Making your dream pool and backyard is an enormous project for an owner-builder, but it can be done with our help! Here are some answers to common questions by our clients to help you understand our process and your responsibilities in the owner-builder process.
With professional blueprints from DESIGNS BY POOLAID, you’ll have the foundation you need to finish your pool project. You’ll also get a task list of everything you’ll need to do to complete your project. With your plans and our checklist, you’ll know exactly what to do next!
Our goal is to draw you the design for your pool of your dreams. You’ll get a set of engineering blueprints of the final design, project specs, and a project binder to keep your subcontractor quotes, permits, HOA application, and other paperwork.
You also get access to our team of designers, our design library, and a video library to help you through the design phase. You’ll also get a fly over video and 2D renderings of your project to help you visualize your dream backyard.
We can design pools from a simple pool for a tiny backyard to large resort-style pools with benches, fire and water features, bars, and more. Our design library will show you some common options, and the photos on our site are all pools we’ve designed.
You’re not limited to only what you see in our images. Tell us your ideas and we’ll do our best to create a drawing that fits your vision, your space, and your local building codes.
You can also visit https://www.starlightpoolslv.com/ to see more of our designs. This is our pool installation company in Las Vegas.
We have designed many water features, fire features, bench setups, jet configurations, and many other luxury features for our clients. These extra design features can make your pool uniquely your own!
Before you think your idea is too wild, ask us if we can design it. You’d be surprised at some of the features we’ve done!
With your purchase, you get one revision of your plans. Revisions past the first will add on additional costs. We can speak with you about these costs if you feel it’s necessary.
We recommend taking your time with your first set of drawings to get the design right. Then, if a permit or HOA problem comes up, you can use your included revision to tweak your design to meet the legal requirements.
The rules for permits can change dramatically from state to state and even city to city, and every HOA is unique. Part of your responsibility as an owner-builder is pulling permits and getting HOA approvals for your project. By getting your blueprints first, you’re much more likely to get approvals.
All of our pool designs use shotcrete for the foundation. We do not do designs for fiberglass pools or vinyl pools. Shotcrete is simply concrete sprayed onto a surface covered in a reinforcing structure.
Diving boards are one of the few special features we cannot add to your pool design. Insurance companies see diving boards as an enormous opportunity for liability. Your premiums will go up significantly if you have one.
Plus, your pool will have to be dug far deeper than the usual pool so divers won’t hit their head on the concrete. Digging deeper brings its own set of dangers and expenses. You’ll need to add and treat far more water, plus size your plumbing and electrical to handle that much water. There is also a greater risk for drowning.
Trust us, a diving board is a feature you don’t want!
Designs By Pool Aid does not do designs for remodeling existing pools.
We do not have a minimum size, but there is a point where the space is too small to swim properly. We can design spa features that are perfect for small yards. These are great for relaxation and socializing.
An owner-builder is someone who owns property and takes the lead on a construction project. They perform the role of the general contractor and oversee the work of general contractors. You do not need any construction experience to be an owner-builder!
Successful owner-builders have strong organizational and communication skills. They have to hire subcontractors, take care of any legalities like permits and HOA approvals, schedule the work, balance budgets, and handle any issues that arise. The buck stops with you!
This is a tough question to answer because all markets are different and there are so many differences between pools. We recommend speaking with a realtor about this issue. But there are a few things we’ve noticed.
Depending on where you live, a pool can be an attractive feature or a huge turnoff for a potential buyer. It can truly be a make-or-break feature. Pools are extremely popular in the southern regions of the United States to help deal with the hot weather. A home without a pool is much harder to sell in these areas.
Being an owner-builder can save you a lot of money on your pool project, and you’ll get full control on the design (within the limits of code) and how the job is done. Most owner-builders want to save money by cutting out the general contractor.
If you do your research first and you have professional blueprints, you’ll have an excellent shot at getting your pool installed for far less than by hiring a pool contractor.
Owner-builders are required to follow the same rules as general contractors. Your state or city may have specific requirements you’ll need to follow to get an owner-builder permit. For outdoor structures like pools, the code rules are largely the same throughout the country and you likely won’t need to attend classes.
That depends on your credit and your lender, but by getting blueprints and specifications on your pool project first, you can show your lender the scope of the project and help them estimate costs. Professional drawings also show lenders you’re taking your construction job seriously.
Never hire a subcontractor that isn’t licensed and insured. You will want to get the insurance information of any subcontractor first to verify before hiring them. If a subcontractor ruins your project, you’ll need that information!
You should also speak with your homeowner’s insurance company to see if there are coverage options for owner-builders. You’ll have to pay more, but you’ll pay a lot more if something goes wrong and you don’t have coverage.
The best way to find subcontractors is to get a recommendation from someone who has used them. Another way is the internet, search engines and reviews will be very helpful. We recommend you always hire insured, licensed and bonded subcontractors.
