RPE in the UK

[mowgli789]

Hi,

I am just embarking on building a pond in my back garden. We have dug a nice hole and got to the point where we are ready to buy a liner. I know there have been many threads on liners - bear with me.

Everyone seems to suggest EPDM is the way to go, except the Americans who seem to be all using RPE. When I search for RPE on the UK aquatic websites no one sells it. There appears to be one seller on Amazon who do.

Can anyone explain why the UK has such an aversion to RPE, and is there a good reason for it? I realise it is less flexible, but there are lots of places selling HDPE which is pretty similar but not reinforced. My pond is a simple design of 2 pools with one flowing into the other. Both are fairly round, so no complex edges.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks

Ben

 

[j.w]

@mowgli789
I have EPDM which has been working fine for over 20 yrs. I think most of us here use it. Why do you want RPE? Some here have it on this forum. Think they need it for extra strength maybe from large creatures stepping on it? Not sure tho.

 

[mowgli789]

Hi,

Mainly cost. It's going to cost north of £600 for EDPM and about £300 for the RPE that I have seen. Again, all the American pond websites recommend RPE as it's stronger and cheaper. I'm just curious why in the UK no one appears to really sell it

 

[j.w]

Hi,

Mainly cost. It's going to cost north of £600 for EDPM and about £300 for the RPE that I have seen. Again, all the American pond websites recommend RPE as it's stronger and cheaper. I'm just curious why in the UK no one appears to really sell it

Not sure why they don't sell it in the Uk. I suppose if you order it in the U.S it will then be more pricey?

 

[GBBUDD]

RPE IS ALSO KNOWN AS HDRPE HPRE. its polyethylene which is god stuff BUT it has it's pluses and minuses to epdm for instance their own website has " This method works best for ponds with a relatively uniform depth. For irregular shapes and significant depth variations, you may need to perform additional measurements." meaning you may need to have a custom liner built or add seams. and rpe is by no means as flexible as is epdm. rpe is much lighter but it is not good for intricate angles or 90 digress angles as the more it is bent over and over the greater the risk of failure. truckers use these as open road cover against weather. \
EPDM is very heavy in comparison it is flexible and will bend in any excavation but it does leave folds. as will RPE. tHE ,MAIN ADVANTAGE IS SHAPE IT CAN CONFORM TO and it will support any weight when it is squished between two rocks. rpe is more uv sensitive as i believe they are 7 or 15 year warrantees and epdm is 40 years . you get what you pay for in my book .

we have had a few folks opt for rpe. one had no issue another had tinny weep holes appear as it seemed the material was left to flop around in the wind or was worked on a time or two too many

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

I have EPDM, but have no experience with RPE. I would like to comment that your liner is the backbone of your pond. Don’t scrimp on your liner! Go for quality and longevity…..even if it costs more!

 

[mowgli789]

I understand that most people use EPDM, and that is probably what I will go for. However, the what I don't understand is why in America there are multiple websites saying to use RPE as it is stronger and only marginally less flexible, yet in the UK everyone is firmly still in the EPDM camp. It's unusual to have such a difference in opinion either side if the pond.

I didn't know if there is a climate reason? The weather in the USA is obviously a fair bit better in general, however it is also more extreme. Why is the UK so set on EPDM when RPE is stronger and more flexible than HDPE.

There doesn't seem to be any good reason.

 

[Mmathis]

@mowgli789 When you say “web sites,” can you be more specific? Are you referring to forums or groups like ours (relating to ponds), or to retail web sites? Have you posed this question specifically to UK ponders? (GPF has members from all over the world, with a lot being in the UK).

Keep in mind that retail sites want to sell things. Asking on forums, will give you a better range of personal opinions……the WHYS — like you are doing here. I don’t think anyone can give you a reason for the varied responses based on location. Sorry I couldn’t be any more help.

 

[GBBUDD]

I understand that most people use EPDM, and that is probably what I will go for. However, the what I don't understand is why in America there are multiple websites saying to use RPE as it is stronger and only marginally less flexible, yet in the UK everyone is firmly still in the EPDM camp. It's unusual to have such a difference in opinion either side if the pond.

I didn't know if there is a climate reason? The weather in the USA is obviously a fair bit better in general, however it is also more extreme. Why is the UK so set on EPDM when RPE is stronger and more flexible than HDPE.

There doesn't seem to be any good reason.

actually there is generally a huge difference in opinion from across the pond in the fish trade. to start you blokes love your raised ponds, here in the states id bet they are at max 25% while in the uk they are 75% and hdrpe does not fold nicely within a box . epdm does far better but still not great aragami is critical here

 

[addy1]

Welcome to the forum!

I have used RPE for 15 years here. A bog and three ponds. In Arizona for 9 years, before I moved. No issues.

It is stiffer, it has survived deer hooves, groundhog claws, it fell in the pond clawing out.

The bottom does not get as slippery as EPDM. I bought mine from bend tarp and liner, in Oregon, shipped to Maryland.