Mini-pool for starters

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SBall

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Jun 27, 2017
255
Nashville, TN
I built my mini-pool when my son was two. Now he is 7 and has two younger brothers (5 and 2.5) and we are planning on a bigger pool. This is a 10' diameter polyethelene livestock tank. I plumbed it and have a nice pump/filter to keep it clean. This pool has been awesome, cost less than $1k total, and our family has gotten a ton of use out of it.

I am having some difficulty in deciding concrete (gunite/shotcrete) vs vinyl. In particular, weighing the ability to get exactly what I want and the increased maintenance/chemicals for concrete vs the lower cost and simplicity of a vinyl pool. I grew up with a 15'x30' oval vinyl pool, and my sister and I spent the better part of a decade in that pool. LOL...my dad started the dig with a shovel and got about 1/3 of it done before switching to a bobcat and finishing. But I see some of these amazing concrete pools and I just want-want-want them! I intend to DIY while hiring out some of the stuff, for example, rebar/shotcrete/plaster if we go concrete. In terms of shape, a modern rectangle would be my preference.

333371_3177296671902_1625568889_o by scooter_ball, on Flickr

11018093_10204136242186868_1620461955074943473_n by scooter_ball, on Flickr
 
Welcome to TFP! :wave:

That is the coolest fun-sized pool!! Way to go, Dad! Your pool should be on Pinterest. And look at those fellas, just beaming!

I wish I could make it easy on you and just tell you what to do! You already have the experience of watching the build of a vinyl pool and swimming in it.

Before I give you some questions to consider, just know that my only experience is with a gunite pool. And I am not a DIY-er..... never have been, never will be.

** Reading a lot on TFP, it seems people decide to go gunite/shotcrete when they want a very unusual and specific design. If you're wanting a rectangular pool, that should be pretty easy with a vinyl set up.

** What is it about the gunite pools that makes you want-want-want them (love that expression)? It seems like now days you can have just about any feature you want on a vinyl pool (except a swurvy-curvy shape). Is it something different about the overall look? Let me know, and I'll try to find pictures on here for examples.

** You grew up with the vinyl pool. How much time have you spent in a gunite pool? How did it feel to you? Did you like it?

** I have definitely noticed you get much bigger and often deeper pools going vinyl for the same cost as a smaller gunite. So how big of a pool do you want? How do ya'll intend to play in your pool? Diving, jumping, sports games, floating (I doubt only that with 3 boys!), etc. It seems to me you're fellas are already growing up used to and loving the water. I would want as big as possible. But do you have the space?

** Bigger pool = more maintenance. And you're right, it does seem it would be less costly with a vinyl pool. Others here will have to address that.

** One thing I think is cool about vinyl pools is you get to completely change the water color/liner after 15 or so years. Yes, that's an expense, but does it average out close to a gunite when considering initial cost differences and then later resurfacing a gunite pool after maybe 20 (if you use the TFPC water maintenance)?

** Any concerns about dogs swimming in and puncturing a vinyl liner? Some say it's not an issue; others don't want to risk it.

** Vinyl pool builds definitely finish faster. Of course, you're doing it and will be in charge either way, so that may not be a factor.

I might have gone vinyl, but they aren't popular around here. I grew up swimming in plaster pools, so for me a vinyl pool might have felt quite right.

Let us know more a bit about what you're wanting.... Pool size, depths, use, etc.

I can tell from your photos, this will be a fun build - vinyl or plaster!!!

Hug those little guys for me!

Suz :sun:
 
Suz...you hit the nail(s) on the head! Pretty much all points you bring up are exactly what I find myself arguing with...well, myself, about!

I love a contemporary rectangle with grass right up to the coping. This is doable with a 6" vinyl, but I have been in one first-hand and do not love the pull at the corners. Our YMCA has a beautiful, huge, plaster/gunite pool with beach entry and I just love it...the color of the water, the "feel" of the pool, etc. I love the baja shelf with a couple of bubblers, I love the deep-end swimsuit, i love the dramatic entry stairs. You can get this stuff on a vinyl pool, but the $$ increases rapidly. LOL, I guess you saw our furballs...they are our first children. Sadly, the smaller one passed away a couple months ago, he was 14.5. Bella is 12.5 and she is a 90lb golden/lab mix. Let's put it this way...we can't keep her out of any water with the exception of the bathtub. We are out on the lake all the time and her happy place is swimming and chasing sticks.

Rough size would be 18'ish x 32'ish, max 6' deep end. Not huge, in part because I also want to heat it and if we need more space to really get crazy, we head to the YMCA for an afternoon. This is intended to be the "i got home from work and play baseball/soccer for an hour before dinner, and after dinner take a swim with the boys".

