New Pool Construction Process

1. Consultation

• Emerald Pools and Spas:
  • Meets with Client
  • Measures the yard
  • Discusses vision and budget

2. Design

• 3D rendering and visualization fo the backyard is made.
  • Design is updated as needed for client approval.

3. Proposal/Contract

• Draft construction contract following client approval.
  • All work will be reflected in the contract.

1. Material Selection

• Client visits Emerald office to select materials for their dream backyard:
  • Pebble Sheen or Pebble Brilliance Color
  • Travertine, marble, or limestone selection
  • Waterline tile selection
  • Pergola Alumawood color
  • Stacked stone (ledgestone)
  • Water feature materials:
    • Copper
    • Stainless steel
    • Powder-coated
    • Rockwork

2. Computer-Aided Design Mock-ups

• Emerald creates professional site and construction plans.

3. A&A Engineered Infloor Design

• Emerald partners with Pentair – A&A Manufacturing to create engineered plans using in-pool pop-up heads for high-performance cleaning.

4. Structural Engineering

• Emerald partners with third party engineers to follow industry-best 45 psf standards during rebar and shotcrete pool structuring.
• Special Engineering, required for non-standard pools and pool removals, ensures a long lifespan for:
  • Lap pools
  • Lazy river pools
  • Pools over 50 ft. long

5. Permit Submittal

• Emerald submits all permits directly to the client’s municipality.
• Emerald does not use third party permit submittal companies, in order to:
  • Begin pool construction sooner
  • Stay involved throughout the entire process

1. Blue Stake Layout

• Blue Stake layout, a service provided by the State of Arizona, marks underground utilities coming into the property before digging:
  • Water lines
  • Electrical lines
  • Gas lines
  • Cable or phone lines
• Please note: Blue Stake DOES NOT mark out any sewer or septic lines.

2. Pre-Grade (if applicaple)

• More in-state areas are requiring pre-grading, which involves:
  • Preparation of pool and decking area
  • Removal of grass and landscaping
    • Did you know: grass cannot be dumped at the same site as the fill dirt?

3. Layout

• The new pool location is marked by spray paint.

1. Excavation

• Elevation forms are set to achieve the proper pool height.
• The swimming pool area is dug up and the dirt is hauled away.

1. Plumbing

• Underground pool plumbing is placed in.
  • Did you know: the average swimming pool can take up to almost a mile of pool pipes?

2. Gas Plumbing

• Underground plumbing is connected to all backyard gas appliances:
  • Pool heater
  • Firepit
  • BBQ island
• Please note: gas requires a separate permit and inspection from the main pool process.

3. Rebar (Upgraded the Emerald Way)

• Rebar
  • Is the skeleton of your pool
  • holds all the shotcrete together for years
• Other builders say they have thicker or more rebar but… that’s all sales gimmicks. Our proof is in the pudding!

4. Electrical

• All electrical wiring is:
  • Run underground
  • Up to code
  • Professionally bonded
• Emerald uses nicheless lights that are:
  • 1.5” wide
  • Energy-efficient
  • Beautiful

5. First Inspection

• The municipal inspector comes out to oversee the dig, plumbing, electrical, and rebar and ensure the pool is ready for shotcrete.

1. Shotcrete Installation

• Emerald installs only 4000 psi shotcrete to give clients the best of the best.

2. Shotcrete Cleaning and Grading

• Emerald’s clean-up crew will:
  • Grade backyard and bury trenches
  • Haul away old or excess concrete
  • Prep the backyard for decking and tiling

3. Waterline Tiling

• Waterline tile is meticulously applied to pools.
• Emerald laser-levels and sets forms across the entire pool so that the waterline tile is perfectly straight.

4. Masonry, Hardscape, & Decking

• Masonry
  • The art of masonry includes the blockwork for:
    • CMU walls and piers
    • BBQ islands
    • Firepits
    • Retention walls
    • Equipment walls
    • Rebuild access walls
• Hardscaping/Decking
  • Emerald installs pool or spa area finishing for proper drainage using:
    • Travertine, marble, or limestone decking
    • Stacked stone finishing on masonry

5. Pergola and Structure Installation

• Posts are set, leveled, and strung out for solid and slatted-top pergolas.
  • Pergolas require:
    • Footers for structural integrity
    • Electrical finishing for string and bistro lights

6. Interior Clean-up

• All construction debris is cleaned
• Interior pebble finishing is prepped:
  • Every inch of the shotcrete interior is scraped so the pebble adheres.

7. Fencing and Barrier Codes

• Pool fences are:
  • Required by many Arizona municipalities
  • Manufactured in different ways
    • Self-latching gates
    • Self-closing doors
    • Door alarms
  • Encouraged by Emerald Pools for child safety—regardless of city codes

8. Infloor Collar Installation

• Emerald completes an in-person pool check before beginning interior finishing.
• Infloors collars are properly cut and set to ensure optimal cleaning for the Pentair – A&A Manufacturing infloor system.

9. Final Inspection

• Municipal inspectors verify all work is done to code and ready for interior pool finishing.

1.Interior Finish and Pebble Sheen Installation

• Pebble Sheen or Pebble Brilliance is applied to the pool
• Pool sits overnight to cure

2. Interior Finish Polish and Acid Wash

• The day after the pebble installation, the pebble crew:
  • Polishes the pool
  • Performs an acid wash and a slurry removal
  • Fills pool with water

3. Professional Pool Start-up and Pool School

• Emerald performs a professional start-up to:
  • Start and program all new TradeGrade Pentair equipment
  • Connect equipment to wifi and your smartphone
  • Pull plugs, empty baskets, and adjust water chemistry
  • Brush, net, and clean all debris in water
  • Demonstrate pool equipment usage and maintenance

1. Landscaping Installation

• Emerald works with qualified landscapers to finalize any backyard paradise.
  • Landscaping is only done after the pool is filled.

2. Final Follow Up

• Emerald follows up on any remaining items that need completion.

3. Enjoy!

• Thank you for building a pool with Emerald Pools and Spas. We hope the new backyard that you have entrusted our company to build provides an outdoor experience you can enjoy for years to come.