The most important aspect of pool installation in Toronto is the phase of preparation. It’s at this time that the design will need to be finalized and you will hire a contractor to complete the installation. All of the ideas you have had about your pool, the area around it and how they will be used, will need to be combined into a coherent and practical design. The right contractor can help you a great deal during this phase. The more complex your design is, the more likely you are to need expert help with many aspects of it.
Before You Go Ahead with Your Pool Installation, Ask Yourself These Questions
Toronto is home to some of the most modern and luxurious pool designs and many of the best architects and contractors. It’s likely that before you decide on the exact design you want, you’ll have taken a look at other pools in the area for inspiration. Of course, most pools work well within their own immediate surroundings, but might not necessarily fit well in another location, meaning you’re better off coming up with a unique design rather than trying to copy and paste your pool installation. In order to do that, you’ll have to consider the following questions:
- Why Do You Want a Swimming Pool? – This is the most important question to ask yourself, and you need to be honest about the answer. An ornate, bean-shaped pool with water spouts and a Jacuzzi is of little use if you want to get in some serious lengths before and after work. On the other hand, a straightforward, rectangular pool divided into lanes isn’t going to turn many heads at a summer cocktail party. You may find that you want to combine elements of both.
- Who Is Going to Be Using the Pool? – A pool designed for families and kids, in particular, will be strikingly different in appearance from a pool which is to be enjoyed by consenting adults with a bottle of champagne. Family pools need to have adequate provision for youngsters, including shallow areas and railings. Adults might want space for sun loungers, a table, barbecue and bar areas, and so on. Many young urban professionals in Toronto like to impress their friends with gimmicky features such as underwater speakers, and coordinated underwater lighting. If your pool installation will be quite some way from the main building, you might also need room to build changing areas.
- Where Will the Pool Be Located? – This might be a little bit more complicated than it sounds. You may have a rough idea of where you want to place your pool, which could be ruled out for various reasons as the plan develops. Rocky soil and other ground factors can be problematic for pool construction, as can a high water table. Getting around these problems can be costly. In other cases, the designated site may be just fine, but a lack of access may prevent your plan from going ahead. A pathway of a minimum of 8 feet in width is necessary for the digging machinery to make room for the pool. There will also be restrictions on any decking you have planned, with regard to water runoff.
Once you have come up with a design for your pool installation that is good enough to go ahead with, discuss with your contractor, ways to reduce future maintenance of the pool, and methods of encouraging energy-efficiency, in case these weren’t among your initial priorities. If you’re not familiar with the actual workings of the pool, ask your contractor to make suggestions for variable-speed pumps, skimmers and sanitizers.