how to build swimming pool yourself

Swimming is the greatest pleasure one can enjoy on a hot and sultry summer day. So utilising that barren strip of land in your backyard to create your very own idyllic water oasis can turn out to be the best way to thwart the heat. Using the minimum of materials and chemicals, it is actually possible to build your own private swimming pool, though initially, many people will shy away from the task. With proper planning, this great addition to your house will offer a perfect way for some fun and exercise. Once you have taken care of the area regulations for the pool to comply with the local building codes, you can start the actual building process with these simple steps. Take some preliminary advice from experts on equipment needed.

Design and depth

The shape of the pool and its depth play a major role in deciding the cost. While an oval pool will look good, it will cost much more than a rectangular pool.

Excavation

Rent the required equipment from a construction company and excavate the area where the site of the pool has been identified. See that you do not risk running into the utility lines of your area.

Levelling

Level the base of the pool as much as possible. This will allow for easy placement of the foundation and erecting of the side walls. Take help from a professional in deciding on the slope of the floor.

Walls

Once the levelling and excavation is done, start framing the bottom and walls with steel bars. Ensure that everything is properly aligned.

Plumbing

Hire a plumber with adequate pool experience to do the necessary plumbing for your pool and install the filtration system. Remember to adhere to the codes of the area.

Electrification

Put in the power points that are needed to run the lights and the filtration plant. Bad wiring could be dangerous, so see that proper insulation has been done.

Flooring

Now you can start the walls and floor hy pouring concrete and smoothing it once done. As far as possible, try for a monolithic casting of the concrete, to avoid appearance of joints which may require additional waterproofing.

Waterproofing

A material with good waterproofing properties will hold water better in case of damage to the pool. Elastic polymeric, applied in two layers is the best.

Finishing

Using a PVC film for constructing the lining is cheap, though you may need outside help to weld it together. Tiles and glass mosaic are other alternatives, but are more expensive.

Equipment and fencing

Once the pool construction is complete, the room for the equipment should be made ready. Ideally, the room should be as close to the pool as possible. Install a sturdy fence around the pool area as this is a regulatory requirement.

Starting the pool

Examine and check all the equipment and piping for leaks.Tighten the couplings and check all the valves. Use the filter complex for a preliminary clean and then switch to the regular filter mode. If you do not find any problems, then you have done a great job with the installation and your pool is now ready for use.

Swimming pool construction cost

There are two types of swimming pools, the above ground one and the below ground one. Costs associated with building both these types of pools has to be considered together. Constructing a swimming pool is a major, though, long term investment. Once built it can bring endless years of fun and joy to your family and friends. While providing some things at the time of installation may be economical, it is always advisable to add more bit by bit over the years for better financial strategy. Having said that, deciding on the cost of building one is dependent on various factors as illustrated below.

Size of pool

Without any doubt, the single most important factor which governs the pool cost is size. Large pools result in large costs of operation, so it is better to build one of the optimum size your backyard will allow.

Location

A swimming pool can be built above the ground or below the ground. While a pool above ground saves a lot on excavation, it is considered to be aesthetically unappealing, and does not give the same value to your house as an in-ground one.

Materials

Pool costs vary widely with type of material used to construct them. As concrete is the most durable and long lasting, it will be the most expensive to build. It is best to consult a professional to give your swimming pool a look that you may not be able to afford, but could create by using cheaper alternatives.

Heating and filtration plant

Cleaning and heating the pool will always incur extra costs. It is recommended not to cut corners on these products as they are constantly in use.

Extras

The best thing about the pool extras is they can be added with passage of time. Things like a children’s pool, diving board or even a whirlpool make for great add ons when the budget affords. You can opt for a patio adjacent to the pool area and provide cement benches to add to the surrounding looks. Your pool adviser will tell you which item to add and when.

It has been determined that taking into consideration the variable factors that go into making an affordable swimming pool, the average cost comes out to be roughly 20,000$. This cost covers both the underground as well as the over ground pools, though obviously the cost of in-ground pools will be more. As an illustration, a below the ground swimming pool will cost about three times more than the above ground pool of the same size. Another yardstick one can apply to come at a realistic figure would be to calculate the rate per square feet, which as per current costs comes to around 200$. Additional costs for cleaning tools, brushes, chemicals etc can run into hundreds of dollars.