Tooner, I hate preformed ponds. They are much harder, and not any cheaper than using rubber liner for your pond. Getting those things level is a real bear, and getting the proper support under it all is almost impossible.
I might think about installing one for a grand, but I would have to wait till things got really slow.
As for Ohio weather, that is a tough one. How cold does it get and for how long. I remember the winters in easter Iowa and the ground was frozen for months at a time with no or very little thawing going on.
I would build the pond at least 4 if not 5 feet deep to allow a part of the pond not to freeze. Also a cattle trough warmer helps keep a hole in the ice for the fish to be able to breathe.
If you just want the sound and no fish, try a pondless water feature. Many people like them, you can add plants to some if you wanted, and cut them off in the winter.
I will try and post several over the next few days.
About 95% of what I do now is rebuilds where the owner built one, or a ponding "professional" built it and screwed it up.
Lucky for me and my knees, I dont do much of the climbing or actual work, I leave that to my son and a couple of others that I use.
This first one is a view of the pond as I first saw it. The guy had built it in 1985 and when it came time for the liner to water proof it, he had no idea on how to do it. He contacted me in July and said the pond had to be ready the first week in September for his sons wedding. I love a challenge, what can I say.
The thing had water in it because the bottom was below grade and the drainage level of the surrounding area.
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