How To Build An Inground Swimming Pool

The pool outline and final position is completed. The final elevation for the pool and equipment location has been marked and outlined also. This procedure is usually done about 1-2 days prior to excavation.

Today is dig day. This is probably the homeowners most exciting and stressful part of the entire transformation. Seeing a big excavator parked in your backyard making a hole will do that. But, it needs to be done and your pool will be in your yard forever, so sit back, have some coffee and watch the process begin.

All of our pools come with a poured 15"- 18" thick concrete collar. This concrete pour is spread evenly around the entire outside bottom perimeter of the pool and secures the steel walls, bracing and rebars together to make a steel wall pool practically indestructable. There is a big difference over the cheaper out-dated way of only cementing the bracing with a bag of cement mix.

Once the collar is poured, we level out the mix. This ensures a level, clean collar around the pool and will pitch any possible groundwater away from the pool. An improperly pitched collar can cause trapped water to build-up outside the pool, possibly seeping between the steel panels and get stuck behind the liner later.

In this picture, the major backfilling and rough grading has been completed. This is not the final grading. During the final grade, we will hand rake the area, removing any large rocks and pack down the dirt around the pool. Now we are ready to begin working inside the pool.

This pool has a cement hard bottom. This is an option which is at first, seems expensive, but benefits are incredible. A typical pool would have a sand base for its floors and slopes. As the pool gets used, the floor and slopes will develop indentions and footprints. It usually takes a few years for the water pressure inside the pool to compress the sand base. This is normal wear and tear on a sand based vinyl lined pool but the bottom of your pool can eventually look cratered. By upgrading to a full hard bottom, your pool floor and slopes will maintain its smooth lines and texture. Besides the visual benefits of a cement hard bottom, it prevents damage to your liner.

During this phase, the foam padding is installed. This cushions the sides of the pool between the steel walls and the vinyl liner. The foam padding is attached to the steel using a spray adhesive to prevent movement before the liner is in place.

Today is liner installation day. This is the time when the kids (and adults) start wanting to jump in. Soon... but not yet. The liner is installed and a vacuum is set between the liner and the steel wall and will suck out all the trapped air. The result will be a liner that is stretched in place and ready for water. Once the liner is checked and adjusted, we are ready to start filling the pool.

The pool is completely filled now. At this point the electrical work is finished, the equipment is installed and we're ready to give the pool life! Once the pool's operating system is started, stabilizer is added to the water and the sanitation process begins. Although the water is a little chilly, tomorrow the pool can be used. Depending on the mason contractor you hire, they might be able to begin the deckwork around the pool at this stage. They will prepare and tamp down the ground around the pool to prevent settling after the deck is put down. Some customers opt to let the ground settle around the pool for a few months before contracting the masons to do the work.

The masons have prepared the ground outside the pool. The brick coping has been installed on top of the steel walls and the brick pavers are being laid down. The pitch of the deck is very important and should always be pitched away from the pool. This would prevent rainwater from running into the pool during a storm.

The masons have now completed the flatwork of the new patio. In the center top and bottom of the pool, noticed the unfinished areas. Here, will be a garden area, and a waterfall. This is a very nice finishing touch on a backyard transformation.

The garden and waterfall have been completed. The waterfall has been activated with a valve at the equipment area. This waterfall has been accented with beautiful plants and flowers. The homeowner definitely has a good eye for picking out just the right plants without making it look like a jungle. The view from the house makes the pool look like it "belongs" in the backyard, by naturally blending it in.

Aside from your friends who show up unexpectedly, sometimes, pools new and old are not just enjoyed by humans. This unexpected visitor decided to spend some quality time today enjoying a little swim. Sorry, but turtles are not included, they must be provided by Mother Nature.