This took 4 months to build. We've been swimming in it and watching the ecosystem develop for 6 years. It's been an amazing experience. We are moving and this pool will be dearly missed.
~50'x~35' overall
~40'x~25' swimming area
3' deep perimeter of swimming area
7.5' deep center of swimming area
Jonathan, that is an amazing pool you built and a great video showing the progress of the build. I had never heard of constructing such a pool, but your creativity and craftsmanship brought it to life. Congratulations!
Pretty awesome. First time ever seeing wood used inside the liner as opposed to the outside
Beautiful pool! Id definitely get a uv sterilizer light to geet the algae under control ❤
lol - Low hanging fruit I couldn’t resist. I think this is a cool project cleaner than a pond and mostly natural, which is fine.
Typical social media comments. Loads of people who haven't done something and really don't know, telling someone else their successful project doesn't or won't work! In a sensible world, they would watch and say 'jeez I never knew that could work. So glad I learnt something today'.
Admittedly, this was a huge experiment, and I spent many hours researching every aspect of it. It was a scary and expensive (for my income) undertaking. In the end, it turned out really great, and I'm super happy with it. But yeah, lots of internet experts with loads of unearned confidence.
I’m very impressed and that’s not an easy feat. So many negative comments, I wonder, where is the pool they have built? And the comments about chemical treatments! Cmon now, no natural pond or body of water has “chemical” treatments and they are just fine to swim in.
You don’t have to have built a pool to see the problems that will arise. It’s common sense, but to each their own. If people don’t want or can’t handle criticism, don’t post aspects of your life for people to comment on.
Please elaborate. I'm happy to see your criticism.
shut up alexander.
Wonderful. Thank you.
Amazing. Congrats
Thank you!
Beautiful, but honestly thought you should have backfilled the wall behind with gravel as well. That’s a lot of open space where the clay or whatever with water can fill and put back pressure on the walls. Maybe the French drain will help, if it does, fantastic.
I figured the pressure of the water would do the same or better than the backfill. So far, so good after 6 years.
You would be correct of course. The pressure is the same.@jonathanmcmahon2214
Beautiful, although I do wonder about the longevity of it all. Either way, bravo!
It's beautiful! And... skinny-dipping would seem more appropriate. Well, at least when the camera's off!
Beautiful. What was the total construction cost? Where are you located?
It was around 22k in 2017
@@jonathanmcmahon2214 or 44k in 2024
Warning that wood though will be come slick as heck with algae. Maybe some handrails as you get out.
It does get slick. We brush it off regularly to keep traction.
Looks like some beautiful soil.
It's old farm and forest land. Lot of clay too.
I would have omitted the wood, but I think I understand why you wanted it in this instance. Nice work.
Thanks
Yeah, that really looks _natural._
Nice. Good work
Thanks
Do you have a water filteration system to keep the water clean?
There are 2 top skimmers at either end and plants around the perimeter.
Impressive!
Thank you.
Perfect
So good.
Thanks. It was a really rewarding experience.
Sooo freakin jealous pal!!! Idk how many times I`ve watched this video. Was the wood you used treated or untreated, and how is it holding up so far?
Interesting, but my concern is the wood eventually rotting. But I guess he knows what he is doing. Great job!
If it was exposed to air it would, but being submerged will preserve it.
hi, great project! Can I ask what air compressor you use?
Anjon LL-150.
Real pleasure to see fortunate watercreation with wood - i can watch it again and again. But i`ve got a QUESTION: why at the first level of the walls there is remaining "cavity" all around between the liner and the wood wall? It seems like this way soil would droop down over time and push liner from outside. Besides it looks like such ditch will be filled with water after all and without circulation there it`s like "mosquitoes paradiese". So please tell me, somebody: Why there is no gravel or any other buffer to support the outside soil? Why it looks like conscious decision - to have big empty space without circulation?
There is enough gravel between the wood and the liner to lock the wood in place and keep it from floating. I left a cavity because of the expense of bringing in more fill. I decided the water would create the back pressure needed to keep the dug walls from caving in. Mosquitoes spawn closer to the surface. The pool has greatly reduced the presence of Mosquitoes.
Hello Jonathan, thanks for the video! Could you add in the description details as the size of the pool: swimming zone, regeneration zone, with also the different depths of both the bathing area and the regeneration area. Thanks!
