In-Ground Pool Kit Excavation

PoolKits | January 3, 2015

In-Ground Pool Kit Excavation: Step 3

Note: All of the dimensions in the supplied Pool Layout and Pool Kit Dig Sheets are grades, so your in-ground pool kit excavation should always be 2″ deeper than your Pool Layout and Pool Kit Dig-Dimension drawing. This allows the needed space inside your swimming pool walls for the pool base material (Portland cement/Sand mix, PoolCrete,etc.).

Set Your Pool Kit’s Elevation

The top of your pool kit wall panels should be no less than 8 inches above the existing grade. 12″ is always suggested to keep all drainage away from the swimming pool dig site (see Figure 3). Okay now stretch a string line to each of your pool layout stakes at the level of the top of the pool (see Figure 4). If you are using a laser level make sure to set the proper benchmark.

In-Ground Pool Kit Excavation

Poo Wall Panel Shelf

Your swimming pool kit wall panels and braces should be assembled, set up and leveled on the pool wall panel shelf. The panel shelf width will be determined by the brace and panel type/line/brand that you are installing. Note: Always refer to the manufactures installation, excavation and assembly guide. THE PANEL SHELF IS DUG 42” DOWN FROM THE STRING LINE OR FROM YOUR BENCHMARK. This should be undisturbed earth, so use caution when digging the pool wall panel shelf. MAKE SURE TO NOT OVER DIG!!! This is also the finish depth of the shallow end of your in-ground pool kit excavation.

Pool Kit Shallow End

Excavate your pool kits shallow end to 42″ below the bench mark. If pool steps are to be installed dig 2′ to 3′ wider than the pool kit step and 4′ past your pool wall panel shelf. (see figure 5).

Swimming Pool Kit Dig Sheets

Pool Kit Deep End

Once your pool kits shallow end has been dug, paint a line across the pool to represent the break point. To understand the shape of the deep end on a standard hopper pool kit, envision the pool hopper as an upside-down pyramid, whose top has been cut off (see Figure 6). In order to achieve this shape, start by dividing the length of the slope by four and marking four equal sections on the wall of the overdig. For example, a 14′ slope would have four sections, 3’6″ each. Then divide the wall height by four and mark the side and back wall into four equal sections. For example, a 4′ sidewall would have four 1′ sections. Now start excavating the hopper at the break point. As the dig proceeds down the slope, use the marks you have made as boundaries for the dig. For each mark you pass on the slope, move your dig boundary in and down one mark on the sidewall. Using our earlier example, as the dig moves 3’6″ down the slope, the dig boundary on each side would move in 1′ from each sidewall toward the center of the pool kit, and 1′ deeper. The backhoe operator or excavator operator should continue this process, tapering all sides, until the end of the slope is reached. Now, continue with the same dig boundary for the length of the hopper. The back wall should be tapered to the same slope as the sidewalls at the hopper. Caution your operator to work slowly and accurately, and monitor the in-ground pool kit excavation and digging process closely. DO NOT OVER DIG OR UNDER DIG YOUR POOL KIT!

In-ground Pool Kit Dig Sheet

If Ground Water Conditions Are Present

Ground water is the term typically used for the water table. If you should encounter ground water while digging your pool kits hopper, don’t panic.
Just follow these simple recommendations:

  1. Over dig just the bottom of the pools hopper by 1′ or 2′.
  2. Use pea-sized rock or gravel to bring the hopper back to grade.
  3. Set a foot valve, available at a plumbing supply or hardware store, in the pea stone and plumb it to outside of the swimming pool kit.
  4. Run a plumbing line from the pool hopper to near the filter. (see Figure 7).
  5. Hook the foot valve to a pump and keep the pump running continuously until the liner has been dropped and your swimming pool kit is full of water.
  6. When your in-ground pool kit excavation and installation is complete, cap the plumbing line, leaving it available for use in the future, should the pools vinyl liner need to be replaced.

In-ground Swimming Pool Kit Plumbing

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