I'm in the process of building my new pond and we got a ton of rain last week. A portion of my wall collapsed and I don't know how to repair the cave in. My plan is to install a liner only and build the copeing on top of the liner. Is there an easy fix? The walls are about 4' tall and most of it is on about a 20 deg. slope. Colorado clay soil.
Rain collapsed my wall
- Thread starter odin5738
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I'm in the process of building my new pond and we got a ton of rain last week. A portion of my wall collapsed and I don't know how to repair the cave in. My plan is to install a liner only and build the copeing on top of the liner. Is there an easy fix? The walls are about 4' tall and most of it is on about a 20 deg. slope. Colorado clay soil.
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Well, this may not be the correct way, but it has worked for me, you could dampen the dirt stuff it back in the holes, get your liner in. Make sure the upper edge is sloped away from the pond so the water won't flow down behind the liner.
Or you could re-sculpt the walls, smooth them out. We had a small collapse on one of the small ponds, and smoothing it out worked.
we have clay also, crumbles when dry, like glue when wet, rock hard at times.
Or you could re-sculpt the walls, smooth them out. We had a small collapse on one of the small ponds, and smoothing it out worked.
we have clay also, crumbles when dry, like glue when wet, rock hard at times.
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Well, this may not be the correct way, but it has worked for me, you could dampen the dirt stuff it back in the holes, get your liner in. Make sure the upper edge is sloped away from the pond so the water won't flow down behind the liner.
Or you could re-sculpt the walls, smooth them out. We had a small collapse on one of the small ponds, and smoothing it out worked.
we have clay also, crumbles when dry, like glue when wet, rock hard at times.
Or you could re-sculpt the walls, smooth them out. We had a small collapse on one of the small ponds, and smoothing it out worked.
we have clay also, crumbles when dry, like glue when wet, rock hard at times.
Odin
Can you make a thick paste out ot the crumbled material and use a piece of plywood backed up with a board to hold it while drying? Put some plastic on the wood so it doesn't stick to it.
Can you make a thick paste out ot the crumbled material and use a piece of plywood backed up with a board to hold it while drying? Put some plastic on the wood so it doesn't stick to it.
Odin
Can you make a thick paste out ot the crumbled material and use a piece of plywood backed up with a board to hold it while drying? Put some plastic on the wood so it doesn't stick to it.
Can you make a thick paste out ot the crumbled material and use a piece of plywood backed up with a board to hold it while drying? Put some plastic on the wood so it doesn't stick to it.
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DrCase said:
Laughing, I was thinking that too.
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DrCase said:
Laughing, I was thinking that too.
If I repair the cave in and make sure the run off from my lawn is diverted. Will my pond walls be safe from failure once the pond is up and running. I've seen pix of a pond that walls have failed after it's been running for several months and I don't want that to happen to me. I was considering installing a 4x8 sheet of 3/4" pressure treated plywood and filling in dirt behind it and place the liner over the plywood. I think the pressure from the water at the bottom will hold the plywood in place and prevent any more cave ins. Any thoughts?
If I repair the cave in and make sure the run off from my lawn is diverted. Will my pond walls be safe from failure once the pond is up and running. I've seen pix of a pond that walls have failed after it's been running for several months and I don't want that to happen to me. I was considering installing a 4x8 sheet of 3/4" pressure treated plywood and filling in dirt behind it and place the liner over the plywood. I think the pressure from the water at the bottom will hold the plywood in place and prevent any more cave ins. Any thoughts?
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The main thing that will help is diverting the water from the lawn. I would like drcase says, dig it bigger, make sure your water is diverted, or like drdave says pack the cave in. Make sure the water is diverted, get the liner in and fill with water.
My three other ponds all had vertical walls, around 4-5 feet deep, never had a cave in once they were filled, but I also so made sure the water run off was well diverted.
My three other ponds all had vertical walls, around 4-5 feet deep, never had a cave in once they were filled, but I also so made sure the water run off was well diverted.
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The main thing that will help is diverting the water from the lawn. I would like drcase says, dig it bigger, make sure your water is diverted, or like drdave says pack the cave in. Make sure the water is diverted, get the liner in and fill with water.
My three other ponds all had vertical walls, around 4-5 feet deep, never had a cave in once they were filled, but I also so made sure the water run off was well diverted.
My three other ponds all had vertical walls, around 4-5 feet deep, never had a cave in once they were filled, but I also so made sure the water run off was well diverted.
I haven't bought the liner yet but to get my slope back I would have to make it much bigger. I also thought of building it out with sand bags and leave a hump at the bottom of the pond. Any thoughts?