EPDM Pond Liner Splicing Instructions

Pond Liner should be spliced together on a flat, even, clean surface. Driveways are good so are decks or patios. Lawns are bad, since they are uneven and cushioned by the grass. If the length that you are splicing together is very long, make sure that is is all laid out flat and even before you start. If you try to unroll as you go, you are too likely to pick up ripple and ridges.

1. Prepare the liner by cleaning it with unleaded gasoline.

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2. Clean a strip at least 6" wide along the edges of both pieces of liner that you intend to put together. Since most liners are very dirty, you will need to clean the liner several times.

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3. If it isn't virtually spotless, and completely dry, it is less likely to hold the seal once you put the two pieces together. Use a hair dryer to make sure that the liner is completely dry. Make sure to clean the upper side of one piece and the underside of the other piece, so that they will overlap properly.

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4. After the liner pieces are cleaned, it is time to splice them together. Use the 3" or 6" wide tape made for splicing EPDM liner. This tape is very sticky on both sides.

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5. Place the exposed sticky side of the tape along the edge of the liner, in the strip that you cleaned.

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6. Cut off any excess tape that's left over once you reach the end of the liner.

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7. Remove the paper backing that's covering the tape so that the sticky glue side is exposed. Because the tape is so sticky, barely touch it as you pull away the waxed paper covering.

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8. Next lay your other piece of EPDM liner on top of the sticky tape.

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9. Make sure to overlap the liner so that it covers just to the edge of the tape. Use a roller to seal the liners and tape together.

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10. When you are finished, make sure that the liner and tape stick together. You do not want any gaps. If you have a gap, you can use additional tape to fill it in. You can also use a hair dryer to heat the tape and then roller the liner together again. Heat causes the tape and the liner to seal more completely. It helps to add a bead of lap sealant along the edge of the liner overlap to further seal it together and a strip of single-sided sticky tape (6" cover tape).

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