Along with just doing vermiculite bottoms on all of our inground vinyl liner pools in WI, MN, & IL, we also apply it with a special mixer and pump from Strong Manufacturing.  The mixer and pump give us a perfect consistency throughout the entire pool so we don’t have to worry about some areas being too dry or wet.  The time that it takes us to pour a bottom has been greatly reduced, and we have 10% – 15% less waste then with a simple paddle mixer.  Penguin Pools is also able to keep the site cleaner as we have over 75′ of hose, so we can keep the mixer away from the house in the corner of your site to minimize the clutter & mess.

Penguin Pools also re-pours bottoms for older pools that had original sand bottoms.  The key to a good inground vinyl liner replacement is a solid base.  In the Milwaukee, WI & Minneapolis, MN areas we do a ton of vinyl liner pool replacements that are damaged do to a bad or poor subsurface.

In the SE WI, Penguin Pools does pool bottoms, for various pool companies in the region who due not have the equipment to do them as quickly or efficiently as us.

* Vermiculite is must easier to apply to steep side walls & will not wash away with changes in water tables.
**  Vermiculite forms a monolithic, permanent, cast and will always remain in place.
***  Vermiculite becomes an insulating barrier from the cold temperatures of the soil beneath it.

The pictures in this article were from Racine, Merton, Sussex, and Waukesha.

Penguin Pools often comes across rock or bad fill in many newer subdivisions.  Builders take fill from one site and put it on another site until they don’t have any more sites to hid the fill.  Rock and buried construction trash makes building an inground pool very challenging.  When building a vinyl liner pool, the walls have to sit on virgin ground so there is no worry about settling.  When you hit soil or earth that doesn’t hold its form / collapses, you need to find away to create virgin soil.

In the Milwaukee, WI area we hit clay or rock 90% of the time.  Rock is most common in the Waukesha, Merton, Hartland, Sussex areas; however we have had poor conditions in Waterford, Menomonee Falls and Brookfield areas.

The way Penguin Pools of Milwaukee & Minneapolis builds vinyl liner pools on rock is fairly simple.

1.  Dig your pool like normal to spec.  The earth will fall and crumble making your dig shelf and ramps useless . . . Like the above picture.
2.  Order Traffic Bond (usually 1/4″ with fines) and fill in the hole you just dug.  This is the same material that gets compacted under your concrete flat work.
4.  Once you pool dig is level along the entire dig shelf, leave it sit until it is completely dry.  It is usually fine to work with the next day, but may take up to 24 hours.

5.  Now you can re-dig your pool to specs and the walls will hold.  The compacted TB dries like concrete and you now have virgin ground to build on.  Your vinyl liner inground swimming pool will not settle or have issues due to poor soil.  Just be aware that hand forming will be difficult due to the strength of the compacted TB.

***  Just an FYI, this requires a lot of TB 10 – 15 full dump trucks (quads).  Don’t worry, this can then be used as backfill if you so choose.

Here is another slideshow of a pool we did in 2004.

Many pool builders will just use a patch to cover a wound.  Using vermiculite to patch voids is an easy and cheap way to rectify the problem, however it isn’t the correct way to do it.  You need to create the correct earth to build on so your pool will not have issues 5, 10, 30 years down the road.  This costs more, but it is the correct way to do it and will prevent you from having to pre-maturely get a vinyl liner replacement on your swimming pool.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Penguin Pools of Milwaukee or Minneapolis.

Many inground pool builders don’t give customers the options to maximize your shallow end.  You may think that the amount of shallow end doesn’t matter, but think about it.  How often do you stand in an inground pool and not have to tread water?  Most people jump in, swim a little bit then go to the shallow end or a part of the pool that they can stand.  Face it, we aren’t all Michael Phelps in the pool and we need to stand.

To make things even more exciting, you can create a sport pool which puts the deep end of the pool in the middle . . . great for volleyball and basketball setups.  This has recently become common place, but you would be surprised how many pool builders will not do this or even offer it to their customers.

