Replacing wood walls with block

[Remodeler Mike]

The 20” coping around my inground liner pool had been heaving and crumbling for about five years and reached the point of failure last season. I did a bit of demo to investigate the problem and discovered pool walls made of wood, like a fence in a hole! Multiple contractors quoted be $100k give or take and a 12 month start date. I’m a home builder so I figured, why not DIY!

I have a nice big deck that I wanted to save so I chose to build block walls right in front of the old wood walls. My coping would grow to 28” when finished but other than that, the original footprint remains.

I mostly filled the deep end with 3/4 gravel and plumbed it for a 12x17 tanning deck. Now, near the end of this odyssey, I’m having trouble finding a concrete sub to pour the tanning ledge and am considering a design change to heavy landscape fabric over the gravel and a sand floor for the tanning deck. I’m hoping the community can help me with that decision.

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

I do not see how heavy landscape fabric over the gravel and a sand floor for the tanning deck can be waterproof and not leak water into the ground.

 

[Remodeler Mike]

Though the gravel ls tightly compacted, the sand will sift right through if not blocked.

 

[kimkats]

What are you using to reinforce the walls?

For the tanning deck I am guessing you will a liner over the sand and gravel. I will tell you you will end up with foot prints and "heel" divots if you don't use something over the sand.

 

[Remodeler Mike]

What are you using to reinforce the walls?

For the tanning deck I am guessing you will a liner over the sand and gravel. I will tell you you will end up with foot prints and "heel" divots if you don't use something over the sand.

Every other cavity in the construction blocks have fiberglass rebar and concrete.

 

[Remodeler Mike]

I’m an outside the box thinker, what if the compacted sand floor was covered with backer-board before the wall foam?

 

[kimkats]

That is an idea for sure! The thing to think about is the transition from the shallow floor to the slope. The edge of the board could cause some trouble/issues in making the transition.

Vermiculite is what is commonly used over the sand in a vinyl pool.

I will tell you the wall foam almost always causes more problems than doing any good. It moves and shifts quite a bit while the liner is being put on. If it is on a wall the glue can (will) come undone then the foam sags down and is almost impossible to get back up without replacing the liner.

I LOVE what you are doing with this pool! It is going to be a great pool when you get done with it. I am just pointing out somethings you might not know or think about as you decide how to do this and that.

Kim

 

[Remodeler Mike]

Good thought. At the front end of the tanning ledge (top of the first riser) I’ll create a lip for the hardi-backer so it’s flush!