How Much Does A Backyard (Koi/Ecosystem) Pond Cost?
We are asked many questions when it comes to water features, but there is one question more than any other. That question is: How much does a backyard (Koi/Ecosystem) pond cost? For us this can be a rather difficult question because it just isn't that simple. For this article I will do my best to explain why and help you determine how much a pond may cost. We also want to point out that we will be using multiple terms to describe a pond. Backyard, Koi and Ecosystem are all commonly used terms to describe a decorative, small style pond that has a filtration system, fish, and plants. They are usually installed close to the home or outdoor living area.
Typically most of our potential customers are just looking for a ballpark/roundabout price and we fully understand why they want that. Quite simply, they really just don't know how much a pond really costs. If you have ever purchased a car then you will know that it just isn't that simple for us to give an exact price. When looking to buy a car you could start out at a base price of $30,000 and after seeing the available options quickly be signing the purchase agreement of that car for $45,000. You certainly can't be driving around a car without heated leather seats, Bluetooth capabilities, sunroof, and heck new minivans have built in power vacuums today.
Looking at the fact that most Americans keep their car on average for no more than five years, why add all the options then? Well, the answer is that most people adding options to their car know the importance of getting what they want the first time so they don't regret their purchase later. Think about how much time you spend in your car, don't you want your car to provide you with comfort, reliability, quality and longevity?
This same thought process of buying a car applies to our potential pond buyers as well.
You're going to look at the pond every day for as long as you live in your home and choosing all of the add on's you want up front is super important to ensure maximum enjoyment with minimal maintenance. For that reason most potential clients choose to purchase the backyard pond that will provide them with most happiness for the long run.
Unfortunately, in our industry many potential pond owners focus on the initial price and aim to seek out the lowest bid for their project. The cheapest contractor often comes with the sacrifice of quality, aesthetics, low-maintenance, and warranties. Ultimately, the cheapest bid amounts to more regret and unlike our car purchase above, where you might be able to trade in the regret, an ecosystem pond isn't easily traded in...
Some of the most common "add on's"found in the purchase of a ecosystem pond are:
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| Nighttime Illumination Package |
- Stream Add On's
- Waterfall Upgrades
- Larger Rocks
- Advanced Decorative Rocks
- Nighttime Illumination Packages
- Aquatic Plant Packages
- Fish Packages
- Fish Caves
- String Algae Elimination System
- Automatic Water Treatment Dosing System
- Bottom Aeration System
- Faux Rock Cover for Electrical Outlet
- Automatic Water Fill Valve System
- Maintenance Programs
- Decorative Fountain Accessory
- Cantilevered Rock Edge
- Filtration Upgrades or Add On's
- Wetland Filtration System
- Rainwater Harvesting Add On's
- Landscaping (gardens, plantings, patio's, fire pit, etc.)
How Does Installation Affect The Cost?
When someone asks our company how much a backyard pond costs, the installation also plays a role. The first factor has to do with the site itself. The second factor has to do with extent of the installation. The prices we list for our pond packages are for the equipment, materials and labor to install that particular package. Here are a few items we often come across at our consultation or during the construction process at the site that play a role on the cost:
- Unforeseen issues or buried items not seen on the surface
- Irrigation systems that need to be moved
- Access to the site of the koi pond installation
- The removal of an old water feature
- Tree roots
- None or outdated electrical outlet
- None or outdated water source
Now lets take a look at the second factor of backyard pond installation that may affect the cost. Gardening has long been one of the most popular hobbies in the United States and many of our clients are definitely gardening enthusiasts. Knowing this, we try to be open to their needs by offering different options for the installation process of koi ponds. This allows us to help as much or as little as our customer desires. This flexibility leads to less stress and more savings.
Let's examine the options and some price ranges for those installations:
1.) Do-It-Yourself Installation- While we would love to install each and every pond, we are well aware of our clients ability to do projects on their own. We can provide and deliver all of the materials necessary to install an ecosystem to the clients home. The homeowner will then be responsible for all labor involved in the project, including excavation, installation of the liner, installation of all the equipment, plumbing installation, rock setting, gravel spreading, final grading, adding water, cleaning and flushing the system, electrical, landscaping, etc.
Although the concept of installing a backyard pond is not very complex and plenty of instructional information is available, it does require some attention to detail and there is not much margin for error. I will often only suggest a do-it-yourself pond installation of what we offer to a skilled and seasoned gardener.
The average do-it-yourselfer spends between $2,500 and $15,000, based on the size of the pond and options added.
2.) Pond Without Any Landscaping- Since we specialize in water feature construction and installation this is typically our most common option for koi ponds. This includes the materials and equipment to complete the ecosystem pond, the labor to excavate, the labor to install the liner and equipment, the labor to install the required pond plumbing, the setting of the rocks, the cleaning and flushing of the system, filling the pond with water, and the clean up of the mess we may have made.
The homeowner is then responsible for the installation of the electrical outlet if needed, the final grade and the landscaping around the backyard pond.
Most homeowners will spend between $8,000 and $30,000 on a Pond Without Any Landscaping, again depending on the size and options.
For the convenience of our potential clients we offer several packages for ponds without any landscaping due the wide range that could be spent with this option. When we get into much larger koi ponds with many options we will typically design a custom feature and that could exceed the prices listed above.
***See the options that we have available for ponds without any landscaping, here.
3.) Complete Landscape Package- Many customers prefer to just deal with one company when it comes to a complete landscape. We are more than happy to act as the "General" on a complete landscape package and have worked with many other companies to do so. This option includes everything listed in the second option as well as installing most of the landscape and planting. For some of the other options like electrical and irrigation we will work with another contractor to complete the project.
Most customers will spend $15,000 to $100,000 on a complete landscape package, with a higher amounts between the $30,000 to $60,000.
Stay tuned for the next blog where we discuss how the cost of a backyard (koi/ecosystem) pond compares to other types of water features.
Other Helpful Pond Related Resources Courtesy of Aquascape Inc's YouTube Page:
*As Certified Aquascape Contractors we find that our clients see Aquascape Incs. videos and information as very helpful.
-The World's Most Beautiful Backyard Ponds Video
Owning a pond, waterfall or fountain certainly doesn't need to be difficult, so be sure to contact us to see what we can do to educate you and set your mind at ease. For more educational information be sure to visit www.poseidonponds.com or for more inspiration visit our Facebook page and start following us!
Appreciatively Yours,
Cory Mann
"Poseidon Pond Mann"
"Poseidon Pond Mann"
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