We have been delayed 5 weeks so far due to rain, but it looks like Friday will FINALLY be our dig day (install on Saturday). Fingers crossed! We purchased this home last summer and had hoped to dig out the pool the previous owners had filled in. Long story short, we can't...it would cost double what a new inground would be, and we didn't have that kind of money in mind. So we've decided to install an above ground, but because of the slope of our yard it will have to be dug out under ground level 24 inches on the side closest to our house. That is where we intend to put a deck.
Pool installer said that we need to fill the pool, then install a french drain and backfill with dirt. Absolutely do not use gravel because it would damage the pool. Said he's never seen a pool rust if the french drain is done correctly.
I've searched old threads on the forum and read extensively about others in this same situation, and I've not seen any consensus at all. It seems folks have done many different things, and unfortunately there aren't a lot of '10 years later, here's how that decision fared' posts. SO, I'm looking for input and experience in this area. Anyone with a pool installed into the ground on just one side - what did you do and how has it worked?
Pics - hard to tell much because this hasn't been installed yet, but here is the site:
The landscaping against the back of the garage will be removed, and that area plus a couple of feet into the grass will be deck. The pool will be ~30" out of the ground at that spot, as they are digging down to the low point at the back of the hill. The pool is 33' round.
This will all be deck
This is the view from the low point, looking back at the house
This is roughly the back center of the pool-to-be, looking back
- - - Updated - - -
I should note that the pool does have resin including bottom track and the instruction manual does address this type of installation, so we at least have that in our favor. I hope.
We would be routing the french drain over to drain in the woods. There will be a fence fully enclosing the pool so we need to get the drainage done before the guy does the deck/fencing.
Pool installer said that we need to fill the pool, then install a french drain and backfill with dirt. Absolutely do not use gravel because it would damage the pool. Said he's never seen a pool rust if the french drain is done correctly.
I've searched old threads on the forum and read extensively about others in this same situation, and I've not seen any consensus at all. It seems folks have done many different things, and unfortunately there aren't a lot of '10 years later, here's how that decision fared' posts. SO, I'm looking for input and experience in this area. Anyone with a pool installed into the ground on just one side - what did you do and how has it worked?
Pics - hard to tell much because this hasn't been installed yet, but here is the site:
The landscaping against the back of the garage will be removed, and that area plus a couple of feet into the grass will be deck. The pool will be ~30" out of the ground at that spot, as they are digging down to the low point at the back of the hill. The pool is 33' round.
This will all be deck
This is the view from the low point, looking back at the house
This is roughly the back center of the pool-to-be, looking back
- - - Updated - - -
I should note that the pool does have resin including bottom track and the instruction manual does address this type of installation, so we at least have that in our favor. I hope.
We would be routing the french drain over to drain in the woods. There will be a fence fully enclosing the pool so we need to get the drainage done before the guy does the deck/fencing.