Finding an Installer
Choose from any of fifty states, and notice if the installer is certified or not. We recommend that installers be certified for the best, most consistent results.
What is a "Certified" Installer? Why should one use a certified installer?
Why Dr. Johnson Cares
What's Customary Pricing On An Aquascape Pond? Because they are more direct representatives of ADI's products and services, CAC's avoid gouging. Certified installers depend on your references, and so fair and relatively standardized compensation for a good pond is typical, while they eschew gouging.
Top Ten Questions - To ask your pond installer. Steer clear of an installer without the depth to handle at least these questions.
Dr. Johnson's Pledge - To the CAC's & PPDs
Related Outbound Links
Join N.A.W.G.S.
NAWGS is the North American Water Garden Society. Dr. Erik Johnson is a member of the Board.
What Is NAWGS?
NAWGS will attempt to provide a centralized, supplemental association between hundreds of related water gerdening and Koi clubs in North America. Learn more.
The Installers on Dr. Johnson's Pond:
Lee Vought - Certified Installer
Mark Carter - Certified Installer
Dave Jones - Certified Installer
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Reasonable Charges
You might want to know what would be "reasonable" for a pond of this type. First, you have to realize that it costs the same to bond and insure a work crew whether you're building a puddle or a lake. It costs the same to bring out a backhoe and a Dingo whether you're building a pond or a lake. There are fixed costs which make it LIKELY that the starting price for a complete Aquascape installation will be about $3500 plus or minus variables.
Without naming names, here's an honest "from the hip" assessment I got from an installer who is also a friend of mine, candidly:
"I do want to caution you about your oversimplified formula on pricing. You are correct, in the estimate for pricing on ponds about the size of yours. If we charged $35-40 / per square foot for the tiny ponds, we wouldn't even cover the wholesale price of the kit. If we charged that for the really BIG ponds, we might be able to retire after one or two sales! e.g. 1 acre=1.7 MILLION dollars (at 40 bucks a sqft!) - So, there are "economies of scale" at work. Fixed costs that have to be met but which don't contribute as much to the really big ponds.
What's customary to charge:
4x6 ~ $3500.00( the smallest that any self respecting pondster would get involved in)
8x11 ~ $4000.00
11x16 ~ $5000.00
16x21~ $9,000.00
stream~ $100.00 per foot
....of course there are the extras like fish, plants, autofill valves, lights, extra biofalls, etc which affect the price up and down. But, that'll get you a basic system installed with a two foot fall on the edge of the pond. I also back my ponds with a one year warranty on parts/ labor. As far as workmanship, I will always come back if there is something that I did that is keeping the pond from functioning like it should."
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