swimming pool building steps

8/13/2019 Swimming Pool Building Steps

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Swimming Pool Building Steps

Swimming pools are some of the most beautiful additions to any backyard. It is

necessary to hire a swimming pool contractor because building an in ground

swimming pool is a very complicated process. Steps need to be followed andproper procedure needs to be followed to ensure your swimming pool will last for

years. This short overview of swimming pool building will outline the steps and

should make you understand why you need to hire a reliable swimming pool

contractor to complete the building process. We will take you through excavation,

steel, plumbing, electrical, gunite, tile, and finishing your swimming pool.

The first step to any swimming pool building project is the excavation of the

swimming pool area. The area of your pool is sketched out first using construction

spray paint and cones are places around the area. A large backhoe will make its

way into your backyard to begin the excavation process. There is usually one

backhoe operator and workers manually digging out the excavation site as well.

During this phase, dump trucks will be coming and going from your property to

dump the soil and excavated material. The issues that can happen during this

stage are as follows: the excavators could run into thick rock, heavy equipment

could ruin your driveway, your yard may be inaccessible (in which case trees or

debris need to be removed). This last point is the most important point withexcavation as the more open the area is, the easier the excavation will be which

will keep your costs down.

When the swimming pool is excavated, it's time for the steel or rebar to be bent

and put in place in the excavated hole. This is a very important step as the rebar

holds the form of the swimming pool, braces the walls, and holds back the water.

The steel needs to be thick enough to withstand this weight and needs to be

arranged in an appropriate interlocking form for the highest efficiency and

reliability. The thickest parts of the rebar are around the base of pool where the

walls meet the floor, around the center of the swimming pool, and around the top

border of the swimming pool. Also, if you have ledges, steps, love seats, etc, they

are also formed by rebar at this time. There will be a team of pool contractors on

site that will bend the rebar and weld the rebar into place.


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Once the rebar is in place, it is time to run the plumbing and electricity to your

swimming pool to power any swimming pool lights you have decided to install.

The pool is fitted for skimmers, filters, jets, fluorescent lights, fiber optic lights,

halogen lights, etc. This is a raw pipe fitting process. The finished plumbing end

electric process take place after the gunite is sprayed and in place. This brings the

swimming pool installation process to the next phase, the gunite.

When your pool is framed with the plumbing and the electricity, it is time to shoot

gunite into your swimming pool. If you are not familiar with the term gunite, also

known as shotcrete is a spray able 4000 pound high yield concrete that is sprayed

into the rebar of the swimming pool. This process is very messy and usually takes

about a day to finish. There will be a team of anywhere from 4 - 7 pool

contractors during this phase. There is usually a person spraying the concrete andthe rest of the crew is responsible for smoothing and forming the concrete. The

gunite is sprayed from the top of the swimming pool down to the center of the

pool.

When the gunite is dry and ready, usually after a few days until it has initially

cured, it is time to tile the inside of the swimming pool, install coping around the

top of the swimming pool, and plaster around the swimming pool. There are

many different types of tiling, styles of coping, and styles of plaster coating - some

have warranties longer than others. Also, during this phase, the plumbing that

was set in place before the gunite will be connected to the pumps and chemical

equipment, any electrical wiring will be completed and finished, and any decking

will be installed around the swimming pool.

The last step of swimming pool building is the best step, filling the swimming pool

and swimming in your swimming pool. The entire pool building process asdescribed above takes 2 - 3 weeks to complete. As you can see through the steps,

the process is very complicated and you need to hire a swimming pool contractor

you can trust.


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Poseidon swimming pools is an inground gunite swimming pool contractor and

master swimming pool builder in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York,

and Delaware. We build custom inground pools, custom spas, and commercial

pools as well as landscaping, patios, and pool houses.

FAQ's

What criteria should I use when choosing a pool builder?

The best source of information will be people who have used the builder for their

own pool. We will provide you with a list of referrals, call the customers on the list

and ask about their experience. Visit pools built by the builder to get a first hand

feel for the quality of builder. Not all builders are the same. Many cut corners on

stone work so they can move on to the next pool. Look at examples of work. You

may also wish to check with Better Business Bureau to see if there are amny

unresolved complaints against the builder.

Does My Pool Come With a Warranty?

Yes, all our pools come with a lifetime structural warranty. We will provide you

with the details of what is covered in writing.

Customer Service

At True Blue Pools we want to make sure you understand how to operate your

pool. We will show you how to operate all equipment and gladly answer any

questions you may have. We are only a phone call or email away if you need any

clarification or help of any kind.

The Process

The Design Phase

This is the first step in the building of a swimming pool and the associated

landscaping. We will prepare a design specifically for you. We take many things in


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to consideration at this phase... The property layout, the house style, your

wants/desires, the family unit, and budget considerations.

