Backyard Pool Build Update: Rebar, Inspections, and Pouring the Concrete Shell
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If you have been following along with our backyard renovation here at House by the Preserve, you know that things have been moving at lightning speed. After clearing out the yard, removing those massive trees, and relocating the AC unit to the side of the house to maximize our footprint, we are finally seeing our vision come to life.
Missed a pool update? Get caught up with these blog posts:
Tackling Our Largest Project Yet: The Backyard Transformation
Meet Our Builder: Why We Chose Southern Elegance Pools (+ The 3D Designs!)
This week marked a massive milestone in our custom concrete pool build. We went from a giant dirt hole in the ground to an actual, structural pool shell. It is safe to say that the coastal, modern heritage outdoor oasis I’ve been designing in my head (and on Pinterest!) is officially taking shape.
Here is a full breakdown of this week's pool construction progress, from rebar to concrete!
Rebar Installation and County Inspections
The first major event of the week was the rebar installation. For a custom concrete pool, the rebar grid acts as the skeleton of the structure. Our pool company worked incredibly hard to get this precisely laid out, tying the steel bars together to form the exact shape, curves, and steps of our future pool.
The shape of the pool is starting to take shape!
Once the rebar was fully installed and tied, it was time for the nerve-wracking part: the county inspection. Any homeowner who has tackled a major renovation knows the anxiety that comes with waiting for an inspector! Thankfully, because our crew is so meticulous, everything was perfectly up to code. We passed our inspection with flying colors, giving us the green light for the most exciting phase yet.
The Big Day: Pouring the Concrete Pool Shell
The very next morning, the concrete trucks arrived bright and early. If you have never watched a concrete pool being poured (or "shot"), it is an absolutely amazing process to witness.
The team getting ready for the fast-paced concrete pour and shape.
It was an "all hands on deck" situation. The crew used massive hoses to shoot the concrete over the rebar skeleton, while other team members worked quickly behind them to carve, smooth, and form the walls and steps of the pool. Watching the heavy machinery and the skilled labor work in tandem to literally sculpt our pool out of the earth was fascinating.
Walking in Our Pool for the First Time
Concrete sets surprisingly fast. Just a couple of hours after the crew finished shaping the shell, the concrete had cured enough for us to actually step down into the deep end!
It was such a surreal and fun experience to walk inside our pool for the first time. Standing inside the shell really gave us a true sense of the scale and depth. I could easily visualize where our lounge chairs will go, and where the new dining area will sit (right in that extra space we gained by moving the AC unit!).
We have a pool!
Backfilling and Yard Cleanup
Construction zones can be incredibly chaotic, so the next day brought a huge wave of relief. A crew came back in to strip away the wooden pool forms and backfill the dirt around the exterior of the new concrete shell.
They graded the dirt and thoroughly cleaned up the yard. Once the debris and forms were gone, the site completely transformed. It no longer looks like a messy excavation site; it genuinely looks like a beautifully designated pool and deck space. We can clearly see the footprint of where our future pool cage enclosure will eventually tie everything together.
Can’t wait to see this space with leathered marble pavers and water in the pool!
What’s Next for the Backyard?
We are riding high on this week's progress, but there is still so much to do! Next up, we will be waiting for the concrete shell to fully cure, which is a crucial step before we can move on to the pretty stuff like tile, coping, and decking. I’m already finalizing the material selections to ensure they perfectly bridge our home’s moody traditional aesthetic with those relaxed, coastal Florida touches.
I can't wait for next week to see what happens next. Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter and follow along on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes updates on our backyard oasis!
Have you ever gone through a custom pool build? What was your favorite part of the process? Let me know in the comments below!
I’m a mom of two and wife to a seriously supportive hubby, living our best life in our forever house by the preserve! I'm all about helping you create a stylish, Pinterest-worthy home on a budget. Let's obsess over interior design, home decor, DIY, and home improvement projects to help you create your best home. Follow along and say hello! I love hearing from you.
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