What is the level tolerance for an inground pool?

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DoctorHousesCane

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Aug 24, 2024
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California
I'm located in SoCal and building an inground 30'x16' pool (gunite). Pebble just finished and we are filling up the pool. About 1/3 of the way, I noticed it doesn't seem level against the waterline tiles. Now that it's about 80% done. I'm noticing about a 3/4" difference between deep end and baja shelf, which is 30' across. Is this level of tolerance acceptable? Aesthetically and I suppose functionally, it sucks to be out of level on the shallower end especially since it's designed to be little under a foot deep. I'm seeing a lot of level-related posts for above ground but not finding what I need for inground. Can I get your thoughts? Should I just wait until water is all the way full before panicking?

Edit: I feel like I'm missing something. The water must be level so maybe that means just the waterline tiles and coping were built on a gradual slope? So maybe it's actually NOT out of level? I'm sorry for rambling, I had a night out last night and still a bit fuzzy.
 
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Possibly remove the tile and reinstall to level.

This might make the coping look off, which might require removing and reinstalling the coping, which might make the deck look off.

Is the deck installed or not installed yet?

Have you talked to the pool builder about this?

If yes, what do they say?

Pictures?
 
Show us some pictures with a tape measure alongside the tiles or water to see your situation.
 
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Do you have a level? Preferably a laser level?

Is your coping level?

Is the surrounding deck level or sloped?

You need to figure out what line the tile guys used as reference. If the coping was not level and did they aligned the tile with the coping?
 
JamesW said:
Possibly remove the tile and reinstall to level.

This might make the coping look off, which might require removing and reinstalling the coping, which might make the deck look off.

Have you talked to the pool builder about this?

If yes, what do they say?

Pictures?
Click to expand...
I have not talked to the pool builder yet. I wanted to do my due diligence first before raising concern. I will post photos once the water touches the bottom of the waterline tiles to get a more accurate reading. It's got about 6 inches to go.
 
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How many skimmers do you have?

Look at where the water hits your skimmers. Do they hit both skimmers at the same points? It will show you if the entire pool was built crooked.
 
ajw22 said:
Do you have a level? Preferably a laser level?

Is your coping level?

Is the surrounding deck level or sloped?

You need to figure out what line the tile guys used as reference.
Click to expand...
I have a 4' level but not a laser level.

I assumed the coping was level but it any level issues wasn't apparent until water was poured.

The deck is pavers and it looks level with low points for drainage. But I'm having doubts.

I saw them with a laser level during shotcrete and before tiling so I don't know how they could've f'd this up. I have daily progress photos and it looks like they installed 2"x4" around the perimeter of the pool (maybe this was where the leveling issue began?) to install the limestone coping, then the waterline tiles were installed under the coping.
 

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The problem with laser levels is if they are not regularly calibrated they can be inaccurate.

@JamesW is right - the water in the pool will be 100% level, that is what you should go off of.

Pictures would help a bit to diagnose, but removing and replacing the tile will leave the joint between the tile and the coping varying in width. If deck was built off of the coping, and the coping built off of the waterline tile, and the waterline tile is not level then it is all out of level.
 
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MAPR-Austin said:
The problem with laser levels is if they are not regularly calibrated they can be inaccurate.

@JamesW is right - the water in the pool will be 100% level, that is what you should go off of.

Pictures would help a bit to diagnose, but removing and replacing the tile will leave the joint between the tile and the coping varying in width. If deck was built off of the coping, and the coping built off of the waterline tile, and the waterline tile is not level then it is all out of level.
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I couldn’t wait for it to fill up more. Here are some photos. First measurement is from the baja at 4 and 7/16". The second is the deep end at 3 and 13/16" which is about 5/8"-3/4" difference depending on where I'm breaking the water surface. I tried to barely touch it.
 

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It appears to be 5/8” out of level, which does put it out of spec. Once you turn the pump on and the water is in constant motion, you will probably never even notice it. It’s probably not something that I would get too upset about, but being a touch OCD, it would bother me to a degree.
 
