This 16' x 32' gunite pool was started April 6th.  Click on the various images to enlarge photos.

The pool is staked and sod removed.  At the same time, sod is removed for extra areas of concrete surrounding the pool

Usually the shallow end of the pool is dug first, then the deep end.  Some soil is left on site for backfill, but the vast majority is trucked away.

Close attention is paid to having the walls of the dig as straight as possible, some hand shaping is required.  The excavation is completed in one day.

Rerod is tied, 12" on center.  This pool has had all of the steel tied and is waiting for "the shoot".  The large hole in the middle of the slope is a "rebound" hole, where extra concrete is placed as the pool walls are shaped during the shoot.  The opening in the end wall is for the skimmer - which you can see laying behind the pool wall.  Light niches, returns and the main drain crocks are all ready, so when the pool is shot, they can be put in place and cemented in.

This pool shell has now been shot, next step, after cleaning the walls will be tile.

Using a laser, boards are installed near the top of the pool wall, which will act as a guide for a straight tile line.The tile will be applied inside of the skimmer, to make it easier to clean, and for a very nice look from inside the pool.  Backfill has already been completed around the pool.

Trenching is done for running electrical lines and gas line.  Sometimes the distance is minimal, or, as in this pool, quite lengthy.  Gas line is already in this trench - bonding was completed before the concrete shell was shot, grounding the metal parts of the pool.

Plumbing lines from both skimmers, two main drains and the returns are run to where the equipment will eventually be placed.  If there is an automatic pool sweep, there is an additional plumbing line for the cleaner.

Forms are being set for the deck around the pool as well as the cap which will go on top of the pool wall. 

This view offers several items of note.  In the background the plumbing can been seen and this is where the equipment pad will be located.  In the foreground a box has been formed around the skimmer, this isolates it from the concrete deck around the pool; preventing damage when the walk moves with frost.  In the deep end of the pool the two benches or swimouts can be seen, the one on the right side is eight feet long offering a nice place to lounge in the sun and stay cool.  The white material on the top of the pool wall are deck forms that provide the finished appearance of the cap to be poured today.

Here the rerod used to increase the strength of the cap can been seen as it is placed, and the forms are checked for level at the same time.

The concrete is poured into the forms, leveled and worked smooth, and the forms in the pool are tapped to settle the mix and bring "the cream" to the edge making a nice smooth finish for the face of the cap.

Once the concrete has begun to set the forms are carefully removed and the edge is tooled to a proper finish.

Now the deck is ready to be put down.  The customers here have opted for a stained and stamped deck.  This means that a dye has been added to the concrete mix in the truck, and after being laid and tooled; patterned mats are placed on the wet cement and tamped to make an impression.  This process is repeated over the entire area

Rain rain go away, we are falling behind in all of our projects.  Once the ground dries out a little we can get back to finishing this project

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A small window appeared in the sky today, and the plastering crew arrived to get a finish on the pool.  A marble dust and white cement mixture is made and then applied to the interior surfaces of the pool, the finish is actually the part of the pool that holds the water, not the concrete portion that can be seen in the pictures above.

Good help is hard to find, and "Bud" is just exactly what we look for in quality workers.

Aaahhh, the good life!  Sipping morning coffee by the pool, does it get any better?

The pool plasterers finished the pool late last evening, and the water haulers began the filling process immediately thereafter.  Plaster pools must have water put in them right away to protect the new surface.  The pool equipment was started early this morning to begin filtration and heating for the lovely Memorial Day weekend.  This will complete the pictorial for this project until our customers have had a chance to get some landscaping and fencing completed, then one or two more pictures will be posted.  We would like to thank John and Cindy for allowing us to document the new pool being installed into their backyard.

Here are the final pictures of this lovely project.  Now landscaping and fencing has been completed (and the pool has been enjoyed).