It turns out the earth isn’t flat… at least in New England. You can’t complete a fiberglass pool installation on the side of a hill. But our part of the world is made of nothing but hills. Properties with lots of level ground are rare. And so, we are very commonly asked about whether it’s possible to install a pool on a sloped back yard.

Before I give any answers, it’s important to know that every home and situation is different. In 20+ years of landscaping I’ve seen almost every kind of outdoor space imaginable. Until my team has had a look at your property you should take anything you read as general advice and guidelines. Don’t assume it specifically applies to your case. There are just too many different possibilities – including really steep hills, trees, boulders, and even hidden underground cellars (we’ve seen it).

What I want you to understand is that it’s much better to have someone with the right experience look at your property and give specific answers than it is to assume what might or might not be possible. With that disclaimer out of the way, though, let’s get back to the question at hand.

Can you hire a fiberglass pool installation company near you to work on a hilly property?

 

The Answer is Almost Always Yes

Here’s the short answer you’re probably looking for: yes, we can almost always work with the gradient you have on your property. There are exceptions, but over many years of working as a fiberglass pool installer I’ve only run into a few spaces that wouldn’t work.

Generally, dealing with hills just means doing additional excavation work. We might have lots of ground to level out and prepare before we can actually put your pool into place. That doesn’t make anything more difficult, it just requires more equipment, a little bit of extra time, and a plan to make sure everything comes together on schedule.

Don’t let the fact that you have a slope on your property keep you from thinking you can’t enjoy a pool.

 

You Need More Flat Space Than You Think for Your Fiberglass Pool Installation

Some homeowners are surprised that we can install swimming pools into sloped properties. Even more are surprised by just how much space we need to level out before we can begin.

Customers tend to think in terms of leveling the ground where the pool itself will be. They don’t always remember that we’ll need space to get to and from the building site. Additionally, they’ll probably want a level area where we can install pavers, build a deck, or add other features that make it easier to enjoy the pool itself.

Naturally, we go through designs with customers before any excavation or fiberglass pool installation work begins. Still, we try to ensure they understand early in the process that we may need to flatten more space than they originally think to make room for their pool. 

 

Walls are Part of the Answer

Leveling the ground in your back yard is one thing. Keeping it that way is a whole other challenge. Often, walls are the solution.

Retaining walls look great and can add a lot to the aesthetic of your patio design. They break up the landscape, give another visual focal point near your pool, and can incorporate extra lighting. More than that, though, they serve a structural purpose. They don’t just help keep everything in place after we’ve smoothed out the hills in your backyard but also assist with drainage.

While it’s possible to install a fiberglass pool onto almost any property, it’s nearly always the case that we need to use walls to overcome steep hills.

 

Your Fiberglass Pool Installation Might Cost More

The downside of leveling space in your property for fiberglass pool is that it can add to the cost of the project. The digging itself requires machinery and extra crew hours. Plus, the costs for materials might rise because you need retaining walls.

However, these extra expenses are necessarily going to be significant, especially when compared to the price of the pool itself. I mentioned it as part of this post because not every fiberglass pool installation company is upfront about their pricing (you can see my recent post on the topic).

The more challenging or unusual your property is, the more important it becomes for you to work with a company that’s going to give you an transparent quote for their work.

 

Planning is Everything

I feel like this could be the takeaway point for almost every article I write, but it remains the most important part of fiberglass pool installation – or any type of patio renovation. If your contractor doesn’t work with you to understand your vision, lifestyle, and budget, you’ll eventually run into problems.

That becomes even more likely when you have a slope, hill, or gradient on some part of your property. Your fiberglass pool installer should either incorporate the uneven nature of the ground into their design or develop a plan to work around it. Either way, they should make sure you understand and approve of how things will look at the end. 

 

Want Our Patio Design Experts to Look at Your Space?

I started this post by giving you the two pieces of information you probably need most. The first is that an experienced team can almost always design a new patio, complete with a fiberglass pool, and install it onto a hilly property. The second is that you should have a team of experts out to look at what you’re working with before you start to think about budgets or specifics.

We can help you with that process. Every Stefano’s Landscaping project starts with a free design consultation at your home. That gives our design team a chance to look at the space while you can tell us about your vision for the patio and ask lots of questions. At the end, you’ll get a detailed (and realistic) quote for the job with no obligation to move forward.

If that sounds like a good first step towards your fiberglass pool installation then I hope you’ll contact us today.