We recently had the chance to meet with a new customer with an interesting challenge: he wanted to find a fiberglass pool installer that could work with a relatively tight space.

 

The home in question was situated in our area of northeastern Massachusetts. It was a beautiful property, and one with lots of sunshine and a flat grading that made it well suited to a fiberglass pool. The only issue was the dimensions themselves. Putting any kind of swimming pool in the space meant that there wouldn’t be a great deal of room left.

 

Our homeowner wasn’t deterred. He wanted an outdoor area that his family, including his two dogs, could use to stay cool all summer long. So, we sat him down with our design team to work on the challenge. After all, what’s the point of being one of the best fiberglass pool installers in the area if you’re only going to take the easy jobs?

 

The project turned out great. Our customer was really happy with the work, which is always the most important thing. One great side benefit, though, was that we learned a lot about fitting fiberglass pools into smaller properties.

 

So, if you’ve been wondering whether you can fit a pool into your backyard, then this might be the post you’ve been waiting for. I’m going to walk you through what we saw and learned on this job, along with the lessons for anyone who is thinking about a similar fiberglass pool installation.

 

Let’s start with the part of the process that’s the least interesting and easiest to overlook…

 

Check for Zoning and Infrastructure Restrictions

We know it’s boring, but every patio renovation and fiberglass pool installation project should begin with a check of zoning, utility lines, and other details. That’s particularly important for smaller properties as you might not have many options to go around things like pipes or electrical cables.

 

Fortunately, most experienced fiberglass pool installers can handle these details for you. But, going through the paperwork (and making the necessary filings when needed) can take time. That means it’s to your advantage to start early.

 

It’s easy to get excited and forget about this part of the job, but it only leads to bigger issues down the road.

 

Think Through the Plans for the Property

Again, we like our customers to think through the plans for their outdoor space before we begin any project. But again, it’s even more critical when you’re working with smaller dimensions because you might have to fit several elements together in a creative way. Or, you could have to make some tough decisions about what will or won’t make it into your final patio design plan.

 

Our team is rarely asked to install a fiberglass pool on its own. Our customers typically want things like patio pavers, outdoor cooking, and (of course) furniture that’s resistant to water or the elements. Working in a smaller backyard means we have to choose pieces and materials carefully. It’s also usually the case that we need to get things right on the first try since there will be fewer chances to move elements around after we start digging.

 

This can all be a good thing, particularly if it drives a homeowner to make good decisions early in the design process.

 

Choose the Right Fiberglass Pool for the Job

Naturally, choosing the right fiberglass pool is the most important part of fitting it into a smaller outdoor space. But it’s not simply a matter of picking the tiniest option you can find and moving on.

 

For one thing, you’ll want to get the pool that best fits your lifestyle. Are you planning on sitting with your family in some cool water or going a bit deeper? Do you have kids or pets that need more space? And what will you place around the pool itself?

 

Regardless of how you answer these questions, you’ll almost always want to choose a round pool, rather than a rectangle, if you have a smaller footprint to work with. In terms of both optics and feel, round fiberglass pools give off the sense of being larger. They also seem less constrained when you have walls and fences nearby.

 

Plan Ahead for Maintenance and Future Work

In some instances, measuring for a fiberglass pool can be a lot simpler than actually installing it.

 

On the job I mentioned earlier in this post, my team and I ended up preparing the worksite, doing an excavation to remove soil, and then lifting a smaller, round fiberglass pool in with a crane. We also worked with the neighbors to remove fences and go across property lines in exchange for repairing the damaged spaces to a better condition than we had found them.

 

We understand that not every customer will have the option to ask their neighbors to let them move a fence or cut through property. However, you’d be surprised at how common it is, especially if the neighbor or homeowner in question is getting a free upgrade as part of the process. That extra work might represent extra time and expense, but much less than would be needed to get through a tight space without those accommodations.

 

Looking for Fiberglass Pool Installers in Northeastern Massachusetts?

At Stefano’s Landscaping, we don’t just build patios and install fiberglass pools – we create outdoor spaces that allow you to take a vacation without leaving home. Every new project begins with an on-site consultation so you can get ideas and answers without committing to anything.

 

So, if you live in or around the Saugus, Massachusetts, area and want to talk about the possibilities with your backyard, then we hope you’ll contact us today. No job is too big or too small, and we would love to get the chance to meet you!