Shallow End too Deep (UPDATES)

[jp4LSU]

This is a gunite pool. It should be 3.5' down to 4' in the shallow end. Then it transitions to 7' deep end.
Currently the shallow end area tapers from 3.5' to 5'. So it tapers 18" inches instead of 6", leaving no play room for little ones and it will keep adults/teens squeezed tightly in the same area as the little ones.
I'm waiting to hear back from the PB because this didn't not follow the construction plans and the project manager was trying to wiggle out of it.
What are the options to fix it and what methods can be used to fix it.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

How far along are you in the construction process?

 

[jamjam]

is that from waterline down or top of the edge - is that specified in your construction docs? Also what level, if any, of variance does your contract allow?

 

[jp4LSU]

Contract says 3.5 to 6, but they over dug to 7. Change order was to keep 7 ft. Construction plans delivered show 3.5' to 4' over 15'. It's 3.5' to 5' over that span.

It's a constant slope from shallow wall to 7ft deep.
This is from waterline.

 

[jamjam]

so there is no change in slope? You have a consistent slope from the 3.5' wall to the 7' wall - however that 7' wall was originally supposed to be 6'? Sounds like that over dig is where your issue is, they maintained that consistent slope as part of the change order and thus you have a smaller shallow end.

Edit - if you have not plastered yet I assume they can build it up but they will then be adding a lot more material as there will have to be a change of slope to get you your desired shallow end size.

 

[jamjam]

the math doesn't really add up though, because if there is a constant slope but the over-dig is only by a foot, that foot would be spread out over the entire length fo that slope, so at Xft away for the wall I would expect the deeper bottom to only be a fraction of a foot, not a whole foot.

 

[jp4LSU]

How far along are you in the construction process

Skippy it has been waterline tiled and coping is in.

 

[sl7vk]

Skippy it has been waterline tiled and coping is in.

Well, you can always add material at this stage and make it more shallow.
The opposite is much more difficult.

 

[jp4LSU]

so there is no change in slope? You have a consistent slope from the 3.5' wall to the 7' wall - however that 7' wall was originally supposed to be 6'? Sounds like that over dig is where your issue is, they maintained that consistent slope as part of the change order and thus you have a smaller shallow end.

Edit - if you have not plastered yet I assume they can build it up but they will then be adding a lot more material as there will have to be a change of slope to get you your desired shallow end size.

I agree Jam-Jam. The depth change through the gunite guys off and it wasn't clarified by the project manager that the shallow was to stay the same. Even though I specifically clarified with him that the shallow end has to stay the way it is.

 

[jp4LSU]

the math doesn't really add up though, because if there is a constant slope but the over-dig is only by a foot, that foot would be spread out over the entire length fo that slope, so at Xft away for the wall I would expect the deeper bottom to only be a fraction of a foot, not a whole foot.

I think the math adds up. The point where it was to be 4' is now 5'. The deep was originally supposed to be 6' is now 7' The gunite guys shifted the original plan 12" deeper along the profile.

 

[jp4LSU]

Here is the original profile from the construction plans. The marked points were all shifted 12" down by the gunite crew because my project manager didn't tell them to keep the shallow end the same as sketched on the construction plans.
So the 4' mark is now 5' and the 6' is now 7'.

 

[jp4LSU]

You guys think I have a case for them to fix it at no cost to me? But I don't really have anything in writing saying that the change order to 7ft needs to maintain the original shallow end profile. It is my word against the project manager that I stated and confirmed with him that the shallow end needs to stay the same.

So if they decide to fix it, what method or process. Will they anchor some rebar to provide mechanical stability to the new gunite coming in on top?

 

[jamjam]

I would argue that the deep-end and the shallow-end are two distinct features of the pool as commonly understood by the general public and a change in depth of the deep end should not change the features of the shallow end without it being specified in a change order that you agreed to. The overdig was not your fault - a miscommunication based on their mistake should not be your fault either. They messed up twice, how many times are you expected to eat their mistake?

 

[ajw22]

If your pool is not plastered yet they should raise and recountour the floor.

 

[jp4LSU]

Thanks Jam-Jam and ajw22.
Does anybody know what the proper method of adding to the floor and re-contouring it?
I'm also worried about the seam it will create at the side wall and future issues with that.

 

[ajw22]

Pools are often remodeled and the depths raised. The new concrete to raise the floor by a foot does not need to be gunite. It will not be structural.

Talk to the builder on how he proposes to build up the floor with concrete and maybe some rebar.

 

[jp4LSU]

Ok ajw22.
I assumed it would need to be gunite since it is a contour. I don't how you would do it otherwise.
Yes I definitely want to see some rebar, particularly tied into existing gunite shell.

 

[Mcow]

Just to play devils advocate on depth we got our pool built in 2017 it is the "sports" depth 3'-5'-4'. Fast forward a few years and my kids being a little bigger the shallow end is pretty much never used. So about a 1/3 of our current pool is rarely used except for laps and the steps are on that side. Kids grow fast and a pool last a long time! When they are really little they will use floats regardless of depth. We are building a new pool at our newly built house and the depth will be 3.5' to 7' but we have a bench across the entire length so visiting littles can get out easily no matter what depth if needed.

 

[jp4LSU]

Mcow, I'm with you...they do grow and I'm sure I'll never hear the little ones complain about never being able to touch except by little area by the steps (currently). But even for adults or teens that are over 5' will still have a very limited area to hang out and walk around. Also you will be on a slope wherever you are. Where the 3.5 - 4 area was decent size it is now 3.5 to 5 and that is a pretty good slope that you will always be fitting as you walk around.

 

[Mcow]

Mcow, I'm with you...they do grow and I'm sure I'll never hear the little ones complain about never being able to touch except by little area by the steps (currently). But even for adults or teens that are over 5' will still have a very limited area to hang out and walk around. Also you will be on a slope wherever you are. Where the 3.5 - 4 area was decent size it is now 3.5 to 5 and that is a pretty good slope that you will always be fitting as you walk around.

Yeah no I get it. I guess I am just used to the 3-5' quick slope because the middle of my pool is 5' deep so we have that now. Of course the other side is 4' so we have that to hang out in which is honestly the part we typically hang out in while the kids constantly jump in the middle deepest area. That is why we did a 3.5' to 7' on the new pool so the kids can jump in on the deep side and the adults can be on the shallow side and not getting splashed constantly. At least that is the theory lol.