We know that you have been dreaming about your perfect pool for a long time. After getting in touch with Sleepy Hollow pools, we will set up a free on-site visit to get to know you, your yard, and what your dreams are for your outdoor space. Then we can start building together!
Phase 1:
Planning And Design
This is we start bringing your ideas to life. We take your vision, lifestyle, and taste and marry them with the budget you have decided on and the land you have. There are four important things to consider when designing your new pool.
Purpose
Think about how you plan to use your pool, and what you want from your new outdoor space. This will influence the style, depth, and features you choose.
Some considerations are:
Family Fun
Maybe you want to occupy your children or grandchildren all summer, with easy, unstructured, and screen-free quality time. Help everyone stay active, build confidence, and gain water safety skills with a shallow end for the little ones and a slide for the older kids.
Exercise
Pools are an easy way to stay active. Water buoyancy reduces the impact on joints, allowing for gentle stretching and muscle relaxation, while you can also get a high-resistance, full-body workout. Great for any fitness level, cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility, and rehabilitation.
Relaxation
Perhaps you’re looking for a quiet place to retreat to, where you can escape from the anxiety, noise, and tension of the world. Just the sight and sound of water reduce stress hormones and promote calmness and mental clarity. You can cultivate inner peace with gentle fountains, tanning ledges, and an amazing poolside ambiance.
Entertainment
Backyard pools have long been a hub for parties, social groups, and gatherings for family and friends. They give you a great reason to host get-togethers, and provide plenty of outdoor activity options to keep people entertained. Involve everyone with a pool, spa, patio, and firepit.
Style, Size, and Depth
Do you envision a modern, geometric pool or a more natural, free-form lagoon? Are you looking for an active family gathering spot or a secluded oasis? Before making any decisions, consider how the pool will complement your home’s existing architecture and landscape, and consider who will be using the pool and how they will be using it.
Features
What extras would complete your backyard resort? There are safety and functional features to consider, such as automation systems, energy-efficient equipment, saltwater chlorination, and automatic safety covers. And, the list of available comfort and design elements is endless, with tanning ledges, beach entries, spas, waterfalls, bubblers, slides, deep-end benches, heaters, and integrated LED lighting, just to start with.
Budget
Whether your budget is a firmly established number, a guiding idea, or an afterthought, Sleepy Hollow will work with you during the planning and design process to make sure there are no surprises. The budget includes the purchase and installation of the pool, equipment, and any upgrades you decide on, like waterfalls and specialized lighting, but it also covers installation, excavation, construction, fencing, landscaping, and electrical work. We will also estimate maintenance and operating costs on any design you choose, and provide a huge range of options for materials and features, so that you will love your new pool when it is installed, and continue to love it for years!
No matter what your goal is for your personal space, Sleepy Hollow Pools would be honored to assist you in creating your backyard daydream!
Phase 2:
Finalize the Design and Contract
After finalizing your dream pool, backyard layout, and the materials, colors, and finishes for everything from the pool’s interior to the surrounding concrete or paver decking, you will receive a project and budget proposal. This proposal will clearly outline the project scope, and provide an estimated timeline, an itemized list of all materials and warranties, and a payment schedule. With the contract signed, the project moves from paper to your back yard.
Carefully review the contract, and don’t be afraid to ask questions until you are absolutely comfortable with every detail!
Phase 3:
Research and Permits
This phase involves doing all of the needed research and securing the necessary legal approvals for the build.
Sleepy Hollow Pools will:
Locate Utilities
Before digging, all underground utility lines (gas, water, electric) must be located and marked to prevent accidental damage.
Determine Property Setback and Easement
The setback requirement is the distance that needs to be maintained between your pool and the edges of your property. An easement is a legal, non-possessory right allowing another party to use a specific portion of your property for a designated purpose, such as utility access, driveways, or, in some cases, an easement prohibits development.
Handle Building Applications
Approval from HOA, city, and other local authorities regarding all building and work that will happen on site. This involves submitting the finalized pool plans to your local municipal building department for approval. The review process ensures your project complies with all local zoning laws, safety codes, and regulations.
Secure Necessary Permits
Permit approval times can vary, so it’s important to get this process started as early as possible.
Phase 4:
Site Preparation
After the permits are approved, it’s time to prepare your property for the major construction ahead.
Sleepy Hollow Pools will:
Mark the Area
The exact location and shape of the pool will be laid out in your yard according to the design plan.
Access Route
A clear path for heavy machinery, like excavators, must be established. This may require the temporary removal of a section of fencing.
Phase 5:
Excavation and Placement
Meticulous site preparation is essential before the first shovels and excavator can hit the ground. This is the most exciting phase, where your vision truly starts to take shape.
Sleepy Hollow Pools will begin:
Excavation
The first major step is excavation. Heavy machinery will be brought in to dig the hole for your pool. The crew will carefully shape the pit according to the design’s specified depth and contours. This is often the loudest and messiest part of the process, but it’s a sure sign that your project is underway. A hole is dug according to the pool’s dimensions. This process generally takes 1-2 days, depending on soil type and how cooperative the Kentucky weather is.
Grading
Grading in pool installation is the critical process of leveling, shaping, and sloping the ground surrounding a new pool to ensure a stable foundation and proper water drainage. It prevents structural issues like sinking or cracking by compacting soil, while directing rainwater away from the pool and home to avoid erosion and flooding.
