Tag: vinyl liner

Let the Pros Build Your Pool

It has come to my attention that there are quite a few people buying vinyl liner in ground swimming pool kits online and building them on their own.  This may seem like a good idea in the aspect that it will save money.  However there is a downside to doing this.

Think about it this way.  Companies that build these pools usually have a good deal of experience to rely on when something previously unseen comes to light.  When building a pool there are many things that must be done throughout the process.  First is that you will need to have all of the appropriate permits to do the things required in building a swimming pool.  In addition to that you will also have to have inspections done throughout the process.  These things represent costs that you may not have taken into consideration.  Having a pool professional build your pool will allow you to rest easy knowing that all the appropriate permits and inspections are being obtained.  It is my personal recommendation to have a company that has been in business for a while build your pool.  They will likely know what permits they will need and what kinds of inspections will need to be done.  This is only the start of it.

Please understand that there are a lot of things that must happen in a certain order to end up with a well built pool.  In some situations if a step is missed or done out of turn then it could result in added expenses to you.  In addition to that there are certain building codes that must be met to be in compliance with state and local authorities.  Again these are things that a professional pool builder would already know.  If you were to do something wrong and it was caught by the authorities you could be looking at a fine and have to spend even more money to fix it.  I have read that in recent years state and local authorities have been using google earth to spot swimming pools in backyards.  Then the cross check their paperwork to determine if all permits were obtained for building that pool.  This is just a heads up to anyone thinking about going around the codes.  You may have read or heard about several incidents this year where someone was hurt or killed in a pool due to electricity.  This is a very real concern when it comes to building swimming pools.  Proper precautions must be taken to prevent such things from happening.

Aside from all the legal stuff that one must make sure they follow when building a vinyl liner in ground swimming pool, there are also things that may happen related to the actual build of the pool.  Suppose you are building you own pool and as you dig deeper and deeper you encounter ground water.  How would you deal with that?  Do you know how to solve the problem?  Some do some don’t.  If you successfully build the pool do you know how to plumb the system, or cut in the liner?  I’m almost certain that people willing to take on such a big project, will more than likely have a background in construction of some kind.  That doesn’t necessarily mean that they will turn out a flawless swimming pool.  That really goes with any trade.  An electrician may not be the best plumber and vise versa.  For instance I have been building pools for almost ten years, but that doesn’t mean that I would feel comfortable in taking on a project like building my own house.  While they are similar in that they both fall under the field of “construction” they are still different enough that I would never think about building my own home.  I suppose that is what it comes down to.  Are you comfortable enough to try to build your own pool?  Are you comfortable enough to know what permits are needed and what inspections are needed?  These are the things you must consider before you start.  Even though the materials may be cheaper online than buying them from a pool professional, they still represent an investment.  Are you confident that the finished product will be worth the time and money you put into it.  If there is even a shred of doubt then I would let the professionals take care of it.

There are so many variables that come into play that building your own pool may not be something you want to try.  Below is a list of things to consider.

1) Are you confident in you construction skills?
2) Are you confident in your knowledge of building codes?
3) Do you know what permits you need?
4) Do you know how to trowel a bottom?
5) Do you know how to plumb a pool system?
6) Do you know how to wire the lights, cover, and sub panel?
7) Do you know how to properly bond the pool?
8) Are you confident in your ability to cut in a liner?

These are just a few things to think about when it comes to building your own vinyl liner in ground swimming pool.  There are many, many other things that go into building a pool that I did not mention.

 

Vinyl liner Inground Pools – More than Just Rectangles

There are a few common shapes when it comes to vinyl liner in ground swimming pools that get built over and over again.  I think the most basic of these shapes is the rectangle.  This is a shape that many people end up with in their back yards, but why?  Originally, I think that it was more of a matter of availability.  When vinyl liner in ground swimming pools first came out on the market, there weren’t that many shapes available.  Luckily that is all in the past, yet still to this day the rectangle is a common shape among vinyl liner in ground swimming pools.

Some of you may not know this, but with all the technological advances that have been made over the years vinyl liner in ground swimming pool manufacturers are now able to offer any size, any shape pool that you can think of.  That is the point of this post.  I want to make you aware that when it comes to vinyl liner in ground swimming pools, you don’t have to go with a basic rectangle shape.  Many amazing pools have been done with vinyl liners.  In addition to that there are many different liner designs that are available to give your pool something that others around you don’t have.  Another thing that can set your pool apart from anyone else’s is the way your deck is done.  Let’s take a look at some of the vinyl liner pools that have been done in the past to give you an idea of what can be done with a vinyl liner in ground pool.

In this picture (left) you can see how they have opted to use pavers as their decking rather than traditional concrete.  In addition to that, this is more of an organic shape rather than the basic rectangle.  It is not likely that any of their neighbors will have a pool like this.

This next one is similar in that they again used the pavers for the decking, however the shape is drastically different.  In addition to that they used unique landscaping to set this pool area apart.

This pool has a somewhat standard concrete deck, however they chose to have a border around their pool in a darker color.  This is yet another way to set your pool apart from the rest.  When it comes to concrete, to get away from the traditional white brushed look, many people go with stamped concrete and add a 1′ border around their pool in a different but complimentary color.

The last pool here is a completely unique design.  The shape alone would be enough to set it apart from the neighbors pools, however they went a step further by adding some planter areas in the decking and by building a pool house nearby.  This is the type of setting that is used all over the country for back yard cook outs, and evening drinks by the pool.

These are all examples of how a vinyl liner in ground swimming pool can be made into any shape or size that you can imagine.  I have even seen a vinyl liner pool shaped like an electric guitar.  The way I see it, if you can dream it, it can be done.  There are endless possibilities that can be done with a vinyl liner pool.  It only depends on how creative you are when you design it.

