Hi,
I’m hoping to be able to get some advice from the people in here with more experience (which is just about everyone).
I have had a 24’ round AGP for the past dozen years and, in the process of maintaining it, I have learned more than I ever knew existed about pool water chemistry. The past number of years have been smooth sailing as far as maintaining balanced and safe water and a well functioning pool system.
But, now I (and more importantly, the Mrs.) am ready for an inground.
I’ve spoken to all the BP in my area (there aren’t many) and I’ve gotten completely contradictory information and recommendations (fiberglass, gunnite, vinyl over steel, polymer, concrete, etc.), been ignored, gotten what I think are overpriced quotes, and discovered way too many nightmare reviews about each of them.
So I decided to talk to a general contractor who I have worked with for years and trust. He said he has never made a pool. But, he has tons of experience and expertise with excavation and concrete.
I hit upon DIY with a kit.
I’m looking at a 22x44 by 9’ at the hopper polymer walled, vinyl liner pool.
I’d super appreciate it if I could get some feedback on:
1) The specs as shown below, and
2) What tips, tricks, warnings and traps that might be useful to know in this undertaking.
For example, digging out a 30x50 rectangle with a bottom from 42” to 9’ shouldn’t be too difficult (we have both an excavator and dozer).
I understand I should use mason sand-based concrete for the pool bottom and a regular stone based 3500 PSI around the outside of the polymer walls. Details on any other specs for the mixes?
Or on laying it down?
On bottom main drains or lower side wall main drains?
Rigid vs. Flex PVC? I’m in central NY, where the Winters are pretty darn tough, so I’m leaning towards flex, but I don’t know if there are different classes or qualities, or if the flex should be buried in sand, or concrete, for example.
I am hoping to have a concrete perimeter deck with a small cantilever overhang, but I’m concerned because the cantilever forms allow for only a 3” slab.
I don’t mind spending a few extra bucks for the extra inch or 2 of concrete if it will help prevent or delay cracking due to ground heaving.
Aqua Genie or Hayward skimmer?
Anyway, I could go on and on with all the questions that I have now that I’ve begun my research.
Here’s the specs on the pool kit (Hydra):
Pool Type AutoPoolCoverKit
Pool Size 24' x 44' Pool Kit With Automatic Pool Cover
Pool Walls Polymer $ 15,340.00
Pool Liner Liner (30 Mil - Blue Raleigh) $ 495.00
Pool Bottom Pool Bottom (9' Deep End With 3'4 Shallow End Select Pools Only) $ 100.00
Corner Radius Corner Radius (6" Corner Radius) $ 150.00
Pool Coping Coping (Cantilever Coping With Foam Concrete Forms Included) $ 595.00
Pool Wall Braces Brace (Polymer Deck Support Brace, With Stake - Standard On Polymer Kits) $ 0.00
Polymer Pool Step Swimming Pool Step (90 Degree Corner Step Cantilever) $ 495.00
Liner Over Steel Pool Step None $ 0.00
Step Location Step Location (Right Corner Of Pool) $ 100.00
Spill Over Spas None $ 0.00
Pool Bench None $ 0.00
In Pool Spa None $ 0.00
Pool Step Jet Kit None $ 0.00
Deck Jets None $ 0.00
Pool Pump Pool Pumps (Hayward EcoStar Variable Speed Pump) $ 665.00
Pool Filter Pool Filter (30" Hayward Top Mount Pro Sand Filter) $ 295.00
Pool Skimmer Skimmer (3 Aqua Genie Skimmers And 1 Return) $ 295.00
Salt Water Chlorination Systems Styles (Hayward Aqua Rite 40k Gallon Salt System) $ 995.00
Pool Plumbing Kit Pool Kit Plumbing Accessories (2 Inch Plumbing Kit) $ 495.00
Pool Cleaner None $ 0.00
Pool Light #1 Pool Light (500 WATT COLOR LOGIC LED 120 VOLTS 30' CORD AND NICHE) $ 695.00
Pool Light #2 Pool Light (500 WATT COLOR LOGIC LED 120 VOLTS 30' CORD AND NICHE) $ 695.00
Pool Heater Heater (Hayward Commercial H-Series 500k btu digital propane) $ 2,995.00
Pool Diving Board None $ 0.00
Slides None $ 0.00
Pool Handrail Pool Handrail (Stainless Steel Handrail With Escushions) $ 0.00
Pool Ladder Pool Ladder (Polymer In Wall Ladder With Stainless Grab Rails) $ 395.00
Handrail & Ladder Anchors Hand Rail & Ladder Anchors (Standard Polymer Handrail & Ladder Anchors) $ 0.00
Pool Alarm None $ 0.00
Pool Wall Padding None $ 0.00
Maintenance Kit Safety Rope (Safety Rope & Rope Anchors) $ 0.00
Lift Gate Service Lift Gate Service (Customer Freight LTL Unload With Lift Gate Service) $ 35.00
Ship-to State Ship To State (Other) $ 0.00
Total $ 24,835.00
Thank you,
Joe
I’m hoping to be able to get some advice from the people in here with more experience (which is just about everyone).
