How To Make A Pool In A Bathhouse With Your Own Hands - Step By Step Instructions With Photos, Videos And Drawings

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Do-it-yourself pool in the bath: realizing a blue dream

Your own spa complex with a sauna and an indoor pool is the dream of every summer resident. After all, splashing in the clear turquoise water of a closed reservoir is much more pleasant than wandering along the muddy bottom of the nearest river. Making a pool in your bathhouse is not an easy task, but having carefully prepared for work, this dream can be realized with your own hands.

Content

• 1 Do I need a pool in the bath

  1.1 Photo gallery: options for arranging a bath with a pool

• 2 What designs can be

  • 2.1 Types by installation method
  • 2.2 By placement depth

  • 2.3 By filtration method

    • 2.3.1 Skimmer Pools
    • 2.3.2 Overflow

• 3 Getting ready for construction work

  3.1 We clarify the parameters of the pool

• 4 Ground hot tub with plastic bowl
• 5 Instructions for arranging an indoor pool with a plastic bowl

• 6 Making a pool with a concrete bowl with your own hands

  • 6.1 Video: Construction of an overflow concrete pool
  • 6.2 Methods for finishing a concrete bowl
  • 6.3 Video: about the manufacture and operation of the simplest hot tub for a bath

Do I need a pool in the bath

After a hot steam room, you will certainly want to quickly and abruptly plunge into the icy water, without this the pleasure of the bath will be incomplete. This is a pleasant and effective way of hardening, especially if the procedure is carried out regularly. Besides? thus, physical and mental fatigue is quickly removed, the body becomes more stress-resistant and remains young for longer. The procedures are recommended for both middle-aged people and children.

Some are afraid to install a pool at home due to the complexity of its manufacture or the high cost of maintenance. But now there are many hot tub options, many of which are inexpensive and quick to build.

It is worth abandoning the pool only if the bathhouse is very tiny and there is no place for a shed on the site.

Photo gallery: options for arranging a bath with a pool

Image of a winter forest creates the illusion of an outdoor swimming

Even in a small pool, it is worth equipping several handrails.

Pebble ends are an inexpensive but effective technique

Stones can be used to decorate not only the end of the pool, but also the nearest wall

A mirrored pool wall will make the room spacious

Rounded pool sides - an additional safety measure for families with children

Even in a tiny pool you can relax after a stuffy steam room

The rounding of the corners made the pool much more spectacular.

A grate in the floor around the pool will prevent water from being carried throughout the room

Thanks to the wooden lining of the sides, the plastic pool fits perfectly into the interior of the bath

What designs can be

In home baths, pools are used, which are different in installation method, depth of placement and type of filtration.

Types by installation method

• Collapsible. Such pools are installed very quickly and only for the period of use. A collapsible hot tub will help determine how popular the pool will be in your family. This way you can be sure of the need for a hot tub and navigate in a convenient size and depth.

  

  The collapsible pool is easy to install and can withstand large amounts of water

• Stationary. Fixed-type pools are built directly at the place of use. The main advantages of stationary hot tubs are high reliability, almost complete absence of restrictions in shape and size, completely hidden communications. Among the disadvantages are high labor costs, high cost, and the complexity of design (an incorrectly made pool can destroy the foundation of the structure). The bowl is made of reinforced concrete, built from bricks or blocks, followed by plastering and cladding, or a ready-made plastic one is bought.

  

  Its unusual shape makes the small pool look very stylish

• Hydromassage. This type of hot tub is essentially a large tub with hydromassage devices. Installed throughout the day in a finished building without the slightest risk to the building itself, it looks very stylish and provides an excellent relaxing effect. The hydromassage pool will cost much more than a simple collapsible one, but if you compare it with a stationary concrete one (made according to all the rules), then the amount will be comparable.

Depth of placement

• Buried (buried). Such structures are more attractive visually, do not overload the space and are considered more reliable. In addition, buried pools can be of any size, the length of 5–15 m is not the limit for them. It is important to take into account that embedded pools are more time consuming to manufacture and more difficult to maintain.

