Planning for Your Pool: 5 Things To Consider

• Posted on August 17, 2016
• by Christian Bonawandt
• in Blog
• No Comments.

A luxury swimming pool is a wonderful edition to any home. But Long Islanders who want to build a pool in their backyard shouldn’t just dive in. The best pools require careful planning for both function and eye-appeal.

If you want to start planning for your own pool, here are some things you must consider.

How will you use it? The first and most important thing you need to figure out is how your pool will be used. Is it primarily for your immediate family and children? If so, you may want to include a slide, diving board or diving rock, and a large play area for volleyball or basketball. Perhaps you do a lot of entertaining, in which case you may want dramatic features like a waterfall or fountains. If you are entertaining for large groups you will want to consider a larger pool. A spa is a great option for relaxing and unwinding.

Then there are homeowners who install pools as an investment or for architectural aesthetic. If that’s you, consider glass tile finishing, upgraded coping materials, or a vanishing edge water feature. Once you know how you will use your pool you can better understand what options are essential to your project and which are not.

Lawn and order. The landscaping around your pool is almost as important as the pool itself. Again, you’ll want to consider function along with style. Shy away from messy plants or those with shallow roots. Ornamental grass and potted plants are popular. Many homeowners also like to include natural rocks and boulders to add a natural feel to the pool. You can get a full backyard landscape design first or, if you’re not sure what you’d like, you can always landscape around the pool after it’s completed.

Play it safe. You will want to consider the different safety options that are available. These include water alarms, safety covers, and winter covers. You’ll also want to have personal safety equipment like life jackets and pool floats available for your family and friends. One of most popular safety features is the automatic cover. Opened and closed only with a key, an automatic cover means the pool is completely inaccessible without your permission.

The eyes have it. If you’re planning your pool as an architectural enhancement to your property, then you’ll undoubtedly want to consider what the focal point of the yard will be. Regardless of the reason for building your pool you should still think carefully about this. For example, a bright tile color will draw the eye to the pool and away from landscaping or other features that you may want to make more central to the design. However, it’s possible you may not want the pool to be the central focus of your yard at all, which means using more subdued coping, tile, and marble dust to make the pool appear as a more cohesive part of the rear yard landscape. There is no right or wrong decision as long as you have a plan.

Location, location, location. Considered in all of these ideas should be where you place the pool. If you want to save room in your yard for non-water sports, push the pool to the side or close to the house and save the side yard or backyard for playing ball or cartwheels. Is entertaining the priority? Then keeping the pool close to the house and the amenities. You may want to consider building a separate pool house/cabana, with or without an outdoor kitchen. If safety is a priority, the pool should be built where it can be seen from most places, inside and outside. Lastly, but not least, is the aesthetics. Consider placing the pool perpendicular to the house, this draws the eye along the length of the pool to the back property, creating a classy Gatsby effect to the home. Alternatively, placing the pool before a drop off or cliff and adding a vanishing edge can produce a visually stunning poolscape.

There’s a lot that goes into planning a pool,” said Craig Bonawandt, President of Haven Pools. “If it feels overwhelming, ask your pool builder to help you out while you’re getting a quote. A comprehensive plan will also help you better manage your budget for the project.”