We Finally Dug Our Ground (Pics)

[matt4x4]

You would need 4 4000 gal trucks, up here in Canada they would set you back about 140 per truckload - so close to 600.00.
For plastic barrier, you can go relatively thin, i used the typical 6mil house vapor barrier.
I like using screenings or crusher run for the base plates to sit on - packs very solid with a plate compactor and some water, but as Dennis said, your existing top soil will work as well.
Your metal straps won't straighten by setting weight on them, but try hammering the crease flat on your garage floor or something similar,(hammer from both sides alternating) that's one way to get creases out of flat metal without the proper equipment to do so.

[AGP18by33]

Thank you all for the awesome replies. I just knew I could count on getting answers here.
I will follow your advice on the block issue. That helps to know that we can just set them on or in the dirt. We will probably dig them in then transit all of them.
We will also do the hammering to get those creases out. I never thought to do that.
Also, I called the water billing office and they will charge us $7.00 per 1000 gallons. Pretty cheap if you ask me.

Thanks alot everyone. I will definately follow everyones advice and will be posting more pictures.

Rhon

[hoffmans]

Don't forget to keep the pictures coming!

[SherrySt]

Wow! Your municipality will actually separate the water and sewage bills? We are in Beaver County (Chippewa) and you are charged a flat rate per gallon no matter what.

[AGP18by33]

Hi again,
I called the water company and they will not take off the sewage part, ($3.00 of the $7.00), No big deal as it will only cost around $110.00 to fill it. Our friend in Cranberry said they discounted his. We apparently aren't so lucky.

So for the update... We got 7 tons of sand delivered. Here is what that looks like in case anyone wants to get a visual aid: Well never mind the picture. It says I am at the limit. Here is the link to my pool photo book instead:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/veteri.../ph//my_photos

Also we have put in our stakes so we can paint our circles then connect them to make the oval.
We also got our straps built too and the blocks layed out for leveling. I didnt get pictures of that yet but will when we actually get them in the ground.

I do have to admit, so far it really hasn't been as bad as I thought. Once the
patio blocks are in and laser transit leveled, the rest should go together pretty quickly considering that we both read the book 36 times!!!

What is hard is that we both work daylight and don't get home until after 4:00 pm. Tonight I worked until about 8:30pm and that seems to be the pattern since we started. My spine isn't where it is supposed to be though from all the raking and shoveling of some uneven spots.

Talk to you soon and more pics to come.
Rhon

p.s. I can't believe we are finally doing this!!!

[AGP18by33]

I forgot to mention that we hammered the creases out of the straps and that worked like a charm.
Also, we were missing some bolts and screws and Swim-N-Play Customer Service called us back today and are shipping them out.

Apparently the guy likes to talk because in 1/2 an hour, he told me how to build our pool step by step. He was very nice though and did help with a few extraneous questions about the parts.

Rhon

[Trimom]

I do have to admit, so far it really hasn't been as bad as I thought.

I am so happy for you AND so jealous! I am glad that someone is having an easy time of putting up their pool. We seem to run into one setback after another.

I know what you mean about wanting more time to work on the pool. I am convinced we could get done if I could ship my boys (2 yrs, and 10 months) off somewhere for 48 hours!

[AGP18by33]

Thanks Trimom,
It is hard work and dedication. I am beyond determined to get this thing done by time we are on vacation (to porchville or poolville).
Tonight we layed out our bottom rails so we know where our blocks will go. There is the new picture in my yahoo photo book:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/veteri.../ph//my_photos
It's the last one in there.

Believe me, we have had, and are still having some setbacks. We are missing some screws and bolts for installing the uprights. Customer Service was called and they called back the next day and are shipping them. Also two of our top decorative covers are missing...being shipped with screws hopefully.

Tonight...while we were setting up the bottom rails, we need 10 Plastisol Coated Rails for the sides and 12 Plastisol for the oval ends. What we got was 12 extra painted white rails. They are the same ones that go on the top of the wall under the top ledge. We did get the 10 right ones for the sides though.
We had to just use the white painted ones just to be able to measure for the blocks since they are the exact same size.
I called Customer Service and also sent them an email. I looked on the SwimNPlay website but can't find the part. I also asked them if I can paint them with some kind of protective coating if they can't get the right ones out to me.
I also asked them if they have a quality control department that inspects the boxes for all the right parts.
I did however tell them that we are not quite angry yet as there are still alot of little things that we can do in the meantime while we are waiting. Also that I did get good customer service results with the guy I talked to on the phone. Plus we are being very patient.

Now that we know where our blocks are going to go, we will dig them in tomorrow and laser transit level them all, then set up the bottom rail in hopes that we get results for the Plastisol ones that are needed.

Another setback was having to dig out more of the side because we didn't include the side buttresses in with the measurement predig. It took me about 2 hours last night and my hubby about 1 hour tonight. We only had to go back about 6 inches though because we did include 3 feet added onto the pool width. This meant that the side braces would be right up against the dirt. Not good, had to dig out a bit.

Sorry this is so long. I would just like people to learn from our mistakes to save them time.
We both work daylight and when we get home about 4:30pm...we hit the ground running! My scrubs are off and work clothes are on! We come in when we can't see anymore. GET 'ER DONE has new meaning for us.

Good luck and remember that we all only have to build our pools ONCE if done correctly. I AM NOT doing this again. Our pool company wanted $1,200.00 to build it for us not including the dig and sand!!! No thanks. That will buy alot of BBB, Mikes Lemonade, and floatees.

Best of luck and God Speed.
Rhon
oh...and...GET 'ER DONE!