Again, I want to talk about swimming pools, even though it's early in the year and few of us are actually putting on swimming trunks anytime soon. What are we discussing this time? How about your brand new swimming pool?
Indeed, if you're thinking about adding a swimming pool to your home this season, then you need to consider foundation piers for your swimming pool. Why are foundation piers an important part of new pool construction? Because they support your swimming pool as the soil underneath it (and surrounding it) expands and contracts with different amounts of moisture. You wouldn't consider building a new house without proper support, so why would you build a swimming pool without proper support?
We may not give it much thought, but swimming pools are very heavy. Think about the structure that goes into building a pool and then add the weight of thousands of gallons of water. And, as with any heavy structure, your swimming pool needs support.
And, consider this. You have a very heavy structure "floating" in the soil of your backyard. And, just like a inflatable toy or chair bobbing in your pool, your swimming pool itself "bobs" in the soil, albeit at a much less noticeable rate. That is, as the amount of water in the soil changes, the soil expands and contracts, lifting and lowering your pool and pushing it from side-to-side. Your pool doesn't have to move much for damage to occur. Cracks and loose (and eventually leaking) plumbing are almost guaranteed when your pool moves too much.
Swimming pool repair isn't cheap and a broken swimming pool isn't usable or any fun. It's just a great big hole in the ground.
So, when you are discussing pool construction with your swimming pool contractor, be sure to ask about how the pool is to be supported and about foundation piers for your new pool. If the pool contractor says piers aren't necessary, then run — don't walk — away and find yourself another contractor. The extra you spend now on proper pier support for you swimming pool is a lot less (and a lot less aggravation) than what you'll spend later on for pool repairs and installation of piers after the new construction.
Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.
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