Having a new pool installed on your property is no overnight endeavor—it’s a process that takes a tremendous amount of foresight and planning to go off without a hitch. Working with a pool contractor is essential, since these professionals will know exactly how to proceed smoothly with your swimming pool construction in Los Angeles, CA.
Even in working with a professional contractor it behooves you to know exactly what’s all involved in the construction of your new pool. Knowing what the next phase is, how long it will take to complete, what’s all needed to complete that phase and how it all rolls into the final products means understanding the intricacies of your pool.
Planning and design
Before any ground is broken for your new pool, it’s essential to make sure a sound plan is developed. This means having a contractor out to your home to survey your property, take measurements and conduct a feasibility study. Knowing what’s possible before you dive into pool construction is a core tenant.
Within this first phase you’ll also decide on the type of pool, budget, timeline and start diagramming the finished product. When the planning and design phase comes to an end, you should know what you’re getting, how much it’s going to cost, when work will be completed and what the finished product is going to look like.
Permitting
Once you’ve got everything in place for what the pool will be, you’ll need to make sure your design and placement are kosher with the city and county you live in, which means permits need to be obtained. There’s a good chance that your pool will also affect the lot value of your property and the value of your home, which means accurately filling out permits to the best of your abilities.
Site prep and layout
This is the phase of swimming pool construction in Los Angeles, CA when the heavy lifting actually begins. Site prep means clearing your land of anything atop the construction area, including trees, shrubs, existing concrete and more. Once the land is clear, contractors and their team will begin laying out your pool’s dimensions, so that digging and shaping can begin. This process usually takes a couple of days, depending on the effort involved.
Excavation and plumbing
Once your site is prepped, digging will commence and the formation of your pool will begin to take shape. At first, it’s just going to be a big hole in the ground, but eventually, plumbing and drainage lines will be laid, giving this hole in the ground some semblance of a pool.
Shell installation, decking and pouring
Through these phases your pool will get the overhaul it needs to look and function like a pool. This is where the bread and butter of swimming pool construction in Los Angeles, CA takes place and when it’s through, the bulk of your installation will be done.
Electrical and finishing
The electrical components of your pool are among the last to be installed and before you can use your pool, it will need to be acid washed and lined. Together, these represent the finishing touches on your pool and when all is said and done, it should look exactly like what was drawn up in the initial planning and design stages, all the way back at the beginning!
The big day has arrived and it is time to prepare for your pool construction crew. As this is a large undertaking, there are steps you need to take beforehand to assure this proceeds as easily as possible. Take these steps before the arrival of the crew to help your construction time be as uneventful as possible:
- Know the timeframe: New pool construction in Los Angeles, CA takes time. During this period, your yard will be in upheaval and your routines will be disrupted. This is especially true if you have pets or children who are used to having free run of the yard. The process may be shorter or longer than you realized, so be prepared either way and determine alternatives.
- Locate utilities: Water, gas and electric lines must all be identified before the crew starts digging your pool. By marking these first, workers can know which areas to avoid. This will keep them safe and prevent damage to your yard. Depending on the layout of utilities, this will also affect the placement of your pool and its amenities.
- Move plants: Due to sunlight requirements or the overall chaos in the yard, some plants may not tolerate the construction phase. Consider moving them to a place with more light or away from the havoc. You may want to move your pool away from trees anyway, as that will help keep debris from landing in the water and give you less cleanup to deal with. That decision will also assure the construction affects plants as little as possible.
- Check fencing laws: Once the pool is complete, your fencing contractor should not be far behind. Some areas require pool fencing, and the standards can be very stringent. Also, your homeowner’s insurance may insist on fencing, or you may not have coverage in the event of a claim. No matter the reason, fencing must also be part of pool design and construction. Have that planned before the crew starts building your pool.
- Clear clutter: If you have a patio area intended to complement the pool, remove any furniture and clutter. Giving the workers more space will help the process and keeps your stuff out of harm’s way. Also make sure any walkways to the construction site are clear so workers can travel without worrying about tripping. The less extra stuff in your yard at the time of construction, the better.
- Secure pets and children: The construction site will present many temptations to children. Supervise them well during this time so they do not expose themselves to injury. Pets can also get lost during this period. Inform the construction crew of your pets so they are not accidentally let loose. Consider other accommodations for them during construction just to ensure their safety.
- Above all, be patient: Pool construction has fewer certainties because it involves digging underground. There may be a planned timeframe of two weeks, but new developments can make it three weeks. Prepare to roll with circumstances and listen to your contractors when possible contingencies are described. The process will not be perfect, but rest assured, it will get done.
