Pool to go in sloped back yard

16 years ago

We'll, I think we've decided that we're going with a pool. Now, we are trying to decide how to situate the pool as we have a sloped back yard. From the top of the yard, near the house, the yard generally slopes downward 5-6ft over the roughly 50ft area that would be where the pool + decking will be. So, my question is, should we consider having the top area where the spa and entrance to the pool area raised so that you enter the pool area at grade? (we'd then have a RBB at the shallow end of the pool and steps down (12-18", is my guess) somewhere along the side. On the one hand, this sounds nice because we'd get a decent from the spa, but it would face away from the house. Or, should we have the top area graded down so that we have to step down onto the pool deck from the back of the house? (we'd probably have to do a small retaining wall or simply landscape the slope and put in drainage pipe to prevent run off from flowing on to the deck and into the pool) I guess it may help to note that we will only be fencing the pool area as our backyard is too large to fence the whole thing.

Comments (5)

bjackels
16 years ago
This is exactly the situation we had last year when we installed our pool. What we ended up doing was lowering the one end of the yard, putting in a retaining wall and steps, and it turned out great. The biggest thing to worry about is putting that pool on fill dirt, which is what would have to be done if you raised the far end. It may encourage cracking or floating, depending on what kind of pool you have. In any case, it probably isn't a good idea. Great luck, and take a look at our site. It has pics from beginning to end.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jackels' Pool 2006
t-square
16 years ago
I love slopes. They eliminate most of the competition for me and they allow me to make more money and do fancier things. You really don't have much to worry about in your case. Whatever you do as far as cut/fill goes, just make sure the entire pool structure is embedded into firm, native soil. That's not going to be difficult at all for a 10:1 slope.
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meandaddy
16 years ago
We had a similar issue, our yard slanted diagonally, with the higher elevation towards the back of the yard. A couple of the salesmen discussed a retaining wall, but I wanted to go with a Raised Bond Beam to allow for a 'cannonball zone' in the deepend. I am very happy with my decision.

Have a great day,
Deron
(hope the pictures aren't too big, my first time posting pictures)

T-Squares comment (about elinating the competion) was interesting, since it may explain why over half the salesmen that came out to the house, I never heard from again. (Eight builders came out, only 3 gave me bids)
careers4u
16 years ago
We had the same issue. The back side of our pool stuck out of the ground about four feet after the gunite went it. We had five trucks of crusher run and eighteen trucks of dirt brought in for the back side to be compacted and create a bank. We went out flat fifteen feet from the pool then created a slope that we have done plantings on to retain the bank. It disappears into the woods. The end result is nice, just looked a bit strange going in. Also, dirt costs more than you think, so just be sure you have a good excavator!

Kim
tommy281
16 years ago
we had the same issue, although out slope was only 3'.