Building a sand beach pool?

[Rossterman]

Daughter just bought 5 acre property and wants to have me build a pool there. I did an owner/builder on my pool 10 years ago so familiar with traditional gunite pool building process. I’ve been seeing pools recently that are resembling a sand beach/lagoon. I think building something similar would be an amazing addition to her yard but I have found scant little info on the building process and any pros/cons that need to be considered.

Can anyone share some links (or even better personal experience) building a pool of this design? I’m looking for a design that actually has a sand entrance and bottom rather than the traditional pebbletec beach entry I’ve seen a few times.

thanks!

 

[Dirk]

Excuse my ignorance... Are you talking actual sand? Or is that a "pool term" that means some sort of concrete surface that resembles sand?

One "con" for a beach entry (of concrete/pebble/etc) is that they have to be manually cleaned. Depending on the cleaner type (suction-side, pressure-side, or robot), they either can't get up on the beach entry, or the beach entry is too shallow for them to operate. Which means manual brushing for that part of the pool. The bigger the entry, the more elbow grease necessary. If the pool location is such that you won't be seeing a lot of debris in the pool (leaves, etc), then this might be OK. If the pool is surround by trees and other leaf-bearing goodness, then keeping up that area will get old...

 

[Dirk]

OK, mr. google does report the existence of sand bottom pools (actual sand). How in the world would one keep that clean? On its surface (leaves and debris), and underneath it? How do you keep it out of the pump? And filter? Sand or similar is used in aquariums, but it is with the understanding that the sand will eventually develop "good" bacteria to help with water conditioning. I don't think there is any such "good" bacteria in a pool.

How do the resorts around the world that feature a sand pool make them work?

As cool as this sounds, I would think you would need an army of pool boys to keep up a sand-bottom pool and its surrounding deck. And I'm guessing that's how it's done!

Part of the appeal of swimming in a pool is that there is no sand! You get out, your feet are clean. The deck is clean. You put your shoes on, or not, you walk into the house or bathroom, etc. You grab the coping, no sand on it. You sit at the water's edge, no sand up your bum.

Fascinating concept, but just can't imagine this is a good idea...

 

[Rossterman]

Yeah, the little info I found was about one built in disneyworld. They have a tool that stirs up and vacuums debris out of the sand bottom which wouldnt be feasible for a small residential pool. The area is away from trees so little in the way of leaves will make a problem but did read that the sand can get funky and get alge from sitting wet without sanitizer and circulation. My guess is they must have a concrete base and wash chlorinated water over the sand occasionally to prevent bacteria build up?

 

[todd.brock]

I saw an episode of Extreme Pools - Lucas Lagoon fella, that had a sand bottom in an area. They had a set of rocks to prevent movement of sand. I can’t imagine how that was when the sand got kicked up and circulated through the pool filters and such. But for 500k and up on their pools, I sssume he has it figured out??

 

[Dirk]

Google:

beach entry pool

You'll see plenty of examples of simulated sand entries, that look fantastic, without the headache of sand. The issue of vacuuming a beach entry aside, I think a beach entry would be fantastic. For kids. For us older folk. For everyone. If the surrounding landscaping was done correctly, to minimize debris in the pool, a beach entry would be awesome.

Oh, another downside: they take up a lot of real estate. If you have unlimited square footage (sounds like you do), and budget (or dad's building it for "free"), then no problem. But if the available surface area of a pool is constrained for some reason, a beach entry eats into a huge chunk of the pool available for swimming and wading, etc.

 

[jimim]

Yeah, the little info I found was about one built in disneyworld. They have a tool that stirs up and vacuums debris out of the sand bottom which wouldnt be feasible for a small residential pool. The area is away from trees so little in the way of leaves will make a problem but did read that the sand can get funky and get alge from sitting wet without sanitizer and circulation. My guess is they must have a concrete base and wash chlorinated water over the sand occasionally to prevent bacteria build up?

thats beach and yacht club. Have stayed there many a times. There are a ton of trees all around it. Ya it’s always clean though. I have no idea how they clean it. I mean they prob manually clean each night at clos My cause it always looks clean. It’s an awesome pool. Has sand areas to play all around it woth a lazy river. Best pool on property. I would never do one st my home. It’s a mess. But I also do not like a spec of dirt in my pool. Lol

 

[2girls4us]

Yeah, the little info I found was about one built in disneyworld. They have a tool that stirs up and vacuums debris out of the sand bottom which wouldnt be feasible for a small residential pool. The area is away from trees so little in the way of leaves will make a problem but did read that the sand can get funky and get alge from sitting wet without sanitizer and circulation. My guess is they must have a concrete base and wash chlorinated water over the sand occasionally to prevent bacteria build up?

the one at Disney is at Storm Along Bay, the pool shared by the Yacht Club and Beach Club resorts. It’s not real sand, which I would think helps with keeping algae and bacteria from growing. It’s a very fun pool!

 

[Dirk]

It’s an awesome pool.

It’s a very fun pool!

Yah, ya know what makes that pool so awesome and fun?! Somebody else takes care of it!!