7 tips to consider before adding a pool to your home
Deciding to put in a pool in the house can be very exciting. Just picturing that early morning swim before breakfast, and maybe a midnight dip in the waters may give you goosebumps. The good kind, of course.
However, getting a pool in your home can be quite hectic. There is a lot you need to figure out before getting some professionals to install a swimming pool in your home.
To save you from some trouble later on, here are some things you should ponder over before getting a swimming pool installation.
Is Your Property Up For It?
If your mind is made up about the pool, you should start by getting an inspection of your property.
You see, swimming pools are easier to build on a leveled and solid surface. That is not the case for a lot of homes out there. If the land under your property is not straight, it may become more costly for you to build a pool.
Other than that, factors like a high water table and rocky, sandy, or unstable soil conditions can also make things more challenging.
Therefore, you need to find out whether or not your property is up for the challenge.
Furthermore, you should also find out if there are any rules or regulations that may come in between you and getting a nice pool for your home. If you find out later that there are, you may lose a lot of money and won’t have a pool.
Think About Where to Put the Pool
You and your family may have already given this quite a thought. Now you just tell the builders and start the process, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Where you want the pool to be surely matters, but you need to find out whether it’s possible or not. To do that, get in touch with the proper authorities and find out the exact minimum you need to meet for a pool. These would include proximity to the stormwater drains, pool fencing, and site coverage allowance.
Other than that, you should also find out where all the essential utility lines are running around your home. This would be the gas, electrical, water, cable, internet, and even telephone. For instance, you can’t build a pool in the ground if there is a gas line running through the area.
Furthermore, you should consider sun exposure, wind exposure, nearby storage, and accessibility to the pool.
Above Or In the Ground?
Another big question you need to look into is whether you want a pool inside the ground or above it.
Again, while you may have a preference, it’s not always possible to get exactly what you want. If your pool budget is a little tight and the conditions aren’t favorable, you may want to look into an above-ground pool.
On the other hand, getting an in-ground swimming pool may look much better with your home décor. Not to mention, an in-ground swimming pool has more of a permanent feel to it.
The cheapest option you may have is a pre-fabricated above-ground pool. There are many DIY models that you can quickly assemble yourself in your backyard. However, they only serve a functional purpose. These pools don’t really have anything going for them in the appearance section.
Basically, the more money you put into it, the better pool you can have in your home.
Concrete OR Fiberglass?
With pools, the most popular materials are concrete and fiberglass.
Fiberglass is an excellent material that is considered to be both strong and durable. Therefore, it can be a great choice for your pool. Furthermore, you may be able to get your swimming pool in under a week with fiberglass. However, you don’t get much room for creativity or flexibility with these pools.
Getting a concrete pool, on the other hand, can take quite a long time. Even if the weather conditions are favorable and everything goes according to plan, it may take a couple of months to get the pool ready.
However, a concrete pool is the more popular choice for those who have the time and money. The reason is that concrete offers you a great deal of flexibility.
You can get any shape, size, and depth with a concrete pool. You can even get the finishing of your choice. Furthermore, you can cover the interior with tiles, pebbles, quartz, paint, vinyl, marble, or any other suitable material.
Cost of a Pool
Before getting too excited about a pool, it would be good to have a budget in mind. Seeing as these pools can cost thousands of dollars, it’s not a decision you should make lightly.
When you get a pool, you don’t only get a pool. You may also need to pay for covers, landscaping, decking, heating or cooling systems, and much more.
Then, you need to consider the maintenance and upkeep costs. These would be the filters, pumps, chemicals, suction cleaners, self-cleaning units, and many other things.
You may also need to do more significant maintenance every few years to keep your pool in tip-top condition. For instance, your concrete pool may need to be resurfaced or re-plastered every ten years. It may also need an acid wash every four years.
Consider the Surroundings
After you finally decide everything relating to the pool, it’s time to think about what goes around it.
You could get a pool that is surrounded by a tiled or bricked surface with pool furniture everywhere. You could also look into a wooden deck on one side and greenery on all other sides. Here, you can start pulling pictures from the internet or bring out your inner home designer.
In this part of the process, you should seriously consider the space you have and the current surroundings of the area. That should narrow down your options and help you decide better.
Also, make sure you go for something practical rather than just aesthetically pleasing. It’s nice to have the best of both worlds.