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How to Build a Concrete Pool

Concrete pools are some of the highest quality swimming pools built. When
constructed properly, these pools offer years of use before requiring much
maintenance or repair. The most popular type of concrete pool construction
today is done with either shotcrete or gunite, which are mixtures of concrete and
sand that are sprayed onto a metal frame.
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Steps

1.

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1
Mark out and excavate the area of the yard to install the concrete pool. The hole
should be dug approximately 9 to 12 inches (23 to 31 cm) deeper than you want the depth

of your pool, to allow room for surfacing the bottom of the basin. A lip is also left around
the perimeter of the hole to accommodate sufficient working room for placing forms.
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2
Install plumbing, using PVC pipe and strong bonding material. Your plumbing
should include a drain at the bottom of the pool as well as the necessary structure to
ensure safe water flow throughout the pool. Before moving to the next step, have the
system hydrostatically pressure tested by a professional plumbing company to ensure
there are no leaks.

2.

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3
Install a steel frame into the outline of the swimming pool, which will provide
stability for the concrete once the pool is filled. Cover the sides and bottom of the basin
with steel rebar.

o The rebar serves as a frame for the concrete and ensures the pool will maintain its
shape and strength for a long time. Place the steel in grid form for greatest
durability. Each area has its own building codes in regards to how the rebar
should be installed, so learn the rules for concrete pool construction in your
specific community. Framing may also be added at this time to create stairs or
other interior features.

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4
Spray gunite onto the steel rebar grid using a power sprayer, creating the actual
pool basin.

o Gunite is either applied by professional pool installers or purchased through a

gunite or concrete supplier for do-it-yourself use. Machines to apply the gunite

can also be purchased or rented through these companies. Gunite is applied using
a dry mix method, so no water is needed.
o Once the gunite is installed, it will need to be sprayed down with a hose every day
for 5 days to assist the curing process.

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Choose a finish for the interior basin. The finish offers a smooth, decorative surface for
the inside of your swimming pool and can be tile, marble or paint.

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Install coping around the lip of the pool. Coping is the border that creates the pool's
decorative edge. Then choose a coordinating decking material that offers walking room
around the swimming pool. Both the coping and decking are designed to complement the
interior pool finish and may be concrete, marble, tile or stone. The installation process
will vary based on the material used.

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7
Fill the swimming pool with water, either from a source in your home or by having
water shipped in. Your choice depends on the cost of water in your area and the size of
your swimming pool construction.
o After the pool is filled, it will be ready for use after the proper chemicals are
applied and the water is tested for safety. You can learn about how to treat your
water through your pool supply store or the professionals that handle your
concrete pool construction.

6 Steps to the Perfect Inground

Pool
There's nothing like installing a concrete swimming pool
to one-up your neighbor's aboveground version. But
planning your dream pool can be harder than it first
seems. Consider your options and obligations before
breaking ground, and inground pool construction will
proceed swimmingly
4. Site the Pool
Picking the proper spot for your inground pool is as important as the pool itself. An
experienced pool contractor can provide valuable insight, but be sure to consider the
following pool-placement tips:
* Let the Sun Shine In: Take advantage of free solar energy by picking a pool location
that's open to the sun and well away from any trees. Such a location will not only warm
up the water, it'll also reduce the number of leaves that drop into the pool.
* Block the Breeze: Building a pool in a windy location greatly increases water
evaporation, which means you'll constantly have to add pool water to maintain the

proper level. Strong winds can also make you feel uncomfortably cool when wet. Create
a windbreak by erecting a solid-board fence, or by planting a row of thick shrubs or
trees.
* Stay High and Dry: Avoid building in a low-lying area, which could result in the pool
flooding with mud and debris during periods of heavy rain. Also avoid areas with a high
water table; rising groundwater will flood the deep end of the excavated hole.
* All Clear Above and Below: The pool shouldn't be located beneath overhead
telephone or electrical wires, or directly over buried sewer lines, septic systems or
electrical cables.
* Keep Eye Contact: Whenever possible, build the pool within view of the house. That
way, you can keep an eye on swimmers even while you're indoors.
* Accommodate Accessories: When determining pool placement, be sure there's
enough room for installing accessories, such as a whirlpool spa, slide, diving board,
bench seats and utility shed.

