Has owning a swimming pool at home always been a part of your bucket-list? If yes, then perhaps this year is the time to start the planning to fulfill your dream. But there are some essential details that you need to be aware of before you start the planning process.
Things to consider about building a pool
If you are at the stage of making a firm decision about whether to add a pool to your home, here are some issues that you need to consider before making that decision:
Do you have sufficient budget?
It’s important to know right from the start that the cost of adding a pool to the home is not just the cost of the actual pool. A family size inground concrete pool will likely cost something in the range of $35,000 to $55,000, but on top of that there will be pool pumps and filtration units to buy as well, patio areas around the pool to construct and outdoor furniture to be purchased for those patio areas. Even the cost of landscaping around the patios needs to be taken into account too.
Pool fencing is another big cost, and in some places there are very specific safety regulations relating to the construction of pool fences, which can add to the overall cost quite considerably.
Why do you need a pool?
A pool is a big investment and it costs a lot to keep it maintained on an ongoing basis. Therefore it’s important to have a valid reason or purpose behind this investment because it should explain and justify the decision to spend so much money. It may be that you simply want to beautify the garden view and add value to the property. Or perhaps you need it for exercise because you live far from a gym. Or will it be a source of recreation and relaxation for the family because you live a long way from beaches or public pools?
There’s no right or wrong reason. It’s just that you need to understand the reason behind the investment because that will ultimately determine how much you should spend on it.
Is my property suitable for a pool?
Swimming pools are generally easier to build on a level site or, depending on the design, on gently sloping sites. That’s not to say they can’t be built on steeply sloping sites, but in those circumstances the cost will be very much higher. Factors to consider here include the type of soil and the ease with which it can be excavated (pools on rocky sites can get very expensive), whether the site is susceptible to earthquakes or flooding, and accessibility from the road to the site where the pool will be built.
Another factor to consider is the number of trees in the garden around the pool. A large number of trees will mean more cleaning of fallen leaves is required, and higher costs for chlorination because fallen leaves introduce dust into the pool.
Determining the best position
Factors to be considered here include:
- The view from the street and from inside the house and whether that is pleasing to the eye taking into account the architectural style of the house.
- The best position that will maximize exposure to the sun in cool climates or minimize the exposure in hot climates. In tropical climates, usually pools require a shadecover.
- The direction of the prevailing wind during summer because the wind contributes to the evaporation of the water as much as the sun does.
- Whether there is room for a small patio area or decking around the pool for relaxation and spending time with family or guests after swimming.
- Whether there is any intention to build a small changing room or provide an outdoor shower if you don’t want children or guests in wet swim clothes coming inside the house.
- Whether there are any local government or community bylaws that may impact on where the pool can be positioned.
- Whether there are any underground services such as sewerage, water supply or electricity that have to be avoided (or relocated) when building the pool.
- Is there a location close to the pool but out of sight where the pool pumps and filtration equipment can be located (and the noise from which not disturb neighbors).
Once all these factors have been considered and satisfactory answers obtained, you’ll be ready to move on to the next steps in the planning processes to achieve your dream of having a pool at home. Be aware that most people under-estimate the budget required to build a pool. But then again, they often also under-estimate the pleasure that a home pool can bring as well!