Lake Bottom Blanket® versus LakeMat® and Seaweed Mat Systems
Light Shading Product Overview
Light shading products to control weed growth in your lake or pond are great alternatives to chemicals or harvesting. They are proven to be very effective, and all provide excellent pinpoint accuracy when used to stop infestations of noxious weeds. One benefit that separates this type of weed control from all others is immediate satisfaction. Once installed, the area can be used for most water activities right away.
In the development stages of this product, we found that municipalities didn’t want this style of weed control to be a permanent fixture. They also indicated that being able to see the material in the water could be helpful in sensitive areas. Seasonal use with removal at season’s end was recommended. In some states a permit is needed. We took all the information available and incorporated it into the design of our product.
There are several products on the market that have been in business for over 15 years and we want to give a detailed account of their differences.
Lake Mat Design
Weighting systems
LakeMat® uses an aluminized steel frame that needs to be assembled on-site. This frame design takes on the burden of stretching the material within it, which can make assembly difficult. Aluminized steel is aluminum that has been coated with cold rolled steel. However, steel can still rust if the layer is compromised or if moisture penetrates the bond. The downsides are: a) during assembly, the surface of the aluminized steel will be scratched b) it can be scratched if dragged over rocks or damaged in any way (the corners are exposed from the material and can be damaged making them load-bearing weak points), c) the underlying material (steel) will begin to rust and corrode through a process called galvanic corrosion. Galvanic corrosion occurs since aluminum is anodic to steel, meaning it will corrode preferentially. If the bonded material is used outdoors or in marine environments, rust and corrosion is more likely unless properly protected. Over time it could compromise the strength of the frame. This design limits the overall size each mat can be. The largest LakeMat® is (12’ x 24’) 288 sq. ft. and weighs about 41 lbs. when dry. A LakeMat® is about four times heavier than its dry weight when it’s wet, so moving it can possibly bend the frame.
Seaweed Mat Systems uses a pre-assembled lateral weighting system. The weighting is encased in PVC and is very heavy. The PVC is used to trap the metal weighting material. It’s a very well-made system. Their largest Mat (12.6’ x 20.4’) 255 sq. ft. and weighs in at around 70 lbs. They currently only sell through distributors because they cannot be shipped.
Lake Bottom Blanket’s® design uses a patented lateral weighting system. Weight tubes are sewn into the fabric at 5-foot intervals. 3/8” rebar is installed on-site (purchased locally). With our design, the weighting has no structural duties like in the frame design; it is only for holding the material to the lake bottom. We determined years ago that selling weighting to our customers was not an economical endeavor. So, the design allows for locally purchased rebar weighting 3/8” x 10 feet to be installed at the water’s edge. This allows us to ship the product to the customer more economically. It also allows us to have sizes that can go up to 80 feet long by 10.75 feet wide. Our LBB30 is (10.75’ x 30’) 322 sq. ft. The weight is about 30 lbs. using 3/8” rebar. Additionally, we have incorporated rope handles at each end with a loop in them to a) assist with deploying the LBB, b) to tie the rope and caution buoy and c) to stake down each side of the LBB if more stability is needed due to high water movement.
We are the only system that allows for different weighting depending on the need. If the area you are looking to control has high water movement, 1/2” rebar can be installed instead. This doubles the weight if used in all of the weight pockets. Or, it can be used just in the end weight pockets for extra stability. If the substrate is uneven, using a funnel and pouring sand in the weight tubes allows the material to settle properly across the uneven lake bed.
Lake Blanket Materials
LakeMat® uses a black heavy non-woven landscape fabric that is strong and heavier than water, and feels like felt. Non-woven landscape fabric is made from polypropylene that has been bonded together. Once bonded together using thermal heat, the holes are needle-punched through the material making it absorbent. This also makes non-woven landscape fabric easier to be cut. Over time, fine soil particles and other organic debris can infiltrate the fabric’s pores, reducing its permeability for both water and gases. The interface between the fabric and the soil can become compacted, further reducing the rate of water and gas movement. It blocks 98% of the sunlight, but because this material will clog, they cut slits in it to allow gases of decomposition to escape. Once the material becomes clogged, there are times that the gases cause the LakeMat® to rise up, and it needs to be “burped” a couple of times a month to get it to settle back down to the substrate. This material, if left in water too long, does allow for plant life to grow through it. This can make cleaning and removal more difficult and very heavy with water and muck or silt absorbed into the material.
