Need pool renovation advice for a 1950's pool

Hi all,

I'm completely new to pools so I'm really glad I found this site!

Here's my situation:

My wife and I bought a 1950's house almost three years ago and it has a 15' x 25' 15,000 gallon rectangle pool which has been empty since day 1. We believe the pool is from the same time period as some of the houses in the neighborhood have a similar (if not identical) pool design.

Since we purchased the house we've been working on the inside but now I'm almost done and would like to tackle the pool as one of the first outside projects. We're tired of seeing it empty and would love to start enjoying it. I've had a few companies come out and quote us what they recommend and here are the four options I've received:

1. Get pool up and running - cost about $1,000-2,000.

2. Replace the entire plumbing system, install new skimmer type, and move existing pump and filter to side of house - cost about $2,000-3,000.

3. Renovate pool (#2 plus resurfacing, new pool pump and filter, and adding a swim out bench) - cost about $10,000-15,000.

4. Partially demolish existing pool and build new one further from house - cost about $25,000-30,000.

A new pool sounds the best since I would love to have something new and our current pool is a bit close to the house (10' from sliding glass door to the edge of the pool). However, we are on a budget so while a new pool a few feet away from the house is ideal, I just can't justify spending that much.

Simply fixing the pool to get it up and running would work but the pool floor has been delaminating badly and it's been painted poorly (half the paint is chipped off). It also has the older style skimmer (lily pad), just one main drain, galvanized plumbing.

The renovation would best as it would include moving the pool and filter to the side of the house, replacing the galvanized plumbing for 2" PVC, adding an additional return (for a total of three instead of two), adding a vacuum line, adding a swim out bench on the deep end of the pool (the entire width), replacing lily pad skimmer with new style, sandblasting surface and finishing with diamondbrite, installing light niche, and waterline tile. However, at $10,000+ it's still more than I wanted comfortably spend. I was hoping more for a $5,000 solution unless I keep saving until I can afford to fully renovate the pool.

A good compromise is to replace the mechanical portion (#2 above) and get the pool 100% functional and worry about the refinishing and adding the bench at a later point.

What would you guys do in my position?

Also, most companies suggested eliminating the main drain but I'm thinking it's not a bad idea to at least keep the existing main drain. Would eliminating the main drain and adding two deep water outlets be a good idea?

Any help is TRULY appreciated! Many thanks!


-Tony


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Ben is probably the best one to advise you on this. I just wanted to pop in and say hello and welcome you to the Pool Forum!

(By the way ---- keep the stumbling drunk guys off your patio!! :eek::eek:;))

I would STRONGLY recommend going with option #1 !

You will have a much, much better idea of what needs to be changed this fall . . . and you won't be competing with every other pool owner who wants their pool repaired.

Thanks Watermom!

We have definitely kept any events mainly inside the house for that reason. Haha!

Hi PoolDoc - many thanks for your advice, it makes sense! Option #1 at $1000-2000 included painting the pool and some BASIC patching of the pool delamination. Do you think I should spend that considering I will likely be sandblasting and resurfacing the pool later this year? I was thinking I should save that money and just get the system up and running by fixing a leak at a return and repiping from the existing location to where the pump/filter will be (about 10' away, behind the short wall that is sticking out from the house in the first photo).

I'm pretty handy so I will likely do most of this myself (not sure about the leak though but will attempt it). What patching material do you recommend to fix the delamination on the pool floor? I've heard of E-Z Patch or hydraulic cement but it looks kind of expensive. Will a white thinset do or does it have to be this special material?

Also, when we purchased the house they mentioned the pool ran off well water. The insurance policy required the pool be filled before closing, which they did. I noticed the water was a quite "milky", not sure if that was because of the well water or the cheap paint that was used (or both). Either way, the level dropped to one of the jets in a few days and stayed there for a few weeks until it started to get nasty and I decided to empty the pool.

I have been able to identify all the pipes (main drain, returns and skimmer) but there are two others that stick up. I'm assuming one of those is the well. The other day I hooked up the pump to each one and did my best to prime it but failed. I'm 95% sure the well works but not sure how to get it flowing. Do you guys have any tips? Would love to fill the pool using well water to at least identify the leak location.

You're not ready for this yet but just to throw it out there ahead of time as a 'heads up.' Before you fill your pool from your well, you need to know if there are metals in your well. Read some threads in the 'Stains and Metals' section of the forum before you start. That discussion is for another day and in a different thread, but just wanted to throw it out there for you to be thinking about.

You want me to help you with your well?? Thanks. But, no thanks. ;)

Patching delaminations can be a bad idea. Often if one area is delaminated, many more areas are 'about to' delaminate. I'd leave if for fall, and see what ELSE comes loose.

I'm sensing a general lack of well enthusiasm here. Haha! Just brought it up because it would be great to save the $100-300 to fill up the pool using city water (considering I will have to do it again later in the year).

So I should skip the painting and delamination fixes. Got it!

I have some more questions, but they are related to equipment so I'll post that in the appropriate forum.

Many thanks Watermom and PoolDoc!

You have no idea how many people come on this forum every year who have filled their pools with metal contaminated water and what a pain in the patootie it is to deal with the metals issues!!!!! Take some time and read through some of the posts in the metals section of the forum. Just something to think about. When you get to that point, you should probably do a bucket test to see what kind of water you have in that well before deciding to use it. More about that when you get to that point. For now, you have enough to deal with just getting the pool into commission.

Good luck!

We have wells in both limestone and in shale, in this region. Limestone well water is GREAT, but water from shale is AWFUL.

I don't think we hear so much from the folk who have limestone wells.

We're in South Florida so I'm pretty sure we're over limestone.

As far as the main drain goes, most companies suggested eliminating the main drain but I'm thinking it's not a bad idea to at least keep the existing main drain. Would eliminating the main drain and adding two deep water outlets be a good idea? What would be the best solution when the time comes?

S. Florida has some karst areas, but it has some weird brackish intrusions: test that water before you use it!

Deep pools are messier with no main drain. But if you have a drain, having deep water inlets wouldn't add that much value.