Avanti Pools, Inc. offers over a decade of experience in new pool construction in Los Angeles, CA. Call us to start the design and building process for your pool today.
Perhaps you recently enjoyed spending time in a friend’s pool, or maybe you wish for a swim on a hot day. No matter the reason, you now feel compelled to call a pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA and immediately build a personal oasis. However, pools can be expensive and require maintenance, so this may not be a commitment you really wish to keep. Before you give us a call, take some time to consider these factors:
- Why you want one: Is it for your personal image? Do you intend to swim once a year, or every day? These considerations will not only help you assess whether the expense is worth it, but they might also impact the pool design should you decide to build one after all. Pools used for fitness purposes are very different from those used for recreation only. If you see it as an aesthetic feature to be used rarely, that will also affect your decision and the final layout.
- Who will use it: Obviously, if your answer is “no one,” or “me, but only occasionally,” you may want to rethink the compulsion. However, just like the “why” question, this one will also impact decisions related to design. If you have children, you may want a pool with an extended shallow area or an auxiliary wading pool. If your household is adults only and you love to entertain, you can likely get away with a deeper pool, and even add features like underwater speakers.
- Your yard’s suitability: Sandy or rocky soil or a high water table may stop pool construction before it even starts. At the least, they will increase construction costs that will lead you to deeper consideration regarding what you really want. Sometimes, digging down deep to install the pool can uncover unwelcome surprises. Discovering buried trash, for example, can require expensive removal fees. Your consideration here is budget and being prepared to spend more than is originally predicted.
- Permits and zoning: Local ordinances can limit the location and size of pools. There can also be restrictions on features. For example, some neighborhoods may look poorly on you installing underwater speakers. Fencing is also an important consideration, as safety issues and accessibility to your pool will affect compliance with the law and your insurance policy. If you are not ready to consider all these laws and requirements, you are probably not prepared to construct a pool.
- Compatibility with your backyard: You need to consider not just the amenities you want included with your pool, but also the ones you already have in your yard. If you wish to preserve the century-old trees, there are likely ways to work around them, but you may wind up with a pool shape unlike your original expectation. Similarly, outdoor grills accompany pools nicely, and if you already have one, the pool will need to adapt to it. This will not only affect your expectations, but also whether you decide to proceed with pool construction at all. People do not always want to rearrange their whole backyard.
When you are ready to take the plunge, call Avanti Pools, Inc. to hire a pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA. We enjoy challenging projects and would love to talk to you about your ideal swimming pool.
Adding a new pool to your property is a major financial and lifestyle decision that will affect you and your family for years to come. Most of the time, getting a new pool is a great move, and one that adds fun to your life and value to your property. But if you fail to properly vet your pool contractors prior to swimming pool construction in Los Angeles, CA, what should be a fun experience may soon turn into a major headache. To avoid hiring pool contractors who are disappointing or misleading, just remember to look for these qualities during the hiring process:
- Experience: It is true that everyone starts somewhere, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to give someone new a chance. But when it comes to something as major as a new pool, you are going to want to hire a business that has at least a few employees who have been in the pool industry for a long time. If they have experience with difficult, impressive projects, that is even better.
- Options: Building a new pool shouldn’t be just like painting by numbers. Each client deserves a pool that reflects their vision and needs, from the overall size and shape to any special additional features. When you are hiring pool contractors, make sure they are able to provide all the options you want for your new pool.
- Acclaim: If a pool business has been around awhile without making any sort of splash, that is a sign that they do not think outside the box and might not have the level of skill you deserve. When looking at potential contractors, remember to ask if their work has ever been featured in any publications, or if they have references from satisfied former clients.
- Credentials: When hiring any type of contractor to do work on your property, it is imperative that they be fully licensed, bonded and insured. Beyond that, it certainly does not hurt if they belong to any special industry associations. For pool contractors, the most respected of these associations is the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, or APSP for short.
- Amiability: The pool contractors you hire are going to be in your life for months, and will be spending a lot of time on your property. When hiring pool contractors, remember that you deserve to feel fully comfortable and at ease around them. If a potential contractor fails to be properly polite or friendly when you meet with them, that may indicate that you should think twice about doing business with them in the future.
- Examples: Finally, any quality pool design and construction company is going to be more than happy to show you pictures of past work, and to take some time to point out the different design styles and special features. If a contractor is at all reluctant to do so, take that as a red flag.
If you are looking for experienced pool contractors that have all the above qualities and more, and if you’re in the market for top quality swimming pool construction in Los Angeles, CA, please get in touch with Avanti Pools, Inc. anytime.