For more information on vinyl liner in ground swimming pools, or just general swimming pool information all together please check out my other posts.

Modern Vinyl Liner Pool Steps

In recent years there has been a shift in the world of swimming pools.  This shift can be seen in many different aspects.  The biggest part of this shift is in the type of in ground swimming pool that people are getting.  In the past I speculate that the majority of people were getting concrete pools.  Now the trend has moved toward vinyl liner in ground pools.  The reason for this is partly due to the fact that the perception of the vinyl liner pool has improved.  I think that people used to see a vinyl liner pool as inferior to the concrete pool.  Now people are starting to realize that there are benefits to owning a vinyl liner pool that are not available with a concrete pool.  In addition to that the cost of a vinyl liner pool is in most cases cheaper than that of its concrete counter part.

In today’s world one could get a vinyl liner in ground pool with all the same design freedom of a concrete pool.  By that I mean vinyl liner pools can be made in any shape, size, and form.  It is basically a matter of what is desired.  I have even seen guitar shaped vinyl liner pools.  In the past, the design options were limited, but with new technology and know how those options are now endless.  When vinyl liner pools first entered the market, there weren’t much to them.  A basic shape, with a white thermoplastic step.  Soon after that the fiberglass step was offered as an upgrade.  Mainly due to the fact that the fiberglass step is a much more structurally sound way to go.  Today more and more people are getting pools with custom vinyl over steps.

The vinyl over step is almost to the point where it is expected in a pool design.  This style of step offers more of a concrete pool look and custom design options.  Obviously that is an amazing selling feature for vinyl liner swimming pools.  Now instead of having the same white step as the neighbor, people are now able to have a similar swimming pool that looks completely different.  There are a few different ways that these steps are created.  First of all there are two basic types of vinyl over steps.  One is what is known as straight tread, and the other is known as permanent form.  The difference is in the way that these steps are manufactured.  The straight tread design means that the entire step is made out of the same material.  Meaning that both the riser and tread of the step are either made out of steel or a non-corrosive material.  (Side note… There are major differences in the types of non-corrosive materials that are available.  To learn more check out the rest of my blog.)  The permanent form design is in my humble opinion the better type of step.  This style of liner over step offers folks a more solid structure for their steps.  This type of step is different in that the riser is made out of the steel or non-corrosive material, but the treads of the step are concrete.  The permanent form step is partly made in a factory, and finished on site.  Once the step is installed in the pool there are a couple other options that need to be addressed.

Rod and Clip Design

With a vinyl over step, the liner will need to be secured to the step.  Usually this is done in the area of the steps where the treads meet the risers.  This is done a couple of different ways.  One way is to use rods and clips.  This way would require the liner to be made with “sleeves” on the under side of the liner where the treads meet the risers.  Then fiberglass rods would be slid through the sleeves and clips would be used to secure the rods to the steps, which will ultimately secure the liner into place over the steps.  This is an effective way of securing the liner over the steps.  However please note that the rod will, in most cases be somewhat visible under the liner where the risers meet the treads.  It comes down to personal preference.  Would it bother you to be able to see where the rods are underneath the liner?  If so then you might want to go with the other way of securing the liner to the steps.  This would have to be determined prior to the steps being installed in the pool.

Bead Track

The other way is to use what is called a bead receiver where the treads meet the risers.  In the past, the bead of a liner was only found at the top edge of the liner.  This is what secures the liner to the top of the walls of the pool.  However a bead is now used to secure the liner to the steps.  The liner would have to be manufactured with a bead in the correct location.  So instead of having a “sleeve” on the backside of the liner where the treads meet the risers, there would now be a bead.  That bead would then be neatly tucked into the bead receivers of the steps to give the steps an overall clean look.  Either way, the end result would be a secure liner over the steps, the only difference is that one way, in my opinion, has a better aesthetic appeal in the end.

The difference in cost is not that much in the grand scheme of things.  Again it comes down to personal preference and what best suites you.  The fact is that many people are getting pools installed with liner over steps as a way to make their pools a unique piece of art.

For more information on vinyl liner pools, and swimming pool in general please check out the rest of my blog.  There is a lot of useful information within it that will help current pool owners stay on top of whats new, and help those without pools decide if a pool is right for them.

Swimming Pool Technology

Things are changing in the world of in ground swimming pools.  Technology has taken hold of the way things are done and the products that are available.  If you were to look at an in ground swimming pool that was built in the 50’s, it would be quite different than a swimming pool that was built last year.  So what are the differences, and how have they affected the industry?

To begin let’s take a look at the building materials that are used to build an in ground swimming pool.  Years ago in ground pools were primarily made out of concrete.  As I have said in previous posts this type of pool is typically more costly than other types that are available.  From there the industry has provided other building materials that are used to construct in ground pools.  Today vinyl liner pools are becoming more and more prominent in the industry.  They started with the use of steel walls that would be bolted together and then covered with the vinyl liner.

The latest and greatest material in the industry is composite.  The steel wall pools are still being installed, however with the growing trend of “salt water” pools a change had to be made.  Obviously salt and steel are not the best of friends, as anyone in the northern U.S. can attest to.  Salt is highly corrosive to steel and as a result the steel walls are corroding faster than ever before.  There have been a number of non-corrosive alternatives developed in recent years, however there is only one true composite wall panel on the market, and should not be confused with the other non-corrosive materials available.  The reason you don’t want to get this product confused with the others is that the quality of this product if far superior than everything else that is out there.  Only Alpha Pool Products has taken their non-corrosive pool panel to the next level… Well I should say that they have taken this panel to the next several levels.  There is nothing on the market that even comes close to the quality and structural integrity of Only Alpha’s composite panel.  You can see for yourself by checking out their website at http://www.onlyalpha.com/.  There you can see what makes their composite panel different and even find links to their youtube videos that demonstrate the difference in their composite panel’s structure.  You can also find more information about what makes their composite panel, and their company different by checking out the rest of my blog.  It goes without saying that this high quality, non-corrosive wall panel will naturally come with a slightly higher price tag.  However for those that have their wallets in mind, Only Alpha has also taken the standard steel wall and drastically improved it as well.

