The Process Involved In Excavating A Swimming Pool
Swimming pools are a point of pride for many homeowners. They add charm and beauty to the backyard and provide a tranquil place for unwinding and relaxing.
The construction of a swimming pool is a costly and time-consuming process. There are various steps involved in bringing your dream swimming pool to your backyard. Some important steps involved in the construction of a home swimming pool include:
Location selection
Designing the swimming pool
Site excavation
Plumbing, electrical, and steel work
Installing the swimming pool shell
Adding decking, landscaping, and other custom features
Adding water and chemicals
Pool orientation
Factors to consider before ground excavation
Installing a swimming pool is a significant decision since it will entirely change the face of your backyard and your home. This means there are a lot of deliberations to be made before you decide to make this huge monetary investment. Both the homeowner and the pool builder should consider a lot of aspects before they decide to excavate the ground to install a swimming pool.
Some of them include:
The changes in the yard
Installing a swimming pool will alter your yard permanently. So, the first question that every homeowner should ask a pool builder is about the changes that can happen to their yard. When pool site excavation is in progress, numerous vehicles and heavy machinery will be going to and fro in your yard. This may have some negative effects on the yard that can easily be understood by talking to your builder.
The ground and the grassy patches of your yard will be affected by the machinery and other supplies of the builders. In some cases, you might have to completely redo your grassy patches after the excavation and installation work is completed. If your driveway is made of soft gravel or grass, then it can also suffer some minor damage. You should also ensure that you ask the builder about the size of the hole they are digging.
The steps in swimming pool excavation
The process of swimming pool excavation is a noisy and messy affair. Even though it is an indispensable part of inground swimming pool construction, it is mostly hated by many. This is because of the numerous daunting steps involved with the excavation process. The important steps involved in the excavation process include:
Permits
The first step before starting any excavation work is to get permission from your local authority. If a lot of machinery is involved in the excavation process, and you are short on space, you may need to use your neighbour’s yard too. In such a case, ask for their permission well in advance.
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Soil test
A soil test is necessary before starting the excavation and construction of the swimming pool. This test is done to make sure that the ground is suitable for the construction of a swimming pool. It also gives information about the soil composition that will help the builders during the excavation process.
Soil conditions directly influence the excavation and construction processes of the swimming pool. The soil test is done by a skilled and experienced geotechnical engineer. They carefully study the various properties of the soil and give design suggestions to the builders.
The soil properties studied include features like lateral earth pressure, groundwater conditions, soil gradation, bearing capacity, density, swell and shrink potential.
Studies are also done to determine whether the soil is expansive or not. In the case of expansive soil, over-excavation becomes necessary. In some cases, the issue of expansive soils is dealt with by using deep foundations. Builders should be aware of these soil issues to make appropriate arrangements during the excavation stage.
Issues related to groundwater can also cause hurdles during different stages of swimming pool construction. Dewatering techniques will be required if there is a presence of groundwater at the excavation depth. This step is crucial to prevent damage and failure of the pool system in the future. Subsurface drainage systems might also be needed to drain the groundwater. These conditions should also be considered before the start of the excavation process.
The builders should also know the composition of the soil before starting the excavation process, like sand, clay, gravel, or any organic matter. This will enable them to bring the necessary tools for the excavation.
Digging
The actual excavation or digging process can be quite exciting, especially for kids. This is the time when you witness your backyard being transformed to welcome the new swimming pool home. It involves the use of heavy machinery to dig the earth and create a pit or hole suitable for your pool design. An experienced and skilled contractor will need around a day to dig a pit for a standard-sized home swimming pool. Complicated and larger pools might take a bit more time. If the diggers are faced with some challenges like rocks or soil instability during the excavation, the digging time can further increase.
Digging will result in a lot of dirt and debris. There should be enough space in your yard to keep it away from the pool pit during the digging process.
Sometimes, removing trees around your pool can cause both positive and negative effects – know the facts!
Heavy machinery used in the digging process
The excavation process requires several heavy machines. The different equipment needed for pool excavation include:
Shovels
Backhoe
Sledgehammer
Wheelbarrow
Rakes
Transit level
Dump truck
Excavator
Cleaning up
This is the last step in the excavation process. During the digging process, a lot of dirt and rock will have accumulated near the poolside. This should be cleaned immediately to avoid it hampering the work of pool installers. After all the dirt is removed, the pool walls and sides should be smoothened. This is done to make the excavation site even so that the swimming pool can sit properly on the site.
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In Conclusion
Having a smooth excavation process is the first step to installing your dream swimming pool in your backyard. A swimming pool is an excellent investment for any homeowner, even though it involves time-consuming and expensive work. It is a great way to enhance the value of the property and add beauty to the home.
