If you live in Simi Valley CA, you understand how hot it gets during summer months.
But with summer also comes swimming season.
The temperature, upwards of 90 degrees, allows folks to enjoy the recreational use of swimming pools most of the year.
Many families head to the Rancho Simi Community Pool to cool off.
But if you have your own pool in the backyard, it’s all the same.
Don’t have a personal pool?
You may be interested in building your own personal backyard pool to cool off whenever you want.
There are many good reasons to own your own swimming pool, and if you do some planning, you could even get your pool heated for the colder months.
Installing your pool in 6 steps
There are many steps involving the construction of a swimming pool. Of course, this is not something you can do your self, no matter how handy you think you are.
Your best bet will be to hire pool professionals to make sure all the steps are done correctly and nothing is missed.
Step 1: Design the pool
This is a fun step for you and your family.
There are endless pool design ideas on the internet. These days, you also have more options for colors, materials, and add-ons you can choose from.
Will it be an above ground pool or below ground pool?
What type of pool share will fit in your backyard?
Will there be a pool slide, waterfall, LED lights, or any other extras installed with the pool?
These are some things you will be discussing upon hiring a Simi Valley pool company to build your pool for you.
They will design your pool and give you an overall estimate of what it will cost.
Step 2: Obtaining building permits and digging the hole
No construction can begin without the construction permit.
Your contractor should handle all of this for you and abide by all the local requirements in Simi Valley.
With the permit pulled, the work can begin. Additionally, your contractor should be giving you a project timeline with milestones.
The next step is the excavation of the area.
Regardless of the size of your pool and design, your contractor must dig a hole in the ground to install your inground pool.
To dig the hole need for your inground pool, your contractor will need to bring in heavy machinery to do the job.
That means, you need to work with your contractor to make sure there’s access to your backyard.
Expect excavators and other machinery in your backyard for a few days while workers work on digging. It will get loud.
When the hole is completely dug, the bottom must be surfaced. This will ensure the ground is flat.
Step 3: Framing the walls
Pool walls were traditionally framed with wood. But using a wooden frame is less popular these days.
Pool builders prefer metal rebar because of it’s durability and lifespan.
But whatever material your pool professional ends up using — it’s going to be based of their expert advice.
The walls need to be framed up to hold the pool liner later in the building process.
Plumbing and electrical work will proceed after the frame is complete.
Your contractor should have their own workers or subcontractors ready when the step arises. Your pool installation costs covers this step — and it should be part of your contract.
Here’s one thing to mentally prepare yourself for. Unexpected plumbing and electrical can slow down the process.
But rest assured that your pool contractor will handle it professionally – after all that’s why you hired them for.
Building the pool after framing the walls
First, thick layers of concrete are poured into the bottom to construct the pool floor.
Second, cinder blocks are stack the entire length and width of the pool to build the wall with the rebar hold it in place.
Third, after the concrete dries, usually a few days, your pool is ready for the next step.
Step 4: Installing the pool liner
You will have some options with this step.
What is a pool liner?
Pool liners cover the swimming pool wall’s and floor’s structure by completely overlaying the walls and floor and creating impenetrable surface.
The primary purpose of the pool liners is to retain the pool water within the swimming pool and to provide a decorative look.
A vinyl liner pool has a custom made sheet of vinyl between the water and the pool structure.
Liners typically lock their top edge, called a bead, into a track located on the bottom of the coping, which is at deck level.
The most common options are a basic pool liner, a real tile covering, plaster coatings and a sprayed plastic coating.
Your pool builder will give you the specifics on each.
Step 5: Final touches to the pool walls
This is often the backfill behind the walls to ensure no shifting or sliding occurs.
The pool must be filled prior to backfilling to prevent pool wall collapse and the water level in the pool must always be higher than ground level by at least 1 foot.
Slurry is the best backfill material to use when completely burying an above-ground pool since it can better support its own weight.
The walls are then topped off with decorative protection on the outside edges to hid the work done below.
This sounds complicated. But since you’re not doing it yourself, your pool professional will know what needs to get done to complete your dream pool.
Step 6: Filling it with water for the first swim
This is the step you’ve been waiting for!
Fill your pool with water, shock your pool for about 12-hours to prepare for the first swim.
Shocking your pool just means adding enough chlorine or other chemical to destroy the buildup of chloramines. This process is also called superchlorination.
The Price
The price will vary with contractor and pool building service, but the average price to build a full pool is around $22,000 – $28,000 dollars.
Again, depending on size, depth and company you are working with, the price could be more or less.
Pool building is an extensive process.
Make sure you hire the right pool professional to build a great pool for your family to enjoy.
In the end, make sure get the pool you want for the price you pay for it.
