How to Build a Swimming Pool from Wood and Plastic

Last Updated: May 6, 2021

You will require a lot of 2" by 4" pieces of wood, at least 8 as long as you want a side of the pool, and a lot of other ones for the bracing, at least 20 braces will be needed depending on height of pool.

Steps

1
Build braces for the side of the pool by placing two pieces of wood the length of the pool on the floor. find out what height you want the pool and then cut wood to that length minus the width of the 2" by 4".
2
Screw the pieces into the wood at minimum 1" distances and maximum 2" distance.

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3
Repeat step 1 and 2 until you have 4 braces like this.
4
Cut 4 pieces of plywood to the height and length of the braces. Attach them on the front side of the bracing.
5
Now you need to build side bracing to hold the water in. You can either design your own bracing or use this one. Build a box of 2" by 4" the height of the pool with another piece of 2" by 4" on the inside going diagonally. Try to make sure the wood on the inside goes from the top of the pool wall to the ground at the bottom of the base.
6
Build at least 4 for each side, and attach them to the 2" by 4" on the inside of wall bracing.
7
Attach the walls together by either putting them together and screwing the sides in, or you can use a block on the corners and connect them. The first one is the simpler and easier one, you just require long screws.
8
Screw the pool walls into the floor from the braces and from the pool walls itself, use many, many, many screws.
9
Put the pool liner inside the pool walls you have connected, and then screw 1" by 4" or 1" by 3" into the top of the pool walls to secure the plastic.
10
Fill it with water.
11
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

All I can find is oval and round pool liners. Where can I find a square one?

Community Answer

Any pool supplier will provide liners built to fit any pool you build. Try Doheny's Pool Supplies.
Question

What thickness of plywood is needed?

Community Answer

It all depends on what size the pool is going to be. For any pool larger than 6 foot, use plywood between 25-40mm.
Question

What is the black stuff shooting out of the pipe on step 9? Black cement?

Eeshma

Community Answer

That was the water. It was drawn as black to make the water pops out for your eyes because the background is blue.

Warnings

The deeper the pool is, the greater the water pressure pushes the walls out. Be prepared for catastrophic failure of the walls.

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Water will leak out, you'll have to clean it up or the floor could be warped depending on how much.

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