THE PROCESS

Building a pool is an engineering feat that takes place right in your own backyard. If you ignore it, you’re missing a great show. With that being said, we know the process is foreign to most and we understand putting a pool in can be very daunting and a little bit scary.
Below is a step by step breakdown of what you would be in for should you take the plunge into building a new pool with us!

Step 1

Becoming Partners

Before any work is to begin, one of our sales personnel will meet with you in your home to talk ideas, vision and help set expectations. After completing a thorough design consultation, we will draft up a proposal. Once you give approval on design and budget, we will write up a contract and begin!

Step 2

Plans & Permits

Drafting the plans is where your dreams start to take shape. We have programs that will allow you to see the designs in 3D rendering. Once finalized, the working plans are brought to the structural engineer and sent to the city to apply for permits. This can take some time, as little as a week or two, to as much as two months depending on the city or county regulations, but once approved, we are good to start building!

Step 3

Excavation

This is the big day, so don’t miss it! That hole in the ground is about to begin. Stakes, strings or other markers will be placed to form the layout of your pool. Then the bobcats come in and start demolition of the site to prepare the pool site for digging. (We will use DIG ALERT to identify underground utility lines.) In some cases where Soils Engineers are required there will be a post-dig soils inspection that we coordinate prior to steel placement.

Now’s the time to caution you about a couple of things:

1. Don’t let anyone touch or move the stakes, strings or other markers forming the layout of your pool. These markers are critical to the shape, elevation and placement of the pool.

2. Once the hole is dug, keep your distance away from the edge, and be especially mindful that your children and pets remain a safe distance away. The sides may have a tendency to crumble and could present a safety hazard unless you’re vigilant.

Homeowner Instructions:

  • Do not touch or move stakes for pool layout.
  • Disable sprinkler zones in access & dig areas.
  • Move favorite plants.
  • Identify any unmarked lines.
  • Keep your distance from the hole.
  • Mail payment once dig is complete.

Step 4

Steel

Steel reinforcing bars are installed as a skeleton for the pool shell. This is a necessity to the structural strength of your pool. It is amazing how quickly your pool will start to take place during this phase. For most pools and spas, steel installment is completed in less than two days.

Step 5

Plumbing

This operation includes the installation of all equipment, plumbing, sewers and gas lines.

Homeowner Instructions:

Check hot water – verify pilot light is lit

Call gas company to check meter size and coordinate what is typically a free upgrade on the size.

Mark any known underground lines or objects before plumber begins trenching Mark locations of bbq and fire pit risers Locate the sewer cleanouts and future P-trap for those cities requiring a sewer connection In certain cities, the public works department may require video scoping of the old lines to confirm they are sufficient to handle the pool load

Step 6

Electrical

All underground conduits are placed from your electric panel to the equipment fixtures and controls. The wire is usually pulled at a later time. A pre-gunite inspection is then called.

This is the time that electric meters may have to be upgraded if the new pool is adding to the load of the main panel beyond its capacity..

Step 7

Shotcrete (Gunite)

This is the loudest operation of them all and the most participatory for you! After the concrete is blasted, you get to water the concrete. Yes we said it – you get to water the fresh concrete. Start watering the day after gunite, morning and evening, then follow up for ten days with a good soaking two or three times per day depending on how hot the weather is.

Homeowner Instructions:

 

  • Water for 10 days, twice a day
  • Make sure you have your material, tile, stone color choices
  • Have your plaster or pebble color determined
  • Decide on your rock and concrete color
  • Gunite payment due morning of the shotcrete

Step 8

Tile & Coping

This selection must be made as early as possible in the pool building process to insure stock. You can see many tile options on the National Pool Tile website or in our design center.

Step 9

Masonry

All masonry, BBQ islands, block walls, and rock work is to be completed in this stage. This phase usually takes the longest to complete; anywhere from a couple of days to a month or more depending on the scope of work. Design or material changes during this process can cause big delays, depending on suppliers and availability. There are usually three to six payments due during this phase.

Step 10

Decks & Drains

Finally no more dirt, mud and dust! The concrete will cure enough to walk on in one day, but keep the surface clear for at least two weeks otherwise the outline of garden hoses and dog paws may be there permanently. We take precautions on how and when we pour the decks. We pre-soak the ground and build in crack control joints at all the critical points but surface checks and cracks and color modeling may still appear. It’s something that we cannot guarantee against.

Step 11

Fencing & Gates

Prior to plastering the pool, the entire area must be totally enclosed to meet local codes before we can call for pre-plaster inspection. We will make arrangements beforehand with you on fencing and gate selections. At minimum, you will need all pool area fences, 5’ or 6’ high depending on the city, door alarms at each door exiting to the pool, self-latching gates and latches on garage doors. Secondary safety measures are available to protect the little ones once they enter the pool area.

Step 12

Plaster & Pebble

Now we’re nearly home free! Plastering is another art form. “State-of-the-art” pumps, hoses, pebble spray wands, buckets and trowels are used. They initially work in the wet plaster while wearing “platform” shoes with spikes. As the plaster hardens they graduate to wearing sponges taped to their shoes. If you’ve chosen the pebble surface the pool surface undergoes a mild acid wash to bring out the vibrant colors of pebble stones the following day.

Step 13

Fill Up

The plasterers will start filling the pool before they leave. The pool should be filled as fast as possible, so round up at least two hoses, especially if you have low water pressure. DO NOT STOP THE WATER FLOW until the water reaches the center of the tile line otherwise you’ll end up with a permanent “ring around the pool”. If you get concerned that the water might overflow during the night simply reduce the flow rate and set your spouse’s alarm to check it out!

Homeowner Instructions:

Keep an eye on water level as hoses fill pool to prevent overflow

Step 14

Start Up

The pool equipment will be started up after the pool is full by our start up technician after the pool reaches the middle of the tile line. You will have to call our office to let us know when it is actually full. We usually run the pumps 24 hours continuously for the first few days or until the cloudy water clears up. Instructions on operation will be given usually at the completion of the first week of operations depending on your availability.

If you have a salt pool, the salt will be added approximately 28 days after the pool has been filled. The pool heater can be turned up to a maximum of 85 degrees for the first 28 days while the plaster/pebble is curing. After that, game on and you can enjoy a hot dip in the spa.

Homeowner Instructions:

  • Don’t turn off the water while filling
  • Plaster should be brushed – every square inch – 2 to 3 times per day or more until the “plaster dust” disappears
  • Then brush it once a day for the remainder of the first week
  • We will add chemicals for the first 5 days and check the water chemistry
You are undertaking a major construction project and have probably heard some real horror stories about building a pool – but in this case, you have selected the most capable team to accomplish the project. One that is dedicated to making this an enjoyable process. So sit back and watch the pool construction process unfold!!! It is amazing and fun to watch.

Maintenance

Use the instructions in the chemical test kit that we provide to learn about proper water treatment. Proper water chemistry is the most important factor in maintaining the beauty and functioning of your pool.

Payment Schedule

For over 30 years, we have tailored our payment schedule so that we are not asking for money in advance. Hopefully this gives you confidence that we will finish what we have started. Because we are building the pool with our industry relationships and your financial sources, it is critical that we receive payment promptly, according to the contracted schedule.