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!