With so many options and decisions to make, constructing or installing a pool can feel overwhelming. They cost tens of thousands of dollars and can affect both the aesthetic of your outdoor space and the value of your home. There is a lot of research that you need to do before buying one and a lot of decisions that need to be made. Before you get started, here are the most important pool considerations to help you make the best choice for your backyard.
Why do I want a pool?
Understanding why you want a pool will help you choose the best design and location for your pool and help you select what meets your needs. Whether it is for exercise, relaxation, sports, entertainment, enhancing the property value and aesthetics or a combination of these reasons, being clear about the purpose of your pool will help you understand what it is you will be investing in.
A great way to identify what will suit is to gather your household together and discuss and make notes on what each person is wanting out of having a pool, weighing up the pros and cons with the options and then outlining your needs and your desires.
.jpg)
Where is the best spot for our pool?
There are two aspects to address here. When considering where, on a larger scale we have to consider where our home is and geographically what type of weather and environmental conditions will affect how we can use the pool and what it may then require. If living in a location that experiences cooler climates, you would consider enclosures to prolong the pool season. In milder climates, swimming pool covers can slow evaporation, deter leaves and debris, or protect the pool when not in use.
The other decision is where you would want your pool situated on your property. If you have a sprawling estate, our biggest considerations are where on your vast property you want to place your swimming pool or spa. Depending on your budget, your options can be almost endless. For those of us with smaller lots, it may take some creativity, special design, and compromise to make a swimming pool or spa work for your outdoor space. For the more common smaller blocks, you may want to consider building the pool in an area that won’t section off a large area of your backyard. Build against the property boundary so you are using existing boundary fence as part of pool fence detail and you are not wasting any areas as useless space. In addition to your yard's size, consider the slope, soil type and accessibility for construction equipment and most relevant the zoning restrictions that will affect your options.
What is your Budget?
You may already know what you’re willing to spend on a new swimming pool or you may know what you want out of your pool and to spare no expense. Whichever way you approach this, we can help provide you a better idea of what your project will cost or what you can afford to build knowing one or the other. Setting a budget however, will help you stay on track and give you parameters to work within.
It would cost $55,000 approximately for a concrete pool and $35,000 for a pool made of fiberglass composite. As well as that, there are several other expenditures to consider including construction costs, heating components, landscaping, decking, fencing, shading and any other special features or surrounding amenities that you may want to include. In some instances, there will be components that you won’t need to add straight away and in others, there will be features that are more practical to have installed with your new pool as they could be rather costly to add on later.
What extras do you want and need?
This can very much be dependent on your budget but having an idea of what are your needs and desirables can help with your planning. You may find that you have a few options that you would consider which is always a good thing to have.
Do you want palms shading you from the afternoon heat or a pebble border around your pool? Would you want coping, decking, and borders helping your pool stand out? The materials used can vary, you may want stone, concrete, ceramic or glass elements just to name a few. Would you want to add water features like a fountain or waterfall, lighting, and other accessories within your pool? Would you be wanting entertaining areas, decks, patios, lounging areas and all the components that then come with those options?
Spending some time doing your research online and finding design and styles you like is a great way to start. Essentially you would want to design the pool so it’s an extension of the architecture of your home. Our specialists will be able to help provide you advice as to what will and wont work well for you and how it will affect your use of the area.
How will you maintain your pool?
The largest maintenance expense is a pool's interior finish. Vinyl liners last approximately 6-10 years, and painted concrete needs a new coat approximately every five years. A plaster finish could last 10-15 years. Many of the new cement-coated products such as Pebble Tec are meant to last a lifetime. This can be the decider of how much you want to pay for your pool upfront as opposed to paying more later.
Every pool comes with the responsibility of maintenance. You need to ensure that your pool is energy-efficient with substantial filtration and sound hydraulics. Other kits include the usage of adequate skimmers, variable speed pumps, pool pump enclosures, larger pipes, sanitizers, chlorinators and more. Equipment life spans vary tremendously by brand and quality. Other elements such as proper water chemistry and location of equipment can affect the material's life span.
Are you up for the time commitment and monthly costs of maintaining your pool? Can you afford to hire a monthly pool maintenance service to do the dirty work for you? It is worth it to research local rates and learn about all that's entailed in maintaining a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub. Even though these are things that you won’t need to address immediately, it does play a huge factor as to what type of pool you would select to build.
Lastly do know that the process of preparing and building your new pool can be a lengthy process. If you are going into spring now hoping to have it ready for summer, you may be in for disappointment. Nevertheless, any day of the year is a good time to start as this investment is something you will have to enjoy for many years to come. If you are ready to take the plunge and get started on your new pool, get in touch with us at Auscape Exterior Transformations and we can get you on your way to transforming your outdoors with a new pool.