FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions

Q & A by Chuck Grosse, designer and project manager for Del Rancho Pools of Encinitas, California. Nov. 2010

Q) How long does it take to build a pool?

A) A typical inground pool takes about 6-8 weeks to build from the time we break ground. I have built pools in as little as 30 days, but that is not always the case. If your project involves more than just a pool it will most likely take longer.

Q) Does my project need a permit?

A) Not all projects need a permit. Simple remodels that do not involve additional gas or electrical work are normally exempt. New pool or spa projects do require building permits and inspections. At Del Rancho Pools we usually include the permits and permit fees in our contract price.

Q) How much does a pool cost?

A) A basic pool usually costs just under $30,000. A pool and spa combination starts at just over $40,000. There are, of course, options which can raise the price.

Q) Can you help me submit to my HOA?

A) I typically produce the types of drawings needed for HOA approval as part of a pool project. I ask that you fill in the forms for submittal and pay any fees they charge.

Q) Who can I hire to build a pool for me?

A) In California only a licensed pool builder, licensed general contractor, or licensed landscape contractor can write a contract for a swimming pool. If the builder is a general building contractor or landscape contractor he MUST have a licensed pool builder do the pool portion of the work. A licensed pool builder may only build the pool and is not licensed for additional work like decks, fireplaces, BBQ centers, etc. By law, this type of work must be performed by a landscape contractor or general contractor. At Del Rancho Pools we have both a General Building Contractor and a Pool Building Contractor license, which allow us to contract for complete "turn-key" projects or just the pool. We also have a Pool Maintenance license.

Q) I have a small yard. Can I still build a pool?

A) A pool or spa can be built in almost every yard. The size of the pool will be determined by the city “setbacks”, which is how close to the property line the city will let us build the pool. Setbacks are typically 4 or 5 feet but do vary from city to city.

Q) Do you remodel/refurbish pools?

A) Yes, we do pool remodels, everything from simple repairs to major renovations, including adding a spa or waterfall to an existing pool. Major pool renovations are one of our specialties at Del Rancho Pools.

Q) I have rust spots in my pool. Are they serious?

A) Rust spots may or may not be a serious issue. The source of the rust is the determining factor. It may just be a surface stain or it could indicate underlying structural problems. It is best to have a professional make an assessment.

Q) My tiles are cracked and loose. Is that a serious problem?

A) There are many causes for cracked or loose tiles. A professional should be asked to take a look to see what is causing the problem.

Q) My pool is losing water. Why?

A) All pools lose water to evaporation. If you are losing more water than normal evaporation then there could be a leak in your pool or pool plumbing. Several simple tests can be performed to see if it is just evaporation. Have a professional assess this situation to make sure it is nothing serious.

Q) The caulking around my pool between the coping and deck is old and falling out. How do I replace it?

A) That caulking is called “pool mastic” and is there to keep water from getting behind the pool and under the deck. It is very sticky stuff when wet and hard to clean up. It is not really a “do-it-yourself” type of job.

Q) How do I drain my pool?

A) Draining a pool should only be done under certain conditions. If you drain your pool at the wrong time you could cause serious damage to the pool. It is best to hire a professional to drain your pool. If you insist on doing it yourself, use a submersible pump. At Del Rancho Pools we rent high capacity submersible pumps by the day for your convenience. There may be regulations concerning where all that pool water goes, for example keeping the water out of storm drains, so check with your city before proceeding. 

Click here to see more articles by Chuck Grosse

Building a Pool in Mexico? Hazards and Defects Commonly Seen in Concrete Pools Built in Mexico?

A two part article authored by Chuck Grosse.

Part II: Construction Defects

In part one I outlined a variety of hazardous conditions I commonly find in pools I visit while vacationing in Mexico. While these observations do not mean that every pool in Mexico has these conditions it does indicate that the conditions are not being spotted during construction or during maintenance at the locations where I have seen them. Along with the physical hazards I also see quite a few “construction defects” some of which are more aesthetic in nature, but quite a few are the kind that mean the pool may not survive well. First I will mention some of the lesser of the evils, the aesthetic defect.

Cosmetic fit and finish is first in line. Stonework, tile work, and concrete deckwork seem to have their own standard in Mexico. A defect that would result in work being removed and replaced in the U.S. seem to pass inspection. Things like the quality of materials used, the size of grout joints between stone or tiles, how those joints are cleaned and finished, and material residue left on the finished product are the most obvious.

