Fat Old Guy Builds a Pool....

[Instigator]

The walls have a thin layer of foam under the liner for cushioning/insulation.
The floor also has a fiber material mat under it for protection/insulation.
The plywood walls don’t touch the ground.

3 tons of sand on the floor and it only contacts the foam on the walls.
Bro-in laws is 30 yrs old and original.

Mo, if all goes well, I expect it to be operational mid next wk.
Supposed to be back in the 90’s.

I have a propane gas heater (soon as I plum/wire it) for it which I only expect to use to heat up the water the first time then the solar cover will keep it warm till fall.

I bought the best solar cover they had and w/the pool being under direct sun light from approx 9 AM till about 5 (for now), my bro in law doesn’t expect me to need the heater again until fall.
When we put the liner in Friday you had to stand in the water or it would burn your feet and the water was also hot.

This winter it will be an ice rink for the twins ��

Very impressive, gator. What is the coating on the plywood sides? Also, do you have any coating on the bottom edge of the plywood as it sets on the ground, or maybe the plywood is setting on a treated 2x? Look great.

[hsbob]

put some foam in between the liner and outside frame. really helps with the heating. or at-least on the outside of the liner.

[Instigator]

The challenge continues.

My trick of ordering from Lowe’s on-line worked.
Twice.

My third order ($1300) did not.
Showed as a wk and a half out.
Was due to deliver last weds, but did not.

Spent a 1/2 hr on phone being being transferred and being put on hold before giving up.

Today I had to go to Marion (1/2 hr away) anyhow so called the Lowe’s 800 # while pulling out of garage, put it on speaker and headed that way.
Arrived in Marion still on hold.
Hit a drive through for lunch, ate in my car, still on hold.

Left there and drove to the Marion store and hung up my phone after being on hold an hr!!!!!!!!!

Spent a 1/2 hr at cust Svc in that store finding out that the store my order got transferred to......, had a manager that decided that due to demand....,he wasn’t shipping any pressure treated lumber!
First come, first served!

Let them know my angst in this decision...., and left.
Didnt notify me, no notice etc!

Told me they had people coming from all over the state to find lumber.

While there I saw a fresh bundle of 5/4 decking so on e home I ordered it on line for store p/u like they told me.
15 mins later they called to say someone just bought it!!!!

Ugh

**** LOWES!

[Velocity72]

Wow, not quite that bad here in NC. Haven’t heard of any shortages like that.

[CDave]

The challenge continues.

My trick of ordering from Lowe’s on-line worked.
Twice.

My third order ($1300) did not.
Showed as a wk and a half out.
Was due to deliver last weds, but did not.

Spent a 1/2 hr on phone being being transferred and being put on hold before giving up.

Today I had to go to Marion (1/2 hr away) anyhow so called the Lowe’s 800 # while pulling out of garage, put it on speaker and headed that way.
Arrived in Marion still on hold.
Hit a drive through for lunch, ate in my car, still on hold.

Left there and drove to the Marion store and hung up my phone after being on hold an hr!!!!!!!!!

Spent a 1/2 hr at cust Svc in that store finding out that the store my order got transferred to......, had a manager that decided that due to demand....,he wasn’t shipping any pressure treated lumber!
First come, first served!

Let them know my angst in this decision...., and left.
Didnt notify me, no notice etc!

Told me they had people coming from all over the state to find lumber.

While there I saw a fresh bundle of 5/4 decking so on e home I ordered it on line for store p/u like they told me.
15 mins later they called to say someone just bought it!!!!

Ugh

**** LOWES!

That's just messed up!

[Instigator]

There are four Lowe’s stores within 30 mins of our house.

The most any have of the 5/4 decking is 45 pcs (showing on line) and I just bought all of them for store pickup. Now I’ll wait and see if they process it or not.

Interesting that some stores have 10’ pcs at $8 per and some are $11.
Doesnt sound like a lot but multiply that times the 120 we’ve been through and the 45 I just ordered!

To add insult to the equation, the 2x6x10’s are at a store a 1/2 hr west of me.
So an hr round trip.
Drop them off at home then head a 1/2 hr east to pick up the 5/4 planking.

Looks like I spend the day in the truck.

Ugh

[Forkin' Crazy]

WTF??? Now I have another reason to favor Home Depot.

The other is the co-founder of Home Depot is a Trump supporter!

[Instigator]

Ken Langone is the other, and also a Trump fan.

You would love his book, “I love Capitalism”.

I couldn’t put it down.
A great read about a guy w/huge balls that risked it all and won.

WTF??? Now I have another reason to favor Home Depot.

The other is the co-founder of Home Depot is a Trump supporter!

[Instigator]

Pool is finished, filled, functional and Labrador approved.

Deck progresses as lumber becomes available.

[SS Minnow]

Congrats on finishing it, kind of. I remember reading one of your posts way back when you got 5/4 boards that were 3/16's thicker then what you had already. It just made me think, what a perfect excuse to buy a planer (I already have one), or just use the boards on a different section of the deck. I know you had your reasons, not questioning your ability.

In 2013 I built a raft and pier with treated 5/4 and I am already seeing that I will need to replace boards in the near future. I step on them and they flex quite a bit. Since I am the heaviest one using the pier, I just make it a point to keep my weight over the floor joist (since this is a boating site, call it the stringer) and this works. Unfortunately I am the only one mechanically inclined that walks that pier, so it is only a matter of time until they will need to be replaced.

Lumber quality today is crap. The last time I had a good lumber delivery was in Corpus Christi in winter of 2013. Built a deck and there was not one board that was not straight. I was surprised to see this beyond all get out. Not one bad board. I wonder what that deck looks like now.....

[Instigator]

SS, I have a planer too but 60 sticks 10’
long?

Who knows what the future will bring though.
Stack I got last wk was $3 per stick more than where I normally get it.
Times 80 sticks (that trip) + tax so, figure an extra $250 for the privilege of driving a 1/2 farther than the store that was out.

[nitro_rat]

Unfortunately don't expect it to get better...

[SS Minnow]

Yeah, I hear you. Although I kind of wish I had 3/16" thicker boards now that they are all dried out from the sun.

Do not even mention the prices, it makes me cringe. Glad I have no major projects going on, but worry about my future. While I am ready to retire, my checkbook keeps telling me that I am not.

[nitro_rat]

I'm only 35, planning to work until I die. Maybe one day I will be able to afford a boat fast enough to put myself out of my misery...

[SS Minnow]

I'm only 35, planning to work until I die. Maybe one day I will be able to afford a boat fast enough to put myself out of my misery...

You will work until you die, one way or another. I have gone from working sun-up until near sun down depending on the time of year, busting my hump on crappy renovation projects to taking a walk in the morning to watch the sun come up over the lighthouse and talking another walk at the end of the day just because. I fill in the day with mowing lawns, repairing screens, or whatever maintenance is required at my rentals. Occasionally I take the boat out. I should take the boat out more, but in my defense I have not had the bike or vette out this year, and I have had plenty of time.

Funny how you want all these toys when you are young and ambitious, and then you get them when you are older and it is like, meh,,,,,,,maybe tomorrow.