In this industry populated by people, who have learned their craft by the seat of their pants, or from others who did the same, it is nice to know there is a place where quality workmanship and industry standards are actually taught. Dave Boyd, my business partner, and I recently attended such a school, so that when were are asked why, we would not respond, “that’s just the way we always have done it”.
David Tisherman and Skip Phillips with student
The school was taught by the renowned Genesis 3 Design Group. It is a joint effort by three of the finest pool designers in the world, David Tisherman, Skip Phillips and Brian Van Bower. It is the only pool and spa construction school in the United States that is accredited by IACET, the International Association for Continuing Education and Training. Genesis efforts, in offering this course as well as a number of other courses, that range from the technical aspects of the pool industry to designing the most artistic pools in existance, should be lauded. As a by product of their work, they have also created a network of designers and builders who are continually pushing the bar, setting the standards higher and higher!
In class with civil engineer, Terry Brannon
Having been in the industry for almost 20 years, first as a service professional, then as a pool renovator, designer and builder, I have seen first hand the poor standards most pool companies hold for themselves. It is a said fact these companies are not even aware of the standards set by fine organizations such as the American Concrete Institue or the Ceramic Tile Institue of America, let alone make their project specification adhere to their basic guidelines. Furthermore, I have previously attended certain trade association’s classes, and have been far less than impressed. With some associations, it seems they are more concerned with giving out ludicrous awards and patting themselves on the back, than in the delivery a quality product. It’s no wonder the pool industry has such a bad reputation.
Celebrating Success
Wanting to establish our company as above the average, we decided to complete the requirements of this course, which was followed by a thorough examination, given according to IACET standards. Both Dave and I learned a significant amount of information and were able network with a number of like-minded professions. More importantly, we both passed the examination. In the category of “tooting my own horn”, I was able to bring home the all time best examination score, and be quite proud of it!
By Eric Herman (written for Luxury Pools Magazine)
There was a time when swimming pools were relatively limited in terms of their aesthetic bandwidth. They were either kidney, rectangular, or lazy-L shaped, with white plaster, blue waterline tile, bullnose coping, and—if you were lucky—maybe tile mosaics depicting fish.
These days, however, that has changed completely. Swimming pools and the landscape elements that surround them can now be seen as a rapidly expanding architectural art form with a myriad of features, colors, materials, shapes, sizes, functionality, and stunning sculptural beauty.
As a homeowner considering this spectrum of creative possibilities and lifestyle benefits, the first thing you should know is…READ MORE
In our previous articles on pool construction we have discussed design, required city permits, excavation and steel reinforcement. We are almost ready for shooting the pool shell. However we most consider that some tasks required in the construction of must be at least partially performed before the pool shell is built, namely the plumbing and electrical work. Both of these tasks will not be fully complete until much later in construction process. Yet where either of these tasks will penetrate through the pool wall, the must be laid before the shell is installed.
Skimmer Plumbing
The easiest explanation of the plumbing is built on the understanding that the water in the pool completes a circuit, which is known as the hydraulic system. It must first be pulled from the pool, filtered, heated if desired, perhaps even treated chemically, then returned to the pool. This process begins with the water being extracted through the skimmers and the main drains. The skimmers which mounted at the water level are designed to catch leaves and other floating debris which is collected in a basket. It is advisable to have more than one skimmer installed in your pool, particularly in environments with lots of foliage or on larger pools. Better pool designers and builders will insist on at least two skimmers on every pool and increase their number as the situation warrants. The exception to this is on pool designed with either a “vanishing edge” or a “raised perimeter overflow”. The vanishing edge pools have at least a portion, usually an entire side, where the water spills over the wall of a pool and into a trough or catch basin. Raised perimeter overflows are pools partially lifted out of the ground. Here the water spills over the entire perimeter of the pool, usually into a hidden trough which surrounds the pool. Both of these types of pools offer dramatic visual effects and usually have no skimmer. This is because the trough or catch basin often acts like a huge skimmer. These pools stay remarkably clean!
