Around 21 million people in the US live in a property that owns a pool, hot tub or spa. It is an incredibly popular commodity and one that is also considered a moderate sign of wealth, or at least, disposable income. Pools in the UK are less common, but still quite popular if you have the space and the funds to accommodate them.
If you are considering a pool for your back garden, it is important that you give some thought to the size, style and design of the pool before rushing off to get a contractor in. Private open-air swimming pools in domestic homes in the UK do not require planning permission unless the property is listed, but professional advice is always recommended, just in case something goes wrong.
Here are six tips, provided by Mike James – working with Promas Building – to help you build a first class swimming pool in your garden.
Finalise Your Designs Before You Start Work
Having a good design plan ready before you start work on the pool provides you with a solid starting point and a reference point that you can look to for guidance throughout the process. Try to imagine the finished product in your garden. Would a rectangular pool or an oval pool work better for the space? Are you going for a general swimming pool vibe or do you want to make it look like a natural spring? By sketching your plans and choosing a design – not to mention sorting out all the measurements beforehand – you already have an idea of what the finished product will look like and this will help you throughout construction.
Some companies provide computer generated graphics so that you can get a 3D imagining of what the end product may look like. This really helps to envision the swimming pool once it is finished, although the technology itself can be expensive. Still, it gives you a good picture of what is to come.
Keep it Simple
Where possible, try not to overcomplicate the design of your pool Think functionality, not flair! Your pool doesn’t need multi-coloured disco lights across the bottom of it, but in ground pool lighting is often essential for late evening swims. Creating a natural-looking ‘rock’ pool may look pretty but those faux rocks will take a while to clean regularly. Water features certainly add an air of class to any pool, but if they’re not purpose built to be able to deal with chlorinated water, then you’ll have difficulty cleaning them out when not in use.
Keeping the pool itself simply means that your maintenance efforts and costs are kept down to a minimum and you can always create optional extras after general construction if needs be.
Plumbing and Electricity – Call in the Experts!
Whether you consider yourself an expert in DIY or not, it is always better to use a professional pool installation service when working with both water and electricity at the same time. A simple blown fuse will be the least of your problems when you consider the risks of improper electrical wiring around a body of water of any size. Get a quote from a professional contractor as well as an electrician, so that you can have complete confidence in the standard of your pool once everything is installed.
Get yourself a Good Drainage System
The water of your pool needs to be regularly circulated and cleaned and a drainage system is designed to do just that. You’ll want a good or recommended drainage system that is safe and secure at the same time. You yourself will have to perform routine maintenance such as getting rid of debris from the pool (sticks, pebbles, leaves etc.) but the drainage system should be powerful enough to cleanse smaller debris from the pool.
Work in the Long Term
How long do you plan on having this pool? If you’re looking at the short term, why so? If your property has a decent, working swimming pool, it could increase the value of the property, making it a good idea to invest in a pool that is designed to last. You’ll also save money on maintenance in the long run if you’ve built a strong, resilient pool, so it is better to invest for now than to try and skimp out on any essentials when building the pool. If you’re not sure whether or not you can see the pool as it is and still standing in ten years’ time, it is time to re-think your design and budget plans.
Regular Maintenance – Pool Longevity
Regular care and maintenance will go a long way in keeping your pool in good condition. It is important to realise that you are investing in something that is going to need routine care and maintenance. If it is neglected, the pool will fall by the wayside, it won’t be usable and it will become expensive to fix or remove. Make sure you are ready and willing to conduct regular maintenance in order to keep the pool before making any kind of investment.
