Ordinary HDPE (high density polyethylene) liners are relatively inexpensive, tough, and flexible, but can be difficult to work with. HDPE material comes to the jobsite on large (23 foot long) rolls weighing thousands of pounds and seams must be welded entirely on-site. Seams are naturally vulnerable to leaks, but welding is a permanent connection that is unlikely to fail when done properly. So there are a few disadvantages, but HDPE offers one of the longest lifespans among pond liners and can be an excellent choice.
To mitigate the relative disadvantages of ordinary HDPE, a reinforced version (RPE) like those developed by BTL Liners is constructed with up to two layers of reinforcement using woven HDPE, sandwiched between additional layers that offer benefits like exceptional UV and chemical resistance, and are safe enough to store drinking water. RPE’s advantages don’t stop there. Since it’s reinforced, RPE is less than half the thickness and one third the weight of comparable HDPE liners, making it far easier to transport and install. RPE ordered from BTL Liners is available in enormous continuous sheets and if it’s necessary to join sheets together for exceptionally large ponds, it can be done in-house using fusion welders for the highest quality, permanent seams. In short yes, HDPE is a quality liner that’s both durable and long-lasting, but it’s definitely worth looking at reinforced versions, which offer several significant advantages from simplified shipping and installation, to long term durability.