Backfill Question

[JC1256]

Everyone here has been so great throughout our process with building a new pool. We are nearing the end and they are about to backfill our pool. This is something I should get researched prior but from reading many posts on this forum it seems #57 gravel is the way to go. I saw this was touched on a bit but if we were to go that route is there something we should do to route the water away from the pool? I am getting prices tomorrow but that does sound like the way to go. Our plan is doing pavers and our contractor has promised us 5 years of fixing any settling but I rather have no settling underneath. Here is what our pool looks like.

Thank you

 

[ajw22]

You should have dry wells around your pool that route water to daylight or pump it out to manage the water level around the pool.

Read the discussion on this thread about backfill and compaction...

New In Ground Pool - NJ, Closing Time - have some questions

Would it make a difference if the 1.5hp spa pump is closer to the pool? No

www.troublefreepool.com

3/4" clean gravel should be used for the backfill.

The deck area base should be geo-textile and gravel road base. @Rich D or @jimmythegreek can provide more details.

The contractor promising 5 years of fixing any settling says he is not planning on preparing the proper base and hoping for the best. I want a deck that will not settle for 30 years, not one that may need to be fixed.

 

[jimmythegreek]

Hes got a pretty big overdig on the near side in pic. Gonna need almost a load just on that side. It's great to have drainage around the pool and where I'm at almost a necessity. Depending on your grade amd property something simple may be ok. The shore is known for sandy soil and if your high and dry all the better. PBs usually backfill with dirt they dont wanna spend money on gravel or thick bases. Easier to do it right from the start and never mention a settlement warranty to the customer

 

[JC1256]

You should have dry wells around your pool that route water to daylight or pump it out to manage the water level around the pool.

Read the discussion on this thread about backfill and compaction...

New In Ground Pool - NJ, Closing Time - have some questions

Would it make a difference if the 1.5hp spa pump is closer to the pool? No

www.troublefreepool.com

3/4" clean gravel should be used for the backfill.

The deck area base should be geo-textile and gravel road base. @Rich D or @jimmythegreek can provide more details.

The contractor promising 5 years of fixing any settling says he is not planning on preparing the proper base and hoping for the best. I want a deck that will not settle for 30 years, not one that may need to be fixed.

Yes we were told 3/4 trap rock (if thats the same thing). Actually I researched many companies and the company I am going with stresses their base more than every other person I had come out. I don't know if anyone out there would warranty their work for 30 years but the company did say they do it right and based on their reviews and pictures it looks great. I thought 5 years was good compared to others who are significantly less. They actually got 2nd place in a Unilock authorized contractor in being one of the best. We are most likely going with Cambridge though.

 

[JC1256]

Hes got a pretty big overdig on the near side in pic. Gonna need almost a load just on that side. It's great to have drainage around the pool and where I'm at almost a necessity. Depending on your grade amd property something simple may be ok. The shore is known for sandy soil and if your high and dry all the better. PBs usually backfill with dirt they dont wanna spend money on gravel or thick bases. Easier to do it right from the start and never mention a settlement warranty to the customer

Yeah my pool company wanted to backfill with all the sand and such. We are near the shore (10 miles inland and high and dry) and have no problems with water at all. So that huge rain we got yesterday is already dried out of the bottom of the pool dig area. I was thinking somehow to have the water flow towards the right side of my yard into a pit since all the houses in my development flow that way as well. I just wasn't sure what we should do with the rock and diverting water since all the pipe for the plumbing and electrical are already down. How would the water get collected to flow a certain way?

 

[jimmythegreek]

You lay pipe around the pool on top of the concrete collar and pitch it to where you want it to go surround by stone. Trap rock is the same as 57 or here in NJ its known as 3/4 clean. You pitch the pipe to daylight if possible for a gravity drain or to a sump pit surrounded by stone and empty inside the 12" standpipe for pump access when needed. If you have that easy flowing ground you may not need the drainage all depends in the ground there

 

[JC1256]

You lay pipe around the pool on top of the concrete collar and pitch it to where you want it to go surround by stone. Trap rock is the same as 57 or here in NJ its known as 3/4 clean. You pitch the pipe to daylight if possible for a gravity drain or to a sump pit surrounded by stone and empty inside the 12" standpipe for pump access when needed. If you have that easy flowing ground you may not need the drainage all depends in the ground there

Thanks for your advice. I got a few quotes for the trap rock and they were about 3,500 including the dirt removal which was too much for me to spend. They backfilled with the sand / rock that they excavated.

Question for you: see attached pictures. Should I go around the pool and fill in some of the areas that need fill? Is there anything I can do to aid the compaction process? They backfilled Friday and as you know yesterday we got a ton of rain. Thanks for the help.

 

[sktn77a]

That soil prep doesn't look ready for decking. I'd call the builder and ask him to come by and prepare those areas that washed away.

 

[JC1256]

That soil prep doesn't look ready for decking. I'd call the builder and ask him to come by and prepare those areas that washed away.

Our pavers will be installed most likely in March or April. My question really was should I fill in those areas myself and tuck in under the pool to help it along. Ty

 

[cowboycasey]

nope, just leave it and allow to compact even more, the damage is already done and will continue to do the damage fore the next year or so... hopefully it will be all done compacting by the end of the 5 years when there warranty runs out.. you should be good but there is always a chance you are not... if they use gravel to bring up in the spring and compact as they go there should be no issue

 

[Auburn02]

This may be the exact wrong approach but in my opinion to aid with the settlement without adding more fill, use your water hose (carefully to avoid making a muddy mess in the pool) to help some of that existing material flow into the low spots.

 

[JC1256]

Thank you for the replies. I figured if it doesn't rain I will water it all down every 3-4 days.

 

[Heavenlytunes]

My guys started yesterday and perfect weather (snowing) for pouring concrete base. He'll probably start on pavers Friday. He also installing a drainage system from the 2 gutters. Away from the pool.

 

[JC1256]

My guys started yesterday and perfect weather (snowing) for pouring concrete base. He'll probably start on pavers Friday. He also installing a drainage system from the 2 gutters. Away from the pool.

Very nice. What did you backfill with around your pool? How long did you let it sit for?

 

[Heavenlytunes]

A few weeks. He used some rca, wire, sonotubes and concrete base (no dry pack)

 

[Heavenlytunes]

Thank you for the replies. I figured if it doesn't rain I will water it all down every 3-4 days.

I was doing that every day for 3 weeks plus we had some serious rain storms.

 

[JC1256]

I was doing that every day for 3 weeks plus we had some serious rain storms.

Cool - with sprinklers or more by hand with a hose?

 

[JC1256]

A few weeks. He used some rca, wire, sonotubes and concrete base (no dry pack)

Nice - is your paver guy doing concrete under the entire paver area or just a certain footage around the pool?

 

[Heavenlytunes]

Cool - with sprinklers or more by hand with a hose?

He told me just lay the hose there and run it 1hour here 1hour there.

 

[Heavenlytunes]

Nice - is your paver guy doing concrete under the entire paver area or just a certain footage around the pool?

Yes entire pavers area. On that elevation area he is doing more rca on top of the concrete.
He says he wants to be hire in another 10 15 years with np.
And he is right he did work for us and our neighbors about 10 plus years ago.