When you want to build a new swimming pool, your first step is to determine the type of pool you wish to construct and the extras that you will like to include such as steps, lighting, water features or spas. This will help you to understand the scope of work and budget that your project will require. Once you have decided on a pool, the next step is to get a permit to build it from your local building department.
A good contractor Swimming Pool Construction will conduct soil tests to ensure that the ground composition can support a swimming pool. This process will check that the site is suitable for the pool location and is free from salts, organic matter, clay, sand, gravel and silt. The location should also be a safe distance away from electricity and telephone lines, and in a high place to prevent floods. Once a suitable site is found, the excavation begins with heavy machinery such as backhoes. A gravel base is built at the bottom of the excavation to secure the hole and keep it level once the shell is installed.
The pool shell can be constructed either through shotcrete or concrete formworks. In shotcrete, a cage reinforcement is placed inside the walls and floor of the pool for strength and durability. In concrete formworks, a gap is left between the wall and the floor to allow for the movement of water.
Rough plumbing is usually done before the steel installation, which includes the main drains, skimmer, filter and return lines as well as any other necessary plumbing for waterfalls, raised spas and cleaning systems. This plumbing is capped and pressure tested before it is buried beneath the concrete shell.
Once the concrete shell is poured and the plumbing is capped, the walls are grouted with a special type of cement to ensure that they are waterproof. A plaster finish is then troweled over the surface. This is typically a white material although other colors are available for aesthetic preferences.
A safety fence is typically included in basic contracting packages and should be positioned around the pool for the safety of all users. A professional will ensure that the fencing is properly secured and complies with any local regulations regarding its height and placement.
A popular trend in modern swimming pools is to have them one-piece pre-molded, essentially a complete pool that is manufactured offsite. It is then delivered to the home on a suitable delivery vehicle and craned into its hole, which has been prepared to suit the pool size and shape according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. This reduces installation time and labor as well as the amount of plumbing to be completed on site. However, there are a number of other factors that must be taken into account to ensure the pool can be safely used as intended. For example, the pool must be designed for its surrounding terrain and local conditions such as wind direction.