INEXPERIENCED OB Steel wall vinyl liner inground pool under construction in north texas

[Caro325]

Got it, so you need to bring the whole floor up in the shallow end, or at least a large portion of it and not just by the walls. Whatever you use, you need to ensure it's compacted properly. If you do not, you'll inevitably have some settling which you'll notice dimples as you're walking on the liner or with the lights on at night. I had some settling in my floor because we had to rush to get it done due to labor availability, rain/flooding, and winter approaching. 57 stone gravel or 304 crushed aggregate would be your best options. That'll allow you to raise the floor to where you can install the 2" of vermiculite as well as make it easier to work on while wet. I would not pour concrete to raise the floor, and also focus on the walls/collar more so before perfecting the backfill for your floor.

Thank you. I have #57 gravel at home (30 tons, because I haven't backfilled yet), so today I am going to us some of it to try to level and will also work on getting the walls ready AND the drains!!!! I am sure happy to be almost done with excavation part!!!

 

[TKpoolOH]

Awesome! Your anxiety levels will go way down once you have those walls set and collar poured. You're doing amazing. Just think, I signed a contract, paid a deposit, got nothing from my PB in 2 years, and you're practically halfway to finishing your pool in less than 2 months! I should've hired you!

 

[Newdude]

Caro, you absolutely blow me away. I have friends in construction and all the trades, who do parts of this job for a living and could call mutual friends for the parts they don't do. They hire a PB, as I did.

Here you are with a big BRASS pair of ovaries and a shovel. You go girl.

 

[Caro325]

Awesome! Your anxiety levels will go way down once you have those walls set and collar poured. You're doing amazing. Just think, I signed a contract, paid a deposit, got nothing from my PB in 2 years, and you're practically halfway to finishing your pool in less than 2 months! I should've hired you!

Thank you, but I pass...... once I finish this pool so my kid has a place to swim during the summer I am done with construction.......... until a new project jups in my head

 

[Caro325]

Caro, you absolutely blow me away. I have friends in construction and all the trades, who do parts of this job for a living and could call mutual friends for the parts they don't do. They hire a PB, as I did.

Here you are with a big BRASS pair of ovaries and a shovel. You go girl.

Thank you for your comment. last night I was out in my "hole" until 10:45pm (after working 7-6 at my regular job) sitting on wet mud trying to get my finish level lines, while my child kept calling me every 15-20 min because I "promise" her that I was going to play with her........... your comment will help me to go back and do it all over again tonight

 

[TKpoolOH]

while my child kept calling me every 15-20 min because I "promise" her that I was going to play with her...........

I can relate (4 kids ages 4-12), totally know what that's like....although the oldest now wants absolutely nothing to do with me

 

[Caro325]

I can relate (4 kids ages 4-12), totally know what that's like....although the oldest now wants absolutely nothing to do with me

Thankfully mine comes out every 30-45 min to see if I need “anything” . She is being a trooper through all this mess!!

 

[Caro325]

Thankfully mine comes out every 30-45 min to see if I need “anything” . She is being a trooper through all this mess!!

You guys say that you guys like to see pictures……. Mine aren’t the typical ones, but here they are….. the first is what it looks like when I am sitting on the ground down in my hole trying to make the drain holes ……, the second/third is what I have to show for after 2 1/2 hours of work . the fourth is my baby……. I realized that now that I put up the steps, she can come in without getting hurt and we can daydream about the final product

 

[kimkats]

I don't know how I missed this epic thread but I have found it now thanks to @Newdude

Girl you are an awesome mom and pool builder!!! This will all be worth it in the end!!! I would have your cutie do some of the "work" in that she can help take some of the rocks and bigger chunks up and out of the pool. Anything so she can feel as if she is helping and has an investment in the pool. Yeah it might slow it down a bit but it will pay off big time down the road when SHE has to think about doing a project like this!

Kim

 

[dleonard1122]

Just getting in to see this and I am super impressed. It looks like you're well on your way to having a great pool. I'm late to the party, but in my signature I have a build thread linked where I installed the same type of pool as you last summer, using the same process (although we didn't have to deal with the rocky soil that you have in Texas.) Feel free to check it out if you think it'll help.

- We used PoolCrete for our base. Yes, it was expensive and delivery was necessary, but in hindsight I'm glad we did. Not sure I'd have trusted myself to get a mix right.
- You're correct in using pavers to level the wall panels.
- We had some washout before we layed the pool base, so we used 57 stone to bring it back up to level before adding the PoolCrete.
- When it comes time to set your steps, make them 1/4" higher than your wall panels. This is to account for the height of your liner track which is going to sit on top of your walls.

Do you know what type of pool deck you're going to go with? Pouring concrete around it, or laying pavers?

