Making a wise investment in a pool is a major decision, and one that you want to make with as much knowledge as possible. Unfortunately, negative experiences in the pool construction process are actually quite common. From cracks in the pool, to leaks, to bad plumbing, to pool design safety hazards, there’s plenty of common issues that you will want to avoid.

To help you ensure that you get exactly the pool that you are dreaming of and to protect you from a negative experience in the pool buying process, Logan Pools has prepared this short Pool Construction 101 video so that you can be fully prepared and educated when you decide to buy a pool.

As a new pool buyer, there are really only 4 main issues you need to concern yourself with. These are: one, the design process. Two, the construction standards. Three, the plumbing system. And four, the pool equipment. Let’s review them for you quickly…

The Design Process

Unequivocally, the important part of pool construction is the design process. It is incredibly important that the design of the pool be done exactly right, and without compromise. Too often, pool buyers select a pool design from a gallery of photos or just accept whatever the salesperson tells them. But this is not how the process should go. A proper design process for a swimming pool needs to be handled by a professional pool designer and not just a pool salesman.

True swimming pool designers are trained professionals like architects, and should have sufficient design training and experience. You wouldn’t allow a Real Estate salesperson to design a high-rise office building, and you likewise shouldn’t allow a pool salesperson to design your professional custom swimming pool. Ask your pool contractor what their background is in design. What professional training or certifications do they have? How many custom designs did they create in the portfolio they are showing? Remember, your pool should be custom designed for your family’s wants and needs. Not just what a salesman wants for you to buy.

At Logan Pools, our designers have the highest levels of design training and certification on the market! This includes the Aquascape Design Institute, the Genesis 3 Design School, and Landscape Architecture Courses at UC Berkeley. Our pool designs have won national awards. Additionally, not only are we Certified Building Professionals, but we also have a landscape contractor’s license, and a Concrete Contractor’s license to ensure that the landscape around your pool is just as beautiful as the pool itself!

To learn about the proprietary Logan Pool’s Dream Design Process, simply click on the Dream Design Process link on this page.

Construction Standards

Construction standards are obviously very important. So let me share with you exactly what the standards are that you need to be aware of, and how it specifically can, and will, affect you over time.

The most important thing to recognize is that your pool must be built to the highest standards possible and not just to meet the minimum codes. Why? Because future pool repairs can be incredibly costly, frustrating, and even dangerous.

The most common problem in the industry are structural cracks in the pool shell, which amounts to pool failure. A single crack can cost $10,000 or more to repair, and most of the time the appearance of the repair leaves your pool looking ugly. This all happens because the original construction was built only to minimum code requirements and NOT to the highest construction standards.

Before starting a pool project, ask your contractor, “Where do your construction techniques fall as it pertains to minimum code requirements?” And, “Where are the areas where your company exceeds minimum codes?

The number one thing to ask about is the pool shell. The structure of the shell must exceed minimum code requirements or you will regret it later. 2500 psi is generally the strength of the shell necessary to meet minimum code. You should avoid companies who are only meeting those minimum code requirements.

At Logan Pools, we literally have set the true standard for the industry as we build our pool shells to an average of 4000 pounds per square inch. And, we prove our proficiency for all of our customers by using the industry standard Schmidt Hammer to empirically demonstrate the strength of our pools. We also guarantee it in writing.

The Plumbing System

The plumbing system in a pool is called a hydrology system. Basically, there are two types of plumbing, or hydrology systems, that you can get for your pool—a standard system, or a high-tech system.

The cheap systems have PVC return line plumbing typically located about 12 inches below the top of the tile. High tech systems, on the other hand, return the water to the bottom of the pool, and on top of the steps and benches. These systems push freshly filtered, heated water, in concentric waters from the bottom of the pool—so now you’re heating from the bottom up, which not only gives you the most uniform cleaning and heating system, but also saves on energy and chemical costs.

Cheap hydrology systems also cost much more in energy expenses as they take longer to heat and much longer to filter and clean your pool. They also cost more to maintain the proper chemical balance in your pool.

So it is important to get an estimate from your pool contractor on how much money you will spending in extra energy costs, heating costs, cleaning costs, and chemical costs when considering the plumbing system you will install in your pool. Generally speaking, the cheaper it is upfront, the more it costs on the backend.

At Logan Pools, we use the advanced high-tech system called the Paramount PCC-2000 which saves you money and maintains the highest standards for cleanliness. Your energy costs will be 70% less, your heating will be 80% more efficient, and your pool will be 99% clean at the end of the daily pool cleaning cycle, guaranteed. You can watch our video about the Paramount PCC-2000 by clicking the link on this page.

Your Pool Equipment

Last but not least in the pool construction process is the selection of the pool equipment that you use. Generally speaking it should be major brand equipment. You know, “Top of the Line” and made in America, versus the cheap stuff that’s made in China.

But the most important thing to ask the salesman is, “does the manufacturer have a warranty service rep in my area?” Because in the end, if you need equipment replaced, repaired, or serviced, you will need to have a field representative come to your house. If there are no field representatives, it will cause a major delay in getting the repair done. This is a customer service issue for you that can best be avoided by simply installing equipment with field representation in your area.

So now you have been educated as to the 4 basic components of good pool construction. I would now recommend that you learn about the Logan Pools Proprietary Dream Design Process by clicking here.