How to Repair a Rubber Pond Liner
Rubber pond liners are a popular choice for setting up a water garden or pond. Rubber is tough, resilient, and, unlike PVC and plastic based pond liners, resists the damaging UV rays of the sun, ensuring your pond a long life. However, just as with plastic, rubber liners can be torn by animal claws, falling branches or unseen roots. Fortunately, they can be fixed with inexpensive liner repair kits. Although these kits come in many different forms, repairing a rubber pond liner with one of these kits has the same general procedure. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Drain the pond to below the level of the leak. If the leak is near the top, you can leave plants and any fish or other creatures where they are. Otherwise, you'll have to relocate them while you're working on the leak. Buy a small plastic child's pool to use as temporary housing. Put an aerator or pump in there as well, if you have one, to keep the water aerated.
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Clean off the debris and pond gunk from around the leak.
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Clean the liner with alcohol or cleaner, depending on the instructions in the kit.
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Use an abrasive pad, usually included in the kit, to apply primer around the leak. The pad roughens up the rubber, allowing the patch to adhere better.
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Allow the primer to dry, according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Peel the backing off the repair tape and apply to the leaking area.
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Roll the patch with the included roller to ensure that there are no bubbles and the patch is firmly in place.
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Allow the patch to dry. With some kits, this takes no more than a few minutes. With others, it might be up to twelve hours.
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Refill the pond and add back your plants, animals and equipment. Check the water level frequently to make sure the patch is working.
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Tips & Warnings
If your kit doesn't include a roller, you can purchase a small (1-2 inch) edge trim paint roller to do the job.
Always wear gloves when applying the primer. Some kits come included with them.