Main Drain Plumbing
The main drain, which is a misnomer, is currently the source of much saftey discussion. It really should not be called a drain since it does not allow you to drain your pool. Neither should it be considered the main source of water for your pool equipment, in that the equipment should only rarely receive all its water from these drains. Technically these devices are referred to as “suction outlets”. It is vitally important that the hydraulic system of any pool be designed with care. Recently congress passed the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. This law purpose is to reduce the danger of these outlets by requiring outlet covers pass strengant testing requirements and that outlet placement meet certain standards to reduce the likely hood of someone becoming entraped by these outlets. However there is no requirement that a pool actually have these suction outlets. Constructing a pool without them altogether will more than just lower the possiblility of a suction entrapment, but will compeletly eliminate it! The photo pictures placement of these suction outlets as currently required. If you look carefully you will notice that the installation has altered the steel layout which will have to be corrected before the shell is shot.
Wall Plumbing
After the water has been filtered and otherwise treated, it is returned to the pool via the returns fittings attached to plumbin which extends through the pool shell wall. Prior to the shell construction, the plumbing for these returns must be placed and secured into position so that they can not be moved as the shell is placed.
Electrical Bonding
A similar process must be completed for the electrical work. Codes require that the steel be tied electrically to the electrical system through a bond, which is a wire that runs from the pool equipment and to the pool structure and is tied in several places directly to the stell reinforcement of the pool. Since most pools are constructed with an underwater light the conduit for the light must also be installed at this time.
Later the more plumbing and electrical work will have to be completed. But with the inital work complete, specfically where there work extends through the pool wall, the pool is now ready for the next step, the shooting of the pool shell!
To review a FAQ (frequently asked questions) Report prepared by the Health Department of the State of Texas regarding the Virginia Graema Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act - Click Here!
It should be noted that not everything must be the same. Sometimes even simplest changes, such as the direction of the tile can make all the difference in the world. Doing so may add visual interest by emphasizing a new direction for the eye to follow. On a recent project we used a diagonal placement of tile to achieve a stunning look over what was a dated and overwhelming feel of the brick!
Brick can be a wonderful construction material, but in this case, the builder used too much brick. In dealing with an natural elevation change present in the yard. The builder created a wall, raised bond beam, to retain the soil of the yard, which sloped toward the rear entrance of the home. This raised area was now home to a spa, itself raised slightly, and a small entertaining area. This area space is accessed by a series of steps to the left of the spa. The wall began with the steps, ran underneath the spa and extended to the far side of the pool where it similarly descended back to the elevation of the home. For all of this the builder used a red brick, both as coping on the pool wall and as a face to the wall itself. The only exception being a vertical band of tile below the spillway of the spa. The effect of this much dark brick was to overwhelm, putting the entire backyard out of balance.
In approaching this project, our client asked us to update the pool’s overall appearance, especially the brick wall. To do so required numerous visits to various material suppliers until we found a coping treatment and tile selection that matched the clients taste while lightening the pools appearance.
After much searching and deliberation, we finally settled on a 6″ x 6″ light tan and gold tile, which came with wide variation in color for the pool water line and a matching 12″ x 12″ for the wall. The tile was complemented with 24″ bull-nosed travertine coping. Travertine was also used to create a new extended spillway.
Surface Preparation
The existing brick face was left in place, but was coated in mortar. In doing so we were creating a new tile beam, which is usually necessary in renovation work, but particularly in this case. Over this rough brick we needed a smooth and level surface for installation of the tile.
Centering the Tile
Our 12″ tile was centered on the wall between the water line and the spa spillway. The initial tiles set are the most important, as they establish the pattern for the entire wall. We chose to lay the wall tile on diagonals. This would create a simple but interesting pattern, which would contrast nicely with the lines of the pool.
Pattern Continued around Pool
The actual setting of these wall tiles was time consuming, requiring a number of cuts in the tile, particularly where the wall angled in and out from the pool. After the tile was set a topaz colored grout was applied. This color matched perfectly with the tile making the grout lines all but invisible.
