How a Contractor Build a Swimming Pool
It's helpful to know what to expect – and what to look for – after the digging stops and the builder begins work on your swimming pool. Here you'll find the major steps in the construction of gunite, vinyl-lined, and fiberglass swimming pools. Be aware that the actual sequence of the steps can differ between contractors.
For a gunite swimming pool, these construction steps will follow the excavation;
- Plumbing pipes that will be inaccessible once the concrete is poured are installed.
- A gravel bed is laid in the bottom of the excavation.
- Reinforcing rods and forms for the bond beam are installed.
- The rough pluming – main drain, skimmers, in-wall cleaners (if used), and stubs for the returns – is set down.
- Niches and electrical conduit for underwater lights are put in place.
- Concrete is sprayed on walls and floor, and on steps, seats, and connected spa (if any).
- Concrete is cleaned out of light niches, main drain, returns, and other openings.
- Concrete is troweled to a smooth finish if surface is to be painted.
- Coping is built around rim of swimming pool. The coping may be precast, brick, flagstone, or tile, or be formed by the edge of a concrete deck.
- Tile is applied to the water line and, if specified, the the steps, spa, coping, ledges, sides, and bottom of the pool.
- After concrete is cured, plaster is applied and troweled to a smooth finish, or concrete is painted.
- After plaster is cured or paint is dry, pool is filled with water, support equipment is hooked up and turned on, and water is treated with chemicals.
A vinyl-lined pool is built in the manner described below;
- Footing for sidewall panels is leveled.
- Sidewalls are erected, bolted together, and anchored in place with concrete.
- Rough plumbing for main drain, skimmers, return, and floor-type cleaners (if used) is installed.
- Sand or other suitable material is spread in bottom and leveled or contoured as required.
- Liner is spread over sidewalls, lowered into position, and fastened to top of sidewalls.
- Coping is attached.
- While pool is being filled, liner is smoothed out, openings cut, and main drain, skimmers, return, and lights are installed.
- Plumbing and electrical work is completed and support system hooked up
The site for a fiberglass swimming pool is excavated before the shell makes its dramatic entrance. The work proceeds as follows;
- Rough plumbing under pool is installed.
- Sand is spread in bottom of excavation and contoured to fit pool shell.
- Shell is lifted off truck and lowered into excavation.
- Shell is leveled and adjusted to proper grade; temporary braces supported on wood rails on each side of pool hold shell in position.
- Rough plumbing is connected to main drain, floor-type cleaners (if used), skimmers, and returns.
- Excavation is backfilled with sand, and at the same time, pool is filled with water.
- Plumbing and electric-work is completed and support system is hooked up
- Backfilling is finished, sand is compacted, and deck is graded.
- Forms for deck are prepared.
- Concrete deck is poured and finished.
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