General Timeline for a Custom Pool Build

If you've never built a pool before, the process can feel like a mystery. You know what you want at the end, but everything between signing a contract and swimming in your new pool is unclear. That uncertainty is normal, and it's one of the most common things we hear from homeowners who are on the fence about moving forward.

So here's the honest version of what the process looks like, start to finish.

The work that happens before a single shovel hits your yard is some of the most important work in the entire project.

Once your design is finalized, we pull the necessary permits with your local municipality. In Minnesota, this process can vary depending on where you live, but it's a step that can't be skipped and can't be rushed. We handle this on your behalf so you don't have to navigate it yourself.

Before excavation can begin, we also coordinate with utility companies to make sure nothing underground gets disturbed during the dig. Once permits are approved and utilities are marked, you get on the build schedule.

This pre-construction phase typically takes a few weeks (2-3) depending on permit turnaround times in your area. Aside from the design process, it's not the exciting part, but getting it right sets everything else up to go smoothly.

This is the phase that feels the most dramatic, and honestly, it is. Your yard is going to look like a construction site for a few weeks. That's normal. Here's what's actually happening during that time.

One thing worth noting before we get into it: this breakdown covers the pool build itself. Landscaping, outdoor living spaces, and surrounding design elements are scoped and scheduled separately and will have their own timeline.

Excavation (1 Week) The dig is usually the fastest part of the build. A crew and equipment show up, and within a day or two your pool shape is carved out of the ground. The excavated dirt gets hauled away or redistributed on site. It's loud, it's messy, but it's exciting.

Steel and Plumbing (1-2 Weeks) Once the hole is dug, the structural steel goes in. This is the framework that gives your pool its shape and strength. Plumbing lines are also rough-in at this stage, running returns, drains, and any water features you've added to your design. A municipal inspection typically happens here before work continues. This is where we're at the inspector's timelines.

Electrical and Equipment (1-2 Weeks) Your equipment pad gets poured, and the filtration system, pump, heater, and any automation equipment gets installed and wired in. This is also when lighting rough-in happens if your pool includes underwater lights.

Coping, Decking, and Backfill (1 Week) Coping goes around the perimeter of the pool, the walls get backfilled, and deck work begins. This is the week your pool really starts to look like a finished product. The shape is there, the surrounding space is taking form, and the end is in sight.

This is the part every homeowner has been waiting for.

Once the coping and decking are complete, the vinyl liner goes in. The liner is custom measured for your pool and set carefully to fit the shape, corners, and steps without wrinkles or tension points. It's precise work, and when it's done right it sets the tone for how your pool looks and performs for years to come.

From there, the pool starts filling with water. Depending on your water source, filling can take 24 to 48 hours. Once the pool is full, the equipment gets started up, water chemistry gets balanced, and everything gets tested to make sure it's running the way it should.

The last step is your walkthrough.

We go through everything with you — how to operate your equipment, a general "how to maintain your water chemistry," and what opening and closing your pool looks like at the start and end of each Minnesota season. By the time we leave, you know exactly how to run your pool.

From breaking ground to first swim, a vinyl liner in-ground pool installation typically runs six to eight weeks, permit timing and weather permitting. It goes faster than most homeowners expect, and the end result is worth every week of construction noise.

Now that you know what to expect, the only thing left is to get the conversation started. Valley Pools & Spas has been guiding Minnesota homeowners through this process since 1974, and we'll be with you every step of the way from the first consultation to your first swim.

If you're still in the early phases of research, we've got a helpful guide that walks you through all the steps on how to plan a pool build in Minnesota.