Wall Tile and Spillway
Eventually the wall was completed along with the coping and water line tile. The effect new tile, particularly against the against the color of the water was visually stunning!
Right now everybody is trying to save money, and who could blame them? Everyone wants to make their money last, as long as possible. One way to do that is to reduce your energy consumption. With today’s rising energy costs, and their continued rise in the foreseeable future, it just makes sense to reduce when and where we can. There are new technologies available that help you do just that. A high efficiency variable speed pump may be just the ticket you need, to still enjoy your backyard pool and spa and yet save on energy!
Pentair's IntelliFlo-SVRS
This technology has finally made it to the pool industry after being developed for industrial uses and most recently in hybrid car technology. We will all be the better for it, as more and more designers specify these pumps in their designs. I specify them in all my projects. Why, because manufacturers claim these pumps can save from 30 to 90% over a single speed pump, if it is used correctly. It accomplishes these saving by in three ways.
The first is through a more efficient design. Pentair Water has led the pool industry through the introduction of their variable speed pump, the IntelliFlo. Although other pool manufacturers have introduced their own variable speed pump, in my opinion Pentair’s design is still superior. Prior to their new pump, all residential pool and spa pumps used a basic “induction” electric motor, which requires a portion of the electrical energy to be used in creating a magnetic field. This magnetic field is what propels the shaft of the motor to spin. In an induction motor this field is constantly shifting, keeping the shaft spinning at nearly 3,000 revolutions per minute. The energy required to generate this field and the inevitable heat that is produced in the process is a consumption of energy that need not be. In contrast Pentair’s motor uses rare earth permanent magnets, so there is no energy absorbed in creating this magnetic field. The motors, therefore, use less electricity even when running the same speed and carrying the same load as a similarly sized induction motor. A side benefit is the motors run cooler, which promotes a longer service life, which reduces the long term cost of ownership.
Pentair's IntelliFlo-SVRS Control Panel
The second is through understanding the Law of Infinity regarding energy. Most of us relying on “common-sense” would assume if we increase the output of a pump the energy requirement increases proportionally. Meaning, if you doubled the volume of water a pump pushed, the cost would be twice that of the lower volume. However, this is not correct. Simply put, the Law of Infinity states when you double the power output of a motor the energy requirement increases by a factor of four. That’s twice as much as what one would think. Conversely, and here is the real benefit to the motor, when you decrease the power output by half, you cut the energy requirement to 1/4 its previous amount.
Pentair's IntelliFlo Installed
The third is through using only as much energy as is actually needed. Prior to the introduction of this pump, the determination of which pump to use was a little like buying shoes. Shoes come in various sizes, but unless you had custom made shoes, you had to settle for a shoe that was either a little too small or too large. Rarely was there a perfect fit. Pumps were the same way, designers picked from the various pump size offerings without the benefit of a perfect fit. The IntelliFlo-SVRS version of Pentair’s pump has the capability of performing like a pump anywhere along the spectrum of a 1/4 horsepower output up to a three horsepower output. This allows the designer to install the pump and find that perfect speed which supplies all the necessary water to your spa and not a bit more. Once installed the pump can be programed with up to eight speeds in its memory, meaning you will have up to eight pumps in one. So one could program a very low, barely operating speed for maximum energy saving, and in addition several higher speeds could be programmed to create a visual effect from a water-feature. The pump has a built in timer, which when programed, allows the pump to automatically switch between these speeds.
Installing the IntelliComm Interface
One draw back on the pump is that utilizing the display requires bending over to see and adjust the display mounted right on top of the pump, which is often not very convenient. However, the pump is easily controlled by any of Pentair’s automation systems making programming much more convenient. Pentair has even developed an interface, called their IntelliComm, which allows the pump to be controlled by other manufacturer’s automation systems.
Finally, I should point out that Pentair has several versions on this pump. The least sophisticated is their IntelliFlo-VS-3050, which offers only four programmable speed settings with no built in timer. Another version, the one featured here, is their IntelliFlo-SVRS, which not only offers the energy savings but also the added benefit of a built in Safety Vacuum Release System, which is in compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool Safety Act, designed to protect swimmers from suction entrapment.
