It takes teamwork to build large pool projects

by jason_cramp | June 15, 2015 8:30 am

[1]

By Barry Justus

Small projects can be accomplished with a small team; large sophisticated projects need the work of a small army. Designers, builders, and contractors rely on a diverse group of individuals that are highly trained, and often very specialized, to facilitate the end product.

Many companies that have been in the industry for decades tend to take for granted the large number of people involved in a project. A well-run project proceeds with precision, while a poorly managed job can quickly become an unmitigated disaster for everyone involved.

Weeding out bad clients

First and foremost, every project requires a client. Good clients are like gems, they are to be cherished, protected, and treated with professionalism and utmost respect. On the other hand, bad clients, which every company has experienced, should be identified quickly and left for the competitor. Enlightened clients allow pool designers/builders to do the best job possible with minimal interruption or intervention.

Understandably, without clients, there are no projects and, therefore, no work, which quickly translates into no profit. It should be kept in mind, however, that a bad client can result in a lot of work, endless aggravation, and the same result—zero profit. That said, it is far better to stay home and wait for a good client, then work for a bad one.

The sales team

The goal for a company’s sales team, which should comprise experts in marketing/advertising, website design, and social media, is to capture the attention of multiple clients. Even the smallest firm should have a reasonable presence online. Today’s pool buyers tend to do much more research than in the past; therefore, presence at home shows, site signage, fleet vehicle wraps, flyers, radio and print advertising, and showrooms are all part of the promotional arm of a well-rounded business.

Companies that rely on referrals should not neglect a marketing campaign. With increased client calls a company can be more selective (if need be). Great clients, ideal work sites (e.g. site access), and interesting, profitable projects are all worthy of a company’s time and effort. The sales team also needs to actively co-ordinate with the design crew to make the sale.

The design crew

The old adage that one hour of design time saves 10 hours of site time is generally proven true. Money, effort, and time spent on design are always a worthwhile investment for clients, in addition to contractors. Architects, landscapers, interior designers, pool designers, and other assorted ‘designers’ often play a role in the final scope of a project. Beautiful designs are often the result of collaboration between various design professionals.

Generally, an architect or landscaper can benefit from the specialized knowledge of an accredited pool design professional. For example, indoor pool projects are legendary for the lack of space allocated in the design for mechanical rooms.

Every pool designer/builder has received ‘plans’ submitted by architects and landscapers with virtually zero details other than the length and width of the rectangle. To level the playing field, and to provide a competitive bid for the client, a large number of design details need to be completed by the pool team.

For instance, it is highly unlikely an architect or landscape designer will fully understand the nuances of zero-edge, knife-edge, or perimeter-overflow pool designs. Nor will they know the benefits of installing equipment bunkers, surge tanks, hydraulic systems, pool design safety, spa jet placement, and slatted cover in-floor systems—not to mention the advantages of an energy-efficient boiler heating system, or an all-tile pool, spa, or water feature.

Further, the pool company’s design crew should also include an interior designer, or colour palette specialist, who can add the finishing touches to a design to make it flow seamlessly. Rarely is enough attention allocated at the initial design stage to outline every aspect of a project before breaking ground.

Unfortunately, one of the more common practices in the industry is the separation between the ‘landscaper,’ the ‘pool guy,’ and overall design concepts. Landscape designers generally have limited knowledge of the particulars of the water shape industry and have a tendency to concentrate more on details concerning plant selection rather than pools, spas, and water features. Therefore, teamwork is necessary to make sure every detail is correct. The best results are achieved when all parties work as a team, with the addition of an experienced project manager who oversees everything.

[2]

Communication fundamentals

New home construction requires a great deal of interaction between the home builder, architect, landscaper, and the water shape contractor/designer. Quite often this is not the case, however. A lot of money and time is wasted by not allocating sufficient utilities for the pool project (e.g. electrical, gas lines, automation, audio/video (A/V), plumbing (sewage), and boiler (heater to be shared with the home).

Pool designers and contractors need to be involved early in the design process, but are usually called into the project too late. Various elements of the water shape that interact with the building envelope all need to be addressed and planned in detail, prior to building the home. By not including the pool designer/contractor early on, it will always result in additional costs and an inferior product for clients. In fact, in some rare occasions, it may make sense to construct the pool and retaining walls prior to building the home. For these instances, a surveyor is an essential component of the team to make sure the pool is in the exact location and elevation, as there are no visual references from the soon-to-be constructed home.