Penguin Pools  in Milwaukee & Minneapolis allow you to customize every part of your pool depth and layout.  We personally recommend maximizing your shallow end for maximum enjoyment.  You will never stand in the deep end of an 8′ deep pool, so why make it so big.  Penguin Pools is about safety first, so we always make sure our dig specs meet Federal Regulations for diving envelopes.  Basically the pool has to be a particular depth and the ramp a particular angle.

Here you can view a standard shallow end.
Here is the same pool with a larger shallow end, both meet regulations for diving boards.  The extra footage in the shallow end really make a big deal on even smaller pools like a 16′ x 32′.

Penguin Pools also likes to put in safety ledges for all of our pools that have smaller children.  A safety ledge is a walking platform all the way around a pool that is the same depth as the shallow end 3′ – 3.5′.  Now when a child jumps into the pool, wherever they are, only have to get to the side of the pool to stand.  They no longer have to swim all the way to the shallow end.  While most safety ledges are 12″ wide, Penguin Pools can also put a safety ledge in a pool regulated for diving.  Instead of the 12″ wide, it can only be 6″ to meet Federal Regulations.
To give you even more to think about, we can put a safety ledge on certain walls.  Here you can view a pool that Penguin Pools of Milwaukee did that had a safety ledge on the back wall and is rated for a diving board.

If you have any concerns that your pool builder can’t do a custom dig, they shouldn’t be building your pool.  Penguin Pools of Milwaukee & Minneapolis will and can provide you with custom dig specs before you even sign the dotted line.  We will create the pool of your dreams, regardless of how deep it is.

Penguin Pools has custom dig specs throughout SE WI, we have very few “standard” digs for our swimming pools throughout Waukesha, Waterford, Brookfield, Menomonee Falls, Muskego, Merton, Hartland . . .

On standard rectangle or grecian pools our rate is $3,000 + water.  That includes draining the old pool, removing the liner, and up to 5 bags of patching for the bottom of your pool (vermiculite).  We will install new gaskets for your lights, skimmers, main drains, returns, and wall mounted fountains.

The vinyl liner is a standard 20 mil with a 15 year pro-rated warranty.  Upgrades can be done if you want a 30 mil liner, a solid pattern, or foam on the floor of your pool.
You can view all of our liner selections here.

For free form shapes or a pool with excessive curves / bends, the price might go up as we have to take a lot more measurements to make sure your liner fits perfectly.

In certain circumstances it might be necessary to turn your main drain system into a sump system to alleviate water issue with your pool or to prevent future “floating liners”.

Penguin Pools specializes in custom pool builds and inground swimming pool service.  Please contact us with any questions you might have.

Penguin Pools services all the Southern WI including but not limited to ::
Hartland, Merton, Sussex, Brookfield, New Berlin, Waukesha, Elm Grove, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, Cudahy, West Bend, Menomonee Falls, Wauwatosa, Germantown, Waterford, Muskego, Franklin, Hales Corners, Big Bend, Wind Lake, Greenfield, Greendale, West Allis, Glendale, Shorewood, Burlington, Racine, Kenosha, Lake Geneva, East Troy, Caledonia, Mequon, Brown Deer, Delafield, Oconomowoc, Colgate, Cedarburg, Fox Point, Bayside, Mukwanago.

By having your designs pre-built, we can install them quicker and for less money than if we built the whole thing from scratch.  You can combine fireplaces, wet bars,  grills, benches, tables, firepits … the options are endless.

These units really transform and inground vinyl liner pool into something great.

The great thing is that Harmony is located in WI so it has distributors like us (Penguin Pools) in Waukesha, New Berlin, Merton, Waterford, Brookfield, & Sussex.

If you have any questions or would like Penguin Pools to give you a free estimate, don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

The difference between an easy pool build and a disaster is in the pool dig itself.  If you over dig you will have a lot of stone or vermiculite to fill in, but on the other hand if you under dig you will have hours of hand carving to do.

