4 Step Guide to Design Your Backyard Paradise
Your backyard would look really nice with a pool in it, wouldn’t it? It would look even better with a slide, retaining wall, and an outdoor kitchen too. Tons of homeowners these days are dreaming about having a beautiful backyard space to create memories in, and if you are one of these people, you may be wondering what size pool will fit in my back yard or maybe whether or not your backyard is even big enough for an inground pool. Determining your yard size is essential not just to find out whether you can fit an inground pool, but also to find out what exactly you can do to your backyard. Pools are a tricky thing, and not all yards can accommodate exactly what the homeowner wants, which is why it is so important to first determine what you can get before settling on what you know you want.
Royal Pools and More look at hundreds of backyards in the Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland area a year and are well-versed in the process of evaluating a yard. In the early stages of the pool buyer’s journey, it is vital to be cautious and accurate in your estimations as well as realistic in your expectations. If you’re committed to turning your backyard into your own personal oasis, there are a few steps you’re going to have to take that will determine what size pool you can get.
Step 1 – How to Determine Your Exact Yard Size
If you’re already familiar with your backyard’s dimensions, you my friend are ahead of the curve somewhat. The layout and exact dimensions of your yard will be the deciding factor, at the very least, what size pool you may end up getting.
If you don’t know or have no clue how to start, don’t worry, I’ll explain. The official and legal way to find out the exact dimensions of your backyard would be with a “plat of survey.” A plat of survey is a legal layout of your entire property that also shows your house layout, build limits, and any easements you may have. In short, it’s the official map of your property that has to be designed before your house can even be built to make sure your stay within all county and town codes! It’s fine and dandy to walk your yard and decide where a pool location is going to be good but without a plat of survey you wont know if it’s legal to put your pool there! A pool can not be built without a plat of survey as it has to be submitted to the town for review. So instead of guessing it is our recommendation to find it and scale it properly! If you can’t or don’t understand your survey (it can be confusing with all the information on it) don’t worry, your local pool contractor can tell you what you can and cannot fit in your yard!
Now, the next logical question you may be asking yourself is “where do I even get my plat of survey?” Great question! Typically you can find your plat within the “closing packet” you received after buying your house when you signed papers for an hour! If you can’t find it there you can call your builder, go to your town’s building department or even your county’s building department to see if they have a copy. If you fall short on all of those options you would as a final option have to call a professional surveying company to make you a new one! A simple google search should help find a surveyor but it will cost you $500 – $1,000.
Step 2 – Know Your Town Code and Locate Your Utility Lines
After getting your hands on a plat of survey. The next step is to check in with your town or county’s rules in regard to pool building and landscaping projects. Most towns require that a pool be so many feet off your house and some even off specific property lines.This could mean you end up with a smaller pool than you would like… well heck it could mean you can fit a larger pool for that matter! At the very least it will set you down the right path that is within town code but hey progress is progress!
In addition to town rules, utility lines in a backyard such as gas, electric, and plumbing are another thing to be cautious of. If your lines run directly through the middle of your backyard, it is going to be pretty difficult to put a pool there. This doesn’t mean that they can’t be moved but you do have to call 811, yes it’s just like 911 for emergencies but with an 8! 811, AKA JULIE, AKA “Call before you dig” is a public utility marking service that will come out to your house for free and locate all of your utilities. If something is in the way you will have to call the utility provider to get a quote to move said utilities!
Step 3 – Have A Good Idea of Your Entertainment Space
Now that you know your legal yard size, town code and if utilities are in the way it’s time to ask yourself: how much entertainment space do I need or even, can I fit? Entertainment space is essential to determining where to put your pool and how much square footage it will take up. Remember, a pool doesn’t simply get put in your backyard, you have to account for the concrete patio around the pool. Where do you want the shallow end to be when you step out of your back door? 90% of swimmers mingle in the shallow end, so a kitchen or patio in that area of your yard is a great idea. Knowing where to put your pool based on the total square footage it will take up, including concrete, will make determining where to set up your entertainment space much easier.
Step 4 – Backyard Layout
Figuring out what your backyard will look like with a pool in it can also help determine what size you can get as well as where to put it. Visualizing the pool is easy in your head, but how do you actually see it before the installation? Mark the area you’re thinking about putting the pool with spray paint. Don’t forget to account for the concrete patio, which pushes the pool even further from the property lines. This is a fantastic practice for designing your new backyard layout. You can see how the pool will sit relative to your entertainment space. Feel free to mark your backyard multiple times so as to find the perfect spot for your pool. Having this visualization is a great tool for tempering your expectations. You’d be surprised at what your backyard can actually hold versus what you think it can hold.
If you can see where your pool is going and what your new backyard will look like, you’re all set. Make absolutely sure it’s exactly what you want. The last thing you want is for the pool to be installed and you realize you don’t like its location or how it makes your backyard look. Be cautious and meticulous during this whole process. The size of your pool is something you cannot change once it’s set, so follow the steps laid out above and choose wisely. As I said, your backyard would look really nice with an in-ground pool in it.
Written By Logan Edgemon
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