In the in ground swimming pool industry there is a basic understanding that steel is steel.  It will rust at some point in time.  In addition to that there is one common theme across the board of steel wall manufacturers.  That is that they all use 14 gauge g35 galvanized steel.  The 14 gauge is the thickness of the steel and the g35 represents the amount of galvanization on the steel.  Galvanization means that the steel itself is coated with a layer of zinc.  That zinc is there to prolong the life of the steel by sacrificing itself first.  It is a forcefield of sorts that protects the steel from corrosion.  However once that galvanization is gone the steel will begin to rust.  Only Alpha recognized this problem and has taken steps toward improving it.

They use the same 14 gauge, g35 galvanized steel and add another layer of what they refer to as their “Alpha Shield”.  It is basically another layer of protection that gets applied to the steel after the galvanization.  This does two things for the steel.  One is that it gives the steel an almost stainless look, which in my opinion benefits the builders by allowing them to offer their customers a product that looks as new as it is.  Other steel panels will often times appear to be weathered and aged before being installed in the ground.  Now imagine that you are getting a brand new in ground pool and you look out your back window to see these dingy looking panels that in some cases already have some corrosion on them being installed in your backyard.  You would wonder what your hard earned money is being spent on.  The other thing that this “Alpha Shield” does is it actually repels moisture away from the steel.

This gives the steel a much longer life and gives you and your family piece of mind knowing that you have a quality product.  If you visit http://www.onlyalpha.com/ you will see a series of logos that represent the different lines of pool building material that they offer.  Two of which are steel panels, the Titan Steel line and the Trimax XP3.  All of those logos are actually links to sites specifically about those lines.  If you click on either of the Titan or Trimax logos you will be directed to those sites and have the opportunity to find out more.  My favorite part of these sites is a video that demonstrates what this “Alpha Shield” really does.  Once you are at the Titan or Trimax site you will see a tab that says either “Why Titan” or “Why Trimax XP3” depending on the site.  If you click there then scroll down the page you will see the video.  I recommend watching that video because it is quite impressive.  Again you can also find more information on what makes Only Alpha’s steel superior by checking out the rest of my blog.

Technology has also allowed for huge improvements in the realm of how we maintain our pools.  As mentioned above “salt water” systems are taking the industry by storm.  Honestly I think that there is some misconception about what a salt water pool really is.  People tend to think that this type of pool uses salt to replace chlorine, so in turn it is a healthier pool for their families.  This is somewhat true, however they typically do need to have a residual amount of chlorine added from time to time.  It just doesn’t require as much so you would be saving money on chemicals.  However, what most people don’t realize is that the system changes the salt into chlorine for sanitation purposes, and then it changes back to salt.  So the pools still use chlorine, just not directly.  Again, you can find more information on that in another post I have written.

If salt is not what you are looking for, there are quite a few other ways to treat the water in the pool.  a couple other things that are growing in popularity are UV sanitation and Ozone sanitation.  These are systems that will likewise be plumbed in at the filter pad and either use ultra violet radiation to kill harmful bacteria, or ozone.
When used in conjunction with one another the result is clean and clear water.  Again, with these systems there would still need to be a little bit of residual chlorine added to the pool.

Another huge advantage that technology has made possible manifests itself in the form of pool cleaning.  It used to be that in order to remove debris from your pool, you would have to get out your pole and net and skim the water’s surface, or use the pool vacuum to remove debris from the pool floor.  Now you can have your pool installed with an in floor cleaning system that will eliminate the need to physically skim or sweep the pool.  Through the use of specialized returns, floor nozzles, and main drain, anyone can have a pool that literally cleans itself.  You can find more information on this technology and others by checking out the rest of my blog.

These are just some of the ways technology has improved the swimming pool industry.  If anyone has any questions please feel free to post them in the comments section below and I will do my best to address them in a timely manner.

Choosing a Pool

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own your very own in ground swimming pool?  Are you aware that there are several types of in ground swimming pools available?  How do you decide which type is best for you?  In the world of in ground swimming pools you have some decisions to make.  Where to start?

First you will have to decide if owning an in ground swimming pool is right for you.  Many people who want an in ground swimming pool are those who are either looking for a place to relax throughout the summer, or they are looking for something to enrich the lives of their family as a whole.

Most people are already aware that an in ground swimming pool represents a significant investment and should not be taken lightly.  Regardless of which type of in ground pool you decide on, you will have to put some of your hard earned money into it.  Obviously with that hard earned money in your backyard, you will want your pool to stay the best it can be for many years to come.  This is where the different types of pools come into play.

There are basically three types of in ground pools on the market today, and they are all very different from one another as far as the structure and the building of them go.  To begin lets start with the concrete pools.

Concrete Pool

This is the “high” end pool in the industry.  Likewise you will be paying the “high” end price for it.  This pool is constructed entirely in the backyard.  That being said, it will have no manufacturer warranties with it.  This means if something does go wrong, the cost to repair it will come directly from your pocket.  I am not sure how much you know about concrete but there is an understanding among those who work with it everyday, and that is that concrete will crack and it is just a matter of where it will crack.  Have you ever noticed how a sidewalk is divided into sections.  The lines that run through a sidewalk are put there for a purpose, and that is in an effort to control where the concrete will crack.  Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.  Imagine having a brand new pool and suddenly a crack appears at the bottom of it.  Imagine that the crack is deep enough, and now your pool is losing water.  Now what?  You have to have the pool drained and the crack repaired.  Now you have the expenses of having the crack repaired, refilling the pool, re-treating the water with chemicals, and re-heating the water.  On top of all that you now have an area at the bottom of the pool where the repair has been made and is visible to all.  You spent all of that money on your pool to have an eyesore smack dab in the middle of it.