Penguin Pools has been digging swimming pools for years throughout WI, MN, and nothern IL.  We have three different machines that we can use to dig your pool.

Our Big Machine ::

Penguin Pools Medium Sized Machine ::

Penguin Pools Small Excavator ::

Prices to dig a pool range from $900 – $2,000 to dig a swimming pool.  Most of the time we can dig a pool in under 6 hours, but there are times when that can’t happen.  The size & shape of the pool along with the location and amount of access around the site can vary greatly.  If you are keeping the dirt on site then the dig goes much quicker, but 95% of our digs get the dirt hauled out . . . we recommend back filling with washed rock instead of the excavated dirt.
Generally most digs are $1,300 for the first 6 hours and $100 each hour after that.

Penguin Pools also digs for other pool companies throughout WI & MN, however most have their own digging equipment.  If you are a pool builder looking for a reliable excavation, please contact us for contractor rates.

The Minneapolis market has great soil for digging, unlike many of the areas in the Milwaukee & Madison, WI markets that have rock.  I guess we have the glaciers to thank for that.  When you dig on rock, you are playing with a completely different set of rules.  The rock isn’t solid enough to hold the pool in place without moving, let alone pour vermiculite on it to form the bottom of the pool.
The following process is the correct way to build a vinyl liner swimming pool in rocky soil.

1. Excavate your pool plus 18″ just like it was clean soil.
2. Order roughly 10 – 15 full dump trucks of Traffic Bond (TB) to be put in your newly excavated hole.
3. Add the TB in 12″ – 15″ layers while spraying with a hose and compacting each layer with a compactor (depends on the compactors rating).
4. Once the hole is compacted all the way back up to the dig shelf, let it sit so the TB can dry . . . usually over night.
5. When the TB is dry and hard, should feel like concrete when you jump on it, re dig your pool.

The TB will dig and fell just like virgin soil, unlike the rock that you had previously.  The pool will now sit strong and not move due to “un-virgin” soil.

Swimming Pool Build on Rock

Penguin Pools also has our own dump trucks for dirt removal.  There are many ways that we can work with you to haul your dirt out, flat contract rate or per hour.  Rates vary on the state and the distance from the site to the dump location.
If you need help finding a dump site, we should be able to help you in that regard also.  An appealing option for many do it yourself’ers is to have a flat rate for the dig and the hauling of the dirt.  That way most of the guess work is taken out and easier for you to budget the cost of your pool.

Many DIY people like having us dig the pool as we can then help them out if they become to over whelmed with the inground swimming pool build process, which can happen very quickly if you don’t know what you are doing.

Please contact any of our three locations for a quote on excavation, trucking (hauling), or building.

Depending on the severity of your swimming pool and how many water and light features you have, will determine the size and cost of your automation system.  The more water features (fountains, waterfalls, spas, cascades, wet decks …) you have the larger the system you need with more relays.  While automating your entire swimming pool can be costly, there are ways to benefit from an automation system without getting ridiculous.

Penguin Pools generally puts a Pentair EasyTouch 4P automation system on each new build to help customers reduce utility costs.  By putting in an automation system you can control key components like when you want your pump and light to turn on / off , what temperature to set your pool at (provided you have a heater), or controlling your salt water system.  Manual timers work well to control your pump, that is until they fail and never turn the pump on (algae growth) or off (wasted energy).
By only running your pump enough to turn your water over 2-3 times day, you can save money rather than running your pump 24 hours a day . . . which people do.

When building a new inground swimming pool, Penguin Pools will actually charge more to run the electrical without an automation system (additional $400).  The Automation acts as an electrical sub-panel by the pool, if you don’t have the automation control panel then the electrician must create his own.  That equates to more wiring and hardware that the automation panel already provides, plus you get all the features of it.  The cost of the automation system installed is only $900, but you are saving $400 compared to not having it installed.
With the automation system installed, the electrician will bring a single 20 amp circuit to the panel and run everything off of that.  The EasyTouch, and all other automation systems, has knockouts for the breakers making the installation very easy.  The pump, heater (electric, gas, or solar), salt generator, lights (pool or outdoor), auto cleaners, water features . . .  get hooked up directly to the automation system.

