5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Building a Swimming Pool

As with any construction project, preparation is key when you’re building a swimming pool. It’s the phase in which you’ll make a number of key decisions before choosing a professional landscaping company or pool builder to complete the project.

[Recommended read: The Perks of Having a Home Swimming Pool]

While your chosen pool partner will, of course, be able to help you with the design process, it helps to have a general idea of what you want to achieve beforehand.

Here are 5 questions you should ask yourself before commencing your swimming pool project:

1. Why do I want a swimming pool?

Your finished swimming pool’s design will depend largely, if not entirely, on your main motivation for building it. For example, if your primary motivation is exercise, you’ll want a pool that is practical and in which you can swim decent lengths. If, on the other hand, your primary motivation is the aesthetic appeal a pool provides, your finished design will be very different.

2. Who’s going to use my pool?

The biggest factor to consider when answering this question is the age of the intended users. A pool designed purely for adults and entertaining will be very different from a pool that children will utilise. A balance can be achieved by having a “deep end” and a “shallow end”, but obviously this needs to be decided during the planning phase.

3. Is my proposed site suitable for a swimming pool?

Some people think you can build a swimming pool pretty much anywhere. And while professional landscaping companies and specialist pool builders can work wonders, it is recommended that tests be conducted on the proposed site to determine its suitability. Sandy, expansive or rocky ground conditions all present their own unique building concerns.

4. What special features do I want?

Swimming pools nowadays are a lot more than just big holes filled with water. Consider whether you want any additional water features or funky lighting. Both can make a huge difference to the overall feel of the pool.

5. How will I maintain my pool going forward?

There is no such thing as a ‘maintenance-free swimming pool’, but there are steps you can take during its construction to reduce the time you’ll spend maintaining it in the future. Talk to your chosen pool partner and see what options are available to you.