OUR CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
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CONSTRUCTION
PROCESS
Swimming Pool
Construction Process
Building a pool is a big job! It’s something that takes time, but the more informed you are, the easier the process will be. You’ll be giving up your backyard for a good chunk of time, but we promise to keep you informed of our progress throughout the project.
Our goal is to deliver you a pool as quickly as possible without compromising quality. So, what exactly should you be expecting to happen once you pull the trigger to build your dream pool with Clark & Sons Pools? Take a look at the steps below to learn about each phase involved in the process of building your new pool from start to finish.
Layout and Approval
Excavation
Now it’s time to start excavating! After the forms are set and approved, the excavation of your pool may start. Excavation is messy and dirty, but it’s part of the process. Our excavation crew will carefully dig and hand-trim your pool in accordance with the approved design specifications. This process usually takes a few days and is dependent on soil and weather conditions. A lot of dirt will be dug up during this phase, but don’t worry, we will remove most of it during the excavation. If you notice any dirt remaining, it is kept on purpose and will be used for other phases of construction.
Forming
The importance of forms is often overlooked or ignored. Properly built forms ensure a solid base to allow for proper compaction of gunite upon application as well as establishing the exact elevation of the finished pool.
Structural Steel Reinforcement
Next comes the structural reinforcing, we use #4 (1/2”) rebar placed in a 10” grid to increase the tensile strength of the pool shell. Without the steel, the pool shell would be much more apt to crack under the force of the water and soil against it. Concrete has great strength in compression, but it has little tensile strength. Steel has great tensile strength, so the two are combined whenever large amounts of concrete are present. The combination of the two is called reinforced concrete. This makes sure that your pool has the structural integrity to last year after year.
Gunite Placement & Curing
This when you really see your pool start to take shape. Our special blend of gunite is placed pneumatically at a thickness of 10” on the walls and 12” on the floor, which provides an incredible amount of strength, ensuring a structure that will stand the test of time. Once the gunite is placed, a special water-based waterproofing agent is applied and the shell, then allowed to “water cure” for a minimum of 7 days.
Plumbing, Electrical, and Backfill
We carefully calculate your pool’s hydraulic needs to make sure it is plumbed so that it runs as efficiently as possible. We use all PVC schedule 40 and schedule 80 pipe and fittings to ensure the necessary strength and durability to withstand the harsh underground rocky environment of our region. Conduit for each light is placed at this time also, then we backfill the pool area with clean limestone gravel.
Waterline Tile, Coping, and Pool Deck
In preparation for the waterline tile the surface of the gunite shell is first cleaned and then a layer of mortar is applied to create a smooth even surface for the tile to adhere to. Once the tile is solidly in place we form and pour the pools coping followed by the installation of the pool deck.
Equipment Installation
We use the industry’s most reliable and high-tech pool equipment by Pentair Pool. Your pools equipment installation is carefully planned so that not only does it work efficiently and properly, it looks clean and professional as well.
Plaster Finish Installation
The plaster finish on your pool does many things. Depending on your choice of color it gives you that beautiful Caribbean green look or maybe that gorgeous deep Hawaiian blue that you dreamed of. Anything from a smooth polished finish to a wide variety of exposed aggregates, you have a lot to choose from.
Fill Pool and Start-Up
Once the plaster finish has been installed, cleaned, and properly exposed it’s time to fill your pool. This is when water chemistry comes into the picture, from the time we start filling we immediately start balancing the water with special start-up chemicals. Once the pool is completely full, we make sure that the water is properly balanced to ensure that the plaster finish is cured properly. We also start the process of daily brushing the entire plaster surface which will be turned over to you to continue. Brushing the surface daily makes sure that it will expose evenly.
Final Walk-Through
So, the pool is now full and operational and you’re wondering how everything works. We will walk you thru every aspect of your new pool. We provide you with a chemical test kit and educate you in its use as well as proper maintenance and debris removal. We provide you with a tall pole, brush, leaf net, and a vacuum hose & head. We show you how to operate all the electronics such as lights, heaters, pumps, and computer controls. It can seem like a lot to take in, but we are always just a phone call away and are happy to come by to help answer any questions you may have.
Contact us about
your project.
Simply tell us your design requirements and one of our design consultants will contact you shortly.