DIY Pool Kits?

[jbhogfan]

Has anyone built an inground vinyl pool using a swimming pool kit such as what is sold on the internet? We're looking to possibly build next year and there are many possibilities available on the web so we're looking for a reputable vendor.

Thanks -
jbhogfan

[waste]

Can't help with who to buy from - but can certainly help with throwing that puppy in the ground

I started writing DIY advice for liner pools last year on TFP, but lack of responses cooled my enthusiasm - I'd love to be able to complete the posts/ process!

This is the first installment click

If I did this right the other installments should be 'linked'

Please let me know when you're ready to have more info - I'll just double post it here and there

I've built hundreds of IG liner pools and know that I have info you'll need/ appreciate

[CarlD]

People here HAVE done it. As with ALL pool installations you'll probably spend most of your time and a lot of you money on site preparation. I know I did. I had to have shrubs moved, buried sprinkler lines moved, a pad for an older donut pool removed, a new pad built, an engineer to certify the pad, and new electrical wiring run. Nearly half the cost of the installation was site preparation.

[jbhogfan]

Thank you all so much for the info! I'm going to read all the threads carefully but let me ask you this, and I know I'll have tons more questions, but we want a deeper dive pool than standard of 8 ft. I really wanted 10 ft depth but a local pool builder told me this past week that they don't recommend a depth of 10 ft because of the slope of the hopper. Now, my thought was that when you have a deeper depth, that meant you would have a longer slope so it would cut more into the amount of shallow area that you had but I didn't think that deeper meant that you had a steeper (and at and least from my understanding of what he said) a more dangerous slope. My main concern for the depth was that I'm not sure 8 feet is really deep enough for a diving pool (I know that's the standard but I'm paranoid) so I wanted it to be more around the depths that you'd find at a commercial pool but I know those are typically gunite and are constructed differently on the deep end. So what is the real answer about the slope? Go with a standard 8 feet depth and not worry about it? My husband loves to dive and he's 6 ft tall so the depth at 8 ft really concerns me. I've also got a whole lot of plumbing questions but I'll save that for another day, ha!

[waste]

The hopper has at least 4 different slopes. The one you are referring to is the transition slope from the shallow end which on an 8' deep pool is usually 13 or 14' long - you are correct that you either loose some shallow end or steepen the slope if you go with a 10' bottom However, another alternative is to add an extra 4' wall panel to the sides (instead of having an 18X 36' pool you get an 18X 40' pool) If you go with the 10' deep end, you'll have to custom order the liner anyway so the only extra expense is the 2 4' panels

The other slopes are from the side and back walls - the biggest problem is being able to apply the pool base to them at that height - 8' walls are a royal PITA - I shudder to think how bad 10' walls would be - you'd probably have to set up some scaffolding If you don't have someone experienced with doing the walls - 8' is ~ out of possibility and 10' should not even be considered

I'm not trying to discourage you from building your dream pool, just give my honest assessment.

Read and ask more questions as they arise - we'll be here to help

[jbhogfan]

Thanks Waste. I hadn't considered the logistics of trying to put the bottom in on that depth, I should have thought of that, so that's a great point.

But, regarding "However, another alternative is to add an extra 4' wall panel to the sides (instead of having an 18X 36' pool you get an 18X 40' pool)", the object of this would be to make the pool longer or am I misunderstanding? My specs are hopefully are around 45 x 20 (or thereabouts). Thanks again for the help!

[CarlD]

I always thought 9' was EASILY adequate if you don't have a high board, no problem with a low board. One camp I went to had a 9' pool and nobody came close to the bottom.

It may ease some of your problems.

[jbhogfan]

Thanks CarlD, 9 ft would definately make me feel better than 8. Was the pool you went to a vinyl or a gunite pool, though? Doesn't that make a difference on the way the deep-end is constructed?

[waste]

Hi, a 20 X 45' would allow you to have the deeper pool and still have a 'standard' shallow end ~ 10 -12' without a hugely slanted transition slope. The deep end 'hopper' walls would probably change from the 4' standard to 6'.(again for ease of troweling the hopper walls)

With shot concrete pools, you have a little more leeway - you don't have to make the walls fit ~ perfectly to a premade liner and the material can be shaped into whatever you want

[CarlD]

Thanks CarlD, 9 ft would definately make me feel better than 8. Was the pool you went to a vinyl or a gunite pool, though? Doesn't that make a difference on the way the deep-end is constructed?

The pool at that camp? It was concrete--it was long, I think probably 60' or 75' (long time ago) and at least 25' wide--it had to hold a lot of kids! It was an institutional pool. Don't ask when I was last there!