The POOL Construction Process
Your backyard will go through a 10-step construction process to convert it from its current condition to the backyard of your dreams. Click on any of the following steps for more details about the process.
1) Excavation
2) Steel Construction
3) Plumbing
4) Gunite
5) Tile & Coping
6) Decks
7) Electrical, Gas Lines & Propane Tank
8) Pool Area Clean-Up
9) Punch List Review
10) Interior Surfaces
After you have approved the final design of your Ocean Quest pool, making sure that all of the components of your pool are in the design and
contract, a detailed set of engineered plans will be created from which your pool will be constructed. An outline of your pool will be painted
on the ground per your signed drawing.
EXCAVATION
The next step in the construction of your new Ocean Quest pool is the excavation; a messy, dirty process that is exciting and unavoidable.
An excavation crew carefully digs and hand-trims your pool in precise accordance with every detail of your swimming pool’s design specifications.
The excavation process usually takes a couple of days, depending on the soil conditions and weather. You will note the wooden forms around your swimming pool. They are there to guide us in the rest of our construction, please do not tamper with these wooden forms.
The majority of dirt from the excavation process will be removed during the excavation. Don’t be concerned if some dirt remains, as we will use this for other phases of the construction. If you would like a portion of this dirt reserved for landscaping purposes or some other uses, just let us know where and how much you desire.
An Ocean Quest superintendent will be out within 48 hours to inspect the excavation and install a temporary fence across your open access area. It is at this time that he will inform the coordinator to order plumbing, steel and electrical.
STEEL CONSTRUCTION
Next, the Ocean Quest steel crew forms a rigid contoured grid of reinforcing steel to create the backbone of your swimming pool. You will see bars
crossing one another for the utmost in reinforcement. Notice the tie wires at some intersections; they tie the steel together.
Be advised that even though we bend the ends of the steel bars, the steel may be sharp. Please be careful when inspecting the progress of your pool’s construction. You will note that there are block spacers under the steel. This helps to hold the steel above the soil, so the steel will end up being approximately in the middle of the gunite.
When steel is complete it will look like the steps are missing; this will be shot in at the time of gunite.
Ocean Quest Construction Coordinators will contact the City for all inspections.
PLUMBING
Your Ocean Quest pool is now ready to be plumbed with high-grade NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) approved “Schedule 40” PVC pipe designed
to prevent leaks or deterioration. All pipe connections are solidly bonded and the entire plumbing system is hydrostatically pressure tested.
As with every other stage of your new Ocean Quest pool, the plumbing is done in accordance with your pool design specifications, to insure the plumbing meets Ocean Quest’s rigid standards of quality and design.
In an earlier section you were given your pool’s blue print and plumbing schematics. If during the construction process you decide to make any changes, you will be given a new blue print and plumbing schematics to use as reference
GUNITE
The next process of your pool construction is the application of the shotcrete or gunite. Gunite is a mixture of sand, rock and cement that will
be applied by an experienced Ocean Quest trained technician. These technicians will skillfully shoot the gunite around your pool’s steel
reinforcement grid. Your pool shell formed by this process is so strong that Ocean Quest backs it with a Full Lifetime Warranty!
After your gunite has been completed, we will need your assistance to allow the gunite to cure properly. You (or Ocean Quest) will need to water your pool a minimum of three times a day during the daylight, from 7 am to 7 pm. You will need to do this for 5 days. Simply use your garden hose (without a nozzle) and wet the pool thoroughly, top to bottom. Don’t worry about the water collecting in the deep end of the pool. It’s normal and will be pumped out before we apply your pool’s interior finish.
TILE & COPING
The next step in the construction process is the installation of your waterline tile and coping. Your pool will get a high-glazed, weather
resistant waterline tile that will be hand-laid and carefully grouted around the waterline of your pool by a skilled craftsperson. The coping
will be hand-laid and grouted on the “Beam” (or wall top) by the same craftsmen that set the tile
Tile and coping should take several days to finish. Once the tile has set securely, you will have a durable, non-porous surface that will last for years.
If you have chosen to add picturesque rocks, a rock waterfall or other natural rock features, our professional rock installers will carefully place the decorative stones in precise accordance to your pool’s design specifications.
Once this process has been completed the decking crew will come in and start the forming of your deck.
DECKING
Sundek
For the SunDek process, a natural concrete base will be poured and will need a curing period of 2 to 7 days, depending on the time of the year.
Then the SunDek will be applied. This process will take approximately 1 to 3 days.
Exposed Aggregate
For hand-seeded exposed aggregate, a natural concrete base will be poured. The concrete will be allowed to set for a couple of hours (depending
upon temperature, wind etc.). After setting, the chosen aggregate will be applied by hand, allowed to set, then washed to bring out the colors
of the aggregate.
Rock Decks
For stone decks, a natural concrete base will be poured and will need a curing period of 2 to 7 days, depending on the weather. Then the selected
stone will be laid and the grout installed.
UTILITIES
Electrical
Using National Electric Code approved conduit, wire and bonding, our licensed professional electrical contractor carefully makes all of the
electrical connections for your pool. The lights are installed, the pumps are wired and electrical breakers installed.
The electrical devices can usually be installed concurrently with other construction phases, and thus not hold up further construction.
Gas Lines/Propane Tank
If this is an option you have decided on, your city’s gas line/propane tank requirements and your individual lot size will determine whether
your gas line or propane tank can be buried underground or must be above ground. If it can be buried, the trenches will be dug and the pipe
will be laid at the time of the plumbing of your new pool. This pipe will have to be inspected by the city and the entire process takes 10
to 15 days. Do not be alarmed if the actual hookup of your gas or propane does not happen until your pool has been completed.
Having a gas line or propane tank installed can run concurrently with other construction phases and will not necessarily hold up further construction.
POOL AREA CLEANUP
Now is when the mess we made in your backyard will be professionally cleaned-up, and you can start to see just how beautiful your new Ocean
Quest pool is actually going to be! Be patient…it won’t be long now!
We will make sure that all of the tire tracks are filed in, that the wood and trash is hauled away, and that the ground in the pool’s construction area is raked out. We will also make sure everything that was disrupted in the construction process is put back in its proper place (with the exception of any planters, decorative rocks, sprinkler heads, etc.).
Soil will be brought in and spread around your pool and in the access area. If additional soil is requested, please, contact your superintendent for pricing of material, delivery and spreading of the additional soil.
The Clean-up process will only take one day and the next step of your pool’s construction will be the access close-up if applicable.
PUNCH LIST/REVIEW
At this time, your Ocean Quest superintendent will go over any problems, workmanship issues and/or corrections that need to be addressed.
Your Ocean Quest superintendent will make an appointment that is mutually convenient to list out these corrections. These issues will be
addressed and completed prior to the interior finish being applied.
INTERIOR SURFACES
Now that your pool has had all phases completed, an experienced surfacing crew applies the pool interior surface that you have selected.
Your interior finish will be installed in one or two steps, depending on the type of application you chose. Upon completion, you may begin
filling the pool with water. Once the pool is full, it will require brushing twice a day for two weeks.
Proper chemical balance is required and is very important for proper maintenance of your pool. It is also recommended that a sample be taken to a qualified water analysis center once a week for the first several months to ensure a good start.
SWIMMING!
Now that your pool is finished, it’s time to jump in and ENJOY! Ocean Quest will schedule a “Pool School” orientation for you and anyone else
who wants to know how to operate the pool. And of course, if you ever have any questions about your pool, we’re only a phone call away.