DIY concrete swimming pool

[moparrob]

Hey kids-

After a year of on and off planning and prep work, i broke ground on an 18x36 swimming pool. Wife wants a 9' deep end and a 4' shallow end with a tanning ledge or baja shelf next to the stairs at the shallow end. Plan is to use CMUs for the vertical surfaces and a slab at the bottom, all tied together with rebar.

For anyone who has similar experience, do I:

A) pour the footing for the CMU walls first with rebar extending into the slab, then pour the slab using the cured footing as a form or

B)form it all up and pour it at the same time, screeding and floating around the zillion pieces vertical rebar.

I have an electric mixer and ready mix trailers are 30 minutes from home. Concrete trucks are an option, but harder to conceal from the nosy neighbors.

I dont have a crew besides my wife and kids, and nobody likes dad after he tries to be the foreman on home projects. This will probably be my biggest and one of my last. I may get some quotes from the pros after the hole is dug, but my wife married a Feller, not a Rockefeller which is why I DIY most things.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I think it’s called a “cement pond” on this website.

 

[moparrob]

Yes. Im fixin to dig me a ceement pond.

 

[oldnslo]

Helped do a cement pond about 50 years ago and never again. Trying to work concrete with zero slump is no fun. If and I repeat IF memory is correct the pool floor and walls was done in one pour but don’t remember depth on deep end.

Wish you the best.

 

[paulsharvey]

No way I would do a footer, then slab, then CMU, unless your doing a liner of some sort. Thats a big cold joint that shifts over the years.

By the time you fill all the CMU cells, have you considered cast in place walls? 18x36 with the deep end, is a big pour, then walls, and the slopes.

Ive done a small-medium ammount of concrete, but that size, seems to me either gunite/shotcrete or pump, will be needed.

 

[moparrob]

No plans for a liner other than plaster or tile. I've read about several brands of concrete waterproofing that would go down under the tile. If we go plaster I'll probably have it done by pros but the tile I can do myself. Might even use the large plank "wood grain" porcelain tiles to speed things along and add some visual interest.

 

[paulsharvey]

No plans for a liner other than plaster or tile. I've read about several brands of concrete waterproofing that would go down under the tile. If we go plaster I'll probably have it done by pros but the tile I can do myself. Might even use the large plank "wood grain" porcelain tiles to speed things along and add some visual interest.

I have seen pools from the 1950s build with cast bottom, and cmu walls, that held water, when properly sealed/water proofed, but i haven't seen anyone do it in modern times. Its a big project, share some pictures as you go.

Grandmother-in-law had one, and the CMU wall came to about 24" above the pool deck, to get the depth. Think hers was like 8 ft in the deep end; but only 6 ft of excavation.

 

[moparrob]

Thats inspiring. If it could be done in the 50's, Im sure more modern concrete products (sealers, coatings etc) can make it easier for me.

 

[rScotty]

Wow!! That is a huge project! Congratulationsfor even considering it.

It seems pretty ambitious for a first time project. Here's an idea. Maybe consider building a smaller 10x12 water feature like an ornamental pond first. A lily pond...maybe even put a fountain in it.....It would look good next to the pool, and give you the chance to try out ideas for the concrete & sealing.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ive only seen shot concrete swimming pools…mayby called shotcrete??, but they shoot the walls and floor in a single pour.

 

[paulsharvey]

Ive only seen shot concrete swimming pools…mayby called shotcrete??, but they shoot the walls and floor in a single pour.

I have seen old ones build with the walls made of CMU, but you need to plan on a lot of rebar, vertical and horizontal; and then the sealing system. I assume you know, but just in case, concrete, and block in particular, are not water proof.

I do still see videos from eastern Europe and the Balkans building them with cast bottom, and block walls; with stucco like waterproofing.

If you are experienced with masonry, stucco, and concrete, I think you will be fine. If not.... this is a big project, and when you have a 9 ft deep hole, thats not the best conditions to learn in.

 

[paulsharvey]

Its not like a house wall, that has most down load and uplift. Pool, your taking lateral force, so horizontal bars, probably 2 #4 bars at least every other coarse, and #5 uprights, every cell poured solid.

Thats my guess, do some digging, cause if those walls shift, its going to Suck.

 

[moparrob]

I made a 5x24 sloped dog run addition to my barn, which drains into a 6" wide gutter sloping towards a mini septic system. It turned out well, no cracks in 3 years so far. Aside from a few smaller concrete things here and there thats about it. I'll get some quotes once the hole is done and do a risk/gain analysis.

 

[careyo63]

Shotcrete is what most all our installers used. They wasn't bothering mixing it. Local pool store. Commercial and Residential supplies and Maint.. Get everything installed now. Main Drain, Skimmers, Pool cleaner Etc.. Sand Cartridge filter? Delt with all the crazy mad mothers! Maint. and the store on weekends. Salt is corrosive. Pebble Tech. is my favorite by far.

 

[Carl_NH]

As suggested, build a small pool, then if it's used build a bigger pool. The issue with pools is it's a 8-10 year "novelty" or nice to have, then becomes a maintenance liability.

 

[careyo63]

That's where the hot tubs or spa's sold. Average 6 person 72"x72"X3.5 and we had up to a 8 person.. Nice in the winter.

 

[Carl_NH]

That's where the hot tubs or spa's sold. Average 6 person 72"x72"X3.5 and we had up to a 8 person.. Nice in the winter.

Agree - get a hot or cold tub may satiate the need.

 

[EarPlug]

Just remember that your container - pool - needs to contain 120 TONS of water. Make sure of your engineering. And you will need 2-3 tons of rebar.

 

[4570Man]

I installed a fiberglass pool last year. I wouldn’t try doing a concrete one myself.

 

[paulsharvey]

I installed a fiberglass pool last year. I wouldn’t try doing a concrete one myself. View attachment 5717240

We have had above ground, both semi permanent, with the steel sides, and the post style ones, for probably 15 years, and I recently looked into maybe a fiberglass one when this leg style one gives up the ghost. Dang, the fiber glass ones cost the same as (or 75% as much), as a concrete one.

On the professional side; even at large general contractor, we often had the pool as a "seperate contractor" not a sub. They didnt work for us, we coordinated gettinf water and power to within 25 ft or so; and sometimes did the fence (well our sub), but pools are kinda specialized contractor. Not rocket science, but not flat work concrete or masonry skill either.

Regulation was also a reason; to easy to be just a bit off, and trying to redo stairs or something, in a poured pool shell.... So, you likely avoid that worry DIY.

The general concept is simple for a concrete pool, but its the details that matter. Assuming DIY, it can be a $20,000 leaky hole in the ground, that costs $10,000 to bust up and haul off and fill; or its a fantastic thing to have; all depending on the details.