A new swimming pool build can be exciting. It’s your opportunity to make sure your backyard oasis fulfills all your swimming pool requirements for fun, exercise, entertainment, and relaxation. One of the best parts about a new build is that you have the opportunity to design it with swimming pool safety in mind, right from the beginning. Drowning is one of the top five causes of accidental injuries from birth through 54 years of age, making pool safety a priority for every pool owner. Building a safer pool area is the best way to protect your friends, family, and pets from becoming part of this tragic statistic.
The Perfect Pastime To Beat The Heat
Whether you’re passionate about getting your laps in or just like to splash around with friends, a swimming pool is a great way to relax when the thermometer starts to creep up. Your swimming pool build might be set up for either or both, with the perfect dimensions to suit your needs based on your land’s area, existing structures, and jurisdictional swimming pool requirements. As you plan your project, you’ll have the opportunity to decide on the right safety barriers. Adding safety to the planning stage does more than fulfill your obligations as a responsible pool owner. It also lets you ensure that your design maximizes the utility and aesthetic appeal of your pool area as a whole.
Before You Break Ground…
Starting your new swimming pool build takes more than grabbing a couple of shovels and a few friends. It takes planning, preparation, and research to make sure you’re in compliance with your local government, mindful of dangerous situations that crop up before a drop of water is added, and that your land will support a new pool.
Check Your Utilities
The first place you want to start can be the easiest. Walk outside and verify no power lines cross the area you are planning for your swimming pool build. Then call 811, the national number for digging safety. They’ll help you coordinate with local utilities to ensure underground pipes and cables aren’t criss-crossing your pool area. If you do have utilities running under your yard, it may not be a deal-breaker, but you will have to plan your build to avoid them.
Check Your Land
A pool needs to be in an area that is generally flat and 100 feet from any larger bodies of water, like rivers or streams. A slight slope isn’t an issue, but steeper areas may need to be leveled, adding cost to the project. You will also want to be familiar with area flood patterns. If your yard ends up underwater regularly as-is, then it may not be right for a pool that will constantly need to be drained, cleaned, and sanitized to get rid of contaminants.
Check The Legalities
Swimming pool requirements can be set by local and state governments, homeowners associations, and historical committees. If your house is in a historic district, nature preservation area, or research zone, there may be limitations on swimming pool construction. Likewise, you will want to verify your property lines, any mandated setback from roads or other structures, and any easements on your property to make sure your swimming pool build is within code. You also need to research building permits that may be required for pools and the timeline they need for approval.
Check Your Access
Pools are built with heavy equipment that excavates earth, pours cement, and runs trenches for any inground hoses, pipes, or equipment. These bulky pieces of machinery need room to work, but first, they need a way to get into and out of your yard.
Find Your Contractor
A professional contractor for swimming pool builds does more than dig a hole, they understand swimming pool requirements and can guide you through the process, setting appropriate expectations and making sure unforeseen circumstances don’t derail your plans. They’ll talk to you about your needs, help you understand the space, time, and money requirements, and offer the options they think will work best for your specific situation. They should give you detailed plans, a written contract, and may be able to help you find financing options or work with your bank to go over any requirements they may have for a loan, if necessary.
Plan For Safety
Getting your local swimming pool fence installer involved in the process early is a great idea. They can work with detailed plans to help design a fence and pool safety net or safety cover strategy that looks refined and finished when your pool is done while protecting your friends, family, and pets.
Removable Pool Fencing – Often required by law, insurance carriers, or homeowners associations, swimming pool fence requirements specify features that make it harder for children, pets, and other at-risk parties from accidentally entering the pool area. See-through mesh weave is stretched between strong poles anchored in the deck or ground. Rip and UV resistant, this low-maintenance option deters climbing but can be easily removed and stored when more space is needed, such as for a pool party.
Safety Nets – Swimming pool safety nets provide a physical barrier above the water’s surface. Using strong, knotted cord and twine spaced about 3-inches apart, the mesh makes it difficult for a child or pet to walk very far on the surface, instead holding them above the water until they can be rescued.
Safety Covers – Using a durable ultra-mesh that is anchored to your deck, swimming pool safety covers combined with a safety fence give your new swimming pool build the best protection possible. Strong enough to support the weight of an adult, these covers help prevent accidental drowning while also keeping dust and debris out of your swimming pool.
Already Have A Plan?
Whatever stage your swimming pool build is in, from planning through construction to in the ground already for years, we’re ready to help you make sure it’s as safe as possible. Our local installers live in the communities they serve, which means they’re right down the road for estimates, adjustments, repairs, or consultations. Fill out the contact form online or give them a call during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and they’ll be happy to talk to you about your pool’s safety options.
Our service starts with a free, no-obligation estimate based on in-person measurements, your building plan, or information taken from satellite imagery for our busiest customers. This lets our swimming pool safety experts give you a detailed written quote so you can make an informed decision about safety for your new swimming pool build. With years of experience and hundreds of satisfied customers, we stand behind our work because protecting our neighbors from avoidable drowning injuries is our passion. Find out how budget-friendly the peace of mind that comes with a safer pool can be. Contact Lifeguard on Duty today.