I am also an engineer and I just like to build *stuff*, fix things, make them better. I mean, I re-roofed our house, which I do not recommend to anyone. Ever. And so I am torn...concrete I get exactly what I want with additional expense, longer project, and potentially more challenging chemical issues. Vinyl gets me a lot of what I want cheaper, faster, and easier to manage long-term. But if Im digging a hole that big, why not go ahead and go the extra mile? On the flip side, we have a nice house, nice neighborhood, but in no way could you consider my area to be "McMansions" or anything of the sort. We are all 1960s ranchers on 3/4-1 acre lots.
 
sball, you bring up a good point when you mention the neighborhood definitely something to consider. A vinyl pool can be a big negative if all the houses are expected to come with a gunite pool. My neighborhood is a mix of pool styles (and only about 20% have a pool) so I went with vinyl for the lower upfront cost savings. But I did splurge on the coping since I felt that it would make the look. I love the setup you have now. Consider keeping the grass around the pool. I have it and love it (pic below). Similar size to what you are thinking of (mine is 16x32). As an fyi, I put in a deep end swimout and it was $2,500 extra and I did liner over steel stairs and that was another $800. If money was no object I would have went with gunite but in my area you'd spend 25-30% more and I wanted to put that towards other yard improvements. If you go gunite but want to save a lot of money consider the grass and just a small paver area at the steps.

45.jpg
 
I love the creativity of your current pool. As another avid DIYer I knew what we wanted and struggled to get that across to a pool builder or at least at a reasonable price. We went vinyl because we knew our dogs weren't swimmers and also our youngest daughter skin breaks out in gunite and read too many horror stories ain't fiberglass pools. We have watched a number built in our neighborhood and it doesn't seem to matter how "good" the company is they take many months longer than promised.
 
So good thing is we have no shortage of patio space! I love the grass up to coping look, which works in our backyard because of the covered and uncovered areas that we already have. Also, in the pic I posted previously, we can see the lake from the area near the swingset. So i like the idea of a swimout/lounge area where I can sit with my sippy cup and look at the lake.

5141_1075787655490_3901116_n by scooter_ball, on Flickr

5141_1075787575488_5936022_n by scooter_ball, on Flickr
 
Wow, were you on the debate team? And the only member? Lol!! I think it's a stalemate between you and yourself!

I'm confused, so I'll take your comments one at a time. I'm hoping something I and others say will help you get closer to some clarity.

* I think the yucky feel of vinyl corners trumps the beauty of grass growing to the edge of the pool. I think the corners would bug you whenever you're in the pool. Plus, maintaining grass to the pool edge will grow old, fast. I know you have that with your little pool, but that's no comparison to a full size pool. I wouldn't do that for either type of pool.

** You definitely lean toward the gunite pool in all the features you love. But that kind of pool isn't really a secondary pool - one just to cool off in after sports an dinner. Way too much money for a pool not used that much. So economy gets the vote here. (Well, unless you've got money to burn.)

** The pool dimensions you mention for your size family is on the small size if you have the space and means to go larger. That points again to you seeing this as a secondary pool and another vote for economy.

** The difference in chemical water maintenance will be very little, especially for a DIYer. (I have a plaster pool and it's very easy even for me.) And you've got 3 built in pool boys to cycle through giving you years of pool help! Lol!!! I'd take this issue out of the debate.

** I'd also remove from the debate, the issues of your house, neighborhood, and 1960's ranchers. Both types of pools will look nice - neither will be 'too nice'.

Now stepping away from the debate, consider a couple more things.
** As your boys get older, will going to the YMCA still be part of the family routine? Will busy kid schedules allow time for going to the Y? Will they rather have friends over to swim? Would it be easier and more efficient time-wise to be at home? I'm assuming you will be using TFPC for maintaining your pool water? If so, you may become a pool snob like many of us! Eewww, I don't think I'd ever want to swim again at our outdoor YMCA pool. Let's not even think about the indoor pool.... If you think this routine at the YMCA will continue, then the simple, economical pool wins again.

** The lake: I grew up swimming, skiing, and fishing on any lake we could find. I know we never would have had a pool at home. So, do you see your time at the lake continuing? If so, another vote for the simple and economical pool.

But if time spent at the YMCA and the lake are removed, then you move closer to building a pool that is the main activity feature for the family and home. It's no longer a secondary pool, but one maybe worth allotting a bigger budget and going larger with the gunite you love.

You can still build a gunite pool as a secondary pool, since you love the feel. Just keep it at the size you mentioned and go easy on the features.