Another thing that I think you should know about concrete is that it is not the most forgiving material.  It is abrasive and never hesitates to remind you of that fact.  Don’t believe me, well skinned knees and elbows don’t lie.

The majority of people that get this type of pool typically get it for the symbol of social status that accompanies it.  In my opinion there is nothing better about this pool than any other type of pool.  In the end you have water in your backyard, you just paid more for it to be there, and you will likely continue to pay for it.  This brings me to the next type of pool on the list.

One Piece Fiber Glass

This is a type of pool that I think is fairly new to the industry.  It is supposedly a quality product that will compliment your backyard quite well.  To me that is a little misleading.  This type of pool is molded in a factory and brought to the location where it will be installed.  This means that the size and shape are predetermined by the manufacturer.  There is not a lot of room for customization, and if your backyard is not suitable for the sizes and shapes that are offered then you don’t get one.  If you can’t get one it will be difficult for it to compliment your backyard won’t it.  Another downside to this aspect is that they are not representative of your personal style.  You might get one and then the next summer, Bob from down the street gets the exact same pool.  As far as them being a quality product, that is up for debate as well.  This type of pool is not exactly structurally sound.  It is not made to support itself.  This becomes apparent during the build when the pool has to be filled at the same rate as it is being backfilled.  This means that the the water level inside the pool has to be the same as the backfill around the pool.  This is to keep the pool from collapsing in on itself or from blowing out.  There is another well known issue with these pools that you should be aware of.  Being that they are a solid impermeable shell, they are capable of floating, and popping out of the ground.  This happens when pressure from water in the ground exceeds that of the pressure in the pool itself.  Typically this is only an issue when the pool is drained for one reason or another.  Manufacturers of this type of pool will argue that there is no reason for draining the pool.  That begs the question, how is someone to do a surface repair under water.  For instance, when fading occurs, or if the shell cracks.  Certainly these types of repairs would need to be done above the water level.  Or what happens when the plumbing fails overnight and your pump continues to run.  You wake up with a flooded backyard and an empty pool, or worse case scenario, you wake up with a flooded backyard and a pool that has popped out of the ground.  Now you have a huge expense you need to make to repair everything.  You can find examples of this by searching the internet.  So what type of pool is left?

Vinyl Liner

Vinyl liner in ground pools are in my opinion the best bang for your buck.  There are a couple types of material that they can be made from to offer the best possible pool for your needs.  In addition to that, they are entirely self supportive.  They do not need to be backfilled and filled with water at the same rate.  Another benefit is that the building material is manufactured in a controlled setting, so most manufacturers will offer several warranties for their products.  This means that if something does fail, it will likely be taken care of at little or no cost to the homeowner.  The fact that they are made up of individual components also means that repairs are often quick and easy.  A huge benefit is that they are entirely customizable.  Regardless of your backyard needs, a pool can be designed to accommodate them.  Do you need a small but elegant pool, or do you need a large unique shape to fill up a huge backyard?  Either way a pool can be designed to fit your needs.  Some might argue that the liner would need to be replaced every few years or so.  This is somewhat true, however if the pool is well taken care of the liner can last anywhere from 7 to 12 years.  In addition to that changing the liner allows the homeowner a chance to change the look of their pool by simply changing the design of the liner.  The liner itself is vinyl, so there is no abrasion associated with it.  Say good bye to skinned knees and elbows.

These are just some of the differences between the three main types of in ground pools.  Obviously you can make your own decision on what is best for you.  However I hope this post sheds some light on the subject.  For more information on vinyl liner in ground pools, or general swimming pool information please feel free to check out the rest of my blog as I have written about just about every topic related to swimming pools.  As always feel free post a question or comment and I will do my very best to address them.

Why Only Alpha?

I want to reiterate the fact that Only Alpha is leading the field of vinyl liner in ground swimming pool manufacturing.  This means that those who build with Only Alpha’s materials are building with the absolute best materials on the market.  Regardless of if they are building with steel panels or non-corrosive panels, Only Alpha has made huge leaps forward in both lines of in ground vinyl liner pools.  To read more about what makes Only Alpha’s pool panels better than the rest please check out the rest of my blog posts.  There you will find information on not only Only Alpha’s building material, but you will also find general swimming pool information as well.

Only Alpha has also changed the way business is done by utilizing their customer’s feedback to make changes for the better.  You see, Only Alpha is completely customer oriented.  When a customer calls in, they get one on one help with someone of the Only Alpha team.  Being that Only Alpha is a smaller company, when a customer does call in, they can get to the appropriate team member in minutes rather than having to wait for a call back, or leaving a message.  Their design team is very knowledgeable and has the ability to look at the design as they are speaking with the customer right then and there.  This alleviates the confusion of talking over the phone and not being able to see exactly what the customer is talking about.  In addition to that all the pools that are designed by Only Alpha’s design team are designed on a one to one scale.  That means that there is no scaling down.  They are able to see what the builder sees in the field and make any adjustments needed right then and there to get the builder back to building.  If something is not going to work then they are able to see it right away before the builder goes through the trouble of doing it in the field.  This saves the builder time and money.

