Retaining wall question

[babzog]

I'm currently digging out and levelling the area for my pool. The back yard has a slight grade away from the house such that the high side is about 12" - 14" higher than the low side (which is at grade). I'm leaving a 2' walkway around the pool. When I build the retaining wall, do I need to install a drain behind it or can I leave that step out in this case? Thinking that, since it's such a low wall and it's only going halfway around the pool, is it really necessary?

[BigDave]

Drain behind a retaining wall is to protect the wall from hydrostatic pressure pushing it over. I don't really know if you can get by without draining such a low wall. I'd consider draining the space between the pool and the retaining wall to keep water trapped in there from finding it's way out under the pool - washing away the sand bed.

[babzog]

So, more pondering subsequent to my retaining wall question. Since the height in only about 14" at the max, so I even need a retaining wall or can I safely backfill that area and call it a day? I know I need those plastic fence thingies but I can find those cheaper on kijiji than the retaining wall blocks. Next year, we're going to be building a surround deck, hiding the wall anyway, at which point the pool fence will come off and be relisted on kijiji. Just don't want to create a potentially hazardous situation by backfilling but with the low height, I'm wondering if it will be safe?

[Watermom]

Babzog --- I merged the second thread you created about your retaining wall issues with this original one. It makes it easier to help if all the information about a particular problem is all kept within one thread.

[babzog]

Scratch my last post... called the pool company today and they said no backfill on the pool.

Not even on the bottom plates and rail - all must be exposed otherwise the warranty would be void. Well, if there were a warranty on it, it would be void. Since it's a used pool and has been moved, much of the original warranty is moot. Still, I want to construct this thing properly, so I'm thinking of sticking with the wall, though I'm still on the fence.

If I went with backfilling, am I okay to do so in a heavy frost area or is this one of the reasons why I shouldn't? The lady at the pool co. said that the backfill would prevent the pool from moving properly during a frost heave. Anyone here have experience with a backfilled pool in a frost area?

If I went with the wall, how then, would I construct the drain in the space (2') between the retaining wall and pool wall? If I dig down too close to the pool wall, would I compromise the soil's strength, leading to a potential collapse?

Anyone have pics of such a drain?