danz pond construction

**danm** · 11-22-2005

That's looking GREAT!

**Bill OTMS** · 11-22-2005

That's definitely earthquake ready.

**Leekinneykoi** · 11-22-2005

Dan it is all looking really great I can't wait to see this one finished

**danzcool** · 11-22-2005

Palerider, polyurea is probably best described as a spray on plastic, it's somewhat rubbery, but hard and tough, the closest product I can equate it to is the preform ponds you see at the DIY stores, except it's created on site.

RedHotKoi, the pro's always make it look easy, probably something to do with having the right tools, knowing what they're doing, and having a few extra hands to do it (how I got this far I don't know).

Bill, earthquake ready, ya think?

LeeKinneyKoi, I can't wait to see it finished either!

On the same day the rebar got finished up, they were excavating dirt from a construction site less 1/2 a block away... and... I scored this rock pile! The owner/contractor helped me move these rocks out in between dump trucks getting loaded up.

**Simi Koi** · 11-22-2005

Thats some serious rebar!!!

so you will pour the walls in concrete rather then use block? Is there a benefit of this over block? stronger? cheaper? easier?

**palerider23** · 11-22-2005

Thanks danz, I'll be watching for threads on how that works an looks, Sounds alot better than liner, I really do like the fiberglass look too.... Have a good turkey day

**danzcool** · 11-22-2005

Palerider23 - Actually, if you know what spray-in truck bed liner is like that IS polyurea. The polyurea is great for americans, because we are so impatient, the blend that Jeff is using has a tack/gel time of around 15 seconds (I think the truck bed liner stuff is usually around 5 seconds), you can put water in it in minutes.

Surfhead Ned - No, I decided against pouring because I didn't want to build the frames, it is gunite now. In my opinion, poured concrete w/rebar is strongest, block and shotcrete probably come in next, then gunite. Gunite is pretty pourous and would never hold water on it's own (or so I've been told, I've been told that shotcrete and concrete can be finished to contain water). Block is easier for most perople to use because they are the forms for the concrete. I actually did some blockwork on the upper pond, dry stacked w/rebar and filled w/ concrete. I'll be getting those pics up soon.

**L5Vegan** · 11-22-2005

Dan
You can't put gunite in there

. I can barely see the beautiful gloss black paint on you bottom drain pipes now.

It's really taking shape. Can't wait to see more.
Dan

**jinx** · 11-22-2005

Hi Dan, the pics are great. Obivious a lot of thought went into it. I'm really intrigued about the waterfall. What is the intent of the deep vaults in the falls. I havent seen that layout before.

**danzcool** · 11-22-2005

The concrete in the falls is the catch basin to make sure it doesn't leak. Rocks are going to go over the concrete to soften the edges after it is sealed, the deep vaults, if you talking about what I think you are talking aboutright at the level change, is where I am going to stack rock up almost to the edge of the higher rim to contain the water behind it and to create a falls. The stacked rock will be mortored on the back side to create a dam so that each one of those sections is going to be a mini pool once done.

**danzcool** · 11-23-2005

Now, the gunite or the block work... I started on the blockwork before the gunite, but the gunite was finished before the blockwork... Jeff went to Japan to buy koi after the rebar was done, so the rebar sat there for about 2 weeks. On November 1st, he was there again with California Gunite, and here's the deal on the gunite!
The crew showed up at 7AM prompt, I scrambled to move some cars to give them the prime location. Quite a bit of a flurry of activity right then, forklift and flatbed truck dropping off a pallet of portland cement, dumptruck dumping the sand, the mixer/pumper getting into position and the bobcat getting fired up. Apparently we were supposed to already have the backforms up ( I kept asking if we were doing it or them), but we didn't, so the first hour was spent building the backforms. Then they started spraying the gunite even before they had finished the backforms, the crew from California Gunite was very efficient. Not a whole lot to say about the process of spraying it, they spray it on until it's done. the mixing process may be of interest, the bobcat gets a scoop of sand, a worker tears open a bag of cement and empties it into the bobcat scoop with the sand, the bobcat dumps the scoop into a hopper that leads to a rotating drum where the dry ingredients are mixed, somehow that dry mixture is pumped through a hose to the nozzle, where a water hose is also hooked up and the water is added as it is being sprayed.

**Ronin-Koi** · 11-23-2005

Dan, Very cool. Looking forward to more. Your pond is going to look really nice once complete. You've obviously put a lot of thought into the features you want and the design to achieve those goals. I think Jinx's question, which I share, is what is the purpose of the deep separate "pools" that will make up the waterfall steps. Will these pools be used for plants, different non-koi such as goldfish, etc. Pond water cascades from pool to pool, before dropping back into the pond, right? Are the pools veggie filters?

- Wayne, appreciates how you put in the two side mount bumps on the concrete waterfall area, which he assumes will be used to support a nice stone?

**danzcool** · 11-23-2005

Okay, yeah, there will end up with about 15" deep pools going down through the waterfall path I am planning on some plants in there around the edges and in the corners, was thinking about some marginal type plants (iris, canna, spike rush, pickeral, etc.), probably leave them open a bit in the middle.
Wayne would be right about the stone slab/bridge support, Dan still needs to find the stone slab. I didn't want the span to be too great, and I still think I may add some kind of steel support just under the slab to prevent possible catastrophy.

**danzcool** · 11-23-2005

And the rest of the gunite spraying, this stuff goes on and builds up fast.

**Bill OTMS** · 11-23-2005

Besides the well thought out plan - what a wonderful view (fifth picture).

**dcny** · 11-23-2005

Thanks for all the photos and details Dan. I'm in Northern California too and hope to have a pond built sometime next year so I'm following this thread with great interest.

-Dan

**Dwight** · 11-23-2005

Dan,
What's the elevation difference between the top of the waterfall and the water surface of the pond ? Ain't it great to not have to destroy your hands and back laying block ? Looks like a million dollar pond is taking shape.
Dwight

**PIEBEG** · 11-23-2005

Dan,

Thanks for the thread. Very informative..I am thinking of expanding my pond (now a liner) to the same approximate size as what you have done and I am curious as to the order of magnitude estimate of costs for the steel/Gunite and the polyurea coating for this size project.. I would also appreciate it if you would let me know whether you considered CIM and if so, how came to select the polyurea? I also live in Northern California..

Thanks and keep the pictures coming.

Pierre

**jinx** · 11-23-2005

Hi Dan, very impressive, the pics tell it all. I bet you were freaking out about the backer boards not being in place. Thats a real pro crew you hired. I'm surprised you were calm enough to take the pics.

**palerider23** · 11-25-2005

Looks Greattttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt, keep the posts coming.. Can't wait to see the waterfall work.........

Thread: danz pond construction

Thread Tools

Display

Posting Permissions