Done! Ideally the regeneration area is only about 3"-6" deep for the native plants in my area.
How do you keep the water clean😅 Looks amazing
Aeration and plants.
Great build but Pine? Hows it holding up 6 yrs later?
It has held up great. If submerged it will be preserved. It's not water that rots the wood, but moisture that attracts insects and fungus that rot the wood.
Thank you for the video. Why do you have the wood in the water? What is its function? Also, I would expect the wood to rotten fast over time.
The wood serves as a perimeter for the swimming area. It also creates a 3' deep perimeter so you can stand up. Wood needs to be exposed to air to rot. Being completely submerged will preserve it.
@@jonathanmcmahon2214 I had no idea. Good to know, thanks.
@@MrGoenes that's the same reason why wooden or metal objects salvaged from hundreds years old shipwrecks are kept underwater in museums.
Looks like it turned out great. But won’t the wood rot and eventually fall apart after like 10 years?
Yes
Wood doesn't rot if it stays submerged. Wood rot is caused by fungal growth and insects that live in damp wood. The dock is mad from local cypress that will easily last 20 years in this area exposed the way it is.
I like my gunnite-plaster pool, thank you.
You bet!
Great! Which wood did you use?
Green pine. Untreated.
@@jonathanmcmahon2214 thanks
Too cool! Do you have an ice skating rink in the winter?
The first winter after it was finished it got cold enough to skate on it. I have a picture of my wife skating on it ☺️
I was confused on how water got through the liner but you filled it with the hose correct?
Yes
What are all the tarps made out of?
Plumbing goes in to circulate the water at 4:23-4:45 i dont understand .. Is there any pump at pool? Thanx bro
a beautiful natural pool, but doesn't the wood rot in the water?
Since the wood is completely submerged, it will be preserved.
sorry, i'm up to plan my first eco pool and i'm watching and watching again your video. There is a point at 4.24 minutes that you write "plumbing goes in to circulate the water". Do you have a change to explain how you did it? It will help me a lot? I guess that between the deck and the liner on the side you full fill with gravel and you bury the pipes in to but i do not understand how you connect the plumbing you prepare at minute 4.24 of the video with the minute's 7.45 plumbing. Thanks a lot!
Same here!
Since building it I eliminated most of that plumbing. I found that building good top skimmers is the best way to circulate the water and keep the swimming area free of debris. I think I talk about the skimmers in one of my later videos. Maybe one day I can make a video about them.
How is the wood not going to rot?
As long as it stays submerged, the water will preserve the wood. It's not water that rots wood, but fungus and insects that thrive in a damp environment.
Is the pool extremely cold? Is there any way to heat it?
The temperature is good. It gets a little too warm for my liking in the summer.
Keep brushing and adding clarifier by the bucket. Run the filters 24/7. Use an air line to blast the crud building up in the bottom where it can be filtered out. Have the water regularly tested during the swimming season. Chlorine, Bromine, something.
It's a chemical free pool.
@@jonathanmcmahon2214 No chemicals? How do you keep harmful bacteria from exploding in the pool? It must be brimming with colliform bacteria and parasites. All that algae isn't safe either I wouldn't think. You have no way of sanitizing your water, which is very unsafe.
Have you ever swam in a freshwater body of water like a lake or a river? It works off similar principles but in a more controlled environment, so it's cleaner. We had it tested yearly during the hottest part of the season. It always came back clean. Not all algae is harmful. That is a very common filimentous algea that is beneficial to the ecosystem. The nitrogen levels are so low they don't register on tests. If the nitrogen ever spiked there might be cause for concern. Aeration, motion, and plants all work together to keep the water clean, clear, and safe to swim in.
@@jonathanmcmahon2214 I hear ya, but pond water is only safe to swim in till it isn't. And that can happen in a matter of days. Not worth the risk in my opinion. You're one fart away from a life threatening infection. I know god made dirt and dirt don't hurt, but the stuff that grows in it does.
what happens after a while when the wood starts to weaken?
Being completely submerged will actually preserve the wood.
@@jonathanmcmahon2214 Interesting!
Wouldn't the wood just rot in a few years?? Who designed this?
Wood is preserved if fully submerged. I designed it.
will the wood rot in the water like that?
creo que la madera bajo el agua no se pudre, los pilares de los edificios y otras estructuras en Venecia son de madera bajo el agua
Exactly what @carmendenavarro272 said. As long as it stays submerged, it will be preserved.
how long before timber rots.
