Building an in-ground swimming pool is a very complex construction project, but at Advanced Pool & Spa we strive to limit the disruption to our clients and explain the process clearly from the start. Our clients can rest assured, knowing that our company is an experienced, state licensed and insured Pool Builder as well as a General Contractor. We work closely with the building department and any review committees to ensure that your pool is designed correctly, all of the necessary permits and approvals are secured, and all of the required inspections are completed. If desired, we can also coordinate with architects, landscape designers, or other construction professionals to ensure that your new pool is integrated seamlessly with your property and home. The pool construction process is broken down into 10 phases:
PHASE 1: DESIGN & PERMITTING (10-12 Weeks)
The first thing to take place in the pool construction process is design, estimating, contract, approvals, engineering and permits. Beginning with your design, this is where all of the ideas, concepts, and functionality are put together into a project that meets your expectations. We will put your ideas into our design software to create 2D and 3D renderings to help conceptualize your ideas. The design may go through a couple drafts before arriving at the final swimming pool design that is best suited for you.
The second part of this initial phase is the estimate. We utilize the design we’ve created in our software to come up with quantities and estimates for each material and labor component of the project. We utilize past, current, and projected labor and materials costs to come up with an estimate that is as accurate as possible at the time it is generated.
Once you are satisfied with your design and estimate, it is time to move forward! Our office will prepare a standard pool construction contract that details everything in the estimate, the payment terms, and the general terms of the contract. In Florida, all construction projects of this size are considered to be improvements to real property and are required to be in writing. In addition, there are statutory requirements that lay out specific language that must be included in the contract for your protection. If you have any questions about this language we are happy to explain it to you.
Approvals for exterior projects such as a swimming pool and screen enclosure are required by many of the architecture review boards, homeowners associations, and communities in our area. We are familiar with the various committees and their requirements and will help prepare the documents necessary to present the project for an approval. In most cases approvals are a given, but sometimes issues can arise. This is where our experience can help make the difference between an approval on your project vs. a non approval.
We contract with a structural engineering firm to design your pool and spa. The steel, concrete, plumbing, and electrical specifications are designed by an experienced pool professional. While most pools will only require standard engineering, some of our more complicated pools and spas or unique soil conditions will require additional specifications to ensure structural integrity.
After acquiring approvals and engineering for the project, it is time to get in line for a construction permit. Construction cannot begin until this happens and the approval process varies based on the building authority. In general, it is not uncommon for the permit to take 30 days. It can be quicker or slower depending on questions that may arise, or the number of permits being processed by the department.
PHASE 2: LAYOUT & EXCAVATION (1-2 WEEKS)
The pool layout phase takes place after we have obtained your building permit. During this phase, “Call Before You Dig” will come out and locate any underground utilities that are near the construction area. Because we are not building in any setbacks or easements, there are usually no impacts to utilities. Ocassionally there may be a utility line of some sort in the area. If so, we can either shift the pool, or we can work together with the utility provider to relocate the impacted service line. If such lines need to be moved, the utility will let you know if there is an associated cost, if any.
Layout is basically where we take your computerized conceptual design and transfer it from paper to your yard. The pool, spa and and design features will be painted on the ground and represent the dimensions of the finished pool. The layout usually takes a few hours to complete and takes place a few days prior to excavating the swimming pool. The purpose of the layout is to give you a visual of the area the pool will be in and act as a guide for the excavator. It is at this point that any last minute changes need to be made. Once we pass this phase, the project is “set in stone”.
Excavation will typically occur in 1 day. A crew of 2-4 people will arrive with a mini-excavator and a skid steer. The crew will use these machines along with stakes, strings, and a laser level to excavate the pool and determine the proper dimensions and depths. The pool will be “over dug” by at least 1’ in each dimension and 6” or more in depth to allow for the steel and concrete shell. Once excavation is complete, some of the dirt will be hauled away to a remote dump site. Any soil left on site around the pool will be used to fill in along the pool shell once it is constructed and/or to level up the pool deck area. If there is any dirt leftover at the end of the project, it will be hauled away.
