If you’re considering creating the backyard of your dreams, a swimming pool may be the perfect addition. Building a pool adds aesthetic appeal and recreational value to your home. It provides hours of fun and relaxation for you and your family. However, before you dip your toes in the water and dive into this endeavour, you must take a crucial step: pool excavation.
In this blog post, we’ll explore key considerations before building a pool and enumerate the steps in the excavation process.
Whether it be splash pools or lap pools, pool construction is not an easy feat by any means. Building swimming pools requires careful planning and a meticulous design process. After all, it can affect the groundwork of your house and the surrounding space.
With these in mind, there are several considerations that must be done before you start with the pool-building process. One of which is laying the foundation for your swimming pool. To help you, here are some considerations that you need to make during excavation:
First, check if you’ve got enough room for your pool and the space around it. Measure the area where you’ll be digging, including spots where soil will be moved or pressed down during construction, like around trees and plants.
For a small or medium-sized backyard (under 150 sqm), a 20–28 sqm pool and some space around it should work. If you have more than 150 sqm, consider a larger pool (up to 40 sqm) with more surrounding area.
Before breaking ground, navigating local regulations and securing the necessary permits is crucial. Building codes and zoning ordinances vary. Compliance is essential to avoid legal complications. Consulting with local authorities or hiring a professional pool contractor can streamline the permit acquisition, ensuring a smooth transition from concept to construction.
Moreover, you must talk to your local council and get the green light for your pool and fence. This ensures that your swimming pool, pool fencing and swimming pool excavation follow all the rules.
If you skip this step and don’t have the council’s approval, there’s no guarantee your excavation is safe and proper. It could also cause problems for future plans and cost you more money if you have to make changes after construction starts.
By getting the approvals and construction certificate first, you avoid delays and save time and money in the long run.
A standard pool requires approximately six truckloads of material. Hired medium and small excavators will not be enough. You’ll also need a truck and large-sized excavators to retrieve the soil and a location to dump it. Check with your local restrictions regarding soil removal. After the concrete is set, you’ll need to maintain approximately 20% on hand to backfill the pool.
One of the most significant reasons to have an expert oversee the pool construction project is to assess whether the pool’s installation may jeopardise the integrity of the home or any other building on – or adjacent to – the site. Professional pool excavators can help you understand and tackle abnormal soil conditions. If it is found that excavating a pool hole will endanger the building, it may be necessary first to perform a soil stabilisation technique.
The actual digging will take a day or two, but until the pool is installed, there will be a pretty deep hole in the garden. It is crucial to prioritise safety throughout the process. Excavated pools can harm you and your family if you don’t follow proper safety procedures. Here are a few essential safety considerations:
Pool excavation starts with a comprehensive site evaluation. Factors such as soil composition, drainage, and proximity to utility lines are assessed to determine the most suitable location for the pool. Once the optimal site is identified, the pool’s outline should be marked to guide the excavation process. Clearly mark the layout of the pool area using stakes and string. This will help you visualise the final shape and size while serving as a guide for the next steps.
Hiring professional excavation equipment and machinery is essential for an efficient and accurate excavation process. Excavators, loaders, and dump trucks are commonly used for pool construction. Experienced operators will operate the required machinery, ensuring precision and safety.
The excavation process is meticulous, adhering to your design specifications. Hire a professional pool builder to ensure you’re doing it correctly. Achieving the correct depth is paramount, ensuring that the pool meets safety standards and accommodates various activities – be it diving, swimming, or relaxation. The dimensions must align with the planned shape, providing a solid foundation for the pool’s structural elements.
Excavation begins by removing the topsoil layer. It is important to dig beyond this layer to ensure a solid foundation. The hole depth will depend on the pool size and any additional features, such as a deep end or a tanning shelf.
A professional and experienced team of excavators will create a sloping floor to allow for proper water drainage. This slope is designed to ensure the water remains level within the pool. Grading the excavated area properly ensures stability and prevents water accumulation.
Excavation, especially in fiberglass construction, generates a significant amount of dirt, rocks, and debris. The debris should be promptly removed and disposed of appropriately, adhering to local regulations for guidelines on debris disposal.
Once the excavation is complete, it’s essential to have excavation experts conduct a thorough onsite inspection to ensure it meets the required specifications. Any necessary adjustments can be made at this stage to avoid complications during the construction process.
While some homeowners may consider a DIY approach to pool excavation to save on costs, building a new pool is not something that inexperienced homeowners should tackle on their own. Whether you’re constructing a lap pool or fibreglass swimming pools, pool building is just too complicated for beginners. It’s essential to have professionals by your side when dealing with swimming pool excavation.
Pool contractors with experience in excavation bring a wealth of knowledge, utilising advanced pool equipment and techniques to navigate potential challenges such as plumbing lines and soil conditions such as rocky soil, groundwater, or confined spaces.
Getting professional excavation services with experts like TW Mini Excavations not only ensures pool building expertise but also contributes to time and cost efficiency.
An expert team can streamline the process, minimising disruptions to your property and expediting the transition from excavation to the subsequent phases of pool construction. This efficiency translates to cost savings and a quicker materialisation of your dream swimming pool.
Contact us today for more information about our services.
