PondWorks is excited to launch our updated website. The site has a fresh new look for 2018, with updated project pages, photos and much more! The URL remains the same, so check us out at: www.pondworksonline.com
It's National Talk Like a Pirate Day!
It's National Talk Like a Pirate Day!
One of our own chosen as a judge for POND Trade Magazine's "Water Artisans of the Year" contest
PondWorks Owner & Founder is chosen as to be a judge in the 2017 POND Trade Magazine's 2017 Water Artisan of the Year contest.
Final preparations being made on site for NSP construction
Final site layout and wetlands designation verification for our first Natural Swimming Pool construction project.
PondTrade Magazine - Water Artisans of the Year!
We are honored to announce that PondTrade Magazine awarded us as the winner of the Most Naturalistic category for their Water Artisans of the Year competition. PondWorks was also awarded Runner Up in the Best Overall category. Look for our spread in the March / April edition or see the following links on the PondTrade website:
Koi Pond Progress - Final Rocking
The pond is starting to take shape and look more like a pond. We are adding the finishing touches to the boulders and have added the layers of filtration stones to the bogs. The bogs will help with the natural filtration of the pond. We use layers of three different types of stones to help with the filter the bog. Eventually we will plant aquatic plantings in the filtration medium, which will also help with the filtration process. Just a few more days of final touches and the construction of the waterfall and then we will add the water! Stay tuned...
Koi Pond Progress - Bridge Construction
The koi pond construction continues to run smoothly and we are continuing the boulder placement process. We recently added the bridge to the pond, which was constructed out of of old granite slabs. Concrete pillars were formed to anchor the slabs and give the bridge support. The granite slabs will be added to the landscape so that the theme of the linear pieces will be found throughout the garden. Lots more to look forward to, stay tuned!
Koi Pond Progress - Liner & Rocking
We have made a ton of progress at our new koi pond construction job. By a ton, we mean a whole lot of boulders for this pond! The filtration and the liner have been laid out and now we are onto the boulder placement. The boulders not only help secure the liner down, but they also help make the pond look naturalistic and as if it were formed naturally. The boulders are native to Pennsylvania and come from a quarry that we like to keep secret. Our owner Brian Buchholtz takes a lot of pride in his boulders and is exceptionally great at boulder placement. He takes every boulder into consideration and even takes the time to hand select most boulders at the quarry for every project he does. We feel that this attention detail, that most would overlook, helps set us a part as pond builders. The boulder placement takes time and we have learned a lot from many mistakes and successes. We feel very lucky to have the resources and people that we have, on our team. This project is well under way and we look forward to more progress and updates...stay tuned for more!
Koi Pond Progress - Site Layout
In December, we wrote about and exciting design project for a new koi pond. After a lot of planning and coordination with all project parties and township permitting we are finally breaking ground in Bucks County, Pa! This week we visited the site and measured out the pond. Thanks to our drone we were able to check our measurements and the layout of the pond was right on point. You can see in the image below that we super imposed our site plan on-top of a photo of the site from our drone and everything is lining up. The first step to this construction process is the construction of a retaining wall due to a slight grade in the backyard and we need to a level site to construct this pond. Once the grade is level and the wall is constructed we will start digging the pond. Stay tuned for more project updates!
Koi Pond Design-Build Project
This winter we have been busy designing a new koi pond for a client in Bucks County, PA. Not only are we designing the pond in-house, but we are also teaming up with our landscape division, Stillwater Landscape Associates. With the help of Stillwater we have been able incorporate planting schemes in and around the pond. We are excited for Spring to come and start building another new pond for our clients and their fish!
Philadelphia Zoo Duck Pond
PondWorks has been awarded the contract to build the duck pond and stream exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo’s new KidZoo U: Hamilton Family Children’s Zoo & Faris Family Education Center.
