Common Mistakes in Pool Design and How to Avoid Them

Installing a swimming pool can revolutionize your Capital Region home, elevating your landscaping and acting as a focal point for everything from relaxation to family gatherings. If soaking up the sun poolside or listening to the laughter of your kids having the time of their lives sounds like heaven to you, a pool might be the ideal addition for you.

However, that same pool can be just as much a nightmare as a dream come true. Inground pool design mistakes can quickly undermine your good intentions and have you floundering for solutions. Thanks to the permanent nature of inground pools, getting the design and installation right the first time is absolutely essential.

To help you avoid the pitfalls of these heartbreaking missteps, we’ve put our decades of experience with pool design and installation in the Capital Region and cities such as Saratoga Springs, Albany, and Clifton Park to work. Read on for your guide to how to design a pool and the mistakes to identify before they are permanent.

KEY TAKEAWAYS & IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS 

• Everything you need to know about installing a pool – from missteps to must-consider features that every homeowner dreaming of a pool should have on their radar 

• A top list of common inground pool design mistakes every homeowner should know about, including what happens when poor budgeting is part of the pool process 

• Our top list of tips on how to choose the right pool builder for your project, property, and goals 

Things to Consider When Building a Pool

Before we dive into the most common mistakes people make when designing a pool, it’s important to understand why these miscues are so impactful and just how much they can influence your experience. While poor pool design and installation can lead to a myriad of problems, there are a few key categories that anyone thinking about installing a swimming pool should consider.

• Long-term use. It’s easy to be excited about your pool when it is first completed, but how much use will it see when that initial excitement wears off? Certain pool mistakes can make the experience of using your pool less enjoyable, causing use to taper off as time goes on. In the end, this leads many people to have a subpar return on their investment.

• Cost. Inground pool design mistakes can lead to massive increases in cost, both during the installation process and throughout the life of the pool. From avoidable installation challenges to increased maintenance demands, these additional financial burdens can hit you upfront and long-term.

• Maintenance. Speaking of maintenance, the process of designing a pool should account for long-term care. Failure to do so could result in more frequent maintenance demands that carry a hefty price tag.

• Resale value. A benefit of an inground pool is the boost to your property value. However, a poorly designed and installed pool can have the opposite effect, causing the resale value of your home to tumble.

Common Inground Pool Design Mistakes

There are a number of ways that designing a pool can go wrong, especially when you factor in the unique attributes of your property and your personal preferences. For this reason, it is always best to speak to an experienced pool design team to ensure that every factor is accounted for and the pool is designed accordingly.

That being said, there are a handful of common inground pool design mistakes that can inform your thought process and prepare you for the reality of installing a swimming pool.

The Wrong Inground Pool Size or Shape

One of the themes of designing a pool is the synergy between your property and the pool itself. This principle starts with the very basics: inground pool size and shape.

If a pool is proportionally too large, it can overwhelm your property and make the rest of your outdoor space less functional. On the other hand, a pool that is too small may not facilitate the ways you wish to use it. The same rule applies to the shape of your pool. The wrong shape could decrease the functionality of your pool and your backyard.

Design tools that allow you to visualize your pool before it is installed can help avoid these poor outcomes, ensuring that your pool fits your needs and your property perfectly.

Poor Budgeting

Installing a swimming pool is a significant investment that requires careful technical and financial planning. Far too often, homeowners underestimate the cost of their pool design and installation, leaving them stressed and over budget somewhere along the way. Not only can this cause tremendous frustration, but it can also lead to installation delays and sour the pool ownership experience.

To avoid this costly inground pool design mistake, be sure to work with an expert who can provide you with a realistic estimate, including contingencies for potential setbacks and unexpected challenges. It is better to overestimate the financial burden of installing a pool than to find yourself in a tough spot.

Failure to Consider the Environment

Anytime you are designing a pool, you must consider environmental factors. Not only can things such as climate, shade, and wind influence the installation itself, but they will also play a significant role in your ability to enjoy the pool.

For example, the Capital Region is known for its distinct seasonal shifts. While each season is beautiful and carries its own benefits, there’s no question that the challenges of summer are vastly different than those of winter. If you want to use your pool year-round – or simply ensure that your equipment can withstand dramatic swings in temperature – you must consider the environment during the process of designing a pool.

The good news is that, if you clearly state your intended usage ahead of time, a professional pool builder can work with you to equip your pool for the climate and other environmental considerations.

Mistakes When Installing a Swimming Pool

Many of the problems that arise during the process of designing and installing a pool occur during the design phase and carry over to the installation and beyond. However, there are certain installation factors that stand out as things to consider when building a pool.

Poor site preparation, such as unlevel ground or improper drainage, could spell disaster for your pool. Other essential items, such as structural support, safety fencing, and utility placement, can also cause long-term issues. From cracks to eyesores, the consequences of these installation failures can cover a spectrum.

Thankfully, a professional pool builder in the Capital Region has the experience and expertise to prepare for these potential points of failure, setting your backyard up to be the paradise of your dreams.

Suboptimal Pool Placement

Not every backyard is the same, and accounting for the variation in orientation, shade, and other variables can make or break your poolside experience. Failure to consider such factors can cause your pool to be constantly shaded, create a lack of privacy, expose you to excessive winds, and more.

While the physical placement of your pool on your property is sometimes viewed as a secondary aspect of how to design a pool, it could not be more important. This is yet another reason why working with an experienced professional is so vital, as they have the knowledge required to ensure your pool is perfectly situated to maximize its beauty and functionality without disrupting the rest of your property.

Not Accounting for Landscaping

Whether you’re starting from scratch or installing a swimming pool within preexisting landscaping, not taking the rest of the landscape into consideration can lead to numerous issues.

Some of the potential problems you could face when not accounting for your landscaping are technical. You need to know where utilities are buried, sprinkler systems are placed, and so on. Other issues can affect the functionality or visual appearance of your landscaping.

For example, your kids may love to use the open space in your backyard to run around and play sports. An improperly placed pool could remove that possibility. A pool can also clash with your landscaping aesthetic, negatively impacting the visual appeal of your backyard. You may even see nearby plants grow unhealthy or die due to exposure to salt and chemicals.

Excellent pool design should work with your landscaping, not against it. Sometimes, this requires a bit of landscaping adjustment or give-and-take, but the principle is always the same: there should be thoughtful, intentional harmony between your new pool and your home’s landscaping. A pool should be integrated into a landscape, not an isolated feature.

How to Choose a Pool Builder

Investing in a pool is a big deal. It can either be something that elevates your property, enhances your life, and brings you joy for many years to come, or it can fall short of your expectations. Avoiding the common inground pool design mistakes mentioned above is a key way to ensure that your pool is a positive place to relax, recreate, and otherwise enjoy life.

Even more profound than understanding the foundations of designing a pool is the pool designer and builder you choose as your project partner. You want to work with someone with a reputation for excellence, ample experience, and local expertise.

With over 30 years of experience in the Capital Region, Gallivan checks all of these boxes and more. From our in-house design team to our intimate knowledge of Upstate New York’s climate, we’re prepared to help you with your pool project from conception to completion. Fill out our consultation form today to talk to our passionate team and begin the process of crafting your dream landscape.