What Kind Of Mess Is Made During A Backyard (Koi/Ecosystem) Pond Construction?

When any potential client begins the process of seeking out a contractor to hire for their project they will always be thinking about the mess that will be created during the construction, whether they say it or not. Builders and roofers will have lots of waste material, plumbers will likely have a watery mess, painters will have spills and landscapers will cause lawn damage of some sort. All contractors will generate some sort of a mess, so why is it such a big deal?

Any homeowner would be able to tell you that their home is their sanctuary, the place they feel the most comfortable and safe. The act of inviting a contractor into their home is stressful and the fear of a big mess makes matters worse. All too many times I have heard stories from clients that talked about other contractors and how great their work was, but they would never work with them again because they trashed their home and didn't clean up after themselves. If you are looking for a contractor to do work in or on your property, don't be shy, ask them what they plan to do with the mess generated. There are many messes in the contractor world, but since I am in the landscaping industry I will focus on the mess generated by a landscape project, specifically the pond construction mess.

You are currently reading the third part of my series on backyard pond construction, click the links below to catch up on the first two blogs:

-What is the construction process for a backyard (Koi/ecosystem) pond?

-How long does it take to construct a backyard (Koi/ecosystem) pond?

What causes a mess during backyard pond construction?

This topic seems self explanatory I am sure, but to have a deeper look at what causes the mess can help reduce the anxiety a client may have about the project. A contractor's goal should focus on the needs of the client and painting a clear picture of what to expect can do just that, so let's look at what might cause a mess during an ecosystem pond build.

Site Prepartation

Site Preparation- Before the actual pond construction can begin the site needs to be cleared/prepped. This process can be the removal of sod, the removal of landscape plants, the removal of mulch, the removal of a deck or patio, etc. Whatever the case the area designated for the new koi pond needs to be prepped and that generates a mess. The removed debris will then need to be either staged on site for removal or removed right away. To remove the debris wheelbarrows or machines are often used. The machines are typically the main contributor to generating a mess by creating ruts in the lawn or dropping small amount of debris from the site to to staging area.

Pond Construction- The site is prepped and now the backyard pond construction begins. The excavation of soil can produce soil clumps, tree roots, rock and other buried materials. The soil is often used within the site for waterfalls or streams, but excess soil will be transported and staged with 

Pond Construction

the prep waste. All other debris is also added to the site prep waste, typically with a machine. During the Koi pond construction other debris will e generated from installing the liner, underlayment, plumbing and equipment. While some of the debris can be recycled, some is destined for the landfill and adds to the staged waste. 

Material Delivery

Material Delivery- With most ecosystem pond builds rocks of varying sizes, soils and even mulch are used for the finished product. The materials needed are often delivered by supporting vendors and are typically not the same location as the pond. The material delivery will either be on the driveway or next to the driveway. This process will either make the driveway dirty or create another area that will need to be repaired. 

Material Transport

Material Transport- This is really part of the site preparation and construction, but it is important to separate it for educational purposes. The transport of materials from the construction site to the the staging area typically generates the biggest mess. Machines moving the materials will create ruts, compress soils and even drop material from time to time. The mess generated is connected directly to the size of the project/amount of materials and the distance from the staging area to the backyard pond construction site.

For all of the above processes there is one major catalyst on the size and scope of the mess generated, and that is simply the WEATHER. Good weather will allow the contractor to finish the construction with minimal damage while bad weather can greatly expand a mess if not reviewed. Pushing through to complete a project after lots of rain can create a significant amount of material transport damage. I have reviewed what causes a mess, so what are some things that can prevent the mess.

What can be done during pond construction to reduce or prevent a mess?

It is simply insane to think that there will not be any mess generated by any contractor let alone a landscaper. If a contractor truly has the clients best interest in mind they will clearly know this and have some sort of plan to reduce or prevent a mess. For a good contractor this process begins early on at the site consultation with the client. A clear plan is developed for where the material is to be delivered and where any debris will be staged for removal. The contractor will need to have a clear picture of the size and scope of the project to determine if the staging area is big enough or if continually debris removal will be required. The contractor then need to determine the best path for the materials to be transported from the staging area to the project location. Witth the path in mind, the contractor will also need to figure out what needs to be moved or protected along the path. The final planning for the path is whether or not a protective barrier (wood sheets or rubber matting) needs to be put down to protect the lawn or garden beds. A good plan is then delivered to the construction team prior to the start of the construction.

For multi-day projects it is very important for the contractor to set aside time to clean up debris and stage it accordingly. Typically a contractor like this will have some select team members break off from the rest of the team at the end of the day to do this. While some materials will be staged till the end of the construction, trash will often be removed from the site daily.

The last preventative measure that a good landscape contractor will have deals with weather. Since the construction occurs outside and the fact that weather can be a catalyst to the mess created it will be a focus to monitor the weather and adjust the plan accordingly. After a big event the contractor will evaluate the site and determine if it is workable and why or why not. They will then keep the client up to date on the restart date. While monitoring the weather the contractor may also switch gears on the project and remove materials to get ahead of a weather event and prevent a slow down in the construction.

What is done about the mess made from the backyard (Koi/ecosystem) pond construction?

The mess has been made, now what? With most contractors it is not the immediate area around the project where the mess is forgotten or left, it's along the path where materials were transported or the staging area. I always expressed to my co-workers that you could build the greatest masterpiece you have ever done, but if you leave the smallest of messes and the client finds it your masterpiece quickly becomes kindergarten art. With a daily clean up at the end of the day a contractor can decrease the odds of missing a mess at the end. A contractor who waits till the end of the project to clean up faces a mountain instead of a hill. They will often be in a rush to meet estimated hours or budget, resulting in far less quality and attention in the clean up. With lots of machine traffic a good contractor will aerate the soil, spread soil if needed and add grass seed. The best way to ensure a good through clean up for any contractor is to have a clean up checklist for their team and hold them accountable to their clean up by requiring the client to sign off on the work. The contractor that treats all of their clients property as if it was their own family members, like a grandmother, will certainly have a clear understanding why a client feels the way the do about their property.

For the final blog in the series focused on the construction of a backyard (Koi/ecosystem) pond I will be exploring the question I often get asked at the site consultation, "When can you start the construction of my backyard (Koi/ecosystem) pond?"

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"