Installing a pool is both an exciting and harrowing prospect. Going through this installation process will mean a lot of thought and work. But as long as you are prepared to roll up your sleeves, you will be highly satisfied once you get to dip your toes into your clean new pool.
Make the Plans
As you begin the process of building a pool in your yard, you need to start with the obvious: Creating the plans. As you work with a pool architect to draft your pool plans, think carefully about where you want your pool to be dug. Take ample time to analyze the different areas in your backyard—consider how the sun hits those areas at different times of day. Consider when you anticipate spending the most time outside in the pool and how that area feels. Think about where any flood lines are and where any trees are that could drop leaves and other debris into the pool. Making this decision about the location of your pool is one of the most important in the whole process.
Digging the Pool
The next step is to actually dig the area where the pool will go. This process can take a short to a long time depending on the size of your team working on your pool project as well as the size of the project. But expect that the process will be multi-step and that it could also vary depending on anything found in your yard during the process of digging. It might be necessary to reroute some of your pipes if they find those pipes are in the way of where the pool is supposed to go.
Lay the Concrete
Once the digging is done, it’s time for the concrete. This is another step that varies significantly according to the team you have on the project as well as the scope of the project. Know that some types of concrete pouring tend to be more complicated than others. Different pool designs and different pool shapes can require more time as well. It’s also important for you to understand certain potential damage that comes with putting in the pool. In many instances, bringing in heavy equipment for various parts of pool installation can result in damage to grass and other parts of your yard. But while some damage is inevitable, know that there are some ways to bypass serious damage. For example, a concrete pump truck can move cement with pistons and tubes over obstacles like a fence. Talk to a concrete pumping service about areas you’re worried about damaging and create a preventative plan.
Install Electrical and Plumbing
In addition to laying the concrete, it will also be important to install the electrical and plumbing. This step is essential to the long life of your pool. Make sure that you have an expert on the job to check for any areas where floods could potentially develop and damage the pool’s surface or worse, the wiring and plumbing. Taking preemptive cautionary measures early on will make a big difference in your pool’s durability, not to mention aesthetic with beautiful pool lighting.
Add Fun Features
Adding fun features like waterslides or diving boards is an important part of your pool-building process. Because the work to build a pool is so extensive, it is much better to get all the features you want in your pool built the first time around. As you think about which features to consider adding, think carefully about your needs. You might find that having a hot tub is more conducive to the types of gatherings you will host. On the other hand, if you have young children, a waterslide is a fun feature that is perfect for all ages.
Think About Emergencies
As you prepare to have the fun but sobering responsibility of owning a pool, there are more things to think about as it relates to safety. If you have young children, it’s especially important that you verse them in pool safety. Make sure they understand not to run around the pool. Help them learn basic emergency protocol. But even more than that, if you’re still in the process of building your pool, there are things you can do to minimize danger. For example, you can add railings to pool entrances to help limit falls. Also, some pool covers are safer than others, so select wisely.
Add Lighting
Another important consideration to keep in mind is the lighting situation in and around the pool. As you think about the type of ambiance you want your pool to have, you might be interested in features such as tiny little lights in constellation-esque patterns at the bottom of the pool for a sparkling glow-y effect, or adding bistro lights. On the other hand, if you intend your pool to be a fun place for kids to be able to continue playing at night, brighter lights can improve visibility, especially if they are lining the sides of the pool. Finally, in addition to the pool’s interior lighting, you should be sure to think about how you hope to light the area around the pool to give your backyard and pool area the right kind of aesthetic.
Make the Patio Area Fun and Safe
Finally, as you wrap up the process of laying the pool and filling it with water, it’s easy to let your excitement overwhelm you. And while you’ve truly managed a lot, it’s important to not move too fast without thinking about the area directly surrounding the pool. If the area surrounding your pool isn’t well thought out, you might be seriously minimizing your pool’s functionality for you in the future. Make sure to make the sidewalk around the pool big enough to accommodate for the highest number of family members and guests you’d expect. Materials that are slip-resistant are best not only for the poolside but the patio as well.
Building a pool is perhaps one of the most all-encompassing yard projects that you can tackle. As you think more about building a pool in your yard, carefully consider all the pros and cons. Every decision you make will affect how your backyard getaway turns out!
Read this next: How to Design Your Home With Guests in Mind