Stages of Swimming Pool Construction

California Pools - Building a deep pool is the culmination of 10 different pool construction phases. This article will give you a brief understanding of the construction cycle. And it all started with, the desire to have a pool in your own backyard.

Design & Engineering

The first place most homeowners look for a quality pool contractor is the local phone book, and word of mouth from other people who have built pools. After the initial interview process, you will have a good idea of ??the cost of building your swimming pool. The contractor or consultant will provide a complete design and quote for your acceptance. With the contract in hand, the contractor will get all the necessary techniques from a qualified structural engineer. The contractor will then apply for a permit from the local jurisdiction. At this point, it may also be necessary for the contractor to apply for Home Owners Association (HOA) approval depending on the needs of the local community. Once a building permit was obtained, construction began at a high speed.

Layout & Excavation

This is one of the most interesting phases of swimming pool construction, excavation. Excavation is the excavation and formation of swimming pools. The first thing the excavation crew did was pregrade. Pregrade is the cleaning of the pool location and assessment of the area for the pool. This allows the crew to paint on the ground the final shape of your pool and at the same time the crew will install the pool perimeter and add shape to the pool structure. The typical time it takes to dig a pond depends on a variety of factors. These factors include: access, soil conditions, and the overall size and depth of the pond. Most ponds today are dug in 1 to 2 days.

Rough Plumbing & Electrical

Once the pool is dug, it's time to move on to rough plumbing and electricity. This is where all the trenches will be dug for all the pipes and conduits needed to operate your pond. Sometimes, the rough plumbing & electrical will be broken into several parts, otherwise all the excavation and laying of the pipes and conduits will be done at the same time. This includes installation of suction and return lines, water feature lines, vacuum cleaner lines, charging lines, solar inlet and return lines, gas lines for swimming pool heating and future grills and fireplaces, and electrical service lines. In most cases this will take 2-3 days to complete, and can be done before, during or after steel.

Steel

The steel phase is the addition of reinforcement formed in the final shape of the pool. The rebar contractor will "tie" the steel using retaining wires in a lattice pattern determined by the structural engineer. A good crew usually takes less than a day to bond the steel depending on the size, shape and any raised walls or bond beams.

Gunite or Shotcrete

By now, your backyard should have looked like one big disaster area, with ditches running here and there and a big hole in your yard with a pattern of criss-crossing reinforcement. Gunite or Shotcrete is the application of concrete to the surface of the pool, it makes the shell of your pool. The crew will arrive and through the hoses will apply the concrete in the end, the pool will have an almost finished look. The bench is installed, and the walls and floor of the pool will be finished. This will also be one of the first times you will be asked to be actively involved in the construction of your pool. Over the next 7 to 10 days, you will be asked to flush the pool shell two and three times a day with water to help cure the gunite or shotcrete. You will be absolutely amazed by how much water the pool structure absorbs.

Tiles & Stones

After installation of gunite or shotcrete, waterline tiles and any stones or boulders will be installed in your pool. Tiles are needed to provide a surface that is easy to keep clean on the surface of the water. Rocks or boulders are added to combine the look and feel of a natural "swimming hole" and for waterfalls and stepping stones. For pools with a contemporary look or classic style, tiles are incorporated into the design and applied not only to the waterline, but also to walls or water features.

Decking

(Concrete, Pavers, Trex, Tile, Stone, etc.) With tiles installed, the next addition to your pool project is decking. Now where I grew up, decking has always been associated with wood, and redwood is king. But when I got into the swimming pool industry, decks were the stuff that surrounds the pool.