Dreaming of your own Pool?

As summer approaches, those of you with larger gardens may be wondering if it is worth installing your own pool rather than erecting the standard paddling pool. A pool saves you from the worry that the large paddling pool will burst and cause a mini flood, it means you have more swimming space, it also saves your garden from a circle of dead grass, and it also adds value to your home. If you are planning on building your own pool, it is a major investment, and that means there are several things you need to consider. So, let’s take a look at some now…

The Costs

The first thing you need t do is set a realistic budget and stick to it. By doing this, you can be more discerning in the size, shape, design, features, etc., that your pool will need. You also need to consider the ongoing costs too, like the utilities, namely heating the pool, maintenance, cleaning, chemicals, opening and closing the pool. Will this be mechanical, or will you use manual pool covers? What equipment will you need, like a water pump and so on? It is important that you work out what you want and create a list of needs alongside costs.

Above or In-Ground

You are going to need to decide if you want to have the pool dug into the ground or above the ground. Traditionally people tend to want in the ground. However, this is the more expensive option. This is because you have to dig a hole, build fencing, lay a patio, etc. Above ground means that the pool is installed as opposed to built. If you are prepared to install an above-ground pool without any filtration equipment, and some of these can be really reasonable in price, as much as 10 or 15 times cheaper or more than in-the-ground pools. So if you have a tight budget, this may be the better option. Even if you want decking or a rather elaborate above-ground pool, this will not set you back as much as a cheap in-ground pool.  

The Size and Shape

This is entirely down to personal choice. Maybe you want to fill the entire garden with a pool, or maybe you want to add another section to an existing garden. This will involve zoning with fencing, etc. The shape, too is another consideration; square is generally the least expensive option and the least likely to have setbacks. 

The Garden Conditions

After you have decided on the right pool size for your garden, you need to pay attention to the slope of your garden along with the type of soil and how accessible it is for heavy machinery. Once upon a time, it was a requirement that the garden be level; however, due to modern technology, this is no longer the case. Even if you have a very uneven garden with an extreme gradient of slope, you can still have a pool built. Although you need to be aware that extreme conditions will add to the overall costs.