The Different Types of Flexible Pond Liners

Flexible pond liners remain the most preferred pond liners, because well, they’re more flexible when compared to preformed pond liners. They are affordable and also easy to install (though not as easy to install as the preformed ones). Flexible pond liners come in a variety because there are different types of materials used to make them. In the earlier days, the materials did not last long and got easily ruined. Now due to technological advances, the materials being used will last longer than you may expect. Flexible pond liners offer a number of benefits because they can easily be maintained, and can be used on ponds where fish are kept without causing any harm.

Another good thing with flexible pond liners is that they can easily be adjusted or changed over time. This is a feature that is not easy to find with preformed liners because they are often too rigid, and won’t give you more options to adjust the pond in any way you want.

Let us now take a look at some examples of flexible pond liners and compare their pros and cons:

Butyl Pond Liners

Butyl is a premium quality material often approved by experts for its versatile characteristics. Pond liners made of butyl rubber are able to last long because of the material’s characteristics, the greatest of which allows it to be long lasting and not wear off easily due to age. Another advantage of using butyl to make pond liners is the fact that it can be used to cover a large area, which makes it easier to join pieces together to make one large piece.

Butyl will cost you more to install, but its benefits will still override the cost in terms of durability and versatility. Below are the main benefits of using butyl pond liners:

• Butyl is highly resistant to puncture and is also highly flexible.
• It does not react with water and so it’s safe for fish life.
• It lasts longer.
• It’s easy to be customized to fit into any shape and size of the pool.
• Butyl made flexible pond liners are easy to repair in any case they get damaged. Adhesive tapes can be used to patch punctured areas.

 

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pond Liners

PVC pond liners are made of synthetic vinyl – a material that is very stable and also highly flexible. It is also highly durable like butyl and its easy to work with. The good thing with PVC pond liners are that they are safe to aquatic life and will not pose any danger at all. This is a material that can easily be customized to fit the pond owner’s specific needs. Pond liners made of PVC are capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions because they are still capable of remaining flexible in temperatures between 22 °F to 120 °F. This feature also makes it possible for PVC pond liners to be able to be installed anytime of the year.

Below are some characteristics of PVC pond liners:

• Are able to withstand extreme weather conditions but still perform well.
• They are stable and highly durable.
• They are highly flexible meaning they can take the shape of pond thus allowing more creativity.
• Are highly resistant to degradation caused by ozone.
• They feature a high expansion and contraction characteristic.
• They don’t require any kind of specialized or regular maintenance.

 

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) Pond Liners

EPDM pond liners are highly flexible and very durable (can last up to 15 years). They can be used virtually for any pond application with ease. You can easily cut them to your desired size and shape and proceed to install them in your dugout pond. It does not contain any toxic substances which may affect the fish in the pond.

Below are some of its features at a glance:

• It is flexible and will fit into any pond shape and size.
• It is made from synthetic rubber.
• It is highly durable.
• Resists ultraviolet (UV) and ozone radiation.
• Can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations.

 

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) Pond Liners

LDPE pond liners are generally more affordable, long lasting and resistant to chemicals. The fact that LDPE pond liners are resistant to chemicals makes them ideal for lining ponds that fish are to be kept. Even though rubber made pond liners (butyl and EPDM) are often considered to be more resilient, LDPE pond liners also come close to them in terms of durability and flexibility.

LDPE and PVC are plastic made flexible pond liners that almost have the same quality as their rubber counterparts (butyl and EPDM). Compared to PVC, LDPE pond liners have more flexibility and this helps to give a great finish to the pond. LDPE will easily mould to the shape and contours of the pond and may only wrinkle slightly when folded at the corners.

Below are some features of LDPE pond liners:

• They are long lasting and capable of withstanding ultraviolet (UV) effects.
• They are highly resistant to chemicals making them ideal for lining ponds where fish will be kept.
• They are generally more affordable than pond liners made of butyl or EPDM, but will still provide great service.
• They are very flexible.

 

Reinforced Polythene (RPE) Pond Liners

RPE made pond liners are usually strong but light in weight. They are safe for fish and aquatic plant life. These pond liners can be found in large pieces that can suit the needs of different kinds of pond owners.

Below are some of the benefits:

• It is highly flexible and affordable.
• It is safe to plant and fish life.
• It is ultraviolet (UV) stabilized thus offering durability.
• Can be easily cut to suit your unique and special needs.
• It is resistant to chemicals.