With summer just around the corner, many people are already thinking ahead to the things they can do to enjoy the warmer weather. While some people like to travel and others like to get out and ride their bikes, others love the idea of spending hot summer days by the pool. If you’re an avid swimmer, having a pool of your own probably sounds like an absolute dream. But having a pool installed at home can be very expensive and requires a lot of upkeep. If you’re thinking of adding a pool to your property, here are a few very important things you should think about first.
Budget
It’s no secret that pools can be very expensive. Many different factors play into the total cost of a pool, but before you get too far into planning the pool of your dreams, it’s best to figure out exactly how much you can afford to spend. Once you know your budget, you’ll have a better idea of what your options are. You don’t want to get your heart set on an in-ground pool when your budget only allows for an above-ground pool. And don’t forget to plan for the costs beyond having the pool built! Pools require a lot of ongoing maintenance and repairs, so you’ll need to get an idea of how much you can expect those to be. Don’t forget the cost of any pool-related accessories you might want to have!
Why You Want a Pool
This may seem like an obvious point to make, but many homeowners don’t stop to think about what exactly it is they want to get out of their pool. It’s very important to think about this because it will help you better plan your design. For example, are you planning to use your pool more for exercise or more for recreation? If you want to be able to swim laps for exercise every day, a rectangular pool would be a better choice for you. But if you just want to be able to have fun with your family, you can get more creative about what shape your pool is.
Local Zoning Rules
Before you get too caught up in the planning process, check with your city to see if there are any particular zoning rules about pools on residential properties you need to be aware of. Local zoning regulations can potentially make a big impact on your pool’s design. Depending on what your city’s rules are, you might have to deal with restrictions like how closely pools can be placed to your property line, requirements for fences around a pool, or how deep pools can be.
Insurance and Safety Measures
While pools can be very fun, they can also be very dangerous if proper precautions aren’t taken. You’ll need to let your homeowner’s insurance provider know that you’re adding a pool to your property, which could mean higher premiums, so that’s another cost you’ll need to plan for. Protective fences are very often mandatory. If you have young kids, you may want to consider other safety measures like water alarms and covers for extra protection.
Location
Before you start work on having a pool constructed in your yard, outline exactly how large it will be and where it will be placed. Leave that outline in place for a couple of days. This will help give you a better idea of the kind of impact the pool will have in your yard. Maybe you thought your pool would be a comfortable size, but once you really see how much space it would occupy in your yard, you may want to reconsider your plans. Also, be sure to look for other factors that could impact how much enjoyment you get out of your pool, like overhanging trees that could force you to spend a lot of time skimming leaves out of the water.
