Owner Install Viking Pool.

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G

gr8t8

0
Sep 26, 2017
9
Beachside, Central Florida
Decided on a Viking Key West (9000 gal) 12' x 25'7" freeform which was meant to be in already but Hurricane Irma had different ideas. Anyway the pool is being delivered on Oct, 6th and should be in by end of that day. (In the hole, not completely finished!)

Decided on Viking because I want to keep everything simple, have lower cost to run and I believe (after extensive study) fiberglass pools are your best bet IF you are ok with a smaller size and stock shape - which I am fine with. Decided on the Key West model because it is their only small pool that is 6' deep and has a simple continuous slope bottom which is easier to install.

Decided on Viking because they have a long and good reputation, they stand behind their product and they have a local factory. Also they are vinylester, thicker and have a ceramic core. Probably as good as it gets in FG pools.

Pool1B.jpg
Pool9a.jpg
 
Are you really going to install this yourself? Do you have the equipment to lift and position the shell properly, perhaps repeatedly,while you assure yourself of it being level?

Are you going to be laying it on a prepared stone bed and backfill with stone?

How are you with plumbing and electrical work?

You're a braver man than I, Ghunga Din!!

Maddie :flower:
 
Thanks Keith, I saw your install and redeck threads, made for great reading and helped me immensely.

I am a week away from delivery. Don't need a crane as I have 13' clear between houses - so excavator will do it all.

Option I have right now is United Rentals to get the crane and do the dig myself - or get the guy who does the Viking installs in this area to come out and put it in the ground and backfill to plumbing line - as I will plumb it myself. My area is built on the purest Florida building sand (3 blocks from the beach) so dig and backfill should be fairly straight forward. I'm leaning towards getting him to put it in the ground which will save me a bunch of time and work - the difference will be about $3K.
 
Install complete and we are swimming thanks to the CL Solar and a 16mil cover. Today is 12/26/2017 and the water is around 85 thanks to the sunny days we are having in Central Florida. I have ordered a heat pump to complement the solar as we plan to swim every day of the year...

Some notes about the build. I contracted this myself and did all planning, permitting, plumbing, electrical, rebar and forming, deck finishing, etc and most everything except dig the hole and set - and pour the deck.
As the Owner/Contractor I was on hand and supervised those two activities closely thus the pool being set correctly and absolutely level on a crushed rock foundation.
I figure I saved over $10K by doing everything myself.
I used 2" Sched 40 Pressure PVC which I bent with a pipe blanket. It took time but was worth it. Bends can be seen in build photos. This made for stronger pipe integrity and a better flow and used less fittings.
I overdid the rebar and concrete deck but steel is cheap and the deck is sooo prime. It is a minimum of 6" thick and over 8" thick in some places. The pool has the correct integrated 12"D x 10"W collar around it which I see many PBs skipping. I used a full 12 yards for the pour which is a fair amount of steel reinforced 'rete!
I made sure everything was done correctly and the Building Inspector passed everything as to code or beyond code.


Viking Pool Install - Album on Imgur
 
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