CHOOSING A POOL CONTRACTOR

Ask friends or neighbors for recommendations. Pick homeowners who have had their pools for at least one year. Seek out companies that have been in business for several years and call their references. Ask whether the contractor met deadlines and stayed within the projected budget (other than legitimate add-ons). Ask whether the quality of the project met their expectations. 

Check out the contractor at the California Contractors State License Board Web site  http://www.cslb.ca.gov  You can find out who their bonding company is, if they’ve operated under other licenses, or if disciplinary bonds have been required. 

Thoroughly interview prospective contractors. Ask whether the company has not only the ability to build your project, but whether they have the ability to provide solid designs that effectively integrate your ideas (full landscape, pool, spa, etc.). You want your landscape and pool construction to be a complete package. All the elements should work together.

Make sure the contractor can provide a certificate of insurance for general liability with at least a million dollar limit. 

 
COST AND OPTIONS FOR POOLS

Don’t believe the adds offering a new pool installed for $20,000.00 to $25,000.00. Most pool builders interviewed say you can expect to reasonably spend $35,000.00 to $65,000.00 for a moderate sized pool with quality construction and reliable hydraulics that properly pump and filter water. 

Additional costs will be incurred if a spa is included in your design. Still the $35,000.00 to $65,000.00 range is a reasonable price range for both pool and spa though you can certainly spend more. 

Changing the color of your pool from basic white to a colored plaster can add $600.00 or more to the cost of your pool, and surfaces such as Gemstone and Pebble Tech can add $4,000.00 or more. 

Salt water chlorination systems, the newest and latest way to sanitize your pool range from  $1,500.00 to $2,500.00. 

Automatic cleaners that walk around the bottom of the pool picking up debris range from $750.00 to $900.00. 

Spillways in the side of raised bond beam such as Sheer Descents will typically run from $500.00 to $1,500.00 each. 

 
TIMELINE FOR POOL CONSTRUCTION

Building a pool can take eight to ten weeks. Complicated, elaborate designs, unstable or rocky soils, or hand digging of pools in confined spaces can lengthen the construction process.

WEEK 1

  • Layout: Wooden spikes are driven into the ground and bender board is used to form the rough outline of the pool. 

  • Excavation: A tractor is used when space allows. Yards with limited access may require that the pool be dug by hand.

WEEK 2

  • Plumbing: The rough plumbing and skimmer are installed. 

  • Reinforcing Steel: Steel rebar is installed in a grid pattern along the entire pool surface. The steel support structure provides structural integrity to gunite and shotcrete pools. 

  • Inspection: Once the steel and rough plumbing is complete an inspection is scheduled. Once the steel and rough plumbing have passed inspection the gunite or shotcrete application is scheduled. 

WEEK 3

  • Gunite Installation: Gunite is the method used to pump the sand and cement mixture onto the steel structure. The rough shaping of the pool is completed at this time. 

  • Electrical: Once the gunite or shotcrete is installed the electrical equipment and underwater lights are installed. 

WEEK 4 

  • Tile: Ceramic tile is set along the water line and coping. 

WEEK 5

  • Pool Deck: The pool deck is installed. When the pool decking is installed may vary if the entire landscape is being completed in conjunction with the pool. 

  • Pre-Plaster Inspection: Once the pool is ready for plaster a pre-plaster inspection is scheduled. Once the pre-plaster inspection is complete the plaster application is scheduled.

WEEK 6 - 10

  • Interior Finish: Plastering is the final step. The plaster provides a smooth water tight surface. White plaster is typical, but gray, black, and brown are also available. There are also alternative surfaces such as are found in exposed aggregate finishes (fine pebbles are mixed with cement). The exposed aggregate finishes also come in a variety of colors that provide a somewhat natural looking finish. 

  • Fill Pool: Once the plaster is applied the pool is filled. Filling the pool can take from 24 to 36 hours. 
    Final Inspection: The final inspection is scheduled once the pool is filled and all equipment has been place in operation. 

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