ORANGEVALE, CALIFORNIA — Century Pools, a multigenerational family-owned pool construction company serving California homeowners since 1964, today issued a definitive statement on professional pool construction standards in response to growing concerns about substandard residential pool installations that compromise homeowner investments and safety. The company’s leadership team, led by CEO Patrick O’Neal, outlined the critical differences between meticulous, generational-quality craftsmanship and code-minimum installations that lead to costly failures.
The announcement comes as California homeowners increasingly face expensive pool repairs stemming from construction shortcuts that seemed minor during installation but prove catastrophic over time. Century Pools’ stance addresses fundamental misconceptions in the residential pool market about what constitutes professional-grade construction versus rushed, profit-driven installations.
“The first thing we look at when we step onto a property is the soil and how it’s behaving,” explains the Century Pools team. “Signs like shifting or uneven ground, clay-heavy soil that expands and contracts with moisture changes, or slopes that need careful grading immediately tell us this project will require extra attention. Those early observations guide how we design the rebar framework, how we pour and cure the gunite, and what additional measures we take to make sure the pool isn’t just beautiful today but will hold up for decades.”
The Foundation Crisis: Why Soil Analysis Is Non-Negotiable
Century Pools takes a firm stance that proper soil analysis represents the single most critical factor separating pools that last generations from those requiring costly repairs within years. The company’s position directly challenges contractors who treat soil testing as an optional expense rather than essential engineering.
Industry data reveals the severity of this issue. Expansive clay soils can exert pressures of 5,000 to 10,000 pounds per square foot on pool shells, with the most expansive soils generating forces as high as 15,000 PSF. These pressures can lift an entire pool structure 1 to 3 inches out of level and cause severe cracking. In California’s Sonoma County, soils are assumed to be expansive unless proven otherwise through actual laboratory testing.
“When clay-heavy soil isn’t properly accounted for, it can create serious long-term problems,” the Century Pools team states. “Clay expands when it gets wet and contracts when it dries, which puts uneven pressure on the pool shell. If the pool isn’t reinforced correctly, you’ll start to see hairline cracks, plaster separating from the gunite, or even larger structural shifts over five or ten years. In some cases, coping stones can loosen, tile can pop, and the pool may require costly repairs just to stay functional.”
The company emphasizes that California Building Code requires soil testing and inspection services for pool construction, ensuring the ground being built on is competent and won’t adversely affect the structure in the future. A soil test is often required before a construction permit can even be obtained, protecting homeowners from building on unstable foundations.
Gunite Integrity Standards: Where Most Contractors Compromise
Century Pools has established clear standards for gunite shell construction that go beyond minimum code requirements. The company’s position clarifies that shortcuts in rebar placement and gunite application create structural vulnerabilities that homeowners cannot detect until significant damage occurs.
“Most homeowners don’t realize that the way rebar is placed can make or break a pool over time,” the Century Pools team explains. “At Century Pools, we carefully engineer each framework—spacing, tying, and positioning every piece of steel so it works with the gunite shell to handle soil movement and pressure. A contractor cutting corners might skip proper spacing, use thinner steel, or tie bars inconsistently. Those shortcuts might seem minor at the time, but over the years, they lead to cracks, uneven surfaces, and costly repairs.”
Research confirms Century Pools’ stance. Simple construction shortcuts like adding too much water to gunite during application or failing to adequately tie rebar in place can cause structural cracks that penetrate the entire pool shell. The first common engineering flaw in pool construction is failure to test soils and engineer the pool based on soil load bearing capacity and stability.
Properly constructed gunite pools feature 6 to 8 inches of sprayed concrete over rebar reinforcement, with an extra-wide bond beam at the top rim for added strength. When correctly installed with proper encasement and adequate steel tying, these shells are built stronger and thicker than the foundation of the house sitting next to them.
The Critical Curing Window: Where Quality Is Made or Lost
Century Pools takes an uncompromising position on the gunite curing process, identifying it as the phase where pool longevity is either secured or compromised before homeowners ever fill the structure with water.