Like other manufacturers, Only Alpha’s building materials come with warranties demonstrating their confidence in what they sell.  However unlike bigger manufacturers Only Alpha does not have a traditional claims department.  Instead if there is ever a problem then their customers can simply call in and speak to someone in management and they will take the appropriate steps to resolve the issue.  There is no red tape, or bureaucratic non-sense to go through.  It’s a simple phone call and brief discussion of the problem to get things resolved.

They also have a Technical Sales Department to help answer questions related to the building material itself and the application of it in the field.  There is no “right and wrong” way to build a pool, that is up to the builder to decide.  Only Alpha does not try to tell their customers how to build pools.  However their Technical Sales associate is very experienced in building pools, specifically with Only Alpha building materials.  So if a customer asks what is the best way to do something, they will get an educated recommendation.  In addition to that, when Only Alpha gets a new customer, there will be a representative from Only Alpha on their first job site to help out and answer any questions that they may have.  This does a couple of things.  It ensures that the customer is getting that one on one experience allowing them to feel more comfortable with the materials, and it also gives Only Alpha the opportunity to see how different builders build.  This means that they can see first hand what techniques work well.  That knowledge can then be passed on and save builders time and money.

Only Alpha is not like most vinyl liner in ground pool manufacturers in that they sell on a very limited basis.  Each of their customers is hand picked by the management team, whereas bigger manufacturers will sell to anybody leaving the builders to compete head to head in a price war.  When two builders in the same area, and have the same products to sell it becomes more of a battle of cost rather than who has the better product.  In addition to that Only Alpha does not sell to the guy in a pick up truck with a spray painted logo on the side that says something like JimBoB’s Fancy Pools.  Instead Only Alpha seeks out builders with a more reputable background, and gives them an exclusive opportunity to have something that other builders in their area do not have.  That is better building materials, and a better relationship with the manufacturer.   Both of these things allow the builder to better serve their customers.

You may be wondering why this is important.  You may be saying to yourself that the building materials come second to a finished pool.  To you, maybe you think that a homeowner won’t care what materials were used as long as the finished product looks good.  Let me assure you that this is no longer the case.  With the way that technology has changed the world in the last ten years, more and more people are doing their own research online.  Think about it, what was the last big item that you purchased?  Maybe a refrigerator, maybe a new car.  Whatever it was I bet you looked online for the best one for your money.  I do the same thing every time my wife wants something new.  I go on line and find out what the best one is that we can afford.  I look at the products details.  I find out what features it has.  This is something that more and more people are doing everyday.  People can simply search the name Only Alpha online and come up with a barrage of information.  People can search pool building material and find a barrage of information.  What they will find is that Only Alpha manufactures the best vinyl liner in ground pool building material on the market and that is what they will want.

For more information regarding Only Alpha Pool Products and what makes them different please check out my other blog posts.  You will find links to their different websites, links to their YouTube videos and more.

Vinyl Liner Pool Building – Leave it to the Pros

Have you ever wondered about the best way to build an in ground swimming pool?  Have you been thinking about getting a swimming pool but are concerned about the cost involved in the build of it?  Are you really wanting an in ground swimming pool but are hesitating because you think that it will just cost too much?

