Due to the fact that this is a budget item, a little extra work needs to be put in to make it as effective as some other liners. Primarily, before putting down the underlay, the area should be well cleared of any roots, stones etc. and putting down a layer of sand first may help improve the longevity.

Unlike the other materials in this Buyer’s Guide, EPDM is a synthetic rubber and not plastic. I personally prefer EPDM over all other liner materials, and it’s also worth noting that this is what expert pond builders also often use. Flexible vs. preformed: Both flexible and preformed pond liners have their own advantages, so we included options for both types in this guide. The liner is available in a variety of different size cuts, including 13 x 11 feet, 16 x 11 feet, 16 x 15 feet, and 36 x 30 feet. If you’re confident that you’ll be happy with your pond design for years and years to come, you also have the option of using concrete as your base. Concrete bottomed ponds will not be bothered by the things that can negatively affect plastic or rubber pond liners and are extremely durable – this also counts for water removal which can be controlled with a submersible pump easily – it won’t be affected by an algae cleaner either. The downside is that they are the most expensive and difficult to install properly. The best flexible pond liner materials- EPDM vs Butyl vs PVC vs HDPE, etc.

Best pond liners: my top picks from years of experience with different materials:

We all change our minds as time goes on, and having the option to change the size and shape of our garden pond is a good thing. As we mentioned above, preformed pond liners don’t allow this, but pretty much any flexible material will.

In addition, HDPE is toxin free so it’s safe to use for ponds that contain fish, other wildlife and all plants. This liner is very UV-resistant with a 25 year warranty from sun damage. But keep in mind that the warranty only holds if you use the included underlay or some other material for this purpose. This is one of the major reasons that PVC liners are rarely used – they often contain trace amounts of arsenic and other toxic chemicals that can be lethal to fish.EPDM is known for being somewhat prone to punctures, however, so an underlay may be needed to stave off tears. Fortunately, if a rip or puncture does occur, repairing or patching EPDM is an easy DIY task.