Installing a pool and setting up your backyard

From the windows of an airplane, the series of little blue dots lining the asphalted suburban streets remind the passengers that they’re flying over beautiful residential neighbourhoods. Even if our hot season only lasts a fraction of the year, many people do not hesitate to cede a big part of their land to the installation of a swimming pool. After you have made this decision, all you have to do is divide your yard accordingly.

What does having a swimming pool in your backyard mean?

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“When there’s a heatwave, people rush to the store, but it’s not a good idea. It’s better to buy it before, so you can enjoy it when it’s hot.” According to Alain Gravel, director of marketing at Trévi Pools. Ideally, you should buy your pool anywhere from August to the end of the fall season. “There is a funnel effect at the end of April and in May since everyone who ordered a pool in the late fall, during the winter months and springtime must wait for their turn. In August, people buying above-ground pools enjoy a better price and can have it installed in under 78 hours. Those who have inground pools installed still have time to do their landscaping,” continues Mr. Gravel.

You choose between two types of swimming pools: above ground or inground. Some manufacturers offer an inground pool that looks as though it's overflowing and has offset edges that give the impression of a mirror-like surface instead of a basin, this is called an infinity pool. Similar to a lake whose water flows, not into a river, but into a return basin. With regard to costs, it is necessary to add 10 to 100% of its price for the fitting, the detail and aesthetics of your arrangement.

Also, you will need to buy the accessories for your pool: a pump, water heater, water treatments, solar and winter shades, a fence, as well as a buoy and a pole for safety. Additionally, you are required to secure access to the swimming pool so that it’s not dangerous for children.

The safety measures are as follows:

• The fence surrounding the pool must be a least 1.2 meters tall.

• Barriers or doors should be provided with latches and spring hinges.

• The ladder and objects around it should be removed after each swim.

• The filtration system must be more than one meter away from the pool.

If you're thinking about installing a pool in your yard, or even a natural pool, you should plan the time of purchase and installation, choose the model and install safety measures to avoid accidents. With these three steps taken into account, it is time to design the layout of your yard.

What are the different models of pools?

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Above-ground pools cost roughly $3,600 and semi-inground pools start at $12,000. If you opt for the above-ground pool, several materials, shapes and height choices are available to you:

• The steel pool is popular, cheaper, and more resistant than aluminum, however, steel can rust easily. The aluminum pool does not rust but it oxidizes over time and will eventually weaken. A pool made from treated yellow pine offers a more natural appearance but its lifespan is shorter than the other two materials.

• A round shape between 12 and 27 feet in diameter is the cheapest and most popular form but takes up more space. 

• At 48 inches in height, the pool is more aesthetic and easier to fit but some manufacturers no longer offer this option. At 52 inches high, the pool is safer and more complicated for children to access but you should expect to pay between $100 and $250 for these extra four inches.

An inground pool should cost between $35,000 and $46,000 and its annual maintenance cost varies between $800 and $900. If you opt for the inground pool option, several materials are available on the market:

• Concrete allows you to build the model of your choice; whether beach or spa-inspired, with an integrated waterfall, this material should be cleaned annually and repainted every three years.

• A resin casing is used for the concrete, which is ideal for sloping grounds, as is solid concrete and helps reduce maintenance.

• Fibreglass as a precast moulded shell is durable, easy to repair and quick to install but leaks can cause the shell to swell.

• Polymer doesn’t oxidize but its structure cannot be exposed to the sun. So, the pool must be installed quickly otherwise the sides can become deformed.

• Galvanized steel covered with canvas is a popular material with a good value for your money but the number of shapes available is limited to materials such as resin, fibreglass, and polymer.

Overcoming deck related obstacles

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The semi-inground pool is an option that shouldn’t be overlooked. Instead of installing an above-ground pool on the ground or having an expensive inground, the semi-inground pool is an above-ground pool just 45 cm over ground level. This option offers you a multitude of possibilities in terms of decks or patios while preserving the privacy of your yard.

Just when you’re about to lie in the sun, have you ever been disturbed by youngsters standing on their deck, sticking out from the fence, having fun and jumping in the pool? If your cedar hedge has not yet reached the desired height to hide your neighbours' house, it is best to install the wooden deck over a slab patio. The space between the level of the deck and that of the patio can be filled by a long walkway large enough to constitute a bench for swimmers drying in the sun. A semi-inground pool will be a wonderful place to spend those sunny days!

A sloping terrain poses certain development problems that a deck can help solve. The gradient of the ground is on two levels, the lower one being arranged on the patio on which your above-ground swimming pool is located. This results in a loss of space between the stone wall retaining the higher level, and the swimming pool. A deck that spans both levels to border the pool makes up for the loss of space with a platform.

In the case of an inground pool lined with a strip of coloured plants and shrubs, surrounded by a slab which is lined with a wooden platform, this can create the space for a raised deck. Here, the wooden deck takes the form of a mound where you can place a table and chairs. This perch will also allow you to monitor the pool while seated at the table.

Playing Tetris with the elements: how to organize your backyard

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“Who’s going to swim laps? The pool is really made for relaxing,” says Taktik Design general manager Nicola Tardiff Bourdages. This is the watchword for the new trend of small swimming pools with a surface of 3 meters by 5 meters. In addition to obtaining a municipality permit, you must comply with the safety standards listed above, hide the mechanics so as not to disturb the neighbours in the vicinity and above all: use your space logically.

The outdoor kitchen with a barbeque or terrace must be adjacent to the back door and windows while freeing access to the high traffic areas. Do not install a table for eight people that occupies the entire space. You only have to adjust the area by taking out a table and chairs when you have guests over. A flowerbed can take the place of a one-meter wide concrete walkway along with the pool. Note that a small pool requires less water and warms up faster.

A simple renovation of your home can give you new strategies to organize the outdoor areas without compromising ergonomics and comfort while integrating an area to house the recycling bin, garbage and pool mechanics. Consider the sun's path that will indicate where to install the pool, on the opposite side of the cozy corner which should be set in the shade. In cities where high-rise buildings create large shaded areas, the amount of sunlight in a yard can change from house to house.

If you have a place to hang it, a hammock allows you to relax without taking up too much space. Why not add Aztec statuettes and paint your garden furniture with bright colours to remind you of your last trip to Mexico? When your children try to break open the piñata you will see how effective your layout has been!

Heating your pool for the lowest cost

Having a swimming pool is a luxury since, as an investment, it adds close to nothing in regard to your property’s value. This is why tips for saving are important to your budget.

The sun is a free source of energy, so it’s up to you to set the pool up in the most exposed part of your yard. You can also turn to solar power through panels installed on the roof. The traditional canvas unrolled over the pool remains the most efficient way to heat the pool.

If you want to heat your water, using a heat pump will save you half of what it would cost to use an electric or gas heater.

For more information on the construction and installation of pools consult our article: Steps to Building An Inground Pool.