It has long been known we are effected by color. Our moods and emotions are altered by the application of the colors that surround us. For example artist, across a variety of media, have been using color to bring emotion to their creations since the beginning of time. Decorators use a similar understanding of color, carefully applying their knowledge in the selections of colors for various aspects to our homes. It is with the same attention to the detail of color, that a pool or spa can be enhanced, by color.
Red Stop Sign
You need not be an artist or decorator to appreciate the influences color has in our lives. Think of our automated responses in our daily lives to the colors of red and green. These colors are part of our driving experience representing simple basic commands of movement. Red means stop and green means go. In signage, on and off the road, red represents danger such as fire and heat. It should not be thought that our responses to these colors are based on our experiences in driving and signage, but the other way around. These colors were chosen to represent these dangers because they were already part our automated responses to these colors. These danger colors, red and yellow, are part of the color spectrum we associate with warmth and heat, while other colors, such as green, are associated with coolness and relaxation.
Perhaps our reaction is fundamentally based on nature’s choice of color. The sun gives off a yellow to orange color, while fire is predominantly perceived as red or yellow. Ironically as fire becomes hotter it changes to blue, which we naturally associate with cool, but lets not confuse things. Blues and greens are easily associated with water as in the oceans and streams, while green is associated with forests and plants. Both are cool to the touch and invoke images of relaxation and comfort.
Deep color of the Blue/Green Diamond Brite Verde
An artist will divide the colors into two groups, colors that are warm; red, orange and yellow, and colors that are cool; green, blue and violet. There are of course many other colors, but they all are some combination of these six primary and secondary colors.
It is important to note there are other responses, beyond a since of temperature, to colors as well. The warm colors seem to advance, meaning that they appear larger or closer than they are in reality, while the cooler colors tend to recede, as if moving away from us. This is particularly helpful when creating palates of colors for decoration purposes. It tends to manifest itself in our choices of the predominate colors and our contrasting highlight colors.
Another important characteristic of color, in terms of water, is that the color of the water often determines the ability to reflect. The darker the water the more the reflection capability. This may not seem important at first, but consider the use of mirrors in the home. Decorators have advocated using them strategically for years as they tend to make the space larger with the reflected images, sometimes doubling the enjoyment of objects being reflected. The water in a pool or spa can also achieve this same type of response, where it reflects the landscape and objects beyond. In the day light, these reflections could be of vibrant colored foliage, or even sculpture placed in the yard. At nighttime the reflection of lights and other lighted objects can be even more dramatic.
Blue-Green of the Ocean
So when choosing colors for your backyard water-scape, be it a fountain, pool or spa, the color you choose is extremely important and should be considered with care. After all, this place is where you want to spend time, so color away!
To view a pool being transformed with an application of a colored surface, Click Here!
Click below to see the same pool having the finish applied:
Have you every wondered why concrete is such a great and versatile building material? Probably not! Neither have most people. Nevertheless, if you’re considering a pool or spa, you should understand a few things about this wonderful material. Why? Because the concrete, specifically reinforced concrete, will be the frame work on which your pool is built. Properly installed it will last for decades. Improperly installed, problems will likely appear in short order, sometimes requiring repair or complete re-installation of the entire project. The elements which make concrete so strong lie inside the concrete and are virtually undetectable once the concrete is installed. It will pay you great dividends to know a little about concrete, before the construction process begins so you know if your project is being built correctly.
The Pantheon in Rome
For background purposes, you should know concrete has been used as far back as Roman times. In fact the dome of the Parthenon in ancient Rome, which is still standing, is one of the best examples of early concrete construction. Early builders utilized concrete because it developed the strength of stone, but could conform to almost any shape they needed. They did recognize its limitation however, in that it could not support great spans without extra support. The early great buildings were limited in height and interior spacing. Walls were supported by great buttresses to withstand the forces of the building domes and roofs.
