Building a swimming pool is a dream come true for most homeowners. Imagine the smile that you will see on your children’s faces once they find out that you are planning to construct a pool at the back of your house. You can easily host a backyard pool party and invite other relatives and friends to come over. However, as simple at it may sound, building a swimming pool in your backyard is not just any do it yourself project that you can do on your own. There are several steps that you have to undergo before embarking on this type of project. Here are some things to keep in mind.
Get the necessary building permit
Before doing any digging or construction work in your backyard, you need to get the required permits at your local city hall. The department that is in charge of construction will give you a set of requirements and paperwork that you need to comply with. You need to submit them before starting the project. You also need to check with your neighbourhood association if there are any restrictions or guidelines that you should be aware of, to avoid wasting time and resources.
Make sure that your backyard is well secured to avoid untoward incidents
When building a swimming pool, you must also have a fenced yard. The last thing that you want to happen is for strangers or neighbours to go inside your property for a swim without your knowledge. You can be held liable just in case someone accidentally drowns in your backyard pool. Before installing or altering the fence at your home, it is best to get in touch with a surveyor and enquire about their party wall surveyor fees to ensure that the Party Wall Act covers your current project.
Hire reputable pool contractors
Building a pool is an expensive and tedious process, and you want to make sure that you are hiring the right people for the job. It is essential for you to do some research with regards to the rates, feedback, and reputation of each pool contractor that you have in mind. It would not hurt to ask for recommendations from people who have experienced building a swimming pool at their place. The contractor must have insurance to ensure that your property will be covered in case of accidents during the construction period.
Discuss your thoughts with your architect
Create a sketch of how you envision your pool. The location, the size, and the depth have to be specific. If you need inspiration, you can always check out different pictures online and see if it is feasible or within your budget. If you have small kids living with you, then you should consider making the pool kid-friendly by not making it too deep. You can divide the pool into two halves: one part should be shallow for kids, and the other part deeper, for adults.
A pool is a great addition to any home because it brings the family together.