PHASE 3: FORMING, STEEL & UNDERGROUND PLUMBING (1-2 WEEKS)
Now your pool will begin to take shape! Once your pool has been excavated, carpenters will form the perimeter of the pool with wood and pliable boards for curved shapes. From these boards, they will extend a steel structure made of rebar down into the pool along the exvated space. In most cases, the rebar will form a 12” grid that will be in the center of the concrete shell. Each piece of rebar will be wire tied to the adjacent bar and nailed to the form boards. Once the rebar is complete, it will be lifted off the floor od the pool with blocks or supports to allow concrete to envelop it.
Prior to shooting the pool, we need to place any under pool plumbing and light fixtures. In most cases this will be a main drain or drains and a single light niche. Sometimes there will also be bubblers, umbrella holders, or hand rail eschushions that need to be placed at this time. After the plumbing and fixtures are placed, the pool rebar will be grounded with copper wire at several points around the shell, this is required to prevent electrical shock.
After we have gotten all of this done and determine that it is ready, an inspector will be called out to evaluate the pool for proper location, dimensions, structural specifications, rebar, grounding, and underground plumbing.
PHASE 4: SHOOT THE POOL (1-2 WEEKS)
If you are around to watch, this is an exciting process. There will be a crew of 4-6 people working on the shell of the pool for most of the day depending on the size and weather conditions. The first thing they will do is cover the back of your home with plastic sheeting. This is to prevent most of the concrete dust from settling on your house. Next, they will position a pump with a long hose and an air pump at the street where concrete trucks can pull up to. The hoses will run from the street to where the pool is located. The crew will need access to a hose bib with running water for this part of the process. When the concrete trucks arrive, the crew will begin pumping the concrete through the long hose. When the concrete comes out of the hose, it will be met with a powerful stream of compressed air through a second hose which the crew member will direct onto the pool walls and floor. The stream of forced air partially dries the concrete and allows it to stick to the rebar and other concrete without slumping onto the floor.
During the process, other crew members will be loading the pump with concrete and adjusting the air & pump, carving steps, beams, and other features into the pool, and shoveling excess concrete to the floor. The pool walls will be shot to a thickness of around 6″. The finish of the concrete will be left rough to ensure proper adhesion of the interior plaster finish.
PHASE 5: PLUMBING, EQUIPMENT, & TILE (1-2 WEEKS)
After shotcrete, it’s time to run plumbing from the pool jets, skimmer, and main drain to where the equipment will reside. Schedule 40 PVC is used for all of the pumbing. All of our pools are equipped with an automatic water leveler, three pool returns, a skimmer, and a main drain. Your pool may have more plumbing if it has any water features, a spa, or is larger.
The pool filter, pool pump, sanitizer, lights, heater, blower, valves, automation panel, and any other equipment your pool may have will be set on concrete pads and connected to the underground pool plumbing. After setting the equipment, all of the plumbing will be pressurized to ensure there are no leaks. The plumbing system will be pressurized all the way through to the concrete deck phase.
During this phase, the waterline tile you selected for your pool will be installed at the top of the pool. This tile will be set with a laser level to ensure accuracy and will ultimately dictate the height of your pool deck. It is not uncommon for the pool deck tile to be raised 1/2” or more above the surrounding pool. This is to ensure that any rainwater or runoff is not directed into your pool resulting in contaminated pool water.
PHASE 6: BACKFILL & FORM DECK (1-2 WEEKS)
After the waterline tile has been installed, it is now possible to form the pool deck and arrive at a finished deck elevation. Prior to the forming, any remaining soil will be placed around the pool covering the pool pipes and filling in the sides of the pool shell. Additional dirt may be used to bring the deck level up to any existing adjacent deck spaces. Once the dirt is in place, form boards will be placed to the shape of your deck and screen enclosure. Drains will be installed between your house and the pool where possible to allow water to runoff the deck and not accumulate. The soil will be compacted with a vibratory plate compactor and may also be treated for termites if required. At this point, an inspection will be requested to check the pool plumbing, deck, and footing.
