I would like to dig my own for a pool.

[gippolit]

I have rhino 85 backhoe and would like to dig a hole for a 16x32 in ground pool. The fiberglass type. Has anyone ever tried this with a smaller backhoe. Also I'm looking for any advice you guy's can give me.


Regards;
Glen

 

[LarryD]

I'm sure you could dig any size hole you want given enough time, but I don't have a backhoe so that's purely an assumption.

I can tell you I been around many excavations and big holes can be very dangerous. The longer they sit, the more unstable they become. I'm not sure if you can dig it all from the top or will have to excavate an access to finish it from the bottom. Either way you're probably going to be in a precarious situation that could put you in a heap of trouble very quickly.

I would move very carefully on that one.

 

[robison]

A hole that size is not usually dug with a compact tractor backhoe. It's usually done with a bulldozer or excavator. You are going to have to move an awful lot of buckets to get what you want.

Smaller pools are often dug with Bobcats around here. You could probably rent one and do the job a lot faster

 

[marks]

My pool was dug with a mini-excavator, its the same size and took less than a day. The operator was highly skilled at cutting in the steps and seats, as well as ensuring the uniformity of the slope and so forth. He was paid $500 a day by the pool contractor; for that skill level it seemed like money well spent. Moreover not knowing the allowable tolerances of the excavation hole and the fiberglass pool, that could pose another consideration. Lastly, soil types are also a variable. Let us know what happens.

 

[SacandagaBrad]

Soil type, water table, duration of an open hole, weather conditions all will be determining factors. It sounds like you will have to work from inside the hole. Be very careful, fully understand benching requirements. I used to work in the excavation business as an operator and now work as a project manager overseeing contractors, it is amazing how quick and how bad things can go wrong.

You might want to leave this one to the pool guys, both for safety reasons and warranty issues with the pool.

Stay safe.

Brad

 

[EddieWalker]

I have no experience in this, but will offer a few thoughts just the same.

I'd guess you could dig the hole fast enough with the backhoe. Getting rid of the dirt is going to be the real chore.

Not knowing your soil conditions probaby makes this point mute, but I'd dig about six inches to a foot deeper then you need, then fill with sand.

Instead of trying to dig the exact width for a tight fit, which will be impossible anyway, I'd dig it with a nice slope all the way around. Give yourself plenty of room to install the plumbing and electrical when it's in place.

I have no idea how you get the pool into the hole, but you might consider a long ramp if you don't have a crane or something to pick it up with.

After you get everything connected and tested, I'd put a litte water in it, maybe three to four feet. Then I'd start backfilling with sand.

Sand is the only material that will compact on it's own to the upper 90 percent range. Get good clean corse sand.

Fill around the sides a few feet at a time, then jet with water. I did this for awhile in California running a water truck on construciton sites. Basically, you just shove a pvc pipe into the sand with water running through it. Your garden hose will supply the water. Push the pipe into the sand pile and after awhile, the sand will collapse into itself and voiding the air pockets.

This will take ALLOT of water, but it's the ony way I know to be sure to get solid contact all the way around your pool.

It's also important to keep the pool full of enough water to avoid it "FLOATING" on the water your putting into the hole.

Keep adding water as the sand level rises, but not so much that the water lever is going to cause the pool to flex because theres nothing there to support it.

I don't see why you couldn't do it, but I'm the type that tries to do everything myself anyway. Sometimes it works, sometimes I get into trouble.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[GerardC]

I would leave it to the pros. As brad has stated, warranty could become an issue in the future not to mention the frustrations you'll probably have to endure if you try to tackle the job yourself.

 

[JeffSpencer]

My nieghbor just finished doing his. He borrowed a trackhoe and a bulldozer from his work. He used a laser gun for the slope. He used the trackhoe to lift and set the pool in place. Believe it or not, he had the pool dug out and installed in one Saturday and the pool was pretty big. I would go with Eddy's advice on filling the pool. Add water and sand equally.

 

[BigEddy]

You thinking of doing it with the FEL or the hoe?
This pool have a deep end or not?
And do you expect to hit water in your hole?

Trying to dig an 8'deep end with a compact backhoe will be an exercise in repositioning, and re-moving dirt. 8' deep you're talking about a working envelope about 2' square at the bottom, and the only place to put the dirt will be exactly where you want to dig next. So position, dig, turn around and move the dirt off to the side, then dig again. Figure 1 cubic foot per bucket, you're talking about 3000 scoops, and about 30 hours hoe work, plus anywhere from 4-8 hours to move the dirt away.

If I were to try it with a CUT, I'd dig as much as possible with the loader. Given that you're going to have to move all the dirt with the loader anyway, would save duplicating work. I might dig the entire hole to the shallow end depth, then finish the deep end using the hoe. Safer too - as wouldn't be looking at falling 8' down into the deep end if a bank collapsed. It's still 3000 cubic feet of dirt, but it's only 200-300 buckets full. You're still talking about 15 hours or so of digging and moving dirt - but much less than using the backhoe. But if you hit water, you're stuck (literally).

But me - I'd hire out or rent an excavator for a day. You'll get the hole done in half a day, and the dirt can be placed directly on the spoils pile (or into a truck) from the hole. Plus - what better way to get some seat time in an even bigger toy?

BigEddy

Note: Times are based on easy digging in sandy loam - add time for rock and clay

 

[gippolit]

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( You thinking of doing it with the FEL or the hoe?
This pool have a deep end or not?
And do you expect to hit water in your hole?

I was thinking of doing it with both.
The pool will have a 3ft end and a 8ft end.
No water until 11 foot. I just put in anyother leach pitk, which was 10 foot down.

Thanks for all your help.

)</font>