It’s time for an outdoor overhaul, and your pool is the perfect place to start. But with so many options for swimming pool renovations, how do you sift through them to find the right one? Let this be your guide for remodeling and refreshing your pool space. It will help you breathe new life into your backyard in a way that fits your aesthetics and needs.
Think About Why You’re Renovating
What’s the goal behind your swimming pool renovation? Do you want to increase your property value? Did you need a pool repair and want to just make it a renovation instead? Or is it more important for you to have something that shows off your artistic expression? For most homeowners, it will be some combination of fun and finances. But it’s still important to know where you stand on that spectrum before you call in the pros to start digging.
If you have an older inground pool, chances are the aesthetics aren’t to your taste. Whether its style is outdated or it just has a run-down look, your pool could use new features and a remodel. Some pool owners might be more concerned about functionality. Maybe the goal of their upgrade is to have a better filtration system or to add LED lights so they can swim more safely at night. Are your tiles up to date? Do you need pool resurfacing? These are the thing to think about.
Write down what you’d love to see in your dream pool. Follow that up by moving things into categories like “essentials” and “would likes.” This makes it easier to nail down the point of the renovation, which gives you more confidence to make choices that align with your end goal.
Set Your Renovations Budget
Your next step is to set a realistic budget for the renovation cost. Note that this might move some “essentials” from your list into “would likes.” But it could also do the opposite. If you know you don’t want to compromise your vision, it’s easier to set a budget that reflects that.
“Realistic” also means being honest about what you actually want to achieve. If you’re doing a massive overhaul for your pool, expect to allocate a lot more funds than if you were making a few small upgrades. Flexibility will be your friend. Large-scale construction projects rarely go exactly to plan, no matter how hard all parties try to make it otherwise. Give yourself a clear picture of your budget ballpark before you settle on any numbers. This means getting quotes from multiple contractors.
Quotes are useful to establish a budget, but they also open lines of communication with the contractor to learn about why things cost what they do. For example, you might have a general idea of what a new waterfall will cost using a certain material. But a pool contractor might warn you that the material’s price will likely increase around the date you intend to start your project.
These small details that you may not have considered make a world of difference when you’re creating a swimming pool renovation budget.
Reevaluate What Your Pool Needs
With a better glimpse into what the pool remodel will cost you, now’s a good time to consider whether a compromise needs to go back on the table.
This involves leveling with yourself about your dream pool versus real life. Yes, it does sound lovely to have a water feature that connects to a new jacuzzi area. But if you don’t have a secure fence around your pool and the pool structure is cracking, it’s probably ideal to table the jacuzzi concept unless there’s room for all of it in the budget.
Most experts recommend dealing with structural, equipment, and safety upgrades first. These are what have the best return on investment. No matter how beautiful a pool space is, if a potential buyer sees that a pool doesn’t comply with local regulations, that’s a major red flag.
Remember to Plan Long-Term
Home improvement is a long game. You want to consider design elements that withstand the test of time, not just things that sound fun to you right now.
One of the best examples of this is eco-friendly and energy-efficient upgrades. There isn’t a single industry that isn’t seeing a steady increase in the importance of sustainability. This means you’ll get better mileage out of pool remodels that focus on things like solar heating panels, new energy-efficient equipment, and even saltwater pool systems.
Chat with your pool contractor about what they think has staying power in the market. It doesn’t just matter what’s on trend right now, if you aren’t planning to sell your home for a few years, you want to consider what’s still going to be relevant or potentially even more attractive then.
Don’t Forget the Surrounding Space When Renovating a Pool
How does your new pool design impact the rest of your yard? Chances are that you’ll want to update certain outdoor elements and how they’ll go with your pool’s new look. You may even want to factor these into your budget, even if you don’t necessarily have to change them to complete the renovation design.
Pool owners with a distinct vision for their backyard should have a plan for their landscaping. For example, adding a water feature might allow you to showcase some new plants around it. Talk to a pool designer about your vision. Letting them know what you intend to change about the rest of the space could help better inform the design philosophy.
Plan and Schedule Accordingly for Your Renovation
Once you have a contractor you trust, a design you love, and a budget that feels right, it’s time to schedule your renovation. Be realistic about timelines. It might even be smart to overestimate the timeline, especially if the upgrade requires excavation.
Your contractor will walk you through expectations before they start digging. However, don’t hesitate to ask questions leading up to the day. You want to know the essentials, like whether you’ll be able to use water on specific days or if your entire backyard will be mostly off-limits throughout construction. Information like this can help you adjust your life so you experience as little disruption as possible.
Refresh Your Outdoor Space With Swimming Pool Remodeling Project with a Pool Contractor From BlueHaven POTG
If you’re ready to renovate, Blue Haven Pools on the Gulf is here to innovate. Call us today for a consultation about the process of renovating a pool and updating your outdoor living.