Well let me be the one to tell you that the best way to go about building your very own vinyl liner in ground swimming pool is to let a professional do it.  I know that this may not be something that you want to hear or read in this case, but it is something that I think is worth really knowing.  I am aware that there are several places online where you can obtain a vinyl liner in ground swimming pool kit and build it yourself.  However, in my opinion building your own vinyl liner in ground swimming pool is never a good idea.  There are so many aspects and components that go into a vinyl liner in ground swimming pool that it would be very easy to miss a step and end up with something that you will not be happy with.
As a pool builder I am aware of all of the problems that can arise when installing  a vinyl  liner in ground swimming pool.  If you do not know what to do in order to effectively deal with these problems then they can turn into larger problems and before long you have spent far more money than you had anticipated.  At that point you might as well have just paid to have the pool professionally installed to begin with.  To make this point even clearer I want to go through the process of the build and point out areas in which problems can arise.
The Dig:
By the time I get to this point I like to have a very clear plan in place for the pool.  I will have already laid out the pool in the backyard so I know where everything will go.  You have to realize that unless you have an excavator or backhoe of your own you will need to rent one.  When renting something like that, time is money.  You don’t want to be wasting time trying to figure out what goes where while digging the pool.  Once I start that thing up I will want to just power through it until the pool is dug.  One of the key components of doing this right is to have someone checking the depth the entire way.  Getting the depth of the pool right is very important.  If too much dirt gets taken out then it will cost even more money to get it back to where it needs to be because you can’t just put the dirt back.  Loose dirt will settle over time and under the weight of the water in the pool.  If that happens then there will again be a large expense involved in repairing it.  Stone will need to be brought in and placed in the hole to bring the bottom back up to where it needs to be.  In my opinion the dig is quite possibly the most important part of the entire pool build.  It will dictate the quality and ease of the rest of the build.  If it is off by a little, then more work will need to be done, more money will need to be spent, and more time will need to be spent working on the build.  When digging the deep end of the pool I usually always dig it a foot or so deeper than what it needs to be just so I can add stone for proper drainage.  Around here there seems to almost always be ground water that collects in the deep end.  The amount that collects will change depending on location, but it is almost a sure thing that there will be ground water.  Ground water is another aspect of the installation that a builder has to address.
There are a couple things that I do to combat ground water issues.  I almost always install a sump pit just off the deck area of the pool.  This sump pit will allow the homeowner to remove water around the pool at any given time.  In most cases they will just leave a sump pump in the pit and allow it to use its float to turn itself on and off as the water level raises and falls.  Another thing that I will do is install a drain in the deep end of the pool.  This is where that one foot of stone will come into play.  A very simple way to do this is to use a piece of flex pipe.  Simply drill some holes in the line, smaller than the stone of course, coil it up, and bury it under the stone.  From there the line will be ran up the side wall, under the wall panel, and up the trench with all the other plumbing lines.  This will allow the home owner, or the service tech the ability to pump the water out from underneath the pool.  Usually though it is enough to just drill some holes into a five gallon bucket and bury that in the stone and use that to pump water out of until it comes time to do the bottom and drop the liner.  At that point, I will drop the liner and fill the pool.  The weight of the water in the pool will, in almost every case  be heavy enough to keep the ground water away.  Think of it this way, if the ground water has nowhere to flow to then there will not be a problem.  Again there are extreme cases in which the pressure from the ground water is strong enough to counter the weight of the water in the pool.  If that happens then there is a strong possibility of the liner floating.
Again This is another reason why it is best to allow a professional to install your swimming pool.  Ground water is an issue all in itself, but throw a liner in there and you can end up with a bigger problem.  I have seen a liner float so bad that it ended up needing to be replaced.  The key is taking care of the ground water before the liner gets to the point where it is being stretched out around the main drains.
The Build:
This part is not necessarily that difficult.  It is a matter of bolting the panels together in the right locations, and installing all the proper bracing.  The hard part comes when it is time to level them.  Again this is where a good dig comes into play.  I have seen digs that were so spot on that very little had to be done in order to get them level.  On the other hand I have seen digs that were so far off of where they needed to be that the crew had to spend an entire afternoon leveling the pool.  I have seen this part of the build done a couple different ways.  Typically the walls will be completely put together before leveling the pool.  Then using wooden blocks and shims the panels are brought to the correct height.  I have also seen crews use pavers to level their pools.  In this case they would put down a paver and get it level and then set the panel on top of it.  I suppose either way works, but to me it makes more sense to build the walls first and then level them.  It seems that leveling pavers first just adds more work, because even after the walls were finished being built they went back and double checked the levelness of all the panels anyway.  I have never been one to tell someone how to build a pool, I just know what works best for me.  Once the walls are level, square and all the plumbing has been ran, then it is time to pour the concrete footing or collar.  After the collar is poured I always double check the levelness just because in some cases the weight of the concrete can cause the panels to sink a bit.  Once the wall panels are level I always straightened the walls.  The best way to do this is to use turnbuckle braces.
The Backfill:
I would always allow the concrete footing to set up overnight and then return the next day to run the electrical conduit.  This part may require the need for an electrician.  The building codes differ from place to place, so builders always check and make sure they are following all building codes that apply.  This is yet another reason it is best to allow a professional pool builder to build your pool.  Many people are unaware of what the building codes are and if they are not followed it could result in a fine.  Obviously that would cost money as well.  Anyway, once I get all the conduit ran around the pool where it needs to go, I would then begin backfilling the pool.  Some people backfill with dirt, however if I am intending on pouring a concrete deck around the pool then I will prefer to backfill with stone.  I know that I could use deck braces to support the weight of the deck, but that would not help with the dirt settling around the pool and leaving voids under the deck.
The Deck:
Once the pool is completely backfilled then it is time to prep for the concrete deck.  For this I will again plan out what the deck should look like.  By that I mean shape.  Next I will lay down a layer of stone, and get it all to the appropriate height.  The concrete deck of the pool should be about four inches thick and it should have fall.  This means that the farther away from the edge of the pool the lower the deck should be.  This will allow any water to run off the deck away from the pool.  When I have the stone at the right height in all the proper locations,  I will then form the deck using concrete forms.  Once the deck is completely formed up, I will use rebar to create a grid within deck area.  This will help to give the concrete strength.  Once all the rebar is laid out within the forms it will all have to be tied together.  When that is finished it will then be ready to pour the concrete.  Pouring the concrete really does require some technique.  Not everybody has the skill needed to do it right.  If it is not done right then it will look bad and once it cures it will look bad forever unless it is busted up and re-poured.  This is another reason why it is important to have a professional install your pool.
The Bottom:
The bottom of a vinyl liner in ground swimming pool is something that requires a lot of technique and labor to do properly.  Usually it is done with either a sand/cement mix, or by using vermiculite.  Either way the process of doing a bottom on a vinyl liner in ground swimming pool is a challenge.  Perhaps I am just a bit of a perfectionist, but I have seen some bottoms that were in pretty rough shape.  The idea is to get it as smooth as possible.  I can assure you that anything that happens to get underneath the liner will be easily felt from inside the pool.  I don’t know why exactly, but for some reason even the smallest piece of debris under the liner feels like a rock from inside the pool.  Anyway with a good crew and the know how, an average size pool bottom will take anywhere from three to four hours to complete and get the liner in.  Again if there is ground water in the pool, obviously it will have to be dealt with when the time comes.  Once the bottom is finished it is time to install the liner.  This is a job for a few people.  Liners are large and typically have some substantial weight to them.  They need to be sucked back into place by using vacuums, and then all the proper holes will need to be cut for the main drains, returns, lights, skimmers, and anything else.  Again this is something that is best left for the professionals.  A hole in the wrong spot could result in the need for a new liner, or a patch/aka eyesore.
Like I said, there are several places where a vinyl liner pool kit can be bought online, however the cost of hiring a professional pool builder would be worth it.  A professional will have the experience and know how to deal with any issues that may and will likely arise throughout the building process.  Not to mention all of the permits needed will be obtained by the builder and all of the liability will be on the builder as well.  If anything were to go wrong then it would be up to the builder to handle and correct it.  When it comes to building vinyl liner in ground swimming pools I think that it is best left up to the professionals.
For more information on in ground vinyl liner swimming pools please check out my other blog posts.

