So, you want to fibreglass a pond? Standing there, looking at my pond, I had that moment of doubt. The old liner was clearly on its last legs. Damp patches in the soil. That not-so-fresh swampy smell. Fibreglassing seemed like the answer. It is quite a big job, and scary, too. But the idea of a permanent fix was worth the gamble.
If you are in this area, you will quickly find loads of info on Cambridgeshire pond fibreglassing. One name, That Pond Guy, kept cropping up in my searches. Their reputation gave me a nudge. It made the whole process feel less like a mysterious art and more like a proper, doable project. Right then. Let us crack on.
First, The Hard Bit: Preparation for the Work
You cannot skip this. Seriously. It is quite dull, but very important at the same time.
- Drain it all. Pump out every last drop. Rehome your fish and plants.
- Let it dry. A damp surface is a disaster. Wait until it is completely bone dry.
- Get it smooth. Scrub off every bit of algae and muck. A pressure washer is brilliant here.
- Fill the cracks. Use a sand and cement mix to patch any holes or gaps. Let that dry too.
The Main Event: Laying Up
Now it gets real, which is quite messy, too. Your hands will be sticky for a week.
First of all, you need to gather all the necessary materials, such as:
- Chopped strand mat (450g is good)
- Polyester resin
- The catalyst (MEKP).
Cut the mat into manageable bits. You do not want huge sheets to wrestle with. Lay them in the pond, overlapping the edges by several inches. It will look like a weird fabric bowl.
Mix the resin with the hardener. Follow the instructions exactly. Then, working in small sections, brush the resin onto the shell, lay the mat down, and pour more resin on top. Use a roller to stipple it in, working from the centre out. You want the mat to go totally see-through. Corners are tricky. Use smaller mat pieces here. Obsess over air bubbles. Roll over them until they are gone. They create weak spots.
Then you wait. A whole day at least. Do not touch it. Let it go rock hard. After that, apply a final topcoat, a pigmented, fish-safe layer. Another cure, then refill. Watching the water rise over that smooth, solid surface? Totally worth the effort. You have built something permanent.
Final word
Look, I will not pretend it is a tidy weekend project. It is sticky and smelly, and there were moments I questioned my life choices. But standing there now, watching the fish dart around that seamless, rock-solid shell, I forget the hassle.
Every time. No more leaks. No more liner worries. Just the pond, doing its thing. If you are handy and patient, you can absolutely do this. But if the thought of mixing resins and wrestling with matting makes you nervous, then call someone like That Pond Guy.
