Sealing in ground granite at the top of waterfall

[Mike Z]

I am trying to find the best way to seal this. The upright rock is on the shelf of the large rock. Would concrete or another sealant be advised? I am ordering the 16’ aquatech kit so I will/could put down the Underlayment and liner.
thanks,
Mike Zetty
360-509-1899

 

[j.w]

@Mike Z

 

[poconojoe]

I'm not sure what you mean by sealing that.

If you can get the liner under it, you won't need to seal anything.

 

[Mike Z]

I'm not sure what you mean by sealing that.

If you can get the liner under it, you won't need to seal anything.

I can’t get the liner under it. I’d have to tuck it in but that will leak. It will be filled with a lot of granite. It will drop into the dirt area and into the basin blocks. Just wondering if I should spread some cement in the crevices. Thanks

 

[Lisak1]

@Mike Z - if you're hoping to create a waterfall over rocks without a liner underneath, I fear you may be very disappointed. But maybe I'm misunderstanding the question.

 

[poconojoe]

@Mike Z - if you're hoping to create a waterfall over rocks without a liner underneath, I fear you may be very disappointed. But maybe I'm misunderstanding the question.

Agree.

Any portion of your pond that is expected to hold water will need to have a liner at it's base. If not, water will usually find a way to escape. The worse thing to track down is a leak. It can be very frustrating.

Smearing cement or sealant in between rocks may work for a while, but eventually it will fail. Plus I'm sure it wouldn't look too pleasing to the eye.

 

[poconojoe]

If you're attempting to include those big stones into the edge of your pond, here's what I would suggest:

Build some soil up the side of the big stone(s). In that soil, create two shelves against the stone(s). The top shelf will be above the water and the second one will be a few inches below the expected level of the water surface. After the liner is in place (and over the soil shelves), stones can be placed (on top of the liner) on the lower shelf. Those stones will be partially submerged. Then stones will be place on the upper shelf (out of the water). By doing this your liner will be completely hidden. The water's edge will look natural and the big stones will be very close to the water and still be a very nice looking focal point.

This is the way most of us hide our liners at our pond's edge. You can do the same thing, but build it right up against the big stones.

 

[Mike Z]

If you're attempting to include those big stones into the edge of your pond, here's what I would suggest:

Build some soil up the side of the big stone(s). In that soil, create two shelves against the stone(s). The top shelf will be above the water and the second one will be a few inches below the expected level of the water surface. After the liner is in place (and over the soil shelves), stones can be placed (on top of the liner) on the lower shelf. Those stones will be partially submerged. Then stones will be place on the upper shelf (out of the water). By doing this your liner will be completely hidden. The water's edge will look natural and the big stones will be very close to the water and still be a very nice looking focal point.

This is the way most of us hide our liners at our pond's edge. You can do the same thing, but build it right up against the big stones.

Yes. That is what I was thinking. The kit comes with two liners. One will be used on the built up big rocks. The 22” spillway will be angled slightly into the face of the upright rock. Just need to figure out how to secure the liner to the vertical face. So when some of the water runs straight down the face it won’t go behind the liner. The “face” tapers inward as it goes down. There is a nice shelf on the big rock. I was planning on sand up to that level.

Is there away to send video? Thanks a lot.

 

[poconojoe]

I'm not totally understanding, but I know it's hard to explain.
There have been some previous discussions on attaching a liner to stone. One I recall was to cut a horizontal slot in the rock, probably with a stone grinding wheel on a grinder. Then sticking the edge of the liner into that slot. I don't know what you would use to secure it in there. Some people have successfully used a polyurethane based roofing adhesive called PL-S30 around their ponds with good results. You can probably use that.

 

[Mike Z]

I'm not totally understanding, but I know it's hard to explain.
There have been some previous discussions on attaching a liner to stone. One I recall was to cut a horizontal slot in the rock, probably with a stone grinding wheel on a grinder. Then sticking the edge of the liner into that slot. I don't know what you would use to secure it in there. Some people have successfully used a polyurethane based roofing adhesive called PL-S30 around their ponds with good results. You can probably use that.

 

[Mike Z]

Thank you for the reply. Yes. Another good suggestion. I could angle the spillway away from the face of the vertical rock. There is also a 12”x4” opening under the vertical rock. Straight below the peak of that rock. And, the entire rock sits on a ledge of the big rock. The water currently drains out at the lowest point. See picture. Thanks

 

[Mmathis]

@Mike Z Are you wanting the water to flow OVER the rocks in question, as in, the rocks would be part of the visible, functional waterfall/spillway? I’m confused, and I wonder if we’re all thinking along the same lines. HOW much (and what kind) of liner do you have to work with?

 

[Mike Z]

Thank you for the reply. Yes. Another good suggestion. I could angle the spillway away from the face of the vertical rock. There is also a 12”x4” opening under the vertical rock. Straight below the peak of that rock. And, the entire rock sits on a ledge of the big rock. The water currently drains out at the lowest point. See picture. Thanks

The sand under the liner will be above the black river rock.

@Mike Z Are you wanting the water to flow OVER the rocks in question, as in, the rocks would be part of the visible, functional waterfall/spillway? I’m confused, and I wonder if we’re all thinking along the same lines. HOW much (and what kind) of liner do you have to work with?

The spillway would be where the flat rock is in the picture.I am filling in behind it. So it’s almost at the top of the vertical rock. Most (2/3) of the large in ground horizontal rock will be above water.

From the Aquatec 16’ pondless waterfall kit: (Plenty of liner for this 10’x25’ area.

• 10' x 12' Liner
• 120 sq. ft. Underlayment
• 10' x 20' Stream Liner

 

[Mmathis]

 

[Mike Z]

View attachment 133165

. Awesome drawing. Both. Halfway. Over would be too high.