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

[TKpoolOH]

My boss is very smart and has done construction for years (but has never done this can of pool(he always does concrete), and he has never worked with vermiculite)….so needless to say, I thrust him completely….. he insists that I need to put rebar on the pool bottom along with the vermiculite/concrete or I am going to regret it…I have read that rebar is not needed, but my question is, is there a CONTRAINDICATION to putting it?? Any advice would be appreciated…..

Do not use rebar, as everyone else has said.

No doubt your boss is amazing with concrete. As you said though, he’s never built a pool like this and has never worked with vermiculite. I am a retirement plan consultant and investment adviser. I have only ever worked with mutual funds. Would you have trusted me when I told you to put all your money into Theranos (Elizabeth Holmes) or FTX (cryptocurrency Sam Bankman Fried)? I would hope not. Just because the industries align and are similar doesn’t mean I know the first thing about picking the next unicorn startup or alternative investment similar to trying to mix, pour, finish, and cure concrete vs vermiculite.

 

[Caro325]

ok everyone this is NOT a drill, I repeat, THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!!! I no longer have a "hole" in my backyard. I now have.................... almost a pool!!!

 

[koffey]

amazing

 

[kimkats]

I hope you have your test kit already!!!!

 

[Caro325]

I hope you have your test kit already!!!!

I don't!!!!!!! which should I get???? also, what kind of salt and how much do I need???? 3 months ago when I started this project I was on top of things...... but then it has taken so long that I dropped the ball on those things!!!!!!!.

 

[Newdude]

The tfpro-salt is the hands down best value from tftestkits.net


Here's the deets :

Comparable at $90:
K2006 - not enough supplies
TF100- enough supplies

Comparable at $150
K2006C. Enough supplies for half, way too much on the other half
TFpro - enough supplies plus $48 stirring device included and nice case.

For either 2006 kit you need to add a $30 K1766 salt test kit.

Either the TF100 or TFpro are available with a salt option for a $20 uncharge, saving $10

 

[dleonard1122]

I'll second the recommendation for the TFPRO-Salt. Mine has had everything I've needed since I opened my pool.

For salt, I use Morton Salt Pure and Natural 40 lbs. Solar Water Softener Salt Crystals 3983 - The Home Depot

There was a post here a while ago about someone who had issues with Morton salt, but I think it was pretty obvious they had a bad batch because the color of the salt they received was a brownish color. I've never had that experience, so I use this bag for my pool and also for my whole house water softener.

 

[Caro325]

I was also wondering something else...... it is going to be a bit before I can actually get the water in.... (I need to do the plumbing, do the bonding, , etc.....), SOOOO..... is it better to leave the empty hole as it is until I am ready (of course Texas decided that it is going to have RAIN everyday now,, so the pool floor and wall are getting wet) OR should I put the liner in (no water) and then when I am ready I can put the water in................... (as I need help putting the liner in, I have to ask my family members to come help..... and that is only possible on Saturday since it is the only day I don't work........ (which means the pool floor would be exposed for more than 7 days........., any advice??

 

[Caro325]

The tfpro-salt is the hands down best value from tftestkits.net


Here's the deets :

Comparable at $90:
K2006 - not enough supplies
TF100- enough supplies

Comparable at $150
K2006C. Enough supplies for half, way too much on the other half
TFpro - enough supplies plus $48 stirring device included and nice case.

For either 2006 kit you need to add a $30 K1766 salt test kit.

Either the TF100 or TFpro are available with a salt option for a $20 uncharge, saving $10

great. thanks for the info. I will get it ordered

 

[Caro325]

I'll second the recommendation for the TFPRO-Salt. Mine has had everything I've needed since I opened my pool.

For salt, I use Morton Salt Pure and Natural 40 lbs. Solar Water Softener Salt Crystals 3983 - The Home Depot

There was a post here a while ago about someone who had issues with Morton salt, but I think it was pretty obvious they had a bad batch because the color of the salt they received was a brownish color. I've never had that experience, so I use this bag for my pool and also for my whole house water softener.

got it....... how much should I get???

 

[Newdude]

how much should I get???

14 bags (40lbs each, not the 50s) is 3400 ppm salt in 19k gallons. Your fill water should have very little but test before to confirm.

When I bought mine this spring, home depot pool salt was the cheapest. It fluctuates so Google it up local to you.

 

[Newdude]

OR should I put the liner in (no water) and then when I am ready I can put the water in.....

The liner needs to be filled immediately IMO.

 

[Caro325]

The liner needs to be filled immediately IMO.

Ok, then I guess I will push it back to next weekend

 

[Casey]

I'd get the liner in asap an fill it to your lowest line and manually dose with liquid chlorine.

 

[Caro325]

I'd get the liner in asap an fill it to your lowest line and manually dose with liquid chlorine.

Thank you. I am going to used this next few days to do all the plumbing, and electrical, and have asked my family to drop by saturday to help me put the liner........ another question, anyone have any experience/thoughs about glass media for the filter???? I recall that I had decided to use it and meant to ask you guys about it, but got pushed aside with all the drama of the digging........ also, anyone know how many pounds of the glass media I need for my filter???? TIA

 

[kimkats]

Most (I think all but am not sure of that) change their glass back to sand. They find it does not do the job 2 or so yrs down the road.

 

[Caro325]

I have a question..... I am working on the pool plumbing. I have never done plumbing before, but I clean the pieces very well before I put the primer and cement so I think I did it right........ I was hoping to have a pool person come over and help set up the equipment and test my pipe work before I backfilled, but I only have the skid steer rented until friday, and I am SOOOO over budget with this thing (I didn't expect to need to rent the skidsteer for 3 months ) that I can't afford to keep it any longer so I have to backfill right away.......... I though I could maybe reinforce the unions with maybe silicone, duck tape, etc.......... what would be a good thing to use for this purpose???

 

[dleonard1122]

I wouldn't worry about reinforcing the unions with anything. Properly cleaned, primed, and glued joints should be plenty strong. The main thing you want to do before you backfill is to pressure test everything so you can be certain that you won't have any underground leaks.

Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

take all the pipes after being laid in the trench and join them together to make a pressure test configuration with the pool side fittings plugged. Pressure test the plumbing for 24hrs minimum then backfill under pressure. The pipes move when back-filling. Leave the pressure test rig on for a few days and water the trenches to help settle and hand tamp them as you fill if narrow. After all that cut them and do the pad plumbing using diverter valves.

16' x 30' Flat Kidney Owner Build

Yup, you got it. You can try for 2800ppm on the salt as a starting pomt. Very cool. I know you said it takes a few days for everything to dissolve and disperse, but when is it safe to swim? I figured I'd ask because I know the family is going to be asking me.

www.troublefreepool.com

In my build thread I have some photos of the pressure test manifold I made. The manifold itself isn't too bad, but make sure you get a really good seal on the returns and skimmers. I was fighting myself when I thought I had a leak in my plumbing but ended up just not having a great seal on the returns.

 

[Caro325]

pressure test everything so you can be certain that you won't have any underground leaks.

ok, can we go back to speaking english?? what is this "pressure test" that you speak off???

 

[koffey]

ok, can we go back to speaking english?? what is this "pressure test" that you speak off???

You need to ensure that the lines/pipes have zero leaks, run air through them with compressor and gauge. Shoot for 20psi or whatever your max lbs is and if the gauge holds, you are good to go. If not, you have a leak.