An unusual pool build

[duraleigh]

On this cold, dreary day in NC, I hope you find this pool build interesting.

My goal was to build a pool with the skills I was capable of.....that eliminated plaster and gunite. Also, I really like some characteristics of a vinyl pool so I ended up with this hybrid.

I did virtually all this work with some help from friends when we needed manpower. It took forever. I could do it much faster and smarter now but, with a little luck, plan on never building another one!! :-D[attachment=14:5ocn2tiw]Poolbluild1.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=13:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild2.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=12:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild3.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=11:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild4j.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=10:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild5.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=9:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild6.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=8:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild7.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=7:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild8.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=6:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild9.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=5:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild10.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=4:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild11.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=3:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild12.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=2:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild13.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=1:5ocn2tiw]poolbuild14.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw][attachment=0:5ocn2tiw]Poolbuild15.jpg[/attachment:5ocn2tiw]

 

[JohnT]

Very interesting Dave. Did you measure for the liner yourself?

 

[Butterfly]

Your pool is H U G E ! ......no wonder why it took so long to build!

Two dozen people in it and still lots and lots of room! :lol:

Great pix!

 

[Henry Porter]

Very interesting indeed. And it looks like an accurate and tidy build aswell. Impressive!
Do you have pictures of the liner and it's colour? I like they way the water looks in the last pic.

 

[duraleigh]

Yes, John. The liner covered the steps as well and I had two pages of diagrams and measurments for the steps and 2 other pages of diagrams and measurements for the rest of the pool. As it turned out, they got the wrong radius on the corners so they had to produce another liner because the documentation was pretty clear. The mis-manufactured liner they didn't want back so I cut it up to use for tarps.......heavy but very waterproof :-D

Thanks, Henry. Here is the only photo I have of the liner showing the color....it also shows how the corners were made wrong.[attachment=0:166rii68]048linertoobig.JPG[/attachment:166rii68]

 

[MOM&POP DIY]

Wow - great work!

Would you mind sharing details of the tile work around the pool. How is it holding up. Is the grout working out?

I have a lot of ceramic in my home and most of it is doing very well, but there are some spots in a shower that the grout is cracking - is there a special grout for outside that you recommend.

Many thanks
Mom

 

[Pisces]

Holy COW!! That pool is GINORMOUS!! Very cool build...I like the choice of deck and waterline materials around the pool - so visually NICE. Wish I had technical questions, but I'll leave those to the experts around here. The land is gorgeous...makes me want to move back to the country...very scenic there. Enjoy the pool...and thanks for all your many contributions here (esp. the very cool TPF-100 test kit I can't live without now).

 

[JohnT]

Yes, John. The liner covered the steps as well and I had two pages of diagrams and measurments for the steps and 2 other pages of diagrams and measurements for the rest of the pool.

I had considered a similar pool construction myself until I lost access to the backhoe and truck. Measuring the liner was the thing I was worried about the most.

The steel in the corners was a great idea. I think it would be tough to clean 90 degree corners, and it would probably have been tough to get the liner in there just right.

 

[duraleigh]

I think it would be tough to clean 90 degree corners, and it would probably have been tough to get the liner in there just right.

Absolutely agree on both counts. I suppose the liner would've been close to impossible to get all four corners lined up. Because of it's size, it was not easy anyway. Cleaning would be a constant headache. We fit it as carefully as we could on the steps and then let everything fall where it would from there. All in all, the liner folks did an almost perfect job of making it to fit (at least, on the second one).

Mom and Pop,

The scum line tile and decking are both just like new. It's four years old now with no cracking. IMO, all because of good prepwork on the soil underneath the concrete. I compacted every 6 inches of fill and then let it sit for almost 4 months before we actually poured concrete.

Your shower tile is most likely cracked because of movement in the subfloor underneath. Johnbridge.com is probably the best tile forum on the net. They were my resource for learning how to do the tile.

I used the mid-grade thinset and grout made by Custom and available at Home Depot. Nothing special for outdoors. This brand was recommended by John Bridge.....he thinks it's the best on the market. I certainly have no reason to disagree.

 

[Henry Porter]

Hi Dave!
The more proof I see on what a light bottom does to the water the more convinced am I that white(in one shade or another) is the colour for us.
Interesting pattern btw, I guess it's designed to conceal dirt on the bottom. Maybe something to consider...

 

[Heckpools]

wow...

can i ask why u just didnt order a pool kit?? very nice work though... and very impressive

 

[duraleigh]

can i ask why u just didnt order a pool kit??

Sure. I wanted a masonry looking pool with tile on the scumline and the decking to overhang (cantilever). Virtually no one realizes it is a liner pool until they get in the water and feel the smooth surface. It's also quite a bit bigger than kit pools.....that was my wife's idea!

 

[Casey]

What an amazing pool build duraleigh! 8) Your pool is HUGE!

 

[revstriker]

As others have commented, very nice indeed.

+1 on John Bridge Forum. He also has one of the best books on laying tile.

 

[duraleigh]

Hi, rev,

Johnbridge.com taught me how to do the tile around my pool and, since, how to install a really nice frameless shower.

Like this forum is loaded with pool experts, they are likewise loaded with tile experts. There are several regulars on there that are truly funny while dispensing great advice. :lol:

 

[plsbcheap]

Dave,
You tackled a huge job and did it very well. Congratulations! Nice job. Wow, I am impressed.
Brave dude, but now you can be a PB if you want to and probably do a better job than most!

 

[DaveNJ]

Dave,
I've read your posts for many years, here and on PF. Amazing craftmanship, and well thoughtout. Do you have a pic of your epuipment pad. Blows me away everytime I see that 925lb filter listed.

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

Dunno HOW I missed this thread the first time.

What a HUGE pool!

Cute family

 

[duraleigh]

Thanks, everyone, for those nice complements. I do not think I could gather the mental fortitude to build another one. I'll let the pros do the next one. :lol:

Dave,

Picture of filter (not quite hooked up). I installed the equipment inside a new garage.

It's a triton II TR140...140gpm. As I learned on the old PF, a bigger filter is a good thing and mine has proven to be a super investment. It has been absolutely troublefree for 5 years.

As a very important side benefit, it sorta makes you feel like Tim the Toolman to show it to folks.

 

[DaveNJ]

Dave,
You sound like me, perfectionist, with a splash of OCD.
Build a better mouse trap!