As long as the wood stays submerged, it will be preserved.
Does mosquitos do no build up with this pool?
The opposite, actually. The pool is home to many creatures that feed on mosquitos and their larvae. It's rare to see a mosquito around the pool, but move to other parts 9f the yard, and they are bad.
I would have left out the wood and just used the liner. The day you put the pine down and deck is the start date of rot. I’d give it a life span of 8 years or less then you can start a new project with all those stainless fasteners.
Idk. Just doesn't look very inviting. There is no circulation system?
2 airpumps aerate and circulate the water.
We have to see a spring update
There are six years of updates on this pool. Unfortunately, we had to move and won't be doing any more.
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Thank you!
Looks like brain eating amoeba heaven.
The amoeba, in fact, turned us into zombies. We are zombies now.
Having built pools for 40+ yrs. There are so many future problems with this build. Voids under the deck, trapped water on outside of wood... the wood itself is a disaster...good luck
After 6 years there haven't been any problems.
@@jonathanmcmahon2214That you know of!
It sounds like you've never seen a natural pool before. "The wood itself" What?
@@jonathanmcmahon2214until the wood rots
@@BiggiifulPine isn’t known for its moisture wicking abilities. It tends to begin to deteriorate with rot after about ten years if untreated. Teak, while expensive, probable would have been a better option. Regardless, this will last a while.
Natural pool **Digs a big hole** Look guys, it's all natural
I'm pretty sure it's just a short hand way to say no chemicals are used to maintain the pool.
What was that you said at the end? "The last time.... Swimming in my natural pool?"
After 6 years of swimming in our pool we, unfortunately, had to move.
Tu t'es juste construit un futur marais. Tu vas avoir tellement de problèmes d'hygiène.
Nope
So what's the purpose of the wood inside of it? Why not just have the liner? 🤷
The wood is to separate the swimming area from the regeneration area (planted area). Also, not having any exposure to UV Ray's will prolong the life of the liner indefinitely.
The stainless lag screws cost more than everything else on the job combined.
The backfill and the liner were the most expensive parts. I was able to source the lags and washers from a wholesaler in FL for about $700.
@@jonathanmcmahon2214 I know I was being silly. Stainless steel is always overpriced considering how simple the plating process is.
What about was your budget?
About 22k.
Who'd have thought. A wooden swimming pool.
.
Im not sure i understand the build concept?
The idea is to build a pool that can stay clean and clear without the use of chemicals.
Thank god wood doesn't rot in water!
I'm glad you researched it. That's right as long as it stays submerged. Cheers.
I think a more affordable and efficient way, I may try this at the cottage.@@jonathanmcmahon2214
yes, we've pulled amazing logging logs out of lake Michigan because of this.@@jonathanmcmahon2214
With all that clay you could have had a pond, with out a liner,
Very possibly. I have no idea. Originally, this was going to be a traditional pool. But, when I was making my material list, natural pools popped up in my feed and the whole plan changed to this.
@@jonathanmcmahon2214 wouldn’t have been as clean though that’s for sure. If it does get green add a uv light in the filter, it kills green pea soup algae (free floating) and some bacteria.
