The first question most Phoenix homeowners ask when beginning their research on the possibility of adding a pond or water feature to their outdoor environment is: What will it cost?
The cost to build a backyard pond can vary greatly. The size, style, materials, and equipment you select will all impact the final price of your pond — not to mention the contractor/artist you choose to hire, depending on the level of experience, training, and warranty policy.
The cost of a pond in Phoenix also depends on your definition of a “pond.” Some people view a pond as an organic body of water, large or small, while others envision a concrete fountain shaped like a pond with dead sterile water. The first questions to ask yourself are:
- What do you want it to look like?
- Why a pond?
- How do you want to enjoy it?
- What kind of money are you willing to spend on this home improvement project
- What kind of maintenance are you willing to put up with?
THE DIY POND
If you’re going to build the pond yourself, you can do it for a few hundred dollars, depending on where you buy your supplies. A little DIY kit from one of the big-box stores is pretty cheap by comparison to a full-blow professionally-installed custom pond. And if you’re not sure you’ll enjoy the hobby, this is an inexpensive way to get your feet wet, so to speak. The Pond Gnome has replaced LOTS of DIY ponds over the last 25 years because people fell in love with the hobby after trying it out on their own and were ready for an upgrade or a larger pond.
A couple of caveats about a DIY project: it’s a PROJECT. It might take you literally a month of Sundays to complete. The DIY kits are also not likely to come with the best equipment and filtration on the market, so your maintenance time will be a bit more than professional-grade equipment. Be sure to check the parts warranty, as not all warranties are created equal. Some parts you can just return to the store; others, you have to ship across state lines to get a replacement, provided a replacement part is still in production and available. And in this neck of the woods, if you want aquatic plants, that can be a tough find for a do-it-yourselfer, although there are a couple of clubs you can join where people do plant exchanges.
THE PROFESSONALLY INSTALLED POND
When dealing with a truly experienced certified professional, you can expect to pay between $12,000 and $20,000 (at the time of this writing) for the average-sized professionally-installed custom pond. The Pond Gnome’s pricing starts around $12,000 (at the time of this writing) for a small goldfish pond. If you’re looking to keep Koi, plan on spending at least $35,000 (at the time of this writing) for the extra size and filtration necessary.
Of course, we highly recommend that you hire a contractor whose work you’ve seen in person, and whose licensing and references have checked out. This is a bad time to make an impulse purchase at a home show! We’ve replaced countless poorly designed and installed ponds that folks have spent plenty of their hard-earned money on in the heat of the moment because of a home show mock-up, special deal, or because the salesman was a nice guy.
You also want to make sure that the contractor you’re considering hiring is in tune with what you really want in your yard. For example, if you want to raise multi-thousand-dollar show-quality Koi fish, you want to hire someone who specializes in that type of pond and filtration. If you want a gorgeous living ecosystem pond, and the fish are simply a beautiful part of that system, then that’s a compeltely different philosophy and building technique.
SHOPPING FOR A POND
The best way to shop for the contractor who will best suit your needs is to first visit their website. Make sure that the photos on that site are actually pictures of the state/area in which you live, and are photos of THEIR work. As in any industry, there are always a few charlatans out there. If you like what you see online, go see their work in person. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but seeing it for yourself is priceless! And check out their social media reviews. Do your due diligence! If they can’t send you to see some of their work in person, and they don’t have more than 3-5 social media or Google reviews, flee!
Before you take the next step and talk to a contractor, have a strong idea of what you’re looking for (but be open to options), what kind of budget you have to work with, and be clear in your mind about how you will know when you’ve found the right contractor for you. Did they listen to you? Can they meet your expectations and budget? Do they seem knowledgeable and competent?
It’s not ALL about price when shopping for a pond. Yes, you probably have a budget to live by, as most of us do. This is an investment in your home, and your property value. Remember: it’s always more expensive to have to do it over than to just do it right the first time, as several of our clients can attest.
Good luck in your quest, and let us know if we can be of service, or check our our Portfolio of work!
Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Arizona (AZ) & Surrounding Areas
To Learn More About The Price of a Pond in Phoenix: https://pondgnome.com/pond-pricing-phoenix-az/
