How to Build a Pool

A swimming pool is a very suitable construction for homes with large yards, but building a swimming pool is not a job that one person can do on their own. In most cities, you are not allowed to build your own swimming pool as construction must be supervised by an engineer to make sure it conforms to the set of standards. However, the process of installing a fiberglass, vinyl or concrete pool is similar. First you need to choose the right location for the pool, then decide on the desired shape and depth. Next you will hire a team of masons to dig the soil, install the necessary plumbing and electrical wiring, and finally pour the concrete or install the pool wall before pumping water in.

Table of Contents

Preparing to build a swimming pool

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Apply for the necessary building permits. The city government often requires you to obtain a residential building permit before building a swimming pool on the premises of the house. You can usually apply for a building permit on your local Department of Building and Safety website. ^{[1] X Research Source}

In addition to granting you permission to build a swimming pool, a residential building permit sets forth specific requirements and pool specifications. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Don’t forget to check your neighborhood homeowners’ guide before you start installing – not all neighborhoods allow swimming pools.
Some local governments may require you to apply for a separate electrical installation permit. However, the electrician you hire to install the pool’s underground wiring will usually apply for this permit on your behalf.

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Choose the right location for the pool. Choose the most suitable part of the house to build a swimming pool. Families mostly build swimming pools in the backyard, but you can put the pool next to the house if there is enough space to play. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Think carefully about where to place the pool. In some locations, installing a pool may require you to add or remove outdoor structures such as trees or fences, and this will increase project costs.
You probably don’t have many options for the overall size of the pool, it depends on where the pool is located. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Determine the basic design of the pool. Think about what you want the pool to look like. Do you prefer round, square or rectangular pools? What is the depth? How many entrances and exits does the pool have? These are important details that you must discuss with the contractor before starting the project. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Most home pools come in standard sizes such as 3m x 6m, 4.5m x 9m, and 6m x 12m, with depths ranging from 1.2m to 4.5m. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
Remember, the more complex the pool design, the higher the total cost will be.

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Build a concrete foundation for the pool to ensure durability over time. Most home pools are finished with one of three backing materials: fresh concrete, fiberglass or vinyl. Concrete is the sturdiest and most durable, but also the most expensive. It is the best choice for the large swimming pool built permanently on the premises of the house. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

If you expect the pool to be used a lot, choose a durable material like concrete to reduce repair costs in the long run.
In some cases, a good quality concrete swimming pool can increase the resale value of your home.

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Choose a fiberglass molded pool for ease of installation. Fiberglass pools are primarily sold as a prefabricated block. This makes installation extremely easy, as all the contractor needs to do after digging is to put the pool in place and backfill with soil around it. Fiberglass pools also strike the ideal balance of durability and cost. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

For a saltwater pool, you should choose a wall made of fiberglass or vinyl, as salt can corrode the concrete over time. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Make a swimming pool with a vinyl liner if you want to keep costs down. The vinyl pool liner is actually a large canvas that fits snugly into an already dug pool. By far this is the most economical option for installing a swimming pool at home. The major disadvantage of this material is that it wears out much faster than fiberglass and concrete. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Another weakness is that the vinyl lining is easy to bubble, create wrinkles and be pulled loose. This means you have to make regular adjustments to keep the pool looking good.
The average cost of a vinyl lined swimming pool is only about 25-50 thousand dollars, compared to concrete which can be up to 80-100 thousand dollars (cost in the US). ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Hire a pool contractor to make your dream come true. Research pool contractors in your area and compare carefully. You should choose a professional company with a license to prove they are qualified to install the pool. Having many years of experience in building swimming pools is also a plus point for them. ^{[12] X Research Source}

See reviews from other homeowners who have used the contractor’s services in the past to see how they work.
The contractor you hire to install the pool will charge a separate fee for the labor, so don’t forget to include this in your initial budget. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Create the basic texture

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Dig a hole for a swimming pool. After you hire a reputable contractor, they will mark the location of your chosen area and start digging. They will use backhoes and other mechanized machines to dig the ground. Excavation is one of the most important steps in the pond construction process, as the correct installation of other components will depend on this step. ^{[14] X Research Source}

The team may have to ask you to help get their equipment on the premises.
At this point, you must have a building permit. Without a permit, there is a risk that you will damage or dig into underground water lines.

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Level the ground at the bottom of the excavation. Once the hole is dug, the next step is to level the ground that will become the bottom of the pool. They will cover the bottom with a thick layer of gravel, then rake and compact until the ground is completely flat.

There are several ways to level the ground at the bottom of the lake. Some pools have a flat bottom, others are built with a sloping bottom so that one end of the pool is deep and the other is shallow. Remember to let the contractor know what type of pool you want to build.

