During the summer months do you find yourself daydreaming about lounging beside your own pool? Or maybe you belong to a community pool, but have realized that it’s not the most convenient or relaxing option for you and your family. No matter where you are in the process of wanting to build a pool, the good news is there is a fairly simple path to follow to move you from dream to reality. Take a look!
Time Frame
The first thing you need to determine when considering building a pool is what is a reasonable time frame for completing this project? Several factors will help determine this. First, how anxious are you to have your pool open and ready for swimmers? If you want to be enjoying your pool for the full length of the next swimming season, you’ll want to break ground in early spring – as soon as Mother Nature allows.’ This may mean planning out the details of your project the year before you start digging!
For a custom gunite swimming pool, it can take an average of two to six months from breaking ground through completing the finishing touches. This can vary depending upon the size and complexity of your project as well as if you plan to include hardscaping and landscaping into your final plan.
It’s important to be realistic with your expectations for your pool project’s time frame. In the end, it’s always worth the wait to fully think through your project, save up the necessary funds and do things right the first time!
Budget
Your budget and time frame are closely linked because your financial situation may change from year to year. This is why the second piece of the process is to develop a comprehensive budget for your project. Beyond just the pool, you’ll want to budget for fencing, landscaping, hardscaping and any upgrades you may wish to have the option to add. Planning and knowing what upgrades you want incorporated into your project before you start or as you are building is usually a lot more cost-effective than trying to go back and add them at a later date.
Additionally, with a solid budget in place you will have a realistic idea of what you can afford and where you may need to scale back. This helps you to avoid surprise costs and reduce undue financial stress throughout the course of your project.
Wish List
Once you have a time frame and budget, you’re ready to list out all the features you want in your backyard retreat. Many of these features will pertain to your pool, but don’t forget to consider what you desire from your landscaping, hardscaping, pool furniture and accessories.
Now comes the hard part. You’ll need to narrow down this list quite a bit and prioritize what you “must have” versus what you can compromise on. This wish list will be a key item to bring with you to any meetings with potential pool companies, which brings us to the next point.
Interview Pool Companies
Every pool company offers something a little different. We all have different strengths and specialties. With a budget and wish list in hand, you should plan to speak with two or three different pool companies to get a feel for their style and what they can offer. You should find that one pool company that seems to rise to the top as the best match for your project. You want to be highly confident that whatever company you choose can deliver the project you envision, while sticking to your budget. You also want to be sure they are trustworthy, professional and recommended by past clients.
*Stephanie…can we tie in the interview and design sections together. I think a company that does well thought out, smart design that is customer centered is an important part of the interview.
Design
Once you select your pool company, they will take your wish list and property specs and transform this into your dream pool design. This is where you will greatly benefit from an experienced pool company’s creativity and ingenuity.
At Aquavisions, our design process includes the most up-to-date 3-D software available to develop a conceptual design that allows clients to visualize what their project will look like once it is completed. Not every pool company will do this, but it’s extremely helpful for getting the most realistic feel of how your new space will function. We find that through this process clients are able to make minor tweaks to really perfect the flow of their space. Though the changes seem small on paper, once they are made real, they make a big difference!
Build
With your design locked and loaded, it’s time to let the professionals do what they do best. Your pool company should serve as the project manager for any subcontractors, making your involvement as limited as you want it to be. We encourage pool owners to play an active role throughout the building process. If you have questions or concerns about something you see going on, tell us early!
An important piece of the building process is to also learn from your pool professionals. As they do the initial filling and balancing of water chemistry, you’ll want to learn their process and be very clear on what is expected as far as ongoing maintenance. Ask questions and take notes! They will have a lot of advice to lend that will save you time and headaches in the future.
Enjoy!
This brings us to the final –and best – part of the process. You get to kick back and enjoy the fruits of your labor! You’ve put a lot of time and resources into building your dream pool and you deserve every second of relaxation it brings you and your family for years to come.
No matter where you are in the process of building your pool, we can help answer your questions. Contact us today for trusted advice and friendly service!