Maybe you need to take more time to think about this? Give yourself 6-12 months to hang around TFP reading and listening to many more members here. It really can help you think differently and give more clarity. You'll also get great design, equipment, and owner build tips, things you never considered. Maybe give your family a little more time - watch and see how things could change with routines, interests, etc.

Bmoreswim, one of the moderators for TFP, would be a great person to 'visit' with. He's a huge DIY-er, has kids, and a busy family. Hopefully he will stop by. If not, I can put out a call for him if you want.

Lastly, loving to build the way you do, are you just wanting a big project to build right now?

I wouldn't suggest waiting to everyone. I just think some of your debate with yourself needs a little more time. (geez, I sound like an old person - lol!! )

Now, I'll leave you to your debate. Good luck!
 
Suz, our timeframe on this would entail breaking ground in March-ish, which is why I wanted to start thinking through these issues now. Im a planner and just waking up one morning and grabbing a shovel isn't my style :)

I can guarantee having a pool won't be a secondary item for us, although I realize why it might sound like that from my other post. Our vision is for this to be our "vacation at home" spot so that we don't have to go anywhere, unless we want to go cruise the lake. I look at pool and lake as complementary, rather than one taking time from the other. Pool plus lake is a great way to spend every weekend from April to October :) LOL..and then hit the indoor pool at the YMCA in the winter..that water sure is warm from all the little kiddies :) :) :)
 
nectarologist, i searched your username, but didn't see any real build threads. do you have more pics? your pool looks very similar to my mom's. she has the full width liner over step at the shallow end, and at the deep end she has a swim out baja shelf/tanning ledge. the shelf is great because you just jump right out into the 6' deep end.

One that I like:
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SBall if you are considering a DIY build and you only want 6ft deep then you should really consider a fiberglass pool. They are very easy to install DIY. Just dig the hole, level, compact the sub-floor, drop it in, plumb, backfill and fill. There are a number of FG manufacturers who make a shell like you desire. Most will deliver and drop it in your yard. I installed mine with the same bobcat that I used to dig the hole. I'd be happy to answer any questions. If you cantilever and tile it an FG pool will look amazing.
 
How big do fiberglass pools go? How much are they?

Sball- If you can go with concrete/gunite I think thats a lot more durable then vinyl. Would you do the rebar and plumbing yourself, then hire out the gunite? If you could do that you could save some major $.

Also, I would go 8' or 9' feet deep, my kids like diving down there.
 
keithw said:
SBall if you are considering a DIY build and you only want 6ft deep then you should really consider a fiberglass pool. They are very easy to install DIY. Just dig the hole, level, compact the sub-floor, drop it in, plumb, backfill and fill. There are a number of FG manufacturers who make a shell like you desire. Most will deliver and drop it in your yard. I installed mine with the same bobcat that I used to dig the hole. I'd be happy to answer any questions. If you cantilever and tile it an FG pool will look amazing.
Click to expand...

Interesting, thanks for the input. I had checked fiberglass off the list because I assumed it would be the most challenging from a DIY perspective, but Im not opposed to it if it is a potential option. My cousin has a fiberglass pool, it is beautiful and they have had great success with it. Your install sounds exactly like what I did with my little pool, dig hole, level bottom, drop the tub in, plumb it and add water. keithw, do you have any pics?
 
kevreh said:
How big do fiberglass pools go? How much are they?

Sball- If you can go with concrete/gunite I think thats a lot more durable then vinyl. Would you do the rebar and plumbing yourself, then hire out the gunite? If you could do that you could save some major $.
Click to expand...

They are limited in size, seems like roughly 16' wide and around 30'ish feet long, maybe a little larger. The research I did earlier this year seemed to suggest that fiberglass pools were long-term the least expensive in terms of chemicals and maintenance, although the intial price is a bit higher.

My plans were to dig, plumb, electric (aside from final hookup...gotta have licensed electrician I think...LOL...seems dumb because Im an electrical engineer), tile myself. Hire out rebar, shotcrete/gunite, and plaster. Any decking/landscape stuff I will handle. I also think I have to get a structural engineer to sign off on my plans so I can submit to the city.
 
SBall, I have links for both my pool build as well as a refurb I did to add flagstone and tile. Unfortunately I just noticed that Photobucket has killed their 3rd party hosting options so all my pictures are gone. I am working on moving to Imgur and will update my threads when I get it done. But I found the FG pool very easy to install.

Pool Build - Keithw's pool pics
Flagstoning - New pool proj.Flagstoning around (and on) my fiberglass pool
 
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