As you can imagine, there are many benefits to hiring a reliable professional. First, your pond won’t be the victim of your trial and error. It will look more natural and fit better with the surrounding landscape. You also have the assurance of knowing it was built by someone with the expertise and experience to build your pond.

Now that you’ve decided to hire a professional, let’s look at where to start. First off, all contractors are not equal. Unfortunately, as in any service industry, there are unreliable and dishonest people representing themselves as professional pond builders. You certainly don’t want this type of contractor working on your pond. Instead, you want to look for one of the many professional, reputable, qualified, and experienced contractors.

Finding a Reliable Pond Builder

One good way to a find reputable contractor is to get a reference from someone who has a pond you would like to replicate. Word of mouth is a great way to find a good contractor. Attending a pond tour is yet another great opportunity to scout out your favorite pond and determine if the owner is pleased with their pond and the service they’ve gotten from their pond builder. Here’s a few other things you might want to think about when looking for someone to build your water garden.

Another way to find a reputable contractor is to look for one that is certified by the manufacturer. A Certified Aquascape Contractor is certified by Aquascape Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of high quality pond equipment, based on their pond building experience, professionalism, references, and customer satisfaction. The contractors’ work is critiqued for proper installation techniques and natural aesthetics. By using this type of reference service, you can be sure you are getting the cream of the crop when it comes to installers in your area. Click here to find a Certified Aquascape Contractor in your area.

Here are some things to look at when looking for a contractor to perform any work, not just ponds, in or around your house.

References

Make sure the contractor has an extensive portfolio of their work.

Ask for references and follow-up on them.

Do they have several different projects available for you to see in person?

Talk to the homeowners of these projects and ask them about their experience with the contractor.

Their Work

First, do you like the look of their work?

Make sure they use a natural-looking mixture of stone and have a good eye for a natural pond design.

Does the pond fit in with the surrounding landscape?

Find a contractor who specializes in water features, waterfalls, streams, aquatic plants, and fish as a primary business.

The Specifics

A reputable contractor should be insured. This protects the homeowner from any lawsuits resulting from injury or negligence on the job.

Make sure they have an understanding of local building codes and proper permits. If a permit is needed, be sure to work out who is responsible for obtaining it with the contractor.

Is the contractor professional? The most artistic, gifted pond builder may still be a bad selection if they don’t run their business in a professional, upstanding manner.

In some states, the contractor requires proper licensing.

Make sure the contract includes specifications of the project, breakdown of the cost, responsibilities of contractor and homeowner, and liability and insurance.

The contractor should provide at least a six-month warranty, up to one year, on their work. The warranty should cover defects in workmanship, mechanical problems, or leakage situations.