Restoration of pool

[Cbw2121]

We bought a home a couple years ago the owner told us the had recently filled the pool in with sand because she was tired of cleaning it and her children had moved from home. Just recently I became curious and started digging I have found a gunite 16×32 venetian style pool so far everything we have uncovered seems to be in pretty good shape.. the tile is messed up but what do we do from here? Any suggestions? Thanks!

[PoolDoc]

In the immortal words of Keanu, "woah!".

I guess, you need to
1. finish emptying it; sometimes when pools are filled (often, actually) a hole is knocked into the bottom, so that the pool has sand in it, not soggy sand!
2. check the equipment, if it's still there.
3. check the skimmer and any visible piping.
4. check your bank account, and see what shape it's in. Think $1,000's, not $100's .

But, maybe someone here has done this, and has better info. Just keep in mind that the forum is pretty slow, right now, and won't pick up till March.

[Cbw2121]

Thanks for the info..actually the closer we get to the deep end toward the bottom the sand is wet,nasty,and heavy! There is no equipment so we will have to purchase new. So is saltwater system better?what will we need equipment wise?

[PoolDoc]

Saltwater systems work; I wouldn't say they are better, just different.

But, I'd encourage you to focus on finding out if you have a functional shell and piping system. If you don't, you'll have to spend a LOT of money getting there. You'll need to find the point where the equipment WAS, and see if there is still piping there -- possibly buried. If not, you'll need to get a handle on what it will take to get piping that works.

You can decide whether to chlorinate with a saltwater system or by hand, and whether to get a DE or cartridge filter . . . later, after you're sure you actually HAVE a pool.