There is nothing quite like chilling out in a swimming pool on a warm day, especially if you are relaxing in your back garden.
Not only are swimming pools relaxing, but they are a great way to keep the children entertained while you sit back and have a few hours to yourself.
Swimming pools are not cheap, especially if you are looking to get one that is a significant size. But, have you ever thought about getting creative and building your own instead?
It is not as complicated as you think and you will have great fun making your own. You probably already have all of the equipment you need sitting in your garage too!
In this article, we will be talking you through how you can make a swimming pool out of wooden pallets, we hope you enjoy.
Equipment You Will Need
Here is everything you will need to create your swimming pool.
Free free to add any other materials you feel are necessary too.
- Nine wooden pallets (minimum)
- Large roll/pieces of tarpaulin (heavy-duty to act as a pool liner)
- Ratchet straps
- Nails
- Plastic sheet
- Old blankets and towels
- Pool liner/tarpauling
- Wooden planks
- Staples
- Staple gun
- Hammer
- Material for the pool exterior
- Ladder
- Water pump
- Water Hose
- Chlorine Tablets
How To Make A Swimming Pool Out Of Wooden Pallets
If you follow these simple steps below, you will have your very own swimming pool created in no time!
Step One: Choosing The Right Place
Choosing the correct place to put your DIY swimming pool is essential. You want to choose a good-sized piece of ground that is as flat as possible. The flatter the better.
Once you are happy with the spot you have chosen, you will want to cover it completely in tarpaulin. Ensure that the tarpaulin is pulled taut.
Step Two - Assembling Your Pallets
Next, you will want to assemble your pallets. Place them in an upright position, with their longest side facing horizontally. The inside of the swimming pool should have all of the flat wooden surfaces. The part of the pallet that is not flat needs to face outwards.
Next, you need to connect the nine wooden pallets, in a circular shape. If you are not happy with the size of your swimming pool, you can use more pallets to make it bigger.
A circular type shape will be easier to create compared to a square or rectangular swimming pool.
Step Three - Securing Your Pallets
Once you are completely satisfied with the shape of your swimming pool you will need to secure the pallets together. Before doing so, ensure that all of the pallets are connected, and gaps are at a minimum.
To secure your pallets, you want to take your wooden planks and nail them into the top of the planks where they join each other. Before doing so cut your planks to size and sand them down so that they are nice and smooth.
We would recommend putting the planks around the whole of the top of the pallets so the edges of the swimming pool are the same level. Repeat this step for the middle outer section of the pallets and the bottom too.
Once you have done this, you should have a secure shell for your swimming pool.
Step Four - Safety First
Before you line your swimming pool, you want to ensure that it is all completely safe. As the pallets are not rounded, you will need to ensure that any sharp parts are sanded down.
You do not want any parts of wood sticking out. Not only is it potentially dangerous for you or your children to catch yourselves on, but sharp wood could also damage the pool lining.
Step Five - Pool Lining
After you are satisfied that the joinings are all safe, place your pool liner or tarpaulin inside the pallets.
You need a piece big enough to reach the bottom of each pallet. There should be plenty of tarpaulin outside of the pool too. Essentially it should look like the bottom of a pie that covers a pie dish.
Once you are happy with the placement, use your staple gun to secure the first layer of tarpaulin in place.
Step Six - Towels and Bedding
Before you place your second layer of tarpaulin down, we suggest that you place towels, bedsheets, or any similar materials inside the swimming pool on all of the joinings.
This will provide padding around the edge of the pool. This helps to prevent injury and any tears.
Step Seven - Second Layer of Pool Lining
When everything is suitably padded, you will want to place your second layer of tarpaulin in the same way as you placed your first layer.
Again, secure it in place with a staple gun.
Alternatively, you could use nails, but please be aware of the potential hazards if they are not secured properly.
Step Eight - Neatening Up and Securing Your Pool
Once your second layer is fully secure. Neaten up the edges of the tarpaulin and cut off any excess.
At this stage, it is worth securing the outside of your pool with ratchet straps. They are nice and secure and help to keep all of your pallets secure and in place.
Step Nine - Decoration
At this stage, you can add leftover wood to create a nice finish on the top of the pool’s edge.
You can also add materials to the outside of the pool such as a covering to make the outside look more attractive.
Step 10 - Fill Up and Enjoy
At this point, your pool is all ready to be used. Fill up your pool using water from a hose, until it is mostly full.
To keep your water nice and clean, we would recommend purchasing chlorine tablets and a water pump to help with the upkeep.
After you have done this, add a ladder to climb into your pool and enjoy it!
Summary
We hope this article has helped you figure out how to create a swimming pool out of wooden pallets. As you can see, it is really easy to do and will save you a lot of money.
It is a fun DIY task to keep you occupied! Always remember to use the building materials carefully and ensure any sharp edges are sanded down and covered.
We hope you enjoy this fun project!