Luanga Nuwame of Homemade Game Guru built a second cardboard swimming pool in 2016 after his first design failed. The smaller, thicker-walled pool was a creative-reuse experiment—not a tested construction plan or evidence that cardboard is a suitable material for a conventional swimming pool.
How the first cardboard pool failed
In Make:’s August 22, 2016 account, Nuwame describes building his first pool in 2011 during a North American heatwave. It measured 72 square feet and used large cardboard sheets, construction glue, a coating mix, and scrap wood. As the cardboard moved under foot traffic and water pressure, the coating cracked. The thin back wall then ripped open when the pool was about half full.
The account identifies two problems in that attempt: a coating that did not tolerate movement and a back wall that was too thin. It does not include independent engineering analysis or load calculations.
What changed in the 2016 design
For the second attempt, Nuwame made the pool smaller and used thicker walls. Make: reports the following project details:
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- INFLATABLE DESIGN: Quick-setup pool with durable PVC construction and inflatable top ring for easy assembly and stability
- COMPACT SIZE: Perfect for small outdoor spaces, this round pool measures approximately 12 feet in diameter and 36 inches in height
- WATER CAPACITY: Holds approximately 1758 gallons of water when filled to 80% capacity, ideal for family summer fun
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| Feature | 2011 attempt | 2016 attempt |
|---|---|---|
| Reported size | 72 square feet | 6 by 8 feet |
| Wall construction | Thin back wall; layer count not stated | Six layers of corrugated cardboard |
| Coating behavior | Coating cracked as the cardboard moved | Liquid Rubber, described by the maker as able to expand and contract with the cardboard |
| Reported failure or use | Back wall ripped open at about half full | Used at about one-third full |
For the second build, the maker says he used Liquid Rubber membrane coating, PL Premium adhesives, and oil-based varnish on the exterior. The pool also had pump attachments for water circulation and a metal drainage spout for a hose. Make: says the project took two weeks to make.
Why the pool was kept partly full
Although the walls were three feet high, Nuwame said it was unnecessary to fill the pool to the top; he used it at about one-third full. This is a reported operating detail, not a verified safe-fill recommendation. The article supplies no tested capacity, water-quality instructions, product compatibility assessment, or validated construction plans.
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What the project demonstrates—and what it does not
The redesign illustrates a maker’s response to a specific failure: reduce the pool’s size, thicken its walls, and use a coating described as more accommodating of movement. Nuwame characterized the purpose as showcasing “ingenuity, upcycling, and experimentation.” That makes the project an account of creative reuse, rather than proof that cardboard can serve as a reliable pool material.
The measurements, material choices, construction time, and failure observations here are those reported in Make:’s 2016 project account. They are not independently verified performance data, and the article does not establish that the named products’ current formulations or suitability are the same for another build.
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- Impressive 40-inch rainbow wheel combines fun colors and clear design
- Safe, thick, phthalates-free PVC material with sturdy I-beam construction
- Built-in dual protection prevents deflating; heavy duty for pool fun
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Source: Make: — Cooling Off in a Cardboard Swimming Pool. The author profile identifies Homemade Game Guru as Luanga Nuwame: Make: author profile.
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