Building Your Own Swimming Pool: A Quick Guide
Summer is most definitely here with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit most days. Consequently, it may have had you thinking about installing your own swimming pool in the backyard for somewhere to escape the extreme heat. Even if it isn’t built in time for this year’s heat wave, there are more than 5 reasons to get that summer swimming pool built now. If you have no idea where to start when it comes to installing your own pool, here is a quick guide of the steps you need to take.
Choose the Type of Pool
You will need to choose between vinyl-lined, concrete or fiberglass. Concrete is usually the most popular option as it can be custom built to fit virtually any shape and size. Once the concrete is poured, it is then smoothed and finished with tiles. Whilst it does take longer to build a swimming pool with concrete, it provides the added benefit of being extremely durable.
Vinyl pools are created by using a pre-made flexible liner attached to a steel or aluminum frame. However, you are limited as to the shapes you can pick from as they are usually rectangular or L-shaped. You do have a wider variety of colors and patterns to choose from but bear in mind that sharp objects can actually cause holes to appear in the liner.
Fiberglass pools are pre-made at the factory and must then be lifted into the excavated hole with a crane. This means they are the quickest of the three to install. Fiberglass pools are durable and stain resistant but as with vinyl pools, you are limited on the size and shapes that you can choose from.
Get More Than One Quote
Once you have decided on the type of pool you would like, make sure to shop around for a good price. There are many different factors that can influence a quote such as where you live, the quality of the soil, and even the time of year. Concrete is usually the most expensive option but there is not a lot of difference between concrete and vinyl. Make sure you have budgeted correctly as some people have been known to spend double what they had put aside.
Apply for a Building Permit
As with any renovation project, you will require a building permit before you start work on your pool. You will need to consider things like proximity to property lines, sewer lines, and septic tanks. You will also be required to install safety fencing which must be at least 4 feet tall with a self-closing gate. It would be wise to contact your local building department for a list of rules and regulations before you apply.
Consider the Location
Assuming you have had the go ahead, you will need to give consideration to the location of the pool. Make sure the pool will be in a sunny location away from trees. This way the pool can stay warm without being covered in falling leaves. It is also a good idea to have the pool within view of the house so that you can keep an eye on children swimming even whilst indoors.
Before jumping the gun and contracting the first swimming pool company you see, consider the points we have discussed first, and things will go swimmingly.