Would You Like to See How a Swimming Pool Is Built?
Each type of swimming pool has its own unique method of construction. Click on a pool type here to find out more:
- Concrete (Gunite) Pools
- Fiberglass (Composite) Pools
- Vinyl Liner (Graphex/Vinyl) Pools
- Aboveground Pools
Gunite Pool Construction
Your backyard will go through a 10-step construction process to convert it from its current condition to the backyard of your dreams. Click on any of the following steps for more details about the process.
- Excavation
- Steel Construction
- Plumbing
- Gunite
- Tile & Coping
- Deck setup
- Utilities
- Deck installation
- Plaster Interior Surfaces
- Start-up / Pool School
EXCAVATION
Step 1
The first step in constructing your new pool is to paint an outline of your pool on the ground to match the layout you’ve chosen. Then we’ll build the wooden forms for the excavation crew and other crews to follow as they remove the dirt and construct your pool.
Most of the dirt will be removed during the excavation. We usually keep a little bit of dirt on site for other phases of the construction. (If you would like any of this dirt reserved for landscaping purposes or some other uses, just let us know where and how much you desire.)
STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Step 2
Next, our steel crew arrives with thousands of pounds of steel reinforcing bars (rebar), which they will use to form the rigid skeleton of your pool. It’s amazing to watch our crews in action as they bend and shape this steel with skill and experience that reflects many years of performing this job on a daily basis.
You may notice block spacers under the steel. These help to hold the steel above the soil, so that it ends up being approximately in the middle of the gunite. This makes for the strongest possible shell for your pool. (Beware of pool builders who will put these spacers in place for the Inspector, but then remove them when they shoot the Gunite, so they can reuse them. This is not the time to pinch pennies!)
When the steel is complete, it may look like the steps are missing. Don’t worry, these will be built when we shoot the Gunite.
PLUMBING
Step 3
Your pool is now ready to be plumbed with high-grade NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) approved “Schedule 40” PVC pipe, fittings and equipment. These make up the circulation system to your spa jets, to waterfalls, and/or to any other special items that you’ve chosen to customize your pool.
All pipe connections are solidly and permanently bonded with PVC cement. Then, the entire plumbing system is pressure tested to 30psi to make sure there are no leaks. All plumbing work is performed by our in-house team of experts who have been plumbing our pools for more than 20 years.
GUNITE
Step 4
Now comes the unique process of “shooting the Gunite” to form the hard concrete shell of your pool. Gunite is a mixture of sand and cement that is applied by an experienced team of craftsmen using specialized tools and a pair of custom Gunite trucks. They will skillfully shoot the gunite around your pool’s steel reinforcement grid to form your pool.
With that kind of experience, it’s no wonder that every pool we build comes with a Full Lifetime Warranty!
TILE & COPING
Step 5
The next step in the construction process is the installation of a six inch wide band of acid-proof, double-fired pool tile. This tile is hand-laid and carefully grouted by our skilled craftsmen. If you have chosen the optional coping, it will be hand-laid and grouted on the “beam” (or wall top) of your pool by the same craftsmen that set the tile.
It’s critically important that highly experienced craftsmen handle the tile work. Since water is always naturally level, any errors in the straightness or level of the tile will be instantly visible.
If you have chosen to add picturesque rocks, a rock waterfall or other natural rock features, those features will be added at this time as well.
DECK SETUP
Step 6
Now that the Gunite is complete, it’s time to form the framework for your deck. Soil will be spread around your pool as necessary, and an appropriate base will be laid for the deck material you have chosen. The decking crew will then install the steel rebar grid for your deck.
UTILITIES
Step 7
Electrical
Using National Electric Code approved conduit, wire and bonding, our licensed professional electrical contractor carefully makes all of the electrical connections for your pool. The lights are installed, the pumps are wired, and electrical breakers are installed.
Gas Lines/Propane Tank (Optional)
If your pool or spa package includes a heater, then it will need to be connected to your gas line or a propane tank, depending on your situation. Guaranteed Pool & Spa can assist in recommending a qualified contractor for this step, but due to legal requirements, the gas and propane plumbing and connections must be handled by an outside contractor.
The installation of the gas line or propane tank can happen concurrently with other construction phases, so it need not hold up the construction process.
DECK INSTALLATION
Step 8
In this step, our decking crew will prepare for whichever type of deck you have chosen. Some of the more popular choices include
- Kool-Deck (always cool & comfortable on the feet!)
- Broom finished concrete
- Decorative Stamped Concrete
- Pavers (bricks, bluestone, tumbled travertine, etc.)
A 2” to 4” base of crushed “processed stone” and/or as much as 8” of stone dust and/or sand will be laid as appropriate for your soil and deck conditions. The overall process normally takes 1 to 3 days.
PLASTER INTERIOR SURFACES
Step 9
Now – the final step. In one day, a mixture of crushed marble and Portland cement will be hand toweled over the surface of your Gunite pool to produce a smooth finish. If you have chosen one of the delightful Pebble Tec interiors, then the beautiful aggregate will be exposed as part of this process When the plaster crew finishes, your pool is complete! Just add water. Its time to swim!
POOL SCHOOL
Step 10
Proper chemical balance is very important for proper maintenance of your pool, so we will schedule a “Pool School” orientation for you and anyone else who wants to know how to operate the pool. And of course, if you ever have any questions about your pool, we’re only a phone call away.
It’s time to enjoy your new backyard oasis from Guaranteed Pool & Spa! If you don’t have your own backyard oasis, call us now!
Fiberglass (Composite) Pools
Fiberglass pool installation is perhaps the most efficient of all, and therefore usually the fastest. It’s as simple as this:
- Dig the hole.
- Set the shell in place.
- Plumb the shell to the equipment.
- Backfill around the shell.
- Install the decking around the pool.
- Fill with water and swim.
If you’d like to see how smoothly this process works, let us send you a free DVD, showing an actual installation.
Vinyl Liner (Graphex/Vinyl) Pools
The installation of a vinyl liner pool is fairly easy, and will last a lifetime, provided you are using the right components. Early versions of vinyl liner pools used cheap plastic and steel sides that were then covered in vinyl. Unfortunately, the plastic would look cheap, and the steel would eventually rust. That’s why at Guaranteed Pool and Spa, we only use the Graphex/vinyl system from Pacific Pools, the industrial grade graphics system will never rust, is stronger than steel, and will last a lifetime. And instead of cheap plastic coping, we use natural stone work, colored acrylic cement, or aluminum coping.
The installation process works like this:
- Dig the hole.
- Set the Graphex walls in place.
- Pour a cement bottom.
- Pour a cement base around the outside perimeter of the pool.
- Backfill around the pool.
- Install the decking around the pool.
- Fill with water and swim.
If you’d like to see how smoothly this process works, let us send you a free DVD, showing an actual installation.
Aboveground pools
Our aboveground pools from Johnny Weissmuller are easily installed in less than a day. In fact, it’s so simple, and the construction is so strong, that most people will take their Johnny Weissmuller pool with them when they move.
Unlike most aboveground swimming pools, all our Johnny Weissmuller pools are made out of extruded aluminum, a very strong and robust material. Years of exposure to water, minerals, and pool chemicals will take their toll on most common pool construction materials. Extruded aluminum doesn’t have this problem. That’s why all Johnny Weissmuller pools come with either a 40 or 60 year warranty.
For more information about Johnny Weissmuller pools, call us or stop by our store at 2350 N Volusia Ave, Orange City, FL 32763.