How We Work

Questionnaire and Design Phase

If you haven't done so already, fill out our Pool Project Questionnaire, located here --> QUESTIONNAIRE

After receiving your completed questionnaire, we contact you to set up an on-site meeting so that we may gain a full understanding of your project. During this meeting we discuss in more detail your questionnaire, take photographs, some measurements, and perform an overall site evaluation. This initial meeting is for the purpose of helping us and you determine the full scope of your project and to insure that Barefoot Pools is the right company for the job.

Based on information gathered at this meeting, a preliminary design is drawn to scale for your review and approval. This preliminary drawing will show your pool and spa layout, decking, and any water features you requested. Upon completion of your design (5-15 business days depending on the size of your project), we schedule another meeting with you to present our design and the overall cost to you for approval.

Note: If any major changes are required, another preliminary drawing may be presented to you. Once the preliminary design is approved, the final design is drawn and presented to you with a formal cost estimate and bid for Barefoot Pools to begin your project. Upon your final approval of the design plan and cost estimate the contract is signed, your project is scheduled and the build of your pool is set to begin!

Structural Drawings

In some cases engineering drawings that determine the stress forces and surcharges throughout the pool may need to be drawn up.  They take into account pool depths, extra large water features, proximity to property lines and house lines and the surcharging due to those structures on the pool.  These drawings will ultimately determine how much steel rebar is necessary to support the forces that will act on the structural elements of the pool.

Filing of Permits

This includes the filing and payment of all required permit(s) with the appropriate city, county, and/or HOA and time needed for approval of these permit(s). Depending on which city and the scope and size of the project, this step can take from a couple of days to more than 30-days to get the necessary approvals.

Layout

This is the layout and marking of your pool according to the approved design plans on your property taking into account any utility lines that may interfere with the layout. The markout of the pool shape on the ground will be used by the excavators as a guide when they do the dig. The layout will need to be inspected and approved where required by city codes.

The Real Work Begins - Excavation

This step includes digging of the hole for the pool to design and elevation using either a backhoe or bobcat. The excavators will form the steps, benches, and other structural features in your pool such as a beach entry. Also includes the removal of dirt and/or rock off the property, and the addition of a pebble-rock base to bottom of pool (if necessary). Normal time for completion of your pool from this step is 30-45 business days.

Forming and Steel

This step includes the setting up of the necessary outside forms needed to create the pool's bond beam and the layout of the steel rebar frame that forms the reinforcement of the pool shell before the gunite is applied.

Plumbing

The plumber is responsible for putting in all the PVC piping and pool equipment that your filtration, circulation, heating, and water feature(s) require. The pool equipment includes all the pumps, filters, heaters, sanitation systems, and cleaning systems required to keep your pool functional, clean, and sparkling.

Electrical Bonding of Lights

Responsible for bonding of the electrical lights to the steel rebar frame with #8 solid core wire. The bond wire must be one continuous piece running around the entire pool to each light and up to the pool equipment pad with enough excess wire to ground all electrical pool equipment.

Steel, Plumbing Rough, and Electrical Bonding Inspection

All three of these inspections can be done at the same time if wanted. Some of the things to look out for – steel frame at least 3” off walls and floors, at least 25 lbs of pressure on plumbing pipes, steel/bonding with proper clamps used and no casual contact. Must have “green tag” on all three inspections before continuing.

Gunite

This step forms the shell of your pool. Gunite is a mixture of concrete and other materials that is pneumatically applied from a high-pressure nozzle to form a hardened shell that will hold the water in your pool. A typical shell is 6" thick at the walls and floors, 8" thick in the coves (radius area between wall and floor of shell), and 12" thick at the bond beam. This step also includes 7 days of watering by the homeowner twice a day of the gunite shell. This is done so that the concrete doesn’t dry to fast and helps prevent hairline cracks from forming on the shell.

Water Features/Rock Work

Responsible for any rock water feature in and around the pool prior to the deck being poured. This would include standard waterfalls, grottos, accent boulders around the perimeter of the pool, and other rock-based hard-scapes around the pool.

Tile and Coping

The waterline tile around the pool is installed for aesthetic purposes and to make the waterline area easier to clean. Tiles come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. The selected coping is installed around the top of the bond beam. Usually coping used by Barefoot Pools is a natural, long-lasting natural stone.

Decking

The steel rebar frame and forms for the decking are placed around the pool. This step also includes the electrical bonding of the deck steel to the bonding wire previously ran. Additional bonding wire may be needed to insure a complete grounding of the entire pool deck. Inspection of the deck steel electrical bond must be performed by a city inspector. Must have a “green tag” to continue. Concrete is then poured in the deck forms to create the pool deck.

Deck Surface

The selected deck surface is installed on top of the deck concrete. Typical looks include flagstone, pavers, travertine, or acrylic finishes such as Sundek.

Interior Finish

Responsible for installing the interior finish of the pool. Typical finishes include the standard white plaster that has been around for years to exposed aggregate pebble interiors (like Pebble-Tec or SunStone) in a wide variety of colors to complete tiling with 1” tiles of the pool’s interior. During this phase epoxy cement is applied around all interior pipes to help water seal these vulnerable areas. At this same time the interior pipes are trimmed and fitted with a niche for the appropriate external fitting. Any accent tiles on steps, benches, sun shelf, etc. are also installed during this time. If a Pebble-Tec finished was installed, an acid wash will be done typically the next day to bring out the stone look.

Finally!!! Fill 'er Up!

After the interior finish is completed, the pool is filled with water. Once started filling, you must continue filling the pool until approximately 3” below the coping.

Pool Startup

After the pool is filled, the pool pumps are primed and started. All the pool equipment will then be tested and the appropriate chemicals should be added to stabilize the water. The pool filter must be ran continuously for at least a week to make sure the water is completely filtered and that everything is functioning properly.

Final Pool Inspection

The final pool inspection will check the electrical equipment, the GFCI breaker, make sure the gates are self-latching and closing and that they open away from pool ,any pool equipment leaks, proper fencing that are at least 4’ high with openings slates no further than 4” apart, and any house door alarms (if required). Must have green tag before pool is "complete".

Pool School/Follow-up Visit

Barefoot Pools will provide a follow-up visit to answer any questions and offer a Pool School to owners to familiarize them with their new pool and pool equipment.