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Lake Construction The
pond is a unique ecosystem made of many parts, and to remain in balance these
various components must interact and evolve in a natural way. If you think that
to build a beautiful pond that it is enough for you to dig a hole and let it fill
with water, you could be in for a rude awakening! Before beginning a project of
excavation of a lake, a pond or even of water garden, it is important not to neglect
the preparation phase which accounts for half of the success of your installation,
the other half resting with the expertise of the contractor engaged to carry out
the work. In order to guide you through the preliminary stages of your pond project
let me suggest some questions to ask before considering the excavation and the
precautions to be taken during this important phase. First of all, where to put the pond? To obtain the best possible results, you should choose a site which exhibits the characteristics of poorly drained soil. You can recognize this by the presence of certain vegetation or by the appearance of water on the surface. In many cases, the natural site most favorable to the establishment of a successful pond does not correspond to your personal objectives. If you do persist in building your pond on an unfavorable site the project will be more expensive and the risks of future problems and repairs greatly increases. 
Make sure you excavator is qualified to evaluate your site. Seeking the consultation
of an expert can save you money in the end.After having initially defined best the site for the installation of your watery ecosystem, you must investigate the nature of the soil. If the location is wet, it may be due to an outcrop of bed rock or the presence of an impermeable layer which prevents water from infiltrating down deep? Where the bed rock is level, the possibility of building a pond is restricted. On the other hand, if the ground is sandy or mainly loose gravel it may be necessary to use of a membrane to line the pond, which will increase the project costs. Next, investigate the water source available for your pond. Do not build your pond in a brook; not only will you seriously degrade the quality of the brook you will also not be looked favorably upon by the Minister of the Environment. Also, a pond build on a brook tends to be constantly awash with sediments during times of heavy rain. A pond can remain healthy even without major direct water flow from brooks, springs or wells if aeration is added.  After
having defined and dealt with these ecological constraints there are
other potential troubles to be wary of. Here are some practical recommendations
to maintain control over your project and the budget: One of the most common errors
consists of wanting to remove excavated material with trucks. The use of trucks
will greatly increase the cost of building your pond and should only be used as
a last resort if you have insufficient place on your property for material storage.
If at all possible try and be present during the excavation process, or hire a
professional supervisor to assure a quality and efficient job performance. Ensure
your contractor does not bury any large rocks at a depth greater than two feet
or, worse yet, that they do not charge you to remove large rocks which they can
then sell elsewhere. There are never too many rocks on a pond construction site
and they can always be used in the landscaping of the shorelines or in the creation
of cascades. The
excavation of a pond is not a thing to be taken lightly and the expertise
of the contractor you hire to do the job can make a world of difference. Never
choose a contractor without first checking references and seeing a portfolio of
previous projects. Ask several firms for cost estimates but remember to analyze
the various plans carefully as often a contractor will woo you with a low cost
estimate and then as work progresses the costs will multiply and by then you are
committed to finishing the project and it has cost many times more than originally
planned. A technically realistic evaluation of the project should be a detailed
appraisal of all aspects involved and not just rough estimates. In the end you
can save yourself much grief and expense by seeking the advice of experts. | ||
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