Many coping and deck materials seem to be fabricated “on-site” in the form of poured in place or pre-cast segment, and the materials used and finishes rendered are commonly inferior. Poor cement mixes lead to quick deterioration in the pool environment, so many pool copings and decks look old and tired almost immediately. In this case the investment quality materials would be a huge benefit to the end user, since the labor cost for installation, where huge savings can be found in Mexico, would remain basically unchanged. The pool designer should be specific in the materials of choice and the builder should follow the specs.

The all tile pool is extremely popular in Mexico, in part due to the fact that man-power is cheap, but also because the skilled crews needed to install plaster-type finishes are almost non-existent. Also a tile pool offers a nearly “lifetime” finish which can be repaired over and over again, if surplus tile is reserved for that purpose to avoid a mismatch. Fit and finish is the end-game of tile, and pools, because of their odd shapes and curved surface require particular attention to detail. Although grout is a necessary component of tile, the less grout used the better the job. By making accurate cuts and a tight with even gaps between the tiles a skilled worker leaves his mark.

At most every pool one can see “patch” repairs where off-colored tiles have been used to make some sort of repair on the interior of the pool. If only a bit of extra tile was ordered when the pool was built and properly stored for future repairs these patches would not exist. At Del Rancho Pools, where I work, we typically order a 10% waste factor since the tile is usually fairly inexpensive, then leave whatever surplus we have with the owner to store INDOORS so that the tile is usable at the time repairs become necessary.

At many projects irregular grout joints are everywhere, both in the pool and on the surrounding coping and masonry work. Pools projects tend to have a lot of grout involved in them, and several men, or sometimes several crews of men, will be needed to complete the installation in a reasonable length of time. The least skilled man or crew is what sets the projects’ standard, unless the supervisor demands better. It is the superintendent’s job to oversee the work and check for a uniform level of quality.

I also see a lot of poor workmanship in the way of grout clean-up at the time of installation. Grout is sloshed over the surface of the tiles and left to harden where it falls. You’d think that sponges and rags were in short supply. Here again the least skilled set the standard unless the foreman steps in.

The above mentioned cosmetic defects can all be stopped IF, and only, if the project foreman or superintendent sets the bar high enough for the finished product. Make sure your PM (project manager) understands your standard and communicates it down the line.

There are also defects that are not very visible but do affect the functionality of the pool or spa. Plumbing defects, pipe sizing, skimmer type and location, and equipment choices are the major players. Proper design and good project supervision will help end these plumbers pitfalls.

Spas built in Mexico tend to have the worst jets I have ever seen, with almost no force and no bubbles. If a spa is properly plumbed with all the pipes in the right places and has a pump sized for the number of jets installed there is no way to get weak jets with no bubbles. I seriously doubt that most of the Mexican pool plumbers have ever samples their own wares, understand how jets should work and feel, or been shown how a properly plumbed jet system show look. Pump sizing (to weak) and air (or lack of it) are the typical problems. Most spas will need a variable speed pump or a second spa jet pump to give good jet action. At most of the pools I’ve seen you’d be lucky to find one old, dilapidated, and undersized single speed pump. Along with a strong pump spa jets need air. Without it there is no vigorous massage action from the jets. The internal workings of the spa jets actually need the air and water to enter through separate ports to create a venturi effect in which the water “drags” additional air in, which in turn allows the water to travel faster out of the nozzle than it could by itself. This is what creates the “massage” action in the spa. Often it seems as thought the pipes get crossed underground with “air” pipes feeding water and “water” pipes pumping air. Once this happens the mis-routed water actually kills the venturi effect and the jet fails to draw in air. That causes the weak jets. There are also plumbing techniques unique to pool plumbers that actually help the venturi air reach the jet quicker and with less resistance. Although the spa plumbing is the responsibility of the plumber, it is also the job of an experienced supervisor to be able to look at the spa plumbing and intuitively know whether it will work properly before it is tested in the finished spa. If he is not certain it will work he should find out before the plumbing is encased in concrete.

