Building a pool takes around two weeks and, for a 6x4m pool, costs roughly R78,000 for a marbelite finish or R85,000 for a fibreglass finish. Here’s exactly what happens, week by week, from the day the site is marked out to the day you swim, and what to watch for so the build doesn’t cost you more than it should. For the full service, see pool construction.

How to build a swimming pool: the process

Every pool Trademen Pools builds starts life as a concrete shell. The finish — marbelite or fibreglass — is applied afterwards, so the two decisions (shell and finish) happen together at the design stage but are built in a fixed order on site. Here is that order, step by step.

1. Design, quote and approvals — a custom design built around your site, budget and how you’ll use the pool. Once you accept the quote, most councils require approved drawings and a signed indemnity form before any digging starts.
2. Marking out and squaring the site — the pool’s exact footprint is marked and squared on the ground before a single spade goes in, so the shape on paper matches the shape in the garden.
3. Excavation — the hole is dug by hand and/or TLB, depending on access and how much space there is to work with. Tight side access often means more hand digging; an open stand allows the TLB to do most of the work.
4. Steel reinforcement — Y8 steel bars and 100mm mesh wire are tied into the shape of the pool, along with a ring beam around the top edge, so the shell has the strength to hold its form for decades.
5. Concrete shell — 30 MPa ready-mix concrete from a reputable supplier is poured to a thickness of 150mm, forming the structural shell of the pool.
6. Positioning the weir, aim-flow and LED light — while the concrete is still setting, these fittings are positioned in the shell itself, rather than cut in afterwards.
7. Curing — the concrete is left to cure for three to five days before any further work continues. Skipping or rushing this step is one of the most common shortcuts that shortens a pool’s life, which is why it isn’t rushed.
8. Copings — bull-nose copings, normally 450x450mm flagstone, are laid around the edge of the pool.
9. Paving — paving, also 450x450mm, is laid to create a 900mm apron around the pool, giving a consistent, non-slip surface to walk on straight out of the water.
10. Tiling and piping (marbelite pools) — for pools getting a marbelite finish, ceramic mosaic tiles are installed at this stage along with 50mm PVC piping for suction and return.
11. Equipment installation — the ‘Box’ combo unit goes in: a pump, sand filter, electrical distribution board with a battery-backed timer, and a pump house.
12. Connecting the smaller fittings — once the Box is in, the weir, aim-flow and LED light are connected up, with wiring run back to the distribution board.
13. Applying the finish — for marbelite pools, the marbelite is applied and left to cure overnight. For fibreglass pools, the shell is plastered and left to dry completely before resin and gelcoat are applied and cured.
14. Filling, commissioning and handover — the pool is filled with water, the equipment is commissioned, and the water is balanced and ready to swim in.

Note that a fibreglass finish here is applied over the in-situ concrete shell, not dropped in as a pre-moulded shell. The shell, steel, curing and coping steps above are identical whichever finish you choose — only the plumbing detail and the final finishing step change.

Pool build timeline: what happens each week (2-week process explained)

Most residential pools take around two weeks from breaking ground to handover, though a larger or more complex build can run closer to three weeks. Size, finish and the weather all play a part — the Highveld’s summer storms can affect curing, so the schedule is planned around them.

• Week one typically covers marking out, excavation, steel reinforcement, the concrete pour, and the start of the three-to-five day curing period.
• Week two typically covers the tail end of curing, copings and paving, tiling and piping (for marbelite builds), equipment installation, connecting the smaller fittings, applying the finish, and finally filling and commissioning.

Remarbelite and refibreglass projects — resurfacing an existing pool rather than building a new one — follow a much shorter timeline of three to five days each, since the shell and structural work are already done.

Typical cost range and budget tips

Pricing depends heavily on size and finish, but as a benchmark: a 6x4m pool built in marbelite costs around R78,000, and the same pool built in fibreglass costs around R85,000. Larger pools, custom water features, and add-ons such as solar heating will move the price beyond this benchmark.

• Major processes — a new build, a remarbelite, or a refibreglass — are priced as one overall price, not itemised line by line.
• Minor changes within that scope, such as swapping the LED for a different colour or changing the sand in the filter, are included in the overall price rather than billed separately.
• There are no payment plans or financing options on new builds, so budgeting for the full quoted price up front avoids surprises partway through the job.

If you’re choosing between finishes on cost alone, remember that the sticker price is only part of the picture — how each finish holds up over the years it’s guaranteed for matters just as much as what it costs on day one.

What’s guaranteed on a new pool

Every new build carries guarantees on the major components: ten years on the concrete shell, five years on a marbelite finish, five years on a fibreglass finish, and one year on the piping. Guarantees are honoured for normal wear and defects, but not for damage from natural causes such as extreme weather, or from human interference — for example, walking on a finish before it’s cured.

Choosing a pool builder

Look for a builder who quotes after a site visit, keeps the core work in-house, and builds to a clear written timeline. Trademen Pools has been building pools since 2013, employs a team of up to 20 people so work isn’t queued behind subcontractors, and handles every stage in-house with its own specialists rather than outsourcing any part of the build. That in-house structure is also why a project can start as soon as you’re ready to sign off the quote — there’s no subcontractor’s diary to wait on. Trademen Pools holds a 4.9/5 Google rating and builds pools across the whole of Gauteng — see our service areas.

Once the pool is built, maintenance contracts are available to keep the water balanced and the equipment running properly long after handover, and emergency repair call-outs are typically responded to the same day or the following day, depending on workload.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to build a pool?

Most residential pools take around two weeks from breaking ground to handover, sometimes extending to three weeks, depending on size, finish and the weather.

What’s the best pool finish for a new build?

It depends on your budget and how you’ll use the pool. Marbelite is affordable and classic, fibreglass is smooth and low-maintenance, and Trademen Pools will advise on site which suits your shell and budget best — neither is pushed over the other.

How much does a new pool cost?

For a 6x4m pool, budget around R78,000 for a marbelite finish or R85,000 for a fibreglass finish. This is priced as one overall figure covering the full build, not broken into separate line items.

Is excavation done by hand or machine?

Both — excavation is carried out by hand and/or TLB depending on how much access and space the site allows.

Can I add solar heating to a new pool?

Yes. Solar heating is one of the most common add-ons to a new build, and it’s easiest and most cost-effective to plan for it at the design and quote stage rather than retrofitting it later.

Planning a new pool? Call 081 537 0757 or email sales@trademen.co.za for a free quote anywhere in Gauteng.

For more background, see this external overview of the history and types of swimming pools.