Permits Phase

We construct detailed drawings and provide all necessary engineering for the

city/county. The city/county process can be a one day to two week process

depending on the particular location.

Layout/Excavation Phase

We form the pool with wood forms using the detailed plans that we made for the

permit phase. We then use tractors to excavate the swimming pool and dump

trucks to take the dirt to a legal dump site

Steel Reinforcement Phase

We place the rebar according to the engineering that is called for in the particular

design we are working with.

Rough Plumbing Phase

We place pipe for the water and the electrical to the pool. We pressurize the

system. We call for inspection for the steel, bonding, and underground.

Shot-crete/Gunite Phase

We are now ready to apply the shell of the pool. Shot-crete/Gunite is applied by

high pressure air to the steel reinforcement. This is one of the more interesting

things to watch in the pool building process.

Curing Phase

The shot-crete or gunite is allowed to cure for seven to ten days. During this

phase water is applied to the shell a couple of times per day to slow down the

cure. This makes the shell stronger. We typically take advantage of this cure time

by using it to make stone, concrete, tile, and boulder selection.

Coping Phase


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After the shell has cured sufficiently we start installing the coping, tile, and any

water-features that might be included in you design.

Equipment Set Phase

During this phase we install all of the pool equipment including: pumps, filters,

lighting, salt systems, electronics, and heaters. Once these are installed we call for

a Pre-plaster inspection.

Plaster Phase

Once we have the okay from the city/county we apply the plaster, hydrazzo, or

pebble finish. Water is placed in the pool immediately. Time to start enjoying your

swimming pool.

Customer Service Phase

This is one of the most important phases of all. We are still here to serve you after

the job is complete.

Health Benefits of Swimming as an Exercise

It's obvious that a pool is a great place to relax or beat the heat, but pools can

also provide great exercise through swimming.

Aerobic

* Swimming uses almost all of the major muscle groups, but does not put strain

on the connective tissues like running, aerobics, and other weight-training

exercises can.

Low Impact

* Because it is such a low impact way to exercise, swimming is great for everyone

from children to the elderly. Pregnant women and those with disabilites especially

benefit from swimming because of the low impact nature.


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Endurance

* Swimming develops muscle strength and endurance and also improves posture

and flexibility.

Circulation

* Heart and lung strength are also greatly increased through swimming and it is

known to lower blood pressure as well.

Swimming Pool Cost

What drives the cost of a swimming pool?

Location

The area in which you live carries many cost factors. A swimming pool built in

Florida will likely cost 50% of on e built in California. Labor, materials, and fees

associated with bureaucracy are much higher in California.

Materials

The material you select can have an impact on the cost of a swimming pool. If youchoose safety grip coping, the lowest quality equipment, the most basic deck, and

bottom finish; you can get a pooldown to most any reasonable budget.

Upslopes and Downslopes

Both of these conditions can cost you extra money. They bothe require additional

structural engineering and additional labor and materials.

Access

If your property is not easily accessible with at least a 6'6" clearance, smaller

machines must be used to build your swimming pool. Smaller machines mean

more time. More time means more labor and money.

Proximety


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If you are not located in an area that is serviced by a swimming pool contractor,

there may be additional costs to contruct your swimming pool. Also, if you are in

an area that is heavily populated, there may be additional fees related to hauling

and dumpimg.

Features

Features like a pebble bottom, computers, salt systems, LED lights, variable speed

motors, water features, underwater speakers, swim jets, vanishing edges, swim-

up bars, sunken BBQ's, caves, slides, and the like all add to the cost of your

swimming pool.

Local Codes and Fees

Some cities and counties require additional engineering, additional psi

constraints, demand additional fees, require additional special inspectors, require

soils reports, require acoustical engineer reports, require pool equipment

screening, require solar blankets, and the like. Many require none of these items

and therefore cost less.

A Step by Step Guide to Pool Construction

Building Your Dream Swimming Pool

Once you've decided to build your dream swimming pool, the following is the

construction process that Queensland Family Pools will follow:

Step One: Paperwork

Step One: Paperwork - Picture One - Click to EnlargeStep One: Paperwork -

Picture One - Click to Enlarge

After signing a contract, there is roughly two weeks of organising paper work.

Firstly, we will have our engineer, Mr Des Newport, draw up a detailed plan and

drawings, including details of levels, datum points, steel plans, concrete plans

and hydraulic plans. After we get the finished plans from Mr Newport, we will

lodge them with the Local Council for approval. At the same time, we will lodge

your Watertight Completion Insurance with SPASA.


