Building a Pond! Huge Liner and Hauling Boulders with Dump Truck

We're building a natural swim pond right in our own backyard. So far, we've dug this thing out to every single measurement, [clears throat] exactly the way it needs to be. But along the way, we hit a problem. Tons of ground water. So, we installed a French drain to a sump pump in a culvert right below where the liner is going to go. That way, there's no water beneath our liner. Now, this week, we have a huge job ahead of us because we need to figure out how to harden up this pond. Massive boulders are going to be going in. We're talking some serious weight. And we're moving every single one of them with our old dump truck. Then the liner goes down. And that's just the beginning. Let's get to work. 80,000 lb of dirt coming in. This bill looks a lot like sand, Chris. That's a large load. Also, I'm very excited because I was just standing up there. This is going to look good. >> Yeah. So the idea is we need to make the Earth pool blend into nature, right? >> Not feel like it was placed there. >> Not feel like two gals just made it. [music] I'm old now. I've just begun. Time is [music] precious. >> So, this is what we're going for. It's not perfect. I definitely need a lot more material, but two loads to start off. Don't want to do too many loads cuz we're going to need that gravel back there soon, the limestone screening. But it's going to look very natural and there's going to be a lot more fill brought back in there when we do the house build. Okay, our pond looks amazing, but our walls do not. If the walls like this, this is going to crumble as we bring things in, and it's going to create more work. And unfortunately, it means we have a lot of work ahead of us on these walls. And then we need to rake the entire pool >> and then remove all the sticks and all the rocks >> with the wheelbarrow. So we did a little trial. This is it. So now when we can like rake this back, but also we can cut all these twigs one by one. Give this hill a haircut so it's not not going to fall in. where before if I was right here and I was trying to remove like this rock that was a bad example but this rock all of that just comes crumbling down >> and then you have so much more to clean up. All of this here too is just not making for a very compact and stable wall. You can see it is looking more stable and more compact from that excavator. Nothing wants to fall when I hit it. [music] >> [music] >> where the rivers. [music] This is going well. I'm very, very, very happy with it. [music] It's taken a fraction of the time if we were to do it by hand, and now it's ready for us to do [music] it by hand. It's the perfect slope. It I think it looks amazing, Josh. You're doing a great job excavating. >> [music] [music] >> What do you guys think? Are we ready? Are we I will need the knife. Imagine that. No knife needed. Oh, >> I don't feel like I'm back in Canada. >> I'm getting all over you. >> Oh my gosh. That's a back breaker. Now this guy got it up even further from the ground. Oh my god. >> You know uh what is that? What's that other >> That's a lot of in that bag. >> Yeah, >> it's 85 lbs worth. >> I think I carried one and I This is going to be sick. Okay, I like this now. >> So, you know how we hit water while we were digging this earth pool. Okay, so as you can see, this is not looking good. All of a sudden, this has turned to pudding, jello- goop, and our machine is actually buried. Well, we have the solution now because we're going to be putting massive boulders around 8,000 lb in this earth pool. We don't want it to settle because if the rocks settle, then the liner will rip and we don't want that. You don't want to have to do this work over again. So, we're using Portland cement, just plain cement, not concrete, no rocks, no gravel, plain cement. And we are raking it throughout all the wet/s squishy parts because I'll show you something right now. Look at that water bed. >> Yeah. [music] >> [music] >> This is working super well. The defent which is pretty jelloy also or like we like to say a water bed. It's already hardening up. Before we would get mud in the boots and now just a little imprint. So we'll let the cement do its thing. Probably give it a light water. But I'm very impressed with how this is going so far. >> [music] [music] >> All right. Adding a little bit of water to the cement to make sure it hardens up. And then we'll let it sit. [music] This is going to provide the pool with so much more strength because of all of that water and clay that we did encounter. So, I think we're officially past that between our underliner sump pump and our concrete foundation in here. We're doing good and we're ready to move on to the next step. And you may be thinking, "Girls, just fill it up with water and go for a swim." This earth pool is going to be the most magnificent, most peaceful, most beautiful thing you've ever seen. I promise you. Oh, there goes our sump pump. And speaking of sun pump, I can now confirm that every 45 minutes it turns on. It sprays out that much water exactly the same every single time. So, I'm feeling very optimistic about our pond. Looks nice. >> Looks pretty good. >> Hard. >> Yeah, it's hard. Crazy hard. Yep. The whole ground needs to shake. Pretty sweet. I love cement. All right. You got the measurement. