How thick do you think a concrete base should be for a 9' x 6' swimming pool?

Question

I am going to block up after. Then put a liner in and fill with water.

Answer 1

I'd think it really depends on the underground situation and the climate conditions in your area. Simple concrete without steel inlay tends to crack quite easily, specially if loaded so heavily with water.

Perhaps you really should ask a builder in your area for advice - I'm sure they can tell you. Why not ask someone in and pay him the hour you discuss with him?

Answer 2

Any concrete pool made by a builder has a shell that's minimum 8 inches thick, usually we shoot for 10 if it's a premium build. Rebar shoud be 8 - 10 inch centres and blocked up from the bottom by about a paver's thickness.
Just a note here. What you're attempting, with the block walls, I've seen done twice before. One with track and liner, the other painted block only. The reason I saw them, is that they failed and we were called in to try to salvage what we could.The block is going to move. Maybe not this year, maybe not for 5 years, but it WILL. It's not a house foundation, with drainage and a vertical load. It's a horizontal load and a wet loacation. It'll fail quicker in a frost environment. The liner will hold until jagged block gets it.Maybe you'll luck out, but I'm not going to bet on it.

Answer 3

Impossible to answer.
Check out a few swimming pool designs on the net, some will have blueprints.
Many reinforced concrete structures are secured at the foundations to bedrock, obviously though for a simple outdoor pool something easier is appropriate.
Depending on the ground conditions, size and shape; a structure will need layers of supporting sand, gravel then concrete.
9' x 6' doesn't give me the only important dimension - the depth.
For a depth of 6' say, (off the top of my head) I would guess about 1' sand then 1/2' of gravel, lining then 150mm of concrete embedded with steel or wire gauze (like a concrete road). Oh I don't do imperial - sorry.

As a temporary works structural designer, I can tell you that each location has its own problems and a site investigation is usually required. Building on a slope or near a structure would be obvious design problems for instance, but there are many more.

I have no idea of the building and safety laws in your area. But just so you know, most construction deaths occur in caissons (which is a hole not dissimilar to a swimming pool) after having the sides collapse in on them.
Proper support is essential during and after construction.

The actual building can be done yourself, but don't underestimate the help a professional can supply with one visit and a sketch. He can also help with government paperwork.

Answer 4

Am I understanding this correctly? 9 feet by 6 feet? That's not a swimming pool - it's a puddle. Ohhh, wait a minute - you're talking about that 'endless pool', right. I've seen those on the H&G channel. They have got to be the coolest invention - ever! The water is cycled through, so that it resembes a natural current - and you can adjust the speed, like a 'water treadmill'. Talk to a contractor who specializes in pools - they've got formulas to calculate the thickness of the reinforced concrete to support the weight of the water.

Answer 5

9' x 6'? Right, that's 9 over the power of H2O, multiplied by the number of swimmers minus the depth, add 10% safety margin- Yep, definitely fill it with water otherwise it will just be a hole in the ground.

Answer 6

8 to 10 inches should do it.

Answer 7

so your getting a swimming pool! great!

Answer 8

go home depot they will tell you all the hardware stuff

Answer 9

minimum of 9inch to be safe .