Swimming Pool Construction is a multi-step process. First, your contractor must obtain a building permit from your local municipality and any necessary variances (for example to build in the front yard instead of the back). Then excavation can begin. Most contractors will test the soil composition to ensure it’s suitable for the pool. This can include testing for salts, organic material, clay, sand, and gravel.
Next, a cage of steel bars, or “rebar” is encased in the concrete Swimming Pool Construction to create a web of strength to prevent structural failure. This is a critical step and can take several days to install. It also requires a thorough inspection to make sure everything is secure. This inspection is done by a professional and should be completed before the concrete is placed.
Once the structure is firmly in place, plumbing is installed. Most of this is already complete from the earlier stages, but it’s important that it is capped and pressure tested before the concrete shell is placed. This is also a good time to decide on filtration and sanitization types, such as chlorine, saltwater, or a natural alternative like ozone.
After the plumbing is in, a concrete pool shell is placed. Some pools are prefabricated off-site and then delivered, or “preplumbed” and pressure tested in a controlled environment before being installed at the site. This can speed up installation and is much less prone to weather delays. However, even if the pool is built on-site it should still be preplumbed and pressure tested before the final placement.
The actual shell itself can be constructed using a number of different methods, with the choice often based on the specific design. For example, some commercial pools use a poured floor with shuttered walls that are either formed from concrete or blockwork. This is cheaper and simpler, but limits the shape to simple curves. Other pools, especially those in the domestic market and those that are part of a hotel/resort development, have their walls formed using cavity block walls with concrete tied to them; this is more versatile but can be difficult for designers to work with due to the limited range of blocks.
Once the concrete is cured, the interior finishing can be started. This is a fun phase of the process and it’s when you really get to see your pool come together in its final form. It’s at this point that you can also decide on extra features and equipment, such as lights and water slides.
Once all the interior finishes are in, you can finally enjoy your new swimming pool. It’s at this point that you should think about putting in some decking around it, too, so that you can relax or sunbathe. You can also consider adding landscaping and other hardscaping to the surrounding area to add to the pool’s aesthetic.