  

  The multi-level indoor pool looks very impressive

• Terrestrial. Such a pool is essentially a large bath or plunge pool. Above-ground pools are cheaper, easier to maintain and safer. For example, the probability that a small child will accidentally fall into it is practically reduced to zero. But terrestrial hot tubs are much smaller, they are not suitable for swimming.

  

  The ground pool looks massive, but also attractive

There is also an intermediate type - semi-buried pools, which combine the advantages and disadvantages of both types.

By filtration method

Skimmer Pools

Skimmer types of fonts are always fenced with a side so that water does not splash out of the pool bowl. The board itself is usually made of the same material as the bowl; it is part of a monolithic structure.

The skimmer pool is easy to distinguish by its side

Skimmer pools are the most compact type and are well suited for small private baths. On the technological scheme of the complex, it is easy to find cleaning devices - skimmers, from which the pools got their name. They capture the dirtiest surface water layer and a new chlorinated dose of liquid is added through the nozzles in the side walls.

Skimmer pool structure with indication of functional units

The figure shows a system for a pool with water filtration, devices for automated heating, purification, chlorination. If you want your pool water to be always clean and safe for all family members, all of these tools are essential. In addition, when planning a pool, it is important to immediately provide a place for placing all the components of the system. Some of the pipes may be located in the ground, but for devices it will be necessary to take a technical room at a level below the bottom of the pool.

Overflow

Overflow types of pools look more elegant and impressive due to the lack of a side. They are surrounded by a gutter, into which excess water splashes out of the bowl falls. Since all impurities are collected on the surface of the liquid, and the fresh portion comes from the bottom nozzles, the water is constantly cleaned with the help of an overflow chute. You can jump into such a pool without fear that you will then have to wipe the floor from puddles. But the likelihood of accidentally stumbling and falling into such a pool is much higher, so families with small children and elderly parents should be careful.

The overflow pool is always surrounded by a decorative grating

Another disadvantage of overflow pools is the need to equip an additional technical room of a much larger size than when arranging a skimmer font. In addition to standard devices, an overflow tank should also be placed there, into which excess water is drained and the missing water is taken. In addition, the bowl itself has to be made more extensive due to the fact that an overflow trough runs along the entire edge.

A detailed diagram of the device of the overflow basin with an explanation of the main components

Overflow pools are very beautiful, but you can do this in your bath only if the room allocated for the pool has parameters from 7x4 m. If desired, for this purpose, you can equip a covered extension next to the existing bath.

Getting ready for construction work

If you prefer a collapsible or hydromassage pool, there is no need to carry out construction work. You just need to choose a model that is suitable for the price and fits in the allotted room. In the case of a hot tub, the sales company often provides installation services and gives a guarantee for the entire system at once.

But if stationary pools are your thing, you have to work hard. In a private bath, we recommend making a skimmer hot tub, as the overflow will take up an unreasonable amount of space and will require much more effort and investment.

We clarify the parameters of the pool

First, let's define the depth. If the family has children under adolescence, the pool should not be deeper than 1–1.2 m. A depth of 2 m is needed only for swimming, any adult can plunge headlong in a 1.5 m hot tub. 1.65 m, but if there is a lot of space in the room, you can make a split-level pool with deep and shallow zones.

The length of the pool depends on how you use it. You can just plunge or splash with your child in a 2x2 m hot tub, but you need at least 5.5 m for swimming. A counterflow system will also need to be installed in a shallow swimming pool.

The width of the font is determined by the parameters of the designated area for it. It is important that the pool side does not come into contact with the walls, so the hot tub should be 0.6-1 m narrower than the distance between the walls, but not less than 1.5 m.

A very spectacular blob-shaped pool

The shape of the font is limited by the materials used. If you prefer a plastic hot tub, you can choose an option with rounded smooth lines, or a simple round / rectangular bowl. Manufacturers offer a very wide range of models of different depths, volumes and shapes. Be careful with the dimensions, take into account the required technological gap between the pool and the wall.

