New 16 x 32 Inground pool in TN

[manwithtools]

I thought I would start a thread to document the building of a 16 x 32 liner style inground pool in Middle TN (Nashville area). I really wanted fiberglass, but costs on pools in this are have gone crazy. Shotcrete / gunite is out of the question in this region. First material arrived about a week ago, we have been unseasonably dry but of course once this project started the weather changed. We have multiple days with a lot of rain, 7 inches of snow and below zero temps for several days prior to the rain. They started this past Tuesday, I told the builder that I didn't want to hear excuses later on that they behind schedule due to the wet start to the project. I would have rather they waited, but it won't really be great digging weather until April or May. The first 8 - 10 inches of ground were frozen. They spent a lot of time Spinning Tracks

This project will include 1100 sq. ft. of pavers, a 8 foot long waterfall feature at the edge of the pool and an extension of the aluminum fence to enclose the pool area. So for the first picture and a link to drone video of the first days digging.



Drone video of start of pool dig

Some further pictures of progress as of yesterday:


I had to use the winch on the Jeep to unstick the tri-axle dump truck that dropped this load of gravel. They used the skid steer to haul the concrete a bucket at a time to set the walls. It's going to be a muddy mess for a while. There is so much turf damage I'm starting to look at tractors to facilitate yard recovery in the spring. I have other projects in mind that a tractor would be handy for. I've had compact tractors in the past and they are just so darn handy to have around.









I'm the electrician on this project, so I stopped at Tractor supply yesterday and bought some good mud boots

 

[Chaznsc]

You guys need some rain

 

[mike93lx]

Good luck! I did a shotcrete pool in '22-23 and it was a roller coaster.

You doing salt? A heater?

 

[manwithtools]

Good luck! I did a shotcrete pool in '22-23 and it was a roller coaster.

You doing salt? A heater?

I will add salt cell and heater after the contractor is done. They want to much for those addons.

We also did a shotcrete in 2020 in SoCal when we lived there. Here's a picture, no way to match that pool or view in our current area:

 

[Rc_Guy]

I will add salt cell and heater after the contractor is done. They want to much for those addons.

We also did a shotcrete in 2020 in SoCal when we lived there. Here's a picture, no way to match that pool or view in our current area:

Yeah, this view is a nice one.

good luck with the new pool, last spring our son had a 20 x 40 in ground put in although they use a concrete pumper to get it pumped to the backyard and the same when they did all the patio that surrounded the pool.

 

[mike93lx]

I will add salt cell and heater after the contractor is done. They want to much for those addons.

We also did a shotcrete in 2020 in SoCal when we lived there. Here's a picture, no way to match that pool or view in our current area:

Not your first rodeo... Wish I knew what I was doing when we contracted ours. There are several things I'd have done differently

 

[manwithtools]

Progress picture, paver crew should be here on Tuesday to start their work.

 

[manwithtools]

Progress picture. We are covering the front and back porch in porcelain tile as part of this project. The structure on the back side of the pool will eventually hold a 6 foot wide water fall feature. I am getting too old to play electrician on projects like this. We had light rain all morning and my boots felt like they weighed 40lbs each as I was installing the bonding halo.

 

[82355]

Shotcrete / gunite is out of the question in this region.

Why?

Martin

 

[manwithtools]

Why?

Martin

I should have added more clarity - cost is the main reason. There are builders that can do it, but they are catering to the uber rich and charge accordingly. Where we lived in CA, there was much more completion in the concrete pool market and surprisingly prices there were much lower than here in middle TN for shotcrete pools.

 

[manwithtools]

Update, pool is done except for the liner. Pavers are done except for poly sand and the ceramic tile on the porches is done other than grouting. Hopefully liner will arrive in 2-3 weeks. Should be ready in plenty of time for swim season. I need to do fence and railings on the back porch, should have plenty of time for that as well. Oh, need to redo the septic field too...

 

[mike93lx]

Looks awesome

 

[Jayman17]

Yes, looking good!

 

[LXCam]

Looking good MWT. I grew up building pools as that’s what the ol man did for three decades. But I’ve never constructed with anything other then gunite n plaster.

What did they form the shape from and I assume once that’s complete they custom fit the liner? Or is it a visa versa deal. I would have also assumed the top of the liner would maybe lap under the cooping. How is that attached and sealed to the vertical surfaces?

 

[manwithtools]

@LXCam the shape of the pool is defined by the galvanized metal wall panels (12 ga) that are 40" high and bolt together. They sit on a ledge dug into the ground and with concrete to form a footer for the panels. Then the outside of the panels are back filled with crushed stone. The bottom of the pool is a hand shaped, troweled weak mix of Portland cement and sand. Once it's all formed then the liner is ordered to match the pool size and shape. The liner is held in place by coping strips that are fastened to the top of the steel wall panels - just below the paver coping blocks.

I wish we could have gone concrete, but cost here is silly high for shotcrete pools.

Here's a few more pics to help show the construction detail:

 

[ludakris04]

Looking good MWT. I grew up building pools as that’s what the ol man did for three decades. But I’ve never constructed with anything other then gunite n plaster.

What did they form the shape from and I assume once that’s complete they custom fit the liner? Or is it a visa versa deal. I would have also assumed the top of the liner would maybe lap under the cooping. How is that attached and sealed to the vertical surfaces?

This link has a good diagram of the system, or one close to this system.

