Where to go for materials for your pond really depends on the type of Garden Pond you intend to build. In this article, it is assumed that you will be building a garden pond utilising concrete blocks and waterproofing it using specialist varnish called G4.

First, I will list the equipment you will need to obtain and then the consumable materials required to actually construct the pond. Before you start this project, I strongly recommend that you obtain an estimate of the likely total cost for both equipment, materials and any specialist labour. It may well surprise you to learn that the pond featured would cost somewhere in the order of Ł2000 to construct today using only your own labour.

The basic equipment you will need:-
Tape Measure - 5metre or longer
Marking out rope
Chrome Leather Gloves (protect your hands)
1-metre Aluminium Spirit Level
Small Spirit Level
Builders Square (make your own - see separate page)
4lb Club Hammer
Sledgehammer
Pickaxe
Spade
Fork
Shovel
Garden Broom
Builders Wheelbarrow
3 no. Measuring Buckets
Cement Mixer
Heavy Duty Builders Hose and fittings
Bricklayers Trowel & Float

If you are a D-I-Y householder, you will probably have most of the above items with the exception of the cement mixer. Whatever you do, don't hire the cement mixer, as you will want it for quite a long time and the weekly hire costs, to which you may have to add delivery charges both ways, will rapidly eat in to your budget. It may seem quite an investment to buy a cement mixer, but remember, you will be able to sell it on after you finish all your building projects. I would recommend that you buy a NEW mixer, of the 1/2 bag size whose type dismantle for easy transportation in a family car and can be easily stored in your garage or garden shed between use. They are available in either petrol or electric versions. The model I bought was a Belle Mini 140 for mains electric operation and cost me about Ł250 in 1995 and has proved most robust and easy to use/clean.

The Consumable materials you will need should be bought from builders merchants, plumbers merchants or timber merchants as appropriate. Always phone/fax round for quotes in your area as prices can vary considerably. Actual quantities required will vary from pond to pond. Only buy sufficient ballast, sand and cement for your immediate needs, as they all need to be kept covered.

Roll of 4metre wide Builders Polythene/Damproof membrane
20mm (3/4") All-in Ballast (always buy in cubic metre lots)
Builders Sand (always buy in cubic metre lots )
5-litre can Plasticiser (use sparingly with mortar mix only)
25kg bags of Portland Cement
215mm Hollow Concrete Blocks 7newton
140mm Solid Concrete Blocks
75mm Solid Concrete Blocks

Rein Fibres (for mixing with rendering) obtainable from REIN Ltd, Clifton Hall, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 2GL

Bodaglass G4 Pond Seal (for applying over rendering) obtainable from Bondaglass Voss Ltd, Beckenham, Kent

Polypipe plumbing pipe and fittings obtainable from good plumbers merchants. Made by Polypipe Ltd, Doncaster

Electrical cable and conduit from TLC Southern (nationwide wholesale service available to everyone)

6metre head 3-speed Central Heating Pump

Treated Softwood in various sizes to make decking and pond topping. Check out quality from local timber merchants and select actual timbers for them to deliver if possible.

Various Screws obtainable from SCREWFIX Direct telephone 0500 414141 for free catalogue

The amount of all-in ballast required for the base of the pond will be the largest quantity you will need for the whole pond. On my project, I had 3 cubic metres delivered and used most of it in one day. You cannot easily lay a large base by yourself, as you need to keep the cement mixer going whilst transporting it to the work area, levelling etc, so do try and get some help at least with this part of the project.

If you are not aware how to estimate the quantities of building materials needed, I strongly recommend you buy yourself a copy of Collins Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual (ISBN 978-0007425952). This and other suggested books are listed in the Further Reading section of the website.