Problem pond: Help with construction, please
 

The previous owners of our house built an absolutely stunning example
of a horrible pond - it would lose around 40 gallons a day to leaks. We
decided to destroy and replace it, and we would have succeeded too -
had it not been for the fact that the bottom of the pond was built with
reinforced concrete and a clay bottom. The underliner was about as thin
as a trashbag - it would flake off in a high wind.

How can I remove this reinforced concrete, and excavate the clay
underneath the pond? I've tried a 12 pound sledgehammer, crowbar, and a
large pickaxe. All I've succeeded in doing is pulverising it.

The only thing that seems to cut into the clay is the pickaxe, so I'm
in the dark as to how I would remove that as well. I'll update this
topic with pictures of my progress if the need arises.

The pickax is what we used as our
ground is full of rocks, rocks and more
rocks.

Finally DH decided to make the pond
deeper by building up the sides.
He started stripping turf by the side
fence line and now I have roses and butterlfy
bushes planted there.

The sides were built up with turf,
about one foot high and one foot wide) the liner
pulled up and over it.

It protects the pond from run off and gives
a nice place for the dogs to lay down (we
covered some of the liner with turf), the kids
sit on it and tangle their feet in the water. Other areas are covered
with rocks.

You can see a picture of the pond at
www.blogfromthebog.com
check to the right for an article archived under
The Pond.

kathy :-)

I have seen them break up clay on the home shows with a small jackhammer,
you can rent them by the day....

wrote in message
oups.com...
The previous owners of our house built an absolutely stunning example
of a horrible pond - it would lose around 40 gallons a day to leaks. We
decided to destroy and replace it, and we would have succeeded too -
had it not been for the fact that the bottom of the pond was built with
reinforced concrete and a clay bottom. The underliner was about as thin
as a trashbag - it would flake off in a high wind.

How can I remove this reinforced concrete, and excavate the clay
underneath the pond? I've tried a 12 pound sledgehammer, crowbar, and a
large pickaxe. All I've succeeded in doing is pulverising it.

The only thing that seems to cut into the clay is the pickaxe, so I'm
in the dark as to how I would remove that as well. I'll update this
topic with pictures of my progress if the need arises.

Derek Broughton wrote:

Any tool equipment rental shop

Sorry for the redundancy redundancy.
--
derek

Don't give the idiot our secrets Derek!!!!

Derek Broughton wrote:
wrote:


The previous owners of our house built an absolutely stunning example
of a horrible pond - it would lose around 40 gallons a day to leaks. We
decided to destroy and replace it, and we would have succeeded too -
had it not been for the fact that the bottom of the pond was built with
reinforced concrete and a clay bottom. The underliner was about as thin
as a trashbag - it would flake off in a high wind.

How can I remove this reinforced concrete, and excavate the clay
underneath the pond? I've tried a 12 pound sledgehammer, crowbar, and a
large pickaxe. All I've succeeded in doing is pulverising it.


I guess it's a bit late to suggest that you just forget about removing the
concrete and put a decent liner inside it...

Any tool equipment rental shop should be able to rent you an electric
jackhammer. Now, my contractor friend insists it's just as easy to break
concrete with a pick - but I expect there's a trick to it. The electric
jackhammer works well (and isn't anywhere near as noisy as the pneumatic
ones the road crews use).

The only thing that seems to cut into the clay is the pickaxe, so I'm
in the dark as to how I would remove that as well.


And the jackhammer will just keep going.

don't give the idiot away our secrets

Derek Broughton wrote:
wrote:


The previous owners of our house built an absolutely stunning example
of a horrible pond - it would lose around 40 gallons a day to leaks. We
decided to destroy and replace it, and we would have succeeded too -
had it not been for the fact that the bottom of the pond was built with
reinforced concrete and a clay bottom. The underliner was about as thin
as a trashbag - it would flake off in a high wind.

How can I remove this reinforced concrete, and excavate the clay
underneath the pond? I've tried a 12 pound sledgehammer, crowbar, and a
large pickaxe. All I've succeeded in doing is pulverising it.


I guess it's a bit late to suggest that you just forget about removing the
concrete and put a decent liner inside it...

Any tool equipment rental shop should be able to rent you an electric
jackhammer. Now, my contractor friend insists it's just as easy to break
concrete with a pick - but I expect there's a trick to it. The electric
jackhammer works well (and isn't anywhere near as noisy as the pneumatic
ones the road crews use).

The only thing that seems to cut into the clay is the pickaxe, so I'm
in the dark as to how I would remove that as well.


And the jackhammer will just keep going.

Ok, I've placed an order for a 40lb electric Jackhammer this Saturday.
I'm hoping to get some good results out of it, seeing as I was able to
tear up a bit more concrete with a 17lb large crowbar and pick combo.

http://img250.echo.cx/img250/2962/img02887yh.jpg original pond. Notice
the "glass-clear water"
http://img246.echo.cx/img246/5329/img03082ke.jpg progress-(imageshack)
http://img246.echo.cx/img246/3682/img03097xp.jpg progress-(Imageshack)
http://img246.echo.cx/img246/2757/img03112lt.jpg progress-(imageshack)


How would I go about moving the earth underneath the pond? With the
jackhammer you say? *confused*

wrote:

Ok, I've placed an order for a 40lb electric Jackhammer this Saturday.
I'm hoping to get some good results out of it, seeing as I was able to
tear up a bit more concrete with a 17lb large crowbar and pick combo.

http://img250.echo.cx/img250/2962/img02887yh.jpg original pond. Notice
the "glass-clear water"
http://img246.echo.cx/img246/5329/img03082ke.jpg progress-(imageshack)
http://img246.echo.cx/img246/3682/img03097xp.jpg progress-(Imageshack)
http://img246.echo.cx/img246/2757/img03112lt.jpg progress-(imageshack)


How would I go about moving the earth underneath the pond? With the
jackhammer you say? *confused*

No. For that you're going to need either an excavator or a spade and
wheelbarrow. :-(
--
derek

http://img250.echo.cx/img250/2962/img02887yh.jpg original pond. Notice
the "glass-clear water"

I would swear this pond has been on rec.ponds before with the original
owners. Was it the waterfall (in behind the plant if there is one) that
leaked, or the whole pond? What is the orange cup in the middle? ~ jan


See my ponds and filter design:
www.jjspond.us

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
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