In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indy and his Dad had a special grail diary that helped them meet all sorts of challenges as the story progressed. They knew many of the challenges that awaited, knew where to look for clues, etc. They actually knew more or less everything about the Holy Grail except one thing: Where to start. Eventually they found Alexandretta and the good got better and we got a great rest of the movie.
So what does this have to do with pools? Well, for a lot of owners or to-be owners – there’s all sorts of vision, imagination and picture painting going on in their heads. They know they want to buy a pool, they understand the benefits… they get all of it. Except for where to start. And we can’t put a pool in your yard unless you give us directions as to the who, what, where, when and why of the project.
So with that in mind, this week we’re going to cover the three basic steps to getting your pool project off the ground. Let’s jump right in!
Step #1 – How big will your pool be?
While you’re grappling with this question, it’s important to keep a few things in mind:
- How much space do you have available?
- How many people are you looking to have use the pool – possibly at once?
- How are you going to use it?
To help come to some clearer answers, here are some guideposts:
- Average pool in the US is around 15’ x 30’.
- On the small end, you’re looking at around 10’ x 20’. On the largest reaches – 40’ long+
- There are a ton of different in-ground pools. Fiberglass, vinyl liner and concrete. They all have advantages and disadvantages. It’s worth noting though – that fiberglass pools have exploded in popularity in the last decade or so due to their attractive look, minimal maintenance, durability and the speed with which they can be installed.
Step #-2 – What kind of shape do you want?
Pools come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Boiling it down to one can be challenging. They all have certain functionality benefits and all come with some challenges, too. It just depends on what works best for you. Here are some of the most popular designs over the years.
- There’s the tried and true rectangle, which is still the most popular pool shape even today. It’s practical, easy to maintain and looks good in most any space.
- There’s the Freeform design which is a non-linear pool with squiggly, flowing lines. They can take almost any shape. Lagoon designs are a popular version of freeform pools.
- The Roman Lounger pool is a classic design that’s as versatile in style as it is in use. It’s squared end and centered arch make it ideal for swimming, romping, relaxing or whatever other use you may have for the space.
- And finally – there’s the increasingly popular Vanishing Edge Pool Designs. These are the pools hotels love to showcase without an edge where it looks like the water is flowing over.
Step #3 – Figuring out the features
Pools can sometimes come with more features than a car, it seems! Skid Steps, Bench seating, Integrated steps, swim/play areas, open swim lanes, tanning ledges, you name it – you can have it in a pool. It just comes down to what you want to do and what your budget looks like.
Once you have those features picked out – it’ll be time to head to design, construction – and then hopefully you enjoying yourself in your relaxing, fun family space!