Even if you have a very compact back yard, you may still have plenty of room for a new swimming pool. There will be a few design limitations imposed by the size of your yard but nothing that you cannot work around if you really have your heart set on a new pool this year. To help you choose a style and size that is suitable for your property, we have listed a few ideas for you to consider in the section below. If, after reading through them, you still have unanswered questions, please feel free to get in touch with the team here at Seabreeze Pools and we will do our very best to answer them for you.

Small Back Yards: The Low Down from Our Pool Builders

So, you want a nice cool pool in which to escape the humid Toronto summer this year but you are not sure if your yard is big enough to accommodate one? As you will see from the suggestions that follow, there are plenty of pool options for those with smaller yards: all you need to do is to choose one.

• A Pool by the Side of Your House – If you want to minimize the amount of space that your new pool takes up in your yard, you can install it right next to your house. The ability to open your sliding patio doors and leap straight into a pool is something that you and your family are sure to enjoy in the summer months. The only note of caution our pool builders would like to sound with regard to this option is that it might not be the best choice for households that include very young children in their number, owing to safety concerns. However, if your children are teenagers already this could be the perfect choice for you.
• A Narrow, Long Pool, Running Along the Back of Your Yard – Another good choice for Toronto homeowners who only have a small space to work with, especially those with yards that are much wider than they are long, is a narrow channel that runs the entire width of the yards in question. With a decent-sized patio in front, in between the house and the pool, you will have yourself a great back yard for the summer months this year. Our highly skilled team of pool builders can recommend the best materials to build your new patio with and the ideal dimensions for your pool too if you desire.
• A Small Plunge Pool – All many people really want in the hot summer months is a pool they can jump into and cool down in for a few minutes. They are not too concerned with being able to swim endless laps or having the space to hold a game of water polo at the weekend. For such people, our pool builders recommend a small plunge pool, perhaps surrounded by attractive wooden decking with some pot plants dotted around the area.
• Lap Pools – On the other hand, if swimming laps is what you really want to do with your new pool, you can go for a lap pool, i.e. one that is much longer than it is wider, and install it wherever you fancy. Close to your house, along the far end of the back yard, or right in the middle: the choice is yours.

Call Seabreeze Pools today for further information on the options available to owners of homes with small back yards. Our experienced and friendly pool builders will be delighted to provide you with a detailed quotation covering all labour and materials.

Enlisting someone to build a fibreglass pool in your Toronto yard is a big deal. Any mistakes could be costly and wind up doing long term damage to your property. But how do you know that the pool builder you hire is capable of doing the job right? Is there some kind of litmus test you can give them that will prove their integrity? Or is finding the right pool builder little more than dumb luck? Fortunately, luck only plays a part if you don’t know what to look for when interviewing potential pool builders.

Traits That Separate Good Pool Builders from Bad

Building a fibreglass pool isn’t rocket science, it’s pool science and in some ways it’s nearly as tricky as trying to send something into space. As such it requires a set of abiding traits on behalf of the pool builder to ensure a successful outcome. Those traits are:

1) Understanding of the product – While fibreglass pools today come in a wider array of styles than ever before there will still be times when a customer wants something that’s above and beyond the scope of standard fibreglass construction. At that point the pool builder has to recognize a line has been crossed and simply say “Sorry. Can’t do that.”

2) Experience – A $10 word you need to be able to apply to whoever you chose to build your pool. Sure everyone has to start somewhere but ‘somewhere’ shouldn’t be in your backyard. It may sound cold but let the novices gain their experience ‘somewhere’ else and leave the installation of your pool to the experts.

3) Speaking of Experts – Whoever installs your pool should be a fibreglass pool specialist. If fibreglass pools are just one of several types they install consider taking a pass. After all, you wouldn’t want your car repaired by someone who normally does tractors and you wouldn’t want your fibreglass pool installed by someone who normally installs gunite pools.

