It’s never too soon to be thinking about next summer. If you’ve been putting off fulfilling your dream of having an inground pool in the yard now is the time to put the planning process in motion as it will take you some time to interview pool companies, settle on the right design and execute the work.
DIY master Bob Villa has a new posting over on his website intended to help get the ball rolling for you and it starts out on an encouraging note:
An in-ground pool is the ultimate in backyard upgrades. If you’ve always wanted one, now may be the time. Prices have fallen during the recession by up to 30 percent. Nevertheless, it remains a big investment, so it’s important to make smart choices with regard to size, shape, site selection, and type.
He’s right because the variety of pool styles and types available today are mind-boggling and include swim spas that let you swim in place against a generated current, lap pools that can be as long as an Olympic pool and more common recreational pools that are…
…usually shallow at one end and deep enough for diving (9 to 11 ft.) at the other. Typically rectangular, they come in many sizes. Freeform shapes are also available and are often preferred because they blend well into the backyard landscape.
Pools don’t exist in a vacuum however. There are other things you need to keep in mind when you consider installing a pool in your yard besides just styles and shapes. All will make demands on your wallet and all should be carefully considered. These include:
- Landscaping the Pool Area – Just sinking a pool into the middle of your lawn isn’t going to cut it. You’ll need visual context and practical surroundings in order to make the pool accessible and enjoyable. How fancy you decide to get with the pool-scape will determine how much this aspect bumps up your final cost. You can contact M.E. Contracting for your landscaping needs in Toronto.
- Maintenance – While maintenance costs are rarely the “deal-breaker” some pool naysayers will make them out to be, they are something to consider. The larger the pool and adjacent area, the greater these maintenance costs will likely be.
- Liability Costs – There’s little doubt you’ll find ‘experts’ that will say you need a million dollars in liability coverage or more if you have a pool. Most of the time this is simply not the case, especially if you take common sense steps to minimize your pool’s risk profile like sequestering it behind a fence with a lockable gate and/or enclosing your yard as well.
Questions to Ask Pool Companies Before Signing a Contract
Making sure you get the pool you want at a fair price is more often than not a function of sifting through the scores of pool companies out there to find the right one. With that in mind here are 6 questions you should ask any prospective pool companies:
- Are you fully licensed and insured?
- What does the construction process entail?
- If it were up to you, what type of pool would you put in my yard?
- Are other services (like landscaping the pool area) included in the price?
- What is the total price? (You’ll want this in writing before signing anything.)
- Who will actually be building the pool and what experience do they have?
You may also want to ask about any steps you can take to facilitate the construction process. Usually the pool companies will say not to worry, they’ll handle everything. Still it doesn’t hurt to ask.
At Seabreeze Pools our reputation is built on the foundation principles of state-of-the-art design, quality workmanship and affordable prices. Our award-winning design team works closely with you throughout the entire process to ensure there are no unwanted surprises. Once construction begins our talented and experienced crew are always available to field any questions and our customer service department is on call to address any concerns that you might have. So call us today on 416-238-9703 to find out how easy it is to get the beautiful backyard pool you and your family have been dreaming about.