 

[TKpoolOH]

You guys say that you guys like to see pictures……. Mine aren’t the typical ones, but here they are….. the first is what it looks like when I am sitting on the ground down in my hole trying to make the drain holes ……, the second/third is what I have to show for after 2 1/2 hours of work . the fourth is my baby……. I realized that now that I put up the steps, she can come in without getting hurt and we can daydream about the final product

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Great pics, love the angle from the “hole.” She is gonna love the pool. So sorry you have to deal with that rock. Hope you’ve got a Jack hammer or something to make it easier on you.

 

[Mdragger88]

She will forever remember that her mom built her a pool!
Amazing

 

[Caro325]

I don't know how I missed this epic thread but I have found it now thanks to @Newdude

Girl you are an awesome mom and pool builder!!! This will all be worth it in the end!!! I would have your cutie do some of the "work" in that she can help take some of the rocks and bigger chunks up and out of the pool. Anything so she can feel as if she is helping and has an investment in the pool. Yeah it might slow it down a bit but it will pay off big time down the road when SHE has to think about doing a project like this!

Kim

Thank you. my child is a "Boo-boo girl" so up to now I have kept her away from the construction ........ hopefully she can get a bit more involve this upcoming week before she goes to sleep away camp!

 

[Caro325]

Just getting in to see this and I am super impressed. It looks like you're well on your way to having a great pool. I'm late to the party, but in my signature I have a build thread linked where I installed the same type of pool as you last summer, using the same process (although we didn't have to deal with the rocky soil that you have in Texas.) Feel free to check it out if you think it'll help.

- We used PoolCrete for our base. Yes, it was expensive and delivery was necessary, but in hindsight I'm glad we did. Not sure I'd have trusted myself to get a mix right.
- You're correct in using pavers to level the wall panels.
- We had some washout before we layed the pool base, so we used 57 stone to bring it back up to level before adding the PoolCrete.
- When it comes time to set your steps, make them 1/4" higher than your wall panels. This is to account for the height of your liner track which is going to sit on top of your walls.

Do you know what type of pool deck you're going to go with? Pouring concrete around it, or laying pavers?

Thank you for the tips. I will definately check out your thread......... my plan is to pour concrete all the way to the flex coping that comes with the pool kit

 

[Caro325]

She will forever remember that her mom built her a pool!
Amazing

I didn't really realized that it was going to take SOO long to build the pool, so the poor kid has been planning her "Pool Party" for almost 3 months now!

 

[Newdude]

my child is a "Boo-boo girl"

Same. Her Kindergarten teacher affectionately called her Mrs Bleeds because she needed to see the nurse every 12 minutes.

 

[TKpoolOH]

I didn't really realized that it was going to take SOO long to build the pool, so the poor kid has been planning her "Pool Party" for almost 3 months now!

It seems long, but you're about ready to get over the hump that'll make it go way faster! My kids planned their pool party for 2.5 years, got pool gifts for Christmas from various people for 3 straight years (2020, 2021, and 2022). Signed contract/deposit October 24, 2020, long story made short fired pool builder September 2022, GC'd myself starting 9/30/2022, pool was done/passed final inspection May 22, 2023. Kids 1st pool party is this Saturday! Your daughter is going to have one epic pool party! Plus, any delays/challenges/length of build just allow for laughable moments later on when you're enjoying your pool!

 

[clambert1273]

I didn't really realized that it was going to take SOO long to build the pool, so the poor kid has been planning her "Pool Party" for almost 3 months now!

Trust me they don't care lol my daughter is 16 & planned her bday pool party (april) in february then planned end of school pool party right after it for may 26

 

[Caro325]

It seems long, but you're about ready to get over the hump that'll make it go way faster! My kids planned their pool party for 2.5 years, got pool gifts for Christmas from various people for 3 straight years (2020, 2021, and 2022). Signed contract/deposit October 24, 2020, long story made short fired pool builder September 2022, GC'd myself starting 9/30/2022, pool was done/passed final inspection May 22, 2023. Kids 1st pool party is this Saturday! Your daughter is going to have one epic pool party! Plus, any delays/challenges/length of build just allow for laughable moments later on when you're enjoying your pool!

What a journey!!!!! I guess it is all about perspective!!! congratulations on passing inspection!!!

 

[Caro325]

Great pics, love the angle from the “hole.” She is gonna love the pool. So sorry you have to deal with that rock. Hope you’ve got a Jack hammer or something to make it easier on you.

Yeap!!! after 2 days working with a small pick axe, I used my brain and google "demolition" and discover the magic of "rotary hammers" ..... but I think it is hilarious that I have to dig for hours through shear rock to create 2-18" deep holes that I then have to turn around and fill with 14" of rocks