The Hidden Cost of a “Free Estimate”: Why Water Features Should Never Be Treated Like Landscaping
The second time I talked with Dan and Melissa in Apple Valley, they were frustrated before we even stepped foot in their backyard. They had spent the previous summer searching for someone to rebuild their water feature. They had even talked to us, but they told us that they expected us to “come out for a free estimate like everyone else.” Every landscaper they spoke to offered a free onsite estimate, and every estimate they received was lower than the last. It seemed like a win at first. Until it wasn’t.
By the following spring, the “great deal” they picked was leaking, the water level dropped every night, the filtration was undersized, and the quiet spot they had been dreaming of became another stressful home project. They called the landscaping contractor who built it. No answer. They called the second number they had saved. Disconnected. Called a third landscaper, but they don’t fix ponds, only install them. By the time they were standing in their backyard with me, they had paid for a pond once and were about to pay for it again.
Stories like theirs are more common than most homeowners realize. In fact, nearly half of our rebuilds every year come from ponds originally installed by general landscapers. Most were installed during a free estimate visit where the price looked attractive, the design looked simple enough with a ready-to-go pond kit, and everything sounded good on paper. But once the problems start, reality sets in. A free estimate is not always free. Sometimes it is a very expensive beginning.
This is the part most pond owners never hear until they are standing in the mud asking what went wrong.
This article is at the request of Dan and Melissa, who said they never wanted to see another homeowner taken advantage of like their experience. This article explains why water features are living, breathing systems that require specialized expertise. It explains why prices are predictable when done correctly. It explains why comparing a landscaper’s estimate to a pond contractor’s estimate is not apples to apples, and why a free estimate can cost far more than the price printed on a proposal.
The Problem With Free Estimates
In landscaping, free estimates are normal. For patios, mulch, edging, lighting, and general yard work, it is easy to walk onto a site and quickly assess materials, labor, and scope. These are predictable installations with predictable outcomes (a competent landscaper should be able to give you a quick price for their every day projects).
A water feature is different. It is a living ecosystem. It moves, breathes, and changes with temperature. It needs proper depth, filtration, circulation, aeration, rock placement, pump sizing, safe electrical routing, and construction that considers Minnesota’s freeze and thaw cycles. A general landscaper may see a hole, a liner, a pump, and some rock. A pond contractor sees structural design, hydraulic design, biological load, long term safety, and system longevity.
This difference is why you can get two wildly different prices for what looks like the same project. Most homeowners assume a “free estimate” means a professional is assessing the system in depth, but in reality, these quick visits rarely include any evaluation of filtration capacity, biological load, pump efficiency, or winter survivability. A landscaper may only be evaluating the visible shape and size of the feature, not the hidden parts that keep it running.
A landscaper might give a free estimate for a “pond install.” A pond contractor will give a price for a water feature that actually works. The cost difference reflects the knowledge difference.
You can see a few projects on our Pond Building page, and try out our Pond Building Self-Estimator for yourself!
Why Our Phone Estimates Match Our Onsite Estimates
One of the most surprising moments for many of our customers is when we come out for an on-site visit and the price we give in person is the same price we mentioned on the phone. They usually expect the number to significantly drop once we “see the yard.” In the case of Dan and Melissa, they were actually frustrated that we wouldn’t come out without a phone conversation first and seeing some pictures. The idea of an accurate estimate over the phone was so completely foreign to them, they assumed that we were blowing them off.
This expectation usually comes from previous experiences with contractors who throw out a free onsite estimate without understanding the details.
The reality is simple. Water features built the correct way fall into a predictable cost structure. For properly constructed liner koi ponds, the range is almost always between $120 and $220 per square foot depending on the level of customization and equipment. As long as we are building a starting level system with great access and great site conditions, we can promise an install at $120 a square foot. If you are wanting all the upgrades and filtration and lighting and add-ons with some not-so-easy access and some tough digging then we will often be capping out around the $220 pricepoint. This is true across Minnesota and consistent with industry standards published by Aquascape and reinforced by nationwide cost reports from Pond Trade Magazine and NALP.
If a price comes in far below that range, something essential is missing (either important equipment, insurance, or experience). I cannot tell you how many landscaper-built ponds we have redone that looked beautiful but were missing underlayment, leading to premature liner failure within just a few years. Or, missing all the filtration to cut costs down and leading to nasty algae blooms. Over that price range is when you will be considering some incredibly custom rock formations, complicated designs, very tough/no equipment access, and especially with recreational pond builds.
