Introduction: Tyvek Pool
Why buy a little kiddie pool when you can make a cooler one? Okay you might wonder why? Tyvek isn't cheap? This pool cost me nothing. I had all the stuff left over. If you have to buy the supplies, go with a regular kiddy pool.
The Tyvek I used is from a 10' wide roll. Free from construction leftovers.
The pool will be about 7'x7'x1'
You will need:
4 - 8' long 2x4's
4 - milk crates (or something like a milk crate) to hold the corners up off the ground.
Bunch of screws to hold the 2x4's together at the corners
Staples and Staple gun
Oh and a big piece of Tyvek (I used 10'x10' piece)
Overall:
Make large square pool with 2x4's for edges and milk crates to hold the wood off the ground. The Tyvek needs to be stapled to the wood and the wood rolled so the Tyvek goes around at least once.
Step 01:
Staple one edge of the Tyvek to a 2x4... all along the edge (every 6").
Roll 2x4 till Tyvek is wrapped around the 2x4 one time.
Step 02:
Repeat Step 01 on the opposite side of Tyvek sheet. Then the two remaining sides.
Step 03:
Set out the milk crates in a big square (about 7'x7')
Step 04:
Set the two 2x4's with the Tyvek on top of the other two so you have a big square with the 2x4's. The 2x4's need to overlap, flat side to flat side. Screw together.
Step 05:
Get in the center of the pool and flatten out the Tyvek so that it goes all the way to the corners. The walls need to be straight up and down (not tight, water will rip it apart)
Step 06:
Measure in about 6-8 inches on the ends of the 2x4's and screw the ends together (See pic)
Lay the two naked edges over the last two 2x4's and staple the Tyvek
Step 07:
The Tyvek rips really easy with the staples so use lots. I also found that if you put a piece of cardboard over the Tyvek and staple through that... it helps a lot with ripping.
Step 08:
Start filling with water and attach the milk crates to the corners of the 2x4 square. If the milk crates slip out from under the 2x4 edge... a lot of water will flood your yard.
Notes:
Make sure you have the Tyvek on the ground and the edges are pretty straight up and down. You don't want to hammock the Tyvek, use the ground to hold the weight... the Tyvek will just hold the water in.
If the water is to cold... put something dark in it when you aren't playing... I used a dark blue yoga mat... this will heat up the water faster than just the sun.
This pool will last about 5 days if you are nice to it... if not, considerably less. These directions aren't very good. Sorry.