Where to put the pool in your garden

Sun: the heating you already have

A pool that gets sun for most of the day warms up on its own and gives you a longer swimming season. In Greece this usually means an open view to the south. Watch the garden at different times of day: the shade from the house, a wall or a tall tree moves, and in spring and autumn, when the sun is lower, it gets longer.

Sun on the water does not have to mean sun on the people. Shade for the loungers is best provided by a pergola or an umbrella next to the pool; see pool shading.

Wind and trees

Wind cools the water, increases evaporation and brings in dust and leaves. If your garden has a steady prevailing wind, a spot on the sheltered side of the house or behind a fence and planting makes a big difference. Wind also matters for the layout: the skimmer works best on the side the wind blows towards, so the wind pushes the leaves there.

Large trees drop leaves, needles, fruit and pollen into the water, and their roots can put pressure on the pipework. Keep your distance, especially from pines, fig trees and deciduous trees. You will find what suits the poolside in plants around the pool.

View from the house and privacy

If there are young children in the house, the pool should be visible from the kitchen or the living room. This does not replace supervision or fencing, but it helps a lot day to day; see pool safety for children. A pool you can see from the windows also becomes part of the view from the house, which counts in the months when you are not swimming.

On the other side are the neighbours' balconies. Before you settle on the spot, stand there and look around: whatever you can see can see you. Solutions with plants, pergolas and fences are in privacy at the pool.

Plant room, utilities and rainwater

The pool is connected to the plant room by pipes, and the plant room needs power, water and somewhere for the backwash water to drain. The closer all of these are, the simpler the pipe runs and the lower the losses in the pipework. The plant room does make noise, though, so you do not want it under bedrooms, yours or your neighbour's. More in the pool plant room.

Avoid the lowest point of the plot, where rainwater collects, and check what runs underground: pipes, cables, a septic tank or a water tank. If the garden slopes, see a pool on a sloping plot.

Quick check before you decide

• How many hours of sun does the spot get in May and in September?
• Where does the wind usually blow from?
• How far away is the nearest large tree?
• Can you see the water from the house?
• Where will the plant room go, and how far is the power supply?
• Is there room to walk around the pool and for loungers?
• What can the neighbouring balconies see?

Distances from the plot boundaries and from the building are checked by the engineer, based on the local building regulations.

Questions

See also