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, I'd say top of Burm is pretty good. This side on the right is about 5 in higher, but that's because it hasn't been driven on or compacted as much. So, I'll probably just go and drive on it for like an hour and then we'll see you right after that. It's pretty cool to have a 12,000lb compactor. That ground ain't going nowhere. We had to get rid of that pile. >> It had to be done. >> Team work. >> Okay, next next task finally. I'm having a look at our construction notes and we have officially completed the layout and excavation portion. We are now moving on to the subsurface preparation and then after that it's the liner install. This is a giant load of limestone screenings which we are going to coat the entire pool with. We're going to help create this perfect angle, making everything really nice and flat. Any bumps that you see currently, you will no longer see. This will iron them all out. And this is also going to give us a just a very solid flat base around the entire pool. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Wow. >> [music] [music] >> That went a lot faster than I thought. Not going to lie. It looks amazing. So level, so beautiful, and Crystal can't stop breaking. Now, we got to obviously go around and pick up any rocks or sticks that have fallen on the ground. Things are getting real. We are finally closing off the entrance that the machines took in here. Big moves. Big, big moves. And Crystal's still raking if you're wondering. Yes, everyone. I know I need to grease PJ. Sorry to all your ears. And really, I'm sorry to PJ. I just need more time in the day. The entire pool has been raked. I think I've raaked more in the last 3 weeks than I've raked in my whole life. >> Good morning. >> Morning. and good morning. [music] You love the hose. Yeah. [music] Today's plan, we need to first wet the limestone screening and then compact it. When it's wet, it's a lot easier to compact. And then I think we're going to be moving on to the geoteexile and the liner. Quite ambitious, but I think we can do it. He wants it. Ready to come back. [music] Well, everyone, it's a whacker. A whacker. Comptor. Heat up here. >> [music] >> Check it out. It is hard as a rock in here. Everything is looking very solid. The tamper was a very good choice. It's compacted all of the limestone screenings really well due to how much water we have in our deep end. I don't think I should do the deep end. Should probably just tamp it the best I can with something. However, that's easy. A whacker. A walk behind. It does everything itself compared to the bora ones. Those are an arm workout. Actually whole body workout. I don't see any more rocks in here. I've been picking rocks for days as we've been working away and I'm feeling like we're ready for some geoteexile fabric. right here. 34 ft. 12 ft from there. So, we're going to take all our measurements first and then cut the geoteexile after. 305. >> Yeah. And then we probably need like another little half piece. >> Got to pick it up. No, don't jump. Yeah. >> You think you can lift that? [laughter] I love your like you think you are so strong. You're the only person I know that really thinks you're stronger than they are. Go for it. Go. Okay. So, what do you want to do? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Just one more me and we'd be rolling. Oh my gosh. So, did you know that geoexile comes in different ounces? I had no idea. We just ordered geoteexile and they just asked us what project we were doing. >> I knew that cuz I do the ordering. >> Oh, and this is 10 oz because it's going beneath the pond liner. So, it's going to extend the life of our liner, helping it become more puncture proof and creating a solid base just like we do with our driveways. But we don't use 10 oz for our driveways. >> We have in past. >> Where? >> At the cabin. >> Stop. >> 42 right there. >> Yeah. >> This fabric is so thick. With a new X-Acto blade, [gasps] it's hardly cutting and I'm really putting so much pressure and it's not cutting. This is how thick it is. So, this is going to be really good for our pond. It's going to protect our liner so much. This is some 10 oz geo textile. Holy smokes. She figured out the method. Pull it up and cut it. >> It's really thick though. >> It's very thick. As we tried to lift that geoteexile, we've realized this is going to be so slow. First step we're going to try is our neighbors are going to bring us over very very long