Pallet pool platforms
Some summer residents who have large plots of land build outdoor pools on them, which become a great place to relax. When creating such a structure, you should take care of the construction of a suitable site in advance. You can make it yourself from various materials. Often, unnecessary old pallets are taken for these purposes. Today we will talk about what features the podiums made of them have, and how to make them with your own hands.
Peculiarities
Decking made of wooden pallets is the best option for a home pool. Such structures are absolutely safe and durable.
Such frame structures always remain warm and dry. With proper pre-treatment, they can last for many years without breakage or deformation.
In addition, pallet podiums are fairly easy to assemble. Almost anyone can handle this job. After all, such wood elements are easily fastened together, they do not have too much mass.
Pallet platforms will be the best option for small inflatable pools in the country, since they have a relatively low weight. Such stands will be able to withstand their load.
Advantages and disadvantages
These wooden pallet podiums boast many important advantages. Let's highlight the most significant of them.
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Strength. These materials can last a long time without cracking or breaking with proper care.
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Ease of installation. These pallets are easy to connect and install. They are not overweight, which also simplifies installation work.
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Easy handling. Pallet products lend themselves well to even the most thorough and deep processing. It is permissible to build up other materials on them, equip them with various fasteners.
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Maintainability. Structures made of pallets can be quickly and easily disassembled by yourself, damaged parts can be replaced.
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Favorable cost. Wooden pallets have a low price, they will be affordable for almost any consumer.
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Environmental friendliness. This material is absolutely safe for humans. During use, it will not emit harmful substances.
Despite all of the above advantages, such podiums also have some disadvantages that should be taken into account.
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Faster wear. Wooden stands cannot boast the same durability as metal or plastic structures.
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Limited loads. In case of violations of the modes of use of these sites, at the joints of pallets with each other, gradual destruction occurs, which as a result can lead to breakdown.
Tools and materials
In order to make a do-it-yourself pool area from this material, you will need some necessary tools and devices:
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wooden pallets;
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hacksaw for wood;
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self-tapping screws;
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glue for wood;
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screwdriver.
In addition to the above elements, you will also need some special formulations, including antiseptic ones. They will protect the surface of a timber structure, as well as significantly extend the service life of the structure.
Often, finished products are coated with a finishing decorative application. But in this case, you can only use special water-repellent coloring compositions.Otherwise, during operation, the pigment will quickly fade and begin to crack.
Care should be taken when choosing a suitable wooden base. If you are using old pallets, then be sure to carefully examine their surface. It should be free of rotted areas and mold. In addition, the bases must not be damaged by insects and rodents.
Pallets can be made from a wide variety of wood species. But to create such structures, preference should be given to models made of pine, larch, maple or oak, because these varieties have a fairly high level of strength, reliability and hardness.
In addition, they boast good resistance to moisture and UV radiation.
Construction scheme
The construction of such a wooden base for the pool includes several separate stages of work. To begin with, it is worth processing the main material.
The surface of the material must be perfectly flat. To do this, you can use grinding equipment. In case of insufficient grinding, splinters can be picked up in the future, since such a platform is usually walked barefoot.
The pallets are completely covered with protective compounds. And also, if desired, a special paint is immediately applied to their surface.
Be sure to wait until all applications are completely dry. It is recommended to make a detailed drawing of the future product in advance. It shows a small drawing of the structure, and also indicates the dimensions of all components.
And also it is worth deciding in advance on the location of the pool itself and the stand. The most flat areas will be best suited. If there are no such places, then alignment will have to be done. This is done using a building level.
The soil that will be under this structure should be carefully tamped. This procedure will allow the base to withstand significant loads, which will be provided by a large volume of water.
Do not leave fragments of stones and bricks, wood remains on the site. Also, remember that pools cannot be placed close to buildings. Otherwise, in the event of a breakdown, water can flood the basement of the building and penetrate into the foundation. The location of the structure next to the fences is allowed.
And also pools with playgrounds should not be built on wooden platforms, on loose or moving soils, slopes to water bodies and in areas that are close to roads and railways.
When you have decided exactly where you are, you can start making a podium for the pool. To do this, first make a markup in the selected area. A peg is installed in the central part, and then a cable is tied to it (you can also use a strong rope or twine).
The other end of the cable is tied to a low support. It can be a paint bottle. After that, it will be necessary to mark the circle with a spray can using a cable. But this option can only be suitable if the structure is round.
If it is square or rectangular, then you just need to drive small pegs in all four corners, then a cord is pulled between such supports.
After the markings are ready, shrubs and other vegetation, if any, are uprooted on the site. There should be no old roots in the ground. Later, sand is poured onto the prepared construction site. A mixture of sand and gravel is often used. The material should be carefully leveled.
A special substrate must be laid on the surface. It is a bedding made of polypropylene (sometimes geotextile bases are used). Sometimes plywood is additionally laid after that. Such foundations should be placed immediately under the entire structure.
It is also necessary to install additional materials to provide thermal insulation. They generally also prevent bottom abrasion during use. As such bases, rubber products and mats made on a polyurethane base may well be suitable.
The layer under the base must be absolutely uniform so that the structure can be fixed as steadily as possible. Often they make additional crushed stone lining. Its thickness should be about 13-15 centimeters. It will absorb excess moisture, while keeping the structure from swelling and deformation.
Later you can take the pallets themselves. Of them, a flat area is laid out on the prepared surface, in which all the parts will be located as tightly as possible to each other. It should be aligned horizontally.
In this case, the base must have a bearing capacity so that the soil does not sink in the future.
As a rule, pallets are not cut into component parts to form a support. Whole structures are interconnected. Fixation can be done using special wood screws. It is recommended to fix all this with construction wood glue.
Remember that the size of such a frame must be larger than the size of the pool. Thus, a pedestal will be formed, to which, if necessary, you can install small steps. They are also built from pallets, but other materials can also be used. They are often equipped with handrails made of wood or metal.
For a platform for a pallet pool, see the video below.
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