Warm summer days can have people daydreaming about having a cool body of water right outside their backdoor. But what if you don’t have a lot of space in your backyard to work with? The fact is that there are a lot of newer pools that can work well in smaller spaces. You’ll need to keep in mind some considerations regarding local rules and bylaws but if you have a small amount of space, you might be able to answer the question, “Can my backyard fit a pool?” with a celebratory, “Yes, it can!” In this article, we’ll go over some of the things to think about when determining the amount of space you have to work with for a backyard pool.
Consult A Professional
One of the best way to determine if you have the space for a backyard pool is to get in touch with a pool professional. Most pool installers will give you a free consultation to figure out what would be best suited for the space in which you have to work. They’ll be experienced with the local bylaws and regulations for installing pools and be able to show you some options for something that might work for you. You can help them greatly by being able to provide a plot plan or surveyor report of your property.
Bylaws and Other Considerations
There will be many things to consider when drawing up plans for pool installation. Aside from space, you’ll also need to think about drainage, property lines, zoning regulations, overhead power lines, underground utilities or septic tanks and any pre-existing structures on the property. Some local bylaws will regulate how deep your pool can be or the size and type of fence that you’ll need to surround your pool. A professional will be able to help clarify these issues and suggest how to work around them.
Types of Pools
Once you have your head wrapped around the local regulations and the area in which you have to work you’ll be able to choose a style of pool that meets your needs. As mentioned in the introduction there are a lot of modern pools that work well with smaller spaces. You can go for a traditional looking rectangular pool that’s actually quite slim, yet leaves you enough length to comfortably swim laps. If you have an irregular space to work with, installing an irregular shaped pool might be able to make the most of the space you have. Semi-circular or kidney-shaped pools are able to make use of areas that may not feature perfectly straight lines. Roman style pools can provide more of a relaxing type of pool and may include spa jets to help soothe sore muscles. There are also swim spas that provide strong enough water jet resistance to allow you to get a decent swimming workout in a smaller space.