There are a plethora of reasons to install a custom in-ground pool in your backyard. One of the most important reasons is they can have a positive impact on the quality of life for you and your family. In a 2018 YouGov poll, commissioned by Swim England, swimming can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Once you’ve decided that a custom pool is right for you, what do you do now? If you’re anything like me, your first thought may be to call a pool builder. Oddly enough, that may not be the right move.

Step #1: Ask the Right Questions

The first step you need to do is to ask yourself the right questions. Questions you want to ask yourself include:

• How will my family use the space?
  Do you like to entertain? Are you looking to relax? Do you want a space to spend time with family and play with your kids? These answers will help you as you consider the look and feel of your pool area.
• What do I want my space to look like?
  Style is important! This is your custom space. However, while the look should fit your personal style, you want to ensure the design works with the layout and aesthetics of your house and property. Whenever possible, you should get an accurate 3D design so you can see, to scale, what your design will look like before you start any of the work.
• What is my budget?
  This question should be taken very seriously. When considering a custom in-ground pool project, it is so much more than just the price of the pool. You need to consider factors such as patio surfaces, lighting, safety features, soil & land development, landscaping, and, most importantly, the water to fill the pool (often not included in the price of the pool!). There is also a huge time commitment involved and, as we all know, time is money.

Step #2: Do Your Homework

Once you have the answers to the three main questions, it’s time to get started, right? Not quite! Before you begin construction, it is imperative to do your homework. To ensure your custom pool project goes smoothly, you will have to contact:

• An Architect
• A Designer
• A Pool Builder
• A Plumber
• An Electrician
• A Landscaper
• A Hardscaper / Concrete Mason
• A Fence Installer
• Your Local Township

Step #3: Manage the Project

Now that you have contacted all the contractors that will be involved, it is time to manage the project. Before you can start, you will want to work with the architect to come out to the property, survey your land, and put together a scale model of your yard.

Once the model is complete, you can take that design to a pool builder to begin the process. However, before any construction is started, you need to make sure you contact your local township to get required permits and verify the location of existing underground utilities so that no damage is done to your property.

Once construction has begun, you will want to ensure you stay in constant communication with the foreman and all the other parties involved with the project to keep things on schedule.

Following the construction of the pool, you will want to call your landscaper and fence installer to return your property to its original state. If you want any additional features such as a patio, deck, patio roof, fireplace/fire pit, outdoor kitchen, you will want to reach out to a carpenter and hardscape specialist.

Save Yourself Time and Aggravation

Finding the time to organize these moving parts can be difficult. Pittsburgh Stone and Waterscapes has been involved with pool designs and installation projects for over ten years and has created a turnkey system with a team of expert professionals and contractors to handle every detail of your project.

We guide you through the design process, assist in the material selection, and provide a detailed and itemized breakdown of costs. We also provide a detailed and accurate 3D design of your project to ensure you know exactly how your pool will look before any digging has started. Finally, we have a project manager assigned to each project to provide you with the peace of mind that all details, big or small, are handled.

Don’t get hung up in the details. Make just one call and let us handle every detail of your pool project and guide you through the complexity of the process step by step.