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Use steel pillars to support the earth wall. After digging up the soil and leveling the bottom, you are now ready to shape the pool walls. The team of workers will go around the perimeter of the excavation to install wood panels and metal bars. They use these tools to shape the lake wall and support the earth wall. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Like the bottom of the lake, they had to flatten the walls and align them with each other.
You may need to hire a structural steel subcontractor to shape the pool wall if the contractor doesn’t have the permits or equipment to do so.

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Install the necessary plumbing. At this point, you need to hire a plumber to arrange the circulation and filtration system for the pool. They will install components such as the discharge pipe, the surface water collector, the 2- and 3-way valves, the main pump, which are used to supply water to the lake, discharge the water, and circulate the water in the lake. ^{[16] X Research Source}

You need to hire someone with a lot of experience working with pools – inexperienced plumbers can mess up your pool.
Note that pool plumbing can vary, depending on your local set of building codes. ^{[17] X Research Source}

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Install electrical wiring to the pool. Before supplying electricity to the pool, the electrical contractor will have to run lines into the lake to power the filtration system and underwater lighting equipment you want to install. This is also the time when you need to hire a professional contractor, as poorly installed electrical lines when exposed to water can be dangerous. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Have your main contractor refer you to trusted electricians with whom they have worked in the past.
Swimming pool electrical safety is a big concern. Faulty electrical lines can increase the risk of electric shock to swimmers. ^{[19] X Trusted Source Consumer Products Safety Commission Go to Source}

Create pool wall and bottom

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Concrete walls and floors if you plan to build a concrete pool. Once the plumbing and electrical structures have been installed, the crew will use a mixer to pour concrete into the steel formwork that has been installed around the excavation pit. They will level and smooth the concrete while the concrete is still wet. ^{[20] X Research Source}

For pools of different depths, they need to check to make sure the bottom slope is even from one end to the other.
Concrete pool walls are usually finished with slag bricks or shotcrete. You should discuss with the contractor the benefits of each option. ^{[21] X Research Source}

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Hire a professional contractor to install a fiberglass pool. Most fiberglass pools are sold as a single block. If you choose a prefabricated fiberglass pool, a crane or similar device will be required to install it. Then the team of workers will fill the space with soil or concrete in the space around the pool. ^{[22] X Research Source}

In some cases, fiberglass siding is made by spraying fiberglass material onto a mold instead of using a prefabricated monolithic slurry. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

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Vinyl lining for swimming pools. You can only lay out the vinyl liner after the concrete base has been made and allowed to dry for 1-2 days. They will spread a vinyl tarp and stretch it to cover the entire interior of the pool. They then attached the tarp to the outside edge of the pool using clips built into the tarpaulin, and inserted a vacuum nozzle to draw air between the liner and the pool wall. ^{[24] X Research Source}

Before putting plastic tarpaulin into the lake, the crew will have to mark and cut holes for lights, surface water collectors and other structures inside the lake. ^{[25] X Research Sources}
Usually you can put vinyl tarpaulin on your own, but with the help of a professional, the installation will be carried out more efficiently and accurately.

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Pump water into the pool. After the construction process is completed, the rest is to pump water into the lake. Depending on whether you’re eager to swim or not, you can pull the hose from your home’s water source to pump at a slow speed, or rent a tank truck to pump the water faster. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

Pumping water into a pool from a single faucet can take all day (even all night). When you rent a tank truck, water will be supplied to the lake through many faucets, so the lake will fill up faster.
While supplying water to the pool, you need to check for leaks, functioning of the pipes or other defects. If you find a problem, you must contact the contractor to have them repaired before using the pool.

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Treat pool water with necessary chemicals. Use a home water test kit to determine the pH of your pool water. Then you add chlorine and other chemicals such as shock absorbers, algaecides (if needed) into the tank to raise the pH to a safe level. The ideal pH of pool water is 7.4-7.6, or slightly above neutral. ^{[27] X Research Source}

You can buy a water test kit at any store that sells pool supplies.
The amount of chlorine needed will depend on the volume of the tank. If you do not know how much chlorine to use, contact your pool maintenance company for assistance.
If you use a saltwater pool, salt (along with the right proportions of other chemicals) will need to be added to the pool after the water is pumped. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

Advice

Always cover the pool when not in use, to keep the water clean and the pool undamaged by exposure to the elements.
After building the pool, you will clean it yourself, use chlorine to disinfect and maintain the pool, or hire a professional pool maintenance service.
Take the time to explore the options for pool materials, plumbing, and filtration systems before choosing a pool option.
Consider using additional safety measures that are beyond the requirements of the building codes. For example, you might want to add a fence around the pool if you have small children or pets, or use lifelines, lots of stairs, and other structures for those who aren’t good swimmers.

Warning

In some places, swimming pools and similar structures are considered taxable items. Except that pool doesn’t increase the value of your house. ^{[29] X Research Sources}

Steps

Preparing to build a swimming pool

Create the basic texture

Create pool wall and bottom

Advice

Warning

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