The project manager

Every project (and team) should have someone in charge of the overall site, day-to-day operations, and logistical co-ordination. It is important the client understands who the project manager
is. In all cases, try to avoid jobs where the client wants to run the project as if they are the general contractor. They simply lack the skillset to manage and co-ordinate the project. Further, client co-ordinated projects will almost always run over budget, take longer to complete, and be of lesser quality then those managed professionally.

[3]

It should go without saying that profit margins on these projects will also drop. A single project manager can ensure the continuity and flow of the work is properly regulated. It is easier for professionals to co-ordinate with like-minded professionals when it comes to scheduling and logistics. Large projects can be extremely difficult to manage and construct without an excellent project manager. High-net-worth individuals will always have someone who acts as the go-between. This can work positively or negatively depending on their abilities and attitude. In all cases, frequent communication is the key to a successful outcome.

A project manager should be experienced and very organized. Depending on the job, they will need to co-ordinate any number of the following requirements as part of the pre-build process:

• Perform/organize grading plans, surveying, and archeology reports to obtain site permits and bonds;
• Arrange city pre-site inspections;
• Determine engineering needs;
• Schedule and arrange for arborists and tree hoarding/removal;
• Seek approval from neighbours and determine time of work restrictions, while keeping construction noise to a minimum;
• Arrange site access, street parking, and material handling zones (including time of year road weight restrictions);
• Properly handle dust mitigation, contaminated soils, and drainage, including the installation, of runoff silt barriers;
• Arrange utility locates, upgrades, and corridors;
• Deal with conservation/historical societies, homeowner associations, project notices, and safety precautions;
• Site set up, including hoarding/temporary fencing, signage, waste management, on-site toilet, generators, groundwater, blasting mats, construction offices, fuel storage, and dewatering systems; and
• Schedule and arrange for electrical inspections, building department inspectors, collaboration with various government agencies, as well as scheduling the work crew and sub-contractors.

[4]

Specialty engineers

Project engineering can start during the design stage—if something unusual is being considered—but generally comes into play after the conceptual designs are completed. A competent structural and hydraulic engineer with relevant experience in water shape design and construction is paramount to the success of large scale projects. However, take heed as it can be easy for
a project to go over budget with an overzealous engineer, whereby a project is over specified and over built.

Engineers may be needed for concrete structures, soil reports, hydraulic design, accessory buildings, retaining walls, bunkers, and a host of other requirements. Being able to pick up the phone and speak directly to the structural engineer can save a lot of time and money. Completing minor construction and detail changes during the design/engineering stage also helps to keep the project from going over budget.

Knowledgeable planners

One of the most daunting, perplexing, and time consuming components of many projects is the number of permits that must be obtained prior to construction. Permit delays or denial are at the top of a contractor’s frustration list. Large projects will require the assistance of knowledgeable planners that have connections with the local building department. It is well worth the cost to hire these individuals when necessary, particularly when working out of the company’s regular jurisdiction.

Weather permitting

After the design, sales, engineering, and permit stage, construction can be scheduled and the project can commence. During this phase, however, Mother Nature now plays a role on the construction team. Generally, dry and warm conditions are more favourable than wet and cold weather on any job site.

Once given the go ahead, the company’s small army of labourers, sub-contractors, designers, supervisors, and employees are now required to work on the project. Site mobilization, safety, and logistical co-ordination will contribute to a successful, profitable, smooth operation.

The first string

Layout, site safety, and preparation are the first crews on site. Excavation can be straight forward, or require the assistance of conveyor belts, rock blast crews, surveyors, and soil engineers. Next up are drainage crews that install gravel and weeping tile to facilitate water removal and/or diversion. Depending on the type of water shape being built, and the complexity of the design, a soil engineer will have to sign off on the bearing capacity of the ground. The soil engineer can also offer advice when facing unusual ground, strata, or water conditions. Complex jobs will often require multiple site visits by the project engineers in order to verify the construction process.

The pool, spa, and water features are often the first items constructed in the overall landscape of the property. On new home construction sites, co-ordination between the home builder, landscaper, water shaper, and all other trades often comes down to the project manager. Generally, on most sites, the trades work out the details on-site and through contact via e-mail, text, and over the phone. Team communication and design sequence are the keys to successful project management and the construction process.

