Weather Can Wreak Havoc on Pool Construction

Getting started on construction for your dream pool is an exciting process for any homeowner. At this point, you have already met with an expert pool builder, designed the pool you’ve always wanted, and solidified the start of your construction date. In just a few short weeks, you will soon be relishing the benefits of being an official pool owner. While beginning pool construction is exciting, there are a few factors that can affect how quickly your pool will be completed. One such pool construction delay happens to be the weather.

We are currently in the middle of spring, so, naturally, many people would want to begin construction on a pool now before summer gets started. However, the spring is notorious for having heavy rainfalls. April and May are two of the rainiest months of the year in Texas. Unfortunately, this rain and other types of weather can cause pool construction delays. Building a pool is a complicated process with multiple steps that can each be affected by rain and other weather.

The expert pool builders at Mid City Custom Pools have been serving their community for decades, providing excellent pool construction. Naturally, our builders have plenty of experience dealing with pool construction delays, such as rain, so we are better equipped to finish the construction of your pool promptly.

The Process

Building a pool can take anywhere from 6-10 weeks, depending on several circumstances. Pool construction delays can arise for several different reasons, but weather happens to be the most volatile. Pool builders are at the will of Mother Nature whenever it rains, especially in the spring. Each step of the pool building process can fall victim to weather delays. Today, the expert pool builders at Mid City Custom Pools will explain just how the weather in spring can lead to pool construction delays.

Excavation

The first step in all pool constructions is excavation. Excavation lays the groundwork for the rest of your pool. Naturally, this step is one of the most affected by torrential rain. Firstly, rain makes it difficult for excavators and other equipment to reach the job site. Rain makes the ground soft, so equipment can get caught in the mud. Even if the excavator makes it to the construction site, the ground is too soft and unstable, which means it can easily fall apart and make it difficult to excavate the correct shape. Additionally, mud can stick to equipment, slowing workers down.

If your pool has already been excavated and then it rains, you are left with a flooded construction site. After all, the goal is to dig a giant hole in your yard, so rain will naturally fill it up. To continue construction, pool builders must wait until the dirt has dried. Pumps may be used to remove water from the site to help speed up the process. However, depending on the type of dirt in your backyard, it may take several days for it to dry.

Steel Reinforcement and Plumbing

Once workers have excavated the dirt, they will then start placing steel reinforcement along the walls of your pool. However, heavy rainfall weakens the shell of your pool and often causes it to collapse or cave-in. The walls may crumble and fall to the bottom of the pool, which means workers would need to dig it out once more. If the shell of the pool is unstable, builders cannot place steel reinforcement yet.

The same goes for plumbing. If the installation for plumbing has already started, the shell becomes even more unstable. Builders must dig out trenches to house the pipes for plumbing. Rainwater can fill these trenches, eventually collapsing the pool walls. Those trenches will need to be re-dug once the water has evaporated, and dirt has dried.

Gunite

Gunite is a vital part of the pool construction process. This highly pressurized mixture of sand, water, and cement will be applied to your steel grid to begin to form the shell of your pool. However, rain can stall this application process. Just like in excavation, access to the pool is crucial. Rain may affect the access if builders have to bring the trucks closer to the pool if the street is too far to allow us to shoot gunite. Additionally, dry sand is required for gunite. If builders try and use wet sand, it can cause serious issues for their equipment. While gunite can still be applied to the steel and floor while it is wet, we cannot shoot it if there is steady rain falling.

Inspections

With every pool construction, comes inspections from the city, which include reviews for plumbing, electrical, and gas. Before you can use a pool, the city must complete these inspections. However, when rain occurs, city workers cannot complete these reviews. Electrical is often underground, so when it rains, the ground is wet and not conducive to an inspection. As we mentioned earlier, workers cannot finish the plumbing when it rains, so the city must reschedule inspections, putting you at the behest of the city’s schedule and availability.

Decking, Tiling, and Coping

For tiling, coping, and decking, the process is not as impacted by pool construction delays as the rest of the pool building process. However, the process requires dry dirt to complete, so if it rains, you have to wait a few days or weeks for the ground to dry, which applies to tiling and coping, as well. However, once tiling and coping are set, you will have a non-porous surface that can withstand the elements.

If you are going with concrete decking, it needs to set and properly cure, so heavy rain and high winds can affect how quickly it sets and its overall appearance.

Domino Affect

Pool builders are usually working on more than one job at a time. Yes, your builder is committed to creating the best looking and functioning pool for your home, but pool construction delays at another site can affect the construction at your site.

Something known as a “sunshine delay” can occur. If your home does not experience any rain, a torrential downpour at another site can indirectly affect your pool construction. Pool builders have to allocate resources to accommodate for these delays elsewhere, which could affect your job.

Pool construction delays are inevitable. Even the most experienced pool builders cannot avoid all delays. Weather, such as rain, is one delay that you cannot avoid. However, after years of experience, the pool builders at Mid City Custom Pools have developed strategies and techniques that still allow them to continue working even while they wait for the water to dry up. If there is an area or step we cannot complete at one time, we will find something else we can do to keep your pool construction on track. If you are interested in building your dream pool or have any questions about pool construction delays, contact Mid City Custom Pools today.