Thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and nearly a year of staying safe at home, more and more homeowners opted to build a pool in their backyard in 2020.
If you’re thinking of building your own backyard oasis, it’s a good idea to go into the project knowing what to expect.
After all, you don’t want to build a pool in late June, thinking it will be ready by Independence Day.
You’ve come to the right place for more information!
Keep reading to learn all about the pool building process. We’ll walk you through the steps to building a pool so you can plan your project accordingly.
Let’s dive in!
Preparation
The first thing you’ll need to do is prepare for your project. This includes meeting with local pool builders to learn about their pool construction process.
Start by asking friends and family for recommendations. Then, do some research by reading online reviews to find the best builder in your area.
During meetings with potential builders, you’ll talk about the different features you want your pool to include, discuss the budget, and get a better understanding of the general timeline.
Design
Once you’ve chosen a builder for your project, it’s time for the fun part: design! Here at Sahara Construction & Custom Pools, we offer a free 3D pool design process.
This gives you a realistic idea of what your pool will look like in your backyard so we can make any tweaks before breaking ground.
If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, you can pass this 3D rendering to them for approval.
Permitting
Once the design is finalized, we’ll help you obtain any permits needed to begin your project.
Permitting specifics vary based on county, but we’re very familiar with zoning and building requirements in Katy, TX, and surrounding areas, so we can help answer any questions you may have.
Once the permits are acquired, we’ll call 811 to make sure all underground utilities are marked, so we don’t accidentally damage any lines when breaking ground on your project.
Layout
After we’ve gotten the green light to begin the project, we’ll start by staking out the outline of the design in your backyard.
We work hard during the layout phase to make sure the outline of your pool is accurate and in the exact location so that the construction plan is ready to move forward.
Excavation
If everything looks good as it’s laid out, we’ll start the excavation process. This is one of the messier parts of building a pool, but it’s also exciting because it’s the first sign of real progress.
Our crew will carefully dig the hole for your project, keeping in line with the design you approved. You’ll notice plenty of dirt piled up in your backyard during excavation, but have no fear, we’ll remove it from the property as soon as possible.
Setting up the Foundation
Once the hole is ready, it’s time to lay the foundation for your pool. We’ll start by reinforcing the area with structural steel. This helps ensure that the dirt is held in place.
Then, we install the plumbing lines and drains so that the water will be able to circulate. This also helps ensure filtration is set up correctly, so you’ll enjoy crystal clear water during pool season.
Gunite
Next up, we’ll apply a mixture of cement, sand, and rock around the steel reinforcements. This mixture is called gunite, and it forms the solid shell for your pool.
This is when you can really start to see your design coming together!
Coping and Tile
From there, we’ll install coping around the perimeter of the pool. We’ll also install the tile around the pool, so it starts to look more finished. We have tons of different tile options for you to choose from, making the design uniquely yours.
This is also when additional features are added to the pool, like a waterfall, jets, etc.
Electrical
We’ll have electricians come out at this point to set up power for your pool equipment and lighting. They’ll also install the breaker box, putting you one step closer to a finished pool.
If you plan to use gas to heat your pool, the gas lines will also be run at this time.
Deck
Next, we’ll start building out your deck, to make the area surrounding your pool beautiful and functional.
You can choose from a variety of different pavers, designs, and colors, so your new pool area perfectly complements your home. A new pool can increase your home’s value by 7%, and building a nice deck can help raise that value even more.
Equipment Installation
Now it’s the home stretch! We’ll install all the equipment you need to operate your pool, like the pumps, filtration system, cleaner, and heater.
We’ll test everything out to make sure it functions correctly, so there are no issues when it’s time to open your pool for the first time.
Interior Finish
Finally, we’ll apply the finishing touches to your pool’s interior. We’ll add a plaster coating and then we’ll begin filling the pool with water.
Once it’s full, we’ll give it a final inspection to make sure everything looks perfect.
Initial Start-Up
The most exciting of the pool building steps is starting everything up for the first time! We’ll turn on all the equipment and give you all the information you need to operate the system.
We’ll also give you more information about how to maintain water chemistry so your pool is always ready when you want to use it. Now, it’s time for your first swim!
That’s a Wrap on the Pool Building Process
After reading through this article, we hope you have a better understanding of the pool building process and what to expect.
Are you ready to build a perfect oasis in your own backyard? We’re here to help bring your dreams to reality.
Schedule a free consultation with our team to talk more about your ideas and how we can make them happen.
