Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gulp!

Angnjam · Dec 25, 2013

Well, after much research and study, I've dived into the owner builder realm and I am starting the adventure of building my FIRST pool (never even owned one before, so this site is a huge help). I'm super nervous, but I've worked through a guy who used to build pools in the area for over 20 years and he is leading me to the subs he trusts. So here it goes I guess.

I got our permit from the city a week and a half ago and we start digging on Saturday or Monday.

My husband, kids and I have been working to remove trees, transplanting bushes and removing plumbing and irrigation wire to allow us to save it and install it with the new plan. As we were cutting down the trees, I wanted to cry because we have spent the last 5-6 years planting and making things grow (with a blank slate yard in the beginning), now we are removing everything to make way for the pool, decking and a partial basketball court. Here are some before and current photos. I will keep them coming as we progress.

Feel free to chime in if you see anything you could offer advice on.

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Angnjam · Dec 25, 2013

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

Keep in mind we already started cutting the trees down a little in the "before" pictures.

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Angnjam · Dec 25, 2013

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

And now the "after" pictures when we started pool prep...

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Angnjam · Dec 25, 2013

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

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Angnjam · Dec 25, 2013

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

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So sad to see it all leave. We will plant some new things but a lot had to come out to allow for our plan.

Angnjam · Dec 25, 2013

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

One correction, We are actually getting a Heat Siphon z575HP heat pump instead of the listed Pentair heat pump.

pwrstrk · Dec 25, 2013

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

Looks like your off to a good start ! Good luck on our build and keep the pic's coming.
Any questions you know where to ask !

Angnjam · Jan 1, 2014

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

So it took 1 day for demo, and two days to dig the pool and grading completion. Here is where we are at:

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Angnjam · Jan 1, 2014

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

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I think my excavator did well. Any thoughts or things you see that need fixing at this point? Rebar goes in tomorrow.

pwrstrk · Jan 1, 2014

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

That is a nice clean dig ! Looks good.

mkmkmkmk · Jan 1, 2014

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

Where in SoCal are you? I'm in Northridge and considering going the O/B route as well.

Angnjam · Jan 1, 2014

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

mkmkmkmk said:
Where in SoCal are you? I'm in Northridge and considering going the O/B route as well.

We are a couple hours from Northridge WITHOUT traffic. Good luck with your build though. So far it hasn't been too tough.

Angnjam · Jan 3, 2014

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

7 days after starting construction and We will get plumbing in today , and rebar finished up yesterday. All went well with the rebar, except right before the crew left they put the step in from the tanning ledge to the pool bottom, then left before we could see that it was done wrong. The problem is that they put it in as a bench and not a step. Anyway, the foreman for rebar is going to come out today to remove it and then gunite will just shoot the step in. So no big deal.

Here are a few pics of the rebar.

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Vegas Kid · Jan 3, 2014

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

Did you have a tough time finding your subs?

Some subs I've found that do rebar/gunite only deal with builders / not home owners.

Angnjam · Jan 3, 2014

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

Vegas Kid said:
Did you have a tough time finding your subs?

Some subs I've found that do rebar/gunite only deal with builders / not home owners.

No, I actually contacted a guy that used to build pools and he constructed my plan for permit and shared his sub list with me (for a fee for those things). So I knew I was using guys he trusted and were licensed. However I did use one or two (excavator so far) that I found from just talking to others in the industry.

Angnjam · Jan 4, 2014

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

It's been one week since we started, and here is the plumbing. Onto electrical on Monday.

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Angnjam · Jan 9, 2014

Re: Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gul

Shotcrete went in today. I decided to take the step out by the reef and changed the design of the entry steps because I wanted them to take as little room as possible in the shallow end.
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Let me know if you have any comments or concerns.

Angnjam · Feb 1, 2014

So we have some coping in and some decking forms in. Should have some decking by next week.

Angnjam · Mar 31, 2014

I was worried about the calcium coming through the pool wall with water that came through my shotcrete after it was poor and after the pebble was installed. However, ever since the water has been in the pool, there hasn't been a problem and my subcontractor's said this would be the case.

Vegas Kid · Mar 31, 2014

I would put more than one hose in and also would not let it splash from up that high. Move the hose down to the bottom of pool.

Starting new pool build in SoCal as an owner builder-gulp!

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