What Happens at Each Phase of a Custom Pool Build

Building a pool is a big project, and the biggest anxiety most owners have is not knowing what comes next. At Pools Unlimited a custom build runs through five phases, from the first handshake to the first cannonball, and the same project lead is your point of contact from start to finish. Overall, plan on roughly 6 to 24 weeks. Here's what happens in each phase.

Phase 1: Consult

The first step is one visit, either a phone call or an on-site walk of your property. This is where we look at the yard, listen to what you want and talk through what the lot will allow. It's free, and there's no obligation. The visit matters because the site drives so much of the price and the design. Rock, slope, access and drainage can't be judged from a photo, and a quote without a walk-through is a guess.

Phase 2: Design

Design takes 1 to 2 weeks. You get 3D renderings, so you can see the pool in your yard before anything is dug, and material samples you can hold, such as tile and stone. This is the time to settle the details: shape, depth, any spa or ledge, lighting and equipment. Changes are cheapest on paper. Once a shell is sprayed, moving a wall means starting that part over, which is why we put the effort into this stage.

Phase 3: Permits

Permitting takes 2 to 4 weeks. It covers the survey, the engineering and the paperwork, and the construction team pulls the permits for you. Requirements vary by location, so we're not going to give you a generic list here. We'll tell you what applies to your property once we've seen it. Hillside lots usually have more engineering behind them than flat ones.

Phase 4: Build

Construction is the longest phase, anywhere from 4 to 18 weeks depending on the size and the lot. It runs from excavation all the way through tile, and you get weekly updates, so you aren't left guessing what happened this week. In broad terms the order goes like this.

• Excavation, including any rock work, and the steel framework.
• Plumbing and electrical run to the shell.
• The gunite shell itself, followed by its curing time.
• Tile and coping, then the deck and any features.
• Plaster, equipment, and the first fill of the pool.

That sequence is general craft rather than a schedule for any one job. Your own order and timing depend on the design, the weather and the ground. Rocky excavation can add 1 to 3 weeks on its own, and your project lead will tell you where things stand as it moves.

Phase 5: Handoff

Handoff is one more visit, and it's the part owners tend to remember. We do a full walkthrough, then run what we call Pool School, a hands-on training on the equipment so you know how to operate your own pool. You also receive the written warranty. The goal is simple: you shouldn't finish the day wondering how anything works, and you'll have the coverage terms in writing.

What the warranty covers

• Lifetime structural coverage on the gunite shell.
• One year of workmanship coverage on tile and stone coping.
• Three years of manufacturer coverage on the Pentair and Zodiac pumps, filters and heaters we install.

Ask to read the written warranty before you sign, and ask what voids it. That's good practice with any builder.

One crew, one contract

Pools Unlimited is built around keeping the work in-house: no subcontractors on the work that matters, and no subs on design. The practical benefit is simple. Whoever drew your pool is in the same company as whoever builds it, so when something on site needs a decision, there's nobody to hand it off to. The price is a fixed-price contract set after the free site visit, so the number you agree to is the number you pay.

How to prepare for the first visit

You don't need drawings. Bring your wish list, a rough budget range and any photos of pools you like. It also helps to know where you'd want the pool in relation to the house, and where the equipment and any spa might go. Mention anything about the yard that worries you, such as drainage after heavy rain, slope, tight access or rock you've already hit. Then walk the lot with us, and ask every question you've got.

Ready for step one? The free on-site visit is where it starts. Call Pools Unlimited at (830) 980-5051 and we'll set a time.