Scheduled to open in the Spring of 2013 the project will include indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits geared towards young visitors. The project is being managed by W.S. Cumby Construction Managers. The new interactive children’s center will transform both indoor and outdoor space and will be the first LEED certified zoo building in Pennsylvania. The duck pond exhibit will incorporate an upper pond, stream, waterfalls and lower pond into the larger outdoor landscape designed by Viridian Landscape Studio. The outdoor setting will set a new standard in storm water management and sustainability for the zoo. The duck habitat will be one part of the outdoor design that includes rainwater collection, wetland and native plantings and a natural landscape that references Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Designing for Ducks
PondWorks is part of the design team for Viridian Landscape Studio, along with SMP Architects and Philadelphia Zoo staff to develop a new duck pond habitat for the Philadelphia Zoo. This Duck Pond and naturalized stream is part of the new Hamilton Family Children’s Zoo and KidZoo U, a redevelopment of the historic Pachyderm House. The new interactive children’s center will transform both indoor and outdoor space and will be the first LEED certified zoo building in Pennsylvania.
PondWorks has been tasked with helping to bring the pond and water feature concept into reality. Design and planning of the ponds, filtration systems, rock work, water proofingand aquatic plantings will be considered to help transform what is now the old Pachyderm paddocks. The outdoor setting will set a new standard in storm water management and sustainability for the zoo. The duck habitat will be one part of the outdoor design that includes rainwater collection, wetland and native plantings and a natural landscape that references Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Oh what a beautiful pond
On June 16 customers from all over the county arrived at Pennview Christian academy for a day of building and information. PondWorks again teamed up with Fins Feather Paws & Claws who organized this pond day. The pond construction began at 9:00 and 8 hours later was completed.
Brian and his staff from Pond Works guided all the attendees through every step of pond construction from digging the hole to installing the proper equipment. Build A Pond participants said the hands on experience helped to build confidence to go home and build a pond of their own.
Stephen Schrag Director of Advancement was overwhelmed by this extraordinary gift that was given to the elementary school and can’t wait for the beginning of the school season to have some outside environmental classes with the students!
Pennock Walk Project
PondWorks was involved in a restoration project at the University of Pennsylvania’s Morris Arboretum www.morrisarboretum.org that took place in late 2006. The Pennock Walk Project included two fountains that needed to be restored to their original functions. The first project was a long copper lined fountain that contained 15 fountain jets. A new copper liner and a new filtration system were installed. In addition to installing completely new infrastructure for the circulation and filtration of both fountains PondWorks also added fiber optic lighting to the jets to illuminate them at night. The second project was an historic marble fountain that had been reconstructed. A copper spray ring consisting of 6 jets was installed into the fountain. After 2 months of work, the fountains were ready to be turned on. We were extremely happy with the way this project went and the smiles it brought to the avid gardeners and visitors.
Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa
PondWorks traveled to Atlantic City to waterproof an indoor fountain at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. Although the temptation of gambling was there, PondWorks remained focused on the project at hand. The fountain is located within an indoor garden which has a glass bridge crossing the center. After the routine plumbing work was done, PondWorks began prepping the fountain to be waterproofed. This consisted of sanding, masking, acid washing, and adding a bonding agent. After the Super Sealer bonding agent had cured, the Vortex spray on polyurea liner was installed. A Granitex top coat was then applied to achieve the desired effect.
Vortex Spray on Liner
PondWorks just took delivery and completed training for their new portable spray rig to apply polyurea spray on liner, by Vortex. This liner is extremely durable and can be used in a near limitless range of applications, including garage floors, decks, piers, boats, ponds, fountains, basements, trailers and truck beds, just to name a few. We are excited about the product and how it will help us to provide quality spray on lining for our customers.
Indian Valley YMCA
PondWorks teamed up with Fins, Feathers, Paws & Claws in Harleysville Pennsylvania to demonstrate the pond construction process. Over 30 pond enthusiasts and landscapers signed up and participated in the event that took place at the Harleysville YMCA. Participants were given the opportunity to ask questions and to assist in the many different stages of the pond construction. The pond construction began with the excavation of the site and progressed through the liner and filtration installations and ended with the planting of aquatic plants and landscaping around the outside of the pond. Children from the YMCA put the final touch on the pond by adding fish. It was a fun and exciting day for everyone!
Certified Professional Pond Contractor
Brian Buchholtz of PondWorks is recognized as a Certified Professional Pond Contractor by the International Professional Pond Contractors Association. The IPPCA is the Not-for-profit Pond and Waterscape Industry's Official Trade Association who’s goal is to ensure that a high level of quality standards are met within the Pond and Waterscape industry. All of the contractors listed on this site have either met or exceeded these standards.
Learn more at www.ippca.com