The construction of 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 swimming 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 your pool will cost to build. The contractor or consultant will provide a design and complete offer for acceptance. With a contract in hand, the contractor will obtain all 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 a Home Owners Association (HOA) approval based 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 pool construction, the excavation. Excavation is the excavation and formation of the pool. The first thing excavation teams do is undergraduate. Pregrade is the cleaning of the pool site and the leveling of the area for the pool. This allows the team to paint the final shape of their pool on the ground while also laying out the perimeter of the pool 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 out in 1 or 2 days.
Rough plumbing and electrical
Once the pool is dug, it’s time to move on to the rough 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 rough plumbing and electrical will be split into a couple of parts; otherwise, all trenching and installation of pipes and conduits will be done at the same time. This includes installation of suction and return lines, water source lines, vacuum lines, fill lines, solar inlet and return lines, 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 steeling.
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, depending on the size, shape, and raised walls or tie beams.
Gunite or shotcrete
Until now, your backyard will look like one big disaster area, with trenches running here and there and a big hole in your yard with a criss-cross 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. Crews will arrive and hose down the concrete at the end, giving the pool an almost finished look. Benches will be installed and the pool walls and floor will be completed. This will also be one of the first times that you will be asked to take an active part in the construction of your pool. For the next 7 to 10 days, you will be asked to hose down the pool deck two to three times a day with water to help cure any gunite or shotcrete. You will really be amazed at how much water the pool structure absorbs.
tile and rock
After the shotcrete 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 rock jumping. 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 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 other options, grass 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 to 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.
set of equipment
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. Lights will be installed, control panels connected, all pumps, heater, and filter mounted to the base of the equipment, and plumbing connected. This is normally routinely completed within a day or two. Everything ready for filling your pool with water. But wait, we’re missing the all-important pool area.
Cast
Gypsum provides the waterproofing surface for your pool. Plaster comes in many different forms, from plain, to pebbled, 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 complete tiled pool deck with Greek borders. After the pool finish has been applied, it is now time to start filling your pool.
Construction Cleaning and Commissioning
Once most of the construction is complete, all excess and leftover materials will be removed from the pool site. All the empty boxes will be taken to landfills and eventually your backyard will be ready to enjoy and won’t look like a disaster area. The last item left to do is to 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 owning a pool.
This has been a brief article that describes the inground pool process for gunite or shotcrete pools. A pool is the culmination of many individual people, each a seasoned veteran of his craft. For most homeowners, a licensed contractor can guide you through the process. For others, the option of building their own pool and acting as their own general contractor can save them thousands of dollars, but it requires a deeper level of understanding.
