So you've decided to take the plunge! Installing a swimming pool isn't an easy decision. There is plenty of advice out there telling you not to do it. But I'm not here to lecture you about that. I'm here to tell you I understand and encourage you to do it! If you're like me, you just don't care about the advice. You care more about what a pool would mean for your life. Your family wants a swimming pool, you've got kids that love to swim, you love the sound of running water and the option to take a floating nap.
Now that you know that you want a pool, it’s important to make sure that you’re getting exactly what you want before you invest the time, money, and labor required to install a new pool. For those reasons, you should take several things into account when you’re designing the perfect pool for your home.
Materials
There are several different materials contractors use to build pools, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses:
Concrete
Concrete pools, also called “gunnite” or “shotcrete,” are the most popular types of pool. Unfortunately, they’re also the most expensive. Once the concrete has been poured and cured, contractors plaster it, smooth it out, and then paint the walls. The benefit of concrete is that it’s the most versatile when it comes to shape. It allows you to build your pool in just about any design or shape. It’s also the most durable material for pools, and can even be enlarged or updated later on.
Vinyl
Vinyl pools are made from a one-piece liner attached to a steel or aluminum frame. They are cheaper than concrete, but also are more susceptible to damage. Sharp toys, or even pets’ claws, can accidentally tear a hole in the vinyl that will need to be repaired. They can be installed more quickly than concrete pools, but they come in a more limited range of shapes and sizes. If you install a vinyl pool, make sure to get a more durable liner, at least 20 mm thick.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass pools are the least expensive, but they are also the least versatile. They can be installed quickly, often in as little as three days, but they are made in hard, factory-molded shapes that can’t be altered. Fiberglass is the most affordable option, but it is also the least customizable.
Size and Location in Your Yard
Installing a pool means you will be repurposing a portion of your backyard, so it’s important for you to decide beforehand exactly how much you are willing to give up. Don’t forget to factor in walking areas alongside the pool, as well as the plumbing requirements to fill and drain the pool. Depending on the type of ground you will be building on, the depth of the pool can also have a significant impact on price. If you have bedrock below a certain point, you may not be able to install a pool that is as deep as you’d like.
Layout/Shape
Depending on the material you have chosen, you may have quite a number of design options or just a few to choose from. The classic rectangle is one of the most popular pools, typically considered more formal than other designs. But rectangles aren’t the only option. Ovals, L-shapes, and “figure 8” pools are all popular. Kidney-shaped pools are also a popular choice, because they fit into a lot of different backyard configurations.
You have many more layout options if you are working with a concrete pool, so don’t let yourself be pigeonholed into a particular design. If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you’re not restricted to the designs that pool builders in Dallas-Fort Worth tend to gravitate toward. You can do some research online, find the most beautifulinground pools in Houston, Miami or even Australia if you want. Show them to the builder you choose to work with and see if they can make it happen. Your swimming pool is just that—yours, so feel free to explore a lot of different possibilities.
Features
Once the main body of the pool is designed, you still have a wide range of features to choose from. Do you want to have a diving board in the deep end? What about a slide? Perhaps you want to include a grotto at one end with a waterfall. You can even include landscaping tailored to the area around the pool, and plants, depending on the climate. In the end, you can be as extravagant or as conservative as you want with features, so design a pool that works for you.