Blackdirt Cowboy said:
It appears to be 5/8” out of level, which does put it out of spec. Once you turn the pump on and the water is in constant motion, you will probably never even notice it. It’s probably not something that I would get too upset about, but being a touch OCD, it would bother me to a degree.
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I think I would always notice it because our deco tiles have a center dividing line so it'll be very apparent if water doesn't touch it. Is the pump supposed to be on when you're using the pool, or is it turned off during use?
 
You cannot redo the tile to make it level without redoing the plaster. The plaster butts up against the bottom of the tile. Change the tile location and you need to redo the plaster interface. You will open up a can of worms for 3/4".

Only you will see the issue while others are enjoying you pool.

In 10-20 years when you replaster your pool you can level the tile.
 
ajw22 said:
You cannot redo the tile to make it level without redoing the plaster. The plaster butts up against the bottom of the tile. Change the tile location and you need to redo the plaster interface. You will open up a can of worms for 3/4".

Only you will see the issue while others are enjoying you pool.

In 10-20 years when you replaster your pool you can level the tile.
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Hmm... What would you recommend for when you're spending $180k for a remodeled backyard and the primary deliverable is out of spec? I am certainly frustrated but I see your point that it may not be worth it for what may be 1/2" over tolerance (if 1/4" is tolerance max). What can I do or say? I feel like the builder needs to do SOMETHING to acknowledge fault and with acknowledging fault, some sort of compensation or remedy should be provided and not simply have the homeowner be ok with it. I'm upset, but I'm open to guidance on how to navigate the issue.
 
I would be less concerned about being out of level to the coping and more concerned about water level in the skimmers.

Differential water levels in the skimmers lead to differential performance.

Can you post a wider picture set that shows the location of the skimmers...and post pictures showing the water level relative to the skimmers with your tape measure.
 
DoctorHousesCane said:
Hmm... What would you recommend for when you're spending $180k for a remodeled backyard and the primary deliverable is out of spec? I am certainly frustrated but I see your point that it may not be worth it for what may be 1/2" over tolerance (if 1/4" is tolerance max). What can I do or say? I feel like the builder needs to do SOMETHING to acknowledge fault and with acknowledging fault, some sort of compensation or remedy should be provided and not simply have the homeowner be ok with it. I'm upset, but I'm open to guidance on how to navigate the issue.
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Many pools are not built to within that 1/4" tolerance. If you wanted that tolerance it should have been specified in the contract, measured as the tile was bring laid, and confirmed before plastering. You should have seen if the contractor agreed to build within that tolerance. But all that was not done.

You should discuss some other compensation from your builder for your unhappiness.

If that ends up being the only problem with your pool build you will have done well.
 
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ajw22 said:
Many pools are not built to within that 1/4" tolerance. If you wanted that tolerance it should have been specified in the contract, measured as the tile was bring laid, and confirmed before plastering. You should have seen if the contractor agreed to build within that tolerance. But all that was not done.

You should discuss some other compensation from your builder for your unhappiness.

If that ends up being the only problem with your pool build you will have done well.
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In case I sound hostile, I want to apologize upfront - it's not my intention.

I think this type of perspective is a bit ridiculous and unrealistic. Saying something like the customer should check tolerances and measurements at each part of the pool building process is ridiculous to me. In my industry (cardiovascular research and therapy), I work with many different vendors in my line of work, and there is no expectation of the customer QCing items that are reasonably unbeknownst to us as we are not the subject matter experts. We're dealing with highly sensitive patient data and things that affect patient safety and rights. Putting the onus solely on the customer seems very shady when the vendor should've been performing the QCs themselves.

I agree I'm likely SOL because I didn't specify in my contract that the water level tolerance should be within 1/4" per APSP guidelines, but how would I ever know that? Most people only build 1 maybe 2 pools in their life time and they're at the mercy of the pool builder. Is it my responsibility to confirm their laser level is correctly calibrated? I'm not ever confirming with the hospital their cath lab is properly sterilized before heart procedures - that's just what they're supposed to do.

With that said, what compensation is even reasonable from the customer's perspective?
 

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