The more complex the concrete pool bowl, the higher the risk of cracking

Those who want to cast a bowl of concrete can shape the pool at will, bends and turns should not be too sharp, otherwise the mosaic will have to be cut at the facing stage. Since this is a time-consuming operation, and the result often does not look aesthetically pleasing, concrete bowls are often made rectangular, sometimes rounding the corners or one of the sides.

With the proper skill, blocks can form a very complex pool bowl

Those who build the base of a structure from bricks or blocks have little choice: a square, a rectangle or a trapezoid. Theoretically, it is possible to make a slight bend in such a pool, but this requires great professionalism of the masters. In addition, you will have to apply an uneven layer of plaster, and this is an additional risk of delamination of the structure. Therefore, it is better not to risk it and give preference to simple forms.

Ground hot tub with plastic bowl

For such a bowl, you don't even need to rebuild the side

The easiest way to make a pool is to purchase a plastic bowl and place it at floor level. Then only the supply and outlet pipes will be under the floor, and all other devices can be placed in the basement. Minimum excavation, no foundation risk, no waterproofing costs and no complicated calculations. From purchases: the bowl itself, cladding panels (you can use the remains of the lining), water pipes made of XLPE or polypropylene, connectors for them, as well as additional devices: a pump, filtration system, water heater, skimmer and pressure gauge. You can monitor water quality yourself, without automation.

No complicated tools are needed either. A standard set of a summer resident will be enough: a jigsaw for trimming the front panels, a mallet for adjusting them, the simplest soldering iron for assembling pipes, a sensor, a stationery knife and a screwdriver for installing the electrical part of the system.

Those looking for a built-in automated pool will have to tackle earth robots.

Instructions for arranging an indoor pool with a plastic bowl

You need to do the following work:

• Prepare a pit 60–70 cm wider and longer than the bowl you bought. The depth depends on your desire and capabilities, you can make both a fully and semi-submerged pool. Thoroughly tamp the earth in the pit, and then equip a pillow from a layer of fine gravel and coarse sand. After sealing the cushion, position the bowl so that there is a slight slope towards the drain hole. When the slope is provided in the design of the bowl, the side is strictly level. If after installation some of the pipes cannot be connected, they should be mounted and sealed before placing the plastic container in the pit.

  

  It is best to equip the pool at the construction stage of the bath, until the floor screed is poured into it

• Make a bead of stone, brick or reinforced concrete around the bowl so that there is a small gap between it and the bowl. This is a margin for thermal expansion of the tank. It is best if the bead starts 10–20 cm deeper than the base of the plastic bowl. The solution should be made of concrete grade M350 and higher, so that the wall does not collapse from moisture. Builders do not recommend making the pool end-to-end with the walls of the room so that the structure does not experience unnecessary stress. Make sure that the pipes connected to the side holes fit freely between the rim and the bowl.

  

  When arranging the side, the remains of stones, bricks or blocks from the construction of a bath can go

• Cover the side of the pool with plastic panels, porcelain stoneware or treated wood with increased water resistance. Since the material of the rim does not experience such strong loads as the pool bowl, even ceramic tiles can be used here. But the grout should be specialized for swimming pools, based on polymer resins.

  

  Thanks to the lining of the side, the plastic bowl does not make the pool cheaper at all

• It remains only to connect the automation and install the ladder in the pool.

  

  The counterflow system is only needed in swimming pools, floodlights are also optional

If you do not have experience in repairing electrical and plumbing fixtures, it is better to entrust the installation of the pipeline and the connection of devices to the appropriate specialists. This is the only way you can be sure that the system will be reliable and secure.

Do-it-yourself pool with a concrete bowl

This method of making a pool is the most difficult and responsible one. In no case is it possible to pour a concrete bowl without a detailed design and calculation of soil loads. Otherwise, there is a risk that after construction a crack in the foundation or wall will appear in the bathhouse, and the bowl itself will be eroded by groundwater. Therefore, you can start to act only after you find a project that suits you in all respects.

The correct project will indicate all the necessary materials, methods of connecting pipes, the diameter of the fittings and the power of the devices. It is extremely difficult to make such calculations yourself. Only a professional, after studying the terrain and your bath structure, will be able to say to what size the cell size can be increased when creating a reinforcing mesh, or when to additionally strengthen the foundation. Remember that by saving on the designer's work, you run the risk of being left not only without a pool, but also without a bath.

