Completing the contract
Once all additional costs, if any, have been identified, the contract can be completed. At this stage, make the client aware of any unknown factors (e.g. hitting rock during the excavation), which may incur additional costs. Further, provide them with an accurate start and completion date and make them aware of any unforeseen circumstances (e.g. weather), which may alter these dates.
It is also a good idea to provide the client with a work schedule. Never over promise—the more complete and accurate the information is, the better their expectations can be met and the more satisfied they are likely to be with the project. Once the contract is signed, draw the plans and submit them for permitting.
Layout, excavation, and preparation
The first step is laying out the project by spray painting an outline of the pool and plumbing ditches on the ground where it will be installed. If a pool template is used, lay it out and spray paint around it.
When excavating, the pool coping, which is usually 152 to 304 mm (6 to 12 in.), should also be taken into account. The excavation should be very close to the actual pool size; however, caution against over digging the pool is extremely important to prevent the need for additional labour and building materials. Over-digging the pool floor by 76 to 101 mm (3 to 4 in.) and the walls by 152 mm (6 in.) is recommended. Should an over-dig be extreme, never use excavated material as fill as it will settle. Installation of a permanent sump line is also recommended as a precautionary measure on all fibreglass pool installations as site conditions can change over time.
With the dig complete, proper preparation of the bottom of the excavation is critical. This is the foundation of the project and, therefore, it must be compacted properly and free of undulations.
To do this, install screed rails using stakes to create a guide for making a true level surface. Adjust the rails to the proper height, and then evenly spread a layer of recommended compaction material (e.g. sand or gravel) over the bottom of the excavation. Using water, compact the material and screed the floor flat, filling any low spots in the process. This procedure should be repeated several times. If sand or engineered fill is used, the completed area will resemble a slab of finished concrete.
The pool will conform to the foundation once water is added as long as the bottom of the excavation is prepared correctly. Therefore, it is important to know the pool’s finished and set grades, its precise excavation depth along with the depth of the recommended compaction material. When measuring these parameters, a transit (i.e. builder’s level) should be used.
