Serious Help Needed

[sock monkey]

We are renovating a very damaged 18X36 rectangle pool (steel walls, cement floor) We are not experienced, and have lots of questions. This is what we need to know first:

How important is the cement mix at the bottom of the pool? I mean, I know it's important, but MUST it be a specific cement/vermiculite mix? We are thinking about doing regular sand mix cement and laying a thin layer of styrofoam sheeting over it (since, being novice, we expect the floor not to come out perfect) The styrofoam layer is not specially made for inground pools...it is actually found in the plywood section of home depot from what I am told.

Sound hairbrained? Or it just might work?

[sock monkey]

Ok, these are some more things I need to learn about FAST:

How large of a pump do I need for an 18X36 inground pool? Has anyone used Zeobrite or a product called Mircromedia? Any problems with these products?

In reading these forums, I am thinking instead of digging up and repairing the main drain, we should just close it up and forget it. If we do this, we need a good auto vaccuum crawly thing. Anyone have a model that didn't break the bank that works well?

[aylad]

Sorry I can't help you with the cement questions, I know less than nothing about that. I have an 18 x 36 IG vinyl pool, and I have a 1 hp, single speed pump with a sand filter. It does just fine. I also have no main drain--I have one skimmer about midway down one side, and two return jets, one at each end of the same side the skimmer is on, and the way my jets are turned makes "stuff" in the pool flow toward the skimmer. Works just fine.

I also have a Polaris 380 that we are very pleased with. Requires an extra booster pump to run, don't know about the price because it was added in with the package when we had the pool built.



Janet

[sock monkey]

Thank you for your help, Janet!

Now, if I can get some opinions about the hard bottom and styrofoam lining, I might just gain enough confidence to pull myself off the computer chair and go to Home Depot!

[MarkC]

I used to use carpet padding under my liner in an above ground pool I use to have. So I don't think the insulation pad will be a problem. I have a 5 year old Letro Legend pool vac that roams around and does a great job of keeping the pool clean. Does your pool have steps? The legend does get stuck at the steps sometime and my concern would be the wheels wearing at the liner where they were spinning.

[sock monkey]

*whew* someone else with a similar unconventional (ie: scary) idea! THX for sharing! I worry ... but then again, I'm the one paying, so yeah, the worry falls on me. Our pool does have wedding cake style steps. Maybe the vac is the least of our worries at this point, but I have to justify to "the guys" why I don't want the bottom drain. (and quite honestly, it is MOSTLY because I am impatient. Other than that, I'm also lazy. Couple that with added cost and it seems like a no-brainer!!)


I am looking at the Letro Legend online..and other models, and I am wondering;

1) is there a difference in performance between vac's that require a booster pump and vacs that hook right onto your existing system?

2) will a standard hand held vac, AND/OR an auto vac both be effective on a pool with no bottom drain to catch on, BUT the deep end is quite deep...9 or I think probably 10 feet deep. Do you lose power/suction cleaning that deep (therefore that drain really does become necessary?? or maybe a decent quality vac will do??)

Thanks in advance--again!

[MarkC]

A deeper pool will not have any more problems with vacuuming within reason. If you can adjust your valves so that most of the water is being pulled through the skimmer you are using for vac. you will get better suction. 9-10 ft should be no problem. I have never had a pool cleaner without a booster pump so I can not comment, I can say that my pool is clean and I never have to manually vac.

[hdtvme]

Two things:

Is there water table to be concerned about? Eliminating the drain from the deep end would also mean no hydrostatic valve. It prevents the groundwater pressure beneath the pool from floating the liner by allowing it a way into the pool. If you are well above groundwater than you may not have one in your drain now to loose.

Also, avoid padding the slope. I was told by my builder that it can allow the liner to slip. I have “Happy Bottom” in my shallow end and like it a lot. It feels great underfoot for sports, etc.

[sock monkey]

Very good points! I don't think I have a water table to worry about, since the pool sits on a hill (does that make sense? it does in my mind..which doesn't mean it's right by any means)

As for padding the slopes, we are going to see how nicely the cement lays down--and then decide. Spent the $30 on two pool trowels, although I felt a little silly doing it, they are just regular trowels with a rounded end.

[CallMeIshmael]

Very good points! I don't think I have a water table to worry about, since the pool sits on a hill (does that make sense? it does in my mind..which doesn't mean it's right by any means)

I wouldn't necessarily assume this.
Hills have groundwater issues too- They just happen in "cascades" from one pad of land to the next lower.... In times of high rain, the water rises if the soil holds onto moisture. The only time you don't have to worry about water is solid stone/ bedrock. A pool deck often offers a perfect flat area for water to collect, and the deck also keeps it hidden.
We should know! We're now in the process of taking apart & repairing the pool deck of our hills home, and apparently the water retained in a higher pad has been pouring out to open air via the underside of our pool then down the hillside!! Literally a ton or more of soil has been eroded! Miraculously, the pool is uncracked & unharmed, b/c the concrete was installed well & solidly... If there is any chance of this occurring near your pool, I'd encourage getting some counsel on specs for the concrete bottom, hydrostatic pressure, as well as retaining walls below if needed. Sorry for the long details, but I'm sure you'd only like to do this job once...