DIY Mosaic Water Feature

Inspired by Japanese ornamental pools, to bring a little tranquility to modern life, this freestanding pond will be a calming factor in any setting.

The cool blue of the tiles promotes restfulness and is set off by colourful waterlilies. You can lose hours in contemplation just watching the water and the fish.

Mosaic tiles are quite expensive to buy; so work out the size of your pond and your requirements before you go off to buy them.

Make all your dimensions divisible by the size of a tile, including the thickness of the walls of the pond. The carcass is made from marine plywood, which has waterproof qualities. All the joins are sealed with PVA glue and screwed in place, so the pond is secure. Make sure you use an adhesive for use in water, and is available from most specialist hardware stores.

Mosaic tiles are supplied on a mesh backing. Measure the size of a sheet of tiles and decide on the internal measurements of the pond in proportion to the size of sheet that is available.

You will need:
- Marine ply - enough for the size of the pond you will make
- PVA glue
- Drill, jigsaw, screwdriver and screws
- Sandpaper
- Mosaic tiles
- Rubber gloves

Here's how:
1. Cut the structure of the pond from 15mm thick marine ply, using a jigsaw (fine blade).

2. To make the pond you need to cut a base, four sides and four 'lip' pieces for a rim at the top of the pond.

3. Plywood tends to splinter when you cut it, so sand the edges smooth.

4. Place the sides at right angles to each other, then drill pilot holes through the thickness of the first piece and into the width of the second.

5. Glue each piece with a waterproof PVA glue and screw together through the pilot holes that you have drilled. Screw and glue the base to the sides.

6. Screw and glue the lip pieces to the top edge of the pond, overlapping them to add strength to the structure as shown in the photograph.

DIY Tip:
Make sure that the tiles fit before you start to mix up the adhesive, so that you will not make any mistakes when you start to stick them to the inside of the pond.

If possible when choosing your mosaic tiles, add a few random contrast colours or highlights.

7. Mix up the adhesive in a container, following manufacturer's instructions. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.

8. Spread the adhesive on the base of the pond and lay the tiles, inserting the contrast tiles. To get them to lay flat, press them down into the adhesive with an offcut of wood. Carry on spreading the adhesive sparingly, using a tile spreader, along the sides.

9. Apply mosaic to the sides of the pond, pressing them flat with your hands. When you have tiled the pond inside and out and added a line of tiles across the top edge, leave to dry overnight.

10. Mix up the grout and apply with a sponge, following manufacturer's instructions. Leave to dry completely for 2-3 days.

You are now ready to fill up your pond.

  source: garden projects in a weekend