There are times when one pond liner just isn’t enough, but adding a second liner could cause some problems if it’s not properly placed. So, how can you seal two pond liners together?
To join two pond liners together, there must be at least a 7″ overlap of the top two pieces. Coat the liners with a primer/activator and let the primer/activator dry. Then you must apply seam tape to seal the two pond liners together while using a small steel roller to seal the liners together.
These steps are not as easy to follow as it may originally seem. There are important decisions to consider when sealing your two separate ponder liners together, so let’s learn together.
What to Consider About your Pond Liners Before Sealing Them
Before joining your designated pond liners together, you need to consider what material your pond liners are made up of.
Example; sealing two Firestone PondGuard liners together would require a slightly different process than if you were to seal two regular pond liners together.
Tip: Any variance in the length of the cover tape will also adjust certain areas of the instructions for joining two pond liners together.
Joining Regular Pond Liners Together
It is time to being by pulling out your pond liners for placement, a 3″ stiff brush, and your seam tape to seal your two pond liners together.
Splicing the Pond Liners Together
Layer the two pond liners, one over the other, with at least a 7″ overlap of the two liners. Use any sort of marker that can clearly define the 7″ line, which will be followed up by primer/activator, and the seam tape.
The Primer/activator
Apply the primer along the 7″ overlap line of each of the individual pond liner sheets. Both on the drawn line of the bottom pond liner sheet, and the edge of the overlapped pond liner where it meets the drawn line between the two.
Application Tip: To apply the primer and or activator properly, it must be applied with the 3″ stiff brush.
Drying the Primer/Activator
The primer and or activator, must be allowed a sufficient amount of time to dry properly. You should be able to feel that the primer and or activator has completely dried without any hint of doubt as your fingers run over the top of it.
Tip: A normal sunny day should allow for a dry time of about ten to fifteen minutes.
Steel rolling the 3″ seam tape
In order to ensure good contact with the bottom pond liner sheet, it is necessary to seal it into contact with a small steel roller. Then place a small dot of a black colored lap sealant on about two to three inches of the seam tape under the bottom side of the pond liner sheet.
3″ seam tape and wax release
Begin by peeling up the wax release paper, ensuring the the 3″ seam tape is not removed or adjusted in any way from its contact with the bottom pond liner. The wax release paper should be removed from roughly six inches of the underlying tape.
Warning: The wax paper should not be torn off in any way.
When the wax release paper has been peeled back, rotate the pond liners so as to rest the upper pond liner sheet on the ground, while the bottom pond liner now rests on the top. The seam area should now be under the top sheet.
Use your hand to brush the upper pond liner onto the bottom pond liner. The wax release paper on this side should be removed in a similar pattern from the bottom liner as you continue to brush the upper liner onto the bottom liner.
Tip: This same motion and step should be repeated until all of the wax release paper has been carefully removed.
Tip: Use lap sealant in order to finish off the seal of the top edge.
Joining Regular Pond Liners at a 5″ Cover Tape
To join regular pond liners at a 5″ cover tape connection, the steps will be adjusted in the overlap of the sheets and in the area that is covered with primer and or activator.
Splicing the pond liners together
Begin by layering the two pond liners, one over the other, with at least a clear 6″ overlap of the two given pond liners. Use any sort of marker that can clearly define the 6″ line and or overlap, which will be followed up by primer/activator and the seam tape.
The Primer/activator
Apply the primer along the 6″ overlap line of each of the individual pond liner sheets, but with an excess of 2″. Both on the drawn line of the bottom pond liner sheet, and the edge of the overlapped pond liner where it meets the drawn line between the two.
Application Tip: To apply the primer and or activator properly, it must be applied with the 3″ stiff brush.
Drying the Primer/Activator
The primer and or activator, must be allowed time to dry. You should be able to feel that the primer and or activator has completely dried without any hint of doubt as your fingers run over the top of it.
Tip: A normal sunny day should allow for a dry time of about ten to fifteen minutes.
Steel rolling the 5″ seam tape
In order to ensure good contact with the bottom pond liner sheet, it is necessary to seal it into contact with a small steel roller. Then place a small dot of a black colored lap sealant on about two to three inches of the seam tape under the bottom side of the pond liner sheet.
Tip: Be sure to keep everything pulled taut so as to prevent any possible wrinkles or other variable issues that could occur in this process.
5″ seam tape and wax release
Begin by peeling up the wax release paper, ensuring the the 5″ seam tape is not removed or adjusted in any way from its contact with the bottom pond liner. The wax release paper should be removed from roughly six inches of the underlying tape.
Warning: The wax paper should not be torn off in any way.
When the wax release paper has been properly peeled back, rotate or flip the pond liners so as to rest the upper pond liner sheet on the ground, while the bottom pond liner now rests on the top.
Use your hand to carefully brush the upper pond liner onto the bottom pond liner. The wax release paper on this side should be carefully removed in a similar pattern from the bottom pond liner sheet as you continue to brush the the upper pond liner onto the underside pond liner sheet.
Tip: This same motion and step should be repeated until all of the wax release paper has been carefully removed.
Tip: Use lap sealant in order to finish off the seal of the top edge.
(Source: Pond Liner Joining – How to Join 2 Pond Liners Together (pondsolutions.com))
Joining Firestone PondGuard liners
Usually, when joining Firestone PondGuard liners together, it can be done by a special installation service. However, if you are sealing the liner together yourself then the steps are similar to the ones before while some minor adjustments.
Splicing the pond liners together
When overlapping the two pond liners over each other, there should be at least 100mm. The line that you should mark, should be about 10mm away from the upper pond liner’s edge.
The primer/activator
Apply the primer along the 10mm overlap line of each of the individual pond liner sheets.
Application Tip: To apply the primer and or activator properly, it must be applied with the 3″ stiff brush.
Tip: Once applicated, allow for about fifteen to twenty minutes of dry time. Double check that both liners are clean and dry before moving on to the next step.
Steel rolling the seam tape
In order to ensure good contact with the bottom pond liner sheet, it is necessary to seal it into contact with a small steel roller. Then place a small dot of a black colored lap sealant on about two to three inches of the seam tape under the bottom side of the pond liner sheet.
Seam tape and wax release
Begin by peeling up the wax release paper, ensuring the the seam tape is not removed or adjusted in any way from its contact with the bottom pond liner.
When the wax release paper has been properly peeled back, rotate or flip the pond liners so as to rest the upper pond liner sheet on the ground, while the bottom pond liner now rests on the top. The entire seam area should be out of view and under the top sheet.
Use your hand to carefully brush the upper pond liner onto the bottom pond liner. The wax release paper on this side should be carefully removed in a similar pattern from the bottom pond liner sheet as you continue to brush the the upper pond liner onto the underside pond liner sheet.
Tip: This same motion and step should be repeated until all of the wax release paper has been carefully removed.
Tip: Use lap sealant in order to finish off the seal of the top edge.
(source: Pond Lining Joining Techniques | Stephens Industries (stephensliners.co.uk))
Thinking of attaching your pond liner to wood? We got you covered. Check out our article Step-by-step: How To Fix Pond Liner To Wood.