Construction

Many homeowners are concerned about how the construction process of building a pool will affect their homes, their families and their lives. To ease the mind of our clients, we’ve provided below a step-by-step outline to help clients understand what to expect during their pool construction:

1. Pre-Construction

We begin each pool project with personalized design assistance, followed by a pre-excavation meeting for approval of layout in backyard. Permits from the appropriate local city or county offices will be obtained and posted in a waterproof container.

2. Excavation

Excavation begins with experienced drivers arriving on a rubber-tired loader, designed to help minimize damage to concrete drives, walkways, landscaping and lawns during excavation. During excavation, a project manager will be present to set the elevation of the pool, a crucial and necessary step that will allow for a pool’s proper drainage. All interior areas of the pool are hand trimmed by experienced professionals. Before this stage is completed, Sunset Pools will insure that all floors and walls are trimmed per the design and proper compaction has been achieved.

3. Pre-Construction

Bond beam construction is reinforced with 4 steel bars #4 (½” ) continuous. Walls and floors are reinforced with #3 (⅜”) 12” on center and transition bars at 20′. By this time, the slope conditions have been evaluated by a structural engineer, and we place additional steel vertically as recommended by the engineer, and required by building codes. All steel is tied to the highest standards with annealed steel wire, as required by Sunset Pools.

4. Gunite and Shotcrete

Gunite and shotcrete is liquid concrete applied to surfaces by using a specially designed hose and a large amount of velocity. We spray the walls and floor of our pools with a minimum of 6 inches of shotcrete, which is then hand trimmed by experienced Sunset Pools professionals. The bond beam construction is 12-inches wide by 12-inches deep, as required.

Sunset Pools and Spas offers a lifetime gunite warranty to the homeowner, that is also transferable to any future owner of the pool.

5. Plumbing

Sunset Pools uses only SCH40 PVC for our pools’ hydraulic plumbing system. We determine which diameter of pipe to use by calculating the flow rate required by the pumps, filters, spas and water features specified in the pool’s design. All suction ports entering the pool or spa are installed using APSP and ANSI guidelines for safety, and an automatic fill device is installed on all pools to save time and money. The hydraulic system will be pressure tested after completion. This will save time through construction by preventing any unexpected leaks in the system.

6. Tile and Coping

We offer our customers the largest range of tile and stone selection, with choices from the National Pool Tile Group, Fujiwa Tile and Granite, Master Pool, Pacific Stone Design, Inc. and Custom Mosaics, Inc. We only install pool tiles and coping that meet the required acidity and frost-proofing standards, as others will not stand the test of time in the pool’s water.

Coping selections include bullnose brick, flagstones with chiseled or polished faces, travertine, poured concrete with a variety of faces to choose from, and standard or custom pre-cast concrete material. Our pool designers are always on hand to lead a customer through this important, and most personal, part of the design process.

7. Pool Decking

Attention to soil conditions is important in California, and every Sunset Pools project goes through proper soil preparation. All loose soil is machine compacted, and covered with gravel or “road base” material and compacted a second time.

We install #3 steel rebars every two feet on center, each way, shored up with 2-inch square adobe blocks to ensure that the concrete is distributed evenly. Scored tool joints are installed every 8 feet and these, along with the adobe blocks, help prevent concrete from lifting and cracking.* Only then is concrete poured, and at a minimum of 4-inches thick.

Customers can choose from many types of pool decking to match their pool’s design, including standard broom or salt concrete, acid-washed surfaces, exposed pea gravel, stamped concrete, sand-blasted surfaces, textured rock, interlocking or brick pavers, flagstones or travertine. Again, choosing these features is an essential part of the design process, and our pool designers can help the customer navigate the different styles available.

*As a note, concrete can crack, but all efforts are done to help prevent cracks.

ADDRESS

1400 E Katella Ave #217, Orange, CA 92867

PHONE

714-538-4398

EMAIL

info@sunsetpoolsandspas.com