Over the years, gunite pools have become increasingly popular among the majority of homeowners. Undoubtedly, gunite pools provide unique advantages that other pools don’t. Even so, a gunite pool building is relatively complex and takes a longer time. On average, it takes one to two months for a gunite pool to be complete. The construction process often takes longer due to gunite curing. In this article, we look at the gunite pool building process in Northern Virginia.

Gunite pool building process includes:

Find a location and obtain legal permits

The first thing to do if you plan to construct a gunite pool is to find a suitable geographical location. The location could be in your backyard or a section of your property. After you do this, get a pool construction permit from your local authorities. If you have a dependable pool contractor, let him or her get the permit for you. It would be much easier and faster.

Excavation

Once you obtain the construction permit, come up with a suitable pool layout, and proceed with excavation. Excavation entails digging the pool area according to your preferred shape and size of the pool. As you excavate the pool area, ensure you get rid of all debris and dirt as well. Find a suitable place to keep all the material that you have dugout. On average, excavating a gunite pool takes approximately one to three days. It depends on the size of the area and the number of laborers.

Pool Plumbing

After digging the pool area, it’s now time to install the plumbing system. At this stage, install the pool pump, filter among other equipment that will support the pool’s overall functioning. It would be best if you get a professional to install the pool plumbing system for you. You have to possess background information on pool electrics if you plan to install the pool plumbing.

A professional pool electrician should install all electrical cables needed to support the pool’s functioning, from pool lights to all electrical pool equipment. This way, you avoid any short-term or long-term issues with your pool. Always make sure that your pool electrician has valid certification and a legal license.

Install the rebar framework

When you finish with the pool plumbing, install the steel framework or rebar. Typically, rebar serves as the gunite’s pool foundation. So, ensure that you spread it out across the pool area carefully. Ensure that you have a sufficient amount of steel around the corners. Keep in mind that this structure is responsible for supporting the weight of the pool. Please do your best to install it properly.

Install the pool – gunite application

The next step is to spread the gunite across the rebar. Typically, gunite is a mixture of cement, sand, and water mixed at the hose’s nozzle. So, water comes in contact with cement and sand at the front tip of the nozzle. Gunite gets spread around the steel framework using high pressure. Note that gunite application requires expertise. Thus, it would be best if you get a dependable gunite builder in Northern Virginia. One mistake during gunite application eventually leads to structural damage to the pool. After applying gunite, your pool contractor will let the gunite cure for at least 28 days. Then afterward, they will proceed with pool construction.

Tile and Decking

Once you are done with the pool electricals, proceed with tiling and decking:

1. Choose suitable pool tiles that suit your preference and requirements.
2. Settle for an ideal decking material that complements the pool.
3. You can proceed with the installation.

The most common materials used for decking include concrete, wood, sandstone, among others. Always go for a durable material that will cater to all your requirements.

Finishing the pool 

Then, use suitable material to finish the pool. Over the years, the most popular type of finishing material has always been plaster. But our pool experts have come up with a wide range of finishing materials for gunite pools. You can use plaster, glass tiles, pebbles, and aggregate as your pool finishing material. It all depends on your preference and budget. Even so, before choosing a particular pool finish, ensure that you analyze and understand both their advantages and disadvantages. If you have a reliable pool contractor, allow them to select a pool finish for your pool. After all, they know best on what works for your pool.

Get your own pool today!

The gunite pool building process in Northern Virginia is quite straightforward. If you have background knowledge of pool construction, you can successfully conduct a DIY pool construction. But gunite application requires expertise. So, it would be best to hire professionals at Crystal Blue Aquatics to conduct the gunite pool building process for you.

Generally, gunite pool building involves selecting a pool design, excavation, plumbing, gunite application, decking, and finishing the pool. As you can see, it is quite easy for anyone to understand the gunite pool building process. Even so, allow our professionals to construct your gunite pool.