The process of gunite pool construction is straight forward but grows more complex with specialty designs such as waterfalls and rock work. But even when it is complex, the basics remain the same, particularly when it comes to the pool shell itself and the standard mechanical equipment.

Step 1 - Outline pool on the ground

This is the first step to establishing exactly where the pool will be dug, and seeing it on the ground can be a big help for homeowners who lack visualization skills. Often homeowners will do this themselves early on to verify with a garden hose or kitchen flour exactly how the proposed pool fits into the yard so they can make changes before excavation begins.

Step 2 - Excavation

Digging out a swimming pool requires access to the backyard, so be prepared for creative ways of removing fence spans or making gates larger to accommodate digging equipment. Excavation yields a great deal of "spoils", which is the soil removed from the hole, which the pool company will truck off site.

Step 3 - Mechanical

At this stage the piping and wiring necessary to operate the pool must be put into place while there is access. This may require additional surface trenching to the pool equipment enclosure or to power and water connections. At this point the heater, filter and other add ons will be installed.

Step 4 - Steel

The shell of your pool depends on steel reinforcement bar to be strong enough to hold water and prevent cracking under the expansion and contraction of the surrounding soil. This is a dense network of steel bars that may, in some ways, resemble a basket.

Step 5 - Gunite

Gunite is concrete that is sprayed onto the rebar basket and builds up within it until the pool walls reach the proper thickness. This becomes the bond beam which may be over a foot thick. Once gunite is in place the surface of the shell is hand finished.

Step 6 - Tile and coping

Waterline tile will be installed around the top edge of the pool shell. It is set relative to the designated water level when the pool is full. This stage may be much simpler if the edge of the pool is a cantilevered extension of the deck instead of individual coping stones which must be set one at a time. If the deck is cantilevered, then the order in which waterline tile is installed will be different, because the deck must be in place prior to setting tile.

Step 7 - Deck

Pool decking may be poured concrete with special finishes which involves building forms that set the edges of paving and the cantilevered edge of the pool. If the deck is to receive tile or stone veneer, the slab will be set lower so that the addition of veneer brings it up to finish grade. With both techniques, this is when expansion joints and trench drains are set to ensure proper drainage.

Step 8 - Deck installation

Concrete pool deck with special finishes is poured and treated all on the same day while the material is still wet. This may require a great deal of hand work to color, stamp, imprint or texture the surface. What is crucial here is that the surfaces are slightly canted to prevent water from draining into the pool and to ensure it flows into area or trench drains.

Step 9 - Plaster

Once all the materials are cured, then it's time to plaster the pool. This process may take a bit longer if Pebbletech is used in lieu of traditional plaster. Plastering is a labor intensive process that takes a day. Then the pool is filled with a garden hose.

Step 10 - Start up

The contractor will start up the pool mechanical systems to ensure they are functional, then make any adjustments before turning the operation over to the homeowner or their pool care company.