We will be giving you two answers to this question about pond excavation, and then you can decide where you fall in-between the two answers regarding digging ponds.
We are J & A Excavation, serving the Greater Fort Worth area with excavation services and land clearing. Call us the next time pond construction is in your future and we will advise you, and inform you, about your particular job.
In pond excavation, size matters
DIY pond excavation is no different from any other project a property owner might consider. Small jobs can usually be done by the property owner, provided they do not require a certain amount of specific knowledge/skill. At some point, however, DIY is simply a poor idea, and that is what we will discuss as you read on.
Small ponds
Have shovel, will dig! That is what we think of when we think of small backyard ponds. If you have a couple eager teenagers, a couple shovels, and a whole lot of cold drinks, a small pond can be excavated. In fact, it might be expediate to take on such a job yourself. We are talking pond digging for a 5’x5’ pond, or something in that neighborhood.
Watch a few YouTube videos, dig your hole, remember to include shelving for plants, insert a pond liner, make sure you insert the pump and piping, and you will have a functioning pond in a matter of a few days. Homeowners around the world have done it, and will do it, so why not you?
Large ponds
The larger the pond, the less chance there is that you will be able to tackle it yourself. We are talking about livestock ponds. We are talking about large decorative ponds which take over a large portion of the property. These ponds are too large for shovel excavation. They require heavy equipment, a backhoe at the very least, and they require the skill to operate that heavy equipment, and the knowledge necessary to do the job properly.
Do you have the equipment necessary?
Not many property owners have a backhoe at their immediate disposal, which would mean renting one and hauling it to your property . . . and then the knowledge necessary to safely operate that backhoe, which very few property owners have. Rental costs can easily run into the hundreds of dollars.
Do you have the knowledge and skills necessary?
If pond excavation was just a matter of digging a hole, that would be one thing, but it also requires a knowledge of soil types, so that soil erosion can be controlled. It also requires a knowledge of the best ways to control runoff and property sloping, what type of liner would be best, or what type of sealant, and is an underlayer required before any sealant is applied? These are technical questions which require technical knowledge, and few property owners possess that type of knowledge.
Best to leave those large pond jobs to the pros.
A final word about J & A
And that is where a company like J & A comes into the picture. We have the expertise, we have the skills, and we have the equipment to take on any large jobs you have planned, from building pads to driveway excavation to pond excavation, we have been there, done that, and done it properly. Give us a call the next time your backyard DIY project gets too big.