10 Phases of Swimming Pool Construction

Building an inground pool is the culmination of 10 different phases of pool construction. This article will give you a brief understanding of the build cycle. And it all starts with the desire to have a pool in your own backyard.

design engineering

The first place most homeowners look for qualified pool contractors is the local phone book and word of mouth from others who have built a pool. After the initial interview process, you will have a good idea of ​​how much it will cost to build your pool. The contractor or consultant will provide a design and a complete offer for your acceptance. With a contract in hand, the contractor will obtain all the necessary engineering from a qualified structural engineer. The contractor will then apply for permits from the local jurisdiction. At this point, it may also be necessary for the contractor to apply for an approval from the Home Owners Association (HOA) depending on the requirements of your local community. Once the building permit is obtained, construction begins at full speed.

design and excavation

This is one of the most exciting phases of swimming pool construction, the excavation. Excavation is the excavation and formation of the pool. The first thing the excavation teams do is undergraduate. Pregrade is cleaning the pool site and leveling the area for the pool. This allows the team to paint the final shape of their pool on the ground, while also rethinking the pool perimeter and adding shapes for the pool structure. The typical time needed to dig a pool depends on several factors. These factors include: access, ground conditions, and overall pool size and depth. Most pools these days are dug in 1-2 days.

Raw plumbing and electrical

Once the pool is dug, it’s time to move on to the raw plumbing and electrical. This is where all the trenches will be dug for all the pipes and conduits needed to operate your pool. Sometimes the raw plumbing and electrical will split into a couple of parts; otherwise, all trenching and installation of pipes and conduits will be done at the same time. This includes the installation of suction and return lines, water source lines, vacuum lines, fill lines, solar inlet and return, gas lines for the pool heater and future barbecues and fire pits, and the service line. electric. In most cases this will take 2-3 days to complete and can be done before, during or after the steel.

Steel

The steel phase is the addition of reinforcing bars formed into the final shape of the pool. A rebar contractor will “tie” the steel using bilge wire in a grid pattern determined by the structural engineer. A good crew will typically take less than a day to tie the steel down, depending on the size, shape, and raised walls or tie beams.

Gunite or shotcrete

Until this point, your backyard is going to look like one big mess area, with trenches running here and there and a big hole in your yard with a crisscross pattern of rebar running through it. Gunite or Shotcrete is the application of concrete to the pool surface, it forms the shell of your pool. The crews will arrive and via a hose they will finally apply the concrete, the pool will have a nearly finished look. The benches will be installed and the pool walls and floor will be completed. This will also be one of the first times you will be asked to actively participate in the construction of your pool. For the next 7-10 days, you will be asked to hose down the pool cover two to three times a day with water to help cure the gunite or shotcrete. You will really be surprised at the amount of water that the pool structure absorbs.

tile and rock

After the gunite or shotcrete installation, the waterline tile and any rocks or boulders will be installed in your pool. The mosaic is necessary to provide an easy to keep clean surface at the waterline. Rocks or boulders are added to incorporate a natural “swimming hole” look and feel and for waterfalls and jumping rocks. For pools with a contemporary look or a classic style, tiles are incorporated into the design and applied not only to the water line, but also to any raised wall or water feature.

decor

(Concrete, pavers, Trex, tile, stone, etc.) With the tiles installed, the next addition to your pool project is the cover. Now where I grew up, decking was always associated with wood, and the redwood was king. But when I got involved in the pool industry, the deck was the element that surrounded the pool. For most pool owners, the cover of choice is concrete. Concrete is durable and inexpensive compared to the other options, turf or landscaping, tile, stone, pavers, and natural or synthetic wood products. Deck installation takes a minimum of a couple of days to form and finish, or may require several days and weeks depending on the surface. The deck crew will also be responsible for setting up the equipment deck, where all the pumps, filters, heaters and other equipment needed to operate your pool will be located.

equipment set

The excitement builds, you’re almost done and you’re ready to swim. At equipment installation, the pool service company or plumbing and electrical company will return to install all equipment. The lights will be installed, the control panels will be connected, all the pumps, heater and filter will be mounted in the base of the equipment and the piping will be connected. This is normally routinely completed within a day or two. All ready to fill your pool with water. But wait, we’re missing the all-important pool area.

Cast

Plaster provides the waterproofing surface for your pool. Plaster comes in many different forms, from plain, to pebble to polished surfaces. Usually this can be done in one day. And for those of you for whom money is not an issue, this may be a tiled pool surface complete with Grecian surrounds. After the pool finish has been applied, now is the time to start filling your pool.

Construction Cleaning and Commissioning

Once the majority of the construction is complete, all excess and leftover materials will be removed from the pool site. All the empty boxes will go to landfills and eventually your backyard will be ready to enjoy and not look like a disaster zone. The last item left to do is get the pool up and running. The start-up process ensures that all equipment is working and that the pool has all the necessary chemicals to prevent algae and other problems. Now it’s your turn to start reaping all the benefits of pool ownership.

This has been a short article outlining the in-ground pool process for gunite or shotcrete pools. A swimming pool is the culmination of many individual people, each a seasoned veteran of its trade. For most homeowners, a licensed contractor can guide them through the process. For others, the option to build their own pool and act as their own general contractor can save thousands of dollars, but it requires a deeper level of understanding.