Machinery will be brought in to perform the removal or relocation of earth, rocks and possibly underground ledge. Should the excavation team encounter ledge rock during this process, blasting may become a necessity to continue. The only feasible alternative to blasting is relocation of the pool. If there appears to be a water table condition, or inadequate drainage then appropriate design solutions are implemented. The most common situation, water in the shell area, requires additional under-pool stone to be added with possibly a drainage pipe to grade.
Some conditions require even more involved design solutions.
The first actual structural piece of the swimming pool is the steel reinforcing cage. The ironworkers will bend and tie steel rebar to form a gridlike pattern which is used to strengthen the pool's cement shell. Each fitting designed to penetrate from the shell exterior to the pool's interior, is carefully located according to the plans and attached to the steel reinforcing. Should additional reinforcing be necessary to support external fittings, such as skimmers, it will be added to the supporting grid after the fitting is in place. The next step for the shell to be completely ready to accommodate the gunite application process is to set-up final guide wires or rods and to tie all wall retaining material to the shell.