Choosing the right pool builder for your installation is pertinent to the success of your project. How do you know if your pool builder is a good one? One simple answer… Rhino-Roc Construction.
Rhino-Roc Construction is the combination of best practices for fiberglass pool installation eliminating the most common problems that can develop using the “industry standard” minimum. We at Coastal Reflections Pools and Outdoor Living take pride in knowing we are providing our clients, our friends with the best quality workmanship and staying true to the values of our company.
What is backfill material? It is simply the material that we place under the pool and around the outside of the pool shell after it is set in the excavated hole. The use of clean, crushed stone backfill is imperative to the long-term success of a fiberglass pool installation. Sand is the traditional material used in the industry, and it works well in areas with pure sandy soils. But it doesn’t take a soil specialist to understand what happens to sand when it becomes saturated with water: it liquefies.
When installing a pool, there are basically two types of plumbing pipe to choose from: hard pipe or flexible pipe. We only use hard pipe. Because it does not flex and bend with the contours of the pool, it does require more effort to install. But because flexible pipe is actually not rated for underground use, we don’t feel it’s worth the risk.
One of the major causes of pool plumbing leaks is movement. When pipes shift, this sets in motion a chain reaction that puts undue stress on the pipe, plumbing connections, and the attached components of the pool such as return jets, skimmers, and drains. We secure the plumbing by fastening the pipes to the pool shell using a strap system. Therefore no stress is placed on any component of the plumbing system.
One area of concern is where the pool shell and patio join. The River Rod fuses the fiberglass pool shell and patio together to prevent shifting, settlement, or movement of any kind that could result in structural failure. The River Rod is a 12-inch-long composite rod that we install into the top of the pool shell. It becomes encased in the concrete bond beam that we pour around the perimeter of the pool.
Unlike sand, the right stone backfill will not move or settle. As a result this creates a condition for long-term plumbing success.
All inground fiberglass pools require some concrete to be poured around their perimeter to stabilize the pool shell. This concrete bond beam is poured extra thick and flows under the lip of the fiberglass pool shell and encases the River-Rod. Subsequently the concrete “bites” around the River-Rod and the lip of the pool, locking everything into place, ensuring the pool and patio will be structurally secure for many, many years.
Eventually, all fiberglass pools will need to be drained. You must be able to inspect and remove any ground water around the outside of the pool shell to prevent damage. Because we think long-term, a sump pipe is included so you can do just that.