When plumbing your equipment and pool, make sure you plan ahead to include everything you want automated.  By placing valves in the plumbing, you can control what water features get water and which don’t.  WHY?  Maybe you don’t want your spa, pool, waterfall, and fountains to run at the same time . . . maybe they are on different pumps.  The automation system can simplify the process of turning each feature on and off for you.
Adding valves that can accompany actuators, the automation system will actually open and close valves to turn on and off what features you want.  Penguin Pools always valves each water feature separately and will also design the pumps needed for each feature.

Basically it comes down to cost, convenience and ease of use.  Using an automation system on any pool will make life easier for you, your builder & electrician.  The minimal cost in the automation system is well worth the money, especially since you are spending a pretty penny to get the pool done.

If you really want to add convenience you can add a wireless remote control to operate your pool.  Now you can show off to your guests while sipping a drink next to you pool and never have to get up.  Little things like automation systems really jazzes up a pool, even if you don’t have separate water features.  Most pool owners like to have a pool they are proud of and not a plain water hole that looks naked.

People are more exercise and health conscience (or they want to be), plus they are looking to utilize every square inch of their home.  Older Swim Spas only allowed you to swim in place for exercise and rehabilitation.  As the hot tub market has expanded and grown, they have become more influential in the Swim Spa market.  Newer Swim Spas act and look like a large glorified spa.  You can use it to relax, party, or work out.  They come in different colors, shapes, sizes and can now have radios, tvs, or even fountains . . . a far cry from the old “box models”.

The most common and expensive seems to be provided by Endless Spas which has been around for years.  We (Penguin Pools) have installed many of these spas and they do a great job, however they don’t have any of the

bells and whistles that other swim spas on the market have.  They get built like a standard vinyl liner pool, except that they have the swim machine incorporated into it.  Not bad, but it costs just as much as a 16′ x 32′ rectangle swimming pool after installation.  With that being said, Penguin Pools is also able to add the custom features to an Endless Swim Spa that has made our inground swimming pools famous . . . LED Lights, Auto Covers, Fountains, WaterFalls, Auto Cleaners, Salt Generators, Automation Systems.
Endless Spas claims their units move more water and have a better sanitation system, but there are mixed reviews on that.

The newer “Jetted” Swim Spas are generally made from spa manufacturers and take what they know to a new level.  They move water through multiple nozzles to create resistance that you mush swim through.  The unit itself is a 1-piece fiberglass unit that sits inside an outside housing, usually made of wood or fake wood.  Theses units retail for $25,00 – $30,000 but are completely self contained.  They are pre-plumbed, run for electrical, and insulated; unlike the Endless Swim Spas where that is all extra for the installer.

One unit that I personally have installed in the past, is the H2X by MasterSpas.  The customers of this unit have claimed that is is everything they expected it to be, great as a hot tub and perfect for swimming in place.  These units are rather expensive from “traditional” spa dealers ($22,000), but Penguin Pools can get them for closer to $15,000.  That might seem like a lot, but a top of the line hot tub or spa can cost you upwards of $10,000.

Master Spas has even caught the eye of Allyson Felix, a Olympic Medalist and World Champion, who owns a Master Spa.

Allyson Felix

HydroWorx has gone in a little different direction and taken the best of both worlds.  They have created a high end system that gives you more than just a Swim Spa or a Hot Tub.  They have taken the Endless Spa system and made it more appealing and desirable like the H2X system.  These units are expensive and start out at $28,000 . . . not installed!
HdyroWorx has taken what they do to a new level be even adding an underwater treadmill.  Just like the Endless Spa, Penguin Pools can add Auto Covers, LED lights, Waterfalls, Fountains, Auto Cleaners, Automation Systems, Salt Water Sanitation . . . to these units.

