Summer 2011 DIY Lap pool project

I used to swim a lot before i moved to Richmond and was looking for another way to get in shape, without wasting time going and coming back from a gym when i have my gym in my basement. So, In popped the idea of having my own pool...but my backyard is so small? I figured I'd dig a hole, some cinder blocks, plaster, and attach myself by a harness to the garage wall. Well it turned into a bigger project with a 4hp pump to make it endless with no harness. On top of that, by the time I was done building it, getting in shape by swimming in it wasn't as pertinent lol! --some people have asked about price... i did it myself to not incur cost :) I salvaged as much as I could...so your costs depend on whether you enjoy the hunt of a deal or if you just go and buy things....

[@SenatorTonyKreutzer]

Man, THANK YOU for posting this. I was considering to do a 5' wide x 25' long lap pool in my yard EXACTLY like yours, and not with poured concrete, but just cinder. You just proved to me what I thought: That it can be a 1-man project. Thanks !

[@geophreigh]

DUDE!!! I am really impressed, looks like you found a good way to stay in shape, digging a giant hole and then moving the dirt piles. This is really pretty cool, good work.

[@julesmccants11]

Your video gives me a ton of hope - thank you! I had an above ground pool, but was way tired of turning around every 24 ft... now I belong to an indoor and can't breathe the chlorine, nor can I afford a typical jet lap pool - now I just need to tell my husband how amazing he is and that I know the super hero in him can do it - LOL! I look forward to doing it together - keep you posted:) Peace.

[@unrealarsepeel8376]

That's impressive. Well done for sticking at it.

[@kathleensterckx]

Unreal Arsepeel ''

[@AtomicCheri]

Still waiting for an update! :) Would love to see how it looks during the day.

[@rodneyduncan6204]

Very nice update. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@joannehaywood4708]

Nice to watch a video on the reality of building your own pool, turned out really good, the hard work and frustration payed off well done

[@RustyBobbins]

Awesome! I love the geometric look the inside takes on with each level of block stepped in a bit. Form following function. Now if I could just get one in my backyard...

[@rockdiva100]

Thanks for this. Inspirational for me. Loved the music too...really cruisy. I want to build a natural pool but this has given me some ideas.

[@JeffDeWitt]

Nice job! Swimming is such great exercise and I've been thinking (more dreaming) of a lap pool, but this looks like something I could do, thanks for the great idea.

[@ingridseifermann5082]

Thanks a million, your video is a great inspiration.

[@2wheelspy]

Lots of hard work put in. Well done.

[@WilliamPabonJr]

Great job, building mine, a bit smaller 5ft x 12ft. But I will use a bungee cord and a belt so I swim in place. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@thehoffaman]

Thanks man! That was my original plan but it doesn't work out that well....that's why I did the jets. The problem, that I figured out after buying the harness set up thing....you sink as soon as you stop for even a second. There is no inertia or water movement. It doesn't really feel like swimming like you'd think it would.

[@WilliamPabonJr]

@@thehoffaman you got a point there, ty fir the input.

[@thehoffaman]

@@WilliamPabonJr And you will definitely want to go wider if you want to be able to do the breaststroke/arm stroke. You need the width of your arms pretty extended plus enough room to actually sway a bit off center.

[@WilliamPabonJr]

@@thehoffaman didn't think about that. I normally just freestyle and breaststroke but to do the others yeah I should of made it wider. Good point

[@unemployedjohnny]

Nice job man...laughed at the cement in the lotus!

[@jamesstockbauer1245]

You did a hell of a job. Man it goes to show if you have enough determination the average person can learn to build anythin!!! well

[@valeriefarragher]

Wow, just goes to show what being determined can do... Well done!

[@LaJewel]

OMG - great job!

[@mariahidalgo2840]

Congratulations! Thank you for sharing. :)

[@DH-bs1di]

Nicely done. Appears that next project will have to be hybrid PV/passive solar pool heater - lots of DIY ideas out there....

[@willymags123]

u did an outstanding job! fantastic!!

[@heroknaderi]

Great job

[@maccinque]

So awesome !!!!! Wow......your smart. Great job.

[@tomdownard3277]

I had an idea for your pool that wouldn't cost much and would heat it. They give away (plumbing places) old water heater tanks. find the place where you can put them in series. A pump to move the heated water to the pool and suck out the same amount of water to go through the painted black tanks that are burried up in black stone. The sun heats the water and the stone thermal storage. Keeps filling the swimming pool with heated water and circulating the heat. It is free heating. a valve could

[@jimthescotsman]

cool video , cool project you gave yourself . must have felt very rewarding doing all that and standing back to enjoy the pool . :)

[@theantspants1]

Great stuff mate awesome video

[@NuttakandSaleewan]

good job man !

[@TOOCOOLSALEM]

Great Job man!!!!

[@Batzmaru45full]

Great video! Thank for the upload.

[@lacreshajohnson5576]

Can you show a video of you swimming?? love to see it in action..Those jets look might strong. Jumping out the Pool

[@mz2mch]

Awesome job!

[@handsoffanomaly7]

The most interesting part of this project is that you picked up your concrete in a Lotus!