It was understood very early that reinforcement was needed to properly support walls and other structures. As far back as in the construction of Greek Temples, lead, a very soft but malleable metal, was used to help hold the stones together. Later, cast iron was used. It wasn’t until the 19th century that concrete construction possibilites began to explode. In 1892 Francois Hennebique using steel devloped a system of reinforced concrete. The combination of the inherent compression strength of concrete and the outstanding tensile strength of steel allowed for buildings to take on great heights and expanses.
Pneumatic Concrete - Shot Against the Ground
In pool construction things further changed with the advent of pneumatically applied concrete. Sometimes this is called gunite or shotcrete. But make no mistake, they both are concrete. What makes them great for pools is the way the concrete is applied. Essentially the concrete is forced out of a gun at high velocity. This allows for two things, first that the concrete can be immediately consolidated and compacted when properly applied, two very important elements of strong concrete, in that the concrete becomes a solid body, without voids or hollow spaces which can greatly weaken any concrete. The second thing pneumatically applied concrete allowed is for the shape of the pool to be constructed virtually “formless”. Prior to this time all concrete was poured into forms, constructed wooden boards on two sides. The wet, fluid mixture was poured between the two forms where it remained until it hardened. This required that the pools take on basic, fairly easy shapes to construct in the forming process. Pneumatically applied concrete can be shot directly against the ground or a one-sided form. This greatly simplified the forming process and allowed the shapes to be limited only by the designer’s imagination and the excavator’s skill with the digging equipment.
Along with this new found freedom in shaping pools, also came cost savings. Since pool walls need not be formed so completely, the cost of constructing a pool decreased, creating an explosion of swimming pool ownership across the world. And as pools became more common place, the desire for creativity and expression has lead us to incredible possibilities in shaping your pool.
Steel Reinforcement - Notice the Deforming Marks
It’s the steel properly sized and distributed inside the concrete that gives the concrete it’s incredible strength. Reinforcing steel bars, commonly shortened to “re-bar”, are produced in long “deformed” bars of various sizes. The deformation on the bars refers to the raised markings on the steel, which creates extra surface area and texture to increase the mechanical bond between the steel and the concrete. The steel is laid out in a grid pattern and supported so that when the concrete is applied, the steel will be ”encapsulated” inside the harden mixture. Encapsulation is important since it provides a measure of protection between the elements and the steel, preserving the strength of the steel. In pools, according to the American Concrete Institute, there should be a minimum of 3″ of concrete between the steel and the water. Failure to maintain adequate encapsulation will not only weaken the steel, but the water, will penetrate to the steel, and likely bring particles of steel back to the pool surface leaving a horrible rust colored stain. This reinforced concrete is now able to withstand forces greater than either the steel or the concrete could withstand on its own. The concrete, brittle without the steel, now resists great forces. The steel, easily subject to corrosion from water, is protected by being encapsulated inside the concrete.
When considering the construction requirements for you pool, you should be aware of several vital things:
The steel must be adequately sized. On a typical residential pool, the basic grid pattern is created out of #3 (3/8″ diameter) steel bars. At various points around the pool the size will increase to a #4 (1/2″) steel bar. The beam of the pool, which is probably easier to think of as the top rim, requires the most strength. This makes logical sense, when you consider that the rim of a cup or bowl is usually thicker than most other parts. It is at this point, called the beam, that the pool must be at its strongest. Typically, in north Texas, four #4 bars will be spaced together in concrete thicker than in most other places of the pool. Larger pools or sections subject to great stress may require even larger steel.
Bending Steel to the Pool's Shape
The steel must be properly spaced. On a typical residential pool, at least in the north Texas area, most builders are using a 10″ spacing in both directions, meaning the pattern of steel creates squares throughout the body of the pool, where no square is larger than 10″. At various points in the pool, where additional strength is required, this spacing between the steel will decrease. For instance the beam, being one such stress point, will commonly made up of at least three #4 bars running parallel around the rim with a spacing of approximately 2″ to 6″ apart. This is known as a 30 pound beam, meaning it should be able to withstand earth forces of at least 30 pounds per cubic foot. Four #4 bars in a beam will make up a 45 pound beam, the most common type of beam in North Texas due to our expansive soils, and six #4 bars make a 62 pound beam. Where the pool wall meets the floor, another point of stress, it is common, and usually very necessary, to see an additional steel bar added to the spacing, creating a 10″ x 5″ pattern of steel. The grid, what ever the spacing, will conform to the shape of the pool, moving around corners and over benches and tanning ledges.