chain and we're going to try to put the chain all the way through. Probably have to fish it with a string and whatnot. And then we're going to hold it up on the excavator with another chain like a triangle. And then that way we can just pull and cut every single which way. So you have to go horizontal on the pond without pulling all of the material from the exterior and the top of burm back into the pond. That would be the the worst case scenario >> cuz then you're trying to fish out rocks and debris and whatever else can't be under there >> crawling >> underneath your textile and you really don't want that or you miss it and now you have a hole in your liner. So this is this stuff's very important. >> Also, we're also at the shortest point once we get to like adding additional 18 ft in the middle. It's going to be even heavier and like harder to work with. >> Yeah, that's really heavy. >> I'm going to go get make sure we're getting rope. >> But if we had two crystals, we could probably lift it, right? >> And our second idea is that plumbing pipe. I should probably just go now, but I'm going to try this first. Then we're going to get a big big plumbing thing, like a big pipe, half inch, 3/4 inch, probably 3/4 inch, throw it all the way through, put little stoppers on it, and then chain it up right on the excavator, too. So, we'll see what we can do today. But the big hardware store is quite far, so I don't really want to waste an hour of my day, but I could be wasting more not trying it the best way. Does anyone ever do that? Your brain like do I just go do the way I know or should I try something else? Probably take an hour trying something else. >> Okay, >> Tony, it fits. The chain fits. >> Wait, how would it ever go through? >> Oh, you're going to try and punch it with another stick. >> Either that or we try to freaking hit it through one good whack and hopefully it >> What if the actuator turns this up and then we just drop it down? >> We get the leaf. >> A good idea, actually. You could even cut the water bottle in half, too. >> Gosh, I was thinking after >> make it lighter. >> It's like a FL. >> It's cotton. >> Ready? >> Yeah. >> Is it on vacuum mode? Does it have that mode? >> Try it. >> No. >> Coming towards me. There's something in there. That would be why the air was blowing back. >> So, if I was to go to your um your crazy bin out there uh where you piled all the junk and if I could find a rebar, >> smash it through there. That's long bars. >> There is some long bars. Just got to put water on it though. >> Wild from the scrap pile welded to a new tool. Sick. >> Yeah. Here it comes. >> Oh, nice. We got the string. >> Beauty. >> Oh, yeah. >> Hell yeah. Holy >> Perfect. [snorts] >> Cross your fingers. >> Okay. Put it down. Put it down. Put down. >> I think we got to carry it. We we we can grab the little tractor. >> Bring it over here. >> Set it. >> Put it where he's going to the legs down on the back to hold it tight. And then that thing there too tight. And then you'll be able to roll it out. >> Yeah. But then you can only do it in one area, right? >> So, you know, like a cir circus hat. You know how the guys walk on tight ropes? >> Yeah. >> That would be exactly this thing being on tight rope. I hope the camera's not on. >> Neighbors have an idea. I'm going to leave it to them. We'll all watch the show. What the heck, Bella? Okay, we have both machines working to pull the chain inside of the geoexile so we can unravel it and hopefully pull it across the pond with ease, not pulling any of the exterior rocks or earth or any material inside of our pool. >> Help. >> So now you got to figure out how much you need to leave out there. >> You can cut it right there. >> Check this out. First piece is down. It looks so good. Now the second piece will overlap this by minimum 4 in. And we will do that across the entire pool. Okay. Machine and tractor working together. Here we go. [music] Yep. That's [music] good. We're almost halfway through the pond with only two pulls of the fabric. That's because we have five of us and we have a 15t roll. And so for that reason, we only have maybe one, two, maybe three more and then this whole thing will be covered. It looks good. [music] It doesn't matter who you are or wherever [music] you're from. [music] >> You're really supervising right now, eh? >> She wants in. >> Now there's rocks in the pool. >> Sounds good, right? >> Yeah. What are you doing? >> Got a crevice. A cre What's it called? >> A crevis. >> Crease. >> A crease. >> A crease. because there's some wrinkles. So, we fold it over. We'll glue this down. And you'll never know. >> Like that. You see it? >> Glue. We're gonna burn. >> Melt it. Don't burn it through. >> Looking fabulous. >> Here we go. >> Look at everyone working so hard. [music] >> [music] [music] >> PJ's clean and she deserved that. She's been working very hard. Today was a productive day. The geo