The "Alan Smith" Process
Now that you have scheduled your project it is important for you to understand the process and time line your project will take. Most projects will follow seven (7) basic steps, and depending on the pool finish material selected, an optional eighth step may be added. These steps are as follows:
Step 1 – DrainStep 2 – Prep
Step 3 – Tile and Masonry
Step 4 – Plumbing and Seal
Step 5 – Pool Finish Material Installation
Step 6 – Acid Wash (optional depending on finish material)
Step 7 – Clean-up and Pool Fill
Step 8 – Initial Water Treatment/Surface Curing
The first step in the process involves sending one of our employees to pre-site and drain your swimming pool and/or spa. At this time we will confirm that all lights are working and tag them with a yellow tag that reads “do not turn on while your pool is empty”. We will then turn off all your equipment, and drop a submergible pump into your swimming pool to begin draining it.
The second step involves the participation of our sandblast, multi-coat and strip crews for the “Prep” process. These crews thoroughly prepare your pool surface by removing old damaged surface material and preparing it to receive the new surface material of your choice. The prep stage is the loudest and dustiest stage of the project. We will cover and protect your backyard area as much as possible. If convenient, it would not be a bad idea to move any patio furniture, pots and plants that are surrounding the pool area to another location. Regardless, our crews will take special care to make sure your backyard is restored to the same clean environment as when they began the process.
Now that your swimming pool has been prepped, you are ready for Step 3 where our highly skilled tile and masonry craftsman install your selected pool tile, coping, and other decorative features such as ledger stone. While we would normally expect all the details regarding your swimming pool and outdoor living space project to be completed and documented before beginning, if for some reason you have delayed in selecting your grout color or tile, or have any special design ideas or requests, you will need to finalize these decisions at this point. This process can take anywhere from 1 to 3 working days.
The fourth step is to seal the plumbing to make sure that your pool is water tight and ready for your selected pool surface finish. We also take time to wash your pool shell at this time.
The fifth step involves the installation of the pool surface finish material you selected, and is when your remodeled swimming pool really starts to take shape. This can be a 1-2 day process depending on your material selection.
If you have selected a Pebble, Hydrazzo, Beadcrete, or darker Quartz finish, it will be necessary to add the optional sixth step of an Acid Wash. While the name of this process step may cause you to pause, it really is a fairly simple and straight forward step. Our crews are highly trained and skilled, and are able to perform this step in an efficient and safe manner.
Once the specified material has been installed and acid washed (if needed), we will complete our general clean-up, and start to fill your pool. All we ask of you, the homeowner, is to keep an eye on the water level as it fills and turn the water off once the water level hits the middle of your waterline tile.
The final step in the remodeling of your swimming pool, referred to as the Initial Water Treatment step, is one of the most important steps to be completed for the long term look and life of your new pool surface material (please see the next section of our web-site labeled “Initial Water Treatment” for more details on this process). Once your pool is full of water again, several procedures need to be performed to allow the surface to cure as evenly as possible. This process requires regular monitoring and service during the first seven days of the curing process. Please contact your pool service professional to see if they are available to perform this very important step. If your pool service professional is not available or would prefer not to perform these procedures, our team of trained professionals at Alan Smith will be happy to perform the initial water treatment process.
Our crews, throughout the process of remodeling your swimming pool, take great pride in cleaning and removing all construction materials from your property each day of the project. A thorough and final clean up is performed at completion. If you have any questions about “The Process” don’t hesitate to give us a call here at Alan Smith. Our team is here to help and support you in any way we can.