PHASE 7: POUR DECK, APPLY DECK TEXTURE & ACRYLIC COAT (1-2 WEEKS)
Pool decking is one of the most visual parts of the pool and there are many options to choose from. The most popular choice by far is textured acrylic decking, sometimes called “cool decking”. It is the least expensive option but is also one of the cleanest looking, easiest to maintain, and easiest to refinish when the need arises. Textured acrylic decking is a sprayed on concrete texture that is “knocked-down” or troweled flat, allowed to dry, then finished with an acrylic paint that is colored to your specific taste. Sometimes, patterns or coping bands in a contrasting or complimentary color can be applied to add visual interest to the project.
Pavers are also a popular options for decking. There are two main types of pavers, concrete pavers such as Flagstone, and Travertine pavers which are made of a natural stone. The installation process for both is essentially the same. Coping of a similar material will be set with mortar around the pool perimeter. After the coping is installed, a crushed layer of gravel will be placed around the pool and deck area and is then leveled out. The gravel layer will then be compacted and finally all of the “field” pavers will be layed out. The perimeter of the deck will be cutt off, and set with mortar on a concrete surface and the finished pavers will be sanded into place.
PHASE 8: INSTALL THE SCREEN ENCLOSURE (1-2 WEEKS)
Most of the pools we build for our clients will have a screen enclosure. If the pool does not have a screen enclosure, it will have some type of pool barrier such as pool fencing or block walls to meet the pool barrier requirements. The building code in this area is very stringent to prevent accidental drownings.
The screen enclosure will be built on site and begins with the walls. Once the walls are complete, the roof will be added to the structure. In some cases the roof will be built off site and brought in various sections to be raised and installed. After the structure is completed, the openings will be screened with a standard screening. Other types of more expensive screening are available at an additional cost such as insect screening, pet screening, solar shade screening, privacy screening, or even screens with pictures of the beach on them!
PHASE 9: INSTALL POOL PLASTER, FILL WITH WATER, START PUMP (1-2 WEEKS)
Now that the pool is enclosed with a barrier, we can finally fill it with water! But not yet! In order to do that, first we have to install the pool plaster. The pool plaster we use is made up of fine cements mixed with colored dyes and crushed quartz particles. Together they form a waterproof barrier that keeps your pool from leaking. But before we can apply the plaster, we must first thoroughly clean the pool shell. For several weeks now, the shell has been exposed to dirt, dust, and debris. A crew will pump out any standing water, sweep up the remaining debris, and pressure wash the shell to ensure contaminants are removed from the surface. After the shell is cleaned, a crew will come to apply the plaster. The plaster is mixed in a small batch mixer with water and is wheel barrowed and hand troweled onto the pool walls and floor. At first the finish will appear chalky and white, but eventually it will be washed down with water, sponges, and acid to expose the quartz and color.
By the end of the day or the day after applying the plaster, we will begin to fill the pool with water. This is a long process and can take 12 hours or more depending on the size of the pool and water pressure. After the pool has filled, the water will be shut off and your pool equipment will be turned on to start circulating the pool water. Chemicals such as acid and sequestrants will be added to the pool water to ensure that the water is balanced properly to allow the pool finish to cure. During this time, a team member will come by to brush and vacuum the pool to keep it clean.
PHASE 10: PAINT DECK, BALANCE CHEMICALS, FINAL INSPECTION (1-2 WEEKS)
Once the pool is filled and the water is circulating, we can coat the deck with the final acrylic coating. Your color of choice will be applied and allowed to dry. Following the final deck coating, the pool water will be vacumed, brushed, and balanced by one of our technicians. An automated schedule for your internet based pool controller will be configured and you will be instructed on how to download and connect to the app. In addition to controlling your pool, you will receive instruction on balancing you pool water, cleaning the pool and we will answer any questions you have about maintenance and operation.
At this point your pool is complete and a final inspection will be called in. The inspector will be checking the electrical bonding of the screen enclosure, proper operation of the pool plumbing circulation system, the pool barrier (screen enclosure), the presence of a pool alarm meeting code, the elctrical panel, and the overall pool project.