Fancy a dip??

At last the pool is full and the pump has been connected. The liner was awkward to get straight and it was not possible to get all the wrinkles out but the result is ok.The top cap has been fitted but it is very flimsy and you could not climb out of the pool over it. I am going to strengthen it when the side cladding goes up and then you will be able to get out at any point.

 I have fitted 3 solar panels on the roof and connected them to the pump circuit.
This has raised the pool temp to 20c deg in just a few days.The pool has a chlorine
dispenser with slow release tablets loaded into it so it is good to go. just need
to find a person to try it out!(too cold for me!)

 The path took a battering when the excavations were taking place,even with them being covered with ply sheets,so they have all been re-laid.A new path has been created through the arch to connect to the new outbuildings and ultimately to the pool and garden.

The next phase is to form the rest of the hard landscaping and then level garden with an excavator. then the pool deck can be installed.In the mean time I will construct a temporary deck to enable use of the pool.

The pool starts to appear!

The cement burns are starting to heal (note to self, dont wear shorts and kneepads when screeding) It is time to put together the steel pool wall. A guide rail is first laid at the base and needs to be set at a regular curve at each end,this rail carries the pool wall.The pool wall is very heavy and has to be fed into bottom rail as you go, no mean feat on your own! When your done the support legs can be attached and the plastic top rail fixed in place(this gets removed again later to secure the liner).

Now to the bit that makes the pool,the liner! This is another heavy item that needs a couple of people to stretch the liner over the pool frame,making sure the base seam in the centre of pool!It is secured with lots of spring clips which are slowly released as the liner gets stretched.

The next job will be to secure the liner to the top of pool but this requires a few people to hold the liner whilst the fastening is done. Got to go off to Devon to do a wedding now so thats next weeks job!

Back to work then!

Well,having had a few days at home in sunny Devon,the time has come to crack on with the pool install.
The first job was to remove the work previously done and raise it up 60mm. A concrete pavior was just the job.Concrete was then used under the pressure plates and around the ground supports.

Now its ready for screed.I have decided that I will treat the screed as two separate sections as the deep swimming area needs shaping and will be slow to construct.The benefit of this is also the top edge of form will act as a screed rule guide for the large flat areas!

done!

The screed was 4:1 mix with coarse sand from Wickes.The large area had ready mixed screed with retarder to give a longer working time.It was just as well the delivery was super early (7-45am) as it was a very hot day and the shade soon went,leaving blistering sunshine!

The experts reply.

Its not good news!
  They recommend that the entire pool area is covered in sand/cement screed including the deep swimming area. I think the ready mix company will be getting a ring!Also having set the side supports and pressure plates at what was the correct height,this is now 50mm to low! Will be removing all todays work in the morning and will start again after screeding.I think the screed will make a much better job and liner replacement in the future will be much easier.So let me see,24ft x12ft pool plus deep end,reckon1.5m3 of screed will do.My back hurts just thinking about it! Oh well lets get cracking.

The start

Last Autumn we decided to build a swimming pool in the back garden,this is the story of said job.

After shifting many skips full of soil the weather took a turn for the worse and it was decided to halt proceedings until the Spring. Well we are here and off and running. The Dough Boy  kit has arrived, a 24 x 12 foot pool with extra deep end liner. There are two plans and a dvd to sift through before starting and some youTube clips as well.

  The first step has been to excavate the pool to very accurate measurements all done by hand as this level of precision cannot be obtained by machine. With strict instructions not to fill low points the ground was shaved slowly until  perfectly level.

  The next job is to install the concrete block pads,side supports and the pressure pads.The side support posts are designed to lean in prior to the pool being filled,then the water pressure will force the sides upright.You can also see the deep swimming area dug out,which the stretch liner will follow.A big concern at present is the amount of sharp flint at the base of lower level at present and I am waiting on expert advice from manufacturer before proceding.