How to increase summer fun

It’s cold outside at the moment.  The winter weather is already starting to show up.  Some places have already gotten a lot of snow.  There are basically two kinds of people when it comes to winter weather.  Those who like the snow and those that dread every day of it.  Regardless of how you personally feel about this season you know that eventually it will end and the summer sun will come back out bringing with it all the fun of the summer season.  The amount of fun that comes next summer will depend on what you put into it.  Some people look forward to going on vacations to exotic places.  Some will plan on taking their families to amusement parks with fun characters that walk around bringing smiles to the faces of young and older folks alike.  While I understand that these types of vacations are very fun for families, the problem that I see with them is that they often end in a week or so.  That leaves you with the rest of the summer to try and figure out how to keep the kids entertained and more importantly, active.

I grew up with video games just like my sons generation will, however I was never one to be content with sitting in front of the T.V. for hours playing games.  Perhaps I was too easily distracted with other things.  I was the kid who was always outside getting dirty, and in some cases getting into trouble.  That is how I hope my son will be in the summertime as he gets older.  Obviously I don’t want him to get into too much trouble, but I feel that is a part of being a kid.

I certainly don’t want my son to sit in front of the T.V. every day playing games or on an iPad or any other source of virtual entertainment.  I would rather him go out and play freeze tag, go fishing, go swimming or anything else that is active and won’t get him into too much trouble.

I feel that these are the two biggest reasons why people decide to get an in ground swimming pool.  Instead of spending thousands every year on vacations and overly priced souvenirs people are taking that money and putting it into their own backyards.  They get a pool, they get an outdoor kitchen, they get an outdoor fireplace, and surround these things with beautiful landscaping.  This is all in an effort to save money in the long run.  They turn their own backyards into a place where they can spend their summers and have a lot of fun.  They host pool parties for their kids, they enjoy backyard barbecues with their neighbors, friends, and families, and when the kids go to bed they turn their pool lights and landscaping lights on and go outside to have a drink on the pool deck overlooking the sparkling water.

This is also a way to get the kids outside and active for a while each day.  Just imagine your children having lunch on the patio from time to time during the summer.  They awake each morning anticipating the moment when they can finally go outside and go swimming.

One thing that I will be doing this summer with my son is have an outdoor movie night, and maybe letting it turn into a backyard camping trip.  I will set up the screen and projector on the back patio and put the tent in the yard so we can lay in our sleeping bags and watch some fun kids movies until he falls asleep.  Ideally he will sleep all night but I get the feeling that he will probably wake up at some point and want to go inside.  I will never know unless we give it a try, who knows, it may turn into a yearly daddy, son adventure…. (Mommy can come too if she wants, that is if she lets me do this in the first place)  At any rate the point is that having your very own backyard oasis opens the door for virtually endless summer fun.  I think that putting your money into your own backyard is really worth considering.  Get a pool, get a out door kitchen, get a fire pit, do some landscaping, and get you and your family outside this coming summer.  I have written about a variety of different reasons why one should do this.

For more information on why having your own vinyl liner in ground pool will benefit you and your family just scroll through my blog and read a bit.  There are a lot of benefits to having your own swimming pool.  So many that there is likely to be at least one that will peak your interest.

My Ideal Swimming Pool

There I am

I have been installing in ground pools for quite some time now, and I think that gives me a pretty good idea about what components would make for the best in ground pool.  Today I just want to give my readers my personal opinion on what I think would make a great pool.  Everything that you are about to read is my personal opinion based on my experiences as a in ground pool builder and service technician.  Obviously that goes without saying that you may feel differently about certain aspects of an in ground pool.  If I were to build a pool for my family today this is how I would do it.

What type of pool:

Beautiful Vinyl Liner Pool

To begin, I would decide on what type of in ground pool to install.  I have personally installed vinyl liner pools as well as one piece fiberglass pools.  I have yet to install a concrete pool and I am not all that interested in doing so.  For me I think the best route would be to go with a vinyl liner in ground pool.  I would be too concerned about having a one piece fiberglass pool pop out of the ground if I ever had to drain it down for any reason.  In all honesty that is a very real threat when it comes to one piece fiberglass pools.  There are also plenty of photos online that will back up that claim.  The expense in repairing something like that would be too great for me.  In addition to that I really do like the idea of being able to change the look of the pool simply by changing the pattern on the liner.  In regard to the concrete pool, I feel that it would just cost too much.  Traditionally a concrete pool is a symbol of social class.  With that in mind builders are able to charge more.  In addition to the high initial cost of the install I am very aware of the fact that concrete cracks.  It is just a matter of when and where.  There is no preventing it.  At some point it will crack and it will loose its aesthetic appeal.  I don’t know about you but if I am spending a large amount of money on something, I want it to look as good as possible.  That being said I feel that to get the best bang for your buck the way to go is with a vinyl liner in ground pool.  You will get a pool that is structurally sound and won’t leave you wondering how to repair a crack in the bottom.  In addition to that they are very aesthetically pleasing and can be made to fit any back yard and personal taste.

The design:

Free Form Style Pool

This part is really up to personal taste and backyard space.  My back yard is big enough to accommodate any size pool really so for me it comes down to the style.  I am partial to the free form pool.  I tend to be drawn to the curves and organic layout rather than the basic geometric rectangle pool.  I am not one to be too flashy so I would probably go with a smaller pool probably along the lines of something that would fit into a 16’x32′ space.  There are endless possibilities in regard to the shape so for that I would want to sit down and draw it out.  Did I mention that I am married, so naturally that would affect the design.  In the end we would come up with something that we are both happy with, but as long as she is happy I am cool with it.  Anyway that is a general look into the design I would choose.

