Filling in a Pond

[Piemaster]

Hi all

We have a pond in our garden which we want to fill in so we can make a patio over the top. Just a few questions:

1. We have a load of hardcore left by the previous owners. Can we use this to fill in the hole, or at least the majority of it?

2. Assuming we can, how much hardcore should we put in the hole? I assume we want to use concrete to top it off and leave a flat surface, but how much is necessary? Is something like six inches about right?

3. Do we need to worry about the hardcore 'settling' at all and leaving a dip? I have found a few guides mention this, but usually in the context of covering with soil/grass rather than a solid concrete surface.

4. Anything else we should be concerned about?

Many thanks in advance for any advice given

 

[HERTS P&D]

How big is the pond?
Is it full of water/fish?

Andy

 

[Piemaster]

How big is the pond?

About 6' x 3' and about 3' deep

Is it full of water/fish?

Not any more. The pond has already been drained, the fish rehoused and the plastic shell removed.

 

[HERTS P&D]

All ready for loads of hard core, fill the hole with the hard core and get some ballast from Wickes/builders yards so that the sand and stones will fill in between the larger pieces of hard core. Fill to 100mm from top and whack down with a whacker plate then concrete to top/level.

Andy

 

[Piemaster]

Excellent, thanks!

Do you have an estimate how much ballast would be needed for a surface area this size (6' x 3')?

 

[HERTS P&D]

Hard one to work out as you would need to put in a layer of hardcore and then ballast to fill any gaps. Buy 10 bags of ballast and see how you go.

Andy