Building a custom pool is an exciting journey—one that turns your backyard dreams into a personal oasis. But as thrilling as the end result is, the process of getting there involves several steps, important decisions, and a bit of patience. Whether you’re envisioning a sleek infinity edge or a playful family-friendly space, understanding what to expect can help you prepare and enjoy the experience from start to finish.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to what happens when building a custom pool—from concept to completion.
The Timeline of Building a Custom Pool
1. Initial Consultation and Vision Planning
Every custom pool begins with a vision. During the initial consultation, you’ll meet with a pool designer or contractor to discuss your ideas, needs, and lifestyle. They’ll ask about how you intend to use the pool, your preferred style, features you want to include (like lighting, waterfalls, or tanning ledges), and your budget.
What to expect:
Be ready to share inspiration photos, your wish list, and any non-negotiables. The more detail you provide, the more accurately the team can bring your dream pool to life.
2. Site Evaluation and Design Proposal
Once your goals are clear, the team will evaluate your backyard. This involves assessing the terrain, evaluating the slope, testing soil conditions, observing sun exposure, reviewing drainage patterns, and taking existing landscaping into account. These details inform the technical side of your pool’s design.
What to expect:
After the evaluation, you’ll receive a custom pool design and layout, often in 3D, so you can visualize how it will look in your space. This is the time to ask questions, request tweaks, or add elements before construction begins.
3. Permitting and Approvals
Before any digging starts, the necessary permits must be secured. Your pool contractor typically handles this, working with local municipalities to ensure the project meets zoning laws, safety codes, and environmental regulations.
What to expect:
This step can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on your location. Patience is key—permits are critical for legal and safety reasons.
4. Excavation and Framing
Once permits are approved, the physical work begins. The pool site is excavated, shaped, and framed according to your design. This is where the backyard starts to transform.
What to expect:
This part can get messy. Expect noise, machinery, and a temporarily chaotic backyard. But it’s also the stage where your dream custom pool begins to take physical form.
5. Plumbing, Electrical, and Steelwork
After framing, plumbing and electrical lines are installed for features like lighting, jets, heating, and filtration. Steel rebar is laid to reinforce the structure.
What to expect:
Your pool may look like a construction zone, but this phase lays the foundation for everything to function smoothly long-term.
6. Shotcrete or Gunite Application
This step involves spraying a concrete mixture (shotcrete or gunite) to form the shell of your pool. After it’s shaped and smoothed, the concrete needs time to cure—usually around a week.
What to expect:
The structure now looks more like a real pool, though it’s not yet ready for water.
7. Tiling, Coping, and Decking
Next comes the aesthetic stage. Tiles are added to the waterline, coping is installed around the edge, and any surrounding deck or patio areas are built. This is where your custom style really starts to shine.
What to expect:
You’ll begin to see your vision come to life. Colors, materials, and textures now add personality and charm to the structure.
8. Interior Finish and Fill-Up
The final surface—like plaster, pebble, or quartz—is applied inside the pool, giving it color and texture. Once that cures, the pool is filled with water.
What to expect:
Your pool looks finished! It’s almost time to dive in.
9. Startup and Orientation
Once your custom pool is filled, your builder will start up the filtration system, balance the water chemistry, and make sure all systems are running correctly. You’ll also get a walkthrough on how to use and maintain everything.
What to expect:
You’ll learn how to care for your new custom pool and keep it in top shape.
A custom pool project is a major investment, but with the right expectations and a good team, it’s also an exciting, rewarding process. From the first sketch to the first swim, knowing what to expect at each step ensures that your dream pool becomes a reality—beautifully, efficiently, and with minimal stress.