Just wanted to share our install of our AGP with some pics and explanations and dreams and diversions. It's 13' x 22' (52" h) and such a great a size for our family and the kids and their friends.
The end of the pool where the side platform is built is about where our little 12' round pool was. We had to come into the yard about a foot further and then way back the other way to fit the big little pool. The new pool was also quite a bit taller than the old one so I reimagined the entry platform which would ultimately hold the drop in steps which arrived today. That lower section of our home's deck isn't very large. Maybe 8' deep and 10-12' wide. I didn't want to lose a bunch of that space to the platform so we built the platform as close to the edge of the existing deck as possible and bridged it over to the pool side with some of those post pier blocks. It's a solid platform. Because it was so tall we needed a way to get up there. Again, to not consume too much space on that lower deck I made a double step that stows away on simple 2x4 rails, rolling on some old rollerblade wheels that I've kept around for ages just for this kind of project. It always drives my wife crazy when I inform her the usefulness of the "junk" I keep around.
Today, not long after putting the steps in the dog figured out how easy it is to get in and out of the pool. Which is fine - one of the reasons I went for the steps was so she could get out easier if she went in. And she sure can. And does. I caught her at least a dozen times today jumping up on the platform, dropping her ball in, staring at it for a while and then jumping in after to fetch it. This also tells me the railing we put up around that platform needs to include a gate of some sort. I don't want the dog jumping onto the solar cover which we keep on at all times unless we're using the pool. I suspect it's no safer for a dog than it is for a human to jump onto a solar cover.
Anyhow.....I learned very quickly that the area under the platform gets absolutely soaked with the volume of water the dog carries out with her. More of my "junk" to the rescue. I cut some drip shields out of some 8 foot pieces of corrugated plastic I had laying around from a project a couple of summers ago. Now the dog can drip all she wants. The water gets caught underneath and channeled out to the front area. I think I'll put a basin there so we can use the water elsewhere in the yard. Maybe not for watering plants (chlorine) but there's always something that needs washing down.
That open end of the platform will be closed off and turned into a storage cabinet. There are already hooks there for the net/vacuum pole. The lower part will be for simple things like goggles, masks, etc. small pool type stuff.
The random limber you see around the pool is just me "thinking through" what I want to do to nestle the pool into our space. The back corner assembly that holds the crank end of the reel will get closed up and become the place where the vacuum hose, straps for the rolled cover etc live. I want some sort of structure on the opposite "in the yard" corner so that I can attach the black post there which is a support for the LED patio sting lights we have to go around the pool. I'll also need a support pole for them in the middle of that yard side of the pool. I have time on that part of the project still - it's not dark here until after 10pm these days so no lights are required just yet.
I need to disassemble all of the plumbing so I can "properly" set the equipment pad (it's just on soil and not levelled properly. AND I need to drop that gas line to the heater. All in time. All in time.
That's it so far. I'll update as things progress. Tell you one thing for certain - I LOVE the drop in steps. It's so easy to get in and out of the pool now! Second best investment in the pool (heater will always be the best investment).
The end of the pool where the side platform is built is about where our little 12' round pool was. We had to come into the yard about a foot further and then way back the other way to fit the big little pool. The new pool was also quite a bit taller than the old one so I reimagined the entry platform which would ultimately hold the drop in steps which arrived today. That lower section of our home's deck isn't very large. Maybe 8' deep and 10-12' wide. I didn't want to lose a bunch of that space to the platform so we built the platform as close to the edge of the existing deck as possible and bridged it over to the pool side with some of those post pier blocks. It's a solid platform. Because it was so tall we needed a way to get up there. Again, to not consume too much space on that lower deck I made a double step that stows away on simple 2x4 rails, rolling on some old rollerblade wheels that I've kept around for ages just for this kind of project. It always drives my wife crazy when I inform her the usefulness of the "junk" I keep around.
Today, not long after putting the steps in the dog figured out how easy it is to get in and out of the pool. Which is fine - one of the reasons I went for the steps was so she could get out easier if she went in. And she sure can. And does. I caught her at least a dozen times today jumping up on the platform, dropping her ball in, staring at it for a while and then jumping in after to fetch it. This also tells me the railing we put up around that platform needs to include a gate of some sort. I don't want the dog jumping onto the solar cover which we keep on at all times unless we're using the pool. I suspect it's no safer for a dog than it is for a human to jump onto a solar cover.
Anyhow.....I learned very quickly that the area under the platform gets absolutely soaked with the volume of water the dog carries out with her. More of my "junk" to the rescue. I cut some drip shields out of some 8 foot pieces of corrugated plastic I had laying around from a project a couple of summers ago. Now the dog can drip all she wants. The water gets caught underneath and channeled out to the front area. I think I'll put a basin there so we can use the water elsewhere in the yard. Maybe not for watering plants (chlorine) but there's always something that needs washing down.
That open end of the platform will be closed off and turned into a storage cabinet. There are already hooks there for the net/vacuum pole. The lower part will be for simple things like goggles, masks, etc. small pool type stuff.
The random limber you see around the pool is just me "thinking through" what I want to do to nestle the pool into our space. The back corner assembly that holds the crank end of the reel will get closed up and become the place where the vacuum hose, straps for the rolled cover etc live. I want some sort of structure on the opposite "in the yard" corner so that I can attach the black post there which is a support for the LED patio sting lights we have to go around the pool. I'll also need a support pole for them in the middle of that yard side of the pool. I have time on that part of the project still - it's not dark here until after 10pm these days so no lights are required just yet.
I need to disassemble all of the plumbing so I can "properly" set the equipment pad (it's just on soil and not levelled properly. AND I need to drop that gas line to the heater. All in time. All in time.
That's it so far. I'll update as things progress. Tell you one thing for certain - I LOVE the drop in steps. It's so easy to get in and out of the pool now! Second best investment in the pool (heater will always be the best investment).
