How to Choose the Perfect Swimming Pool for Your Backyard

Summers are great, but the heat can sometimes be intolerable. So, installing a swimming pool in your backyard is a great idea to make those summer days more fun and more pleasant. However, choosing to install a swimming pool and choosing which swimming pool to install are two very different things. It takes a lot of thought and it can sometimes seem there are too many decisions to be made. So, here are some things to consider and options available when installing a swimming pool.

Size

Once your swimming pool is in the ground, there is often no way to alter its size, so it’s very important to make this decision on time. Of course, the size of your yard might very well dictate the size of your pool, in which case you might choose a compact plunge pool. If your yard is big enough, there are still some questions to be addressed, like who will use the pool and how often. If you have one or two children and your main desire is to give them a place to swim, there’s no need for a huge swimming pool. They will have as much fun in a 10m long swimming pool as they would in 20m one. However, if you have a bunch of grandchildren and expect your family to grow further, you might want to opt for a bigger pool. And as far as the “how often” part is concerned, if you know your family won’t visit you as often as you’d like, or they won’t all be there at the same time, a smaller pool will be sufficient.

Purpose

Another thing you need to have in mind when choosing your pool is what you’ll use it for. As mentioned above, if you simply want your children to have a place to cool down and play during summer heat, you can choose any size, shape or type of pool, but if you or one of your kids is interested in swimming as a sport and you want a pool where you can do laps or play any other water sport, choose a Grecian- or geometric-shaped pool with the length of at least 10 meters. If you don’t have children and you want a pool where you can entertain your friends and occasionally enjoy a cocktail while sunbathing next to it, you can opt for a Roman swimming pool, a free-form or a kidney-shaped one. Circular or figure-eight pools will do fine as well. Install underwater lights and they will look as amazing at night as the will during the day, if not more.

Type

If you want an Inground pool you can choose between concrete, vinyl and fiberglass ones. Concrete pools are the most expensive, but the most durable ones. They can be of any size and shape, but it takes from three to twelve weeks to install them. What makes them stand out and worth the price is the fact that they can be enlarged, updated or rebuilt, which is something that can’t be done with other types of in-ground swimming pools. Vinyl and fiberglass ones are more affordable, take less time to be installed, but have limitations in terms of shape and size, which is something you should discuss with your contractor. And if you’re interested in durable free-standing above ground swimming pools, you can even save some time and money, since they are easy to install, come in 35 different sizes and designs with 25-year structural warranty. All of these pools offer the option of child-safety ledge around them, with non-slip surfaces and some even with swim and spa jets. You should also choose between chlorine or saltwater for your pool. The saltwater ones are easier and cheaper to maintain, but their installation can be pricey. On the other hand, pools with chlorine cleaning cost much less to install, but this is a bit more complex type of maintenance, which has to be done weekly and can cost more in the long run.

Cost

Having all the information will make it easier for you to assess your budget and fit all the costs into it. Getting a swimming pool late in summer or early in spring might get you some discounts, but there are also other things that influence the price. Namely, in-ground pools are more expensive than the free-standing ones. Underwater lights, filter type or in-pool bench seating can also add to the price. You should also consider the patio, since this is where you’ll probably spend more time than in the pool itself. The size and the materials for your patio are a very important issue, as well as the furniture, grills or even a small maintenance shed you might want to build along with your pool. And don’t forget that the material of which the pool is made and the type of maintenance can make a huge difference in price, as can the size and the shape of the pool.
Although it may take some time and effort to choose the size, type or shape of swimming pool, it will be worth it. It will add value to your property and allow you hours and hours of summer fun. Just be sure to talk over your decisions with your contractor, since expert opinion can make all the difference in the world.