Florida Block-Pool Build

[timjs]

how thick will the concrete footing be?

8" thick, 24" wide. I could widen it at key points (the middle of the 40' spans, maybe) but I don't think I will need to.
To be honest I landed on these dimensions from seeing what was commonly spec'd for house foundations in poor soils. I want overkill but I tend to go overboard sometimes.

 

[duraleigh]

I used #4 throughout. In retrospect, it was complete overkill but it has held up quite well

 

[timjs]

I used #4 throughout. In retrospect, it was complete overkill but it has held up quite well

So, I just referred back to your build thread. Two things:
It looks like you only had the one bonding wire, coming out behind the steps, is that correct?

Also, I've been stressing a little about how my wall is going to be sitting on the edge of the footing, placing the load off-center. However, I just noticed you also built on the edge for a large portion of your pool as well which makes me feel better about it.

 

[duraleigh]

I used copper lugs to join wire under the steps but they connected everything bondable.

I had the same concern about offsetting the blocks on the footing but i finally decided the difference in load was close to equal. Again, there is a ton of overkill. Honestly I don't believe the pool body has moved an 1/8 of an inch in 15 or so years.

 

[timjs]

Here's where I'm at now. I would be done forming by now but a couple things held me back.
One, it rained yesterday so that was a bummer.
Two.... I really went overboard trying to dial in this footing. I found myself re-doing sections that were off 1/4" from where I wanted them and to be honest it was a waste of time. I eventually decided that it's just a footing and I need to stop trying to be a perfectionist.
Wood is by FAR the worst material that mankind has ever decided to build things with. It's terrible... terrible stuff. I'm used to metal, and precision.
ANYWAYS... it's coming along nicely.

 

[Newdude]

Wood is by FAR the worst material that mankind has ever decided to build things with. It's terrible... terrible stuff. I'm used to metal, and precision

Tell me you went to Home Depot without telling me you went to Home Deopt.

Their planks have more twists than the screw aisle.

 

[timjs]

Tell me you went to Home Depot without telling me you went to Home Deopt.

Their planks have more twists than the screw aisle.

Nope! Lowes this time. Home depot wood has more twists and turns than a snake with an itch!

 

[Newdude]

Lowes this time.

2nd to last place (by a nose) isnt exactly better. Lol

 

[kimkats]

Wood is by FAR the worst material

I so hear you! My husband redid the deck a bit ago. Some of the boards warped within a week of being put down They looked okay at the store.

 

[timjs]

I will say these boards are decent. Out of 24 boards, none are un-usable. Only ONE board got by my meticulous inspection lol...so the footing's gonna have about a half inch hump in one section. No worries, that'll even out after the first course of blocks go down anyways.

 

[Newdude]

Only ONE board got by my meticulous inspection lol...

I use the cement floor right in the aisle. Its dead flat for the 8 or 12 ft I need. I drop the plank and make sure I don't see daylight under any of the 4 sides.

 

[timjs]

I use the cement floor right in the aisle. Its dead flat for the 8 or 12 ft I need. I drop the plank and make sure I don't see daylight under any of the 4 sides.

I do the same thing! Rock it to see which side has the crown and how bad it is. Problem is that lowes was so slammed that day and the isle was full of people and carts. Had to eyeball them.