Koi Pond Construction - Should You Do It Yourself?

Deciding to build a Koi pond is a big decision. Koi pond construction is not something to be undertaken lightly. But done correctly, it can be extremely rewarding, a beautiful addition to your home and garden and the perfect place to keep your Koi fish.

If you're good at construction projects like this, you can choose to do it yourself. If you do, you'll want think about using a pond kit. A good kit will provide all the basic components and get you started quicker. But make no mistake about it, there are several advantages and disadvantages you should think about before you jump into doing the project yourself.

Professional builders usually charge a premium for their expertise, so using a pond kit to build your own Koi pond certainly saves you a lot of money. But, if you damage the materials required or install it improperly, you will have turned this advantage to a disastrous disadvantage.

Creating your own Koi pond brings enjoyment and the satisfaction of knowing you have done something with your own hands. You can brag about it, get your family involved in the construction, and do the job exactly as you want it done.

There are some other disadvantages to doing the work yourself. If you do use a pond kit, you may find some limitations that you don't like. You may want to make adjustments in the size or other design aspects that the pond kit just won't easily accommodate. Trying to make these changes fit can easily get you into trouble.

When you planned your Koi pond the design was just what you wanted and had that unique look - just perfect for your garden. Once into the project you may find the need for special tools or equipment. Since you are not a professional the end result may not have that "professional" look or worse yet may have some hidden construction problems that will haunt you over time.

Hiring a professional pond builder is not the cheapest way to go; however, the ideas, input and final outcome that are the results of their efforts could certainly be worth more than the relatively minor investment you will be making to get your dream Koi pond. Keeping Koi is a long term commitment so it needs an equally long lasting pond that will serve as the Koi's home. The Koi will be as happy as you will be when you see them enjoying their home.

If you do decide in the end to get professional help, make sure they know what they are doing. Stay away from exceptionally low bids, even though they may look very tempting. If you want to save money, see if there is some way you could do at least some of the work yourself. What eve you do remember the pond is a permanent structure. It won't be easy to modify later. My advice is to make it as large as your budget will allow. Put in all the features you can at the start. It will be much more expensive to add later on if it's even possible after the pond is completed.