Table of Contents Show
You have this large area in your backyard that would be perfect for an in-ground swimming pool, something you and your family have always dreamed about.
But dreaming it and actually doing it are two very different things, right? Of course, they are – but if it can be dreamed, it can be achieved.
If you’re serious about adding a swimming pool to your property, the first thing to do is research pool construction companies and find the one that’s best suited to your needs.
“You’d be surprised the amount of work we get that is left abandoned by untrustworthy pool companies that don’t finish the job,” says Eddie Sanchez, a custom pool builder in San Antonio Texas.
But once you’ve done so, what comes next? What time of year should you begin construction on your new swimming pool? How long is it going to take? Will it be a big disruption to my daily life?
There’s no 100 percent accurate, clear cut answer to any of the above questions. But we can give you some good estimates to go by, so you’ll at least have a good idea of what you’re getting into prior to actually making the leap.
Regarding the best time of year to build your pool, well that really depends on your personal preferences and the climate where you live.
If you’re in an area that only has a 4 or 5-month window for outdoor swimming, then you might want to build your pool during the offseason.
This will have your pool completed and ready to use by the time the warm summer months roll around.
As far as the time element is concerned, that varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. But you’re probably looking at a total period of anywhere between 8 and 12 weeks, from inception to completion.
Read Also:
- Life Is Cool at the Pool: 7 Renovation Ideas to Make Your Swimming Pool Awesome
- Different Types of Materials Used in Creating Beautiful Pool Surrounds
- 7 Cost Effective Ways to Keep Your Pool Area More Beautiful and Safe
- 9 Key Things to Consider Before Installing a Pool in Your Backyard
- Can I Use Bleach Instead of Chlorine to Clean My Swimming Pool?
- 10 Swimming Pool Ideas That Will Make a Splash This Summer
- 7 Awesome Pool Mosaics Ideas for Your Swimming Pool
- Tips on Choosing a Pool for Your Backyard
Step One – Design
Any journey starts at the beginning, and for a swimming pool project that means sitting down and designing what you actually want your new backyard area to look like.
Meet with a pool designer and let him or her know exactly what you want and how you want it to look. This will require some back and forth and some brainstorming, but this is the time to make several important decisions.
You only get one shot at the design process. Once the construction begins, it will be much, much harder to shift gears and make changes.
Step Two – Permitting
Now comes the fun part – working with your local municipality to ensure that all of the proper permitting is in place and all necessary fees have been paid.
This isn’t a part of the process that most people generally enjoy, but it’s necessary just the same. So bite your lip and get it done.
The time required to obtain the necessary permits can vary greatly from town to town, thus the reason for our estimate being so wide. Some municipalities approve permit requests quickly, while others take their time doing so.
But it will get done, though a good amount of patience may be required on your part.
Step Three – Excavation
This could take anywhere from a day to a week, depending on circumstances that include the presence of any obstructions like utility lines, the schedule of the pool builder, your personal schedule and others.
But this step obviously needs to be completed before you can move forward.
Step Four – Plumbing and Electrical Work
After the excavation is completed, it’s time to move on to laying the steel and routing the electrical and plumbing that will be needed for your pool.
These are the underworkings that will help your pool run reliably and efficiently for many years.
This process generally takes a couple of weeks, depending on the size of your pool and how many extras you decided on in the design process.
Step Five – Building Out the Pool
Now that all the underlying stuff has been completed, it’s time to start making your pool look like a pool.
The time needed for this step will vary, depending on what type of pool you’ve decided to build. Vinyl and fiberglass pools take less time than concrete pools, for example, as they come ready to install.
Step Six – Adding Custom Features
Once the pool is complete, it’s time to add any custom features that you decided on the way back in the design process.
This can include items like water features, custom lighting, landscaping and much more. The only limits are your creativity and your budget.
Figure on a week or two to finish this part of the project, depending of course on how many features you plan on adding.
One piece of final advice, when in doubt for trying to find a builder, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance is a good place to start.
