user: What are the key steps for building a an in ground pool?

assistant: Pre-construction site meeting - Before starting the construction of your pool, schedule a pre-construction site meeting. With a design consultant present, a site supervisor will review the plans and inspect your yard to ensure no modifications to the design are required. 

Excavation - The hole is dug and excess dirt is removed or dropped. The hole will be slightly larger and deeper than the finished pool, as the pool wall and bottom will take up some of this area.

Form & Steel - Now that the pool has been dug, the hole is with reinforced with “steel rebar” to add the strength required for your pool.

City Inspections - After installing the steel rebar, an inspector will review your pool plans and inspect the job site to make sure everything is up to code. 

Gunite - Crews will spray / apply the concrete that makes up your pool’s shell and steps. If your pool design includes any swim-outs, fountains, or a gunite spa, those elements will be part of this phase as well.

Backfill & grade - Once the gunite is dried, it’s time to start backfilling around the walls and braces. The material from excavation is used to fill in the space between the newly constructed shell of the pool and the rest of the backyard.

Plumbing Installation & Inspection - Plumbing crews begin installation, and dig trenches to lay pipe from your pool to the pool equipment. Any pipes for water features such as sprays, fountains, or rock falls will be installed, along with pool return lines and skimmer(s). After the plumbing installation, the city will inspect the work completed.

Site Grade - Prior to placing the decking, the construction crew will level out and compact the sub-base preparing for the patio.

Tile & Coping Installation - Tile crews will install your pool’s waterline tile and coping. Additional work may also be performed during this phase by a different set of crews if rock is used in your pool’s design. If your pool design requires a retaining wall at the edge of any part of your deck, it will be constructed at this time. 

Deck Installation - Crews will form the shape and sand your deck and any planter areas. After this process is complete chosen rock or tile finish is applied. 

Electrical - Pre-Electrical Equipment Hook Up: Installing your pool pump, filter, and gas heater (if applicable). Run the conduit for the main electric supply used by your pool equipment. They will also install lighting and any wiring necessary for your pool. City inspection at this time as well.

Screening - If you opted in for a screen, footers are poured and screen is constructed.
Pool Plaster - Prepare the concrete surface of your swimming pool, and then apply your pool’s finish and fill the pool with water – finishes cured underwater.  The water will need to stay on once it is started, without interruption, until your pool is full. Your pool will be considered completely full once the water reaches halfway up the tile line (middle of your waterline tile).

Clean up & inspection - During this phase, remove any trash that was created during the construction of your pool, and also complete the final grade of your yard. In most communities, an inspector from your city will inspect your pool area to ensure it is safe to use and everything has been properly completed.

Pool School - When the pool is balanced a Service Department will contact you to schedule an orientation. This orientation will answer any questions you may have about your new pool, as well as show you how to properly use your pool equipment.

SWIM!