4) Responsiveness – Have you ever had a conversation with a contractor where they just sat there glassy-eyed while you talked about what you wanted? If pool builders aren’t paying attention to you during the preliminary discussions how responsive do you think they’re going to be if something goes wrong during the build process?

5) Preparation – A good pool builder shows up to the first meeting prepared. They have all their promotional material, a list of references and a notepad and pen to jot down the important points you make. They also bring a camera to take photos of the site for later reference and can provide you with a ballpark estimate for what your desired pool will cost.

6) Willingness to correct their mistakes – Like everyone else pool builders sometimes make mistakes. The bad builders will look for ways to integrate their mistakes into the final product or simply deny they did anything wrong and try to dump it back on you. The good guys will recognize a mistake quickly and take whatever measures are necessary to fix it.

7) Openness and honesty – The amateurs will quote you a price to get the job and then gradually throw in add-on after add-on until the price you thought you agreed to is a distance memory. Others will disappear in the middle of the process to go take care of something else leaving you in the lurch. And still others will walk away declaring the job complete when it clearly isn’t. The best companies understand the value of playing it straight and how such behaviour ultimately leads to more work, not less.

Seabreeze Pools are the Toronto area’s most experienced and trusted pool builders. Call them today to find out more about having a beautiful fibreglass pool installed in your yard.

Installing a new fiberglass inground pool in your yard can be a turning point in the life of your home and family. Prepare for endless summer days lounging poolside while the kids careen down the slide into the water barely able to contain their glee. Get ready for relaxing evening swims and improve your health by taking regular laps. Yes, the new pool will elevate your quality of life the way few things can. That is, if the city doesn’t order you to cease and desist for violating local building codes.

Our Pool Builders Advise to Play it by the Book

Permits, building codes and an endless series of by-laws can seem like an unnecessary hassle but the fact is they play an important role in maintaining the quality of life for Toronto citizens. Trying to skirt them during your pool installation is a waste of time according to our pool builders. Below, those pool builders answer a few common questions regarding permits and building codes.

Question: Do I need a permit to install a pool?

Answer: Each municipality has its own set of rules and regulations regarding what requires a permit and what doesn’t. So, some will require a permit for a pool and others won’t. However, some that won’t require a permit will require you to build a security fence. And guess what? You’ll need a permit to build that mandatory security fence. Don’t build the fence or build it without the permit and you could face a hefty fine.

Question: Do I need a permit for a pool deck?

Answer) Again, it depends on the town you live in. The city of Toronto states on its website that decks only require a permit if they’re more than 2 feet off the ground. Since a deck around an inground pool is almost never elevated it would seem you don’t need a permit. However, read on and you discover that any structure larger than 10 square meters does require a permit and that might very well include your pool deck.

Question: How do I know the work adheres to building codes?

Answer: If you’ve been through the permitting process the building inspector will come by to examine the pool, fence or deck and ensure they comply with building codes. If work was proceeding without needed permits and the inspector stops by because a neighbour dropped a dime on you, you could be in trouble. Even more so if the work isn’t up to code.

Question: What are the odds I’ll get away with not building to code?

Answer: Not great. But even if you get away with it for a long time you might still be held accountable if you put your home on the market. That’s because a buyer’s inspection will be conducted and if the not-up-to-code work is discovered you’ll have to complete remedial action before the sale can go through. You’ll likely face a stiff fine as well.

Question: How can pool builders help?

Answer: Experienced pool builders like those at M.E. Contracting will have worked in all of the municipalities in the GTA and will be familiar with local permitting requirements and building codes. This will help the project proceed in a smooth fashion and you won’t have to waste time worrying about whether the work will pass muster with inspectors.

If you’re contemplating installing a new fiberglass pool in your yard make sure you enlist the help of the GTA’s premier pool builders: M.E. Contracting. We take care of all the details for you so you’ll never need to worry about the quality of our work or whether required permits were secured.