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Step Two: Excavation

After we have confirmation of the Council approval, we will contact you to

arrange the pool excavation. The day involves a bright and early 'mark-out' of

the pool at 6.30am, with either Chris Nicholls or Rodney Webb. At about

7.00am, the excavator and trucks will arrive and commence the excavation of

your pool. Although it is not necessary to remain onsite after the mark-out, it is

advisable to get the day off work and remain onsite until the excavation is

completed. On this day, the steel load will be delivered as well.

Step Two: Excavation - Picture One - Click to EnlargeStep Two: Excavation -


Step Two: Excavation - Picture Two - Click to EnlargeStep Two: Excavation -

Picture Two - Click to Enlarge

Step Two: Excavation - Picture Three - Click to EnlargeStep Two: Excavation -

Picture Three - Click to Enlarge

Step Three: Steel Fixing

After the excavation, the steel fixers come in to do the steel fixing. Their job,

essentially, is to create a criss-cross steel cage around the whole interior surface

of the pool, for the concrete to be sprayed to. The steel fixers mark out steps

and benches at this stage. After they have finished, a Queensland Family Pools

employee will come to the site to pre-plumb the interior of the pool. This means

making plumbing provisions that need to go through the concrete and included

all the pool returns, pool suctions, solar provisions, spa, blower lines, water

features etc.

Step Four: Concreting - Picture One - Click to EnlargeStep Four: Concreting -


Step Four: Concreting


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Our concreters spray a 175mm thick 30 MPA gun crete pool spray mix to the

wall of your pool, which is then shaped with special tools by our shapers. After

the concreters have finished, you will need to water the shell down to allow it

to absorb moisture twice a day for two weeks.

Step Five: External Plumbing

Our plumber will need you to have decided where you would like your pump

and filter situated in your yard, before he gets to the site. You'll also need to

leave some power connections out, for all other tradesmen that need to come

onsite. There is no need for you to be onsite for the plumbing. The plumber will

run all lines from the pool, including the return lines, the suction lines, spa lines,

blower lines, water feature lines, and heating lines back to the site of the pump

and filter. The pump, filter and self cleaning chlorinator will sit on a 600mm x

900mm concrete slab.

Step Six: Coping and Landscaping

Step Six: Coping and Landscaping - Picture One - Click to EnlargeStep Six: Coping

and Landscaping - Picture One - Click to Enlarge

At this stage, the coping and/or granite rocks, waterline tiles, surround paving

and any water feature rocks or blocks will be delivered and constructed/laid.

The coping and waterline tiles are laid on a bed of sand and cement by licenced

professionals. Expansion joints will also be installed to allow for concrete

movement. In the case of additional paving ouside the pool coping, a further

expansion joint will be installed between the pool top and the surrounding slab.

Depending on the type of coping and/or paving you choose, you may need to

seal it after it has been laid. Formal water features are constructed out of besser

blocks that are core filled with steel reinforced concrete, and then rendered fora stunning finish.

Step Seven: Fence Inspection

After the plumbing and coping have been completed, and before the pebble is

installed, you will need to have the fence inspected by our private certifier. The


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inspection fee will have already been paid for by Queensland Family Pools in

your initial lodgement. All you need to do is call them and give them your

address, and they will book you in for an inspection. Once the fence has passed

the inspection, you need to inform Queensland Family Pools as soon as possible,

so that we can book your pebble interior.

Step Eight: Pebble Interior

On the day of the pebbling, the pebblers will get to the site any time between

7.00am and 2.00pm, as they do six or seven jobs a day. The pebble is sprayed

onto the concrete and then smoothed out with a trowel. The 1-2 mm Polished

Coffs Harbour Pebble Interior acts as a bladder inside your pool to further

prevent leaks. The pebblers will then come back the next morning to acid wash

the pebble and begin filling the pool. It is important that you do not turn the

hose off until it is touching the coping or you will get a tide mark on the pebble.

Step Eight: Pebble Interior - Picture One - Click to EnlargeStep Eight: Pebble

Interior - Picture One - Click to Enlarge

Step Eight: Pebble Interior - Picture Two - Click to EnlargeStep Eight: Pebble

Interior - Picture Two - Click to Enlarge

Step Eight: Pebble Interior - Picture Three - Click to EnlargeStep Eight: Pebble

Interior - Picture Three - Click to Enlarge

Step Nine: Start Up

Once the pool is full, call the Queensland Family Pools office on 07 3216

5004 , and we will arrange to have the pool started up. This includes cleaning

the pool and filtration equipment, starting up the pump, filter and chlorinator,

and chemically balancing the pool.

Step Ten: Hand Over

Essentially, this is your driving lesson for the pool. If you are building a dream

for the first time, this appointment is VERY important, as it explains to you how


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to look after and maintain your pool equipment, and keep the chemicals in

check.

swimming pool building steps

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