One of the most common questions we hear, as a a leader in Massachusetts fiberglass pool installation, goes something like: “How far in advance do I need to plan?”

The tough part is that there’s no simple answer, even though it’s a perfectly reasonable question. We often end up telling people that they should begin looking at options as soon as they start seriously considering the upgrade. More time is always better than less.

But because that isn’t particularly insightful, I wanted to use today’s post to show a little more light on the topic. With 20+ years of fiberglass pool installation behind us, my team and I at Stefano’s have installed new swimming pools in just a few weeks. We’ve also seen projects drag on for months. Let’s look at some of the complicating factors so you can come to a reasonable time estimate for yourself, while also understanding the issues that might hold things up.

Homeowner Finances Can be a Constraint

It goes without saying that you can find yourself waiting months or years to save the money for your fiberglass pool project. It’s not a coincidence that we get tons of calls once tax returns and year-end bonuses start coming in.

You can’t really plan for the financial side of the patio upgrade until you have an amount to work with, though. And, it’s sometimes possible to break these projects into stages. That’s why we think getting quote is always a good first step.

It’s also good to remember that we offer financing for pool installations and other projects, so you don’t have to wait or scale back on your dreams.

Your Property Might Need Some Preparation

Homeowners sometimes think we can sign an agreement on the morning and start digging up their backyard by that afternoon. In most cases, though, a site needs to be prepared before we can do any sort of excavation.

This might be a straightforward process. However, it can be complicated if you have wires, plumbing, or existing obstacles in the way. For example, we recently came across a property with a closed off cellar that was only discovered when we began making space for the pool. These sorts of things are rare, but they do happen.

A Good Landscaping Company Might Have a Waiting List

Although we keep a good-sized team of experienced professionals working year-around, we are often forced to make homeowners wait two or three weeks before we can get started. This is especially true during the spring and summer.

We understand that people are eager to get started, but it’s so much better to wait a couple of weeks and have the right crew working in your yard. It’s a short-term sacrifice that pays dividends for years to come.

New England Weather is Unpredictable

Unless you’re new to Massachusetts this won’t come as news to you. Still, heavy rain or snow can make it hard to prep the ground and install a fiberglass pool.

We don’t often run into weather-related delays, and certainly not significant ones that last longer than a couple of days. But frozen ground, fallen trees, and other obstacles could make it so your fiberglass pool installation takes a bit longer than expected

Planning and Zoning Issues Vary by Municipality

We work around the Saugus, Massachusetts area and are familiar with local zoning laws and practices. That means we hardly ever wait more than a couple of weeks for approvals.

Depending on where you live, however, there might be more filing or prep work involved. This is why it pays to do some of the legwork you have time, or at least to work with a patio contractor who can handle these sorts of details for you.

Popular Fiberglass Pools Can Sell Out

Choosing a popular, high-quality fiberglass pool for your backyard can be good or bad. On the positive side, companies make lots of them because their best sellers. On the negative side, that popularity means they can sometimes sell out. Predictably, this tends to happen around late spring early summer.

While it’s not especially common, you could find you have to wait around six weeks for a new batch of pools to be constructed and delivered. That certainly stretches out the process towards the longer end of normal range (more on this in a moment).

Fiberglass Pools Aren’t Usually Installed Without Other Features

This is probably the biggest consideration, and one that homeowners don’t always think about right away. If you’re having a fiberglass pool installed on your property, you might also be opting for a new deck, some sheds, a walkway, crown level lighting, or even an outdoor kitchen.

It’s possible that some of these features might take longer than the fiberglass pool installation itself, particularly if there is plumbing or electrical involved. And, some things are better constructed before or after the pool, so you shouldn’t expect everything to be done at once.

Who You Hire to Install Your Fiberglass Pool Matters

Installing fiberglass pools is like most things in life. The more you do it the better you get. So, an experienced team won’t just be more thorough and prepared, but they’ll also get through the process more quickly and with fewer issues or delays.

As I mentioned, we’re fortunate to have a big team with lots of successful installations behind them. That means we can move a little quicker than some of our peers, but it’s an issue to consider when you’re putting together schedules and time frames.

How it All Works Out With Fiberglass Pool Installation

Given that every property and project are different, it’s always tricky to give general guidelines. Still, if pressed for an answer to the original question – how long does it normally take to complete a fiberglass pool installation? – I would say that two-three months is a good estimate if we start from your initial consultation. Things could go faster, of course, but your generally going to be done within that timeframe.

Of course, if you want a more specific quote and schedule to work with I would encourage you to reach out to the Stefano’s landscaping and patio renovation team. It only takes a moment to contact us, and your free, at-home consultation can give you a clear timeline tailored to your project.