Diagonals within 1/4" both top and bottom as compared to manufacturer drawing. I'm an engineer and surveyor, so i set a 3/4" 2' long rod in ground for benchmark. Panels all dead level. string lines from the beginning, panels all right in line except for one end which is 3/4" further back. used a laser level the whole process. I sent an email to hydrapools so hopefully they will have some explanation. taking both sides of this pool back down is not something i'm looking forward to especially when i went to great lengths to get this right. I just don't see how i can squeeze 3/4" back into this wall. measured with 2 different tapes for verification. all wall panels plumb.
Vinyl 18x36 on the way. Here is the gameplan!
- Thread starter Keondgo
- Start date
Diagonals within 1/4" both top and bottom as compared to manufacturer drawing. I'm an engineer and surveyor, so i set a 3/4" 2' long rod in ground for benchmark. Panels all dead level. string lines from the beginning, panels all right in line except for one end which is 3/4" further back. used a laser level the whole process. I sent an email to hydrapools so hopefully they will have some explanation. taking both sides of this pool back down is not something i'm looking forward to especially when i went to great lengths to get this right. I just don't see how i can squeeze 3/4" back into this wall. measured with 2 different tapes for verification. all wall panels plumb.
I KNEW you had done it as right as it can be done and then more but.............man I was hoping you had made a mistake that would be easy to fix 
I had the same problem w their steel panels. I shot my grade benchmark and then dug out the total 42"all the way across thru the overdig. I went back and installed the half of pool of the deep end and got it rly close my panels were all same size so I squared it from seams of panels and I used 2x4s at the base of walls across pool to keep it perfect distance. I rebar pinned the walls and the supports to keep it close, you DONT need to worry too much about top of wall panels right now, just keep them close and worry about the bottom, pull tape from lowest point of wall to square it. If you are saying that one end is longer than the other and you are super close on square a panel is out of size, if you tape each one from seams you will find some differences, I had some panels that were taller by 1/4" than others and a few that were 1/8" heavy in length. I ended up 1/4" out of square and 1/4" long on one wall but its close enuff liner will fit even with an inch out. DIYíng the pool we nitpick everything, you think pool companies spend that much time getting it perfect? no way they get it close and they know what they can deal with and move on time is money to them. Im about to do my vermiculite Ive been rained out for almost 3 weeks I ended up getting a harbor freight 20x40 tarp and built goalpost across middle and made a roof over the pool and it helped alot or you can do like you did and lay it down and put a vertical float sump pump in it and let it be a temp liner to help dry it. As long as your long and short walls are straight when you are ready for the collar pour it wont show being out. Also stake the panels and use 2x4s as braces the short way and stake the inside walls I had hair movements from the concrete pour if I hadnt done that my walls would have been messed after concrete
I think you hit the nail on the head. When I installed mine I was obsessing with everything. Then realized hey the guys that do this for a living are typically not engineers that are obsessive about being perfect. Slap it up and move to the next one.
Sigh...mine is perfect...almost. Within 1/16" square (luck), dead on 16' wide and 36' long, walls as straight as can be...and the darn thing is out of level 3/8" over the 36' length. Both shallow end corners are dead level with each other, both deep end corners dead level with each other...shallow to deep is off 3/8". I am an engineer. Being off 3/8" makes me angry. GRRRR.
Yeah this is making me upset. My 15 yr old is really sick of measuring but he knows how to pull a tape now. lol . Once I hear from Hydrapools today gonna committ to getting concrete poured and locking this thing down. I have noticed Sun affects the panels. they bow a lil when hot and then straighten back up and dusk.
Just heard from hydrapools. Are they polymer walls? Yes! Ok don’t worry about it. If it’s square go with it. The polymer walls swell in the sunlight and heat. They will be fine. Liner will fit
I think you will be fine, ready to proceed to the next step. I thought ours was pretty spot on and once the liner was in and water I can see a small dip in the middle from both ends, oh well, its fun to be in when its hot out.
I am guessing the reply's in this post are comprised most of DIYers judging the replies. Just think you are the only one that knows you are off a little. Everyone that comes to your house has no idea its off 1/16 of an inch. They are there to swim!
To the OP you are doing a great job! Nothing wrong with being picky!
- - - Updated - - -
I like steak for lunch!
To the OP you are doing a great job! Nothing wrong with being picky!
- - - Updated - - -
I like steak for lunch!