In the U.S. pool builders have began to focus on properly sizing the plumbing of a pool to reduce water flow speeds within the pipes and thus improve energy efficiency. Hydrodynamics is a science in itself and a bit much to try to explain in this discussion, but let it suffice to say that in general a larger pipe is better than a smaller pipe, within limits. In the U.S. it used to be that 2-inch diameter pipe was considered large enough for nearly every application. Now that standard has moved up a notch or two and pipe sizes of 2.5-inches to 3-inches are the norm, with pipes of 4-inches and even 6-inches not un-common. In my travels I often see pipe sizes of 1.5-inches and sometimes even less at many of the pools. I have rarely seen pipes over 2.5-inches in diameter. Larger pipe sizes not only offer better energy efficiency but can also improve equipment lifespan, but are actually thicker walled and more durable in the ground. Here the pool designer must specify the size of pipes to be used for the various pool systems and the PM or builder must follow through to make sure the plumber does not make substitutions in the field based on his common-knowledge.

The function of a pool skimmer is a mystery to many in Mexico, and its form and placement is mostly an after-thought. Most pools and spa have at least one skimmer, and often more are needed depending upon the plumbing configuration and number of pump systems installed. In the U.S. multiple skimmers per pump are now the norm and they are typically place to help with pool circulation and to strategically capture floating debris in a variety of weather patterns. Most are commercially fabricated from plastic with hinged “weir” gates to keep debris inside once captured and removable baskets to keep debris out of the pump and allow for easy cleaning of the basket. In Mexico skimmer placement seems arbitrary at best with the skimmer often located as close to the pool equipment as possible. While this will reduce the amount of pipe used in construction it is usually not the best location to capture debris. Also many are “custom built” out of concrete with no weir gate or basket at all. This means that skimming action may not be happening, and that if debris that enters the skimmer it will ultimately fill the pump basket (or clog the pump), further reducing circulation. Remember that circulation is key to sanitation and without it sanitation is not possible. A properly designed plumbing system with the correct number of skimmers and their positions carefully noted is necessary. The builder needs to understand the importance of this system and install it per plan.

At its most basic a pool needs a pump and filter to stay clean. The pump moves that water through the filter and the filter removes particles from the water. In Mexico nearly every pool is just that, basic. The problem is that along with being basic the pump and filter are also small. Way too small. A pool filter needs to be sized for the pool it filters AND for the maintenance it receives. If a filter gets cleaned weekly it needs to be able to filter a weeks worth of particles. If a pool gets used a lot it needs a bigger filter and/or more maintenance. So many times I have seen a filter that would be considered too small for a residential pool in the U.S. installed on a commercial pool with quadruple the bather load in Mexico. That same filter is also of an older model and by just looking at it you can tell that it rarely if ever gets cleaned. Some of these filters are so old and in such condition that merely disassembling them for cleaning would be their end. At the same time some of these older and undersized filters are paired with an older and undersized pump. How a tired old pump could get water through a clogged up filter is a wonder to me, but I bet it doesn’t happen. Here again the designer needs to understand how much use a pool will get as well as how often maintenance will be done. The designer will then be able to determine what size filter is needed and pair that with the appropriate sized pump. Again don’t let the builder let his experience be his guide; it is your custom pool.

Of course custom pools almost always have more equipment than just a pump and filter. Booster pumps, heater, sanitation systems, solar systems, and pool controllers are all possible components in your project. Each of these components will mesh with the others to form a complex pool equipment set and should be tailored for your needs. Let your designer help you with these choices and make sure again that your builder follows the specifications without un-approved field substitutions.

So far I have talked about many kinds of construction defects, but the ones I will now mention are the real deal. We are talking things that will literally cause a pool to break. Things like engineering, soil, rock, concrete, and steel. If these items get screwed up the ones above will not even matter.

Many of the pools which are built in Mexico are designed by an architect with only the aesthetics in mind. It is left up to the builder to determine how to implement the design chosen from a structural standpoint. Building permits may be issued but often do not include the engineering and inspection aspects that we are used to in the U.S. The permit is more of a way for the local government to document and tax the construction than a method to assure quality. Inspections often occur only once a project is completed. Whether or not the engineering aspects of the project are addressed is not an issue for the authorities.

With that said I must note that is nearly opposite of the U.S. process. Pool permits in  California are typically obtained by submitting pool plans and corresponding engineering designs together to the city building department for review. Once approved the construction process is inspected at key points for compliance with the approved plans and engineering. This process ensures that design and engineering work together for the benefit of the pool. In Mexico it is up to the buyer and ultimately the builder to ensure that the desired level of construction quality is upheld. The buyer often knows nothing about pools, so must then rely on the architect and builder to do what is best.

