Our Process

The process of building a swimming pool can be complicated and time-intensive, but Hansen Pool Construction will work closely with you throughout your entire endeavor. Building a swimming pool is not just a matter of digging a hole and adding water.  There are permits involved, engineering concerns to address, and numerous other issues relating to structural steel, gunite or shotcrete, and inspections.

Here is how the process works with Hansen Pool Construction.

Excavation

The price of a swimming pool can depend heavily on the amount of access you will have to get a tractor on site. In general, the smaller the tractor that has to be used, the more expensive a pool will be.

Depending on unforeseeable objects underground, or circumstances such as excavations on the side of a hill, you typically get the best price with the most access that you can provide. It is common for contractors to include statements in your contract that do not include repairing any underground objects hit, unstable or rocky soil, or cave-ins because of any combination of the three during excavation. 

Other things you should be prepared for when getting quotes with other contractors include; additional grading when it is not included in your proposal, grading inspections for certain cities, over-excavation, soils reports, and zone fees for hauling dirt away when it is not included in your proposal.

STRUCTURAL STEEL

This part of the pool building process is typically very quick for your overall project timeline, lasting only a couple of hours to perhaps two days. Much will depend on the complexity of the engineering required, but steel installation rarely has any surprises. 

It is important for you to ensure that all the engineering for your specific pool design is included in your contract. The easiest way to determine this will be to look in your backyard. 

When your pool is on flat ground, in a generally wide open area, and has a relatively basic design without infinity edges, complex water features, or other structures attached to it, engineering will involve a fairly standard set. On the other hand, when you are on a hillside, have grottos, waterfalls, infinity edges, or other kinds of structures tied into the pool design, you will probably need a separate set of engineering for each item and must make sure all those other items are included.

Plumbing, Gas, and Electrical

Pool plumbing can be a critical phase of the construction process because there are several codes and requirements from the state of California, as well as individual city or county offices. You need a pool construction company that understands all of these concerns. 

Different cities have different requirements regarding everything from ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) codes, to bonding codes, and many others. Make sure all of your gas, electric, and plumbing runs are included based on your individual project. 

Pre-Gunite Inspection

After your hole has been dug, steel will be placed, and plumbing will be installed. The building department sends an inspector out to look at your steel, compare the provided engineering to what is installed, and look at your plumbing systems to ensure they are under pressure and have no leaks.

Gunite/ Shotcrete

Gunite, or shotcrete, refers to concrete that is shot pneumatically. The difference between them will be the method in which each one is mixed. 

Gunite is usually a dry mix, mixed on site, that has water added at the nozzle of the hose. Shotcrete, on the other hand, is a premixed concrete that is typically shot at a higher pound per square inch (psi). 

Although 2,500 psi is typically all that is necessary for a gunite or shotcrete pool, depending on the location, soil, or complexity of the pool, a higher psi can be required in certain circumstances.

TILE, COPING, AND CONCRETE

Hansen Pool Construction then installs your tile, coping, and concrete decking around the pool. You will have a few ways to go about this, and not necessarily a specific order in which they must be completed. Many contractors do not offer tile, coping, or concrete. You will want to make sure that these items are included because they could be quite costly if not done in conjunction with the pool construction process.

Another major step that is often overlooked by experienced contractors, is the bonding of the pool to the surrounding decking or landscaping. All cities now require bonding as part of any pool build. This is fairly new code and is being enforced more and more by inspectors, so make sure your contractor includes bonding in their upfront estimate so there are no surprises after the fact. At Hansen Pool Construction, Inc., bonding wire is always included.

Plaster and Start-up

Several types of materials may be used to finish the interior of a pool. Whether it is basic white plaster, premium colored quartz, pebble and glass bead, or even tile, the options are seemingly endless. Every material has its own individual pros and cons. From overall esthetics, to blotching of colors, or roughness on your feet; speak to your swimming pool contractor about their personal recommendations. 

Upon getting their suggestions, also get opinions of friends, family members, and anyone else you know who has a pool with different variations of interior finishes. Remember that the most expensive option does not always mean the best or longest lasting material. 

Final Inspection

Your final inspection will be the final opportunity for a local inspector to come out and sign off on your project. This inspection is essentially a formality and is only done to ensure that everything that was up to code on prior inspections remains up to code upon completion of construction.

Follow-Up

After Hansen Pool Construction finishes your pool, we will always be available to stay in touch with you. We routinely hear from clients we have served and help address their concerns, even after warranties expire.

This means you can always turn to us with any issue you are having with your pool and we will work to find a solution. Remember that, above all else, we pride ourselves on being a customer service company.