miles41

I notice that the majority (if not all) of concrete blocks, when used for pond walls, are laid flat, as oppose to the 'usual' way up in normal building.
I realise that this is for strength, but is it possible to build in the conventional way, and just backfill behind? or is this not to be recommended?
Just trying to find out, so I know how many blocks to get in!

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Miles

go54nke

Built mine upright and backfilled with concrete, I did this because when it was dug out there was a lot of voids in the side due to the ground being made up of stones and rubble. If I'd had clean cut/dug sides I would of laid flat, this way wouldn't need backfilling.

Doing them upright means less blocks, but more concrete to backfill and more time to do it this way, cost wise I would say it works out the same give or take a few quid.

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All the best, Al

miles41

Cheers Al as usual, it seems there's more than one way to skin a cat!

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Miles

markf1fan

hiya miles
what you have not told us is, is the pond going to be out of the the ground much or all in the ground.

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1x 2400 gallon pond
1x estro sieve
1x econo bead filter
1x bakki shower with crystal bio
1x 55w pro clear uv
1x eco 12,000
1x sequence 15,000
1x hi blow 40 air pump
and some really nice koi

miles41

Hiya Mark....oops, sorry about that it will be about 3.5ft in the ground and about 1ft above ground level.

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Miles

markf1fan

ok cool so what you could do is lay the blocks the normal way and back fill and then lay them flat above the ground, i believe keith has done his pond this way.

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1x 2400 gallon pond
1x estro sieve
1x econo bead filter
1x bakki shower with crystal bio
1x 55w pro clear uv
1x eco 12,000
1x sequence 15,000
1x hi blow 40 air pump
and some really nice koi

Pinnacle

... or lay them upright and backfill. Then add an outta skin with facing bricks for the 1' above surface.

miles41

Cheers guys....can't wait to get cracking on with it

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Miles

go54nke

Just a thought for you Miles, if you lay them upright and put an outer facing skin on with a cavity, make it work so that your top coping stones fit the width of the final thickness of the wall...saves cutting the coping stones to fit.
My blocks where 100mm + 100mm outer skin + 25mm kingspan + 25mm cavity = 250mm thick. My copings where 290mm wide which gave me a nice overhang of 20mm on both pond and outer wall edges. Thats taking it that your not building a round or shaped pond

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All the best, Al

miles41

Nice tip, thanks for that & yes, it is to be rectangular in shape.

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Miles