In Mexico they build pools just about anywhere. On flat land, a sloping hillside, or the side of a cliff overlooking the sea. Although each of these is a potential pool location, each site is unique. Each has it’s own engineering concerns and needs to be treated differently. If the sites are treated the same then some of the pools might fail (crack or break). My observation is that often the very same construction techniques and materials are used to build the pool on a cliff that are used to build a pool on flat land, and I have seen the consequences. From my room once in Puerto Vallarta my view was down towards the beach where a half-filled pool sat with a big wet stain on the exposed pool wall facing the bay. The pool had not been designed properly for the exposed wall and the wall had cracked. That pool needed to be removed and rebuilt if the owner wanted a pool. I was told the pool had been in that condition for several years.

In the U.S. it is up to a soils engineer to determine whether a site can support a pool and what loads the soils can handle. He can also determine if the site can be improved to support a larger load. Once the soils have been analyzed that information is given to the structural engineer, along with the pool design showing the location of the pool relative to the site. The structural engineer then determines how the concrete and rebar will be arranged to give the pool the strength it needs for its soils conditions. The builder must then follow the engineering plans during the construction process. We, as builders, rely on our structural engineers to let us know what sized bars go where and how thick the walls need to be for the desired strength and the site’s soils conditions.

My experience in observing construction using concrete and reinforcing steel (rebar) in Mexico is that the relationship between the two that provides strength to structure built from these materials is not well known by the tradesmen themselves. There is a required balance needed for the relatively brittle concrete and the flexible steel to unite into a strong yet forgiving structural media. It seems as though the “common practice” in Mexico is routinely accepted as sufficient regardless of the project or site conditions. Compared to U.S. standards most construction has too little concrete and not enough or under-sized rebar.

The only solution here is to demand that U.S. standards for soils engineering and structural engineering be followed in the construction of your pool. Your builder and supervisor must know how to read engineering plans and how to implement the various details included at the proper places in the project. If they cannot do this they cannot build you the pool as designed.

In conclusion I want to make it clear that not all pools built in Mexico are poorly designed or under-built, but that quite often the standards most pool builders in the U.S. are accustomed to are not followed. This may result in just a small inconvenience, but could also be much worse. If you intend to build a pool in Mexico and expect it to be built like a pool would be built in the U.S. you may be disappointed unless you find a designer and builder/supervisor who is experienced with the U.S, standards and is able to convey those to the workers and follow through during the construction process. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me via e-mail.

Chuck Grosse

Pool Designer and Project Manager

PoolManChuck@gmail.com

Click here to see more articles by Chuck Grosse

Building a Pool in Mexico? Hazards and Defects Commonly Seen in Concrete Pools Built in Mexico.

A two part article authored by Chuck Grosse.

Part I: Hazardous Conditions

Prelude: I started this project a few days ago and decided to break it into two parts for ease of reading. The following is part one with part two to follow shortly.

As an experienced pool builder it is hard to keep my eye off of pools wherever I am. As a pool designer, pool construction supervisor and a pool project manager I still appreciate the beauty of design, colors and shapes and settings, but I find myself always drifting my eye towards the same things that make all of the pools I participate in a bit more than standard. I can’t manage not to look at the smaller details when looking at a pool, no matter how many Pacific coast margaritas or Caribbean mojitos I have swallowed. I also see projects under construction, not actively seeking them out but rather, allowing my interest in observing how the Mexican people are uniquely different from Americans to lead the way.

Please don’t get me wrong here. There is nothing bad about being different, and that interest in those differences is what actually brought me to Ensenada, Baja California Sur on that fateful afternoon nearly 20 years ago and put me in the famous Hussongs Bar. On that day I spotted my now-to-be wife, who was visiting a school-girl friend of hers, sitting on a bar-stool and nervously giggling with those other two lovely girls. I asked if I could get them a drink, and from that moment on the rest is history. We now have two beautiful children, a boy and a girl, and live in northern San Diego County near the beach. At my house, although my wife speaks perfectly good English, we speak two languages. She speaks to me and the kids in Spanish, and I speak to her and the kids in English. Of course the kids speak English at school, but none-the-less we are a completely bilingual family. It did help that I studied 4 years of Spanish in middle school and college, and that in my early days of work I was in both restaurants and construction. I think a true measure of mastery of a language, at least in the conversational sense, is to be able to listen to that language on the radio. Without the visual clues of body language and facial expression, if you can hang with the topic and comprehend the conversation you can be pretty sure you’ve got it down. Well, as a family we “have it down” in both English and Spanish, thanks to my curiosity and that one fateful day.

