In-Ground Construction Frequently Asked Questions
Having a swimming pool in your backyard is an exciting prospect! Whether you have been considering the installation of a pool for years or months, many questions arise. Our knowledgeable team at Knickerbocker Pools is here to help answer these questions with confidence.
We want you to be happy with the construction process. In order to communicate, our construction team needs to know how you best receive information… email, text or phone calls. We will be sure to obtain this information during our first in-ground appointment. Please reach out to our Xenia store at 937-372-3839 for assistance with your new in-ground pool!
Other than the first day and the last day when we need you there, you do not need to plan on being home throughout the construction process. Due to the complexity of construction scheduling, we are happy to answer your questions in regard to the next step in the construction process. After we dig the pool, we will not be at your house every day and often not for multiple days in a row. Feel free to reach out to the Xenia store at 937-372-3839 if you have questions during the construction process.
The construction process typically takes about 5-8 weeks depending on availability of materials and your county’s inspection process. This varies depending on pool size, weather, quantity of concrete deck, and other construction circumstances.
It is the responsibility of the customer to choose an electrician to connect power to the pool equipment (Pump and heater, etc.). When you hire someone for electric hook-ups, you will need to hire a certified electrician and will be provided a spec sheet with utility requirements; most electricians will give free estimates. If you prefer to hire a separate contractor for gas hook-ups, you will need to hire a certified gas plumber to do all gas line work. If you are having new propane installed for a heater, you will need to call a local gas provider to set the tank before the plumber’s work. Please note, all contractors are responsible for their own trenches. We understand there are lots of options, we can help you through this one!
Any applicable HOA applications and/or fees are the responsibility of the homeowner, as well as any zoning variance application fees.
Please plan to be home the first hour of the first day and the last hour of the last day. We ask that you be home in the morning of dig day, just for an hour or so, to help us lay the pool out and go over project details, and the afternoon of liner setting day, to execute water filling instructions.
We require a minimum of 16’ of access and we prefer that there be NO fence until after we finish grade at the end of the project. If there is an existing fence, we are willing to assist with post removal to gain access; however, posts that we may remove will likely be unusable after removal. We do not replace, rebuild or install fencing.
Below are the 14 main steps. Any given step may take more than one day, and they may not always be in this order (automatic covers are not included):
- Dig Day
- Set steel panels
- Pour Concrete footer
- Rough plumb
- Lower rough/bonding inspection
- Gravel backfill
- Finish Plumb
- Upper bonding inspection
- Vermiculite pool bottom
- Deck form
- Deck pour
- Grade
- Liner Set
- Autocover Install (If applicable)
- Lesson
- Pool Party!
We will call in inspections for our work. Electricians, gas plumbers and any other contractors will call in their inspections for their work. We will help guide you through this process.
If we are pouring the concrete deck, then no. If we are not pouring the concrete deck, then yes. Whoever is pouring the concrete deck is responsible for gravel under the concrete that they are going to pour and the bonding.
We will provide a rough grade with a Bobcat using the material excavated from the pool. If the material is sand, rock and gravel, the grade will be done with sand, rock and gravel. We will grade around the pool and the access. Extra dirt may need to be removed. If extra dirt (topsoil) is required to do the yard grade, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to bring in dirt (topsoil companies and landscapers can do this). The yard will usually need some hand work prior to being ready for seed or sod when we are finished. It is the homeowner’s responsibility for the seeding or sodding of the yard.
Your final balance will be due at the time of your lesson (the balance of the mesh safety cover may be paid in Oct., when you have your pool winterized).