To build or not to build.......yourself? - Koi Forum - Koi-Bito Magazine

Lam Nguyen · 01-19-2008

If finance or time is not an issue, what would you rather do? Would you rather build your own dream pond or have a contractor build it for you?

Dwight · 01-19-2008

I think I'd go with the contractor IF you can find a good one who doesn't mind you staying in the middle of construction to make sure it is done your way. A rare and valuable animal indeed. On my ponds I combined the two approaches. I did most of the digging and all the plumbing and had a contractor do the concrete , flagstone and bolder placement

luke frisbee · 01-19-2008

I am definitely going with DIY.
The sense of pride as well as learning new skills can not be diminished.
I can lay block very well now...not fast but very well.

smithvillemike · 01-19-2008

I would pay. That way it would be done right. I would be very involved in the project, but I'm an internet guy and not very mechanically inclined. I built an elevated deck at my house and my friend a contractor tells me it's time for an update. It works and has been there for years, it just could have been done better. That said I did build my current pond and am pretty happy with it, although there are things I would do differently now. As Luke says I feel a sense of pride that I built it and it is still standing. It's all about the comfort level.

I also would not want to do the manual labor of digging a pond. No heavy equipment can get into my yard as it has to cross a stream and the bridge wouldn't hold the weight.

JosephandGabby · 01-19-2008

I'm definitely a DIY kinda' guy, although I did solicit assistance from a few relatives when building my various ponds and related backyard projects...

Lam Nguyen · 01-19-2008

Ah, it's nice to have friends and relatives who are willing to help. Nothing better than a group of guys huffin & puffin & gruntin with a shovel in one hand and a beer in the other!

MCA · 01-19-2008

If I have the time...I do it. For our 8' deep 10,000 pond, the only help I had was the excavator, my wife doing some bucket brigade at cleanup, and club members helping rollout the liner. All the design, concrete, block, plumbing, electrical, was dome by me.

schildkoi · 01-19-2008

I may be a DIY guy, with both education and experience in the construction industry, BUT, at 50, the body doesn't always want to cooperation with what the brain is willing to do.

I would prefer acting AS the general contractor and sub out portions such as excavation, steel work and gunite, while allowing the pond to be "stubbed out" per my specifications. I can handle the sealing, plumbing and electrical.

Steve

aquitori · 01-19-2008

If time and money was no issue, which it always is....I would probably GC the project and sub-out the work to those who I know can do the various phases of the project.

MikeM · 01-19-2008

LOL... however much I might prefer it otherwise, competence dictates that I not do it myself.

01-19-2008	#1 (permalink)
Lam Nguyen Tategoi Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 385	To build or not to build.......yourself? If finance or time is not an issue, what would you rather do? Would you rather build your own dream pond or have a contractor build it for you?

01-19-2008	#4 (permalink)
smithvillemike Sansai Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Smithville, Texas Posts: 289	I would pay. That way it would be done right. I would be very involved in the project, but I'm an internet guy and not very mechanically inclined. I built an elevated deck at my house and my friend a contractor tells me it's time for an update. It works and has been there for years, it just could have been done better. That said I did build my current pond and am pretty happy with it, although there are things I would do differently now. As Luke says I feel a sense of pride that I built it and it is still standing. It's all about the comfort level. I also would not want to do the manual labor of digging a pond. No heavy equipment can get into my yard as it has to cross a stream and the bridge wouldn't hold the weight. __________________ Whoever said you can't buy happiness didn't know about Koi

01-19-2008	#8 (permalink)
schildkoi Jumbo Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 747	I may be a DIY guy, with both education and experience in the construction industry, BUT, at 50, the body doesn't always want to cooperation with what the brain is willing to do. I would prefer acting AS the general contractor and sub out portions such as excavation, steel work and gunite, while allowing the pond to be "stubbed out" per my specifications. I can handle the sealing, plumbing and electrical. Steve __________________ The views presented are my personal views and not that of any organization that I may belong to unless otherwise specified. schildkoi@aol.com CKHPA

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01-19-2008	#2 (permalink)
Dwight Sansai Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Texas Posts: 157	I think I'd go with the contractor IF you can find a good one who doesn't mind you staying in the middle of construction to make sure it is done your way. A rare and valuable animal indeed. On my ponds I combined the two approaches. I did most of the digging and all the plumbing and had a contractor do the concrete , flagstone and bolder placement

01-19-2008	#3 (permalink)
luke frisbee Oyagoi Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,451	I am definitely going with DIY. The sense of pride as well as learning new skills can not be diminished. I can lay block very well now...not fast but very well.

01-19-2008	#5 (permalink)
JosephandGabby Sansai Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 235	I'm definitely a DIY kinda' guy, although I did solicit assistance from a few relatives when building my various ponds and related backyard projects...

01-19-2008	#6 (permalink)
Lam Nguyen Tategoi Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 385	Ah, it's nice to have friends and relatives who are willing to help. Nothing better than a group of guys huffin & puffin & gruntin with a shovel in one hand and a beer in the other!

01-19-2008	#7 (permalink)
MCA Tategoi Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 415	If I have the time...I do it. For our 8' deep 10,000 pond, the only help I had was the excavator, my wife doing some bucket brigade at cleanup, and club members helping rollout the liner. All the design, concrete, block, plumbing, electrical, was dome by me.

01-19-2008	#9 (permalink)
aquitori Daihonmei Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: DA 408 Posts: 7,419	If time and money was no issue, which it always is....I would probably GC the project and sub-out the work to those who I know can do the various phases of the project.

01-19-2008	#10 (permalink)
MikeM Honmei Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 4,655	LOL... however much I might prefer it otherwise, competence dictates that I not do it myself.