Well today I am in the pool business, or that is what most people think.  Whatever they want to think, I am actually in the business of providing fun. What could be more fun than having that same resort feel you get when visiting a five star hotel right in your own backyard? I mean if you could actually vacation everyday, just by walking through the front door could life really get any better?

At the same time my wife is in the travel business, and we make sure to take advantage of all the perks that come with that. Because of her Mexican roots, and the fact that she has family there we always seem to be looking to visit Mexico at least twice a year. We also tend to not visit the same area twice, and if we do we still plan our visit to explore new places wherever we go. We’ve been to Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa, Morelia, Colima, Merida, Progresso, Cancun, La Paz, Mazatlan, Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Aventuras, Veracruz, and Los Cabos, plus a lot of other smaller places in between.

Our most recent trip, just a few weeks ago in late October of 2010, took us to the southern tip of Baja to the city of Cabo San Lucas and the city of La Paz. At the airport we rented a car to get around, and in one weeks’ time we actually hotel hopped across the peninsula staying in three different hotels. One was and older but nicer place in La Paz, and two were nearly brand new four-star resorts in Los Cabos. Of course all three had really nice pools. At least that is the impression that 99 and 44/100 percent of the guest staying there believed. I can’t really say that they were not in fact really nice swimming pools. They were great places to swim, and one of them even had such high-tech features as a “beach” entry and “wet-edge” spa. It looked like everyone was having a really good time both in and around the pools. I could see that, but I could also see more.

At one of the pools I first entered the water at the beckoning of my kids, who were thrilled by the pool, actually at the last resort stop of the trip, because the main feature is a large waterfall and 40-foot long waterslide. I did not climb into the pool, nor jump in head-first. Instead I put down my ice-cold mojito and trudged up two flights of stairs to the top of the slide. There my kids were jumping up and down and telling me of their previous 30 trips each down the slide. We had only been there for about 30 minutes, but you know how kids are. I step up to the edge of the slide and looked down the throat of the beast. It took a long slow curve to the left and I could not see the pool or where the slide entered the pool. How could I go down the slide safely if I couldn’t see the water I was landing in. Oh well. I yelled “clear” hoping that would get anyone down there out of the way, and sat down. Now my feet were being sprayed by the water sloshing down the slide. Just beyond my feet were two areas of blistered slide paint, with sharp raised edges, right in the middle of the slide. There was no way to maneuver around those blisters, so I pulled my bathing suit up and down, at the same time and eased forward. Down the slide I went. It was a nice fast ride with good acceleration, just what the kids wanted. Near the bottom the pool came into view and the water was clear. There was no stopping me anyways, but I was sure happy not to see granny and a baby treading water at the rate I was going. The impact wasn’t too bad, and I popped up and swan to the nearest edge, where a swim ladder was conveniently located which would place you near the slide stairs once you exited the pool. I reached up for the ladder and found the notches in the wall for my feet and gave a pull to lift my body out of the water. As my body weight went on the ladder both of the rungs were loose and they wiggled so much it was almost hard to hold on to them. It didn’t stop me from getting out and head back up the slide stairs to see what my kids had to says, but it did attract my attention and make me think about what other minor, or major construction defects might there be at this particular pool. Now sure a bit of chipped paint, and a slightly obstructed view, and a loose ladder aren’t the end of the world, but……we just got there. Within 30 minutes at the pool and without even looking I found three things that would be major “show-stoppers” on one of my projects, here at a four star resort and cosmetically the finest of the three hotels we visited on that trip. Later I’ll describe to you other “problems” I have seen that appear to be nearly endemic in the construction of inground pools south of the border and suggest how you can avoid including these mistakes in your project.

I see clearly three types of problems in Mexico that are evident in pools during or post construction. At this point I am not trying to identify things like difficulties in selecting a contractor, contractual or legal issues, language and cultural barriers, or baffling bureaucracy of Mexico. The above mentioned issues could and should be addressed in a separate discussion. Right now we are going to focus on the pool itself, as a product, not a construction experience.

If you plan on building a pool in Mexico you should pay close attention to my observations. Pool builders in Mexico do not seem focused on safety or quality of design (aside from cosmetic design) in their construction process. When building a pool in Mexico, or anywhere for that matter, a safe product with a solid foundation should be mandatory.

