We are pleased to return and help clients we have had the opportunity to work with on a few previous jobs for a unique challenge. The family called upon us this time to convert a large indoor pool room at their Middletown farm where they raise amazing grass-fed beef at Spring Pastures Farm, most of the herd being bred and raised on the farm. They were wanting to alleviate the frustrations that come along with indoor pool maintenance. This is not the first in-ground pool conversion Harmon Builders has tackled, but this project has a larger scope than the one we had previously completed.
This former pool house needs to remain flexible at this stage of construction, as the final outcome has yet to be determined. Some possibilities for this large multi-purpose space could include an entertainment area for kids and family, a meeting room for community events and special occasions like dinners on the farm, cooking or other specialty classes, a farm market store, or even living quarters. As we select materials we are being particularly mindful of issues with moisture and acoustics.
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- Before photo of the pool area.
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- Exterior elevation drawing of current pool house.
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- Sleepers atop scaffolding inside the pool.
Paul and Jason began by filling the pool with scaffolding, then sleepers connect across the scaffolding in the inside of the pool, and the flooring will be installed over the top of Advantech OSB, which we are using because of its outstanding moisture resistance. A high quality vinyl tongue and grove flooring by Mannington’s AduraMax is a somewhat newer product to the market that provides a great aesthetic in a “Napa Tannin” shade, and when outfitted with a moisture barrier will be perfect for guarding against issues with condensation created within the structure. They discovered once they began to make progress on the site that this enclosure was made entirely from concrete. Mike Grissom of Cornerstone Heating and Air Conditioning will be installing two Mistubishi “mini-split” wall mounted ductless climate control systems, which will also help pull humidity from the air.
Between the solid construction materials and the twelve foot vaulted ceiling, another critical issue is noise. The high-end vinyl flooring specified will help mitigate that to some degree and wall and ceiling materials will also need to counter reverberating sound. There will be a lot of new developments as this project advances through the phases of construction and subsequent decisions are made.
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- Insulation with a moisture barrier and OSB to complete the filling of the pool cavity
One of the greatest benefits of custom building is the nearly limitless possibilities for what you can do. Check back with us to see how it is coming along and what our client decides to do with their fabulous new space.
By Melanie Smith-Bell
