Caliche & excavation
Hard desert soil can change what excavation looks like once work begins.
Pool construction process
Watch a custom pool come together, step by step.
A finished pool can look simple. Building one isn’t. This video walks through the major stages behind a custom pool so you can see what happens before the first swim.
Thinking about building your own?
See the process first. Then talk with GreenCare about what it would take to build it on your property.
What you’ll see
The major stages of a custom pool build.
Every property has its own details, but these are the big pieces homeowners usually want to understand before construction starts.
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01
Planning & permits
The project starts before excavation. Design, engineering, approvals and permitting need to line up before the yard changes.
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02
Layout & excavation
The pool is laid out on the property and excavation begins. Access, soil conditions and the shape of the design all matter here.
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03
Steel, plumbing & electrical
The structure and systems start coming together behind the surfaces you’ll eventually see.
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04
Shotcrete shell
Concrete forms the permanent pool shell and establishes the structure of the pool, spa, benches, steps and built-in features.
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05
Tile, decking & equipment
The finished pool begins to take shape as tile, equipment, hardscape and surrounding details are installed.
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06
Interior finish & startup
The pool receives its interior finish, fills with water and moves through startup before handoff.
Before excavation
A lot happens before the equipment reaches your yard.
Dig day gets the attention, but a successful pool project starts much earlier. The design has to work on the actual property. Engineering has to support it. Equipment needs to be planned. Access needs to be considered. Permits and HOA requirements may need to be cleared.
Design before digging
Work through the shape, features and surrounding space before construction commits the plan to the ground.
Engineering & permitting
The approved design moves through the required technical and permitting steps.
Site planning
Access, elevations, existing conditions and the surrounding backyard affect how the project is built.
Building in Las Vegas
The desert has a say in how a pool gets built.
Las Vegas pool construction comes with conditions homeowners in other markets may never need to think about.
Heat & material timing
Extreme temperatures affect crews, materials and how certain construction stages are managed.
Access & existing yards
Side-yard access, walls, landscaping and neighboring structures can influence equipment access and staging.
Permits & HOA review
Depending on the property, construction may involve municipal approvals, HOA requirements or both.
Project timing
Why pool construction isn’t one continuous sprint.
A pool build moves through different trades, inspections and curing or installation stages. Some work happens quickly. Other stages depend on what needs to happen before the next crew can move forward.
The useful takeaway:
The best time to solve a design question is before construction starts. That’s why the planning and 3D design stage matters.
What can affect the schedule?
- Design revisions
- Engineering or permitting
- HOA review
- Site access
- Excavation conditions
- Required inspections
- Material or equipment availability
- Weather
- Changes requested after construction begins
From build to backyard
See where the process ends.
The construction stages disappear into the finished backyard. Explore the details homeowners actually see and use when the project is complete.
Before construction starts
Questions homeowners ask before the build.
You don’t need to know construction terminology before you start. These are the questions worth understanding early.
See all pool & backyard FAQsDoes GreenCare handle pool permits?
GreenCare coordinates the required permitting and approval steps as part of the project process.
When is the pool design finalized?
The design is developed and reviewed before construction begins so the major dimensions, features and overall layout are established first.
When are plumbing and electrical installed?
Much of the pool’s plumbing and electrical infrastructure is installed during the structural stages, before finished surfaces conceal those systems.
What is shotcrete?
Shotcrete is pneumatically applied concrete used to form the structural shell of a custom concrete pool.
When does the pool get filled?
Water is added near the end of construction after the interior finish is installed and the pool is ready to move into startup.
Can changes be made during construction?
Some changes may be possible, but changes after construction begins can affect cost, scheduling or completed work. It is better to resolve major design decisions beforehand.
What can delay a pool project?
Approvals, inspections, weather, access, soil conditions, material availability and changes to the project can all affect timing.
Start with the plan
Ready to see what this process could look like in your backyard?
Tell GreenCare what you want to build. We’ll start with the property, the priorities and the finished backyard you’re trying to create.