👀👀👀👀👀
💦
I have an EASIER design. I hope I can describe it with words. Dig the swim area first, but only 2/3rds of the total depth. Mind will be 6 feet deep. Sorry for not using the metric system. So I'm diging 4 feet deep and moving ALL of this excavated soil 20 feet away from the hole. My hole/swim area will be 45 feet long × 10 feet wide. Then I put my 100 foot long × 50 foot wide liner in the hole with all the excess liner laying FLAT on the ground extending outward towards the mound of the recently excavated soil encircling the area from the orginal excavation of the swim area. Next: pour 4 inches of concrete in the swim area on top of the liner with wire mesh for stregth.... Keep in mind. This concrete is never going to support anything but water. Strength isn't it's main function. The function is to protect the liner and supoort the cement block walls... which are next. Next: Build a 4 foot block wall to frame the swim area. Like you did with wood which works well TOO. I just have more access to concrete than wood and think it is easier to frame.. Next. Pour a 4 inch cement slab on top of the liner around the swim area that extends outward 10 feet and tie it into the 4 foot block wall. Next... Build the outer parameter wall 2 feet high of block on this slab. These walls should be 65 feet long × 30 feet wide. Next: fold the liner up against and over the outer block. Now, push the excavated soil up against the liner. It should be soil, liner, block..... Then, fold the liner in a manner that none is left exposed. That completes the frame of the pond/pool. Next: Working on the rock filtratio. I'm using 4 inch × 4 inch thick and 8 foot long cement poles to frame the rock zone. I am laying them end to end 18" from the swim zone on the upper ledge. Next: I am putting the corrugated tubing closest to the outer walls. Latstly: filling the area from the two foot block walls to the 4inch × 4inch cement posts. The rocks will have a gradual slope from the 2 foot block wall down to the 4×4 cement posts. Any plant roots will have 2 full feet of rocks to extend their roots downward. Plants like lillies will be planted closer to the 4×4 posts because they have short roots but want the 2 feet of water for their stems to grow upward. Overall.... The swim zone is 10 feet × 45 feet. There will be an 18-inch walking zone that is 2 feet deep all the way around the swim zone. Then an 8 foot wide planted zone. Total length 65 feet long. Total width 30 feet wide. Total depth 6 feet. The soil will slope downward from the 2 foot block wall with a "rise over run" 10 to 1..... 2 feet of soil sloping downward over 20 feet back to level ground. Total land space needed.... 105 feet × 70 feet. How's that? Oh yeah. One corner of the outer wall will be 1 inch lower than the rest of the pond. All rain overflow will go flow over this corner.
.
All I see are issues to come
Explain.
Wait a minute, wood and water? It will become quite “natural” as it rots.
Wood is preserved if fully submerged.
don't get it... natural pool...is a pond...cost a lot less
Basically, yes, but with extra filtration and aeration to keep the water crystal clear.
wtf this music in beginning
Relax. Free music from a free video editor. Use mute.
I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade. However, with all the effort put into this wouldn't it have made sense to just build an actual swimming pool? I've seen real inground pools last over 50 years. This natural pool is a strange build. No offense.
None taken. This project actually began as a normal swimming pool. As 1 sat down to make my material list for the build, natural pools appeared in one of my feeds. The project changed to this pretty rapidly as I began to learn how these ecosystems work.
@@jonathanmcmahon2214 will you be adding aquatic life, fish and so on? Be cool to see an updated video.
There are 6 years of updates on my channel. Unfortunately, we had to move. The new owners thought they would keep making videos.
Mosquitoes....
The pool is home to many creatures that are actually predators of the mosquitoes in all of the stages of their life cycles. Since the build it has virtually eliminated the mosquitoes in the area. It used to be impossible to sit outside, but since the build we can sit outside on our swing and rarely encounter one.
Am i the only 1 who loves watching these videos but would never swim in a natural pool...natural pools looks gross
Glad you enjoyed the build.
Yes, you are the only one. I would swim in this pool all day on a good summer day if I could!
is NOT a natural pool. False titles
Semantics, but thanks.
the new owners are going to have a job getting rid of all that stagnant dirty water
Air pumps keep the water moving and fresh. The new owners love the pool. It was the major selling point for them.
Dude buries a bunch of plastic in the ground and calls it natural.
Green swamp
Not at all.
Horrible choice of sound!
Cool. Mute it.
I had to, nice work though
Bad too much wood!
Explain.
I don't think I've ever witnessed a bigger safety hazard and waste of money in my life. Congrats!
Please explain.
This will end up a complete and expensive disaster….the high ground water level will exert incredible hydrostatic pressure on the pool base and sides causing a collapse. The soft pine wood used has no internal strength an$ will rot away in less than two years. He should have gone to Vegas instead of throwing his money away in the doomsday pool disaster!!
I'll add you to the internet experts who have no idea what they're talking about. Thanks for your contribution.
"n$ will rot away in less than two years" and it is now 6 years old...
Dude says the wood will rot in two years on a pool that's been installed for 6 years. They keep getting smarter and smarter.......
Get rid of the crap music.
L 2 mute noob.
Total waste of time pea soup 😂
Thanks.
BRAWO !!!
Thank you!
am i the only one that thought putting 20k in wook underwater was a mistake?
Plenty of people think this. If you read through the comments you'll find the answer. Short answer: wood doesn't rot when fully submerged.
horrible
Thanks
The wood will rot away after a few years surely !
The wood will be preserved as long as it stays submerged. And don't call me Shirley.