Firstly there are deal breaker problems. These are things that can cause severe injury or death. They come in the form of electrical hazards, suction/drowning related hazards, and use related hazards (i.e. cuts, abrasions, and falls). There are also conditions that are not really deal breakers so to speak, but still conditions of warranted concern. These are defects or deficiencies in design and/or construction that either put the pool itself at risk, or reduce its efficiency, or both. Most are either related to the pool structure itself or in the plumbing and electrical systems, or in equipment selection and installation. Although these don’t really risk life or limb they do pose a huge financial risk if it becomes necessary to correct these types of problems during construction or in an already completed or existing pool. Lastly there are cosmetic defects, which related both to the physical appearance of the pool, its positioning and style, or how it affects the ambience of the pool environment. Here we are talking about mostly visual defects, but occasionally audible sounds or noises, or even foul smells.

I’ll start with the deal breakers. Electrical hazards, drowning hazards, and fall/cut/abrasion risks are the biggest problems that I typically notice, mostly because as a responsible father of two young kids I really keep my eye open for these foremost. At almost every pool I visit I see deal breakers or near deal breakers, which are things that we would never allow at my company and are things that we actively look for at our clients homes and correct as quickly as possible when found.

Let’s start with the various electrical hazards. The lack of GFCI protected circuitry, bare or exposed electrical wires and poor grounding along with electrical outlets, electrical cords, wiring, and electrical appliances too close to the water for safety lead the list here. I am not suggesting that these types of hazards are absent in US built pools, but I will say that current US pool building standards DO NOT permit these types of conditions to exist.

 In California (and the U.S. as a whole I believe) we have to protect all pool lighting circuits with a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) which will cut off electrical supply to the pool light if short circuit conditions exist or if the grounding wire is broken. Although I have not had much of an opportunity to check on the GFCI’s of the pools I have seen, I do know for a fact that GFCI protection is very rare in Mexico and is not the industry standard (at least common practice) in that country. It seems that nowhere in Mexico is anyone familiar with the uniform electrical code standards for swimming pools (as used in the US).

Another common problem is the use of extension cords to feed electrical devices near the pool. At almost every pool I find electrical cords snaking through the landscape to provide power to something, All it takes is one wet hand to touch a frayed cable or for that cable to somehow find its way into the pool and you are in for a shocking surprise. Although this hazard is not directly related to the construction of the pool itself most of these cords could be eliminated if electrical outlets were properly distributed around the pool in anticipation of their need. At my company, Del Rancho Pools, we call this solution planning ahead.

Almost as common is the use of 120 volt lighting close to the pool water. In the US the only electrical devices allowed in the pool are UL listed pool lights which have redundant electrical safety built in to them. We are also required to keep all electrically powered items at least ten feet from the pool water, even landscape lighting. In Mexico, and even fairly regularly in the U.S., I can always find an “uplight” with a broken or missing cover-plate right next to the pool water which is strategically lighting a nearby palm.. Much of this lighting is un-maintained with missing protective covers and bare wires common. Also many of these lighting circuits in Mexico lack a “ground” wire and GFCI protection, which is standard in the US and helps offer an electrical layer of shock hazard protection. Following the Uniform Building Code for Pool Electrical Installation will solve all of these potentially deadly hazards.

Although swimming pools almost by definition are a “drowning hazard” what I am referring to is actually “suction entrapment hazard” caused by the pool pump itself. In the US current law requires any suction point in a swimming pool or spa to have dual points of suction, so that if one point of suction is covered the other point of suction will continue to feed the pump water. If there were just a single suction point whatever blocked the opening would be held to the opening by a strong suction force. This force is strong enough to hold almost anyone, including a grown man, underwater. In Mexico almost no pools offer dual suction points and in some cases no protective grate or cover is present to reduce the hazard of a single inlet.