Example of a pool plan with a technical room

Based on the finished project, you can get to work. Consider a process based on a skimmer embedded pool with a size of 3960x2870 mm:

1. Dig a pit 2.08 m deep, 3.43 m wide and 4.52 m long in the designated area. Compact all surfaces with a hand rammer or vibrating machine.

   

   Inside the room, the pit has to be dug manually

2. If the site is located in an area with swampy soil, additional drainage should be provided so that groundwater does not destroy the pool foundation. Dig trenches 45–50 cm deep along the foundation pit, make a pillow of fine gravel and coarse sand in them. Lay drainage pipes in the ditches with a diameter of 15 cm or more so that they drain water into a drainage well or septic tank. Fill the trench with layers of rubble, sand and soil and level the base of the excavation.

   

   Scheme of arrangement of a pool with drainage

3. Lay a drainage pipe under a slope through which the liquid will drain. Use a 10 cm plastic sewer pipe with a socket joint. Since the water will be chlorinated, it cannot be taken to a common septic tank. Equip a sewer well at a distance of at least 5 m from the pool and bring a drain pipe into it. Fill the pipe trench with rubble, sand and soil in layers.

   

   The section clearly shows how the drainage pipe is laid and connected

4. Set up a pool cushion: sprinkle a 10 cm layer of fine gravel over the entire area of the pit, compact it; cover with a 4-5 cm layer of coarse sand. Align and compact the pillow well, it will become the basis for the entire structure. After that, pour a layer of concrete 3-5 cm thick so that the reinforcement placed subsequently is insulated from water and does not rust. Cement must be taken with a high water absorption coefficient. The bags must be marked with W-8 and M350.

   

   Sand and gravel cushion scheme

5. Make the frame of the bowl from reinforcing rods 10 mm thick so that the cell size does not exceed 200x200 mm (unless otherwise indicated in the technical design). Tie the rods together with a wire so that the connection is free. Knots, rigidly fixed by welding, burst over time.

   

   Creating a reinforcement belt for a pool

6. Before pouring, place the mortgages so that, as a result, technological niches and openings are formed in the right places.

   

   Carefully check the size of the mortgages, since it is impossible to drill the concrete after pouring the bowl - the structure may crack

7. Construct the formwork from chipboard sheets, plywood or boards and film (needed to close the cracks) so that the distance between the outer and inner walls is 25-30 cm. The structure must be reliable so that it does not deform under the weight of the concrete being poured.

   

   Neat formwork allows for perfectly vertical walls

8. Fill the reinforcement with a cement-sand mixture (concrete W-8 and M350, specify the ratio with sand on the package). If you do not have a concrete mixer, it is worth renting a tool. The pool bowl is poured in one go without interruption, so you will need to quickly make a large amount of mortar. If this rule is not followed, the concrete bowl will quickly crack. After pouring, expel air bubbles from the mixture with a vibrator or a long reinforcing bar. Swirl the solution by sharply dipping and pulling the rod, repeat the procedure around the entire perimeter of the bowl.

   

   If you hire a truck with a concrete mixer, the mixture can be pumped with a hose through the window

9. Remove the formwork one week after pouring. Moisten the concrete surface every day for a month so that it dries evenly and does not crack.

   

   If the wooden formwork has been insulated with foil, it easily comes off the concrete

10. Plaster the inside of the bowl to align the geometry and shape the bowl. The technology of work is standard, only you need to take a specialized mixture with the addition of latex. You can also add liquid glass yourself. The layer of plaster should not exceed 25 cm. Pay attention to the embedded parts so as not to accidentally close the necessary technological hole. The plaster layer is dried for 1–2 months.

    

    After plastering, mortgages should remain in sight

11. After the concrete is completely dry, insulate the inside and outside of the bowl. Treat the concrete with liquid glass, then with means for increasing adhesion (concrete contact), polymer mastic and, finally, with a dense film with welded seams. Specify the period required for drying each layer on the packaging, it differs from different manufacturers.

