New DIY IG Pool Build Pittsburgh PA

[Skelly_GSR]

Friday was go-time for the concrete collar. I ordered 8.75 yards, based on my calculations that got me right around 8'' all the way around. I'll summarize my experience on pouring the concrete collar in a little bit. It was hot as heck and I did it all by myself. Hardest I've physically worked in a long time.

 

[Skelly_GSR]

Finally documenting my footer pour.

I had a few large gaps at the base of my pool walls that I was nervous of concrete getting underneath and flowing into the pool. I added some bracing, added additional bracing to support the bracing, and then added spray foam. It was probably overkill, however I've never poured concrete before so I was erring on the side of caution.

I also had a large rock come out in the deep end during excavation, so I had to build some bracing to ensure the concrete would not flow into the deep end. My supports looked like Crud, but in the end it did its job.

I did add fiberglass rebar for the collar which may not have been needed, but its a small expense in the grand scheme.

For the concrete pour, the way that my pool was situated, he could only get the truck/chute on to basically two sides of the pool. I had to 'pull' the concrete to get it to reach the back wall. I had the driver thin the concrete three times, and near the end of the pour I was exhausted and simply ran out of steam. It was hot af, that coupled with me already being tired was almost a recipe for disaster. If you are by yourself and the truck cant reach all sides, rent a pump truck or get a friend or two.

 

[Casey]

It was so hot. I'm from the area so I know. The pool looks solid.

 

[boxer156]

I have done a few of these DIY Pools--and I just put Fibers in the footing mix.......much easier than screwing around with rebar. What Floor are you going to use? Probably want to up your quantities since the rock you hit--I'm sure you will be thicker on the Slopes/Hopper. I just filled mine the other day, so just finished this one up. Only hiccup I had was the Fiberglass stairs (which I'll never get again), as the previous 2 pools I did were tanning ledge/vinyl-over steps, and where much easier. I hope you pulled your diagonal measurements before you poured the collar---someone I knew did not, and their liner was ALL kinds of messed up, lol.

 

[Skelly_GSR]

It's been a bit since I provided an update. Mainly due to lack of significant progress. Continuing to put the time in, but results are slowing a bit. The weather has been so hot and I'm a one man band..



Main drain installed. I dont have a picture, but I did set the base of the drains in concrete and gravel.



Main drain pressure test went well. Pressure media was water, and I used a small amount of air to build pressure.



I was a little bit annoyed that after I poured the concrete collar, 2 sections of the walls moved in by roughly 1/4". They bowed inbetween the "A" frame turnbuckles that came with the pool kit, in the middle of two of the 8' wall panels. When you looked down the wall from one end to the other you could easily see it. I made a custom turnbuckle and brace to pull them back in line. Not sure how that happened.



Two skimmers installed. 2.5" skimmer lines. What a pain finding a place that could get me 2.5" in a reasonable amount of time.




Almost done sculpting the tapered portion of the deep end. As you can see, its almost all rock. Not fun.

Hoping to get the poolcrete in the next week or two and get that installed. Then get the liner ordered. While I'm waiting for the liner I can finish up the plumbing and pour the patio. I am doing concrete coping, so I have to do the patio first, then install the liner.

 

[Skelly_GSR]

Shallow End is Leveled!


Deep end is leveled! Some of the larger gaps where rocks came out, I will fill with concrete or dirt.

I need to address the area where a big rock was pulled out, once that is complete I will be ready for vermiculite.

 

[keithw]

It is looking awesome!

 

[Skelly_GSR]

Got the corner benches for the deep end fabricated and installed. I wasn't exactly sure how to make these, I kind of just winged it.









I also filled in the big hole in the deep end with concrete that was caused by a big rock falling out.

 

[Skelly_GSR]

Tanning ledge steps are done.



I also installed two corner steps in the tanning ledge. I'm ready to measure for the liner. The company selling me the liner said they can measure without the poolcrete installed. I still have some work to do before the liner is ready to be installed.

 

[Skelly_GSR]

Apologize for the lack of updates. Kids fall sports are consuming my evenings and weekends. I’ll post some pictures of where I’m at tomorrow.


Picked up this hoss earlier this week. $500 on FB marketplace. Private golf course had a leak in their pool so they decided to redo their entire setup. Only used a few years, was located indoors.

Also, yes I had to cover the ports with beverage cans. I have four young boys, they put rocks in everything.

 

[TKpoolOH]

Just read through your DIY, so awesome! You’re doing great!

Is that the 100 or 140 Triton? I have the 100, works great!

I know what you mean with the 4 kids, have 4 of my own, 2 soccer teams, a cross country team and piano lessons . Good luck keep track of them and hope you find time to get your build done! Will be following along now!

