UV protection.
It is environmentally safe.
It is waterproof.

Cons:

It is very thin compared to some other pond liners.

Our Opinion:

This product is available in a range of sizes and it can be adjusted too to fit any size of the pond below the size of the constructed pond. Even if you don’t get the needed size, you can also join various sizes to get the required space you want. If you are looking for something that isn’t hard on the pockets, I suggest you go for this.it is less expensive compared to EPDM rubber and it is also much easier to install.

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