    

    The inside of the bowl is insulated in several layers

12. Line the inside of the bowl and pool side. Lay pipes along the outer contour and backfill the foundation pit. Place tiles or other flooring that is used in the room around the pool.

    

    The mesh pool mat is not only functional, but also brightens up boring tiles

For work, you will need a standard set of tools: a skein of thread for marking the foundation on the ground; digging shovels; ramming machine; a wheelbarrow for transporting building materials; grinder for cutting fittings; scissors for metal or wire cutters; jigsaw for cutting formwork fragments; building level for quality control of the structure; usually a trowel and trowel for plaster, rubber trowel for grouting, etc.

Video: construction of an overflow concrete pool

Equipment diagram in the technical room

We recommend that summer residents with no experience entrust the connection of plumbing and electrics to hired workers. Those who have an idea of installing such structures can easily assemble the system according to the diagram attached to the pool project.

Methods for finishing a concrete bowl

It depends on the previous stages of construction how reliable and functional the pool will be, and the cladding determines whether it will be beautiful. In modern construction, three options are used:

• PVC foil. A special thick film is tightly glued to the waterproofing walls and the bottom of the bowl, all seams are carefully welded and waterproofed. This is the most economical finishing option, any pattern can be printed on the film, the material is not afraid of fungi and microalgae, and the seams are invisible. Installation of such cladding requires some skill (in order to smooth out wrinkles and bubbles in time), but you can do it yourself. With these advantages, the film remains exposed to mechanical stress, over time it can be wiped off or accidentally broken, and then the damage will need to be soldered or patched. The film can be cleaned with a sponge and soap, but under no circumstances should it be rubbed with abrasive products.

  

  The seams on the foil lining are completely invisible

• Glass mosaic. Small squares made of tempered glass are great for cladding swimming pools of complex shapes, allowing you to create complex patterns and geometric compositions on the bottom and walls. This material looks great 50–80 years after installation, it is absolutely not afraid of water, disinfecting reagents and biological agents (mold, algae). But the mosaic is expensive, from $ 24 per square meter, and besides, it puts forward stringent requirements for the quality of glue and grout. If you save on epoxy, the seams can quickly turn black, green or cracked. But the glass mosaic is not capricious in its care, it can be cleaned with any detergents. If you do not want the squares to become cloudy, abrasives should also be discarded.

  

  A small round font can be faced with small mosaics without any visible change in the width of the joints

• Porcelain tiles for swimming pools. Only premium-class pools are finished in this way, since specialized tiles for hot tubs cost 25-35% more than tempered glass mosaics. The reason for this price is that the technology of its manufacture allows water absorption below 3%, which is more complicated and costly than the production of ordinary tiles. But porcelain tiles look just great, they serve 50 years or longer, and besides, it allows you to reduce the number of seams - the most vulnerable areas in the lining of the pool. The material is completely inert to chloride compounds and household chemicals. There will be no problems with caring for it; even light abrasives (gels and pastes interspersed with solid particles) can be used when cleaning.

  

  A harmonious combination of porcelain tiles and mosaics in one pool

If aesthetics and durability are important to you at the same time, give preference to glass mosaic, but when you need to save money, you can do with film. Over time, the PVC coating can be dismantled and replaced with another, for example, the same mosaic.

Glass mosaic with photo printing helped to create the effect of a waterfall in the pool

If you wish, you can create an exclusive pool by ordering for facing panels made of tempered glass with a photo print or pouring a bowl of artificial stone. Such options look completely unique, but they are much more expensive than standard ones.

Video: about the manufacture and operation of the simplest hot tub for a bath

If you do not want to spend a lot of time and money on arranging the pool, such a font will come in handy. It will not be difficult to make it, you just need to add a drain pipe to the structure from below. You can fill it with clean tap water only on the days when the sauna is in use. Since the water will not constantly stand in the font, it will not need to be chlorinated, and this is a definite plus for allergy sufferers and people with sensitive skin.

Try to carefully follow the instructions, do not change the design of the pool and do not try to save on communications. Then your pool will become a favorite place for relaxation for the whole family.