Finally installing. A few random questions:

[badutahboy]

HEy guys, I'm finally getting ready to install my new pool (atlantic vantage 18x33 buttress free)...

As I was reading through the directions I had a couple questions about things that either conflict with information I've read here, or have never been addressed here to my knowledge..

1. The instructions say to put patio blocks underneath the ends of the rails... I've seen on here that it's not totally necessary.. Is there a solid answer to this? I live in Utah, so we get frost, but my soil is very solidly compacted already.... so much so that digging a hole to plant a tree proved futile yesterday..

2. The instructions say to fill the trenches with crushed limestone.. Is this necessary, or can I just re-backfill them with the dirt I pulled out? I don't see the structural advantage to limestone, since the trenches run across the middle of the pool, and I don't think you'll see an imperfection in settling of the trenches, because I'm using 1 1/2" foam under my liner.

3. Can I spray the ground with triox today, before installing the liner (I'll do it multiple hours before)? I had a few weeds coming through the dirty, and I want to try and make sure I don't battle them... ALso, will this even be an issue, since I'm using the foam under my liner?

4. As I said, I'm using 1 1/2" foam under the liner.. I also have the little 3" sticky back cove from the dealer... Is there any benefit to creating a sand cove, given my situation, or will the foam cove/styrofoam bottom suffice?

[hrsdennis]

Hi Bad, How bout them Jazz? I sure hope the Suns win a couple more so we can play you guys.

I think the overall consensus is you are better off without the end blocks. Brace blocks are a must have.

Dirt is fine for all of your backfill needs. They just want to make sure it will pack firm and not settle under the weight of the water.

I would use your foam first with your preformed coving over that. Sand is not needed and would just mess things up.

I would give the fumes from the triox as much time as possible to disperse before putting a liner over it. A couple of days would be ideal.

Best of luck, Dennis

[badutahboy]

Thanks for the info dennis... much appreciated.

For the bracing blocks, is the 12x12x1 block the instructions call for enough? I saw that matt recommended something bigger in another thread, but home depot here doesn't sell solid cinder blocks anymore.... just the decorative landscaping blocks, which are pretty crumbly. I was thinking of stacking two 12x12x1 blocks on top of another... good idea or bad?



As for the jazz.. thanks! I'm hoping for phoenix to win too.... I think you guys would be a little easier for us to contain than San Antonio, because their style of play is similar to ours, and they'll beat us in most direct matchups.. You guys present more of a coaching challenge, but if we can disrupt your game plan, you're more beatable than San Antonio...

I was seriously disappointed when you guys lost the other night... Too bad David Stern and Co are dead set on S.A. getting past you.. diaw and stoudamire got screwed!

[badutahboy]

Another question... Is there a shortcut method of getting the braces aligned, other than staking out 20 different stake locations?

It seems to me that I ought to be able to find the exact center point, and set up the center brace, then measure the distance from the center brace, to the next brace, and align them that way... My pool is running alongside a block wall, much like the one in dennis' picture install thread from last year, so it seems like I can check for square by making sure the braces are parrallel to each other, and the same distance off the block wall.

Am I wrong? or am I wasting a ton of time following the manufacturer's install instructions, being that my ground is already level... It seems that all their staking instructions are mostly geared towards leveling, but then the brace locations are figured off those existing stakes.

Just FYI, the instructions I'm looking at are located here:

http://www.atlanticpoolproducts.com/...vantagegib.pdf

[hrsdennis]

Hey Bad, Check out this thread and let me know if this is the pool you are installing.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=4411

Those instructions are something else.

[badutahboy]

That's the thread I was referring to..

My wall has a different pattern, but from what I understand, Atlantic pools packages the same pool under 3 different names, with different wall designs.. The one I bought is called the J-5000.. they also call it the Vantage, and I don't know the third name, but I don't think it's gibralter... regardless, the pools are VERY similar... so I would assume the install procedure would be almost exactly the same.