It has come to my attention that there are quite a few people buying vinyl liner in ground swimming pool kits online and building them on their own. This may seem like a good idea in the aspect that it will save money. However there is a downside to doing this.
Think about it this way. Companies that build these pools usually have a good deal of experience to rely on when something previously unseen comes to light. When building a pool there are many things that must be done throughout the process. First is that you will need to have all of the appropriate permits to do the things required in building a swimming pool. In addition to that you will also have to have inspections done throughout the process. These things represent costs that you may not have taken into consideration. Having a pool professional build your pool will allow you to rest easy knowing that all the appropriate permits and inspections are being obtained. It is my personal recommendation to have a company that has been in business for a while build your pool. They will likely know what permits they will need and what kinds of inspections will need to be done. This is only the start of it.
Please understand that there are a lot of things that must happen in a certain order to end up with a well built pool. In some situations if a step is missed or done out of turn then it could result in added expenses to you. In addition to that there are certain building codes that must be met to be in compliance with state and local authorities. Again these are things that a professional pool builder would already know. If you were to do something wrong and it was caught by the authorities you could be looking at a fine and have to spend even more money to fix it. I have read that in recent years state and local authorities have been using google earth to spot swimming pools in backyards. Then the cross check their paperwork to determine if all permits were obtained for building that pool. This is just a heads up to anyone thinking about going around the codes. You may have read or heard about several incidents this year where someone was hurt or killed in a pool due to electricity. This is a very real concern when it comes to building swimming pools. Proper precautions must be taken to prevent such things from happening.
Aside from all the legal stuff that one must make sure they follow when building a vinyl liner in ground swimming pool, there are also things that may happen related to the actual build of the pool. Suppose you are building you own pool and as you dig deeper and deeper you encounter ground water. How would you deal with that? Do you know how to solve the problem? Some do some don’t. If you successfully build the pool do you know how to plumb the system, or cut in the liner? I’m almost certain that people willing to take on such a big project, will more than likely have a background in construction of some kind. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they will turn out a flawless swimming pool. That really goes with any trade. An electrician may not be the best plumber and vise versa. For instance I have been building pools for almost ten years, but that doesn’t mean that I would feel comfortable in taking on a project like building my own house. While they are similar in that they both fall under the field of “construction” they are still different enough that I would never think about building my own home. I suppose that is what it comes down to. Are you comfortable enough to try to build your own pool? Are you comfortable enough to know what permits are needed and what inspections are needed? These are the things you must consider before you start. Even though the materials may be cheaper online than buying them from a pool professional, they still represent an investment. Are you confident that the finished product will be worth the time and money you put into it. If there is even a shred of doubt then I would let the professionals take care of it.
There are so many variables that come into play that building your own pool may not be something you want to try. Below is a list of things to consider.
1) Are you confident in you construction skills?
2) Are you confident in your knowledge of building codes?
3) Do you know what permits you need?
4) Do you know how to trowel a bottom?
5) Do you know how to plumb a pool system?
6) Do you know how to wire the lights, cover, and sub panel?
7) Do you know how to properly bond the pool?
8) Are you confident in your ability to cut in a liner?
These are just a few things to think about when it comes to building your own vinyl liner in ground swimming pool. There are many, many other things that go into building a pool that I did not mention.