I have had a 24’ round AGP for the past dozen years and, in the process of maintaining it, I have learned more than I ever knew existed about pool water chemistry. The past number of years have been smooth sailing as far as maintaining balanced and safe water and a well functioning pool system.
But, now I (and more importantly, the Mrs.) am ready for an inground.
I’ve spoken to all the BP in my area (there aren’t many) and I’ve gotten completely contradictory information and recommendations (fiberglass, gunnite, vinyl over steel, polymer, concrete, etc.), been ignored, gotten what I think are overpriced quotes, and discovered way too many nightmare reviews about each of them.
So I decided to talk to a general contractor who I have worked with for years and trust. He said he has never made a pool. But, he has tons of experience and expertise with excavation and concrete.
I hit upon DIY with a kit.
I’m looking at a 22x44 by 9’ at the hopper polymer walled, vinyl liner pool.
I’d super appreciate it if I could get some feedback on:
1) The specs as shown below, and
2) What tips, tricks, warnings and traps that might be useful to know in this undertaking.
For example, digging out a 30x50 rectangle with a bottom from 42” to 9’ shouldn’t be too difficult (we have both an excavator and dozer).
I understand I should use mason sand-based concrete for the pool bottom and a regular stone based 3500 PSI around the outside of the polymer walls. Details on any other specs for the mixes?
Or on laying it down?
On bottom main drains or lower side wall main drains?
Rigid vs. Flex PVC? I’m in central NY, where the Winters are pretty darn tough, so I’m leaning towards flex, but I don’t know if there are different classes or qualities, or if the flex should be buried in sand, or concrete, for example.
I am hoping to have a concrete perimeter deck with a small cantilever overhang, but I’m concerned because the cantilever forms allow for only a 3” slab.
I don’t mind spending a few extra bucks for the extra inch or 2 of concrete if it will help prevent or delay cracking due to ground heaving.
Aqua Genie or Hayward skimmer?
Anyway, I could go on and on with all the questions that I have now that I’ve begun my research.
Here’s the specs on the pool kit (Hydra):
Pool Type AutoPoolCoverKit
Pool Size 24' x 44' Pool Kit With Automatic Pool Cover
Pool Walls Polymer $ 15,340.00
Pool Liner Liner (30 Mil - Blue Raleigh) $ 495.00
Pool Bottom Pool Bottom (9' Deep End With 3'4 Shallow End Select Pools Only) $ 100.00
Corner Radius Corner Radius (6" Corner Radius) $ 150.00
Pool Coping Coping (Cantilever Coping With Foam Concrete Forms Included) $ 595.00
Pool Wall Braces Brace (Polymer Deck Support Brace, With Stake - Standard On Polymer Kits) $ 0.00
Polymer Pool Step Swimming Pool Step (90 Degree Corner Step Cantilever) $ 495.00
Liner Over Steel Pool Step None $ 0.00
Step Location Step Location (Right Corner Of Pool) $ 100.00
Spill Over Spas None $ 0.00
Pool Bench None $ 0.00
In Pool Spa None $ 0.00
Pool Step Jet Kit None $ 0.00
Deck Jets None $ 0.00
Pool Pump Pool Pumps (Hayward EcoStar Variable Speed Pump) $ 665.00
Pool Filter Pool Filter (30" Hayward Top Mount Pro Sand Filter) $ 295.00
Pool Skimmer Skimmer (3 Aqua Genie Skimmers And 1 Return) $ 295.00
Salt Water Chlorination Systems Styles (Hayward Aqua Rite 40k Gallon Salt System) $ 995.00
Pool Plumbing Kit Pool Kit Plumbing Accessories (2 Inch Plumbing Kit) $ 495.00
Pool Cleaner None $ 0.00
Pool Light #1 Pool Light (500 WATT COLOR LOGIC LED 120 VOLTS 30' CORD AND NICHE) $ 695.00
Pool Light #2 Pool Light (500 WATT COLOR LOGIC LED 120 VOLTS 30' CORD AND NICHE) $ 695.00
Pool Heater Heater (Hayward Commercial H-Series 500k btu digital propane) $ 2,995.00
Pool Diving Board None $ 0.00
Slides None $ 0.00
Pool Handrail Pool Handrail (Stainless Steel Handrail With Escushions) $ 0.00
Pool Ladder Pool Ladder (Polymer In Wall Ladder With Stainless Grab Rails) $ 395.00
Handrail & Ladder Anchors Hand Rail & Ladder Anchors (Standard Polymer Handrail & Ladder Anchors) $ 0.00
Pool Alarm None $ 0.00
Pool Wall Padding None $ 0.00
Maintenance Kit Safety Rope (Safety Rope & Rope Anchors) $ 0.00
Lift Gate Service Lift Gate Service (Customer Freight LTL Unload With Lift Gate Service) $ 35.00
Ship-to State Ship To State (Other) $ 0.00
Total $ 24,835.00
Thank you,
Joe