went down. The seams were all melted together. Everything is looking smooth and beautiful. Excavator is looking even better. It's been a long time since it's looked that good. And after everything she went through a few weeks ago, I think that was really welld deserved. And now, oh my gosh, it's liner time. The geoteexile stayed down. >> I did all the seams. That's so much weight. It couldn't fly up. And then you have rocks around the entire perimeter. >> Didn't think about that. You're a smart one. >> We are prepared. >> As you all know, the liner is the next step in our pool build. >> You probably think we're doing it. >> We aren't. We aren't doing it today. We are going to We are going to wait because typically when you're installing a liner of this size, you need a lot of bodies. Just the two of us today. And so we could probably use 10 people. I think we'll end up with five, but that will do. And so we're going to wait. And so today we are prioritizing picking all of the boulders. We're going look for rocks. We're going on a rock hunt right now. [laughter] And so we need the excavator and the dump truck and we need to go around our property because we have 65 acres and a lot of rocks. So we're going to go pick up some rocks, put them in the dump truck, bring them poolside so they can get a view of their new home cuz they're going to be going in the pool once we have the liner on. All the rocks we need to keep very clean. As we all know, no debris in the Earth pool. So, we're going to cut some geoexile way around like 30 20 30 ft over here. And that way when the boulders get delivered and the boulders that we pick out, they have a nice place, nice kick to live. All right. All around our property, we have found piles of massive rocks all in a line. >> Here's one of them. >> And they're everywhere. So, we have we could honestly open a rock business if we wanted to. We have that many stones. >> 50 bucks a rock. >> And the less trucking we have to bring in for a stone, the more money we save. And rocks ain't cheap. Don't break our box. Heat. [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Grab this one next. It's a nice one. Oh, it's big. [bell] You're rocking. [music] These bowlers are massive. She's rocking. So topheavy. >> [music] >> PLEASE, PLEASE ROCKS are so cool. Look at that. Do you think we should just take this as our first load? >> 100%. This is a lot of weight. I always underestimate rocks. These, in my eyes, were small. I was like, these are smaller. >> No, we know how to do um rock calculations now. Wow. Like those are so heavy. >> Yeah, you were tipping. >> Tipping. Fingers crossed she can make it back in here. >> Here she comes. This dump truck seems to be handling this no problem. I'm impressed. >> I made it through. I wasn't sure if I was protecting that sand. closer >> a little bit. >> I'm probably going to >> That was nothing for this dump truck. >> I know. That's what I was just saying. It didn't seem like much for the dump truck. >> I guess it's used to hauling. >> It's used to sitting in the woods, actually. But yeah, [laughter] not since we've found it. >> What do you think? >> Oh, yeah. Let's pack way more in there next time. >> All right. Okay, I hope this works because how great is it that we can bring we're start with four rocks and our dump truck instead of slowly walking the excavator and rocking. Super unsafe. That would take all day. SO, >> THIS IS SO COOL. SO COOL. OH, you got to see the view from back here. Wow. Our dump truck rock. We got a bunch of small ones up here, which is in a house site. So, honestly, we're like knocking out two birds right now. One down. We have such a variety of rocks. This one right here in the middle is really flat. It's like the perfect stepping stone. We could use that rock for our entryway into the pool. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] >> I had my bucket on the rock, I think. >> Oh, yeah. >> Doesn't look good. >> Just bang it back out. Yeah, it looks like a smiley. Not the best for uh grading, but it's okay. Should we maybe grab the other bucket? The ditching bucket's my favorite bucket. That's why I said you should we switch buckets. But if it bent one way, well, it's going to bend the other way back. [music] LOOK AT ALL THE BOULDERS. WOW. This is honestly a little bit crazy that we can even do this. We're done getting all the large rocks we need, and now we're going to move on to getting some smaller and some medium ones. Check it out. I found the perfect step. Hi. I would like to move further down the road. I I So, we have like so many rocks in this land, but when we dig, there's like no rocks on inside like under the ground. Help me. So, like I'm confused. How do they do this? Why do they do this? I'm like, why do we have all these like lines of rocks? It's like they kind of barricaded things in. It's like one line, next line, next line. They're just everywhere