What Are the Biggest Pool Construction Problems and How Can You Avoid Them?
You’ve FINALLY decided to invest in a backyard oasis, but instead of excitement, you're dealing with endless delays, unexpected costs, and miscommunications with your contractor. Sound familiar?
At Shasta Pools, we’ve built thousands of pools over the years. With decades of experience and thousands of pools built, we've seen—and solved—every issue that can derail a pool project..
In this article, we’ll walk you through the most common problems that homeowners face during pool construction—and, more importantly, we’ll show you exactly how to prevent them.
How Can You Avoid Costly Mistakes in Pool Planning?
One of the biggest pitfalls in pool construction is poor planning. This includes everything from choosing the wrong pool size for your yard to not considering local building codes.
Without a well-thought-out plan, you risk ending up with a pool that doesn’t meet your needs or, worse, one that violates local regulations.
Solution: work with a builder who understands your vision.
Start by working with a reputable pool builder, who will take the time to understand your vision and assess your yard’s layout.
A good pool builder will help you choose the right pool size, shape, and location. Make sure to also check with your local municipality and your HOA if you live in a community with one, to understand any restrictions or requirements. A detailed plan should include everything from pool design and materials to landscaping and lighting, ensuring there are no surprises later.
How Can You Prevent Budget Overruns During Pool Construction?
Budget overruns are one of the most stressful issues homeowners face during a pool construction period. Costs can spiral out of control due to unexpected expenses, changes in design, or unforeseen site conditions. This can lead to frustration, delays, and even the possibility of having to scale back your project.
Solution: create a detailed budget for your pool project
The key to avoiding budget problems is thorough research and realistic expectations. Some pool companies will commit to no additional costs during construction, except for abnormal soil dig or hard-dig situations (abnormal soil is any situation where the soil composition requires additional time and/or special excavation equipment to complete the pool dig). Work closely with your pool builder to create a detailed budget that accounts for all aspects of the project, including materials, labor, permits, and potential contingencies.
A good sign that you will run into fewer "budget surprises" during construction is if the pool company has the sales person do a thorough inspection well before they ask you to sign anything. To avoid budget overruns, create a detailed budget that includes materials, labor, permits, and potential surprise costs. A good rule of thumb is to set aside an extra 10% for unexpected expenses, especially if the company you choose cannot, or will not, commit to a guarantee of no additional costs during construction.
How do I know I’m working with the right pool builder?
Choosing the wrong pool builder can lead to numerous problems, from substandard workmanship to missed deadlines. An unreliable contractor might cut corners or even leave the job incomplete. This can leave you feeling frustrated, stressed, and with a pool that’s far from what you envisioned.
Solution: Research and vet pool builders
Do your homework before hiring a contractor. Look for a company with a solid reputation, preferably one with years of experience in pool construction. Here is a list of Top Pool Builders in Arizona 2025.
Ask for references and check online reviews. A good contractor will be transparent, provide a detailed contract, and communicate clearly throughout the project.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions about their experience, qualifications, and past projects. Remember, the cheapest option isn’t always the best—investing in a reliable contractor can save you money and headaches in the long run.
What Should You Check Before Digging to Avoid Site Issues?
Site preparation is a critical step in pool construction, and if done incorrectly, it can lead to significant problems down the line...think of it as the first "domino" to the entire process, if it doesn't fall right, nothing goes right. Issues like poor soil conditions, hidden utility lines, or improper grading can cause delays, additional costs, and even structural problems with your pool.
Solution: make sure you have a site inspection
Before construction begins, a thorough site inspection should be conducted. This will help identify any potential issues, such as the presence of rocks, unstable soil, or underground utilities. Taking elevations throughout the yard is essential to ensuring what type of pool can be built in the yard and where.
