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  Adam M. Heath March 8, 2012 at 8:37am

  Bruce that's great! thank you for the input! this is the exact reason I posted this question, love the collaboration.

   
  Bruce Wettstein said:

  They are a great group, Adam, and I am sure they can accommodate your design.  If you are trying to place rocks (boulders) in the water, they will design structural pockets that you can place boulders in, allowing them to actually be in the water (Rex talks a bit about this above).  Waterproofing prior to setting (I like three coats, and I like to tint the second coat so that I can see that I achieved coverage over the first coat.  Go back to bag color for the third coat to see that you've covered the second also.) is critical to not having leakage once the pool is filled.

  Hope that helps!
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  Bruce Wettstein March 8, 2012 at 8:20am

  They are a great group, Adam, and I am sure they can accommodate your design.  If you are trying to place rocks (boulders) in the water, they will design structural pockets that you can place boulders in, allowing them to actually be in the water (Rex talks a bit about this above).  Waterproofing prior to setting (I like three coats, and I like to tint the second coat so that I can see that I achieved coverage over the first coat.  Go back to bag color for the third coat to see that you've covered the second also.) is critical to not having leakage once the pool is filled.

  Hope that helps!
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  Adam M. Heath March 8, 2012 at 8:16am

  Rex, this is exactly what I'm looking for!  Is there a possibility we could speak about this a bit more in depth via phone?  My concept is very similar to what you've done here.  the lines are going to be less fluid than yours but the idea is in line.  I look forward to hearing from you when you have a chance.

   

  Best,

  Adam
   
  Rex Richard said:

  Create "boulder pockets" for the boulders.  These are similar to submerged benches, but a less deep.

  I usually built them 10" below top of bond beam for a typical installation but have some as deep as 3' depending on effect and boulder size. 

  After shotcrete, apply a minimum of 2 coats of Thoroseal or equivalent applying each coat with brush strokes perpendicular to the previous coat. 

  Once dry, boulders can be lowered into position onto the underwater shelf.  The best effects are produced by predetermining the boulders and placement and building the "pockets" with a width just slightly larger than the boulder.  After placing the boulder go back and fill in the voids with mortar.

  Then mask off the boulders and apply your interior finish.

  As the boulders weight can be significant, be sure to have the boulder pockets and wall and floor below them engineered for the weight and soil conditions of the site.  A competent structural engineer would provide this detail.

  We built these into the majority of the pools we built, literally thousands of them and never have a single problem. 

  Some examples of this are found in the photos below:

  

  

  
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  Adam M. Heath March 8, 2012 at 8:14am

  Bruce, the information is greatly appreciated.  I will certainly concider speaking with them.  your pictures look wonderfull but it's not exactly the look I am going for. 
   
  Bruce Wettstein said:

  Finished picture.

  
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  Bruce Wettstein March 7, 2012 at 8:54am

  Finished picture.

  
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  Bruce Wettstein March 7, 2012 at 8:53am

  I agree with calling Pool Engineering Inc.  I've been working with them for many years, and they are without equal.

  I'll try and attach a couple pics of a rock job I did a few years back.  Guess who engineered it?

  
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  Pool Engineering Inc March 6, 2012 at 3:48pm

  Call Pool Engineering in Anaheim, Ca 714-630-6100 X 121. They are the BEST!