Butyl liner repair advice

[bran goesgoch]

As the title says really, any advice please on how to go about repairing a small tear in my ponds butyl liner? cheers.

[Kayleigh]

Hi Bran,
Go to your local pond center they do like a bicycle puncture repair kit for ponds or have a look on-line at carp pond centers they might sell them.
Have you filled it up to the mark where the water level settles at if you cant find the leak then look for a marshy area around the pond.
Make sure the area is dry before you try to mend it..

[bran goesgoch]

Cheers Kayleigh, Yes I have found the tear, it's about two inches (I'm still in old money) long, there could be more than just the one leak though, my sons Lab pup has taken a liking to jumping in it only to struggle to get out again...lol. I'll try our local garden centre for a repair kit.

Bran

[Kayleigh]

You will have to come up with a plan to keep the dog off I had to fence mine off but before that I put a grate over the top but this cut out light and I lost most of my plants..

[tom00_uk]

due to the ease of the kits they some times cost more than buying a bit of liner and some aquatic safe glue.

clean the area well, and be careful not to get any of the solvent into the pond

if possible patch both sides, but not essential.

a lead (until trained to not jump into ponds) on the visiting dog, short enough to stop it before the pond but long enough to allow it to move around when in the garden will save you needing a fence, unless it of course lives with you

[Kayleigh]

I have fenced mine off and has been a great for wildlife as its all undisturbed at the back the frogs and toads love it.

Did you not save any of the off-cuts from when you put the pond in I still have some in the shed I made a bog garden with one of the pieces..

[dampflippers]

Definitely clean and allow to dry before attempting to patch it. My sis managed a good watertight repair where a fork went through.

Son's dog needs to be taught NOW (as a pup) not to jump into garden ponds, and preferably not into wild ponds without it's owner telling it when it can.
Also suggest to your son the idea that it does disturb even wild ponds when dogs go in and swim. A local pond here which was intended as an amphibian pond constantly gets pond plants dislodged and completely churned up muddy water. I am afraid many dog owners just see a fun dog washing/swimming pond, and even encourage them to go in.

I have had 2 dogs run into my garden from the back field, and go in my ponds. I was furious each time and would have hunted down the owner if they had made holes.

[Kayleigh]

I don't think Brans dog runs riot and not everyone is irresponsible as to let them loose to do as they please but some places are OK for dogs to go swimming mine loves a swim on the lead and where she is not disturbing wildlife.

[tom00_uk]

dogs entering and leaving water can have a negative impact on wildlife and lead to erosion, hence why this wildlife trust has created concrete entrance points for dog owners to allow their dogs into the water

Dog dips on the Itchen Navigation are the first of their kind… · · HWT

[bran goesgoch]

Thank all for your replies to my current quandary, just to let you know the idea of patching the damaged liner has now sadly gone out of the window. Apparently the offending pooch has been in it again, only this time ripping the liner literally to shreds. I can't really complain, it has served me well for twenty six years, you could say I've had my monies worth out of it. I'm going to cover the area over for now and have a rethink on whether or not to fit a replacement liner, I just don’t fancy having to lift all the slabs and then re bed them in again.