5. Choose a Circulation System

The pool's circulation system is designed to keep the water clean and crystal clear. To
do this effectively, it uses both filtration and sanitization. The heart of the filtration
system is the pump. This draws water from the pool's bottom drains, sends the surface
water through an automatic skimmer, and then passes everything through a filter before
recirculating it to the pool. There are three types of filters commonly used: sand,
cartridge and diatomaceous earth (DE).
All three types of filters work well when properly installed and well maintained. An
experienced contractor will help you decide which filtration system is best for your pool.
Sand filters are the oldest and most common method of pool-water filtration. They use
special filter sand to trap dirt and debris. As the sand particles "load up" or become
clogged, they trap smaller and smaller particles. Sand filters are cleaned by
backwashing, which involves reversing the water flow through the filter and flushing the
dirty water into a waste line.
Cartridge filters have been around for a number of years, but their popularity has only
recently begun to skyrocket. This system uses large cylindrical cartridges to screen out

dirt. Most pool builders recommend using large cartridges that have 500 to 600 sq. ft. of
filter area. Unlike sand filters, cartridges don't require backwashing. Instead, you simply
remove them and rinse off the dirt with a garden hose, a process that uses much less
water than backwashing. In fact, backwashing has become an environmental issue in
the southwest and other drought-prone areas of the country.
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"If every inground pool owner in the greater-Phoenix area used cartridge filters," states
Kevin Woodhurst of Premier Pools in Chandler, Ariz., "we'd collectively save about 1.5
billion gallons of water each year."
Diatomaceous earth is a porous powder that has microscopic openings, similar to tiny
sponges. As water passes through the openings, particles are trapped. DE filters can
strain out dirt, dust, algae and some forms of bacteria. When DE filters become dirty,
they're cleaned by backwashing but use far less water than sand filters. Afterward, fresh
DE is added to the filter. A filtration system removes debris, but a chemical sanitizer is
required to kill organic contaminants, such as bacteria and algae. And an oxidizer is
used to kill both inorganic and organic contaminants. There are three EPA-registered
sanitizers commonly used in swimming pools: chlorine, bromine and PHMB.
Chlorine is by far the most commonly used pool sanitizer; it's also an effective oxidizer.
When dissolved in water, chlorine releases free-available chlorine, also known as
hypochlorous acid. There are different kinds of chlorine sanitizers available, including
cal hypo, dichlor, gaseous chlorine, liquid chlorine, lithium hypochlorite and trichlor.
Bromine (hypobromous acid) tablets can also be used as a pool sanitizer. The solid
white tablets slowly dissolve to produce free-available bromine, which is also a strong
oxidizer. PHMB (polyhexamethylene biguanide) is a pool sanitizer that's used in
conjunction with hydrogen peroxide and an algaecide. Hydrogen peroxide is used as an
oxidizer.

Salt chlorine generators represent the very latest advancement in pool sanitization.
Instead of using standard pool chlorine, this system transforms common table salt into
chlorine. Contrary to what you may have heard, salt chlorine generators don't create
saltwater swimming pools.
Note that it's important to test the pool water before adding chemicals arbitrarily. Take a
water sample to a local pool store for analysis, or buy a do-it-yourself test kit. "Keep the
pH between 7.2 and 7.8, and maintain the alkalinity between 80 and 120 parts per
million," recommends Kevin Woodhurst of Premier Pools. During the summer's very
hottest stretches, check the water chemistry several times a week. "Keeping the pool
water properly balanced is the very best way to control sanitizer consumption," advises
Woodhurst.

6. Beware of Budget-Busters
As mentioned earlier, the true price of an inground pool is often about twice the cost of
the pool itself. That's because there's so much more to an inground pool than a hole
filled with water: You need to enhance the landscape, buy accessories and invest in pool
maintenance.
Here's a list of items that aren't typically included in the price of the pool: outdoor
lighting, landscaping, pathways, decks, fencing, patios, privacy screens, whirlpool spas,
outdoor sound system, water test kits, shade structure, patio furniture, equipment shed,
storage cabinet, pool toys, additional outdoor electrical outlets and telephone line.
You're not likely to need all of these items, but keep them in mind when formulating your
construction budget.