Don't see a DIY project thread here for household stuff so figured I'd kick it off. I've been absolutely busting my ass for the last 5 weeks or so on this pool. Back in Ontario we had easy access to pools at both of our parents houses. When we moved here we didn't really care about having a pool or not, but after living here a couple years, the summer heat is brutal and having a pool for relief from the heat started sounding like a pretty good idea.
Got quotes for a nice inground setup...$100K, easy. Nope, just don't see the value in that. So, we went full redneck and bought, for $6K, one of these 'hard-sided' above ground pool kits. Tried to hire someone to install it...$10K, and they were all flakey and sketchy. So, during the hottest part of the summer (haven't seen a heat index under 100F in like 8 weeks) I took a few days off, and cleared some weekends, and slugged through it.
Clearing the area, levelling the ground, and then installing the support buttresses - this was the worst part. After that it was just hauling materials (4 tons of screening, 5 tons of sand) and assembling everything. I had help from Mrs.Firm for some of it, but largely working solo, so had to great creative on how to make things work without extra muscle, but got it done. No equipment, just shovels, wheel barrow, LOTs of water, liquid IV and determination.
Still need to run a proper electrical circuit (currently running on an extension cord), which I will do in the next couple weeks. Next year, I'll do an interlock type walkway out to it from the main patio, and some interlock around it to clean up the dirt/gravel.
Is it kinda ugly, yep. But when it's 100F and 85% humidity, it's a God-send
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I don't think that looks bad at all. Do you think this will be a shorter term solution before investing in an inground pool? Did you price out any container pools, I have seen ads for those and they look pretty neat.
Like those drop in fiberglass deals? Someone I know here as a business installing them....Was still going to be $50-60K. The biggest expense is concrete work, it's gotten out of hand.
Plenty of people getting 30+ years out of these hard-sided units, given it's maintained, and likely goes through a few liners in that period. I figure, if I get 15 years out of it, the kids will be grown, and we probably won't need a pool anymore, so we could get rid of it then. So for now, this is good enough. There are so many better investments I'd rather dump $100K on; starting with the shop build I am planning for the property.....but $100K can go a long way down here if you're smart with it, can buy 2-5 acres of farm or hunting land, a local small business, rental properties, etc. Any of those are better investments than a hole in your yard filled with water.
I agree, it doesn't look bad at all. That's a lot of sweat equity right there though, great job!!
Some lawnmower repair here. It broke a couple of weeks ago when son #2 was mowing the lawn & I was outta town. One of the drive wheels stopped working & jammed. I took it apart & found the gear had fallen out & jammed in the wheel. I figured out the retaining clip had fallen off. As a temporary fix I just removed it & let my son use it as a 1 wheel drive. In the meantime I Googled the mower model # & found the schematic & ordered the part, was $6.10 all in. Picked up the part today & put the gear back in & it works perfectly now.
Good repair. I recently had a nightmare of a fix on my Husqvarna zero-turn...Don't want to relive it, lol. Can't wait until the days where my son can manage the grass stuff.
Looks great, Firm!