A Double Curtain of Steel for the Spa
Freestanding walls require more steel. A pool wall must endure both the force of the water inside the pool pushing outward and the force of the ground pushing inward. Where a wall abuts native, undisturbed soil, due to the ground absorbing part of the load, the strength of the wall need not be as strong as a wall which has no support and must support the entire weight of the water. These walls, known as “freestanding” walls are sometimes required in places such as the wall between the pool and spa, or on a hillside where the ground slopes away from the pool. Internally these walls will require more steel than other walls and may sometimes even require a double curtain of steel.
The steel must be secured. Where the steel crosses other pieces of steel the intersections are secured with tie wire. This keeps the steel from moving out of its required position and more importantly keeps the steel from vibrating when the pneumatic concrete is shot into place. If the steel vibrated this would likely create voids in the concrete, weakening the structure. Steel rods are usually manufactured in 20′ sections. For this reason it is likely that more than one strand of steel is used to make a pass from one side of the pool to the other. Where two sections of steel meet, there must be appropriate overlap. Usually with #3 bars the overlap is at least 18″ and 24″ with #4 bar. Also make sure where the various piece of steel come together that there will be sufficient room for the pneumatic concrete to be applied around and behind the steel. Failure in this area will create shadows, or voids which will weaken the resulting concrete.
At this point you may be wondering who determines if the steel has been adequately sized? Or who determines the appropriate steel spacing? In some cases the builder may feel sufficiently experienced to make such determinations. However, it is my policy to have every pool plan reviewed by a qualified structural engineer. An engineer will use the information revealed on a soil’s report together with the structural requirements of the pool plans and layout the requirements for the steel. It is his job to determine that pool footings are sufficiently sized and placed and that an appropriate steel schedule has been written for the pool.
In summary, it is reinforced concrete that will make possible the pool and spa of your dreams. But make sure that you trust your builder, that he knows and understands the requirements necessary for your pool to last, giving you years of trouble free existance. If in doubt require that his plans be reviewed by a qualified engineer.
If you have just spent a large amount of money creating that perfect backyard experience, that last thing you should want is to notice the Details that should remain HIDDEN. You should see the beauty of the water, the color and feel of the stone, the brilliance of the fire reflecting off the water, or perhaps the combination of all these things. But you should NOT notice the necessary, but more mundane aspects of the project, such as the deck drains! Things such as this are required, necessary for quality functioning of the space. But why call attention to them. I have seen numerous installations, where builders have gone to the trouble and expense to add “brass” drain covers to their installations. Brass! I love brass, but the inherent beauty of this metal does not disguise the fact that it covers a drain. Instead it more importantly calls your attention to the drain. Granted a brass cover is better than a plastic drain cover, which are horrible obvious. However, there is altogether a better idea, HIDE the drains!
Hidden Drain Cover
Proper drainage is very important in most installations. It allows for excess water from splashing in the pool or from rain storms to be diverted to more appropriate areas. If no drainage is provided, the excess water is likely to find its way into the pool, carrying dirt from the deck. This can cause extra and unnecessary pool maintenance. The drainage is usually provided by buried drainage lines which are installed with an adequate amount of slope allowing gravity to pull the water and small debris down to areas away from the deck and pool. The drain covers carry the important function of restricting larger debris, which may clog the drain lines, from entering the system.
Drain covers are typically round covers with small, perhaps 1/4″ size, slots cut into the covers. As mentioned before the plastic and even the brass covers rarely blend into the surrounding deck material. However in a recent deck project, I found and installed a new drain cover which virtually hides this detail. The covers are indeed round, but are recessed into the deck and have a center section that can be filled with the same material as the rest of the deck, concrete or even stone, creating a virtually seamless appearance across the entire deck. The only thing that is visible is the small 1/4″ slot that surrounds the center piece. It is as hidden as possible and still be allowed to function as a drain cover.
