No matter what your pool’s intended use; be it to simply somewhere to cool off in on a scorching summer’s day or a place for your children to play, being as informed as possible with your pool’s critical elements will determine its overall success.

The Critical Issues for Building a New Pool

Eco Outdoor spoke with some of the top landscape and pool designers in NSW to give us their expert opinions on the key considerations and issues for building a new pool in your home.

How you want to use the pool?

Dean Herald of Rolling Stone Landscapes says it’s important to start with understanding what you want before you start building a new pool: “Some of the critical elements you need to consider when you’re building a pool and designing a pool is understanding what you want.

Once you have a clear understanding of your needs, designers can customise the swimming pool for you. “Some people might like to actually have a swim lane, others might want to have a spa,” explains Dean.

“It comes down to what do you want in a swimming pool and design that’s suitable for you and your family.”

Raoul van De Laak of Good Manors Pools & Gardens agrees that usage is an important consideration when building a new pool. He asks: “Do you have kids? Do you want to swim in a pool or is it just a lap pool or a plunge pool?”

Placement of the pool within the outdoor space

Matt Cantwell of Secret Gardens believes there are several critical items that need to be considered when building a new pool including the position of the pool in the backyard. “Certainly, the placement of the pool, understanding where the sun is going to be at different times of the year.”

Raoul suggests considering the placement of the pool in regards to sight lines. “Is it a feature in the garden, that’s also very important. Do you look down at it or is it on [the] same level or is it above you?”

Getting the scale just right

Splish Splash Pools’ Matt Bramley explains getting the scale right in relation to your outdoor space is vital to the overall success of the garden. “…If you do have a small residential backyard, you don’t want to have a pool that’s too big. But adversely so, if it’s a large backyard, you just want to get the scale right.”

Engaging an experienced landscape design or architect team to help you with position and scale can be integral to your project.

Budgeting the cost of the pool

Matt Bramley also says costings are a key factory for the majority of his clients building a new pool. “Budget is very important when considering a backyard pool,” he says.  “Not everybody has unlimited budgets.”

Safety and design of pool fencing

Pool fencing is a key issue for Matt Leacy of Landart Landscapes. He believes that the fencing should not be constrained by the design of the pool, but that the two should work hand-in-hand.

“You have to design around the pool fence,” he says.

“That’s probably the key thing for me; almost starting with the pool fence and trying to make that disappear and not break up the spaces or at least not line or define the edge of the pool to the rest of the landscape.”

For more valuable advice about pools, visit the pool section in our Learning Library.

Interview Transcript:

Dean Herald of Rolling Stone Landscapes: Some of the critical elements you need to consider when you’re building a pool and designing a pool is just understanding what you want. You know, how is your family going to use this? How are you going to entertain? And just really customize this swimming pool for you. Some people…you might like to actually have a swim lane, you might want to have a spa. What do you want in a swimming pool and design that’s suitable for you and your family?

Matt Cantwell of Secret Gardens: Certainly, the placement of the pool, understanding where the sun is going to be at different times of the year.

Raoul: Usage, position in the garden.

Matt Bramley: Getting the scale right. So if you do have a small residential backyard, you don’t want to have a pool that’s too big. But reversely so, if it’s a large backyard, you just want to get the scale right.

Raoul van De Laak of Good Manors: Do you have kids? Do you want to swim in a pool or is it just a lap pool or a plunge pool?

Matt Bramley of Splish Splash Pools: Budget is very important when considering a backyard pool. Not everybody has unlimited budgets.

Raoul: Is it a feature in the garden, that’s also very important. Like, do you look down at it or is it on the same level or is it above you?

Matt Leacy of Landart Landscapes: You gotta design around the pool fence. That’s probably the key thing for me, almost starting with the pool fence, trying to make that disappear and not break up the spaces, or at least not line or define the edge of the pool to the rest of the landscape.