You’re standing in your backyard, imagining the pool you’ve always wanted. The contractor’s quotes sound reasonable. The timeline seems doable. Everything appears straightforward.
Then reality hits.
The pool cracks within three years. Plumbing leaks require tearing into the finished shell. What seemed like a minor decision during construction becomes a nightmare that costs tens of thousands to fix.
These disasters happen more often than you’d think. But they’re also completely preventable when you understand what separates a pool that lasts 50 years from one that fails in a decade.
At Century Pools, the O’Neal family has spent six decades learning exactly where pool construction goes wrong. What started with founder Brian O’Neal—shovel in hand, reading soil conditions most contractors miss—has evolved into a multigenerational approach that catches problems before they become expensive disasters.
Here’s what you need to know to protect your investment.
Read Your Property Before Breaking Ground
The most expensive mistakes in pool construction happen before the first shovel hits dirt.
Soil conditions determine whether your pool lasts decades or cracks within years. Yet most homeowners—and even inexperienced contractors—miss the warning signs completely.
When Century Pools walks a property for the first time, they’re looking for red flags that signal trouble ahead. Uneven soil. Signs of prior settling. Existing fill that wasn’t obvious at first glance.
“We’ve learned to read these cues over decades,” explains the team at Century Pools. “Slight depressions, areas that feel softer underfoot, uneven moisture, or minor cracks in the yard can all indicate shifting soil below the surface.”
These subtle signs require more than visual inspection. They require the kind of hands-on assessment Brian O’Neal taught his sons—digging small test holes, feeling how soil responds under pressure, noticing moisture differences that reveal unstable layers.
The cost of ignoring soil conditions is staggering. Pre-construction soil testing costs between $1,000 to $5,000, but skipping this step can lead to structural failures costing tens of thousands in repairs.
Century Pools encountered a project where the backyard had several feet of fill soil. During their assessment, they noticed uneven settling, slight depressions, and moisture variations—signs most contractors would miss entirely.
“If we had just built the pool on top of it, the shell would have likely cracked within a few years as the fill shifted and compacted,” they explain. “To fix it, we excavated down to stable native soil in critical areas, added proper compaction, and adjusted the reinforcement and rebar layout to handle potential movement.”
Those invisible adjustments ensured the pool stayed structurally sound for decades.
The homeowner avoided a disaster they never knew was coming.
What You Need to Know About Soil
According to construction-defect expert Scott Cohen, whose work has been featured on HGTV, soil issues are the most common culprit behind problems with pool construction and hardscape.
Expansive clay soil is particularly problematic. Cohen describes it bluntly: “Building on it is like building on top of a sponge.” These soils shrink and expand substantially depending on moisture levels.
Modern technology helps, but it doesn’t replace experience. Machines and sensors provide data, but they can’t tell you how soil will behave over years of seasonal changes. That intuition comes from literally feeling the soil, understanding its composition, and knowing where extra compaction or reinforcement is needed.
Brian O’Neal could dig a small test hole and immediately identify fill, clay, or unstable layers that would cause settling. His sons still use those hands-on checks today, even with modern tools available.
That insight guides every reinforcement decision they make. It’s a big reason Century Pools builds pools that last decades rather than just a few years.
Treat Gunite Application Like Precision Craftsmanship
Most homeowners assume all gunite is the same—just concrete sprayed into shape.
This assumption costs them thousands in repairs years down the road.
The composition of the gunite mix and how it’s applied around critical areas determines whether your pool lasts 50 years or starts failing in a decade.
“If the mix is too dry, too wet, or unevenly sprayed, it can shrink or crack as it cures,” explains the Century Pools team. “Improper coverage over rebar or stress points might not show any problem for a year or two, but over time, those tiny imperfections lead to leaks, tile separation, or structural issues.”
According to industry experts, any errors in the ratio of dry-mix concrete and water can wreck the final quality of the concrete walls and floors of your pool. The gunite process requires a highly skilled nozzleman, as improper ratios or uneven application can lead to problems that may not appear for years.
