What Size Pool Will Fit in My Backyard?
Your backyard would look really nice with a pool in it, wouldn’t it? Tons of homeowners these days are dreaming about having a beautiful inground pool, and if you are one of these people, you may be wondering whether or not your backyard is big enough for an inground pool. Determining your yard size is essential not just for knowing whether you can fit an inground pool, but also for letting you know what size and what kind of pool will fit in 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 G2 Landscaping looks at hundreds of backyards in the Northwest Indiana/South Chicagoland area all 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 getting an inground pool, there are a few steps you’re going to have to take that will determine what size pool you can get.
Step 1 – Determine Your Exact Yard Size
If you’re already familiar with your backyard’s dimensions, you my friend are ahead of the curve. The layout and specific dimensions of your yard will be the deciding factor in, at the very least, what size pool you may end up getting.
The best way to find out the dimensions of your backyard would be with a plat of survey. A plat of survey is a map of your backyard that highlights any easements you may have. A plat of survey will show your property’s measurements in correlation to your house, which you need to know in order to determine what size pool you can get. The plat will also make note of any easements in your backyard that will have to be accounted for when picking and installing your inground pool. If you are unable to get your hands on a plat of survey, your best bet would be to hire a surveyor to make you a new one.
Again, if you’re someone who has been considering purchasing an inground pool for some time you may already know your backyard dimensions. If a pool is fresh on your radar, however, the size of your backyard may not be stored at the top of your head. Knowing the size of your yard will also make it easier to figure out where to put the pool equipment pad as well as any potential pool add-ons that may catch your eye. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of having a plat of survey. You will be unable to attain a permit to build a pool without one.
Step 2 – Know Your Town Code
After determining your yard size, be sure to check in with your town or county’s laws in regard to pool building and landscaping projects. Most towns in our area require that a pool be at least seven feet from your house as well as your property line. Unfortunately, this could mean you end up with a smaller pool than you would like. 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. A lot of homeowners end up having an excavator and electrician move their lines to a different area of their yard to accommodate an inground pool. This is another reason why determining your backyard’s size at the start of your journey is so important.
Step 3 – Have A Good Idea of Your Entertainment Space
When deciding on whether or not to get an inground pool, ask yourself, “How much entertainment space do I need?” 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 inground pool in it! If you have more questions on inground pools, check out some of our articles below.
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