A group effort

On large scale projects the team principle becomes paramount as miles of conduit need to be installed and labelled—audio/visual conduits are installed throughout the entire site, while lighting conduits and cables are often routed through concrete walls and decks. Electricians play a vital role from the initial electrical bonding of the pool to the final mechanical hookups. Forgotten lines and conduits will haunt the project manager at later stages in the project. Further, drainage and waterlines must also be routed, while plumbers need to install sanitary lines for outdoor toilets and showers.

Detailed designs, schematics, and a thorough fail-safe check system will ensure the necessary utilities are on-site and located precisely. Redundancy and extra capacity is always the better way to go and is ultimately an economical insurance policy.

Other trades on-site include rebar, forming, shotcrete, gunite, pool hydraulics, tiling, plaster, and concrete finishers. Accessory buildings (e.g. pool houses and/or gazebos) require nearly every tradesperson that would be involved in constructing a home—from framers, roofers, eaves troughs, caulking, drywallers, stucco, stone masons, plumbers, electricians, HVAC, gas, A/V, designers, waterproofing, and of course the project manager.

The areas surrounding the water shape are generally the responsibility of the landscaper. This includes drainage, swales, stonework, fencing, irrigation, outdoor lighting, softscape, hardscape, and general site cleanup.

As the project progresses, time and budget constraints soon become apparent. Patience wears thin for staff, clients, and neighbours. Every project has its cyclical ups and downs. The finishing stages of a project can take just as long or, in some cases, much longer than the construction phase.

Co-ordinating trades, site organization, and endless project details contribute to the systematic chaos towards the conclusion of a major project. New home projects can drag on for years; in most cases, indoor basement pools are the first item to be roughed in and the last to be commissioned.

Other expert consultants and team members that play a role in many projects include artists, sculptors, faux rock installers, fire feature specialists, and detail designers.

Finally, a team is not complete without someone managing the financial and accounting aspects of the project. Cost control, planning, budgeting, collections, cash flow, purchases, and overall cost management determine whether or not a project is on track to be profitable.

It takes a large, diverse, and talented group of individuals, working as a team to successfully sell, design, and build a large residential water shape and its surroundings.

[5]Barry Justus is the owner of Poolscape Inc., and Justus International Consulting. He is an international lecturer and author of more than 40 articles on pool design and construction. Justus is also a fellow of the Society of Watershape Designers (SWD) and a member of Pool & Spa Marketing’s editorial advisory board (EAB). More than 90 per cent of his projects designed and built over the last decade have won a national or international award. He can be reached via e-mail at barry@poolscape.com[6].

A detail designer is a welcome addition to the team

[7] By Claire Hall Having a detail designer as part of the water shape team can ensure the backyard is well-balanced, so the eye takes in the entire scope of the project and allows the viewer to see the beauty of the complete design, without focusing on one specific aspect, such as the pool. The detail designer makes sure there is a smooth transition from the home’s architecture and interior design to the outdoor elements. The colours selected need to work with the atmosphere created in the backyard; therefore, it is the detail designer’s job to choose hues, tints, and/or shades that not only the client likes, but will also work with the design as a whole. Colour establishes harmony within the design and is the easiest and most dramatic way to create instant change. If a client is keen on bold colours, encourage the client to choose dramatic accessories that can be easily changed each year and keep permanent elements such as tile and concrete more neutral. Art in the environment A well-designed backyard should create a feeling of Zen, calmness, and tranquility. A connection can be created between built elements (e.g. pool, furniture, etc.) and the outdoor setting. Art and well executed exterior design expresses pride in one’s environment. On large scale projects, the pool company will become a de facto general contractor, so the need for an exterior/detail designer becomes even more paramount in the planning of outdoor rooms, kitchens, cabanas, guest houses, bars, washrooms, saunas, and television lounges. [8]After choosing the safe path of working in the corporate world, Claire Hall realized she did not want to look back on life with any regrets, so she decided to take a chance and pursue art as a full-time career. Today, Hall creates custom art for various clients including hotels, condo corporations, corporate offices, and private collectors. Her artwork has been featured on episodes of Property Brothers and Buying and Selling. Claire’s latest venture is working with Poolscape Inc., an international award-winning company, as an exterior designer. She can be reached via e-mail at claire@clairehalldesign.com[9].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/it-takes-teamwork-to-build-a-large-pool-project/

---