After backfilling, the soils around the pool need to settle into place. Generally, about 30 days, and a few rains or watering, will be sufficient time for the backfill to settle, before adding slabs of concrete on top. Pouring the deck too soon can result in an uneven or tilted pool deck.
Setting up the forms, pouring the concrete, bonding, and letting it settle can take anywhere from 2-3 days, depending on the weather.
The soil beneath the pool is required to support this concentrated weight. The settling you are experiencing is a result of the underlying soil having insufficient strength to support the weight imposed by the pool. The pool is causing the underlying soil to consolidate, which is causing the pool to sink.
Many swimming pools are slightly out of level and under most circumstances it is not a significant problem. If a pool is out of level by a 1/4 to a 1/2 of an inch, most inspectors will not give it much thought, unless there are other issues.
Two inches off usually will not cause any structural issues so you can live with it that way. Any more than two inches is unacceptable. Intex pools that are three inches off or more will not last and no one should be swimming in one.
Pool Collapse – An above ground pool collapse is often caused by the results of ice damage, but it can also happen when there is too much snow accumulated on top of the pool and the frame cannot handle the weight.
The water will press with more force on one section of the pool than the others. This uneven weight distribution can buckle, twist or even collapse the pool wall, resulting in property damage and injury to anyone in or around the pool when it fails.
The industry standard states that a pool can be up to 1” out of level. At River Pools, we shoot for ½” or less. Sometimes we do far better, but occasionally we fall short…just trying to keep it real :) There's some common logic that comes into play here as well.
The level at which pool skimmers function properly is between one third and about half way up the opening of the pool skimmer. If the water level is too high the debris floating next to the opening may pass by without being pulled into the skimmer.
An above ground pool needs to be setup on level ground. Manufactures typically state a pool should be level within an inch, while those who are OCD may try to do even better. An above ground pool that is off level by 3 inches or more is unsafe.
Although rare, and affecting less than 1% of all pools, concrete pools can crack. If it happens at all, it usually happens within the first year, as a result of shrinkage, settlement and/or subsidence. Pools can also crack when they are simply not built correctly, as shown in the list above.
Causes of a sinking concrete pool deck
Loosely compacted soil: A concrete deck can weigh up to 100,000 pounds, a tremendous load for the ground beneath to bear. Swimming pool installers try to compensate for this fact by compacting the soil beneath the deck.
How Long Will a Concrete Pool Last? A concrete pool should last decades (we're talking 50 years or more) if it is properly maintained. While the shell of the pool can become damaged if the building was not done correctly, a well-constructed concrete swimming pool should last a lifetime.
If you are pushing the dirt around to level out the site for the pool, eventually the dirt will settle and your pool will no longer be level. This might happen right away when you fill the pool, or shortly down the road, one thing is for sure, it will happen.
Although many variables impact installation time, the average for a backyard pool is about six to 12 weeks. To help you estimate and plan, we've detailed the main steps involved in the pool-building process and the estimated time needed for each.
Maintaining Your Gunite Shell
Not enough watering throughout the day will leave a negative impact on your pool's shell. It is recommended you water 3-5 times daily for about a week.
How often should I have to fill my pool? This will vary depending upon several factors including: weather, if the pool is covered or not, bather load, and if it is heated or not. With pools that are covered, a good rule of thumb is that they should not have to be refilled more often than once every 2 weeks.
Having an excessive amount of water added to your pool in a relatively short timeframe can lead to several problems, among them, malfunctioning of your pool equipment, the accumulation of algae and deck damage.
The pool will only overflow by the amount of rain in excess of the amount of rain needed to fill the pool to the top. So if your pool is the normal 3” below the top, the rain would need to exceed 3” before any additional rain would be available to overflow onto the deck.
Pool Losing Water After Heavy Rain
Due to a heavy rainstorm, water loss is more common with vinyl liner pools that can be damaged, come loose, or float to the top. With other types of inground pools, it is vital to get the water level down. If not drained, the water balance will change, causing cloudy water and more.
But large quantities of precipitation combined with an overflowing pool and poor drainage can cause problems such as flooding, structural damage to the surrounding buildings as well as out of balance swimming pool water chemistry. No fun.
Unlevel Intex pools may have one part of the pool lower than other parts, and this unevenly distributes pressure on your pool's walls. A part of your pool may have the highest weight due to it being on uneven ground. This will can cause your wall to collapse and leave permanent damage on your Intex pool.
Don't be afraid to dig down, it's a good rule of thumb to sink your pool at least two inches down into the soil, as you'll be topping it off with sand once you've got the base flat.