Issues with the pool coping forms

Since the last post I was able to install the wall caps which will receive the tracks for the automatic cover, as well as provide the track for the vinyl liner to snap into. It's a nice setup where the tracks for the automatic cover are just below the concrete coping. Once these were installed I then installed the box which will sit below the level of the concrete decking and has a lid which sits flush with concrete. With this I decided to test fit the styrofoam concrete forms which will form up the coping, called a cantilever coping because it hangs over the edge of the pool slightly. When I put the form in place I knew right away that it was going to be too tall, causing the decking concrete to to be almost an inch taller than the level of the flush fitting lid of the cover box. UNACCEPTABLE....to make a long story short I was able to work it out with the pool company where I will return the styrofoam forms and I can actually go pick up some aluminum reusable forms made by the cover manufacturer up in Westfield, Indiana that are sure to fit. And once I'm done using them, I can return them for almost a full refund. 

After installing the automatic cover pieces, I was limited on what I could do next. Therefore I wired up all of the pool equipment including the pump and saltwater chlorine generator which both run through a timer. I installed all of the circuit breakers several of which are GFCI breakers to protect against being shocked if components come into contact with water. All of the wiring is nicely tucked away in liquid-tight flexible pvc conduit. The only thing left to do with the electrical is to hook up the supply wire from my sub-panel to the main panel in my basement. The wire is in place, I just need to install the 100 amp breaker and connect to it. 

I also moved some gravel into an area that will get concrete that needed to be raised up about 18". And then I started digging out where the sidewalk that connects the driveway to pool will go. All of this in preparation for concrete on July 14rh. I'll be busy this week so stay tuned.

 

Pool Floor Grout Installation

With the help of some very giving and selfless people, we were able to get the pool floor installed.  It was a well organized effort thanks to my Dad and Father-in-Law who were able to keep the cement flowing.  They mixed almost 30 bags of Pool Crete while Mark Wallace, Jason Terrill, and myself troweled and smoothed it out to the best of our ability.  It doesn't have to look perfect because it will be covered by the vinyl liner.  But it should be without as many low spots as possible, since dirt will collect there making cleaning slightly more laborious.

This Pool Krete is a very strange substance.  It's nothing like any other cement product I've ever worked with.  It has Vermiculite in it which looks like grits mixed in the cement.  It lightens the product and allows it to have a slightly soft feel when walked on.  As well as it allows the vinyl liner to move over the surface without wearing down the liner and causing it to leak.  As strange as it was, I'm happy how it turned out.  And I'm especially happy with the individuals who gave up their Sunday to help us.  We are forever indebted to you guys, thanks so much.

Pool underground utilities

Things have slowed a little over the past couple of weeks. Rain has been an issue, making me wait several days before it's dry enough to walk around out there. I was able to trench for all of the underground utilities and drainage pipes. Not without a small hiccup in the form of cutting into the tops of a couple of septic lines that feed into my absorption chambers. It turned out to be an easy fix, lucky for me. 

After digging all the trenches I had to lay all the drainage pipes and dig down about six feet to tie them into the perimeter drain for the absorption field. This was accomplished with the help of the same excavator that was used to dig the pool hole. I then ran all the conduit for various electrical devices like the automatic cover and pool light. I ran conduit for a couple of future locations like a mini-barn and landscape lighting as well. 

We wanted a couple of new locations to get water for cleaning around the pool, watering plants, etc.  So I ran two water lines through the basement wall below the frost line. One going to the pool equipment pad and the other going to an area where we eventually want to put in a raised bed garden. 

So there hasn't been much progress in the pool itself, just boring underground utilities. They may be boring to most, but I'm fascinated by the idea of putting water and electricity exactly where we need it. And it's much easier doing it now than after all the backfill and concrete are put in. 

Plumbing and mechanical

Most of the plumbing is in and checked for leaks. This was an important step since most of the plumbing will be buried under concrete.  With the exception of the main drains (in the bottom of the deep end), all of the plumbing is connected to the equipment. The route the water takes as it is pulled from the pool is first through the pump which has a large debris filter basket of its own. Then it goes through the sand filter, which takes care of the small particulates. The water then proceeds through the propane heater and then through the salt-water chlorinator. It then returns to the pool through an outlet that is built into the AquaGenie brand skimmer. And then the water exits the pool through the 2 main drains and the skimmer, which starts the process over again. All of the water in the pool SHOULD get circulated through once in approximately 6 hours. Therefore I will have the equipment set on a timer to run for most of the day and shut down at night. Saving electricity from unneeded running of the pump. 

I then attached the light niche which is considered a "wet niche" because it will have pool water in it. This is necessary to cool the light while it is on. Therefore, the conduit for the electrical coming from it needs to be water tight, and running to a junction box that is at least 12 inches above the pool water line. 

After this I started digging trenches running back to the equipment pad, where I then mounted the electrical panel. Next, I will finish digging trenches (which will require a trencher) for water lines and the main electrical feeder coming from the house. 

Stay tuned...

Pool bond beam poured

We poured the bond beam concrete along the base of the pool walls and poured concrete for the equipment pad. I won't even act like I know anything about concrete finishing, but I did my best to make it look smooth on the pad. Luckily it will get covered by a structure, so it doesn't matter too much about its appearance. 

The skimmer box was installed and next will be all the plumbing going from the pool back to the equipment. 

Concrete forming

Here's what we've done so far. We excavated the hole for the pool. I had to do a considerable amount of digging by hand (and still more to come) to get the grade for placing the walls. I then placed the walls with some help from my lovely wife. They went in pretty quickly and smoothly. I then squared, leveled and plumbed up the walls, followed by bracing and staking. 

The next step is to pour concrete around the base of the wall on the outside of the pool. This is called a bond beam which will help hold the steel pool walls in place once backfill and water start pushing against them. I've also formed up a small pad for the pool equipment to sit on, which will eventually be covered by a small shed or "pool house."  This was slightly more complicated by running the plumbing through the slab giving it a clean, organized look. I mocked up the equipment on a piece of cardboard to figure out exactly where each piece of equipment will sit in relation to each other  and how the plumbing will connect to them. I'm hoping this preparation will make the final installation go smoothly. 

Pool Construction

So Lisa thought I was crazy when I said I wanted to build our own in-ground pool. I told her I've done the research and thousands of people have done it successfully. So once she was convinced we got started. Here's some pictures of the progress.