Filling Drain Cover with Decorative Concrete
The installation of these covers should be considered from the start of any deck project since they must be installed prior to the deck installation. The underground system must be installed first. If concrete is to be poured, the drain covers, installed over the drain pipes must be at the required elevation of the finished deck. Next the concrete or decking material is installed. At this point the same material should be installed into the center section of the drain cover. The photo shows decorative concrete being poured into these sections. In this case the decorative pattern and color must also be applied. This makes the center sections blend into the rest of the deck.
With the installation complete, the drainage covers no longer call attention to themselves or distract from the beauty of the deck! More importantly, you can relax, enjoy your new creation, and pay attention to the details you will really want to see.
For a look another look at this detail, check out my video:
After the building permits have been issued, the utilities located and re-routed if necessary, the next step is the excavation process. This is one of the most important stages of your pool’s construction. You must realize that once a hole has been dug, any changes to the location , its shape or its size will likely cause an increase in the cost of the project. That is why most designers and builders go to extra measures to insure that the location, shape and size are clearly confirmed before the ground is broken. Even though I present plans and perspective drawings, which give good ideas of the pool’s future appearance, most people can not visualize completely what the pool will eventually look like. I find it helpful to “paint” the pools outline in the grass, before the excavator has even arrived. This paint, far from permanent, helps most people see the pool in its proper context, before any digging begins, which is far more permanent. With the paint marks, most people will get a better feel for the pool’s size and orientation. It is here you should be asking questions, such as but not limited too the following:
Will you be able to see the pool from inside as you want?
How will I move from the house to the pool?
Where is the pathway to be located?
Is there enough room to move around the pool?
Is there enough room to lounge on the deck or in the pool’s lounging area?
Will the sun light strick the lounging area as you want?
Is there enough shade where you want?
Will the children be able to play as you intend?
Is there enough room to entertain as you envision?
At this point changes can be addressed rather easily. The skill of the designer will also pay off here, as he should have been able to anticipate most of your question.
Heavy Equipment
Once everyone is pleased with the layout, the digging can begin. Where possible a full size excavator can be used to remove any unwanted objects and dig the pool to its proper depth. You should be aware that the equipment needed to build your new pool, particularly the excavator, can be quite large and make quite a bit of noise. The equipment and personnel need to run it will take up space, inconvenience your neighbors and destroy landscaping between the staging area and the location of your new pool, including fences and other objects in the path of the equipment, which, in the case of the excavator, needs at least an 11 pathway for clearance. Trees and shrubs in the area which are to remain should be protected. This protections should extend to the “drip line” of tree. Many think if the tree trunk is protected the tree will survive. This is not necessarily the case. As large equipment moves acrossthe roots of trees, the soil can become compacted making it difficult or impossible for the tree to survive the stress. Talk with your designer and builder, or even to an arborist, as to what measures are necessary. It should also be part of the planning process to also repair the grasses, landscape, pathways, irrigation lines and fences that will be unavoidably damaged.
Debris Removal is Quick with an Excavator
Care must be taken to reduce traffic problems and inconveniencing of those who live around you. Many cities have limitation on working hours, mandating most work to begin after 7 am. Fortunately most of the better pool contractors understand the inconvenience the experience can cause and do their best to limit the disruptions where possible. The largest piece of equipment used on the average pool is known as the full size excavator. It is an impressive piece of equipment and can remove the dirt for most pools in the space of a few hours. Hard or rocky soil can lengthen the process, particularly if access is limited and the builder is required to use smaller digging equipment. Rocky soil can also increase the cost of the excavation. Many pool builders build into their project cost certain allowances for the excavation portion of the pool. “Overages” beyond the anticipated cost will likely be charged to the owner. This is why, among other things, my recommendation, as written in “It Begins with Design”, is that a soil’s analysis be performed to determine the type of soil and the suitbility of the soil where the pool is located, prior to the excavation process. These reports should indicate not only the presence of rocky soil, but also if extra measures are required to support your pool If a soils report was not undertaken, as a minimum, having a soil engineer observe the soil conditions once the pool is excavated, should at least be accomplished. This is rather cheap insurance to make sure the proper structural requirements necessary to preserve the pool, in its present location.
