Looking at the way people enjoy their swimming pools, one can definitely get tempted to have one of his/her own. The right season for building a swimming pool depends on the region. In areas where the weather is warm most of the time, people start building their pools right from the beginning of the year. In colder climates, on the other hand, the winter frost can stall the plumbing lines of a pool. People thus have to wait until spring before starting the process. Besides being aware of the climate concerns, a potential swimming pool owner should also know the basic process of building a pool.
Usually, a pool owner cannot be expected to know anything apart from terms like pool filter, pleated filter cartridge, water circulation, pool pumps, vacuum and sanitizers. The pool-building process, however, has a way more elaborate explanation than any of these. Some of the major steps in the same, followed by deciding the design and hiring the contractor, have been explained below:
- In areas where the water tables are high, some pool experts conduct a test to estimate the ideal water level for the pool. The results of this test are sent over to a local authority for approval.
- An outline for the pool is drawn on the ground with paint.
- For accommodating the pool, excavation and digging are carried out on the ground within the outline.
- A grade inspection of the project is conducted.
- Electricians, steel sub-contractors and plumbers are contacted and brought in for the job.
- Ground bonding and steel are thoroughly inspected. This is followed by the first electrical inspection and a test for static pressure in plumbing.
- The swimming pool's steel cage is sprayed all over with gunite. It takes almost 12 days for gunite to set.
- A second test of plumbing, electrical connections and bonding is conducted.
- Equipment such as pool filter, pleated pool filter cartridge, pool pump and vacuum are assembled properly to create a complete equipment pad. Following that, a connection between the pool and the pad is made, which can take almost two to six weeks.
- Workers install the coping and pour concrete decks. Final inspection of concrete is conducted. This is followed by application of a thin layer of plaster on the gunite which should have set by now.
- The pool is then filled with water and the plaster is allowed to cure under the water for at least three days. After the plaster cures, a final inspection is conducted.
Once the above-mentioned steps are completed, the pool owner needs to buy maintenance products such as pleated replacement filter cartridge, sanitizers, filter-cleaning solutions and brush.