“The curing process is absolutely critical,” states the Century Pools team. “Right after the gunite is sprayed, it’s still essentially concrete—it needs to hydrate and gain strength gradually. If it dries too quickly, cracks can form; if moisture isn’t properly maintained, the shell can weaken before it ever holds water. At Century Pools, we carefully control that process—keeping the gunite moist, sometimes covering it with curing blankets, and monitoring it day by day.”
The company’s stance is supported by industry evidence showing that failing to keep the pool sufficiently moist after concrete is sprayed—especially in hot climates or on hot days—will cause cracking that undermines decades of structural integrity. Shrinkage cracks commonly occur when concrete experiences excessive temperatures, improper curing, wind, or excess water in the concrete mix during the initial placement phase.
“That attention ensures the pool shell develops the full structural integrity it needs to withstand California’s soil and climate,” the team emphasizes. “It’s those early days of proper curing that separate a pool built to last decades from one that’s already compromised before it even opens.”
California Code Compliance: Protection Beyond Construction
Century Pools maintains that rigorous adherence to California building codes serves as essential protection for homeowners against future legal and safety issues. The company’s position challenges contractors who view permitting as bureaucratic obstacles rather than homeowner safeguards.
California law requires pool contractors to be licensed by the Contractors State License Board with a valid C-53 Swimming Pool Contractor license. Pool construction plans must be prepared by a civil or structural engineer licensed to practice in California, with design criteria including geologic, geographic, and topographic features, groundwater, soil conditions, and performance standards.
“I remember a homeowner who had a pool built by another contractor cutting corners,” recalls the Century Pools team. “They rushed the permit process and didn’t follow local building codes, and within a few years, the pool started shifting and developing cracks. The rebar wasn’t properly tied, the shell hadn’t been cured correctly, and drainage wasn’t addressed. By the time they called us, the repairs were extensive—resurfacing the shell, fixing structural issues, and correcting the drainage—all of which could have been avoided if the proper steps had been followed from the start.”
The financial and legal stakes are substantial. Building without proper permits can result in homeowners facing fines, being forced to remove or redo work, and experiencing issues when selling their home. Home insurance claims may be denied if the pool doesn’t meet local compliance standards. If someone injures themselves due to a pool design that doesn’t meet building code standards, they can sue the homeowner for damages.
Infrastructure Precision: The Hidden Time Bombs
Century Pools has taken a clear stance on plumbing and electrical infrastructure, identifying common shortcuts that create expensive problems years after installation. The company’s position emphasizes that invisible infrastructure requires the same meticulous attention as visible pool features.
“Plumbing and electrical work are the backbone of a pool, but most homeowners never see them—and that’s why they can become hidden time bombs,” states the Century Pools team. “The most common shortcuts we see are improper pipe placement, undersized lines, or poorly secured fittings, and in electrical work, running wires without proper conduit or using lower-quality materials. Those might seem harmless during construction because the pool fills and runs fine at first. But over time, pipes can leak, pumps lose efficiency, and electrical issues can surface that are expensive and disruptive to fix.”
The consequences of these shortcuts are severe. When concrete pools develop plumbing leaks, homeowners must tear out the concrete or patio area where water leaks occur in order to fix the problem—a costly and disruptive repair that could have been avoided through proper initial installation with correctly sized lines, properly secured fittings, and adequate conduit protection.
“At Century Pools, we make sure every line, every connection, and every wire is installed to last decades,” the team emphasizes, “because the infrastructure matters just as much as the surface you see.”
Pebble Finish Quality: The Daily Test of Craftsmanship
Century Pools has established specific quality markers for pebble finish application that distinguish professional craftsmanship from rushed installations. The company’s stance clarifies what homeowners should expect from the surface they touch and see every day.
“The pebble finish is what homeowners see and feel every day, and it’s a true test of craftsmanship,” explains the Century Pools team. “A professionally applied finish will be consistent in texture and color, smooth to the touch, and free of air pockets or exposed aggregate. Rushed work often shows inconsistencies—rough patches, uneven coloring, or areas where the pebbles aren’t properly bonded to the gunite. Over time, those shortcuts lead to chipping, scaling, and premature wear.”