When a contractor quotes without understanding how ponds work, it becomes a guessing game. Free estimates encourage guessing. Guessing leads to mistakes. Mistakes lead to leaks, failed filtration, sick fish, excess algae, and rebuilds (as a personal Star Wars fan, I can’t help but insert Yoda’s voice here!). A predictable price comes from predictable knowledge. A legitimate water feature contractor does these so often, it’s not hard to give an accurate estimate over the phone based off a few photos and a conversation about what you’re wanting installed.
Do yourself a favor and ask the contractors you’re considering for their professional credentials. We are happy to share Our Credentials as an example!
Why Comparing Estimates Often Misleads Homeowners
Many homeowners collect two or three estimates before making a decision. This is smart, and something we recommend! The problem comes when the estimates are coming from different industries.
A landscaper typically focuses on a koi pond as an add-on to their services, in regards to it being just another element to a landscaped yard. A pond contractor focuses on it exclusively as their speciality, in regards to it as a focused biological element to a lifestyle. They look at completely different things.
Comparing these estimates is like comparing a handyman replacing your brakes vs a certified mechanic rebuilding your braking system, your neighbor who knows some electrical vs a licensed electrician, or a teeth whitening kiosk at a mall vs your dentist. They both do the “same” work, but they do not offer the same outcome. Especially when considering long-term care and maintenance, most landscapers will not service the water features they install.
Landscapers are incredibly skilled at landscaping. They design beautiful spaces. They plant, grade, and shape the land. But time and time again it is shown through news articles and local Facebook group posts for help that ponds require niche training, specialized equipment, focused practice. It is not an add-on service. It is an entire discipline.
This is why over half of the ponds we rebuild each year were originally installed by landscapers (You can see some after photos in our portfolio). They did their best with the knowledge they had, and sometimes actually looked pretty good, but pond construction was not their specialty. Homeowners compare prices without realizing they are comparing two different professions.
The True Cost of a Pond Done Twice
One of the hardest conversations we have is with homeowners like Dan and Melissa who spent their full budget on a water feature that needs to be rebuilt within just a few years. The emotional disappointment is real. The financial impact is even more painful.
A pond installed incorrectly can leak immediately. Or it may take months for the issues to show up. When it does, the cost to repair often matches the cost to rebuild. By the time homeowners call us, they have spent the same amount they would have spent with us originally, plus the emotional strain of an unreliable system.
This is why understanding proper pricing matters. If a standard 80-100 square foot pond costs between $12,000 and $22,000 when built correctly, and a landscaper quotes five or six thousand, the short term savings often become long term loss. The value of doing it right the first time is not just financial. It is emotional. It is time. It is peace.
Why Water Features Are Specialized Living Systems
Water features are not static structures. They are ecological systems with moving water, biological filtration, fish waste management, plant integration, rock placement strategies, pressure lines, and winter survival requirements unique to Minnesota’s climate.
These systems require:
• Proper pump sizing
• Correct filter ratios
• Biological media capacity
• Rock and gravel placement for beneficial bacteria
• Stream flow that avoids dead zones
• Depth and slope optimized for fish safety and winter survival
• Overflow and drainage planning
• Access for cleaning and long term maintenance
When these elements are missing, the system always fails. The University of Minnesota Extension confirms that water systems behave differently in our climate due to freeze cycles and soil movement. Aquascape documents the required ratios of pump flow, filter size, and biological load. The Minnesota DNR provides freeze depth data that directly impacts construction. Pond Trade Magazine highlights the importance of proper circulation in reducing maintenance.
These are not artistic decisions. These are scientific details. A free estimate rarely covers scientific details.
The Honest Conversation Most Contractors Avoid
Many contractors worry that being upfront about cost will scare customers away. We do not share that fear. This is why we share our pricing through previous projects and project pricing calculators. We tell people openly, water features are expensive to build and beautiful to enjoy. The process can feel overwhelming, and usually the process is one that will have them regretting their decision the entire time! It’s the result that is worth it. Free estimates often hide the truth, transparent conversations reveal it.
This honest approach is why customers call us back. Even when they do not choose us at first. Option B becomes reality. They choose a cheaper install. They call back next year because it is nothing like what they thought they were getting, and it is leaking.
Summary
A free estimate is easy to say yes to, but it often hides the real information homeowners need. Water features are specialized living systems that require training, experience, and proper construction. Landscapers and pond contractors offer very different outcomes, and comparing their estimates often misleads homeowners into decisions that cost more in the long run.
A pond built correctly lands in a predictable range. A pond built incorrectly almost always needs to be rebuilt. Your water feature should bring peace, not regret.
How Superior Ponds Can Help
At Superior Ponds, we specialize only in water features. We build and maintain ponds that are reliable, beautiful, and designed for Minnesota’s climate. We are upfront about cost, honest about the process, and committed to systems that thrive season after season. If you want your pond done correctly the first time, we are here to help. Schedule a call with us today!
“Connecting people to water.”