Charts and Conversions

Why choose a CAC?
Choosing a Certified Aquascape Contractor (CAC) is one of the best decisions you can make when looking to have your own backyard paradise installed. Certified Aquascape Contractors are the most qualified and informed pond installers in the water gardening industry. When you choose a Certified Aquascape Contractor, you are choosing
“The Best of the Best”!

Training – All CACs are trained in pond design and construction techniques by Aquascape.

Quality – All CACs use high quality products, developed and field-tested by Aquascape.

Knowledge – A CAC has extensive knowledge of all Aquascape products and is able to answer the questions that you have about your pond.

Customer Service – CACs have a proven record of providing exceptional customer service.

Dedication – A CAC’s primary business is installing and maintaining water features. All CACs are established, dedicated, and focused on the pond building profession.

Continued Education – All CACs are required to obtain continuous education units by attending seminars and training events throughout the year. CACs must also attend Build-a-Pond Day Seminars and pass a water gardening exam every two years.

Teamwork – by learning and growing together, CACs maintain the highest level of quality and expertise. Past joint efforts include three separate water feature at Epcot.

Hiring a Contractor to Install Your Water Feature
To Build or Not to Build?
This is the first question you have to tackle once you’ve decided to grace your outdoor living space with a beautiful, low maintenance water garden. Should you do it yourself, or is it better to hire a professional?

Maybe you’re a person with an unlimited amount of determination and the strength of an ox. Maybe you enjoy spending your free time working with your hands and breaking a good sweat. If you’re one of these people, and you’re willing to devote some of your weekends to a project, then you’re the perfect candidate for building your own water feature. If, however, you are like most folks and would rather spend your free time with your family, then you may want to consider hiring a professional contractor to install your new aquatic paradise.

The Benefits of a Professional
As you can imagine, there are many benefits to hiring a reliable professional. First, your pond won’t be the victim of your trial and error. It will look more natural and fit better with the surrounding landscape. You also have the assurance of knowing it was built by someone who has expertise and experience with pond construction. Now that you’ve decided to hire a professional, let’s look at where to start. First off, all contractors are not created equal. Unfortunately, as in any service industry, there are unreliable and dishonest people representing themselves as professional pond builders. You certainly don’t want this type of contractor working on your pond. Instead, you want to look for one of the many professional, reputable, qualified, and experienced contractors.

Finding a Reliable Pond Builder
For starters, look for a reputable contractor that is certified and has experience. A Certified Aquascape Contractor has proven to possess pond building experience, professionalism, references, customer satisfaction, and proper liability and insurance coverage. The contractors’ work is critiqued for proper installation techniques and natural aesthetics. By using this type of reference service, you can be sure you are getting the cream of the crop when it comes to installers in your area. Another way to find reputable contractors is to get a reference from someone who has a pond you would like to replicate. Word of mouth is a great way to find a good contractor. Attending a pond tour is yet another great opportunity to scout out your favorite pond and determine if the owner is pleased with their pond and the service they’ve gotten from their pond builder.

What to Look For
So you have some candidates. Here are some things to look for in narrowing down your selection. By following these tips, you will be able to locate a contractor who is capable of meeting all of your needs and giving you the pond of your dreams.

References
Make sure the contractor has an extensive portfolio of their work. Ask for references and follow-up on them. Do they have several different projects available for you to see in person? Talk to the homeowners of these projects and ask them about their experience with the contractor.

Their Work
First, do you like the look of their work?
Make sure they use a natural-looking mixture of stone and have a good eye for a natural pond design. Does the pond fit in with the surrounding landscape? Find a contractor who specializes in water features, waterfalls, streams, aquatic plants, and fish as a primary business. A good contractor can mean the difference between an enjoyable or miserable water gardening experience. Do your homework and ask for references, and you won’t go wrong.