The closer an outdoor pool to the house , the more year-round usage it will provide – no one wants to walk back to the house in the cold . Consider how close it will be for changing and showering , and the actual path that swimmers will take to access the pool . Areas of lawn between the pool and the changing facilities should be avoided so that dirt , mud , animal droppings , grass clippings and other debris are not carried from foot to pool , where they would place an unnecessary demand on pool sanitising chemicals and necessitate more pool cleaning .
Planting around the pool should be thought out to ensure that leaves are stems are not sharp or prickly , ideally non leaf-dropping ( certainly during the main summer season ) and are not poisonous or irritating .
Most garden plants and lawn grasses are resistant to pool chemicals at the tiny concentrations to be found in pool water and are therefore unaffected by pool water when exposed to it . However , some species may be particularly sensitive so , if you have particular concerns or especially valuable plants , please consult with your plant supplier , garden centre or horticulturist .
The paving or pool surround and pathway materials should be carefully chosen to ensure safety of people and prevent excessive ingress of contamination into the pool water , as well as aesthetics . Surfaces should be non-slip , not riven or unduly uneven , not sandy or loamy , and be laid over a suitably stable base . Special consideration must be given if very heavy items , i . e . garden buildings or hot tubs are to be positioned . As well as traditional stone and stonelike materials , many synthetic decorative pool surround surfaces are also available .
Outdoor lighting is vital for ensuring safe use of the pool area and any pathways to and from it at night . IP66 rated outdoor switching and sockets in useful locations may also be beneficial . Care must be taken to ensure that whilst lighting should be aesthetically pleasing , it should also be functional yet not be a nuisance to any neighbours which may be affected .
When specifying outdoor sound systems , always ensure that speakers and other equipment , including any wiring , installed outside the house is specified for outdoor purposes . When installing speakers , avoid the temptation to mount a pair on a building facing the main socialising area and rely on volume control to project the sound to all parts of the garden . This would potentially result in the volume being overpoweringly loud for those close to the speakers , whilst the sound may not adequately reach farther reaches of the garden . It could also prove a nuisance to neighbours . A better solution would be to mount speakers at regular intervals around the perimeter of the garden attached to trees or on posts and pointing inwards . Speakers disguised as rocks are also available to install at ground level . That way , the volume can be maintained at a relatively low level , whilst at the same time ensuring that sound reaches all parts of the garden desired .
In many installations , particularly those where the pool is some distance from the main house , clients choose to erect an adjacent building . Generally , buildings are of the wooden chalet or log building type . These usually do not require planning permission and come under permitted development . However , in some instances planning permission may apply , especially if the building is considered to be of a more permanent nature , or services ( electricity , water , drainage ) need connecting to it . If in doubt , always consult your local planning department . Also consider if the building will be required for changing , showering or entertaining and if multiple rooms need to be incorporated within it . If the pool is removed from the main house and a poolside building is to be erected , it would make sense to also incorporate the pool plant-room within it to minimise installation costs and the length of pipe runs .
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