It’s a common misconception that an inground pool can be installed just any old place. In fact there are some important considerations that pool companies in Toronto need to account for when selecting the proper site for a new inground pool. Chief among these concerns is elevation. In selecting the proper elevation for your new pool installation you’ll be ensuring the pool:
- Takes a prominent place, visible from everywhere in the yard.
- Accommodates drainage of surface water, downspout runoff and groundwater.
- Doesn’t require excessive grading of the yard to accommodate it.
Factors Pool Companies Use to Determine Proper Pool Elevation
While it’s always possible there may be unique circumstances that will impact the elevation of your pool, pool companies typically weigh 3 things when determining how high above the grade to set your inground pool. They are:
- Slope of the backyard: If your Toronto yard exhibits a dramatic slope you can set the pool at the top, bottom or middle. But the farther down the slope you set it the more work will be required to shore up the pool area and build retaining walls, catch basins and drains to prevent erosion and to keep water cascading down the slope from ending up in the pool. You may also need to elevate the pool substantially above the grade to ensure runoff stays out of the pool. The best location by far would be at the top of the slope. If your yard is relatively flat, simply select the highest point possible and elevate the lip of the pool just a bit in order to prevent flood waters spilling into the pool during extreme weather events.
- The yard’s existing drainage patterns: Sometimes pool companies will recommend you just go with the flow. Literally. If your yard already exhibits drainage patterns that make one location ideal you’ll be best off siting the pool there, even if you envisioned it somewhere else. It’s better for long-term stability and the pool likely won’t need to be elevated much, if at all, above the grade. If you have your heart set on a particular area that happens to be directly in the path of surface runoff you’ll need to elevate the rim of the pool several inches to prevent runoff from winding up in the pool. You’ll also need to institute fixes that will redirect runoff around the pool and protect the installation from being undercut by erosion.
- Existing hardscape elements: If you already have an outdoor kitchen or patio in place that you want to extend to create the pool deck you’ll need to elevate the new deck an inch or so above the existing hardscape flooring so that water runs off away from, and not into the pool. A drain can then be installed where the two environments meet to remove the runoff to other parts of the yard. You’ll also need to ensure that there aren’t any slopes leading down directly toward where you plan to site the pool. If there are you’ll also need to take steps to redirect this runoff in order to prevent it from undermining the entire area.
Seabreeze Pools have installed scores of beautiful, low maintenance fiberglass inground pools for customers in every corner of Greater Toronto. We know the local environment and its water issues like the back of our hand and will make sure your new pool is not subject to the kinds of site-related issues that often plague pools installed by less experienced pool companies. Give us a call on 416-238-9703 to find out more about how elevation affects the location of a pool installation.