Once you’ve taken the plunge, so to speak, and decided to buy and install an inground swimming pool, you’ll need to consider where in your yard you want to place it. There are many factors to keep in mind when deciding where to locate your pool. This article will go over some of the factors you should consider when you’re planning on the location for a new inground pool.
Major Considerations
One of the first things to keep in mind when installing your pool is any legal considerations. Certain municipalities may have zoning restrictions when it comes to swimming pools, so it’s important to know if there are any that will affect you. Factors such as distance from the property line and neighbouring buildings may be regulated by your municipality. Make sure to check into the details to make sure you remain on the right side of the local bylaws.
Understanding the slope of your yard and the way that water drains from it should be considered when placing your pool. Even with a brand new, fully functional pool, water will be splashed onto the surrounding areas. You’ll want to make sure those splash zones can handle excess water.
The size of your backyard will also play a role in where you should place your pool. The smaller your backyard, the closer your pool will be to your house, property lines and other structures. Keep in mind how the proximity of your pool can affect the surrounding structures when it comes to water drainage, noise, and aesthetics.
Space Planning
If you have more space to work with you’ll have more flexibility with your placement, but you’ll still need to consider things such as the pathway that leads from the house to the pool, the type of entertaining you plan on doing around the pool and how it interacts with the rest of your yard.
If you already have a patio or deck in your backyard you’ll need to decide if it will function properly once the pool is ready to use. Sometimes it’s easier to tear out the deck and reinstall it after the pool is installed to make sure you get the best use out of your deck or patio.
It’s also important to keep in mind the type of vegetation you will have surrounding your pool. Although a row of evergreen trees can make a great windbreak and privacy screen, a similar row of leaf shedding trees will complicate your pool maintenance duties and probably change your opinion of the fall season for the negative. Constantly fishing leaves out of your pool can become tiresome after a single season.
Pool Privacy
Privacy may be a personal preference for some, but in neighbourhoods with lots of children, a tall sturdy fence can also increase the safety factor of your pool. Young children are often enthralled by private swimming pools and having it open for view may encourage them to try and use it without your permission. A tall fence will not only block their view of the pool but prevent them from accessing it if they actually do see it.