http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Concrete-Pool

How to Build a Concrete PoolConcrete pools are some of the highest quality swimming pools built. When constructed properly, these pools offer years of use before requiring much maintenance or repair. The most popular type of concrete pool construction today is done with either shotcrete or gunite, which are mixtures of concrete and sand that are sprayed onto a metal frame.AdSteps1. 1Mark out and excavate the area of the yard to install the concrete pool. The hole should be dug approximately 9 to 12 inches (23 to 31 cm) deeper than you want the depth of your pool, to allow room for surfacing the bottom of the basin. A lip is also left around the perimeter of the hole to accommodate sufficient working room for placing forms.Ad

2Install plumbing, using PVC pipe and strong bonding material. Your plumbing should include a drain at the bottom of the pool as well as the necessary structure to ensure safe water flow throughout the pool. Before moving to the next step, have the system hydrostatically pressure tested by a professional plumbing company to ensure there are no leaks.2. 3Install a steel frame into the outline of the swimming pool, which will provide stability for the concrete once the pool is filled. Cover the sides and bottom of the basin with steel rebar.. The rebar serves as a frame for the concrete and ensures the pool will maintain its shape and strength for a long time. Place the steel in grid form for greatest durability. Each area has its own building codes in regards to how the rebar should be installed, so learn the rules for concrete pool construction in your specific community. Framing may also be added at this time to create stairs or other interior features. 4Spray gunite onto the steel rebar grid using a power sprayer, creating the actual pool basin.. Gunite is either applied by professional pool installers or purchased through a gunite or concrete supplier for do-it-yourself use. Machines to apply the gunite can also be purchased or rented through these companies. Gunite is applied using a dry mix method, so no water is needed.. Once the gunite is installed, it will need to be sprayed down with a hose every day for 5 days to assist the curing process. 5Choose a finish for the interior basin. The finish offers a smooth, decorative surface for the inside of your swimming pool and can be tile, marble or paint. 6Install coping around the lip of the pool. Coping is the border that creates the pool's decorative edge. Then choose a coordinating decking material that offers walking room around the swimming pool. Both the coping and decking are designed to complement the interior pool finish and may be concrete, marble, tile or stone. The installation process will vary based on the material used. 7Fill the swimming pool with water, either from a source in your home or by having water shipped in. Your choice depends on the cost of water in your area and the size of your swimming pool construction.. After the pool is filled, it will be ready for use after the proper chemicals are applied and the water is tested for safety. You can learn about how to treat your water through your pool supply store or the professionals that handle your concrete pool construction.

6 Steps to the Perfect Inground PoolThere's nothing like installing a concrete swimming pool to one-up your neighbor's aboveground version. But planning your dream pool can be harder than it first seems. Consider your options and obligations before breaking ground, and inground pool construction will proceed swimmingly4. Site the PoolPicking the proper spot for your inground pool is as important as the pool itself. An experienced pool contractor can provide valuable insight, but be sure to consider the following pool-placement tips:* Let the Sun Shine In: Take advantage of free solar energy by picking a pool location that's open to the sun and well away from any trees. Such a location will not only warm up the water, it'll also reduce the number of leaves that drop into the pool.* Block the Breeze: Building a pool in a windy location greatly increases water evaporation, which means you'll constantly have to add pool water to maintain the proper level. Strong winds can also make you feel uncomfortably cool when wet. Create a windbreak by erecting a solid-board fence, or by planting a row of thick shrubs or trees.* Stay High and Dry: Avoid building in a low-lying area, which could result in the pool flooding with mud and debris during periods of heavy rain. Also avoid areas with a high water table; rising groundwater will flood the deep end of the excavated hole.* All Clear Above and Below: The pool shouldn't be located beneath overhead telephone or electrical wires, or directly over buried sewer lines, septic systems or electrical cables.* Keep Eye Contact: Whenever possible, build the pool within view of the house. That way, you can keep an eye on swimmers even while you're indoors.* Accommodate Accessories: When determining pool placement, be sure there's enough room for installing accessories, such as a whirlpool spa, slide, diving board, bench seats and utility shed.5. Choose a Circulation SystemThe pool's circulation system is designed to keep the water clean and crystal clear. To do this effectively, it uses both filtration and sanitization. The heart of the filtration system is the pump. This draws water from the pool's bottom drains, sends the surface water through an automatic skimmer, and then passes everything through a filter before recirculating it to the pool. There are three types of filters commonly used: sand, cartridge and diatomaceous earth (DE).All three types of filters work well when properly installed and well maintained. An experienced contractor will help you decide which filtration system is best for your pool.Sand filters are the oldest and most common method of pool-water filtration. They use special filter sand to trap dirt and debris. As the sand particles "load up" or become clogged, they trap smaller and smaller particles. Sand filters are cleaned by backwashing, which involves reversing the water flow through the filter and flushing the dirty water into a waste line.Cartridge filters have been around for a number of years, but their popularity has only recently begun to skyrocket. This system uses large cylindrical cartridges to screen out dirt. Most pool builders recommend using large cartridges that have 500 to 600 sq. ft. of filter area. Unlike sand filters, cartridges don't require backwashing. Instead, you simply remove them and rinse off the dirt with a garden hose, a process that uses much less water than backwashing. In fact, backwashing has become an environmental issue in the southwest and other drought-prone areas of the country.More From Popular Mechanics

