The POOL

We decided the kids would receive a pool for their birthdays this year.  They will each still receive a gift on the actual day, but this it the BIG one, if you know what I mean.

Last year, Angelina on down enjoyed the smaller 10’x3’ pool so much.  They were in it nearly every day.  Dash, however, didn’t enjoy it so much!  At over 6’, a 3’ deep pool doesn’t do a whole lot and then he takes up quite a bit of the diameter.  So, after much research and reading of reviews, we invested in an 18’x48” pool with sand filter and saltwater pump (self-chlorinator).  The following pics show our day-long site prep and set-up that began a couple days after Achievement Days ended..

Using the scraper to take off the grass and first layer of soil

More scraping, but shovels also used to take out some of the dirt on the south side to make it more level.

First couple loads of sand dumped in the area.  This was recommended to help in leveling and protecting the pool base.

Checking for levelness.  They did pretty good.  The south side is still a couple inches high, but it’ll work for this year.  We can improve on it for next year.  The sand area is lined with old bullet pavers.  Obviously this will be the ‘permanent’ site for the pool each summer.

Laying out the pool itself.

Putting the framework in the liner.

Checking all the connections and finishing up the framing.

And, it’s up!

Add a few inches of water, then the crew went in to smooth out any missed wrinkles in the liner.  We’ll be more diligent on this next year, too.

It took about a day to fill, but the kids were enjoying the water when it was only half full.  It was hot…and they deemed it necessary!  Louis’ pool is in the foreground.  However, he enjoys being in the big pool with a lifejacket & floating tube.

The second or third day we noticed the pool turning a little green.  Eric did a bit of research online, as did Dash, and learned more about our set-up.  They double checked everything and realized a filter was clogged with calcium.  After soaking the filter in vinegar and replacing it, the pool cleared overnight.  We chose to fill the pool with deep well water (no cost to us, as there would be with rural water), so I’m assuming we’ll have to clean this filter often during the first month or so of use.  Dash had to clean it again a couple days later. 

The hot weather has made the pool water quite warm; at least, the kids aren’t complaining.  They even went in the pool today and it was cool, cloudy and slightly windy.  They said the water felt warm.

So far, an excellent investment.