Springtime ushers in all sorts of new activity. Plants are growing. Birds are singing. And people, suddenly afflicted by spring fever, are obsessing over the warmer days ahead.
For many homeowners, this includes thoughts of installing a backyard swimming pool. While spring might not be the optimal time of year to build a new pool, it’s undoubtedly the season when many people first get the itch.
Whether you’re just tinkering with the idea of a pool, or have been planning one all winter, here are five things – good, bad, and other – to know when contemplating a springtime pool installation.
1. You can get the latest and greatest.
Winter and spring are when many pool products hit the market, including new models of fiberglass pool shells, cleaners, pumps, automated systems, and so forth. It’s also a time when a lot of the hot home design trends become clear. If having top-of-the-line equipment or a fashionable poolscape are big priorities for you, then spring is the season for installation. For bargain hunters, it can also a good time to find deals, as pool suppliers are trying to empty their inventory of older models to make room for the new.
2. Contractor schedules are starting to fill up.
This is the time of year when contractors start to get busy. And not just pool contractors, but all sorts of outdoor home contractors (a point that could become relevant if you need to hire a professional to install a fence or do landscaping). The law of supply and demand dictates that you may have to pay more for the services of elite pool builders in the spring than at other times of year. Of course, there are always cut-rate pool builders for hire, but we don’t recommend going that route.
3. It’s a great time for landscaping.
Obviously, you don’t want to do any landscaping before the pool is installed, as it can easily get wrecked in all the hubbub of pool construction. However, if pool installation is completed before summer, you can potentially get landscaping and other complementary projects (fence, etc.) done before your first swim. Fourth of July pool party, anyone?
4. Rain and mud can complicate things.
In many parts of the country, spring rain and melting snow can produce a soupy mess in the backyard. Add heavy equipment and lots of foot traffic, and things can get real ugly. Bad weather can also sideline pool builders for days and muck up your project schedule.
5. Your pool will be ready for summer!
Sure, a fall or winter installation makes sense in a lot of ways, but there’s one major buzzkill – the fact that you can’t even use your new pool for months (depending on the climate). On the other end, a summer installation allows you to use the pool immediately, but turns your backyard into a construction zone during barbecue season. Putting all the other factors aside, spring is when you really want to install a pool to get the best use out of it.
As you can see, there are pros and cons to installing a new pool in the spring. However, if you’re thinking about the perfect timing for a new installation, there are a couple more things you should factor in. These two points should carry at least as much weight as seasonal considerations.
First, prices generally go up over time. You might get a seasonal discount by waiting until after spring when pool builders are less busy. However, that discount could be offset (at least somewhat) by annual price increases.
Secondly, there’s never a good reason to rush into pool installation. Pools cost a lot of money upfront, last for decades, and require steady maintenance. Given those facts, we have to conclude that the absolute best time to build a pool is (drumroll please) when you’re ready.
