How to Fix a Crack in a Pond Liner
Although rubber and plastic pond liners may occasionally develop a small hole that is easily repaired, a crack in a concrete pond liner is a much more difficult problem to remedy. Concrete pond liners are more expensive than the rubber or plastic and are intended to be permanent. Cracks in concrete pond liners are rare, but they do occur---especially in areas where repeated freezing and thawing of the ground takes place. If you get a crack in your concrete pond, however, there are steps you can take to fix the crack and restore the functionality of your water garden. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sandpaper
- Muriatic acid
- Acid scrub brush
- Gloves
- Protective goggles
- Pond sealant
- Denatured alcohol
Instructions
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Examine the entire concrete liner for cracks. Fixing the existing crack will be of no use to you if other cracks exist that you are not yet aware of. If one crack exists, there may very well be more.
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Sand the area around the crack. This will remove any of the old, residual sealant that was used to seal the concrete when the pond was originally constructed.
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Acid-etch the concrete around the crack by diluting one part muriatic acid to one part water and sprinkling the mixture onto the crack. Scrub the area with an acid brush. This will open up the concrete and ensure that your pond sealant creates the best bond possible. Always wear gloves and protective goggles when working with acid.
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Check the thickness of your chosen sealant. Some sealants are extremely thick, and this makes it almost impossible to get the sealant into a small crack. You may heat the sealant up slightly to give it a more fluid consistency for application. You may also water down the sealant 3 to 5 percent with denatured alcohol.
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Apply the pond sealant. The best tool to use for this is a spackle blade. Using rubber gloves, smear the pond sealant liberally over the crack. Flatten the sealant out using the spackle blade.
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Run your finger over the crack. If you feel a slight indentation, more sealant needs to be applied. Continue to apply and smooth out sealant until the area where the crack used to be is perfectly smooth to the touch.
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Check the sealed crack for any stickiness or dampness after 72 hours. If the sealant is completely dry, you may add water to the pond. If the surface of the patched crack still feels sticky or damp, however, leave the crack alone and check it for dryness again in another 24 hours. Never add water before the sealant is dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Rubber or plastic pond liners can be easily applied over concrete for added leak protection.
