Helical Piers for Swimming Pools
Helical Piers for Swimming Pools
(OP)
Would it be advisable or inadvisable to use Helical Piers to support a large residential swimming pool? Would this create stress on the pool if the ground shifts or would it prevent stress if the piers were tied to the walls with stee?






RE: Helical Piers for Swimming Pools
Supporting the pool from underneath ?
I don't quite understand.
RE: Helical Piers for Swimming Pools
RE: Helical Piers for Swimming Pools
RE: Helical Piers for Swimming Pools
RE: Helical Piers for Swimming Pools
If the pool is anchored to the ground below, and the clays shrink / swell, then you will induce relatively high stresses at the points where the piers connect to the shell of the pool.
How bad is the soil - can you give a technical description ?
RE: Helical Piers for Swimming Pools
There are national standards that must be followed carefully, they also serve as a good guide. If you are in the states, check the NSPI website for information. If you are in the UK, then the SPATA website is the place to go. Note that the 2 institutions are the most recognised and in the case of SPATA it is the national standard for swimming pools.
Look there, you might find an answer. Or post a message at their forums and a specialist in the field will give you more details.
Best of luck!
RE: Helical Piers for Swimming Pools
RE: Helical Piers for Swimming Pools
I have heard of pools incorrectly constructed on clay (I have seen something similar), that the shell can pull away from the deck when the clay gets wet and swells (as the clay swells up and pushes the deck away from the shell which is much heavier and weighted down by the pool). Then when it dries it shrinks, this cycle can destroy the concrete in the deck or crack the pool.
Also, supporting it on piles may not help your lateral earth pressure, which may be fully resisted by the full pool (hydrostatic pressure), it depends on the amount of clay. This means the soil can push inward on the pool walls and crack the concrete, if not designed properly.
Bottom line get a geotech (I am structural eng. and value there opinion), and a good pool warranty. I would think your pool contractor would either need to get a soil test or would want one if he is reccomending something this serious.