These units have different options for installation, above ground, partial covered or inground (Endless Spa or HydroWorx type Swim Spas Only).  Penguin Pools will sell you just the unit or we can install it for you also.  The electrical connections will be done by a licensed electrician, although we recommend installing an automation system 9 times out of 10 to help reduce utility costs.  Adding custom features or concrete work will liven up your Swim Spa and not make it feel so naked and plain.

Please contact Penguin Pools for a free quote or free site evaluation for you new Swim Spa. 

• Easier to keep Clean
• Less Chemical Usage
• No Worries about a Ripped Liner
• Quicker Installation

By partnering with Viking Fiberglass Swimming Pools, Penguin Pools can now offer our customers top of line Fiberglass pools for less.  Just like all of our Vinyl Liner selections, Penguin Pools is also showing all of our Fiberglass Pool Pricing.

By displaying our prices right online, there is no confusion on pricing.  Many companies will not quote a price over the phone or in an email, because they price the pool based on what they think you can afford.  Penguin Pools takes a slightly different approach, we tell you what you are going to pay.  Most companies don’t like that we do that, as that dictates the price for them when customer “shop around”.  Regardless if you are in Milwaukee or Minneapolis, the price on the site is the price you are going to get.

Take for example ::an 18′ x 36′ Rectangle Vinyl Liner Pool, you know it starts out at $24,000
a 16′ x 32′ Grecian Vinyl Liner Pool, you know it is $23,000

a 12′ x 25′ FreePort Viking Pool, you know it starts at $27,825
a 15′ x 39′ Gulf Coast Viking Pool, starts at $34,275

For those of you who are interested in installing the pool yourself, Penguin Pools will also sell you just the pool and equipment.  While installing a fiberglass pool isn’t brain surgery, it also isn’t for the average person.  For those of you who are willing to take on a project of this scope, contact us and we will give you an exact price on just purchasing the equipment and fiberglass pool of your dreams.

Viking Fiberglass Swimming Pools also allow you to jazz up the appearance of the pool, by choosing different colors.  A plain white fiberglass pool can feel naked and plain, but Viking allows you to choose from a variety of colors making it truly unique.

Feel free to contact Penguin Pools for a price on a fiberglass pool or to have a free site inspection of your home & yard.

Vinyl liner pools are more economical and the technology has improved to the point that building a free form pool is no longer a problem.  Free Form pools take more time to build, but not much more than a standard pool.  Penguin Pools of Milwaukee & Minneapolis can build a “standard” vinyl liner inground pool in roughly 3 days.  In three days we will excavate the hole, build your pool, plumb it, set fixtures, and fill it with water.  The construction of a free form pool takes roughly 5 days as the excavation has to be very precise and takes twice as long.

Free Form Pool - Waterford, WI

When you consider the time that it takes between building a concrete (gunite) and a vinyl liner free from pool, the choice is simple.  Why spend the extra costs, upwards of $25,000 +, to build a concrete pool when you can do the same thing with a vinyl liner pool?  Many people have extreme ideas and wants when it comes to their pool and backyard oasis, but those can easily get squashed with they see the price tag.  Penguin Pools can build a vinyl liner free form pool for roughly $5,000 – $10,000 more than a standard pool.

No project is to big for us to build.  Seems like everyone says “No project to small, No project to Big”, however we mean it when we say it.   Penguin Pool’s engineers will construct your pool and build it to your specs, yet comply with local and national regulations.  Anything from a scribbled napkin design or a blueprint from a landscaper, our engineers will design it to your specifications.

Take for example that Olympic diving pool we built in our customer’s back yard.  It had to meet local ordinances, collegiate diving standards and federal regulations . . . all done as a vinyl liner pool.  To do this same pool in concrete would’ve cost the home owner an additional $72,000!

Diving Bobcat

Diving Bottom

Anything that you can envision, dream or fantasize can be done.  Penguin Pools can add anything you like or want to see in your backyard, because there is nothing that a great pool that looks naked in your backyard.  Swimming pools are made to be fun and look great, why not have both?

Contact us for a free estimate.

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