Items to Consider With a Pool Installation

June 24, 2026

Installing a backyard pool involves choosing between in-ground and above-ground, fiberglass and concrete, securing permits, and undertaking extensive site preparation. Key steps include excavation, plumbing and filtration installation, setting the structure, backfilling, and adding decking. In-ground pools typically take several months to complete, while above-ground pools can often be installed in a weekend.


At Earth, Turf, & Wood, you work with a team that is passionate about bringing your vision to life, whether that means relaxing poolside, hosting summer gatherings, or simply cooling off with a quick dip.

Start Your Pool Design Plan
Sunny backyard pool with stone patio, lounge chairs, gazebo, and reflected clouds at sunset
Backyard swimming pool with stone deck, flower beds, and patio beside a house under a bright blue sky

Planning and Legal Requirements

  • Choose Pool Type: Fiberglass is durable, while concrete allows custom shapes.
  • Site Survey: Locate underground utilities, septic fields, and ensure compliance with zoning laws regarding property line setbacks.
  • Design: Plan for landscaping, fencing, patio, and safety features.
  • Permits: Secure necessary building, electrical, and plumbing permits, which can take weeks or months.

Site Preparation and Excavation

  • Marking: Outline the pool shape with spray paint, ensuring proper measurements.
  • Excavation: Dig the hole, removing dirt and leveling the area. For in-ground pools, this requires heavy machinery.
  • Leveling: Add a layer of gravel or sand to create a stable, level base
Start Your Pool Design Plan
Aerial view of an in-ground pool construction site with workers, machinery, and scattered materials.
Illuminated backyard pool with stone patio and a lit gazebo at dusk

Fiberglass Pool Installation

Installing a fiberglass pool involves excavating the site, creating a stable gravel base, placing the shell with a crane, and simultaneously plumbing, filling with water, and backfilling with gravel. This process ensures structural stability and prevents shell damage. The project concludes with pouring a concrete bond beam and installing coping.

Concrete Pool Installation

Building a concrete pool involves an initial phase of layout and excavation, followed by structural plumbing and rebar installation. The shell is formed by applying pneumatic concrete (gunite or shotcrete). After curing, waterproof finishes such as tile, coping, and interior plaster are applied before the final filling and chemical start-up.

Start Your Pool Design Plan
Nighttime view of a lit lodge beside a glowing blue swimming pool in a wooded backyard
Backyard patio with lit swimming pool and stone deck beside a house at dusk

Fiberglass Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Low Maintenance: Non-porous surface resists algae and requires fewer chemicals.
  • Fast Installation: Typically takes 3–6 weeks.
  • Durability/Flexibility: Resistant to cracks and structural failure, even in shifting ground.
  • Long-Term Cost Savings: Lower chemical, energy, and resurfacing costs.
  • Smooth Surface: Gentle on feet and skin.



Cons:

  • Limited Customization: Pre-built in standard shapes and sizes, usually limited to 16' wide or less.
  • Higher Initial Shell Cost: Can sometimes be more expensive initially than basic vinyl, though often cheaper than concrete.
  • Shipping Constraints: Large sizes are difficult to transport.


CONCRETE PROS AND CONS

Pros:

  • Unlimited Design: Fully customizable to any shape, size, or depth, including vanishing edges.
  • Longevity: Durable material that can last for decades.
  • Aesthetic Appeal: Can be finished with luxury materials like tile or stone. 


Cons:

  • High Maintenance: Requires weekly brushing and more chemicals due to porous surfaces.
  • Long Installation Time: Can take 3-6+ months for completion.
  • Resurfacing Costs: Requires expensive acid washing and replastering every 10-15 years.
  • Higher Lifetime Costs: Higher energy and chemical costs
Start Your Pool Design Plan
A large swimming pool is lit up at night in front of a house.

Transform Your Backyard

Please take a look at some of our additional blog posts on pool design and landscaping.


Feel free to look at pictures of pools and the surrounding areas that we’ve designed! And when you’re ready to begin your project at your home, contact us about a free consultation or call us at (717) 276-9447 to start discussing the possibilities!

Start Your Pool Design Plan
A free guide to critical issues to consider before you install a pool
A group of people are sitting around a fireplace on a patio.

Kid-Friendly Landscaping Ideas: Create an Outdoor Space Your Whole Family Will Love

August 8, 2025
Fun and safe kid-friendly landscaping ideas to transform your backyard into a family-friendly outdoor haven. Award-winning landscapers in Lancaster, PA.
An aerial view of a large swimming pool surrounded by a stone fence.

Harrisburg, PA Pool & Landscape Design Case Study: Creating a Family-Friendly Backyard

By MARY DRESSER, RLA ALSA • October 16, 2019
Even with a large property, it can sometimes be challenging to design an outdoor space that everybody in the family loves and can utilize to the fullest. That was certainly the case for this landscape design near Harrisburg, PA, for a family with four active boys.
A large house with a large patio and stairs leading to it.

Patio and Deck Combinations: Which to Do First, Ideas, and Pro Design & Construction Tips

By JAROD HYNSON, PRESIDENT • September 23, 2019
We’ve been fortunate to have been provided countless opportunities to work with clients on a wide variety of projects over the years. One of the most common areas of focus is backyard living spaces. A great way to get the most out of a backyard is often accomplished by adding (or renovating) both a patio and a deck. Patio and deck combinations are a great way to fully maximize the use of your living area, not only horizontally, but vertically, too. An upper-level deck that leads down to a lower level patio will absolutely give you lots of fantastic outdoor living space to use and enjoy to the fullest.