Design and build process
At a glance: San Diego Pools describes five steps: a design consultation, a custom 3D design, permitting and engineering, construction (excavation, steel, plumbing, gunite, tile, coping, decking and finish) and startup and handoff[1].
What steps does San Diego Pools describe?
The company sets out a five-step process on its pool builder page[1]:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Design consultation | A visit to the property to discuss how the pool will be used and sketch options for the space. |
| 2. Custom 3D design | A 3D model to refine shape, depth, finishes, water features and decking before work starts. |
| 3. Permitting and engineering | The company handles permits and engineering. |
| 4. Construction | Excavation, steel, plumbing, gunite, tile, coping, decking and finish. |
| 5. Startup and handoff | Filling, balancing and starting the pool, and showing the owner how to run and maintain it. |
What happens at the design stage?
The free design consultation is the company’s entry point; its site invites visitors to “get your free design”[2][1]. The 3D design is meant to settle the main decisions before a permit application: footprint, depth profile, whether there is a raised or attached spa, edge treatment, finishes and features such as cascades or fire bowls. These choices drive the permit path. In the City of San Diego, a pool that matches a registered master plan can be permitted faster than a fully custom design that needs project-specific engineering; see master plan or custom pool.
How long do permits take?
The company does not publish a permit timeline. City of San Diego data gives a benchmark: for new residential pool permits issued in 2026 up to early November, the median time from application to issue was 85 days, up from 54 days in 2024; master-plan pools took a median of 44 days over the whole period and custom pools 98 days[3]. Those figures cover only the city. Santee, Chula Vista, Escondido and the unincorporated county each run their own permit counters. See pool permit data.
What happens during construction?
The company lists excavation, steel, plumbing, gunite, tile, coping, decking and finish as the construction phases[1]; its packages page describes the shell as shotcrete[4]. In pool construction the two words are not interchangeable: shotcrete usually means wet-mix sprayed concrete and gunite dry-mix[5]. Which process a given project uses is a question for the contract. The how a shotcrete pool is built article walks through each phase. Inspections by the building department happen at set points, and the final inspection includes the drowning-prevention features required by state law.
What happens at startup and handoff?
The company says it fills, balances and starts the pool and then shows the owner how to use and maintain it[1], and its packages include “full care and use instructions” and maintenance equipment[4]. New plaster needs careful water chemistry in its first weeks, so the startup instructions matter. After handoff, owners of the company’s pools can use its service request form; see warranty and service.
What should be in the contract?
California requires a pool contract to include a plan and scale drawing showing the shape, size, dimensions and construction and equipment specifications, a detailed payment schedule, and who will obtain the permits[6]. The down payment for a pool contract is limited to 10 percent or $1,000, whichever is less, and payments should not run ahead of the work[7]. See hiring a pool contractor.
Questions readers ask
Does San Diego Pools handle permits?
Yes. The company says it handles permitting and engineering, and its packages include plans, engineering and basic permits.
Does the company show a 3D design?
Yes. Its process includes a custom 3D design before construction.
How long does a pool permit take in the City of San Diego?
For 2026 permits through early November the median was 85 days from application to issue, based on city open data.
Related articles
- Location and map
- How a shotcrete pool is built
- San Diego Pools
- History and ownership
- License and credentials
Notes and sources
- ^ a b c d e San Diego Pool Builder for Custom New Pool Construction. San Diego Pools (sandiegopools.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ San Diego’s Custom Pool Builder for New Construction (home page). San Diego Pools (sandiegopools.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Development permits: approvals issued (2024, 2025 and 2026 files). City of San Diego Open Data Portal. Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b Starting Price Point (Get Started). San Diego Pools (sandiegopools.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Shotcrete. Wikipedia. Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ What is a Contract?. Contractors State License Board. Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Swimming Pool Construction Details to Consider. Contractors State License Board. Retrieved 9 November 2026.