Long Take Build Swimming Pool
You’ve consulted a design team and have found the ideal installer. Now you’re just itching to get the process started so you can dive in and enjoy your investment. But, exactly how long does it take to install a pool?
How Long Does It Take To Install a Pool?
Most people make the decision to install a pool when the weather is at it’s best. Tired of trekking to the beach or feeling they’ve overstayed their welcome in their neighbour’s pools, they’ve decided the best way to cool off is to install one of their own.
Once you’ve finalised the design and know how much your new swimming pool will cost, the next consideration on most people’s mind is the question ‘how long does it take to install a pool in my backyard?’.
How long it takes to install a pool will depend on several factors, including:
- Planning process
- New pool or renovation of the existing pool
- Pool type (concrete, fibreglass, in-ground, above-ground)
- Site selection
- The time of the year (weather conditions)
- Building regulations
- The number of contractors involved
During the designing process, be sure to ask your pool expert about the timeframe. It’s vital you have clear expectations of how long the design and install process takes to avoid disappointment and prevent unnecessary delays.
Planning your dream pool
One of the most time-consuming aspects of the process is the phase spent considering the pool design. To a great degree, the design process will influence the answer to the question ‘how long does it take to install a pool?’
Straightforward pool designs can take a couple of weeks but, for more complex concrete pool shapes and designs, the concept process can take months.
After signing your contract, it can take four to six weeks before excavation starts.
Your pool builder will need to get engineer plans and working drawings which are then submitted to the council for building approval. A planning permit may be required and this can take up to six weeks.
Concrete Pools
As you would expect, concrete pools take longer to build than pre-fabricated in-ground or above ground pools.
First, excavators will dig the hole for your pool before work on drainage layers, framework and plumbing are completed. At this stage, the concrete will be sprayed and time needs to be allowed for curing. This process can take between three and four weeks.
The concrete must be allowed to cure before the final works can take place; these include installing tiling, coping, paving, fencing and other finishing details. This part of the process can take another four to six weeks.
Therefore, for a concrete pool, you can expect it to be ready in four to six months.
Fibreglass Pools
Fibreglass pools can be installed much more quickly than concrete pools, however, they first need to go through the building approval process. After you’ve received approval, the installation process can be relatively speedy.
It generally takes between a week and 10 days to build an in-ground fibreglass swimming pool.
Above-ground pools can be installed in a day or two but, for a permanent structure, there will need to be a deck around the pool as well as pool fencing.
If you’re installing an in-ground, pre-fabricated pool, any rainfall can potentially delay the building process by up to two weeks as time needs to be allowed to drain the pool.
Be informed early
As explained previously, if you’re desire is a swimming pool for your home, start researching and getting quotes from expert installers now as it could be up to nine months before you’re able to dive in.
As a guideline, if you want to be splashing about in your new pool by Christmas, it’s suggested you start looking for a professional designer and installation team by June.
For more valuable advice about building a pool, explore the pool section of our Learning Library.
Interview Transcript
Dean Herald of Rolling Stone Landscapes: Timing for pool construction can vary. But if you take into consideration design, counsel, and the construction of the pool, I would normally allow about nine months to go through that process.
Matt Leacy of Landart Landscapes: The basic stages of pool construction and pool planning and construction, because planning’s probably one of the biggest parts of building a pool. You start with your concept stage, then you go into your approval stage. So that might be a comply and development or a DA. You can build a pool without going through the council, without going to DA, in which case it becomes comply and development, and then from there, it’s construction. So almost half the project is probably in the planning stage, and the other half is the construction stage.
Raoul van de Laak of Good Manors: So normally, the best thing is people want the pool next year, start planning now, and then you will have it next year around this time.
Matt Cantwell of Secret Gardens: I think when you make the decision that you want to put a pool in, firstly, understanding what the budget is going to be. I think, you know, getting an idea of the full picture because it inevitably ends up affecting, you know, the surrounding areas, the garden, and even sometimes elements of the house and that connection as well.
Matt Leacy: The costs around the pool is a hard one to answer because there are so many things that will vary the price. Material selection is one thing. But then how much bedrock are you gonna hit. That can, you know, almost double your process. Spoil removal is one of the most expensive parts of any building project.
Raoul: The cost of a pool, I mean, starts I think, if you really be realistic with excavation costs, with kind of pool fencing, with styling, with a fully tiled pool. But I think if you want a quality pool, you start looking at 60, 70 to 100 as a minimum. And then we start, and then you go easily to 150 or sometimes 200,000. But the thing is, people have to be more realistic about pools, what is included and what’s not included.
