How To Build Your Own DIY Plunge Pool ------------------------------------------------------- Save Up to $10,000 Or More on Your Costs! Includes: Construction Overview, Materials, Cost Breakdowns & More! The “Little” Book that’s worth its Weight in GOLD!!! Copyright © 1999-2016 Revised 9/08/2016 Custom Built Spas The DIY Plunge Pool Build Manual The Fastest Growing “Must Have” for Gen X and Baby Boomers! I don’t think I know anybody who doesn’t enjoy relaxing in a nice clean body of water, warm or cool. And, it’s pretty common knowledge that for most of us, water provides one of the best environments for relaxing and exercise that you can do for yourself. Water exercise is low impact, less strain, good for tired or injured muscles and suitable for just about everyone, regardless of what age they may be or what shape they may be in. A low intensity water type workout is excellent for anyone starting or on their journey of getting back in shape. Maybe you’re just looking for a means to do a low impact cardio type workout. A refreshing water environment is one of the most perfect means to accomplish both a low impact workout and low impact cardio exercises. Best of all you can just stop, float and relax anytime you want. So… just what is a Plunge Pool anyway? Simply put; a plunge pool is much the same as a hot tub, swim spa or exercise pool, but typically without the jets. It can be smaller or sometimes shorter than a typical swim spa. So just because of the smaller size alone, you can save as much as $3000 to $5000 over the cost of a quality swim spa unit. A plunge pool can be anywhere around 8’ to 10’ square, round, rectangular water vessel, (often larger), with a water depth anywhere you want it, but generally somewhere around 48” to 54”. Some users might want a little more depth, I say go for it, there are no rules for the size, shape or depth of a plunge pool. It’s not uncommon to have access steps on one side, but still giving you ample room to relax, cool off or do many routine water exercises. If you’re building a unit for two people to use at the same time, you might make your unit a little larger. The plunge pool may or may not be heated, but it will have a water circulation and filtration system to keep the water clean and clear. Normally seats are not installed in a plunge pool but you certainly could. And some people opt to install a few water jets as an option. A light is another common option that is popular in a plunge pool. (Refer to the lighting section of my Version 1 Spa Building book for details on light installations). So why wouldn’t you just go out and buy a small above ground portable pool to relax or exercise in? You certainly could, however, many above ground pools lack the strength and integrity required for a true plunge pool or exercise pool. The above ground pools, even the smaller ones are can be larger in size than what you would need. Therefore, the cost of cleaning, filtering, heating an above ground unit, (if you heat it), will cost you more per month than a built from scratch plunge pool. Most above ground pools offer two shape options, round or oval. Not a lot of appeal for those who want to dress up their back yard environment with something unique and different. Disclaimer: The Publisher and Author disclaim any personal liability, loss, risk or injury incurred as a result of the use of any information or advice contained herein, either directly or indirectly. Above ground pools will always have a market but that market tends to be younger families who realize that taking vacations with children can be an expensive proposition. Kids generally love a backyard pool and what do they do first when you go on vacation where there is a pool? They go to the pool; they want to play in the water. The money saved by not going on a couple expensive vacations most likely will pay for a back yard pool for their kids. We all know that the money spent on an above ground pool is not recovered in the future value of the home, it’s a depreciation asset. That’s just the way it is with most portable amenities. The value is in the use you enjoy while you have it. Let’s take a look at the plunge pool now. More likely than not the person wanting a plunge pool or that’s interested in a plunge pool is going to be a little older, they want something much nicer than a vinyl filled puddle in the back yard and they what it to be a functional part of their back yard theme. Additionally, a plunge pool is going to be a permanent fixture that can add equity value to a home. Thus, it is an investment or justified expense that could generate a return. Here are a few examples of Plunge Pools that I think really hit the mark! Here is an interesting fact: An 8’ square masonry built plunge pool 54” deep holds about 2100 gallons of water. A 14’ foot round above ground pool, 4’ deep, holds over twice as much water. That means at least twice as much water to heat and treat compared to the masonry built Plunge pool built to a size exactly the way you want it. Preparation and Construction The preparation for a “Plunge Pool” is mostly the same as what I’ve outlined in my Version 1 Spa Building book for spas and hot tubs. Determine your location, prepare a solid insulated concrete base pad, then follow the wall building method as I show for a hot tub, spa or swim spa. If you haven’t yet read my V-1 Spa Building manual, I strongly suggest doing that before starting this project. The processes I cover will definitely help you avoid mistakes as well as give you other ideas you may be able to incorporate in your plunge pool. One thing done differently in a Plunge pool is that you don’t necessarily have add any seat areas, (unless of course you want seats), and you don’t need to install water jets, (unless you want a couple of those as well). However, depending on the climate in which you live, you may want to make provisions for some type of heating. On the next few pages I’m going to outline a simple 8’ by 8’ by 54” deep plunge pool. It will include a layout for a set of steps as well the different plumbing, filtering, water purification and heating options to consider. I’ll cover what to consider for electrical supply and lastly I will cover a generalized materials list and cost breakdown, giving you a fairly accurate accounting of what you could expect your expenditures will be. NOTE: this cost will vary widely depending on where you live and how much of the work you do yourself and how intricate your overall design is. I’ve had customers do some pretty elaborate projects but like I mentioned before, there are no rules for size, shape or appearance, so get crazy if you want! And here is something else that makes the plunge pool attractive. By adding a grab bar or two just below the top surface and anchored to the inside wall of the plunge pool you now have a way to hold on while you do leg exercises that you would do if you were actually swimming. Then you can just turn around, hook your feet into the bar from below or above and now you can do all the swim strokes with your arms as well as your torso. Stroke as hard as you want, as easy as you want and stop when you want. Because your movement is basically stationary you don’t need the length of a typical swim spa or the jets. That alone lets you save thousands of dollars over a swim spa. Illustration 1 Plunge pool wall section with a simple stainless steel grab bar installed Install the grab bar about 6”- 8” down from the top surface of the Plunge Pool. Not only that, using a grab bar lets you do a number of standing exercises with much more stability. You plunge pool now becomes a dual purpose. It’s a plunge pool for cooling off and relaxing and it’s an exercise pool for any water exercises you want to do. To install a couple of stainless grab bars will cost you less than $100.00! Now you can start to see why a plunge pool is such an attractive amenity. It’s a multi-functional investment often at a minimum cost. Here’s a simple Plunge Pool layout with an Inside dimension of 8’ by 8’ square and a depth of 54”. Illustration 2 (not to scale) Entry/exit steps ”optional” Suction/return inlets/outlets 2 suction and 2 returns outlets required Skimmer Return Suction Side Illustration 3 5” to 6” 3000lb concrete slab re-enforced with ½” re- 1” to 2” ridged bar chris crossed and foam insulation spaced 12” apart and wire board under tied to 1/8” wire mesh concrete slab Illustration 4 54” Very important to make the rise and run of each step equal! It will help eliminate a miss step and possible injury Entry and Exit Steps In the cut away illustration 3 above you see a set of steps for entry and exit of the plunge pool.