Base Preparation
Gravel is placed at the base of the excavation for stability and leveling.
Placement
Once the hole is dug, the fiberglass shell is carefully lowered into place using a crane.
Phase 6:
Plumbing and Electrical
With the pool in the ground, now it is time to gather all the skilled craftspeople who can bring your dream to life.
Sleepy Hollow Pools will oversee:
Electrical
Wiring for pumps, heaters, lighting, and other electrical components will be installed at this stage. Pool, equipment, and all other metal parts will be electrically bonded. This ensures that all components remain at the same electrical potential, reducing shock risk and enabling circuit breakers to trip quickly during a fault. (This process is similar to grounding an electrical system or appliance.) Your project must pass an electrical inspection before construction continues.
Plumbing
Lines are installed for the filtration and circulation system, including skimmers, returns, and a pool pump and filter system.
Phase 7:
Backfill Around the Outside, Water in the Inside
Backfill
As plumbing is completed, the area around the shell is backfilled to secure it in place. Backfill is the crushed, clean gravel material used to secure the pool structure in the ground.
Fill the Pool
The levels of water inside the pool and the backfilling gravel outside of it must be brought up together to equalize and balance out the pressure on the pool shell.
Phase 8:
Finish Grading and Seeding
Finish Grading
The final, precise leveling and shaping of the soil surrounding a new pool to establish proper drainage (sloping away from the structure) and a smooth surface for landscaping. Ensures water flows away to prevent erosion, structural damage, or standing water.
Seeding
You are going to want a nice, clean area around your pool, so that dirt and debris aren’t being tracked in. If you don’t have additional landscaping or sod-laying already in your contract, we will spread grass seed.
Phase 9:
Coping, Decking, and Patio
The pool structure is complete, and now it’s time to build out the surrounding environment and add the final touches that make it a true backyard oasis. The area around the pool is where you’ll lounge, play, and entertain so it is just as important as the pool itself. With every basic build, we offer three feet of concrete patio around the pool.
Sleepy Hollow Pools will oversee:
Coping
Once the pool is stabilized, coping can be installed. The coping is the trim that separates the water from the solid surface you will walk on around the edge of the pool. It can be made from stone, pre-cast concrete, or pavers, and creates a finished look for the pool.
Decking
The pool deck is the immediate, slip-resistant surface surrounding a pool, and is often created with concrete, pavers, or stone. This is the specialized, functional area for entrance and exit from the pool.
Patio
The patio is a ground-level, all-purpose, versatile outdoor entertaining space that can connect your house to different areas of your yard, they are frequently made from composite wood, pavers, concrete, or stone.
Waterline Tile
A band of tile is installed around the top edge of the pool’s interior. This adds a decorative element and makes the waterline easier to clean.
Phase 10:
Safety Features, System and Accessory Installation
With the heavy construction complete, now it is time to safeguard your investment and bring it to life.
Sleepy Hollow Pools will oversee:
Systems Set-up
All pumping, filtration, and cleaning equipment will be installed.
Safety Features
This is also the time to install pool covers and hand rails.
Pool Accessories
Ready for the icing on the cake? Water or fire features, diving board, slide, and all of the extras.
Phase 11:
Start-up - Adjusting and Testing
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for!
Sleepy Hollow Pools will:
Balance the Water
The initial chemicals are added to the water to achieve the correct balance of water chemistry
Equipment Start-up and Test
The pump and filtration system will be started and tested, ensuring everything functions properly.
Phase 12:
Final Inspection
A final inspection by local authorities ensures the pool meets safety standards.
Final Phase:
Pool School
Finally, we will walk you through everything you need to know about operating and maintaining your new pool.
This orientation will cover:
- Operating the pump, filter, and heater
- Basic water chemistry and testing
- Cleaning the pool and skimmer baskets
- Troubleshooting common issues
- Opening and closing the pool cover
- Maintenance tips and schedule
Additional Considerations Outside Of The Basic Install
Sleepy Hollow Pools is happy to coordinate with a fencing company for you, but many of our clients prefer to manage this step themselves.
We will note that there are legal requirements for fencing around a pool in Kentucky:
Swimming pools deeper than 24 inches must be enclosed by a fence or barrier at least 48 inches (4 feet) high to prevent unauthorized access. Gates must be self-closing, self-latching, and open outward. Fences must not have gaps larger than 4 inches, ensuring the area is secure for children.
Pool Opening and Closing
When you choose Sleepy Hollow Pools to transform your outdoor space, you can also rely on us to expertly open your pool up when the days start getting warm, and close it down for the season when a chill is in the air. Our seasonal pool opening and closing services are available exclusively for pools we’ve built.
Pool Opening Service Includes:
- Cleaning, removing, and folding cover
- Screwing down deck grommets
- Installing deck equipment (handrails, ladders etc.)
- Blowing debris away from the pool/patio area
- Skimming pool surface
- Collecting plugs and installing return fittings
- Replacing skimmer basket
- Checking water level
- Inspecting filtration system (O-rings, filter etc.)
- Turn pump filtration system on, prime plumbing
- Vacuuming/Brushing (can only occur if the bottom of the pool is visible)
- Start-up chemicals (shock, algaecide)
Pool Closing Service Includes:
- Pool cleaning
- Checking water level
- Test and balance water chemistry
- Provide winter chemicals
- Inspect/winterize equipment and plumbing
- Remove accessories
- Install pool cover