Silo Swimming Pool

Silo Swimming Pool CROP STORAGE Silos (50) 7-4-8 "The only thing that can wear out on our silo swimming pool is the liner and that has a 10-year warranty," says Sam Long, Peach Bottom, Penn., who built a 5-ft. deep, 30-ft. dia. swimming pool from leftover silo staves. Two rows of 3 1/2-in. thick, 8-in. wide and 30-in. high staves are stacked on top of each other and reinforced with 4 hoops. The pool liner, specially made for the pool, extends up and over the side of the pool and is held in place by a fifth hoop. A 3-ft. wide, 1/4-in. thick styrofoam layer separates the liner from the staves and prevents tears. The 3-in. thick pool floor slopes inward to a drain and consists of a special mixture of vermiculite and cement which produces a softer-than-concrete surface. Long fills the pool with stream water. He notes that in four years he's never completely drained the pool. He leaves it half full in the winter. The pool has an automatic chlorinator, filters and a skimmer. Long spent about $1,000 to build it, including $500 for the liner.

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