Huge deck slope...Pool not dug deep enough

[mjdieth]

I'm beside myself right now, the concrete contractor did a great job, but the problem seems to be that the PB did not hit the correct depth when setting the walls of the pool. I did confirm that the walls were below the existing concrete before the new patio was poured, so I did not bring it up other than asking 10 times if the pool was low enough, this is why I hired someone and did not do it myself. I seem to have at least a 1/2" per foot slope going toward the house to the drain. It looks even worse in person. Is there any way to fix this or am I going to have to tell the PB to start over? I highly doubt he will do this.

 

[SBall]

You can't really do the entire project over. About the only option would be to tear out the concrete, and re-pour, and then have a step of some sort down to your existing sidewalk. The reality is you need enough slope for water to drain away from pool and not into it. Based on the pics, I think it looks fine, and as soon as you get water in the pool, and grass/shrubbery/landscaping, you will never notice it.

 

[Arizonarob]

^^I agree.

Right now it’s very visible, but once it’s all done and landscaped, it’ll look good. And you’ll be happy for the slope on the first downpour.

 

[mjdieth]

You can't really do the entire project over. About the only option would be to tear out the concrete, and re-pour, and then have a step of some sort down to your existing sidewalk. The reality is you need enough slope for water to drain away from pool and not into it. Based on the pics, I think it looks fine, and as soon as you get water in the pool, and grass/shrubbery/landscaping, you will never notice it.

I'm at work but am trying to get my wife to take a picture from ground level, I agree the posted pictures look fine, in reality I almost threw up when I got home from work yesterday. I did have the thought as well about finishing the yard and then maybe not noticing. I can assure you there is plenty of slope for water, it poured last night and I watched it, basically a waterfall right into the drain.

 

[sktn77a]

How about just cutting a (bigger) french drain between the house and the pool?

 

[GregInClaremont]

The visual effect may be amplified due to the surrounding grading needing to be brought up some (dirt).

I had to bring in about 10 pickup truck loads of top soil to get my grading right where it meets the deck, after the job was done. I didn't do landscaping as part of the pool project so I was left to deal with those details myself when I decided how I wanted the yard done.

 

[jimmythegreek]

Put a level on the slab and take a pic for us of the bubble and tell me how long level is like a 2ft level or a 4ft level whatever u have around house is fine. Ur not gonna redo the pool u can only fix the deck and where it meets old by bringing it all up. The PB should have shot grade and had it figured out I would think concrete guy would have said something if it was that bad

 

[mjdieth]

couple more shots

- - - Updated - - -

Put a level on the slab and take a pic for us of the bubble and tell me how long level is like a 2ft level or a 4ft level whatever u have around house is fine. Ur not gonna redo the pool u can only fix the deck and where it meets old by bringing it all up. The PB should have shot grade and had it figured out I would think concrete guy would have said something if it was that bad

Concrete guy told my wife that is should have been 2" lower and there was really nothing he could personally do and that he did make it thicker to try to help it out a bit, I was not home and she said ok so he poured. I get a pic with the level when I get home.

 

[jimmythegreek]

Wow I can totally see it in the new pics the top one is pretty bad. I wonder how bad the grade rly is. Would have been easier to just make a transition or eat into the slab below deck and put drain farther back. This is a tough fix nobody wants to eat a new concrete pour and then the demo too. Ouch

 

[PoolGate]

Maybe it is just me, but I am not seeing a problem here. Could you mark up the picture where the problem lies?

 

[swimcmp]

I think the pool builder did the right grade. You definitely don't want the pool any lower than it is. I think once you have it finished you will see that it is done the right way to shed water away from your house and pool both. That often times is the hardest thing to accomplish when you have existing grades to deal with.

 

[ajw22]

I see the issue. It looks like the PB knew exactly what he was doing with the postion of the drain. You wouldn’t want it the other way with all the water on the deck draining into the pool. Maybe the slope could have been a bit less extreme but I think the existing situation dictated this result.

 

[jimmythegreek]

Need to see it w level but I'm in the biz and that looks like more than quarter inch per foot slope. U only need an eighth per for good flow. Look at bottom pic where slab is narrower by the far 6x6 post the slab is 10ft wide max and it's 2inches of pitch to drain I'd bet. Concrete guy blended it nicely pool coulda been a hair lower the slab trapezoids out from the oval corners. U will have a clean pool in every rainstorm. I'd rather have too much pitch than not enuff as said it will prob be ok w some furniture and finishes.

 

[Rich D]

It would be hard to condemn the PB without having all the heights and distances. As Jimmy said 1/8" per foot is all that is needed but this is needed for all the slopes. If your pool is 10' from drain then you only need 1.25" . However you still need pitch to get all The way to where the stairs are. So if this is 20' then you need 2.5" Wich makes the slope to the drain look excessive. This issue should have been figured out before hand. That much pitch is always noticable. You should have been informed so if there were any options ( I do not see any good ones from the pics) they could be discussed. As also stated before, better to have too much pitch than end up with a puddle.

 

[wilkj1]

looks good to me 1/4 per ft is min, 1/2 can be ok way better than flat to running the wrong way

 

[Rich D]

looks good to me 1/4 per ft is min, 1/2 can be ok way better than flat to running the wrong way

I would disagree with that. If your concrete professional can get water to work on 1/8" per ft, I would get another concrete professional. .. Just my humble opinion. (and 35 years experience )

My personal minimums

Dirt - 2%
Asphalt - 1.5%
Concreate - 1% ( I have gone to .78% without issues as well)

 

[jimmythegreek]

That's my minimum too an inch in ten feet about .78 and it works fine in most cases

 

[PoolguyinCT]

That's my minimum too an inch in ten feet about .78 and it works fine in most cases

An inch per ten ft, meets many published standards & will keep you out of court and the water where you want it.

 

[mjdieth]

I measured this weekend and I have a 4" slope from the edge of the pool to the drain which 8' of patio, so a 1/2" per foot slope. The only thing I can think of is to either suck it up and be happy that my pool will be clean, or have SOME of it ripped up and move the drain back to between the existing patio and the new patio. The slope from the existing patio to the new patio is 1" over 3' length, so by moving the drain back I would decrease my 4" to 3", only saving about an inch.

 

[jimmythegreek]

If you cant get it down to 1/4" per foot its still gonna feel the same to you, not worth the effort. Even the move back to get to 3" isnt gonna make it feel much better. you didnt even rly need that short piece of linear drain channel, you have enough room to double pitch back at itself and put a square catch basin in on the edge of slab or a short linear drain there.

If you even wanted to dress the look up you could do renovation pavers and coping over the concrete and bring it up with mud then do the same to the patio below if the door will allow it