Carefree Pools along with industry partners ‘pay it forward’

Setting the pool in place

With the excavation corrected and properly prepared to accept the pool, the vessel could finally be placed in the ground. To do so, Carefree used an excavator to lift the pool and set it in place according to the permit specifications with respect to set backs and easement.

Once the vessel was in place, it was levelled using jacks to fine-tune the pool lip to ensure it was straight and true. After this was completed, the pool was filled with water, and the backfill process was started. While the pool was being filled, the plumbing was connected to the skimmer and return fittings, which were previously installed into the pool shell. Once the plumbing was completed, stone backfill could be placed around the pool structure as the water level rose to ensure balanced pressure on the interior and exterior of the pool.

Once the water and backfill were level with the plumbing, the lines were encased in spray foam insulation. This was done to protect the lines from the stone backfill, as well as to provide a higher R-value with respect to heat retention. Once this was completed, the area was backfilled to the finished grade and the pool was prepared for the concrete collar (the base for the bullnose coping stone), which adds structure to the pool perimeter.

“Due to the backyard’s elevation (slope) we had to construct a 7.3-m (24-ft) retaining wall to maintain drainage for easement and to retain the backfill from the existing shed,” added Kelly.

This retaining wall also allowed the pool’s solar blanket to be concealed within the completed retaining wall, enabling the homeowner to keep it out of sight when it is not being used.

After the wall was constructed, the concrete was poured for the collar and the coping stone was installed around the pool perimeter using thin-set mortar.