Inground Pool Kits

Looking for an American made polymer or steel wall In Ground Pool Kit? Pool Warehouse has free shipping and 42" steel or polymer wall swimming pool kits.

www.poolwarehouse.com

I had the same question on the liner. Interested to see once the liner is installed. Concrete pools are soooo expensive.

 

[Just_Steve]

Love your pool design, wish I had the funds to redesign mine.

 

[gba2331]

Very nice, but I’m a bit concerned about the shallow section - how are kids going to know that it is shallow and they shouldn’t dive there? What are you doing for the pool surfaces?

 

[82355]

I don’t think it’s deep enough to dive anywhere?

Martin

 

[gba2331]

Yeah, but at least the deeper end would be survivable…probably…

 

[mike93lx]

Very nice, but I’m a bit concerned about the shallow section - how are kids going to know that it is shallow and they shouldn’t dive there? What are you doing for the pool surfaces?

How do kids learn to not dive into the shallow end of any pool?

Supervision and rules.

 

[manwithtools]

Liner is in! Filling has started!

 

[manwithtools]

Very nice, but I’m a bit concerned about the shallow section - how are kids going to know that it is shallow and they shouldn’t dive there? What are you doing for the pool surfaces?

Kids need to be taught what to do and what not to do. No diving anywhere in this pool on my watch. In general diving in pools these days is not a good plan unless your pool is huge and very deep. Many insurance companies will not offer coverage to homes with pools having diving boards anymore.

 

[manwithtools]

Septic field update commences tomorrow. Fence expansion will be 4/17 - my wife's birthday coincidentally. Grandson's 1st birthday party will be held here on 4/28. Coincidentally also our one year anniversary on closing on this house. I need to get the porch railing done before then.

 

[gba2331]

Kids need to be taught what to do and what not to do. No diving anywhere in this pool on my watch. In general diving in pools these days is not a good plan unless your pool is huge and very deep. Many insurance companies will not offer coverage to homes with pools having diving boards anymore.

Accidents happen, just saying….

 

[mike93lx]

Accidents happen, just saying….

Stupidity can't be stopped.

Parenting is a thing, though

I can't prevent my kids from climbing a tree and trying to fly, but I can make sure they know it's a pretty dumb idea and tell them not to

 

[mike93lx]

Kids need to be taught what to do and what not to do. No diving anywhere in this pool on my watch. In general diving in pools these days is not a good plan unless your pool is huge and very deep. Many insurance companies will not offer coverage to homes with pools having diving boards anymore.

My diving board definitely excluded a couple insurers. Somewhat surprisingly, a slide posed an ever greater issue

 

[LXCam]

How do they work the wrinkles out of the liner?

 

[mike93lx]

How do they work the wrinkles out of the liner?

The red blower on the left ***** it against the sides

 

[Caa311]

We had a hoper bottom pool just like that minus the funky steps did plenty of diving. You have to teach people not to dive into the angle bottom. With a running start I could dive the whole length of the pool and slam into the end wall. We averaged one injury a year.

 

[manwithtools]

We had a hoper bottom pool just like that minus the funky steps did plenty of diving. You have to teach people not to dive into the angle bottom. With a running start I could dive the whole length of the pool and slam into the end wall. We averaged one injury a year.

The funky steps are an intentional Baja ledge or tanning shelf depending on where you are from. They are intended to leave a very shallow portion of the pool to soak in the rays while you are still submerged.

 

[minytrker]

Whats ballpark price for something like that. I got a quote for 16x32 gunite pool $125K and was pretty shocked.

 

[mike93lx]

Whats ballpark price for something like that. I got a quote for 16x32 gunite pool $125K and was pretty shocked.

I didn't even have a pool builder offer a liner, so I don't know the pricing difference, but my experience with gunite is similar to yours. I'd have to check the contract but I believe I was a bit north of 125k for my 16x38, but that included the autocover.

 

[manwithtools]

Whats ballpark price for something like that. I got a quote for 16x32 gunite pool $125K and was pretty shocked.

The pool by itself was around $50k. That did not include the water fall feature or the pavers and tile work on the porches. Your gunite quote does not sound out of line. It's one of the reasons we went liner this time, last pool was gunite and was in the range you were quoted, but it was also an infinity edge and involved a lot of rock removal.

 

[Brent T]

That looks really nice. Are you going to add handrails or something to the portion of the porch that doesn't have steps? I'd be worried about someone taking a header onto the pool deck.

 

[manwithtools]

That looks really nice. Are you going to add handrails or something to the portion of the porch that doesn't have steps? I'd be worried about someone taking a header onto the pool deck.

Yes, black aluminum railings with cable infill is already ordered. I did it on our deck in CA, so I have experience.

 

[manwithtools]

Pool is up and running. I still need to install the heater. That will be the project this week. New septic field was completed today. They did find a few rocks. They will get used as yard art as we complete the landscaping projects. It was surprising how little rock we encountered for this part of Middle TN. Limestone is EVERYWHERE in this general area.

 

[bugnut]

Very inviting!

 

[larry4406]

Nice space!

I would not want to be on the receiving end of the pool bill and septic bill!

 

[Sashymilta]

I made a checklist for our pool opening this year and it saved a ton of hassle—especially double-checking the filter connections and brushing off the winter crud before starting the pump. I also learned to check the water level before turning anything on.