What Happens During Application
Controlling the gunite mix in the field requires constant attention and real-time adjustment.
Century Pools’ crew watches the consistency as it comes out of the nozzle, feeling the texture and making immediate tweaks to the water-to-cement ratio. They ensure it’s being applied evenly across every curve, corner, and step, and that it fully encapsulates the rebar.
A less experienced crew might spray quickly to save time. But Century Pools watches for any areas that could shrink or develop voids later.
“It’s a very hands-on, precise process,” they explain. “Every inch matters because these adjustments now determine whether the pool lasts decades or starts showing cracks in a few years.”
The curing period is equally critical. Gunite requires at least 28 days to cure, and contractors should water the gunite shell at least two to three times a day for the first ten days. In wet areas, gunite needs even longer.
This meticulous attention during construction separates pools that become treasured family gathering places from those that become sources of regret.
Plan Infrastructure Before You Build
The most expensive mistakes happen when plumbing, drainage, or electrical systems aren’t planned correctly from the start.
Century Pools remembers a pool where the skimmer and main drains weren’t aligned properly with the pump system, and the electrical lines for the lights and equipment were too close to sensitive areas.
Years later, the homeowner faced leaks and electrical issues that required breaking into the finished shell to fix everything.
“That’s not just costly—it’s disruptive and heartbreaking for a family,” they explain.
The numbers tell the story. Underground plumbing replacement for pools can cost $10,000 just for the underground work alone—not including pumps, tanks, or other equipment. Pool leak repair costs average $500 to $1,500, but can range up to $5,000 for inground pools depending on severity and location.
Leaks in hard-to-reach areas require more labor and excavation, significantly increasing costs. Hidden underground pipe leaks requiring excavation can cost $150 to $2,500 depending on accessibility.
If not addressed, leaking pools run the danger of concrete and pipe corrosion, compromising the pool’s structural integrity and impacting plumbing lines.
The Right Approach to Infrastructure
At Century Pools, they design all infrastructure first, integrate it with the gunite shell, and double-check placement.
This proactive approach prevents major repairs down the line and ensures the pool works perfectly every day.
You can’t fix infrastructure mistakes cheaply once the pool is finished. The time to get it right is before breaking ground, when adjustments cost hundreds instead of thousands.
This is where experience matters most. Understanding how drainage patterns work, where electrical lines need to run, and how plumbing systems integrate with the shell requires knowledge built over decades and hundreds of projects.
Look Beyond the Lowest Bid
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is selecting a contractor based solely on price.
The lowest bid often signals the biggest problems ahead.
Cheaper bids typically involve cutting corners or using inferior materials. When comparing contractor quotes, you need to look beyond the total and consider the scope of services, the quality of materials, and the projected timeline.
According to pool construction experts, one of the biggest mistakes when selecting a contractor is basing everything on price alone, instead of the options you want and need. It’s astounding how many contractors have come and gone over the years—how few companies have stood the test of time and can assure you of getting a premium quality project with a long-term commitment to your satisfaction.
In 2008, some pool contractors collected full pool payments on the day of excavation, then vanished, leaving homeowners with big holes in their backyards and incomplete pools.
These disasters happen when homeowners prioritize price over proven expertise.
What Sets Century Pools Apart
Century Pools has been building pools since 1964. That longevity isn’t just about staying in business—it’s about building lasting relationships based on trust and shared dreams.
“Being a multigenerational pool contractor isn’t just about longevity,” they explain. “It’s about building lasting relationships based on trust and shared dreams. Each project is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to excellence and to earning your trust.”
Their meticulous construction approach recognizes that backyard pools are more than a luxury. These are the treasured meeting places where memories are made, family events are held, and new beginnings are celebrated.
That’s why they carefully inject personalized experience into all their customer pools.
When Michael, Patrick, and Casey make decisions collectively, they’re drawing on decades of family knowledge—lessons learned from their father Brian, refined across hundreds of projects, and tested against every soil condition and construction challenge California can throw at them.
Understand Realistic Timelines
Gunite pool construction takes time for good reasons.