The Deck:

Beautiful Decking

I have seen all sorts of decking options for vinyl liner in ground pools.  A lot of people choose to use pavers around their pool.  For me this wouldn’t work well.  I am more of a concrete type guy, however there are some things that I would do to give the pool more of a high end look.  To begin I would start with a 1′ stamped border all the way around the pool.  The color would have to be chosen with my wife of course.  Then I would utilize a slightly different color to give the pool some contrast, and again my wife would help with this.  I have also seen a lot of pools that have some grass around them, and I really like the look of that so perhaps I would try to include it in my pool as well.  Again keeping with the organic look of the pool, the deck would also have to be free form with plenty of curves.  I am not a big fan of the “cookie cutter” type pools where your pool looks strikingly similar to your neighbors.  I like to have some aspect of originality without going over the top with it.

The equipment:

Paramount’s 6 Jet Swing Sweep System

Swimming pool equipment has come a long way.  We now have all sorts of things available to use on our pools to give use the best possible swimming pool experience.  So with that in mind I would certainly utilize modern technology in my pool.  To begin I would install the Swing Sweep system by Paramount.  This will allow me to spend more time enjoying my pool and far less time actually cleaning it.  This system uses what are known as SwingJets to push any debris down to the specially designed main drain where it will be removed from the pool.

 

Jandy Versa Plumb System

As far as the equipment at the filter pad goes I would use a Jandy pump, filter, and heat pump.  Jandy has specific pumps, filters, and heat pumps that work with their Versa Plumb system.  The Versa Plumb system is basically a pre-determined way of plumbing the equipment.  It comes with all the necessary pipe and fittings to do so.  The benefit is that it increases efficiency and hydraulics.  This will allow me to save money in the long run.  In addition to that I would use an Ultra UV and Clear O3 from Paramount as a way to clean the water itself.  This will dramatically reduce the amount of chemicals I will need to put in the pool.

AquaLink RS One Touch

One last thing that I would do is install an automation system by Zodiac to complete my ideal swimming pool.  With Zodiac automation I can control all the aspects of the pool from the comfort of my home.  Think of it like a thermostat on the wall.  From there I can adjust the temperature of the pool, the speed of the pump, and I could even change the lighting.  In addition to that I could also get the iAquaLink which would allow me to do all of those things from my smart phone.  There are so many things that can be done using this automation that can make your pool your own backyard oasis.

These are just some of the things that I would do if I were installing a pool in my own backyard.  Throughout the years I have had the privilege of working with some of the best products on the market.  What you have just read is a combination of the best of the best that I would certainly use on my own pool.  The purpose of this post is simply to give my readers an idea of what is out there for their pools, and what I find to be the best.  For more information on vinyl liner in ground swimming pools check out my other blog posts.  For more information on Paramount Pool Systems check out their website at http://www.paramountpoolsystems.com/ You can find more information on Zodiac/Jandy at http://www.zodiacpoolsystems.com/

Decisions regarding in ground pools

In life we all face those somewhat tough decisions when we have to chose between spending more now to save money later.  It may be a choice between a car that costs less but gets poor gas milage or a car that costs more but gets great milage.  In the world of in ground swimming pools the choice may be between a basic pool with just a pump, filter, heater, and chlorinator, or a higher end pool with a Paramount cleaning system, a pump, filter, heater, UV sanitation, ozone sanitation and chlorinator.  Obviously the higher end pool with all those bells and whistles will likely cost a bit more than the basic pool but you have to realize that over time you will easily be spending more money on chemicals to keep the pool clean than you would have spent on those products initially.

An in ground swimming pool almost always represents a significant investment.  There are so many things that can be added onto a pool initially that would be beneficial in the long run.  There are many things that cannot easily be added after the pool has been installed.  I want to stress that these things cannot be added EASILY because in reality with the right tools and funds just about anything is possible.  However adding something to a pool after it has been installed will likely cost much more than it would have been to add it initially.

In my personal opinion if you are thinking about having a vinyl liner in ground pool installed and are concerned about the cost of maintaining that pool in the long run then I would absolutely suggest going with these few extras initially.  It is one of those things where if you can swing it up front then you should absolutely go for it.  It may seem like you are already spending a lot of money on your pool but you should think of it as an investment.  This pool will bring you and your family a lot of good times for years to come and if you treat it right it will be completely capable of lasting long enough for your grand children to enjoy as well.  One of the things that a lot of new pool owners have trouble with is maintaing the pool.  Keeping the chemicals just right can be a challenge for some, and is in reality a very important part of owning a pool.  Not only can improperly treated water cause problems for swimmers but it can also cause major problems for the pool itself.  Another thing that you should keep in mind is that if the chemicals become too out of whack in your pool then you will be spending even more money to correct the issue.

This is something that can be avoided with having the right products on your pool from the get go.  Basically having a Paramount cleaning system in your pool will allow you to do very little work in regard to physically removing dirt and debris from the pool.  Having a UV system plumbed into the system will help to kill much of the bacteria in the pool.  The Ozonator will inject the water with oxygen to help keep it clean.  At that point all you would need is a little residual chlorine in the pool for sanitation in case one of your kids has an accident in the pool.

Another thing that you could get at the time of the installation to help save money down the road is an automatic pool cover.  There are several reasons that these benefit a pool.  However the way they will help you save money is by keeping the heat in the pool.  Around here, in the early part of the season as well as the end of the season we have warm days and cool nights.  Let me tell you that a cool night can suck the heat right out of the water.  Having the ability to close the pool each night will help to lock that heat in.  This will save you money by drastically reducing the amount of time that you need to run your heater or heat pump.

As I said before most of these things will need to be installed at the time of the pool installation and will add some cost to the overall installation of the pool, but in the long run you will save on the amount you spend on chemicals and in electricity or gas.

For more information on vinyl liner in ground pools and general pool information please check out my other posts.