Budget

Swimming pools come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and finishes — and that’s before you consider the landscaping options surrounding them. There is a pool to suit all budgets, but you should have a guideline budget in place before you start looking at the various options available.

Ask Questions

The more information and knowledge you have about the options available and more importantly the process of planning, designing, and installing a pool, the better chance you will have of receiving a product you love and having a smooth installation. Your pool builder should be able to talk you through the details, but it’s still a good idea to do plenty of research and ask questions as much as possible — especially when it comes to permits and planning permissions, which can be complex.

Balancing Function and Form

While the visual aesthetic of your pool will likely be your main consideration, it’s important not to disregard the ‘behind-the-scenes’ hardware. A swimming pool is a complex piece of equipment and the non-visual aspects like the pumps, drainage, filters, and chemical systems will have a huge impact on the amount of time your pool will last and your maintenance efforts and costs.

Size and Shape

The size and shape of your pool are one of the first decisions you should consider and make. When deciding on the size and shape of your pool, you have to take into account the amount of yard space you have available, but more importantly what the intended purpose will be. If you want to actively swim, for instance, the pool will need to be longer, rectangular, and have an uninterrupted swimming corridor. However, if you wish to use it for relaxation it may be smaller and have built-in underwater benches. You should also consider the number of people that will be using the pool — a family of 2 – 3 won’t need as large a pool as a family of 5 – 6.

Materials

Pools are available in a variety of materials, and choosing the right one can have a significant impact on your budget and installation times. Concrete pools, for example, cost substantially more than their fibreglass counterparts and also take much longer to install — 3 – 6 months including curing time compared to 3 – 6 weeks.

Placement

Finding the ideal location within your yard for your swimming pool should be given extra special attention. In addition to possible regulatory requirements (distance from property lines, fencing requirements, drainage, etc), there are a number of other factors to consider as well.

Placing the pool in an area with maximum sun exposure (for both relaxing and keeping the water warm) and with minimum wind exposure is obviously best. But if for example, you have children it’s a good idea to have the pool located within the sight lines of the house interior. You should also consider where the pool will be located in relation to storage facilities for filtration equipment, cleaning supplies, toys, etc, and other yard features e.g. barbecues.

Landscaping

Pools aren’t just about the water. Landscaping is often forgotten about when people are planning and considering a new pool, but it’s a vital element in creating your perfect backyard space. The options are endless, from a patio area surrounding the pool itself to an entire backyard redesign to create a relaxing poolside oasis.