Is it difficult or possible for a rank beginner to build an inground pool?

Question

I am good with tools, smart and capable. I want a long, thin, one lane lap pool having a "T" or "L" shape in my backyard. The bend of the T or L would be a general swimming area for fun, and the long part and exercise lane. It's a small backyard. (The soil is clay here! I could easily make a LOT of pottery from it.)

HI forbidden_planet- Methinks you are right! The naysayers have the day - and I also found it amusing that some assumed I would use hand tools to dig a pool out of a clay base - ROFL! - when there are two businesses that rent out all kinds of nifty digging machines within two blocks of me. Tanks for checking back in, and the edit. One is in the pool industry.
Methinks also that building a pool MAY not be as complicated as building a space shuttle? Hmmmmmmm.........

Answer 1

My father built his own inground pool with no previous experience, although he did choose to do alot of research and shopping around to find the best way to go about it, supplies, etc. before he began. I think that he settled on a kit rather than doing it in a custom shape, but he did install a separate solar-powered heating system. It took a couple of weeks to dig the hole and install the pool. He built it in 1995 and has had to do very little maintenence since then. It's a great pool, just make sure you do your research and that you are confident in your ability to finish the job before you begin!

Edit (8/15/06): Wow, look at the nay-sayers! Probably alot of people in the pool-building industry are answering this one. Who ever said that do-it-yourself meant that you just used hand-tools??? That's a ridiculous suggestion!

Answer 2

A rank beginner could also build a space shuttle. It may fly or it may not. There's a lot of knoledge required in pool building. If you go the concrete (gunite) route, you need experience on the machine or you'll have a mess. Grounding, dealing with water tables, plumbing,electrical, the use of transits and not to mention getting the dig itself bang on. You mentioned clay. That's a drainage issue, potentially. If it's an IG vinyl, it's a bit easier, but not much.
I don't reccomend trying it, unless you do a heck of a lot of research. You need to hit your local building office to start. You may find that your lot won't even allow a pool under their codes.

Answer 3

Not only will you find digging deep enough to install your pool to be extremely difficult with hand tools, you run the risk of cave ins that can bury you and kill you. Would that be worth the risk to save a few bucks on a pool? I'd save up your money until you can afford a professional to do the work.

Answer 4

I would not attempt it. At least you can hold a professional accountable if there are problems witrh cracking etc. later on.
Also there is the heating and plumbing to consider and lights etc. My sister just had one put in so I know it is more complicated thatn it looks, also if something goes wrong will your home owners insurance cover it? What about the permits/laws etc.?

Answer 5

or merely cheat, placed an above floor pool un a hollow and placed decking round it with a much off waste pump to provide up the outdoors of the pool filling from rain or splashes, ive executed this one myself merely a million rule, no steep edges in hollow (we dont like cave ins) dont ignore to fence it off so theres no probability any toddlers dont get in and verify out this drowning ingredient.

Answer 6

I would not recommend it. My grandfather had his pool put in by professionals, and it still had a flaw which caused it to cave in. Leave it to someone experienced, and save yourself the grief!

Answer 7

This is one I would definitely leave to the professionals.