A pool can add significant value and pleasure to your home, along with giving you a fun and fabulous way to get healthy exercise, but getting from the dreaming stage to the completed stage isn't nearly as easy as it sounds. Nonetheless, you want to make this happen! Here's how to take the visions of a customized pool out of your head and into reality in the backyard.

The Best Place On Your Property For Your Custom Pool

Ideally, the most practical or desirable spot in your backyard for a pool isn't inhibited by underground pipes, a septic tank, or large rocks. It's important to know what's underground prior to choosing the location of your pool, even if you're building one that's above ground, just in case a repair crew ever needs access to the pipes or tank. Once you have that information, choosing the location for your custom pool should be based on a number of circumstances beyond your personal preferences:

• The area/size of land you need to work with.
• Surrounding trees (unless you want to remove them).
• Distance to your home, including building an attached deck or patio.
• Convenience to water outlets.
• Zoning laws.
• Information you obtain from utility and other companies regarding underground obstacles.
• Characteristics of your soil, to be determined by bulk density testing, if needed, which may indicate compression/compaction levels that aren't likely to sustain the weight of a pool.

Privacy Factors

When picking the perfect spot, consider privacy factors carefully, as the best trees for the job (of keeping your sun bathing and swimming area private), could also do the most harm to your pool if they're constantly dripping sap or dropping leaves and other debris into the water. Trees bordering your property, but away from a prospective pool area, might be best as they'll provide privacy without shedding debris and without blocking the sunshine from your swimming area.

For the utmost privacy, you probably want to incorporate a fence into your pool plans, but beyond protecting your personal space, fences serve a higher purpose when surrounding pools.

Planning For The Fence

Unless you're far removed from human neighbors and wildlife, your pool definitely needs a fence. Even if you're in an isolated area, local laws may require you to fence the pool area. For the sake of ensuring no small child or animal ever finds their way into the potentially dangerous water, some protective boundary is in order, no matter what regulations apply.

A fence can also provide you with a high level of privacy, as well as adding to the aesthetics of the yard. Your pool contractor should be able to recommend a company to install the fencing of your choice, as well as advise you on the laws pertaining to pool fences in your area.

Discovering Designs

If you're going to totally spoil yourself with a custom swimming pool, go all out with the design; however, keep in mind that an eccentric pool may not be a good selling point if putting the property on the market is in your future. Otherwise, the shape and style of your pool is entirely up to your whim. So long as the structure can be built according to specifications by a contractor, you should be free to stretch the limits of your imagination from the layout to additions, such as a slide, diving board, fountain, or even two pools connecting via underground tunnel.

An in-ground pool will offer you the most flexibility with design, especially your diving depths, but if your land isn't quite suitable, a semi-in-ground is the next-best option, giving you some leeway above and below ground level. If your land isn't conducive to bulldozer dredging at all, you might not remain in the home indefinitely, or if you otherwise have a fear of long-term commitment, opt for an above-ground pool as it's totally flexible, can be installed just about anywhere, and is most often the least expensive type of pool. You could still customize your above-ground pool, either by selecting a certain shape and/or fabrication.

Factoring The People In The Planning Process

Most family pools see all kinds of people using them, from the toddlers learning to swim to the elders relaxing on floating chaise lounges and everyone in between. Each group may have specific needs, such as stairs to climb in and out of and safety rails. These factors are very important to consider as you plan your custom pool, as is the depth, as you'll likely want a shallow and a deep end for nearly everyone, unless you're an Olympic-level swimming family.

Choosing The Materials For Your Pool

You'll also want to factor materials into your decision, based on your budget, the pool's function, and who will be keeping it clean.

• Vinyl is affordable and easy to maintain.
• Concrete is versatile in terms of your custom pool design and it's very durable.
• Fiberglass is also strong, but may offer you more color options.

While vinyl is traditionally the more popular choice, each material offers its own benefits and your choice depends on your needs. Climate may also affect the wear-and-tear on your backyard paradise, especially if you live in an area where winter will cause materials to contract and warmer temps result in expansion.

The Contractor

Once you have the details of your custom pool figured out, contact a pool contractor and ask if they can help you realize the vision. You might also contact one before your plan is finalized, especially if you're uncertain about the details you're trying to work out. If you're not sure which spot on your property is best or which type of pool is most suitable, sit down with the contractor to hammer out the specifics so you can be sure all of your ideas will pan out. A contractor should be able to answer all of your questions, even if you're not ready to put a deposit down. They'll also be able to point out possible flaws in your expectations, as not every pool is right for every property or customer.