Another DIY project - call me crazy

[Hubcia]

I hope you could help me guys.
I have this huge concrete hole in front of my house and thought about converting it into small pool.

I thought about partially filling the hole with mix of gravel, sand and small rocks and pressing it in the process. Then pouring 15-20cm of concrete. And building small wall in the back. This way I’ll get a small pool size 2,25mx 3,7x1,4.
I would use prefabricated liner made for the size of the pool.
As for flirtation I would leave holes in the small wall for suction pipe and a skimmer. As for return I think I will leave the pipe outside pool (unfortunately) and attach it to existing wall. Maybe creating a waterfall?
Another option will be drilling hole for the return pipe in existing wall. (I would prefer to avoid it though).
The whole pool will be a size of intex pool so I don’t think I will need a very complicated filtration system and expensive pump.

Am I too crazy?
What can go wrong?
Thank you in advance.
Anna

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

What is the PVC pipe that runs down the wall?

What is on the other side of the concrete walls?

Where is the water going to go when your liner tears which they all do eventually?

 

[kimkats]

I am in to watch this one.

I have the same questions as Allen. Very important to know this info.

 

[Hubcia]

Welcome to TFP.

What is the PVC pipe that runs down the wall?

What is on the other side of the concrete walls?

Where is the water going to go when your liner tears which they all do eventually?

Thank you.
A)PVC is for draining water from balconies. However the pool won’t be touching the back wall on which you can see the pipes. I would build the small wall that I mention before. The pipes that you can see on the side would be buried in the gravel/sand mixture.
B) Other side of walls -
1 Stairs
2. Mountain, rocks
3. Small wall that I will build
4. Driveway/ garage entrance.
All the walls are reinforced concrete 25 cm thick.


C) I thought about buying a pump in case I need to empty the pool. I could build a drain too. There is an opening at the bottom of the hole that connects to the drainage of the house.

 

[Hubcia]

I am in to watch this one.

Is a good thing or a bad thing? Haha “Watch it” like it is going to be interesting or “watch it “ like it’s going to be epic failure?

 

[kimkats]

building small wall in the back.

How will you attach the new wall to the old wall? You cannot just put blocks up and put concrete over them as the pressure of the water will push that new wall out. In fact do you know how the old wall is built? How is it tied into the floor and into each wall?

creating a waterfall?

You don't want something like a waterfall you can't turn off as the fall of the water will push your pH up and fast.

In to watch and see what happens and to help think of things that could go wrong so you can address them like above.

How will you get into and out of the pool?

Any idea WHY that was build there?

 

[Jayphil]

I am not sure many insurance company will like that you have a pool less than 25' away from your house and in fact using concrete wall that belongs to the house/garage...

Before doing anything ask your insurance company and city regulations...

 

[ajw22]

I am not sure many insurance company will like that you have a pool less than 25' away from your house and in fact using concrete wall that belongs to the house/garage...

Before doing anything ask your insurance company and city regulations...

Note that @Hubcia is in Greece.

 

[ajw22]

I think you risk undermining your house or whatever structure is around those walls.

Pool liners will leak and you will not know about a leak until it gets big. Concrete is porous and will absorb any water. Rebar in the concrete can rust. You may not discover what is going on until there is water in your garage.

This can be done if properly engineered for water management like the way a rooftop pool is designed. Basically it is a pool suspended over a waterproof tub with drains, pumps, and alarms so that if water leaks out of the pool it goes into the tub and is isolated from the building. That is a lot more then what you described.

 

[Hubcia]

In to watch and see what happens and to help think of things that could go wrong so you can address them like above.

Thank you! I really appreciate any help I could get

How will you attach the new wall to the old wall? You cannot just put blocks up and put concrete over them as the pressure of the water will push that new wall out. In fact do you know how the old wall is built? How is it tied into the floor and into each wall?

At this moment "the hole" is 3 meters (almost 10 feet) deep. Obviously I don't need such a deep pool so I want to fill it half way (while pressing it very well) and pour a new concrete floor. I would attach the new wall to the new floor the same way as the entire house was build. I would also build it in front of the small construction that you can see in the first picture (the one with 2 white buckets ). This is how the old wall is build:

You don't want something like a waterfall you can't turn off as the fall of the water will push your pH up and fast.

Thank you for great tip.

How will you get into and out of the pool?

Pool ladder.

Any idea WHY that was build there?

The garage is considered underground. There is another hole on the other side of the garage entrance. Both of them were supposed to be filled with soil to create sort of front yard. What you see above garage is considered ground floor

 

[Hubcia]

I think you risk undermining your house or whatever structure is around those walls.

Pool liners will leak and you will not know about a leak until it gets big. Concrete is porous and will absorb any water. Rebar in the concrete can rust. You may not discover what is going on until there is water in your garage.

This can be done if properly engineered for water management like the way a rooftop pool is designed. Basically it is a pool suspended over a waterproof tub with drains, pumps, and alarms so that if water leaks out of the pool it goes into the tub and is isolated from the building. That is a lot more then what you described.

Thank you for your response.
In the original project "the hole" was supposed to be filled with soil so it would be exposed to water and moisture anyway. I tought about applying protective sealer before liner. The pool wall won't be "sharing" any wall with the house or the garage so even if there is a leakage it wont be endangering house construction.
The structure was added after building house/garage to create a garden.
Picture before adding the structure:

 

[kimkats]

It is so neat to see how things are done in different areas! Thanks for sharing this with us!

Is the house done? Will the same people who did the house do the new wall?

Again my major worry is the new wall to make sure it is tied in the floor and other walls in such a way there is no way it can be pushed out when you add the water.

Kim