Swimming Pool to Cool Nuclear Power Plant?

Concrete

How It Works: Concrete

16 DIY Projects That Make Summer More Fun

"If every inground pool owner in the greater-Phoenix area used cartridge filters," states Kevin Woodhurst of Premier Pools in Chandler, Ariz., "we'd collectively save about 1.5 billion gallons of water each year."Diatomaceous earth is a porous powder that has microscopic openings, similar to tiny sponges. As water passes through the openings, particles are trapped. DE filters can strain out dirt, dust, algae and some forms of bacteria. When DE filters become dirty, they're cleaned by backwashing but use far less water than sand filters. Afterward, fresh DE is added to the filter. A filtration system removes debris, but a chemical sanitizer is required to kill organic contaminants, such as bacteria and algae. And an oxidizer is used to kill both inorganic and organic contaminants. There are three EPA-registered sanitizers commonly used in swimming pools: chlorine, bromine and PHMB.Chlorine is by far the most commonly used pool sanitizer; it's also an effective oxidizer. When dissolved in water, chlorine releases free-available chlorine, also known as hypochlorous acid. There are different kinds of chlorine sanitizers available, including cal hypo, dichlor, gaseous chlorine, liquid chlorine, lithium hypochlorite and trichlor. Bromine (hypobromous acid) tablets can also be used as a pool sanitizer. The solid white tablets slowly dissolve to produce free-available bromine, which is also a strong oxidizer. PHMB (polyhexamethylene biguanide) is a pool sanitizer that's used in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide and an algaecide. Hydrogen peroxide is used as an oxidizer.Salt chlorine generators represent the very latest advancement in pool sanitization. Instead of using standard pool chlorine, this system transforms common table salt into chlorine. Contrary to what you may have heard, salt chlorine generators don't create saltwater swimming pools.Note that it's important to test the pool water before adding chemicals arbitrarily. Take a water sample to a local pool store for analysis, or buy a do-it-yourself test kit. "Keep the pH between 7.2 and 7.8, and maintain the alkalinity between 80 and 120 parts per million," recommends Kevin Woodhurst of Premier Pools. During the summer's very hottest stretches, check the water chemistry several times a week. "Keeping the pool water properly balanced is the very best way to control sanitizer consumption," advises Woodhurst.6. Beware of Budget-BustersAs mentioned earlier, the true price of an inground pool is often about twice the cost of the pool itself. That's because there's so much more to an inground pool than a hole filled with water: You need to enhance the landscape, buy accessories and invest in pool maintenance.Here's a list of items that aren't typically included in the price of the pool: outdoor lighting, landscaping, pathways, decks, fencing, patios, privacy screens, whirlpool spas, outdoor sound system, water test kits, shade structure, patio furniture, equipment shed, storage cabinet, pool toys, additional outdoor electrical outlets and telephone line.You're not likely to need all of these items, but keep them in mind when formulating your construction budget.