Help with Spa Spillover...(water keeps going off the sides)

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O

OFam

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Aug 16, 2024
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Hello, first time poster here, hoping there are some experts who can provide some guidance!!

We recently contracted with a local pool builder to construct a spa beside existing pool. All seems fine, except for the spillway design. Builder suggested a spillway from side of spa off a single slab of bluestone/flagstone? to create a waterfall/sheet effect into pool. There are no side channels or guides to direct water off the end, but builder said none needed.
Problem is that water keeps running off the side of the slab/spillway.
Increasing rate/flow of water doesn't help. He's been back a few times to adjust the angle? of the slab, but it hasn't helped.
(photos attached)
IMG_7412.jpg
I'd be super grateful for any advice/assistance! I'm just a mom :) so I'm not familiar with industry jargon, terms, etc but will do my best to answer any questions and provide any further info that might be helpful in helping to figure out a solution.
Many thanks!!
 
OFam said:
Hello, first time poster here, hoping there are some experts who can provide some guidance!!

We recently contracted with a local pool builder to construct a spa beside existing pool. All seems fine, except for the spillway design. Builder suggested a spillway from side of spa off a single slab of bluestone/flagstone? to create a waterfall/sheet effect into pool. There are no side channels or guides to direct water off the end, but builder said none needed.
Problem is that water keeps running off the side of the slab/spillway.
Increasing rate/flow of water doesn't help. He's been back a few times to adjust the angle? of the slab, but it hasn't helped.
(photos attached)
View attachment 604390
I'd be super grateful for any advice/assistance! I'm just a mom :) so I'm not familiar with industry jargon, terms, etc but will do my best to answer any questions and provide any further info that might be helpful in helping to figure out a solution.
Many thanks!!
Click to expand...
a couple more photos below...
 

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Jimrahbe said:
O,

That issue is all due to a bad design..

There needs to be something on each side to keep the water in the middle of the slab, or maybe having the center of the slab shaved down or hollowed out.

Sorry,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Jim!
I was thinking the same thing... :(

In trying to research the solution, I've come across some info about the water surface tension...(wish I'd paid more attention in high school physics class!)

I read some other posts where you suggested an undercut drip channel...
And another builder recommended a very sharp right angle only at the end of the bluestone (or even a sharper angle, maybe 60 deg?) to help break surface tension of water and get it to flow outward...

Thoughts?
 
I like @Jimrahbe's first idea. Cut 2 pieces of stone to fit and epoxy them to the sides of the spillway. They don't have to be terribly tall. But the epoxy layer must not have gaps that would let water through.
 
O,

I agree with the Rocket... Your current issue is not due to surface tension, it is due to the poor design..

Once you put sides on what you have now... Then surface tension will come into play. Without the slot on the bottom side, water will wrap around the slab and run backwards.. The slot prevents that from happening..

Just to be clear, the slot is at the pool end of the slab, on the bottom side, about a 1/4" back from the end and about 1/4" deep and wide.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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