How to Build a Swimming Pool
Jeffrey Anderson | Improvement Center Columnist | December 13, 2011
Summer's high temperatures and abundant sunshine have helped you make the decision that this is the year the long awaited swimming pool is going in your backyard, but what's the first step? If you're an accomplished DIYer, you may be considering doing the task yourself--after all, what could be more relaxing than taking a dip in a new swimming pool made possible by your hard work? A DIY swimming pool installation is possible and many people have accomplished it, but before making the decision not to call in a pool contractor, you may want to be completely aware of what's involved.
A DIY swimming pool installation can put your regular life on hold
A new swimming pool installation is a complicated project that can be a little more involved than finishing your basement or adding an attic bedroom at your leisure. The job involves working with many sub-contractors who must be interviewed, hired, and then coordinated on a daily basis. These are just a few of the sub-contractors normally involved in constructing a swimming pool:
- excavators
- concrete installers and finishers
- electricians
- plumbers
- landscapers
- laborers
As the person in charge, these sub-contractors are going to be looking to you for guidance in their scope of work responsibilities and making sure the job-site is 100 percent ready for their phase of construction when they arrive. The project manager is also responsible for providing working drawings, getting any permits needed, and making sure all underground utilities are marked before the project begins.
Sub-contractors are going to expect you to be available each morning the project is underway to answer any questions that may arise--and there are probably going to be many. If this hasn't discouraged you, consider that you are going to be spending a lot of hard-earned money on your long awaited swimming pool and if it turns out badly, the person in charge is usually to blame.
Hire a pro for your swimming pool installation
If you want a DIY project, build a patio for your new swimming pool, but leave the pool installation to an expert. Getting estimates from three pool contractors can give you a fairly accurate idea of how much to budget for your project, and their professional designers can plan the pool of your family's dreams. A pool contractor keeps a supervisor on-site to coordinate sub-contractors and handle any headaches--all you'll have to worry about is how you're going to look in your swim suit.