Once in Manzanillo we were staying at a place that had a waterslide which ran from an upper “starting” pool which overflowed and then spilled down the slide into the main pool about 10 feet below. The feed pipe to the upper pool was in the middle of the floor and the water was about 8” deep. We (my son who was two at the time and I) were using the slide when suddenly I noticed that the overflowing had stopped and a small whirlpool was forming over the feed pipe. That seemed like an odd thing and my curiosity caused me to put my palm over the pipe to see if I could stop the little whirlpool. As soon as my hand covered the pipe a strong suction force held my hand to the pipe and began pulling on the center of my palm. Fortunately the pipe diameter was small enough so that with moderate effort I was able to pull my hand free. Once free I looked at my palm to find a 2” diameter bulge in the center of my palm and some broken blood vessels indicating the beginning of what could have been a large blood blister. Had I been a child, or if it had been my mouth, eye, or rear end over the pipe instead of the tough skin of my palm, the outcome could have be worse and possibly gruesome (on more than one occasion a child has been disemboweled in the U.S. by sitting atop a suction hazard like this one). The cause of the suction at the point of feed, which would not normally be expected, was a power failure in the resort that caused the pump to stop pumping and allowed water to flow backward through the system. A check-valve of the type we normally install in the U.S. for most raised water-features would have prevented the suction and whirlpool from forming. An approved drain cover over the pipe would have kept my hand from being “sucked in” by the pipe. Neither were installed in this hotel’s “commercial” grade pool. Aside from this one occasion I have had no other personal incidents, but have rarely seen an installation that would pass a California based building inspection.

Injury hazards, specifically cuts, abrasions, and falls another problem which you do see in U.S. pools but seems to be taken to the next level in Mexico. Loose handrails, sharp corners, high platforms, and poor workmanship are all culprits. Since lawsuits are uncommon there is little motivation to prevent injury, especially minor to moderate injury, in Mexico. While I’m sure that no one wants someone to be injured, with no motivation to be vigilant there is little oversight to minimize the risks. To reduce injury hazards of the type listed here it really gets more personal, where design and supervision, with an eye for safety, can really make a difference. I have seen tall platforms where kids play adjacent to concreter deck surfaces with little or nothing in the way of railings to prevent falls. Most recently a barrier with openings at least 18” wide separated the start pool of the waterslide from a 10-foot vertical drop off of a waterfall platform to pool and deck. Twice in the past two years I have cut my feet on “pebble” pool finishes which appeared to be formulated by sharp-edged local pebbles rather than “water-smoothed” commercial products. Slick decking surfaces are commonly installed, even in commercial applications near kiddie pools. On many occasions I have seen slick “stamped concrete” or even polished marble or limestone in a poolside application. I could continue on and on, but the point here is that although any project could have these types of hazards a well design and well implemented project probably won’t; it will either be designed out or spotted during construction and corrected by a competent design/build team.

The point of this article is not to scare you from building a pool in Mexico nor from using a Mexican building partner to build your pool. The point is to make sure you let them know what your expectations are as far as design, planning, and quality control to make sure you end up with a quality pool which will last a lifetime without taking one along the way. If you want to be sure you get a pool built to current U.S. standards then hire a competent designer and let him (or her) set the standards for your pool clearly on the table. Then make sure your builder of choice is familiar with the standards you set and capable of implementing them. If needed hire a pool building consultant, even if it is just to stop buy at several of the critical stages of the project when corrections can still be made. If you are still in doubt hire a project manager to oversee the project through all of its phases. In pool construction the most difficult thing to fix is a finished pool.

Part II – Construction Defects coming soon

Click here to see more articles by Chuck Grosse

First Post

Chuck Grosse is the pool designer and project manager with over 20 years in the pool and spa business.

 I just got back from the ASPS Pool and Spa Show in Las Vegas and found out just how far behind the times I have fallen. I was there representing my company by attending several of their informative seminar classes and seeing the exhibits on display from nearly everyone in the Pool and Outdoor Living industries.

It seems like everyone else nowadays is connected via Facebook and works on a weekly blog. This is my first attempt to join the crowd. Not too long ago I was one of the first to be "connected" via e-mail, but now there are so many neat new ways to keep up I'll just have to jump in and hit the ground running.

With my passion for quality pool building and my love for travel I have always wanted to write an informative piece about the pools I see while traveling in Mexico. It seems that many pool builders and even the biggest hotels still don't have a real focus on building a high quality pool down there. I think that maybe if a few of the builders down there see my blog, they might see themselves somewhere in my post and work on improving their own projects. I would also like to find a project myself somewhere south of the border to share my design skills and help a lucky client build a truly fabulous quality pool in Mexico.

Because of this, I am currently working on a blog article regarding common problems I see at almost every pool in Mexico. I am about 1/2 way done and should have it finished over the next week or so. Please subscribe to my blog and I will try to get out something informative a few times per month. Happy swimming!!!

Click here to see more articles by Chuck Grosse