[@anastasios3006]

Well done 👍

[@AveIvy]

Great job. Impressive.

[@mattMcLovinisbae]

the pool light was cool

[@BuildBeach]

Very cool project, indeed..

[@user-ug4yc8ry1y]

great job my friend

[@TwinMillMC]

Wow! What an amazing DIY project undertaking! Tell me, how was your back during the process? This job looked like a REAL back breaker...

[@johnpeze]

Man from a pool builder's stand point! Objective complete. Lol

[@josephinelovelyb7936]

Good job. So beautiful. Keep safe and God bless😊

[@epidemik816]

A water heater and a removeable green house type roof would make it useable all year round.

[@jimmer1499]

Great project! I don't need a lap pool, but I'd expand this design out another 4-6 feet and make a nice dip pool for cooling off in the summer. I also like the Intex salt water system, but I'm interested in how you got an above-ground pump/filter system to work with an in-ground pool. Is it a self-priming pump?

[@hooktenpushups]

great vid! got a video of you swimming in the thing?

[@ronniedecastro433]

can you help me about the complete specification the 4 HP Pump..please

[@banacek8675]

You put concrete bags in your Lotus?!

[@HeartPortal]

Thank You for documenting & posting this :) Looks like a great way to lose some weight, stay in shape & have a nice workout pool after. Love that you re-sourced your item from your local community (Craigslist) *What length did you make your pool?

[@shawpay6987]

Dude you are AWESOME!

[@ILOVESWIMMINBIKING]

thank you made this video!! how much about this pools??

[@latinsb4u]

Cool nicely done

[@alexjohnson3455]

Hello buddy. Fantastic project and a job well done. Iv dug my trench and concrete is arriving in a few days. I almost just bought a water pump a heater, air jets air pump off eBay and a control panel and I got thinking how on earth do I sync all that up? If been trawling around but can't find anything. Can't find it as a kit either. I really want a touchpad on the side

[@woodbury64bob]

that a boy! Proud of you!

[@marys.2301]

thanks for the time u took 2 make the video. can i ask hat i can expect to spend on one like yours?

[@kirkbrindley1951]

Great Job Josh!! Amazing. Would love to see a photo of the fully finished product. (To include the back yard and design around it. (How it fit into the concept of the yard.) Thanks.

[@thehoffaman]

Thanks Kirk! I'm still working on the yard! I started a masters program and got swamped. I figured as long as the pool part was operational...the rest could come later. I'm going to try to finish it up this summer and I'll get some more pics!

[@burtreynolds3143]

Great job Josh. I'm unsure why you are calling this a lap pool but I'm impressed with the build.

[@thehoffaman]

because you swim laps in it... it's endless with the jets.. you don't really move... so i guess technically you are swimming laps but in place... the end result is the same...swimming for a long time and not really going anywere. Thank you!

[@rtoma1974]

Amazing.

[@Azdude801]

Gugolero would of never of pulled if off as well as you did. I can tell his by his attitude. Great intention, great job!

[@stevelebard5698]

Great job. I would like your thoughts on a few things that I came up with. You mortared the concrete block and then used surface bonding cement for waterproofing. Quikrete the manufacturer of Quikwall surface bonding cement states that you can dry stack the concrete block, trowel on the Quikwall 1/8"-1/4" thick and you end up with a wall that is 5 times stronger than a mortared wall. The wall could be smooth and color can be added to Quikwall (50lb bags at $14 each). Easier, faster and cheaper?

[@maxngurruwuthun6071]

The pool is good

[@fredrikatnarsson1779]

brilliant

[@cupcake474747]

The digging itself should get you into shape

[@AjayKumar-sl2zi]

Great effort. What is your experience with the swim jet as I would like to get one and trying to compare to endless system. Is the wave area large enough for swimming against the current.

[@Numb3r3dDays]

outstanding!

[@gabepetro358]

Them jets look righteous

[@nspineda9]

I thought I was fool dreaming building my own in ground pool. I love you! How much is the total cost?

[@miguelgonzalez5090]

what is the price

[@Malumbrus]

Air - Universal Traveler Awesome!

[@theruleoffire]

Good for you dude nice work.. :-)

[@MrMISTERFREAK]

With that power of "slumjet" the pool can fly :)

[@vmriena]

My question is what is between the plaster and cinder blocks ; cement floor ? Did you smooth mortar and then use surface bonding cement and then plaster also how thick did you lay the plaster 1/2 inch ?

[@johall430]

Hi ...great job it looks lovely....was it an expensive project??

[@twogr8hands]

Great job. May I ask how much you spent on materials? The clairity of the water was so good that when you fist started filming I could not tell the pool was filled until you turned on the blowers. Big points for very hard work.

[@opheliarises]

Sweet!

[@MeravLovesKitties]

I'd love this in my yard.

[@Robin-re9qf]

Merav LaFranca y

[@donnacooper2562]

Wonder what it looks like now? Did you do the bench on the decking?!?!

