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Installing an inground Pool

Hillbilly Steaks

Hillbilly Steaks

Dr. BBQ
Joined
Jan 2, 2006
Messages
2,481
Help me brainstorm some ideas!!

We are in the planning stages of putting in an inground pool this spring. We have a pretty large lot (about 1 acre) and plenty of room to do this. I also currently work as a Product Designer for a very large pool component manufacturer. We basically make everything, except the pool liners itself. So i can basically get all the equipment (heaters, cleaners, filters, lights, control systems, chlorinators, etc) for the bargain basement price of...really cheap

I'm trying to think everything thru and get a good ideas of things that we would like to have included in the finished product. I know all you guys are pretty creative and have some really good ideas so I look to ya for your input.

One thing that was suggested by a guy I work with who has a pool (and didn't include this when he put his in) is an outdoor bathroom/shower area adjacent to the pool. this comes in very handy when you have a party and don't want people running in/out of the house to use the bathroom, shower, or change.

Some ideas I have
  • a fire pit adjacent to pool area
  • incorporate a bbq area/cooking area

You can pretty much go wild on pool designs and also spend a LOT of money doing so. We want everything to look very nice, but don't want to spend $30k doing so.

edit to add...
we have a really cool lighting system that I"m looking forward to having. It really sets the mood at night time.
Color Logic

a picture of the back yard, pre-pool. the pool will be along the far fence approx.
FencePictures045.jpg
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1) Dig a hole
2) Fill with water
3) MAKE MORE JERKY AND STOP SCREWING AROUND!
 
Bathroom/changing area, BBQ, and Fire Pit are all great ideas. My suggestion would be install solar heating for the pool. My last pool has it and the only time I fired up the heater was at the beginning of the season to bring the pool up to temperature, and when we used the spa.

I don't know what the climate is like in your part of the country, but here in Southern California the solar heating was great. It kept the pool at 80+ degrees and really kept the gas bill down.

Other suggestions would be:

A dedicated line on the filter suction side for a pool vac. You can regulate the ammount of suction with a valve at the pump to control the speed of the vac.

A spa if you think it will be used. Keep one hand out of the water to keep your cigar dry. ;)
 
Nice, I would also look for a power Cover so you can open and close the pool as needed. in Michigan you are also required to have a fence around the pool, Not just a yard fence but a pool fence.


The only other thing I can see is more of this.

339073MTE5Mm1tUlg2MDYy.jpg
 
With small children, I would suggest a lagoon style pool. One that goes from zero depth and continually gets deeper, instead of starting right at 3 feet.
 
Now is the time to prepare for future pool maintenance!

Dig a hole and find out the depth of the water table. I don't necessarily mean the level you may get drinking water from. If water builds up around the outside of the pool structure, it can crack/break the concrete when you empty the pool. Your pic shows standing water on the ground?

Also, from your pic it looks like the back property goes up in elevation from where the pool will be. Make sure that you can divert any overland drainage away from the pool area so that when it rains you don't end up with a hog woller where you thought a pool was :laugh:

If you have any technical concerns regarding construction and installation, feel free to let me know. I am a soil mechanics and foundation engineer amongst other things. I am not licensed in your state, but I can still offer some free advice.

Cheers and Happy Digging,
antaean
 
Take a look at Infinity's pool for inspiration...

The bathroom/shower idea is a great one. We threw some killer pool parties at our apartment this summer, but having to run up three flights of stairs while drunk and wet is no fun when you have to pee.
 
antaean,

If you look at the picture, the elevated area (or flat area near the bbq) is the desired location of the pool. Near the house where it drops down is where I plan to first of all put in some sort of drain because water already collects there anyways, and finish it as a patio area.

I'm not sure what the water table or level is in my area. Thanks for the help.

cuppajoe...I'm hoping to meet up with Infinity and some of the other SC crew the end of January. I will be in town for work. Maybe I will get a chance to talk pools then :D
 
I second the drainage thing..your pool company should manage this, but I've seen bad things happen.

Also, trees. Your pool will be magnet for every leaf in the neighborhood...the fewer you can keep from dropping straight in the pool the better (your area looks pretty open, so maye this isn't an issue). Do the chainsaw thing now while it's easy (your area looks pretty open, so this may not be an issue).

I would like to hear to what you pick for decking. I've had a couple different kinds (painted concrete, "cool deck" and right now, "pebble-tech")..they all have their pros/cons, but none of them have had the magic four attributes (cool on a sunny day, not slippery when wet, easy to maintain, good drainage).

As a tradition among my family and friends, the dad gets to make the first splash. Make it a good one!

Long after the kids are grown and the fun of swimming has worn out, it will be a great place to sit and have a cigar....
 
jgohlke said:
Long after the kids are grown and the fun of swimming has worn out, it will be a great place to sit and have a cigar....
Click to expand...

I am especially excited about this. Sit out there in the evenings with the color logic lighting going and relax.

(that is until the wife screams, the babies are crying)
 
I've got to say, the pool area at my parents house is one of the best places to go have a smoke. We've got a nice size deck with some outdoor speakers and good pool furniture. We are pretty much surrounded by trees and it gives you a feeling of separateness which can be really nice. It is also just a nice place to have friends around and hang out at the outside.

What I would say is to 1) Make sure you've got a spacious deck space. 2) If you don't already, make sure you've got the tunes outside. Floating around the pool listening to music is about the most relaxing thing you can do. 3) Consider a deep end seating area (in the pool)- we do not have one but they can be pretty neat. 4) In the perfect world, a fire pit area with an large outdoor grill right nearby. I do not know what it is but people love to watch other people grill. 5) Enjoy cleaning the damn thing!

-Mark
 
i built a fire pit just to smoke cigars by. the by product are the smores my girls get to cook. i highly recommend one.

DSC05201.jpg
 
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