Before we can break ground, we take important steps to prepare your property for a smooth and safe construction process. Site Preparation is all about protecting your property, complying with regulations, and making sure everything is in place for the excavation crew.
What Our Crew Will Do
Erosion & Sediment Control
We install a silt fence around the work area to prevent soil removed during excavation from washing into neighboring properties, streets, or drains. This is an important environmental protection step that’s required in all municipalities.
If indicated in the construction plans, we install a temporary gravel entrance to help prevent dirt and mud from the excavation from being dragged onto the streets. The disposition of this temporary entrance at the end of the job varies depending on the agreed terms of your construction contract.
Waterfront properties on Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County may further require a floating turbidity curtain to prevent pollution of the water.
Safety Perimeter
If required, we set up an orange safety fence around the work zone. This serves two purposes: it clearly marks the construction boundary and discourages unauthorized access, especially for children and pets.
From now on, keep children, pets, and visitors away from the work area at all times, throughout the entire construction phase. The work area is not safe for you.
Equipment Access
We’ll verify that we have clear and sufficient access for workers and earth moving equipment. If access requires temporary removal of gates or fence panels, temporary relocation of A/C units or any other such alterations that have been specifically included in our scope of work and proposal, we will immediately proceed to their implementation. If such alterations are required but have not been contracted to AQUAVIX, you must make arrangements to have them implemented promptly to avoid delays. We will not be able to schedule excavation until all site preparation tasks have been completed.
Tree Protection
If our construction plans calls for the protection of specific trees in the property and such protection has been included in our proposal and scope of work, AQUAVIX will install a protective wooden fencer around each tree that requires protection.
Underground Utility Marking
We call Sunshine 811 to re-mark underground utilities right before excavation. Even if utilities were previously marked during the engineering phase of the project, conditions can change — so we verify everything to prevent damage to water, sewer, electric, gas, and telecom lines.
Permit Card and Signage.
As required by municipalities in general, we display on the job site, typically on a post, wall or fence, a copy of the building permit issued by the municipality. We also install at the front of the property an AQUAVIX Pools sign so neighbors know who’s responsible for the pool construction work and are able to contact us in case they feel the need to reach us with any concerns.
Depending on the scope of work and job complexity, we may also install additional AQUAVIX signs on the job site to indicate locations for material staging and debris collection. Construction debris is collected and properly disposed of on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. This keeps the site safer, minimizes hazards, and helps your property look as orderly as possible during construction. In job sites where other contractors are working simultaneously, these signs help ensure debris from other activities are not mixed in with debris from our pool constructions activities. AQUAVIX is only responsible for the debris generated by its ownpool construction activities.
Equipment Delivery.
Excavation equipment typically consist of an excavator and a skid steer or loader. We often have them delivered to the job site a day or two prior to the start of excavation.
Please note that we cannot schedule excavation until all site preparation tasks have been completed by both our crews and the homeowner.
Homeower Responsibilities
Clear Work Area
Remove all vehicles, furniture, pots, furnishings and toys from the work area. AQUAVIX is not responsible for damage to any items left in the general constructions area.
Cover Patio Furniture
Any patio furniture left outside, away from the construction area, should be covered to protect against the high volume of dust generated by excavation and other earth moving activities.
Remove Garden Hose
Remove your garden hose and store it away. AQUAVIX will provide a water hose to be used for construction.
Plan for Safety
From now on, keep children, pets, and visitors away from the work area AT ALL TIMES, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. The safety fencing helps, but awareness is important. THE WORK AREA IS NOT SAFE FOR NON-WORKERS.
Clear Access to Work Area
If access requires temporary removal of gates or fence panels, temporary relocation of A/C units or any other such alterations that have not been specifically included in our scope of work and proposal, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to make such arrangements.We will not be able to schedule excavation until all site preparation tasks have been completed.
Tree Protection
If the protection of specific trees in the property has not been specifically included in our proposal and scope of work, and the client wishes to have such protection in place, the client should make arrangements to have protective wood fences installed around these trees before start of excavation.
Let Your Neighbors Know
It is good practice from homeowners to let their immediate neighbors know that construction is about to start. During construction, there will be additional traffic, parked vehicles, and construction noise. Let them know all the work is being done with building permits by a reputable, responsible contractor. If dewatering is required, this is particularly important. If they have concerns or complaints, they should fee free to reach us directly.
Advise Other Contractors
If there are other contractors working on the property, kindly ask them to take care of their own construction debris and trash. We are not responsible fo the collection of debris and trash left over by others. The area we designate for our trash is for our own trash only, and we’ll make sure it remains neat and clean.
Avoid Direct Communication with Workers
If you have any concerns or questions about work scheduling, how a task is being or has been performed, or any site management issues, please contact AQUAVIX Operations or our Project Manager. We kindly request that you do not discuss these issues with our workers or sub-contractors directly. They may not be qualified to properly answer to your question or may provide incomplete, confusing or incorrect information.
Next Steps
Once site preparation is complete, we move to Phase C1 — Excavation, where your pool begins to take shape.
Please note that we cannot schedule excavation until all site preparation tasks have been completed by both our crews and the homeowner.