The construction process doesn't actually start until the design process has been completed. We take great care in making sure the entire site details have been worked out before we complete our final set of working drawings. If anything is missing at this stage, it could impact greatly on the completed project. We understand that changes can and do occur during the construction and we actually welcome them (this is your project after all) and we can manipulate all of the construction documents and processes to accommodate these changes.

Construction begins with the layout, which consists of painting the pool on the ground with respect to the proper location, shape and size. The pool elevation is also set at this time using the back porch as a reference and taking into account slope for deck drainage as well as the overall drainage scheme of the backyard.

After the layout is complete and checked, the excavation crew arrives and begins to excavate the pool. Strict tolerances are maintained throughout the excavation process to ensure proper shell thickness. Also the length, width and depth are checked again to make sure they agree with the plan. All of the excavated soil is removed unless prior arrangements were made for use of the soil on site.

The plumbing crew will start once the excavation is complete. The plumbing crew is responsible for installing all the pool equipment such as the pumps, filters and heaters, as well as the cleaning systems, jets for spas, fountains and gas lines. At this point your backyard will look more like the surface of the moon than a construction site and it will get worse before it gets better.

Installation of steel is the next phase. Structural engineers have already specified the size of the steel bars and the size of the grid pattern necessary to complete your pool. The steel crews follow this engineering precisely as it will be inspected soon. More structural steel is used in the high stress areas of the pool such as the bond beam at the very top. This will be installed with four continuous bars for additional strength.

The electricians will then begin their work, which includes running power to the pumps, lights and control systems, as well as bonding the steel grid and all metal within five feet of the pool. Receptacles and sight lighting can also be installed at this time.

When the electricians are complete, the project is ready for a pre-gunite inspection to be performed by the city or county with jurisdiction. The inspection will include checking the pressure on the plumbing and gas lines, making sure the steel matches the engineering specifications and insuring that all electrical meets the pertinent codes. When the pool passes this inspection it is ready for the shotcrete process.

After the shotcrete phase is complete, the project will start to look like a real pool. During this exciting phase highly trained crews will apply the pneumatic concrete in the shape of the pool including benches, steps and lagoons. The structural engineering calls for us to use 3,500 p.s.i shotcrete. We always specify 4,000 p.s.i. shotcrete since we include a lifetime structural guarantee with every pool.

The grading crew will follow shotcrete, backfilling all of the trenches and grading the site for the decking. They will also pick-up all of the excess debris left by the shotcrete process.

By this time you will have picked out the perfect tile and decking to be installed on your pool. The tile crew will set the tile around the perimeter using a precision laser level to make sure that the tile is absolutely level.

When the tile is complete, the decking crew will install the deck forming per plan and then proceed to pour the decking. Drainage is important and the decking will help channel the rainwater off of the decking and into the natural drainage pattern of the backyard.

Any fencing or wall work should be completed at this time, prior to a final inspection by the proper building official. All gates to the outside as well as any doorways to the pool area must be able to meet the enclosure and barrier codes prior to this inspection.

Once the final inspection has been satisfactorily completed, the interior of the pool is installed. This may be plaster, Pebble tec, Pebble Sheen, or Pebble Fina. Minimal strength is gained by the pool interior. Its main purpose is to waterproof the pool and add that final touch of aesthetics to the project.

After the clean-up of the interior phase, it's time to start filling the pool. This may take as little as 12 hours or as long as a couple of days, depending on the water pressure in your area and the size of the pool. The pool should be filled to the mid-point of the tile rim. This is the time to schedule the pool “start-up”. This phase includes turning on and fine-tuning all of the pumps, filters, heaters and any other accessories included on you project.