When Is the Best Time to Build Inground Pools?

13Jan

How Different Seasons Affect and Impact Construction of Inground Pools

As with most home renovation projects, the earlier you start inground pool construction, the sooner you can relax and enjoy your new pool.

When you start could be as early as fall in preparation for the next pool season, or as early as spring so you can enjoy your pool for the upcoming summer.

There is no wrong time to start planning for your inground pool installation. The best time for inground pool construction is when you’re ready, both financially and scheduling wise. You don’t have to rush. So take your time to save enough money and plan your ideal backyard landscape. And once you’re ready, you can start shopping around for expert pool builders to help you make your dream a reality.

As far as seasons go, each has its own benefits and drawbacks for pool construction. So you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons when deciding on the best time for you.

Here’s a look at the pros and cons of building inground pools season-to-season so you’ll know what to expect when you’re ready to start.

Pros and Cons of Pool Building in Each Season

There is no best season to start pool building. Instead, the best time to build a pool is when you are ready. So give yourself as much time as possible to plan your backyard pool design with pool builders, and consider these pros and cons for building pools in each season to help you further prepare.

Spring

Pro: Your pool will be ready to use come summer.

Con: Since this is the start of the busy pool-building season, pool builders and suppliers are in high demand. They book up fast and won’t have the same off-season deals.

Summer

Pro: If you start pool construction in early summer, you will still have a chance to enjoy your pool while there’s some warm weather left. And if you start contacting pool builders in late summer after the busy season, they will be eager to extend their work season.

Con: Your backyard will be under construction for part of the summer, which could put a damper on your backyard enjoyment.

Fall

Pros: Fall usually sees a drop in costs for materials and installation, and pool builders will have more time in their schedule. You can also start planning your backyard landscape for the upcoming year, and know for certain that your pool will be ready for next summer.

Con: You will likely have to wait until the following pool season to use your new pool.

Winter

Pros: You’ll get a head start before the busy pool-building season starts and might be able to negotiate a good deal with pool builders. You’ll also have all winter to work with pool builders to plan your pool design and landscaping for the upcoming spring.

Con: The cold weather might make it difficult to build an inground pool in Ottawa, especially if the ground has already frozen. So pool builders might have to wait until spring to start digging.

Are You Landscaping Around Your Pool?

If you’re planning backyard landscaping around your pool, you’ll also have to consider the best time for this work along with working with a pool landscape designer to integrate your pool design with your new backyard landscape design. A professional can determine the best location for your pool and help you design a luxury backyard oasis.

Backyard landscape design includes patios, walkways, steps, walls, garden beds, plantings, drainage, grading, privacy, and lighting.

Fall is a great time to plant new grass seed, trees, and flower bulbs for the upcoming spring. This time gives new seedlings several months to take root around the pool area.

While you won’t be able to plant anything in winter, you can always plan your backyard landscape in winter. And once the ground thaws and your pool construction has completed, you can plant flowers, shrubs, and new grass in spring.

Keep in mind that backyard landscaping can take two to four months to complete, depending on the scope of the project, so you’ll want to ensure you’ve finalized your landscape design so landscaping can start as soon as possible.

Planning in Advance

You can never be too prepared when it comes to planning your pool construction. There are a lot of factors to consider that go into finding the best pool for you and your home. You’ll have to research the different types of pools available and narrow down your choices based on your preferences and budget. Pool builders can give you an estimate for above-ground, semi-inground, and inground pool costs.

A consultation with pool builders will also ensure you find the right pool for your backyard. For example, if your backyard has a slope, it will take more work to install an inground pool compared to semi-inground pools. And more work means a higher cost. So be sure to consult with the professionals beforehand to help you plan for your new pool.

The following are some of the many factors to consider when planning dream pools:

Dream pools aren’t built overnight. The average timeline for building a vinyl-liner pool is three to four weeks. And it can take four to six weeks to build a concrete pool. If you opt for decorative pool tiles, water features, or a spa installation, expect an even longer timeline.

However, these are only average times since pool builders may face challenges along the way—e.g., with the ground’s slope and soil type. Once you’ve finalized a plan with your builders, they can give you an accurate construction timeline.

If you start planning for your pool in fall or winter, you’ll have more time to save money for this investment, and you’ll also have time to apply for and receive a building permit so your pool builders can start building the moment the ground thaws.

It can take two to four weeks to receive a building permit, and even longer in the spring when everyone is applying for building permits. But in the slow winter season, you’ll have more time to apply, and you’ll likely receive your permit sooner than if you wait until spring.

Another bonus to planning in advance is that you can have more time to plan for your new patio furniture and décor along with any backyard parties you want to host for the upcoming pool season.

If your pool and landscaping are completed in time for summer, you can be the first to send out invitations for a pool party to celebrate a holiday or a birthday. And you’ll have ample time to plan one of the best pool parties of the summer. With all the work you put into planning your pool construction, you deserve to show off your new pool.

Tying It All Together

By planning your pool design and landscaping well in advance, and obtaining the required building permits as soon as possible, you can ensure your pool construction and landscaping is completed in a reasonable timeline with minimal setbacks.

There are a lot of things to consider, including budgeting and scheduling, that go into pool construction. So the more time you put into planning for your pool, the more pleased you will be when the construction is finished.

If you are ready to start building now, then you can enjoy your pool this summer. But if not, don’t worry. Your dream pool won’t be going anywhere if you decide to build it later in the year. Consider the costs and advantages of pool building in different seasons, and start planning for your dream pool.