 

[TKpoolOH]

By the way, someone who drinks Stella surely doesn’t need to buy used equipment

 

[Skelly_GSR]

Here is the current status of where I'm at. All water lines were pressure tested with water. All tested fine, except one did have a leak on the threaded connection into the pool return on the wall. I tightened the fitting too tight and it cracked. For my lights, since they are wet niches, I decided to pressure test the conduit as well just to make sure there are no leaks. I went with 8 LED lights from Alibaba (eek!), using the pentair niches. You will be able to see my pool from space.

I also backfilled last week. I'm about 90% backfilled. There were two sides of the pool that I could not safely reach my FIL's bobcat, so I rented a Dingo to get to those areas to backfill the gravel.

Next up is to trench for the pool equipment power and gas line. I'm not 100% certain I'm going with a gas heater, but the poly gas line is cheap so I'll run it anyway, plus I plan on having a gas firepit somewhere near the pool. After that I can start to assemble the forms for the concrete. I have coworkers who are good with concrete, I'll have them help me finish the concrete.







I was not anticipating having to cut back the hillside so much, but after doing some reading, if you do a block retaining wall, the geogrid length needs to be wall height *.8. My wall will be around 5', so I needed to dig out 4' into the hillside for geogrid.




Tanning ledge bubblers with venturi tube.

 

[TKpoolOH]

Great progress!

 

[Skelly_GSR]

Great progress!

Thanks! Running out of time though before winter. It's been a fun project, but man am I slow doing this solo.

 

[TKpoolOH]

I feel for ya. With those 4 little ones it has to be tough to find the time. Gotta find those brothers, B-I-L’s, friends, etc who are gonna be enjoying your pool with you and say “hey I need a couple Saturdays or Sundays of your time.” Or take a some weekdays off . I think the toughest thing for you might be having a warm enough sunny enough day to get your liner stretched enough to get a good install. Do you have your liner already? Want to keep it inside and warm if you do. It takes a while to warm ‘em up once they’re cold in the box. During my build 2 years ago we installed the liner in mid October and it was the last best warm sunny day we got. Had we not done it that day I’m not sure how easy it would’ve been to get on.

 

[Skelly_GSR]

The never ending project continues. I started to lay out the forms and get everything level/tamped. I'm about 2/3rds finished with the forms. I'm about as close as a can to be ready for the power and gas line installation. I'm going to run gas/water/power/ethernet/audio to the pool/large concrete pad. I'm also planning on doing a nat gas fire put. I spoke to the inspection to verify minimum spacing of the lines and what I can/can not put in the same trench. I took a lick over the weekend and bruised my ribs pretty good. Slipped getting into the Bobcat and went down hard into one of the bucket arms.






My gas meter was looking a little bit rough so I called the gas company with concern with my regulator being too close to ground level. The technician that came to inspect understood the assignment and hooked me up.




Running out of room in the garage for all the materials. Gas risers for concrete pad / pool heater / fire pit / standby generator / stud from gas meter. Since I'm trenching, I'm going to plan now for a future backup generator.

 

[Skelly_GSR]

I feel for ya. With those 4 little ones it has to be tough to find the time. Gotta find those brothers, B-I-L’s, friends, etc who are gonna be enjoying your pool with you and say “hey I need a couple Saturdays or Sundays of your time.” Or take a some weekdays off . I think the toughest thing for you might be having a warm enough sunny enough day to get your liner stretched enough to get a good install. Do you have your liner already? Want to keep it inside and warm if you do. It takes a while to warm ‘em up once they’re cold in the box. During my build 2 years ago we installed the liner in mid October and it was the last best warm sunny day we got. Had we not done it that day I’m not sure how easy it would’ve been to get on.

No liner yet. My liner guy said he will come measure for final dimensions once I do the poolcrete and pour the tanning ledge/steps. I may be renting an outdoor propane/kero heater and tarps to get the liner installed. It looks like it may be a late november/december liner installation.

 

[ajw22]

It looks like it may be a late november/december liner installation.

Liner installations are best when the weather is warm and the sun is strong to warm the liner for it to stretch.

Unless you can catch a real warm day I would leave the liner install until the Spring on a warm day.

 

[Skelly_GSR]

Liner installations are best when the weather is warm and the sun is strong to warm the liner for it to stretch.

Unless you can catch a real warm day I would leave the liner install until the Spring on a warm day.

Ideally that would be the plan, but I'm concerned about the pool being left bare/unfilled over the winter. Do you think it will be ok if I purge all the lines of water and plug the main drain? I'll have a winter cover over the pool as well.