on the 65 acres. That's a whole lot of rocks in there. No, Diesel, >> it's blinking. >> You went that long. Yeah, girl. I have to say I am I was excited about the amount of rocks we had, but once you get digging and pile them, like we have so many good rocks. We don't need to buy any. >> I don't think we need to buy any either. >> Like, we only need to buy some like >> cobble. >> Super big ones >> and cobble. >> Like the size of a car. >> Well, I guess the dump truck has almost reached her capacity. She's struggling. [music] [music] That's crazy. Quite the inventory of rocks we have. Looking good. Let's go get a really really big big one. Sounds good. >> You know, like this kind of height, but I don't know. The secret is trying to get ones that give you that height without >> the width >> as much. But sometimes this is where you need the bigger machines if you're going that huge, right? Cuz that's a massive rock int. >> Today we're at the quarry and we're going rock hunting. We have to find the perfect size rocks. So Derek's come down today. He's from Quiet Nature. He is the owner and the creator behind all of these ponds and pools. Pools or ponds? Jasmine's going to give me heck. Is it both? >> It's both. No, it's a uh biologically filtered swimming vessel. >> There you go. Love it. Well, here it [laughter] is. >> It's neither somewhere in between. >> I agree. >> It's a big debate. If you call it a pond, you can just make a hole in the ground, throw it with rock, and people think you can swim in it. So, there's much more to it than that. >> Oh, is there ever? >> You guys are finding out. >> Yeah. [laughter] And so, today we're carefully selecting our boulders with your eyes because he knows exactly what we're looking for. [laughter] >> He has the brains. >> So, this rock right here that we just measured is large. >> 18,000 lbs. You were saying, right? It should be if if my calculations are correct and they're not always. So >> yeah, >> that's a big one. They're deceiving. 180 lb per cubic foot. >> Now you know. >> Cubic foot. 180 lb. So >> that's how you know. >> That's how you know. >> So we need a bigger machine. >> But this is maybe even a bit wide. Now knowing where this is, you guys know those measurements. It can come with the spray paint. You can put some of these up on the top edge even. And so like your liner, say that your edge of your liner is here, right? >> And you bring that soil right up to this. >> And this might go out and in over top of those filter boxes a bit. >> And you get some of these that look like it's just >> like bedrock sitting there. So it's not just this ring of the same size boulders around the top. You'll have some like this. Then you might have a little section beside it with couple and then a big one. Right. You got to make it >> make it look real natural. >> Yeah. I always describe it to our guys that some of them have a great sense for rock and some um you got to explain it to them. We used to draw out little sketches and we explained it like music, like drumming. It's not just got to be >> I like it. >> It's just exactly what you're doing. A couple [laughter] >> how you have to that's the best way we could get our our mind around explaining it to other people. And we have some guys who are drummers and musicians and it clicked. So the main thing on that you'll see on that crosssection. So those filters have that certain height to them there's the box and then the other box and then this has to be you know at least that much higher so you can put some cobble on top of that. >> Y >> it's too low it's a problem. >> That's the rock. >> So if there's some like this size you can put in and then some that are double stacked. That's going to look so cool. >> Yeah. I'd like to have a few big ones like this. >> Right. Cuz this is so cool. But this is also the nice side to put against the edge of the liner >> because the liner, you know, that edge and liner versus this. >> Yeah. >> If you stick this into the wall >> and then you're going to try to bring the liner back. It's just kind of weird. >> Wow. I don't think I thought this rock process like too much, but there's a lot to it. Eh, >> well, once you've done a few, you just what makes it easy for you. So this is kind of cool then cuz >> say you're in the water climb out and sit on this, you know, take a seat. >> You'd be sitting here in the water would be like this. >> That's so nice. >> It's so cool. Facebook >> 3 ft. >> That will do. Right. >> Pretty what we need. >> Tall enough. >> It is. Almost seven feet wide. >> Wow, that's very, very wide. >> Three feet. >> Nice. >> This one would be really cool if we could move it. First rock. >> Nice. Nice. Sweet. We got everything. >> Everything. >> Boulders and a couple steps. >> Three boulders, four stairs, >> one diving board. >> Heck yeah. Absolutely in the end. Okay, now grab that end of the strap. Sick >> mastermind. That's