Swimming pools are a popular addition to any home or property. While the appeal is obvious, digging a swimming pool can be both physically and mentally demanding. If you’re feeling adventurous, though, here’s how you can dig a swimming pool by hand for fun and relaxation. With some physical fitness and determination, this can be a rewarding experience.
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The Process
Determining where to dig the pool is the first step to getting started. You’ll want to consider what size you want the pool to be, how deep you want it to be, and where you’ll locate it within your property. If you have a specific spot in mind, then great; if not, you can always resort to YouTube and search for ‘how to make a swimming pool’. Once you have your spot determined, it’s time to move on to the next step.
The first thing you’ll need to do is excavate the area you’ve chosen to dig the pool. You can either do this yourself or hire contractors to do the job for you. When you hire contractors, make sure you request a couple of weeks of free time in case anything goes wrong. Additionally, you might want to get a general contract instead of paying per hour because, sometimes, things go wrong and you have to pay for additional hours. This way, you’re not tempted to speed up the process in order to get it over with.
The Tools
When it comes to digging a swimming pool, there are many different types of tools you’ll need to make the process easy and convenient. Depending on how experienced you are, you might not need any tools at all. For those who are looking to dive in and take on the challenge, here are some basic tools you’ll need:
- Handy hoe
- Hand trowel
- Shovel
- Walking stick
- Spade
- Trowel
- Stakes
- Tape measure
- Protective gear
These tools will help you break down the area you’re working on into small manageable chunks. Knowing how deep your pool is going to be is crucial because you won’t want to dig any farther down once you’ve hit bedrock. The deeper the hole, the more you’ll have to dig in order to reach the bottom.
The Fabric
After you’ve broken down the area to be dug and marked it out with wooden stakes, it’s time to move on to the next step and start forming the pool shape. For those who are looking for a traditional shape, there are many different types of fabrics you can use to form the pool. When choosing your fabric, be sure to opt for a quick-drying option in case you get wet during the process. Remember: the pool’s goal is to be waterproof so you can swim in it! If you’re using plastic fabrics such as tarps or plastic sheeting, then make sure to waterproof the area you’ve covered with a waterproofing material such as silt fencing or plastic sheeting. This way, when you’re done, you won’t have to remove all the excess material around the pool perimeter in order to ensure no water is trapped inside.
Once you’ve got your pool shaped as you like it, its time to move on to the final step. You’ll want to dig out the entire area around the pool and pack down the soil so it’s nowhere near the pool’s edge. If there’s already a lot of soil in the area, then you can either bring in a dirt truck or hire a contractor to help you move all that dirt to a designated area away from the pool.
The Timing
Last but not least, we have the most important part of digging a pool. The timing is everything. You’ll want to time your efforts to get the most out of it. For those who are looking for a weekend getaway, then maybe wait till after the summer season to start digging. The warmer the weather, the quicker the dirt will turn into mud as a result of all the water that’s been permeating it. This is called ‘swimming pool season’ and the best time to start is in early June or late May.
If you’re doing this as a summer activity, then the best thing you can do is to start early in the morning so you can get the most out of it before the sun gets too high in the sky. Alternatively, you can also use a pool pump to speed up the process. During peak hours, it might be smart to hire a pool contractor in case you need help moving things along.
No matter how experienced you are or how much space you have, getting a swimming pool dug is a project you’ll remember for the rest of your life. It’s not uncommon for people to start a swimming pool renovation project and never finish it, but if you can stick it out to the end, then you’ll have one happy and healthy swimmer.