Walls Up! Step installed! Skimmers IN! Plumbing mocked up! Waiting on getting collar poured. Concrete companies not cooperating when you just need 7 yds. 50 tons of stone piled waiting for backfill. Now Poolcrete premix for $1400 or mix my own vermiculite/portland for $800?
WHAT???????? Hoping there are some tired kids to go along with all of that work!!
Will you be doing the work with the premix or vermiculite as in putting it down and smoothing it out?
Kim
Will you be doing the work with the premix or vermiculite as in putting it down and smoothing it out?
Kim
I and a few of my best friends for the day will be doing the pool bottom. I'm only going to hire out deck since I believe concrete is for Professionals. I know my limits. Not scared of the bottom but seems like a pretty big markup on premix poolbase. Every bit I save is more deck and a pool house!
The 15 yr old knows how to figure grades now and can setup laser and rod. He is getting much more efficent with a shovel and he bolted all panels in place as i aligned and leveled. 10 yr old gets water and tools(Dad can only handle teaching one at a time.)
The 15 yr old knows how to figure grades now and can setup laser and rod. He is getting much more efficent with a shovel and he bolted all panels in place as i aligned and leveled. 10 yr old gets water and tools(Dad can only handle teaching one at a time.)
i used premix from a supply house it was 725 cash for 60 40# bags and I used 44 on my 14x30 and i had spots 4+"thick I built up the washed out dirt with concrete from a bag dry mixed. We mixed the verm right in the pool no mixer, 10 bags in a pile and spray hose on mist flipping material as it wet and getting it flowable. All the verm was done this way, when dry you can touch it up and if you have pock marks or pin holes use pure portland dry w a spray bottle to skim over, you can sand it with 40grit sandpaper and a powered sander. if you mix the verm with a paddle mixer you must add the water first and spin it for like 30 seconds to a min MAX or you will ruin the batch and it wont come out of the mixer it sticks easily its a pain. the old timer who helped me do my floor told me if I used a mixer he wasnt helping me insisted we mix in pool w shovel and hose, hes done hundreds like this and it came out good
I could see doing that!. alot easier than the mixer. I want that price though. my local is 20.44 / premix bag and i'm gonna need 70. so $1400 vs $17/bag for vermiculite alone and $13 for portland. 17 bags of portland + 34 bags of vermiculite and I mix it = $731. 1/2 the price.
$1400 for premix or
$730 for mix myself
Waiting on Inspection so Backfill can begin.
Wall and steps pic
Plumbing done and stubbed up to equipment pad
Wall and steps pic
Plumbing done and stubbed up to equipment pad
Looking at your pictures you don't need a portland base with that hard red clay! Just kidding
Keep up the good work your half way there! and a couple steps away from the weather being your worst enemy.
Keep up the good work your half way there! and a couple steps away from the weather being your worst enemy.
Inspection tomorrow. Looking forward to backfilling and getting the deck pour scheduled. I'm fighting the rain with big tarps. so far that has kept the pool bottom in good shape. I need to make a decision on how im going to get that pool bottom done and get on that. I'm doing concrete coping with forms so I have to pour the deck first before vinyl liner.
So Far, Lessons learned. I wouldnt do polymer walls again. Unstable as far as temps and warping. Not sure how straight they will end up but they definately move a bit during the day. I'm a perfectionist and there is just too much play for me.
I got the aqua genie skimmers which i like but there really is no way to pressure test the return to pool line since there is no good access to that throat plate to plug the line.
Ratio of people that say they would help to actual help is about 10:1. My 15 yr old and I have done most of the work with a good friend who has a screwed up work schedule like mine giving us a big hand on 3 days where we got alot of work done.
$250 in tarps have saved frustration and work, cover it all up each day takes time but has really helped with the mud. wife responsible for pumping water each day as necessary.
So Far, Lessons learned. I wouldnt do polymer walls again. Unstable as far as temps and warping. Not sure how straight they will end up but they definately move a bit during the day. I'm a perfectionist and there is just too much play for me.
I got the aqua genie skimmers which i like but there really is no way to pressure test the return to pool line since there is no good access to that throat plate to plug the line.
Ratio of people that say they would help to actual help is about 10:1. My 15 yr old and I have done most of the work with a good friend who has a screwed up work schedule like mine giving us a big hand on 3 days where we got alot of work done.
$250 in tarps have saved frustration and work, cover it all up each day takes time but has really helped with the mud. wife responsible for pumping water each day as necessary.