Make your backyard your next staycation
Swimming Pool Risk Checklist
Before You Build a Swimming Pool - Read This
A free planning checklist to protect your budget, timeline, and family safety
What most homeowners miss before building a swimming pool.
Most pool budget overruns don’t come from upgrades.
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They come from risks that were never discussed, priced, or written down.
This checklist is designed to help homeowners protect their budget, timeline, and family safety before signing a contract.
Rule:
If something isn’t clearly answered in writing, it’s a risk — and risks become change orders.
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The Biggest Budget & Safety Traps
• Ground conditions (rock, groundwater, clay, buried debris) can double or triple excavation costs.
• Permits, setbacks, and barrier rules can force redesigns if they aren’t confirmed early.
• Electrical bonding, GFCI protection, and compliant barriers are life-safety items, not optional upgrades.
1. Site & Excavation Risk (Where the Big Money Lives)
If this section is vague, your quote isn’t real.
• What’s actually under the yard: rock, groundwater, clay, fill, boulders, buried concrete.
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• Known risk flags: slopes, retaining walls, creeks/ditches, wet yards, springs, or known rock zones.
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• Equipment and truck access: gate widths, tight turns, overhead wires, driveway protection.
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• Spoil management: on-site reuse vs haul-off, trucking hours, and dump fees.
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• Cost triggers: rock hammer/blasting, dewatering, over-excavation, imported base, shoring.
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• Septic fields, irrigation lines, and underground conflicts that affect pool placement.
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​2. Permits, Setbacks & Approvals
Surprises here stop projects cold.
• Which permits apply: building, electrical, plumbing, gas (if required).
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• Who is responsible for applications and inspection bookings.
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• Required setbacks from property lines, easements, septic fields, retaining walls, and structures.
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• Inspection stages and how delays affect the construction schedule.
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• A site placement plan that matches City or Regional District expectations — not a brochure sketch.
3. Safety Barriers & Access Control
These are not negotiable — and inspectors don’t bend.
• Mandatory barrier and fence requirements: height, gaps, and climbability.
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• Gate requirements: self-closing, self-latching, and proper latch placement.
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• A real access-control plan when children are present (locks, alarms, cover discipline, house rules).
4. Pool Type & Design Decisions
These choices affect cost, lifespan, and future repairs.
• Pool type selected with eyes open: vinyl, fiberglass, or concrete.
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• Depth profile confirmed and understood for excavation and heating impact.
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• Placement considers sun exposure, wind, evaporation, and comfort.
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• Features defined upfront: steps, benches, lighting, automation, heaters, covers, water features.
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5. Engineering & Drainage (When the Site Is Complex)
If the site isn’t flat and dry, this matters.
• Confirmation if geotechnical or structural engineering is required.
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• Groundwater and hydrostatic uplift considerations.
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• Drainage plan for backfill and surface water: deck drains, daylight lines, sump systems if required.
6. Plumbing & Equipment Performance
Poor planning here creates lifelong headaches.
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• Circulation design that avoids dead zones.
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• Practical equipment pad location: noise, service access, pipe run length.
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• Pump, filter, and heater sizing documented — not guessed.
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• Sanitation strategy selected and maintenance expectations understood.
7. Electrical Safety
This is a code issue — not a preference.
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• Pool-experienced electrician responsible for all electrical work.
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• Clear bonding plan: what is bonded, where, and how it’s inspected.
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• GFCI protection confirmed, tested, and commissioned.
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• Trenching, conduit runs, and restoration responsibilities defined.
8. Decking, Finishes & Water Management
Finish work fails when the base is ignored.
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• Slip-resistant deck materials selected, especially at steps and entries.
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• Concrete or paver base prep defined: thickness, control joints, drainage slope.
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• Plan for hose bibs, outdoor showers, storage, and backwash discharge.
9. Budget Reality Check (What People Forget)
This is where quotes quietly fall apart.
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• Quote is fully line-itemed, not lump-sum.
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• Written unit rates for excavation unknowns.
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• Restoration costs included: landscaping, irrigation repair, topsoil, sod/seed, cleanup.
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• Ongoing ownership costs understood: heating, chemicals, water, covers, winterizing, service.
10. Contractor Due Diligence
If this is weak, everything else is irrelevant.
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• Written scope with inclusions, exclusions, and a clear change-order process.
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• Realistic schedule acknowledging weather and inspection delays.
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• Warranty terms in writing: structure/shell, equipment, plumbing leaks, workmanship.
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• Local installs reviewed and recent clients contacted — not just online reviews.
Part 2 — Contractor Selection
How to Evaluate Pool Contractors
Must-Have Qualifications
• Active general liability insurance.
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• Workers’ compensation coverage.
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• Proven experience with your specific pool type.
Situations That Deserve Extra Questions
• Pressure to sign quickly.
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• Vague or verbal-only scopes of work.
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• Reluctance to explain technical decisions.
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• Large upfront payments.
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• No clear construction timeline.
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Consultant insight:
The best builders educate — they don’t oversell.
The 5 Questions Every Pool Contractor Should Answer Clearly
If a contractor can’t answer these in writing, walk away.
1. How are excavation overages handled — and what are the unit rates?
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2. Can you provide a fully line-itemed quote?
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3. Which permits and inspections apply, and who manages each one?
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4. How will barrier and fence compliance be achieved and signed off?
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5. What is the bonding and GFCI plan, and who certifies electrical compliance?
Final Reality Check
Even on a “clean” site, set a contingency.
On a risky site, insist on written unit rates and defined change-order triggers.