The Essential Guide to Site Plans for Your Pool Construction Project
You have plans to build a new inground pool on your property. But how clear are these plans? Could your pool construction theoretically start today? It’s not always the pool owner’s duty to source this information. Yet not knowing the ins and outs of site planning will leave you in the dark for a large portion of your pool’s build.
The good news is that you can learn all about the process if you hire the right pool builders and know where to source your information. Start with this essential guide for pool construction site planning so you have a good baseline for discussing your upcoming project with a contractor.
The Basics of a Pool Site Plan
What exactly is a pool site plan? If you’re familiar with blueprints, they are similar but with more details. The plan includes a diagram outlining the layout of the pool, making it an essential tool when you plan your custom design. A good plan will include the dimensions and location of your pool within the space, providing a clear foundation for your project.
The difference between the site plan and a blueprint is that the plan already includes your existing landscaping elements, including trees and retaining walls. Blueprints are also more detailed technical drawings for the contractors, while pool site plans are easier to read and decipher without a degree in engineering.
Whether you’re building a small backyard oasis or a luxurious retreat, site plans can range from relatively basic, with just a few pictures and measurements, to highly detailed, with key and extensive information about the build. Either way, they are necessary for constructing swimming pools that are both functional and beautifully integrated into the landscape.
Why Does Planning a Pool Site Matter?
The biggest reason you’ll want a pool site plan is compliance. Most pool builders won’t entertain securing permits unless they have a clear plan to back up the project. It also gives them a bird’s-eye view of each element to ensure the build is safe and up to code. Legal compliance is vital if you want your build completed on time, so consider the site planning as insurance against wasting any time or money down the line.
A site plan is also excellent for mapping out the design concept in a way that makes sense to the rest of the space. This means taking into account other things like patios or even your neighbor’s yard to ensure everything is in the right spot.
What You’ll Find in Every Pool Site Plan
Now that you know why a pool site plan is important, look closer at each puzzle piece to see how it makes up the final product.
The Layout
Your pool’s layout is the most important part of a pool site plan. The plan provides clear shapes, dimensions, and depths of the pool’s design for your pool builders. They can reference this throughout the project before making any decisions, especially if the project runs into any snags.
The Utility Markings
The layout might also include a map of the utility lines so contractors can avoid them during construction or use them during setup. If utility information isn’t included in the layout, you’ll still see utility information marked somewhere on the plan.
The Safety Features
Most new pool builds include additional safety features, like fencing or gates. It’s important to know where these will be in relation to the rest of the pool. That’s why most safety features find their way onto pool site plans — even systems that don’t require extensive construction, like alarms.
The Other Features
Other features, like LED lighting or pool seating, also make their way onto the pool site plan. This is to complete the picture of your design and help builders locate things when it’s time to make electrical connections.
The Drainage System
Drainage systems are essential to avoid standing water and soil erosion. Your pool builders will include details about the system they’ll implement. The most popular is the French drain, which allows excess water to travel underneath the pool and diverts it away. Your designer will discuss which drainage system makes the most sense for your property and needs.
The Existing Structures
The final details involve everything else that isn’t your pool — decks, patios, landscaping, and other buildings. This helps you and the construction team get a feel for the new layout of your yard with the pool in it.
Building Your Pool Site Plans with the Experts
Professional pool builders will almost always take care of this step. Because the pool site plan is a document that involves a lot of detailed measurements and specifics, it’s not something the new pool owner is expected to handle.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t at least influence the plan or understand an existing one. You might even want to make a rough pool site plan before meeting with a designer to help them visualize your intentions with the space.
Your first goal should be to accurately measure the area where you’ll place your pool. Professionals have digital tools to assist with this task and help with precision. If you’re roughly estimating the space for your own sake, you could get away with a tape measure and some rounding up and down. But if you’re planning to submit the plan for approval, don’t submit it unless you’ve ensured the measurements are 100% accurate.
You’ll then use the measurements to create a scaled drawing. Again, if this is a mock-up, it doesn’t have to be anything particularly fancy as long as it gives the right idea. Most professionals use software for this to speed things up and ensure a clean final product — another reason it’s best to let them handle this.
Your final steps of creating the plan involve adding and labeling every element outlined above. The amount of detail you add is up to you. Still, most quality pool site plans at least have safety features, utilities, and drainage labeled clearly.
Tampa Bay Pools Has the Perfect Plan for Your Pool Construction Project
Are you looking for more guidance with your pool construction project? Let the experts at Tampa Bay Pools take it from here. Reach out to our team to take on whatever pool project you have in mind, and we’ll do the rest — just be ready to go for an inaugural swim when we finish!