[@merzadnicknoghrechi2692]

I started building a large pond, cinder block filled concrete with rebar 30'x30'x2' (this portion professionally done couple of yrs ago) and small part is 4' deep for getting wet. Now I like to finish it myself. I have not put the flooring yet,and I am concern about waterproofing. What did you use for plaster, how many quotes, are you happy with it? I also would love to hear your feedback on the jets and if it's working for you. If so, parts list or recommendation is appreciated.

[@MrTrevorDidier]

Good upload. I've loaded my Versa with tons of material - it can also take a bit :) Can you increase/decrease the jet power? Also, would you do anything different knowing what you know now?

[@thehoffaman]

Thank you! I can increase and decrease flow by turning the jet nozzle to reduce the amount of water passing through. I can also turn the valve on top which opens and closes a venturi valve which pulls air into the water rushing toward me in the pool. This in effect increases the force and turbulence.

[@thehoffaman]

I don't think I'd do anything differently. Maybe add a second return from my skimmer on the other side of the existing output... maybe i'll do that this summer.

[@MrTrevorDidier]

That's great! Thank you for the reply.

[@virish8]

Hi Genius, really appreciate ur work,would u please tell us how much did it cost u in details plz cause am going to have it indoor.

[@yvairguy]

did you pour the block solid after you laid them up?

[@tshirtfactory07]

awesome song

[@mappington]

Impressive DIY pool! Thinking of doing something similar. Was wondering if you filled all the cinder block walls or just around the jets? If so, how many bags of concrete did you end up using?!?

[@thehoffaman]

I didn't fill them all in... mainly around the jets and any extra I filled in around in the walls. I don't know how many bags i used just for that... there was the floor, the joints etc.

[@4footvagina]

nice job

[@PeterBamboo]

wow cool insane dude

[@keeteelaw5356]

Still using this pool, may I ask?

[@joseeleblanc8773]

Omg wow

[@znyx00]

woooow thats great men

[@tomdownard3277]

switch from heating the pool, to heating the house water heater. Just before water goes into the pool and right at the shower or at the sink one would have a temp heater that would only kick on if the temp of the pool, sink, or shower wasn't quit up to the temp you want the pool, sink, or shower. I figure this, like the pool would also be inexpensive to build, people give away pumps etc for hot tubs just to get them out of their yard. Endless supply of pumps etc in the Free section of the paper!

[@mangravy2000]

How is this today? Did you add a heater? What kind? How did the jet system work out? I'm thinking of copying the "Endless Pool" type system with 2 returns of 1.5 foot diameter and a propeller to provide the current. Using the same flow stabilizer vent grill to make it a nice even flow with no bubbles. I'm hoping you can offer some insight into what not to do being its been a few years. thanks if you can help.

[@gugolero]

Again, the intention is very good. I am now on a similar project and I know it is not easy. regards

[@user-gf9ss2hn4g]

realy want to know where i can get the swim jet manifold i cant get it anywhere in israel..

[@angelwings6582]

Thanks for sharing this. It will help me & my husband with our DIY lap pool. The music is intoxicating. Who is it?

[@thehoffaman]

Air- Universal Traveler

[@eorgeburns8]

How well has it held up?

[@matthewyount2264]

Where did you get the swim jet manifold? How much did it cost, and if you made it, How? Thanks. (ps, this music on this is awesome)

[@tomdownard3277]

When I lived in Portland a German co-worker built his own solar hot water for the price of some copper tubing and a sheet of plywood. He built a series and said they worked great. I think if I try your pool, which is smart, and inexpensive compared to! I will try to solar and wood fire heat it. cost a pump, and a series of hot water tanks out of their metal housing hooked up in series, hidden under the dirt of the raised bed where I could dispose of the dirt.

[@stephenbyce]

A quick question - what did you use to seal the bricks to make them waterproof?

[@thetechshow8533]

Where did you get the jets, and how much did they cost? This is an amazing project! I would like to do this myself! I can't believe that you dug it ll by hand!

[@tomdownard3277]

I sure would like to hear more about your trials and errors. Also when you say you worked all summer just in time to use the pool for a week. Does that mean you can't use your heated lap pool in the winter? Or does it mean that it broke down in a week, or hit an unsurmountable problem after a week? I sure would like to see a longer version and I bet there are many more like me. It seems that digging the hole was the hardest part? Can you tell me if you would do it again this way?

[@stephenelkins8045]

Excellent video. What was your total cost to build your pool?

[@TwinMillMC]

Well you did an amazing job! Just watching your video caused me back pain LOL. All those cinder blocks and moving all that dirt with a shovel? I can't even imagine! Sounds like a dumb question but seriously, any disc damage during this process? I would have needed the pool for therapy after this undertaking...

[@TheMrKrause]

DIY Solar is the cheapest way... If you have a cheap wood supply you could make a woodstove heat exchanger.

[@BackStageCowboy]

Hey I understand that prices will be different for everybody but what did you personally spend on it if you had to guess?

[@mordywest33]

where did you get the jet modifold ? just askin

[@52sunnyd]

How many leaks did you have to fix ?

[@kurtpetrey]

What kind of plaster did you use? The plaster was the only thing you needed to water seal it?