Your contractor should handle this inspection, but its a great sign if your site is visited by the builder before the contract is even signed, that often means they are doing their due diligence. If any problems are discovered, they should be addressed before construction begins. This might include increasing steel reinforcement of the pool shell to accommodate soil conditions, relocating utility lines, or adjusting the pool design to fit the site conditions.
How Can You Minimize Weather Delays During Pool Construction?
Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate with construction schedules. Rain, extreme temperatures, and even high winds can delay pool construction, pushing back your completion date and potentially adding to your costs.
Solution: start your project during a more predictable season
While you can’t control the weather, you can plan for it. Start your project during a season with more predictable weather in your area. Work with your contractor to develop a realistic timeline that includes buffer time for potential weather delays. Good contractors will monitor the weather and make necessary adjustments to keep the project on track.
And, it is not just rain delays; high winds will cause certain phases to be pushed out a day or two; days with excessive heat can cause delays as crews must end their workday earlier to avoid heat related injury.
Rain on the other side of town can delay crews that are supposed to be at your job site the next day. When it does rain, a couple days could be required to allow the ground to dry out sufficiently for work to resume.
How Can You Keep Your Pool Project on Track Despite Material Shortages?
The pool industry, like many others, can be affected by material shortages and shipping delays. For instance, many hardscape materials used in the finishing phases of pool construction are shipped in from overseas whose delivery dates can be subject to the geo/political landscape from their regions of origin.
This can be frustrating when you’re eager to get your pool completed. Delays in materials can lead to downtime in construction, which can extend your project timeline and increase costs.
Solution: choose your materials early
One way to mitigate this issue is to choose materials well in advance whenever possible. Work closely with your contractor to choose and order materials as early as possible.
They should have a good understanding of lead times and potential supply chain issues. If a specific material is in short supply, consider alternative options that can achieve the same result. Flexibility in materials and design can help keep your project on schedule.
How Can Poor Communication Lead to Costly Pool Construction Mistakes?
Miscommunication or lack of communication between you and your contractor can lead to misunderstandings, mistakes, and frustration. You might find that your pool doesn’t turn out the way you envisioned, or there could be delays and additional costs because of misaligned expectations. Its a great sign if your pool builder has a customer portal. Having a "program" in place where you can track progress, see pictures and direct message your builder, while keeping everything all in one place, is a HUGE PLUS when it comes to avoiding costly mistakes.
Solution: set clear expectations with your pool builder
Establish clear communication channels with your contractor from the beginning. Make sure you understand the project timeline, budget, and what is included in each phase of construction.
Regular updates, whether through meetings, phone calls, text, emails or customer web portal can help keep everyone on the same page. If you have concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to bring them up—open communication is key to a successful project. If your company has a customer portal, it makes communication and expectation setting even simpler and more trackable.
What Should You Do If Unexpected Site Issues Arise?
During construction, unexpected site conditions can arise, such as discovering abnormal soil conditions, like boulders, caliche, large rocks, an old building foundation, a concrete septic tank that no one knew was there no one knew was there, or even groundwater.
These issues can halt construction and require significant changes to your plans, resulting in delays and additional costs.
Solution: pay for a test hole or site survey upfront
While it’s impossible to foresee every potential issue, a thorough site survey before construction begins can identify many problems.
Even though there will be some cost associated with it, your contractor can conduct soil tests and a site inspection to assess the condition of the land. Paying a little up front can provide savings later. If unexpected conditions do arise, having a contingency plan and budget will help you adapt without derailing the entire project.
Take the Next Step: Download Our Checklist or Schedule a Consultation Today
Pool construction can be filled with unexpected delays, budget surprises, and contractor challenges, but with the right approach, you can avoid these pitfalls. Now that you know how to plan effectively, choose a reliable builder, and prevent budget overruns, you’re in control of your project’s success.
Your next step? Download our free Pool Planning Checklist to ensure you're covering all the critical details before breaking ground. Or, if you're ready, schedule a consultation with our expert team today—we’ll help you bring your dream pool to life, hassle-free.
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