The typical timeline runs two to three months, primarily because gunite requires at least 28 days to cure properly. While a fiberglass pool takes approximately two to three weeks, gunite’s longer timeline is necessary for proper curing and structural integrity.
Even when weather cooperates fully and construction proceeds smoothly without significant hitches, the process tests homeowner patience. Gunite pool construction is fundamentally a messy, disruptive process involving various crews performing noisy construction phases that go on for weeks or months.
Underground surprises like unstable fill soil, low water tables, or unexpected rock can trigger added costs and construction delays.
The Value of Transparent Communication
At Century Pools, they set realistic timeline expectations upfront and maintain transparent communication throughout the project.
This prevents homeowner frustration and project delays.
You deserve to know what’s happening and why. When unexpected soil conditions require additional excavation, you need to understand the reasoning behind the delay and the cost. When curing periods extend due to weather, you need clear explanations about why rushing would compromise your pool’s structural integrity.
This collaborative approach—where decisions are made collectively and homeowners understand the reasoning behind every choice—ensures each pool becomes exactly what the family envisioned.
Invest in Prevention, Not Repairs
Pool resurfacing costs $6,000 to $15,000 on average. Concrete pools require resurfacing every 10-15 years as the surface wears down.
If the entire interior needs resurfacing due to structural issues, costs can reach up to $20,000.
Small cracks cost $100 to $200 to repair. Large cracks, spiderweb cracks, bulges, or divots cost $700 to $1,000 because they’re more complex and time-consuming. The plaster commonly used on concrete pools has a tendency to crack or crumble and can be costly to repair.
Delaying pool repairs turns minor fixes into costly projects. A $200 leak repair that gets ignored can lead to structural damage costing thousands.
The pattern is clear: investing in professional services upfront leads to long-term cost savings and increased satisfaction.
What Proper Construction Prevents
When Century Pools excavates down to stable native soil, adjusts reinforcement layouts, and ensures proper gunite application, they’re preventing problems that won’t show up for years.
When they design infrastructure correctly from the start and integrate it seamlessly with the gunite shell, they’re eliminating the need for expensive repairs later.
When they take the time to cure gunite properly and apply it with precision around every curve and corner, they’re building a pool that lasts 50 years instead of failing in a decade.
These aren’t luxuries. These are the fundamentals of quality pool construction—the difference between a pool that becomes a treasured family gathering place and one that becomes a source of ongoing frustration and expense.
Partner With Experience That Spans Generations
Brian O’Neal started Century Pools with a shovel in hand and an unending passion for quality pool installation.
He supported his family members and was very proud of his heritage. He taught his sons to read soil conditions, to feel how earth responds under pressure, to notice the subtle signs that signal trouble ahead.
Now his three sons continue his legacy with the help of second-generation family members, building everything from celebrity mansions to local neighborhood hangouts—each project focused on building client trust, providing exceptional craftsmanship, and remaining at the forefront of custom pool innovation.
That multigenerational expertise is your protection against costly mistakes.
When you partner with Century Pools, you’re not just hiring a contractor. You’re accessing six decades of knowledge about California soil conditions, climate challenges, and construction techniques. You’re working with a team that makes decisions collectively, drawing on lessons learned across hundreds of projects.
You’re investing in a pool that becomes the place where your family creates memories, holds events, and celebrates new beginnings—not a source of regret and expensive repairs.
Building Your Dreams Since 1964
Century Pools offers a quality and affordable solution to escaping the California heat.
But more importantly, they offer the peace of mind that comes from working with professionals who understand that backyard pools are treasured meeting places—spaces that families cherish for generations.
The choice is yours: work with contractors who rush through projects to maximize volume, or partner with a family that treats every pool like it’s being built for their own backyard.
One approach leads to problems years down the road. The other leads to a pool that lasts decades and becomes the backdrop for your family’s most treasured memories.
Ready to build a pool the right way? Contact Century Pools in Orangevale, California, and discover what six decades of multigenerational expertise means for your backyard project.