The company’s position emphasizes that proper pebble finish application requires careful troweling, curing, and finishing to ensure the surface not only looks beautiful but holds up to years of use and California’s climate. This represents the difference between a pool that feels solid and inviting versus one that starts showing problems after just a few seasons.
Custom Features Require Engineering Precision
Century Pools takes a definitive stance that custom features like Cabo shelves require engineering precision rather than purely aesthetic treatment. The company’s position challenges the misconception that these features are simply design elements without structural implications.
“Cabo shelves might look like just a place to set a lounge chair, but they’re actually structural elements that interact with the entire pool shell,” states the Century Pools team. “If they’re treated as purely aesthetic without proper engineering, you can end up with cracking where the shelf meets the main pool, water pooling in unintended areas, or even long-term structural stress on the shell.”
Industry evidence supports this position. Shallow features like Baja shelves and sun shelves are especially vulnerable to expansive soil damage. When soils below these features become oversaturated, they can swell and cause shelves to heave 1 to 2 inches out of level, cracking where they intersect the main pool shell.
“At Century Pools, we treat every feature—Cabo shelves, spas, waterfalls—as part of the engineering plan, not just decoration,” the team emphasizes. “That ensures they’re fully integrated, safe, and built to last alongside the rest of the pool, rather than becoming a problem down the line.”
Multigenerational Accountability Drives Higher Standards
Century Pools’ stance on construction standards stems directly from the company’s multigenerational family ownership structure. Founded by Brian O’Neal in 1964, the company is now led by CEO Patrick O’Neal, who has guided the organization for 15 years alongside his brothers Michael and Casey, with second-generation family members continuing the legacy.
“Being a multigenerational pool contractor isn’t just about longevity; it’s about building lasting relationships based on trust and shared dreams,” the company states. “Each project is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to excellence and to earning your trust. We’re honored to continue our family legacy by creating spaces that families cherish for generations.”
This family legacy creates accountability that extends beyond quarterly profit motives. The company’s long-term business goal focuses on creating a sustainable business that will carry on over the years, while short-term objectives center on building more swimming pools than the previous year through quality reputation rather than corner-cutting volume.
“We know backyard pools are more than a luxury,” the Century Pools team explains. “These are the treasured meeting places where memories are made, family events are held, and new beginnings are celebrated. That is why we carefully inject personalized experience into all our customer pools.”
Investment Protection Framework
Century Pools’ comprehensive stance on construction standards ultimately serves as an investment protection framework for California homeowners. The company’s position clarifies that pools should enhance property value rather than become financial burdens.
Properly constructed pools are built stronger than house foundations, with average concrete pools containing more steel and thicker construction than the home’s foundation. When shell failures or deficiencies occur, almost all repair avenues become prohibitively expensive, threatening the homeowner’s investment rather than enhancing property value.
The company’s mission, “Building Your Dreams Since 1964,” and vision, “Our custom pools offer a quality and affordable solution to escaping the California heat,” reflect this investment protection philosophy. By establishing and maintaining professional construction standards that exceed code minimums, Century Pools positions each pool as a generational asset rather than a potential liability.
“It’s all about anticipating challenges before they become problems,” the Century Pools team concludes. “For us, every bar, every inch of gunite placement is intentional. It’s not just construction—it’s building a pool that will last generations, not just a few years.”
About Century Pools
Century Pools is a family-owned residential swimming pool construction company headquartered in Orangevale, California. Founded by Brian O’Neal in 1964, the company specializes in building custom gunite swimming pools for California homeowners. Now led by CEO Patrick O’Neal and his brothers Michael and Casey, with second-generation family members, Century Pools has grown from humble beginnings into the pool contractor of choice for projects ranging from celebrity mansions to neighborhood homes. The company’s commitment to meticulous construction, exceptional craftsmanship, and personalized customer experience has established Century Pools as a trusted name in residential pool construction for 60 years.
Media Contact:
Century Pools
Orangevale, California
Phone: [Contact Number]
Email: [Contact Email]
Website: [Company Website]
