Wishing you had a pool but think it’s too late in the swimming season?
Just because this summer is drawing to a close doesn’t mean you can’t start thinking about next year.
Pools provide exercise, relaxation and great family time.
Installing a pool shouldn’t be a spur of the moment decision. It’s a large investment that will require time and effort to maintain.
The end of summer or early fall are the best times to start planning for a pool the following spring.
Here’s what the process looks like.
Answer the important questions
You need to have an answer for each of these before you’re ready to move forward with the pool planning:
Do you have adequate space for a pool? Is your yard large enough and well-suited for it?
Are there any zoning restrictions that you should be aware of?
What’s your budget?
Can you adequately maintain the pool or afford to hire someone to do it?
What’s the main purpose? Exercise? Entertaining? Lounging? Do you have children?
What insurance and safety concerns are involved?
Types of pools
Above ground pools can be one of three main types including:
Resin. The advantage of resin is that it won’t rust or corrode and they are less likely to warp or dent. It’s a durable material that will last for a long time.
Steel. These very strong pools are considered to be the best on the market.
Hybrid. You get the best of both worlds with a hybrid pool. It’s made of resin and steel, with the advantages of both.
In-ground pools also come in three main types:
Fiberglass pools require fewer chemicals due to their smooth, non-porous surface. They are factory molded and set into a pre-dug hole by a crane. Your choice of shapes is limited, but installation is much quicker.
Vinyl pools have a flexible liner that attaches to a frame that’s made of polymer, steel or aluminum. Vinyl liners come in a large variety of patterns and colors, however, they’re vulnerable to being punctured by sharp objects. You’ll have more design flexibility when you go with vinyl.
Concrete pools are custom-built and can be just about any shape you want. It takes much longer to install a concrete pool and it’s quite porous, requiring more chemicals, but they are also the most durable. They will need to be resurfaced every 10 or 20 years.
Gathering ideas
While the type of pool you get will depend on your budget, take the time to do some research and find what you like.
Use resources like pool magazines and web searches to help you narrow down your options.
Sites like Pinterest are chock full of ideas for you to pore over.
Visiting a reputable pool store will allow you to ask questions and get information that you can’t get anywhere else.
Expertise matters! Remember, a pool is a big investment.
Get estimates
One of the best resources you have is your group of family and friends who have pools.
Ask them who they worked with, what they liked and what they didn’t. Would they work with them again? Do they still use the company for routine maintenance?
Once you’ve created a list, set about visiting each business, ask to see their portfolios of past work and get an estimate.
Ask a lot of questions and never go with a company you don’t feel comfortable with just because their price tag seems a bit cheaper.
After all, you get what you pay for!
Planning ahead
Starting the pool planning process now for an installation next summer allows you the time to do the proper research and find a company you feel good about.
It also gives you enough time to be sure that you’re getting exactly what you want for many future summers of fun with family and friends.
We’d love for you to get in touch with us here at Family Pools and Spas so that we can help you start planning!
What aspect of planning for your new pool seems confusing to you?
