Creating an artificial pond is a great idea for many reasons. The pond will not only serve as a decoration of the site, but also protect it from possible waterlogging of the soil, removing excessive moisture. The shore will become a place for growing moisture-loving plants, and water will improve the overall microclimate. Butyl rubber film was widely used for waterproofing such structures.

What is butyl rubber film

The international name for such a film is an EPDM membrane. This modern material is made from environmentally friendly, non-toxic and absolutely safe raw materials - synthetic rubber. The specific development and production features guarantee the film perfect compatibility with the aquatic environment.

In this regard, most often its use is associated with the creation of:

• artificial (decorative) reservoirs;
• landscape compositions with streams and cascades;
• fountains;
• pools.

Important! The raw materials used in the production of the film are absolutely safe for fish and plants, which further expands the scope of its application.

Characteristic

The wide demand for butyl rubber film and rubber made on its basis is due to a number of distinctive features.

Among the main characteristics of the material can be noted:

• high rate of stretching (300-450%);
• endurance in relation to temperature fluctuations (from -50 ° С to + 120 ° С);
• resistance to ultraviolet rays and high pressure;
• permissible short-term heating is + 250 ° C;
• high strength, elasticity and reliability;
• long service life (at least 50 years).

Advantages and disadvantages

Butyl rubber is one of the best options for waterproofing materials.

• The film has the following advantages:
• strength, providing 100% safety of the material under all kinds of mechanical stresses - punctures, bumps, sprains;
• weathering conditions;
• possibility of use in all climatic zones;
• simplicity and convenience in work;
• lack of threat to flora and fauna;
• high degree of adhesion with almost any natural or artificial materials;
• resistance to decay or spoilage;
• the presence of a special treatment that prevents the growth of harmful bacteria;
• a variety of film colors and patterns on it for use in decoration.

The canvas can be made in a two-layer version using reinforcing components, which further increases the strength, virtually eliminating the possibility of breakthrough or leakage.

Did you know? Butyl rubber is used to make anti-corrosion coatings, adhesives, building pastes and mastics, and is also a component of solid rocket fuel.

• Among a small number of shortcomings can be identified:
• Higher price compared to similar products.
• Low resistance to mineral vegetable oils and fats.
• The heavy weight of the coiled roll (cutting and gluing the film is quite simple, so you can work without helpers, however, the weight of the packaging product in the store can reach 200 kg).

Creating a Butyl Rubber Film Pond

The construction of an artificial pond begins with determining the method of waterproofing it. Choosing butyl rubber as the main material, you can perform most of the work in just a few days without using any special equipment.

The main stages of creating a pond:

• determination of the location of the reservoir in the area;
• construction of the base;
• decorative design;
• installation of equipment if necessary.

You should not follow stereotypes and make the bottom of the pond blue or blue. Due to the wide range of colors of the film, you can experiment and choose, for example, brown color, which will be closest to natural shades, or cream color, against which decorative fish will especially stand out.

Selection and preparation of a place for a reservoir

You can plan your own pond in the garden or at the cottage of any size - butyl rubber rubber allows you to create large-sized ponds with considerable depth.

A suitable place is chosen taking into account many aspects, one of which is a form providing for the following popular options:

1. If a reservoir is conceived with a predominance of straight lines (for example, rectangular or diamond-shaped), it is better to place it near buildings - where the same regular shapes prevail.
2. It is recommended to place artificial ponds in the shape of a “saucer” and with a winding coastline in the depths of the plot, as if continuing the natural landscape.

It is important to choose a place from an aesthetic point of view. If the pond is near the house, it is worth considering how it will look, for example, from a window or terrace. You must take care of the power supply in advance if you plan to connect any devices, such as an underwater fountain or backlight.

An open area is ideal, but not subject to strong winds, which adversely affect coastal vegetation. In this case, it is necessary to calculate the time of illumination of the pond. Direct sunlight should reach the surface of the water for at least six hours. Exceeding this indicator will lead to excessively active reproduction of bacteria and green algae (tina), and excessive shade from a lack of sun will harm aquatic plants.

Important! It is necessary to arrange the reservoir so that drains from the site do not fall into it.

Trees that are too close will clog the pond, especially in the fall, and their roots will pose a danger to the integrity of the base of the pond. In a suitable place in all respects, the contours of the future reservoir should be marked out, given that “underwater terraces” for plants should be placed around the perimeter.

Installation and installation rules

Using butyl rubber, you can create a reservoir of almost any shape - the material accurately conveys a complex surface with all the irregularities, and is also convenient in structures with a large slope angle.

The sequence of actions during the installation of the reservoir:

1. Calculate for the acquisition of material, taking into account the allowance (a little more than 0.5 m) for fixing the sheet at the edges. To get the result, the indicator of the width (length) of the future reservoir is summed up with twice the depth indicator.
2. Based on the selected option, dig a pit or erect the walls of the desired thickness on the ground.
3. Form a protective layer. For this, the entire area of ​​the pit is covered with geotextiles.
4. Go to laying the main coating.

Completes the entire decoration process. For stones with sharp edges, it is recommended to make a substrate of geotextiles, so as not to damage the canvas.

Did you know? Bio-pools, bathing facilities where the chlorination system is not used, are actively gaining popularity today, and special plants planted in a bioplate perform cleaning.

The sequence during the main stage of butyl rubber laying involves the following steps:

1. The film must lie in the unfolded form for at least half an hour before installation.
2. Spread the material without tension, freely.
3. Fabric unfold from top to bottom, starting from the coast.
4. Avoid horizontal joining of sheets.
5. Flatten the material along the banks, laying its edges in the prepared anchor trench along the perimeter.
6. After that, apply water to the center of the film, which completes the distribution process of the web according to the given shape.
7. Manually form folds on the slopes as the foundation pit is filled with water.

If during construction there is a need for gluing the film or need repair, you need to buy a special adhesive and tape of the same manufacturer as the textiles themselves.

The following related materials may be needed:

• mounting glue for attaching the film to the frame and bases;
• special tape for bonding EPDM membranes;
• suture primer;
• sealant that enhances the stability of the edges of the canvas to mechanical damage;
• degreasing solvent.

Carrying out the gluing of the tape will not require any specific knowledge and skills.

The tightness of the connection is achieved in one of the ways:

1. Cold - A special bonding adhesive of the Bonding Adhesive type is used, with the help of which the strips are not only joined together, but also glued to any base.
2. With adhesive tape. The film must first be degreased and cleaned.
3. Hot vulcanization - is the most reliable way in which the maximum elasticity of the seam is achieved.

When purchasing a waterproofing canvas to create a pond on your site, you should opt for butyl rubber film. This material will significantly save money and effort in the future, providing reliable waterproofing of the reservoir for many years.