Vinyl Liner Swimming Pool Kits
For most, the easiest way to build a vinyl liner pool will be to purchase a swimming pool kit. There are various distributors online and off that offer complete inground swimming pool kits in a wide array of shapes and sizes. Buying a complete kit from a reputable supplier will ensure that the filter, pump and other equipment is properly sized for the swimming pool that you are purchasing.
Most vinyl liner swimming pool kits come with either polymer or galvanized steel panels that will be constructed on the pool shelf, below ground level. These panels are bolted together to form the top section of the pool . The bottom section of the pool or hopper area is dug out and coated with cement or vermiculite. after the panels have been assembled on the shelf the hopper is finished and the liner is dropped into the pool. a lock is used to hold the liner in place.
One other construction method used for vinyl liner pools is to build the top portion with cement block. The pool shelf is dug first then a foundation is poured and block are stacked to form the top of the pool. Afterwards the hopper is dug and the bottom is finished with concrete or vermiculite, same as construction using panels.
With a vinyl liner pool kit, the most critical part of the job is making sure the dig is spot on. If the hopper area is too large then you won’t have room to construct the panels on the shelf and even if you do manage to get them in place there will be a considerable amount of concrete or vermiculite needed to finish the hopper. Underdigging the hopper area is not quite as expensive a mistake, but will require a lot of hard work hand digging the area out to fit the swimming pool liner.
In any case it is best to hire a backhoe operator with experience in digging swimming pools to handle this part of the job. While he may be expensive it will be money well spent in the long run.
After the shelf and hopper area is dug, construct the pool panels, level the panels with a water level or laser and stake down securely.Check and double check the level of the panels. Next the plumbing for the main drain needs to be stubbed out. Now you are ready to pour the concrete collar around the outside of the panels. After the collar has been poured the panels will not be movable, If they are out of level at this point, the only solution is to jack hammer the concrete collar out and start over. After the collar has set up all the plumbing can be finished, light niches set, skimmers set and hopper area can be finished. Pins should be placed in the hopper area so the vermiculite or concrete can be brought out to the desired level and troweled smooth. Most vinly liner pool kits will have the skimmers already cut into the panels and simply bolting them in place is all that is needed. I have however seen a few kits that require the builder to cut the panel to install the skimmers. This is still a job that an experienced DIY er can handle himself, just be sure to check twice and cut once.
With a vinyl liner swimming pool kit there are many steps of the process that the homeowner can do himself. It is very important to follow the directions to the letter for the pool to turn out as it should.
