How to Find Out if a Pool Can Go in Your Backyard

Summer is only two months away, and we might as well start preparing on how to handle the heat. Keeping the fan and air conditioners on will only drive your bills up so you can think of alternatives such as swimming, or just dipping your legs in the pool. Besides, with the hope we have that the pandemic is coming to an end soon, we should plan on losing the pounds we have added; butterfly strokes can help you lose 878 calories per hour. That said, here is everything you need to know before installing a pool in your backyard.

Is your backyard suitable for a pool?

As much as you may want to have a pool at home, your backyard may have some limiting factors as E-Z Test Pool Supplies Inc. informs us. According to their blog, accessing the site may be a challenge if, for instance, there are low-hanging power lines, or you need to request your neighbors to allow trucks to pass through their property. Other things to consider when thinking about accessibility is if there is a paved driveway, stone wall, or fence.

Even if you manage to get equipment into the backyard, you could still be unable to have that dream pool if your local government has some limitations. You might also want to consider other things in the layout, such as the septic tank, trees, sprinklers, or any other fixtures that may interfere with pool installation. If your land is sloping, that implies that surface groundwater will be flowing into your pool once it rains, if the pool is installed on the lower side of the slope.

Finally, even if the layout is perfect, the backyard’s underground may pose challenges that comprise a high water table, large boulders, or rock ledge. You can know if you have a high water table during spring or winter when the backyard remains wet for a few days after rains.

What to do before pool installation

Once you are sure that a pool can go into your backyard, unfortunately, you are not through with the preparation phase because you still need to check with the Home Owners Association and local government. Ignoring this can be a costly mistake when you are forced to stop building your pool or have to change the plans since they violate the local building codes.

Additionally, information is power, and you should equip yourself with every detail of the construction company. That not only means visiting their offices but also comparing what their former clients have to say about them. Most pool builders hire subcontractors, and if the relationship between them goes sour due to unemployment, your pool could be put up as lien.

In the end, it all comes down to money; therefore, compare the costs of different pool builders. You should note low expenses could also mean delays while too high could mean the project being left halfway done when funds run out. Therefore always start with a breakdown of what you want and estimate the cost to see if it is an amount you are willing to invest in your pool, so you do not go overboard.

How to put a pool in the backyard

You have finally found the perfect spot for a pool and are sure that your local government will not be a hindrance, so the only thing left to do is start construction. Depending on the accessibility of the backyard, you can either use some simple tools like shovels or heavy equipment like bulldozers to dig a hole. You will need wheelbarrows to ferry the dirt from the backyard to a truck, so your crew should be prepared for the many trips, to and fro.

Next, you will need to measure the desired depths, having in mind that the floor will eat into the height, then flatten the land and ensure that it is compact. According to The Spruce, working with clay soil is much easier because it holds up nicely, unlike sandy soil which is equivalent to building sandcastles that keep crumbling.

Once the floor of the pool is to the required depth, place metal rods to form a grid on the walls. Lay down the plumbing and consult the design to be sure of where the pipes should pass through, and if you are in doubt, a skilled plumber can come in handy. Having an electrician at hand will also ensure your pool’s electrical system is done correctly to avoid electrical fires and shocks.

Pour the concrete on to the grid framework to create the bottom slab and spray it into the walls until you have a layer that runs 6 inches deep. Smoothen the concrete and either let it dry under a plastic sheet for at least five days or have it exposed, but water it thrice a day for five days to prevent cracking. Finally, layer the pool with tiles by first spreading the concrete will mortar, letting it stay for 24 hours, then applying grout and laying the tiles. Leave some room around the pool for walking around and install some coping using tiles, concrete, or marble. Wait for 48 hours before adding water to the pool and then check for leaks and make the necessary adjustments.

Can you afford to have a pool in your backyard?

A pool adds aesthetic value to a home, but before you even think of having one, you should know that it is quite expensive to maintain. Cheapism published that you will have to set aside $190 per month for maintenance; it is on the cheaper side considering that if you DIY, then the amount can go up to $600. Besides, you might need some repairs whose cost ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars; therefore, unless you can afford such expenses, kindly reconsider.

You also do not want children drowning in the pool, so installing a pool fence alone is $1,000. If you’re going to err on the side of caution, then liability insurance is the way to go, and that translates to at least $300 per year. A pool may also be home to a lot of wildlife, including snakes, alligators, and crypto-parasites.

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