Digging the Pool
Once the pool excavators are finished, you should be able to see the most prominent features of your pool. The actual pool will be slightly smaller and shallower because you must allow for the thickness of pool structure. Walls separating the spa from the pool and steps, in most cases, will be formed completely out of reinforced concrete, and may not be visible at the point. However you should be able to notice benches and lounging areas and the general location of the spa. In some areas of the country, particularly in coastal areas, where the water table is high, the pool has to be completely “over excavated” because the hole will not retain its shape, collapsing in upon itself. Where the soil holds its shape, forming boards will be placed above grade and in special areas to allow the concrete to be “shot” against it. (More on this subject later.) But in the areas where the walls collapse, the over excavation allows for the walls to be formed out of wood, where the concrete will be eventually attached.
Once the excavation equipment leaves the yard, the hole is typically exposed, since fencing material has usually been set aside to allow access. Generally laws dictate some form of temporary fencing surrounding the newly formed hole to prevent accidents. However the first major step, and typically the most dramatic, has been completed.
After your pool has been designed, but before any construction begins, permits from the local authorities must be obtained. In most locations there will be some governing authority which oversees residential construction. The purpose of these authorities is to require that your plan will be up to the standards of the community. These requirements are in theory supposed to eliminate substandard construction practices and insure community safety and property values. However in practical terms its is most important to confident that your builder exceeds these minimum standards. The authority will require inspections at certain crucial stages of construction; typical after the steel reinforcement and electrical bonding and initial plumbing have been completed, but before the concrete has been applied; after the electrical and plumbing work was been performed and after the safety items have been installed, such as barrier fencing, but before the interior finish has been applied. Other inspections may be required depending upon the items being constructed.
You should know that these requirements are constantly changing. As an example, at this time, March 2009, we are seeing Federal requirements governing safety in pools, specifically the Virginia Graham Baker Act, being implemented. This law was designed, among other things, to reduce the possibility of suction entrapment on pool drain covers. Since the law is Federal it will take time until the local authorities codify such laws into community requirements. It is important that the designer and builder be well informed of all the requirements to insure that the most current thinking has been used in the construction of your pool.
Typical Plat
When applying for a building permit for you pool, a fee will be required along with copies of the building plans. These plans will be reviewed to determine that the plans conform to the authoritie’s requirements. Your designer or builder should be aware of any requirements in your area, but as required, be flexible enough to adapt the plans to the requirements. Many of these requirements can be seen on your “plat” or scale drawing which visually describes your property. The plat, which you should have obtained when you purchased your home, should show the required “set backs” or “utility easements”. These are areas on your property on which you can locate substantial structures. “Variances” or exceptions can sometimes be obtained in certain circumstances to build in these areas, but many times these easements protect access to utility services which run throughout the community.
Excavation of a Pool
After the plans have obtained approval one further step needs to be completed before construction begins. In many areas the utilities, such as sewer, electrical, telephone and others, are buried in your yard. If excavation begins on your property and these utilities are damaged, it is possible that the homeowner will be held responsible for the cost of the necessary. These utilities must be identified before excavation. In many areas the utility companies, in an attempt to reduce or eliminate these accidental damages have set up organizations for the purpose of identifying these underground services. In Texas, for instance, there is a non-profit organization known as “TESS”, Texas Excavation Safety System. The builder should simple call TESS at least two days prior to excavation. A TESS member company will mark the necessary underground lines to help prevent any utility damage.
Gas Line Re-routing
If it is discovered that utilities lie in or near the placement of the pool or other new amenities, the utilities may need to be moved. The cost of such possible movement has to be accounted for when planning your new pool. However such cost are usually nominal when compared to the cost of the overall project.
