Stay Cool In Southern Maryland This Summer

1. You will sit down with a pool professional and decide on the shapes, styles and materials of choice that meet your budget and the size of your yard. Keep in mind maximizing the sun by placing the pool where you’ll get the most rays.

2. Prior to excavation, workers will come and map out the pool in your yard. They’ll plan for filters/equipment, the shape of the pool and any surrounding structures, such as a patio or deck.

3. The excavation will then take place after the pool design is approved. Construction equipment and hand-shoveling to work on the finer details is part of the process. It may take a day or two to dig the pool, provided the soil is amenable.

4. Wired steel rods are installed in the pool area that has been cleared away. This will provide support for the frame and protect against ground forces.

5. The electrical and plumbing groundwork will be laid, including wiring for the pump and filter and pipes to filter the water.

6. A special concrete mixture is sprayed over the steel frame to lock it in place and provide extra strength. Depending on the pool interior surface used, this will also provide the groundwork for other materials to be installed.

7. Tile, masonry, rock, and/or a vinyl liner will be installed. The pool will start to have a finished look.

8. Surrounding materials, such as landscaping, decking, concrete, or patio pavers can be installed at this point.

9. Personal touches will complete the look of your pool. Afterward, you simply fill the water level and start enjoying the swimming pool once the weather is right. You may be able to pay municipal water services to come and fill your pool via a water tank truck. Some towns allow usage of fire hydrant water if approved by the fire department. Otherwise, you may need to go the slow and steady route of using your backyard hose.

Why Excavation Is the Most Important Step

Of the nine steps above, excavation is the one that sets up everything that follows. A pool that's dug unevenly, too shallow, or without accounting for the soil underneath can lead to cracking, drainage problems, or a liner that never sits right — issues that are far more expensive to fix once concrete and tile are in place. Getting the hole right the first time is what makes every later step go smoothly.

What Affects Your Pool Excavation Timeline

Every yard in Southern Maryland is a little different, and a few factors can speed up or slow down the excavation phase of your project:

• Soil type — Sandy or loamy soil digs faster than the dense clay common throughout Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties
• Yard access — Excavators need a clear path to the pool site; tight side yards or fenced-in backyards can require smaller equipment or extra time
• Water table depth — Properties closer to the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries may hit groundwater sooner, which affects how the excavation is handled
• Underground utilities — Septic lines, well lines, and buried utilities need to be located and worked around before digging starts
• Weather — Southern Maryland's spring rains can delay excavation, which is why many homeowners plan pool projects for late winter or early spring to be swimming by summer

Before the Excavator Arrives

A few things are worth handling ahead of time to keep your project on schedule:

1. Call Miss Utility (811) to have underground lines marked before any digging begins
2. Confirm your permit with your county — Calvert, St. Mary's, and Charles Counties each have their own requirements for inground pool permits
3. Check septic and well locations, since pools need to maintain a minimum setback distance from both
4. Clear the work area of fencing, furniture, or landscaping that could be in the way of equipment

Choosing an Excavator for Your Pool Project

Pool excavation isn't the same as a standard dig. It requires precise depth control, level grading for the pool floor, and enough experience to know how local soil behaves once you're a few feet down. An excavator who's dug pools throughout Southern Maryland already knows where clay tends to run, how deep the water table sits near the water, and how to keep a project moving even when Chesapeake-area weather doesn't cooperate.

Serving Pool Excavation Needs Across Southern Maryland

Scaggs Excavating has handled pool excavation and site development for homeowners throughout Calvert County, St. Mary's County, and Charles County, including Prince Frederick, Huntingtown, Owings, Dunkirk, Solomons, Lusby, Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, Leonardtown, Lexington Park, Waldorf, and La Plata.

If you're planning an inground pool for next summer, the best time to start is now — permits, utility locates, and excavator scheduling all take time, especially heading into the busy spring season.

Contact Scaggs Site Development or call 410-257-6763 to get your pool excavation on the schedule.

For all your excavating and concrete needs including swimming pool installations call Scaggs Site Development.