If you’re considering building a swimming pool, there are several important questions you should start with. Simply knowing you want to be able to walk out your back door and go for a swim can still leave a lot of unknowns like what type of pool is the best fit for your property, budget, and lifestyle. Additionally, you’ll want to consider what level of upkeep you’re most comfortable with. Do you desire a very low maintenance pool or are you willing to work a bit harder at the upkeep? Let’s take a look at the top eight questions we recommend pool shoppers consider before buying.
- How soon do you want to have your swimming pool?
When most people arrive at the conclusion that they want to build a swimming pool, they want it as soon as possible. Right now, pool companies having experienced a sudden and drastic uptick in business due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing public pool closures canceled vacations, and forcing more people to spend time at their home base. If you want a swimming pool by next summer, this may already eliminate many of your pool company options. However, if you’re willing to wait a year or more, you have a better chance of getting exactly what you want.
- What type of pool material do you like best?
Vinyl, fiberglass, and gunite (concrete) are the most common materials used to build a swimming pool. Each has its unique benefits and limitations. If you want a certain size, shape, or features, vinyl and fiberglass pools are the most limited in these options. But they also typically come at a lower price tag than gunite. Aquavisions builds exclusively with gunite and all of our pools are custom designs with custom features. Speaking with pool companies, pool owners you know, and doing your research will help you answer this question.
- How large of a swimming pool do you want?
A gunite swimming pool has virtually no limitations with size or shape. Fiberglass pools are limited by size because they are delivered and installed in all one piece. Vinyl is typically square, and though it can have some free form designs, these are not custom created.
- What’s your budget?
Really get serious about your budget, and leave some wiggle room for changes or upgrades you may wish to make along the way. An Aquavisions custom gunite swimming pool usually begins at $100,000. If your budget is lower than that, a vinyl or fiberglass pool may be a better fit for your project.
- Does this budget include hardscaping?
Beyond just the swimming pool, you will want to finish the area around your pool with some type of hardscaping which includes patios, an outdoor kitchen, or other outdoor structures like a pool house or gazebo. Be sure your all-in budget includes hardscaping so your project looks complete and is fully functional. At a minimum, you will want some patio space around your pool for pool furniture.
- What features do you want in a pool?
Consider the features that are most important to you. Do you want a self-cleaning pool? Then gunite is your best option. Do you want a heated pool, built-in spa, fire features, a waterfall, slide, or infinity edge? Or maybe you want a simple pool with none of these features. Get in touch with what you really want so you can have an open discussion with your pool company about expectations and budget.
- What level of pool maintenance do you desire?
Each style of swimming pool (gunite/concrete, vinyl liner, fiberglass) installation has it’s own advantages and challenges when it comes to short term and long term maintenance. In addition, every pool company has it’s own recommendations and comfort levels with what particular systems they offer. It is important to discuss with your pool professional what these benefits and limitations might be. Our goal at Aquavisions is to provide our customers with the lowest maintenance system possible so you can work less and enjoy the pool more. Being a smaller custom builder gives us the flexibility to recommend a variety of unique systems that make pool ownership as simple as possible. In-floor cleaning systems paired with salt/chlorine generators are extremely popular with our clients.
- What’s most important to you about your pool building experience?
And finally, when you go to build your swimming pool, what do you value most? Beyond the finished product of the pool alone, consider how you want your building process to go. When working with a professional and reputable pool company you can expect your project to be handled with a high level of customer service and reliability. Cutting corners now could result in many headaches down the road. Just one more thing to consider!
Taking the time to sit down and think through your own answers to these eight questions will help manage expectations and point you toward the best pool company to fit your needs. Then, when you do start having serious discussions with your pool company, you can be that much further ahead in your pool design process to get you in the right pool at the right time.
Interested in building with Aquavisions? The best place to start is with our customer assessment. Click here to take it today.