Building your own swimming pool: a good idea or a bad one?

For several years now, more and more individuals have been deciding to build their own swimming pools. Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or self-taught, a pool construction project is not to be taken lightly, and requires a number of basic steps to be followed.
Is building your own pool a good or bad idea? We’ll take you through all the phases of pool construction, to help you make your choice.

Building your own swimming pool: a mammoth task

Building your own swimming pool has many advantages, not least of which is cost! In fact, if you opt to build your pool yourself, you’ll need to reckon with a budget 2 to 3 times lower than that proposed by professionals. However, this work requires a considerable amount of time and specialized technical knowledge to avoid embarking on an adventure that could have serious consequences.

You should be aware that this construction project will cost you time and energy, even if the satisfaction of having built your own pool is great. Take the time to weigh up the pros and cons before embarking on such a project.

The different stages in building a swimming pool

You’ve finally decided to build your own swimming pool. So you’ll need to list all the stages prior to construction to make sure you do things in the right order.
To help you, here are all the stages involved in building a swimming pool, whether traditional or in polyester shell.

The first two steps are the same, whatever type of pool you choose (traditional or polyester shell).

1. Declare your work request to the town hall to obtain authorization to dig your pool.
2. Landscaping the site for the pool.

The next steps depend on the type of pool you wish to install:

The traditional pool

3. Drainage to avoid wet ground that could hamper construction.
4. Laying the invert: this is a concrete slab on which your pool will be laid.
5. Laying and erecting the walls of your pond.
6. Pouring your concrete walls.
7. Tiling or lining the pool.
8. Backfilling to form the entire contour of your pond.
9. Connection of pipes to the equipment room.
10 Launching the basin

Polyester shell pools (like Aboral’s)

3. Laying the geotextile and preparing the base shape
4. Installing the polyester shell in the excavation
5. Backfilling with gravel
6. Connecting pipes to the equipment room.
7. Launching the basin

The materials needed to build a swimming pool

To build your own pool, you’ll need to purchase special equipment.
The steps listed above require the use of professional equipment if you want to guarantee the construction of your pool in the best possible conditions.
For example, when it comes to earthmoving, it’s best to equip yourself with a mini-excavator. A backfill storage system must also be considered for this stage.

Building your own pool costs less

Building your own pool generally costs 2 to 3 times less, but it can quickly become an obstacle course if you don’t follow all the steps.
Also, building your pool is likely to take up a lot of your weekends, especially if you’re working at the same time. Take the time to calculate the gains and losses of such an investment.
To help you, don’t hesitate to call on professionals who can guide you in your choices throughout the construction process.

Discover our materials for building your pool

At Aboral, we specialize in pool construction and installation. We provide you with all the equipment you need to complete your construction project in our dedicated Aboral shop. Find out more!