| Seven w eeks into the project and now was time to put pipes in place and make sure all fits dry before going any further!
This is the stage that needs proper planning, I really wish I had spent a little more on push fit couplings and joins and double ball union valves so that I can change pumps, UV, etc and add extras at a later date. Instead I have to cut away my flexi pipe and jubilee clips and peel off all of the sealant used to prevent any leaks, doing this twice a year in poor weather waiting for the pipes to dry is one job I do not look forward too. |
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We spent the next few days levelling off the garden, gluing pipes in places, waiting for some nice weather so I could start the render. I am not a plasterer but I will turn my hand to most things and give it a go.
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A week later and the inside and out had been given two coats bound with Wizard Fibre for added strength, the render was kept moist so that it did not crack in the hot weather for 2-3 days.
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Unfortunately with some rain and poor handling of deck boards I managed to knock away parts of my handy work and had to patch the render again. |
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In the next week or so the smooth planed timber (4 x 2) for the pergola was ordered and cut in the garden, which was very awkward. At the weekend after concreting the posts in place my wife helped me to put the beams for the pergola up and ready for screwing down. In all this cost us less than £100 and I managed to add a couple of extra deck boards to my garden to bring this level with the pond edge. |
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With the end in sight we decided that rather than paint the pond with G4 fibre glass would be the better option and easier as we were both getting tired of having no evenings or weekends. A company came to our rescue and booked us in weather permitting for their next job. |
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Would you believe it rain for the next week, so I had to erect a cover from tarpauling and re arrange the day. This was the only job I did not do myself and would recommend that for large ponds this one is left to the professionals.
Here you can see the Flowcoat being applied.
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A few days later the fibre glass was dry and the pond was edged with deck boards. I was assured from the manufacturer that once the wood is pressure sealed the chemicals would not leach out into the water and was perfectly safe for use in all aquatic situations. Nearly a year on I have not had any problems relating to the use of this type of timber. |
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