Builder's Guide to Swimming Pool Construction

Max Schwartz

Break into the lucrative swimming pool construction business with this practical how-to guide. Here you'll learn how to get the permits and do the surveying, planning and layout for a typical pool, including how to read a soils report.

You’ll read about the excavation, backfill, soil compaction, sand and gravel bedding and drainage requirements, and mechanical systems such as pumps, heaters, filters, skimmers, and solar systems.

Covers underground piping, including drain, supply, and gas; and electrical work, including grounding and supply to breaker, pump, underwater lighting, and heater.

Shows wood and pre-fabricated metal forms for walls, steps, spas, equipment base and diving board base, and how to install bar and mesh steel reinforcement. Covers cast-in-place and sprayed concrete, and modern pool finishes available.

Includes scheduling, and a section on estimating labor, material and equipment costs.

Contents:

Planning and Layout, 1

Introduction, 1
The Swimming Pool Contractor, 12
Responsible Parties, 14
Scheduling, 16
Pool Activity List, 17

Surveying, 21

Surveying, 21
Setting Survey Stakes, 28
Layout Position, 30
Laser Surveying System, 30
Aboveground Pools, 30

Earthwork, 35

Soil Classification, 35
Masonry Retaining Walls, 37

Piping, 43

Piping Guidelines, 43
Main Drain, 46
Makeup Line, 47
Resistance in Pipes, 48
Brass and Copper Pipes, 49
Copper Tubing, 50
Plastic Pipe, 50
Valving, 51

Forming, 53

Forming, 53

Reinforcement, 57

Reinforcement, 57
Placing Steel, 60

Concrete, 63

Foundations - Generally, 63
Support of Adjacent Buildings and Structures, 69
Concrete Materials, 72
Mixing, Placing, and Curing Concrete, 81
Concrete Tests, 91
About Gunite, 92
Defects in Concrete Construction, 95
Checklist for Concrete, 98

Pool Finishing, 103

Plastering, 103
Pool Plaster, 104
Vinyl Pools, 106
Vinyl Liner Pools, 108
Fiberglass Pools, 111

Deck Finishing, 115

Pool Decks, 115

Mechanical, 117

Pumps, 117
Heaters, 121
Heating the Pool, 122
Solar Panel Heating System, 129
Filters, 131
Equipment Installation, 133

Electrical, 135

Guide Lines for Electrical Work, 135
Wiring Methods, 136
Electrical Connections, 136
Pool Lights, 138
Underwater Lights, 139
Bonding, 140

Pool Accessories, 145

Fence Requirements, 145
Specifications for Masonry Fences, 147
Diving Boards, 147
Slides, 148
Ladders, 149

Pool Failures, 151

APPENDICES

Swimming Pool Details, A-1

Before You Dive Into Swimming Pool Construction (Consumer Guide), B-1

Swimming Pool Inspection forms, C-l

Swimming Pool Construction forms, D-l

References / Bibliography, E-l

Glossary, F-l

Index, INDEX-l

Softcover
240 Pages