The Stages of Installing a Fiberglass Pool

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A fiberglass pool is an excellent choice. In fact, for many people in Overland Park, Kansas, as well as those on the other side of the river, this type of pool has become the preferred choice. Although a professional pool builder will do all of the work when installing a pool like this in your backyard, as a homeowner, you should understand some of the basics, including the various stages of installation.

Different Stages

  1. Layout – The builder designs the pool and determines the layout based on size and configuration. Before moving to the second stage, let the builder know about your plans for lighting and landscaping, as that could affect the pool’s placement.
  2. Excavation – A backhoe and other machinery dig out the dirt where the fiberglass pool will go. The amount of digging depends on the pool’s size and depth.
  3. Floor – Using sand, the builder creates a floor. On top of that, he sets up screed bars to serve as guides for slope. Combined, these serve as the base of the pool.
  4. Placement – With the fiberglass pool delivered, a crane lifts and places it in the prepared hole. Once lowered, the builder makes sure it is perfectly level. 
  5. Back Filling – Using either a sand and cement mixture, crusher dust, or gravel, the void space around the pool is back-filled. As part the back-filling phase, added water creates stability and equal pressure.
  6. Plumbing – A plumber fits a skimmer box to the deep end of your new fiberglass pool and runs the necessary length of PVC pipe for filtration. He then sets the salt chlorinator and pump filter, followed by returning the piping to the shallow end of the pool.
  7.  Deck – The last stage of installing a fiberglass pool consists of pouring the concrete deck and covering the pool coping. When completely dry, you can have a decorative concrete overlay applied to give the pool personality and character.

Choosing a Safe Pool Deck Option

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Even though swimming is a fun activity, thousands of children and adults sustain injuries every year while on the pool deck. These incidents fall into one of four main categories. First is a lack of supervision. There are also diving-related accidents, problems faulty pool equipment, and accidents resulting from a slippery or damaged pool deck.

If you have a pool in your backyard or own a hotel, fitness center, or some other business, it is imperative that children have constant supervision, that no one takes risks while going off the diving board, and that you have all equipment checked for proper function and safety. Along with that, make sure you have a pool deck that people can walk on without slipping or burning the bottoms of their feet.

Top Choices

Unfortunately, a bad fall can lead to sprains and strains or, even worse, broken bones and head trauma. For the sake of enjoyment and to ensure the safety of people who visit, consider the two best pool deck solutions.

  • Epoxy – Some people think this concrete coating is only for garage floors. The fact is that it works incredibly well around pools as well. You can choose from a broad range of colors and even have flakes added for something extra-special. With a textured surface or by adding aggregates, an epoxy coating becomes slip-resistant, which significantly lowers the risk of slips and falls. This coating is also cool to the touch, preventing accidental burns.
  • Stamped Concrete – Stamped concrete is another excellent choice for a pool deck. Along with beautiful colors, you can select a specific pattern. Depending on the preferred look, you can opt to have the deck mirror natural materials like wood, river rock, cobblestones, slate, flagstone, brick, and more. The custom texture looks amazing and, again, prevents accidental falls.

Whether you prefer a traditional look or want a pool deck with vibrant colors and unique designs, the right system will surpass your expectations. Regardless of your choice, having the surface textured or aggregates added to the formula dramatically improves safety.

When Is It Time to Replace a Pool Liner?

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If you have a vinyl liner pool, be sure to follow all the manufacturer’s instructions. Although that will help the pool liner last a long time, usually 8 to 12 years, at some point, it will need to be replaced. As the homeowner, you should know some of the reasons why liners deteriorate. If you catch these issues early enough, there is a good chance that you can have the problem repaired. Otherwise, you need to install a new one.

The following are some of the primary reasons a pool liner deteriorates:

  • Age of the pool liner
  • Quality of the liner
  • How often people use the pool
  • Chemicals for cleaning and maintenance
  • Degree of sun exposure
  • Weather conditions

Warning Signs

  • Cracks and Tears – Usually, tiny cracks and tears are the first signs of trouble. While they may not seem critical to the naked eye, they allow water to leak out and stress the entire liner. To determine if the liner of your pool has any small cracks or tears, monitor the water level for about 10 days to see if it goes down.
  • Staining and Fading – Even high-quality liners fade due to sun exposure and chemical use. However, a significant degree of fading could indicate deterioration. As for stains, some will have no impact on the pool’s level of performance, whereas, large rust or algae stains can cause problems. Along with being unsightly, oversized stains like these also lead to
  • Stretching and Slippage – If there is an issue with stretching, you will notice either the top edge of the liner or the liner bead slipping out of place. When liners lose their elasticity, they begin to sag, which causes water to drain. If a pool liner stretches to the point that you cannot get it back on the track, it needs to be replaced.