11m x 4m outdoor swimming pool in 3 weeks (with paving)

[JulianPH]

End of day 1 has come early as the 10 ton truck was late and only was able to take away 2 loads (20 tons).

Another 20-30 tons has been bug out ready for two 10 ton trucks first thing in the morning (7:30) and then the dig will be finished tomorrow whilst hardcore is put in (5 tons) and compacted tomorrow afternoon and Thursday. Concrete with steel reinforcement will go down end of play on Thursday with a light agent added to ensure it is fully set by Monday.

Then the shell (which arrives here from Germany tomorrow morning) will be lowered in place and back filling/water filling commences!

We only have the plumbing and electric supply to worry about during this! Considering moving to oil for winter heating to keep costs down (gas still not an option in time).

Thoughts and feedback always welcome, but a pretty god first day all given!

[JulianPH]

Harry Flashman said:

Watching with interest. Our new house will have a half decent (for London) garden at last - 100 feet x 50 feet, so I am hoping that I can build some sort of heated plunge pool in it one day...

That gives you plenty of room for a 15 foot by 30 foot pool with loads of outdoor relaxing/eating space.

At night with the pool lit up it is incredible and seems to double your space - rather than reduce it.

Get going!

[JulianPH]

SystemParanoia said:

STOP!!!


before you go any further...
have you considered building an apocalyptic bunker beneath the pool ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UKNajCgpEs



you've only got to go a little bit deeper

How do you think I persuaded my (Russian) wife to get it started!!!

[JulianPH]

She still thinks it is going to be a bunker...

This heavy rain we are having might just flood the bunker and it may have to be salvaged by putting in the swimming pool...!

If I do not post tomorrow can someone call an ambulance please.

[JulianPH]

Thanks everyone. 3 weeks is very tight/hard. We are going for it though. Nick (Lrdisco) is superb and his team are brilliant.

I can't recommend him/them high enough. If you want something interesting doing then he is your man ]More pics tomorrow.

[JulianPH]

AndrewCrown said:

Julian, we have a slatted cover...you might want to consider an additional tarp like cover for certain times of the year to go over the slats as leaves and dust tend to stick....anyway a future problem...

I'm going to try a garden vac for the first winter as we will keep it open all year for the first year and see how it goes. If it ends up not being used (as a giant hot tub basically!) during winter I'll look at closing it and putting a larger taup cover over for winter. Thanks for the suggestion.

[JulianPH]

They started again at 7:30 this morning with two lorries here to take away the rest of the soil from yesterday afternoon.

Hoping to finish the excavation today and the pool will be here in a couple of hours!

[JulianPH]

I haven't really considered what it would add in terms of value to the house as I have no intention to sell at any point in the future, but it is a very big Victorian property set in nearly 2 acres (including paddock) so I think it is more likely add than detract.

It is all about the value it adds to my daughter's happiness and physical well being by having her own swimming pool.

[JulianPH]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Why do people feel compelled to comment on the cost? It's rather impertinent, and certainly none of our business how he spends his money.

He wants a pool. He's said why it's important to him. Now he's providing real-time entertainment for those who are interested - if you're not interested, don't watch.

Thank you. To be honest I do not feel hugely comfortable talking about the cost, but I understand some people are interested to know if considering doing something similar themselves.

When the project is finished if anyone would like a breakdown of the details feel free to PM me.

[JulianPH]

Some pics from this morning!

[JulianPH]

And now the pool shell has arrived

[JulianPH]

8-P said:

Brilliant

How many seconds before the neighbours came out to see what was going on?

It was precisely 25 seconds!

This is going to be a nightmare. We had to take down a tree once and the same neighbour called the police. Two cop cars and a police transit arrived to deal with that one - and that is not a joke!

[JulianPH]

ashleyman said:

This is fantastic!

I do wish you'd have done the time lapse video! If your local to me I'll come set one up for you. It needs to happen.

Nottinghamshire, but we will have missed the beginning!

[JulianPH]

rich12 said:

Can we make bets on how long it will take to fill??
My local swimming pool isn't even as big as that.

It would take a week to fill with a hosepipe. We are getting bowser's of water!

[JulianPH]

Rich135 said:

Someone needs to tell you there are holes in the side of your new pool

[JulianPH]

Gtom said:

I spotted the Colson grab wagon, so I'm assuming you are derby/Notts border?

Yes, Notts!

[JulianPH]

Thanks to everyone for your positive feedback and supportive comments.

We are now trying to get the pool into my garden...









Needless to say, this did not work!

[JulianPH]

SystemParanoia said:

JulianPH said:

rich12 said:

Can we make bets on how long it will take to fill??
My local swimming pool isn't even as big as that.

It would take a week to fill with a hosepipe. We are getting bowser's of water!

Im sure a Blastoise would be more useful than a Bowser



Isnt Bowser a fire type anyhow?... and he'll just kidnap your princess!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowser_(tanker) ;)

[JulianPH]

HairyMaclary said:

That was going to be my question... How on earth do you get that into the garden?? Good luck with that. The driver is going to earn his money today.

How much does it weigh?

Fair play on this build. Think you own ph right now!

Cheers! We are now trying another approach...!

[JulianPH]

Phew!!! At least it is off the lorry and down in one piece. Now to get it re-strapped to bring it into the garden...