Seaweed Mat Systems use a black woven plastic material, which is strong and durable but over time the material can clog and allow growth over time, making it harder to clean once removed from the water. It also makes it very heavy to remove. They can be walked on but are slippery in shallow water.
Lake Bottom Blanket® uses a non – porous 3-layer polyethylene that is strong and durable. We chose this material due to its specific gravity (less than water so it slightly billows), its inability to absorb water and silt, and that it has a black and a white side for being hard or easy to see underwater. Our design specifically allows the material to move and float slightly above the lake’s benthos layer. This allows for the free transfer of water and critters under the blankets while stopping photosynthesis. The base material and the thread used for making the weight tubes have UV inhibitors. We have many gas ports burned into the material to allow the gases of decomposition to escape, eliminating the need to “burp” the treated area. It is slippery, so we don’t recommend walking on the material in shallow water, although it can be done in deeper water. We would rather not have the slipping risk in shallow water, so please use caution.
The idea behind the two colors is to allow the material to be seen in the water when the white side is up, and nearly invisible when the black side is up. White side up has been used in lake associations to identify weed control areas and helps with aligning side-by-side placement. This material is also easy to clean with a hose once it has been removed from the water.
We feel our approach is different: We know that every property owner has different needs and wants, so with LBB you have options. Sizes that fit your needs and weighting systems that can be customized to your project.
Lake Bottom Blanket Cost (actual)
LakeMat® has several variations of their product line. LakeMat Pro is specifically for weed control and the extra-large size (12’x24’) 288 sq ft. sells for $449.00 with free shipping. $1.55/sq ft.
Seaweed Mat Systems has 2 models, the largest is (12’6” x 20’4”) 255 sq ft in size and sells for $410.00 but are only available through distributors in NY state. $1.60/sq. ft.
Lake Bottom Blanket® has many sizes to fit most projects. Our standard width is 10.75’ x any size up to 80 feet in length. The LBB40 is our most economical since we sell 5 times more of them in a year, but for this comparison we will use the LBB30 for pricing.
After the purchase of the LBB30, you then purchase the required rebar weights locally and save real money (cost is usually $8 – $12 per 10′ piece). Proceeding this way, the cost breaks down as follows:
10.75’ x 30′ ($224.95) + shipping (variable, let’s say $25.00) + locally procured 3/8″ rebar (7) pcs. ($56.00) = $305.95 for 322 sq. ft. delivered.
That’s only $0.95/sq. ft. and weighs only 31 lbs. with 3/8″ rebar weights installed.
Not only will you save money, but you also have options that our competitors do not have.
Lake Bottom Blanket® saves you approximately $140.00 vs. the LakeMat Pro®, and you get 34 sq. ft. more area controlled.
The rebar can be purchased at any building or masonry supply store. Do a quick search on the web in your area and you will find them. We know that many Lowes Home Improvement stores carry 3/8” rebar, but you will make out better at a local supply store. Most places will deliver the rebar to your installation site. Costs vary; we have found here in NJ that one can get 20’ lengths of 3/8″ rebar for around $6.00 and they will cut it for $1.00 each. So, on average the cost is about $3.50 per 10’ long piece of 3/8″ rebar; a 40’ long LBB takes 9 lengths of rebar for a total cost of $31.50 plus sales tax.
Options: As discussed above, you also have options with the Lake Bottom Blanket® because you can choose your weights depending on your application. You can install 1/2″ rebar in the end weight tubes for extra weight in active water situations. You can also fill the weight tubes with sand, which allows for use in areas that need flexibility (i.e., irrigation ditches). You can have the blanket installed white side up so it can be seen, or black side up so that it is not readily visible.
The LBB is supplied with everything one would need to deploy including handles, deployment lines, caution buoy, instructions with a QR code for installation videos, and rebar rubber endcaps.