In addition to granting you permission to construct a swimming pool, the residential building permit will outline the exact requirements and specifications of your new pool. There may be state or local guidelines that you have to follow for your pool, like how far it has to be from your property line. [2] X Expert Source Rob LitmanLicensed Landscaper & General Contractor Expert Interview. 13 October 2020. Don’t forget to also check your neighborhood’s homeowners association guidelines before moving forward with the installation—not all neighborhoods allow pools. Some municipalities may also expect you to have a separate electrical permit. However, the electrician you contract to take care of your pool’s inground wiring can often apply for an electrical permit on your behalf.
Think carefully about where your pool will go. Installing a swimming pool in certain areas may require you to add or remove other outdoor features like trees or sections of fencing, which will drive up the cost of the project. You may have a limited number of options in regards to your pool’s overall dimensions, depending on where you decide to put it. [4] X Research source You’ll also need to make sure that the excavation equipment has access to the area where you want to dig your pool. [5] X Expert Source Rob LitmanLicensed Landscaper & General Contractor Expert Interview. 13 October 2020.
Most home swimming pools come in standardized sizes like 10 feet (3. 0 m) x 20 feet (6. 1 m), 15 feet (4. 6 m) x 30 feet (9. 1 m), and 20 feet (6. 1 m) x 40 feet (12 m), and may be anywhere from 4–15 feet (1. 2–4. 6 m) deep. [7] X Research source Keep in mind that the more complex your pool design is, the higher the total cost will be.
If you expect your pool to receive heavy use, investing in a long-lasting material like concrete can cut down on the cost of repairs in the long run. A well-maintained concrete swimming pool can also add to the resale value of your home, in some cases.
For saltwater pools, you’ll want to go with fiberglass or vinyl lining, as salt can wear down concrete over time. [10] X Research source
Another disadvantage of vinyl pool liners is that they have a tendency to bubble, wrinkle, and pull loose. This means they may need regular adjusting in order to keep their attractive appearance. A vinyl-lined pool will only run you $25,000-50,000 on average, compared to poured concrete, which can cost upwards of $80,000-100,000. [12] X Research source
Read reviews from homeowners who have used the contractor in the past to get a sense of what kind of work they do. The contractor you hire to put in your pool will charge a separate rate for labor, so don’t forget to factor their pay into your initial budget. [14] X Research source
The building crew make ask for your help making your property accessible to their equipment. It’s critical that you have your residential building permit on file at this point. Otherwise, you run the risk of damaging or unearthing utility lines you didn’t know about.
There are a few different ways to grade a swimming pool. Some pools have flat bottoms, while others are built with sloping floors that establish a deep end and a shallow end. Be sure to tell your contractor which style you have in mind.
Like the floor, it’s important that the walls of your new pool be flat, level, and in alignment with one another. It may be necessary to hire a separate steel subcontractor to frame the walls of your pool if your building contractor isn’t licensed or equipped to do so.
Be sure to hire someone with extensive experience working on pools—an inexperienced plumber could make a mess of your new pool before it’s even finished. Note that plumbing systems may differ depending on the building codes where you live. [20] X Research source
Ask your main building contractor for recommendations for trustworthy electricians that they’ve worked with in the past. Swimming pool electrical safety is a major concern. Faulty wiring could increase swimmers’ risk of electrical shock. [22] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Products Safety Commission Independent U. S. government agency responsible for protecting consumers by developing safety standards and conducting product research Go to source
For pools with varying depths, it will be necessary to check that the angle of slope is consistent from one end to the other. The walls of concrete pools are typically finished with either cinder block or sprayed concrete. [24] X Research source Your contractor might also install a plaster cap over the concrete so it has a nice finish. [25] X Expert Source Rob LitmanLicensed Landscaper & General Contractor Expert Interview. 13 October 2020. Concrete needs time to cure—typically about 28 days—so talk to your contractor about how long you need to wait before you do any more work on your pool. [26] X Expert Source Rob LitmanLicensed Landscaper & General Contractor Expert Interview. 13 October 2020.
In some cases, fiberglass liners are installed by spraying the fiberglass material onto an existing frame rather than setting a premade pool in one piece. [28] X Research source
Before installing the liner, the building crew will need to mark and cut out holes for the lights, skimmers, and any other fixtures on the pool’s interior. [30] X Research source Vinyl liners are often easy enough to put in yourself, although having the assistance of a professional will ensure that installation is carried out correctly and efficiently.
Filling a swimming pool with a single water hose can be an all day (maybe even all night) event. When you rent a water truck, the water will be dispensed into your pool via multiple hoses to fill it much faster. While filling your new pool, check for leaks, plumbing malfunctions, or other complications. If you discover an issue, contact the building contractor to schedule repairs before you use the pool.
It usually takes about 10 days for the pH and chlorine levels in your pool to balance out. [33] X Expert Source Rob LitmanLicensed Landscaper & General Contractor Expert Interview. 13 October 2020. You can pick up a water testing kit anywhere that sells pool supplies. The exact amount of chlorine you’ll need will depend on the volume of your pool. If you’re unsure how much to add, contact a pool maintenance company for assistance. If you’re planning on having a salt water pool, you’ll add the salt (along with the correct proportions of other chemicals) after the pool has been filled. [34] X Research source
