Raised spa spillway

DASpool

Active member
Aug 26, 2024
28
Central NJ
Pool Size
36000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Would like to ask guidance on how to ensure the 1.5 inch thick granite coping stone we are using on the spillway flows OUT and not down the front of the tile on the raised Dam Wall below it. Does the profile of the cut of the stone matter? We had a capillary cut made on the stone so the water would flow outward BUT it is currently running down not outward. We have a variable speed pump that runs at 45 gallons per minute during the day and 30 gallons per minute during the evening.
How far out over the dam wall should the stone ideally extend out?
What type of profile should the edge of the granite stone be to flow outward into the pool water waterfall and not down the front of the Dam wall tile?
Thanks - we are having a new stone cut and would value your input.
 
I think what you want is for the water out of the spa to create a spillway effect (i.e. the water shoots over the coping, to create a spill over the coping effect).
If so, then the degree of the edge will have an impact and the pressure going to the spa.

In my previous pool we had this, when the main pump was running it created a water effect of the water calmly falling down the stone.
When the water feature pump was on, the water would then shoot over and create that curved water effect. It would shoot outwards about 3-4 inches.
 
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Yes thank you. So what is the "degree of the edge" I am looking for to get the water shooting OUT over the coping?
Is there a guidance on the type of edge and how far out the coping stone should be?
 
Yes thank you. So what is the "degree of the edge" I am looking for to get the water shooting OUT over the coping?
Is there a guidance on the type of edge and how far out the coping stone should be?
The degree is really more to maintain the water within the spa when nothing is circulating it in order to avoid it just leaking out all the time. This is very minimal to the whole effect.
 
Do i need a squared off edge - not a bullnose or doesn't it matter the shape of the edge of the spillway stone?

I don't' believe it matters much. (bullnose vs squared)
This is almost identical to how our spa was setup (in the picture it is showing the calm water trickling off the stone.)


But when the water feature pump came on, that effect changed to what you are referring to.
 
What is the width of the spillway?

The wider the spillway the more flow you need to get a throw.

How does your spillway look when you run your VS pump at maximum speed?
 
The spillway stone is 25 inches wide. The pool and spa are on the same water circulation. When the spa is on the circulation is within the spa only and doesn’t run over the edge.
It was suggested that we have a new stone cut where the top would be a small bullnose and underneath would be square. We would have the stone ( 1.5 inches thick granite) extend over the pool side 3.5 inches. Underneath the stone - 2 inches a way from the dam wall, we would put a capillary cut - so the water does not roll back but down.
We were also advised to set the stone pitched backward slightly toward the spa water at a rate of slope 1/4 inch per foot. Any thoughts before we proceed? We are going to tile the Dam wall first to make sure we are getting the stone overhang correct.
 

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