got to go higher. >> All right, we've got the liner here. We have it secured to the bucket. We've taken it off the pallet. This is heavy duty. It's definitely heavier than anything we could lift. So, we are going to place it in the pond with the excavator, but we're just trying to figure out the most strategic way to put it in because it's 50x 70 and it's folded up. So, how it goes in and how it unfolds is going to predict how our experience goes. Okay. I just spoke with Derek and he said that the pollinator should actually have arrows on it and it does. Do you see that? That >> be so nice. >> So, we are right. >> 50 this way, 70 this way, guys. >> Yes. That's great news. >> Instructions. >> So, now we know that it's rolled up 70 ft long. And then he says, "I think you can start from one end and roll to the other and then open to the sides." Exactly what we just discussed. >> We're going to go shallow end. >> So, we'll go shallow end for sure. Not [laughter and gasps] not this side. Amazing. Here's what you've been waiting for. It's what you've been waiting for. Here's what you've been waiting for. Ooh. [music] Here's what you've been waiting for. It's what you've been waiting for. Here's what you've been waiting for. You can see here this is our starting point. This will stay on this side and then this entire thing will roll out the length of the pond which is the 70 ft and then we will unfold to the sides. We're all crawling around the bottom of the geoteexile the pond doing one last check for rocks underneath this liner. >> I found one >> cuz Jazz just found a freaking rock. Wait, let me see that. Are you kidding? The culprit. We've made the decision to cut out the rocks and just patch the geoexile because we now know that with a little bit of heat, you can seam together this material cuz it's really honestly plastic. >> That's good. Chris, >> patchwork done. >> Are you ready to rock or you ready to roll? >> Roll. Good one. Here we go. >> It's like a snowman. Because the moment is now. Right now. Here it comes. Ready or not. Ready or not. Here it comes. Ready or not. Ready or not. [music] Here's what you've been waiting for. It's what you've been waiting for. You been waiting for. It's what [music] you've been waiting for. It's what you've been waiting for. It's what you been waiting for. >> [music] >> This is a massive >> very heavyduty liner. And then you won't get the >> And now we need to try and get it over the edges, but also equally distribute the liner to every side of the pool. Still crossing our fingers it fits. >> Here it comes. [music] Ready or not, ready or not, here it comes. Ready or not, [music] hey, it's what you've been waiting for. It's what you've been waiting for. It's what [music] you've been waiting for. What you been waiting for. We're collecting rocks. [music] >> [music] [music] >> As you can see, the rocks are now at the edge, and as they're pulling out the wrinkles, it's [music] really taking shape nicely here. All right, watch us completely smooth out this entire shelf. [music] >> [music] >> You want to be the first one in the earth pool or something? Oh, it's nice. >> You going for a swim? >> It is deep here. >> I told you. And it gets even deeper. >> We have a pond. >> Plop it in. There it goes. Perfect. This is the last time we'll have to remove Well, maybe remove water from the Earth pool. And the reason is is because we still need to melt all of the seams of the liner. Similar to what we did the geoteexile, but this one's actually kind of scary to do because this liner ain't cheap and you don't want to make a hole through it. This liner is radiating heat. I wish you could all feel it. Like it's so hot. I feel like you could cook an egg on here. >> Oh, absolutely. Check this out. Yeah, it's so hot, but also so scary. I'm not going to lie. Over here. Not too much water left. This has been going all day. Y'all want to know something really funny? It's 4:36 right now. And we're still It's done. Izzy's back. He took my gloves off. I didn't do it. I put mine in there. It's wet under there. Come on. Come on, baby. Come on, baby. Not a good sign, everyone. Not a good sign when I'm coming in with a patch. Oh, brother. The last seam basically. >> I think what happened was is just it was so wet >> cuz the ground water too >> that you can't see. No, it's just the line is just like wet. It hasn't dried. >> H. You have a patch. We think this is what we do. >> Melt it. Tomorrow we have some help coming from Derek's team. Tiffany is coming. We meet her tomorrow. And so I think we're going to wait and wait for the pro. >> Yeah, >> I'm sure this happens all the time. >> 100%. You burn plastic basically. >> I hope >> it's looking good. All of this >> looks great. >> Like that one was like a foot overlap. >> Yeah, >> pretty crazy. >> And now it looks beautiful. We did a lot this week. Whoa, the pond looks completely different. >> It's done.