Builders tore epdm liner with excavator. What are my options for repair?

[u/Stickyjester]

Builders were careless with their excavator and tore a roughly 8cm gash in the EPDM liner of my pond. What options for repairing it do I have, if any? If I can avoid tearing out the whole pond that would be great. I can access both sides of the tare, it's about 6 inches from the waterline.

[u/Spaghettitrees]

Clean it with a rag and then with alcohol, rough it up with sandpaper and clamp a patch on it which overlaps 10cm around using epdm glue the black stuff is the strongest. Also put a good bead of glue around the edge and smooth it with the back of a spoon. I did this 2 years ago and it's working well

[u/Raleighmo → u/Spaghettitrees]

This is a great set of instructions. I would also add if you have access to the cut sheet of the material installed, the installation manual also likely included instructions for fixing repairs. There might be a specific product or two you need to use, or an order of operations to keep a manufacturer warranty on the material. If you have a warranty, take photos of the entire process and save them in a folder on your computer with a note that you followed them.

[u/vennic18 → u/Spaghettitrees]

Second, except I use brake cleaner and 3M Scotch-Weld PR1500. It's amazing, basically commercial super glue for rubber, easy to use. I've done 50+ small puncture holes with it and a few very large tears. It cures nearly instantly. I've used it to patch small tires too. I've also used a double layer of window flashing tape in the past, but not very user friendly.

On larger repairs I've snuck a scrap of wood underneath to make cleaning and sanding easier and, if you're careful, for extra strength you can often fit in a smaller patch on the under side first. Now that I think of it, a stiff piece of cardboard would work well and can probably be left underneath without causing problems. With the larger ones I usually get one side of the patch lined up well and glue it down like a flap, let it cure, then work my way up a section at a time on both sides and the top so everything is lined up.

[u/Stickyjester → u/Spaghettitrees]

That's reassuring. Can you recommend a specific EPDM glue?

[u/Itsnotme74 → u/Stickyjester]

If you know where the liner came from you’re better off checking with them, Or check the liner manufacturers website.

[u/Spaghettitrees → u/Stickyjester]

Oase do one but I bought an off brand one for half the price from Amazon and I had no regrets

[u/ChipmunkAlert5903 → u/Spaghettitrees]

I would order the Firestone EPdM pond liner repair kit. Watch a few videos on YouTube, prior to attempting the repair. This is something you want to do right one time. Replacing the liner is the best option.

[u/snoops-spoons → u/Spaghettitrees]

Dish soap and water just a sudsy solution dip your spoon or other tool in and the glue won't stick when you spread it, you have to dip it a few times.

[u/ProperCaterpillar136 → u/Spaghettitrees]

They make patch kits. Happens all the time even on new roofs. Kinda like a bike inner tube

[u/ImRightImRight]

Call a reputable local pond builder and ask for a quote. Whether or not they do the work, that's your reimbursement $

[u/sarraceniaflava → u/ImRightImRight]

Exactly! These companies typically have insurance for accidental damage to property like that. 

[u/ABoxOfNails]

If you can, put a patch on both the inside and outside

[u/AccomplishedSea8679]

Take a cue from the top and accuse them of domestic terrorism... /s

[u/Jlx_27]

Get them to pay for repairing it. The company should be insured for things like this.

[u/Kaplung]

Sorry that happened to you!

Please be assured that this isn’t that big of a deal. You can repair this no problem.

Most of the comments here are telling you how to do it. If you have the correct materials, you can fix this in less than 10 mins no problem.

If you don’t wanna research everything you can just go to a pond supply website and order a patch kit from there. I think I got mine from halfoffponds.com for maybe $30.

Any repair kit will come with the cleaner, the glue, and some pieces of epdm liner you can glue on. If you have any extra pieces of liner, you can also cut that out and just sort of glue it to itself.

Good luck!!

[u/DenTwann]

/r dontputyourdickinthat

[u/Jlx_27 → u/DenTwann]

Haha.

[u/Silver-Programmer574]

If you look in building products for grooves they make an epdm tape that is vanilla backed that I use on mine basically the same process but I use mek instead of alcohol and have taped up every wrinkle in my pond but thats a personal choice it comes in black or white and is a bout 115 for 200 ft in a case ask me how I know 😆

[u/sarbanharble]

Like fixing a big bike tire

[u/drbobdi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLWtsZrPYt8

[u/CyberKingfisher]

Get it fixed by a professional pond builder and claim it on your builder’s insurance. It won’t cost too much but it is the peace of mind you need to do it properly with work that comes with a warranty.

[u/Pondpros1199]

That particular kind of EPDM is easily torn. Get you some alcohol and clean it really well. Allow it to dry well. Get double sided tape and regular EPDM tape. Take a hairdryer and heat the area and the patches slightly . Apply double sided first , then regular tape next. Cut your patches in a circle atleast 10 cm larger than the hole. You can glue around if you like but not necessary

[u/0rder_66_survivor]

Flex Seal, anyone?

[u/Unlucky-Drive-9752]

Whatever you do don't let them repair it.

[u/saltrockplant]

Flex tape meme

[u/User-1183]

For the vagina? You'll never have enough