Hmm, looking this over, I'm thinking I didn't really express my question very well at all. The reason I am unsure is not because I can't use a tape measure, LOL!

I am just wondering things like - how much space around the pool will be necessary, esp. if we go with gunite, how far away will it need to be from the gas line, easement, tree roots, how much manuevering room for the mini-bobcat, etc?

And if we got something like a 14x26 pool, just for an example, would that be the actual swimming space or the outer dimensions?

It's really hard to gauge by looking at the pics, but I've seen plenty of pics of pools in areas that looked much smaller than what you have there. But that tree in the middle will probably have to go. Typically you can't build anything in an easement, so if you have decking all the way around the pool that's going to reduce your available pool area. But if you put a waterfall or raised beam with water flumes along the back side then you don't need to pave behind that and it can go right up against the easement. Don't be too concerned about the gas line, that's not too pricy to relocate if it's in the way. Electrical is a bigger concern if it's underground (more expensive to move than any other utilities because it's so deep).

"And if we got something like a 14x26 pool, just for an example, would that be the actual swimming space or the outer dimensions?"

The size refers to the actual waterline dimensions, so the dimension to the gunite wall would be about 16" more than that (8" wall thickness).

Good luck!

I crammed a pool in my backyard and if I can do it, you can. My pool is easement to easement.

You already have a large patio, so you'd really only need 4' of decking around the perimeter. I'd just put the pool as close to your existing patio as possible and somehow try to tie in your new decking with your patio.

Like Tres mentioned, a raised bond beam won't take up much room, and you don't have to worry about decking behind it. You can always do a raised planter, just as long as it's not permanent.

That works out well since I like the look of a raised bond beam anyway! (And my DH is so disgusted with the lawn - we got invaded by virginia buttonweed bigtime - so the more grass we take out, the better!)

If we decide to get a screen enclosure, any idea if it could be installed directly behind the raised bond beam? (I have bird & butterfly landscaping all around the perimeter of our side fencing + backyard fence - we have a constant population of bugs & birds with other occasional visiting critters. As much as I love it, I suspect we will have problems keeping them & their droppings out of the pool)

Also, do I count the water line + 8" for the gunite + however wide we go with decking? Or does the decking cover the gunite thereby removing it from the equation? (Would that work differently for the raised bond beam?)

I went ahead & took some shots of the yard from our 2nd floor - turned out a little better than I thought it would, but still not sure if it's adequate. (Depressing to see how much work it needs though, LOL)

It totally depends on your local setback requirements. In my county, it's 5 feet from the house, and 3 feet from the property line. However, that can vary from area to area, from county to county, from state to state. Once you start getting bids you will get a better idea.

In those last pics it certainly looks like you've got plenty of room for a nice-sized pool!

==If we decide to get a screen enclosure, any idea if it could be installed directly behind the raised bond beam?==

The only issue there would be that junk might get between the screen and the bond beam and it would be tough to get back there to clean it out. Perhaps the bond beam could be made wider and the back of the screen enclosure set directly on the bond beam.

==Also, do I count the water line + 8" for the gunite + however wide we go with decking? Or does the decking cover the gunite thereby removing it from the equation?==

There are different types of coping, some people do a cantilevered coping in which the pool deck basically becomes the coping and cantilevers slightly over the pool wall. More typical coping is separate stone or concrete that is set on top of the pool wall, then the decking is poured up to it with a sealant joint between the 2. Typically the decking is expressed in square footage and that does not include the coping.

==(Would that work differently for the raised bond beam?)==

A raised bond beam is basically a vertical extension of the pool wall. It may be wider than the pool wall depending on what material it is made up of or clad in. In our case we have an 11' long waterfall and also a grotto,all made of moss rock. The PB created a wide footing that was integrated into the pool wall structure, but did not extend above the pool walls. Then they mortared the stone in place on top of the footing with the stone cantilevering over the pool wall by about 2". The coping comes up to and stops at the stone on either side.

Thank you so much for all the helpful info! You were right, tresw - I've been sharing these things along with my ideas of what we could do & DH is actually starting to warm up a bit to the idea! By the time he has a jacuzzi to come home to after his grueling job, I think he will be every bit the convert that you said you are! Your pool turned out beautifully, but I especially appreciate all the building info you shared in that thread!

smbnobles - I love your pool! What a beautiful job Huskyridor did for you! We will be calling him for one of our quotes, for sure!

I was thinking of having a PB out for an estimate to try to get an idea of necessary distance from the maple trees & such (looks like 12 - 15ft from my googling - does that sound reasonable?). However, we still won't be building until next year. I don't want to be tacky, should I wait until we're ready to build or talk to one of the companies now that we're planning on calling when we're ready & just have them update it at that time?

I tend to be indecisive, esp. the more choices I have to consider. I really prefer to start thinking about what I want now so I have time to make decisions & choices that I know I can live with longterm.

I think I would do lots of research and call out the PB's when you get closer.

Not only out of courtesy for their sake, since they're so busy right now, but for accurate prices. We had Atlantis come out late in '06 and again when we finally decided to build, in the middle of '08. Prices had skyrocketed!

In the meantime learn as much as you can about building one, and what you want. I was pretty much able to tell them what I was looking at doing, and they refined it.

Of course, this is JMO. Pool builders may come on the thread and tell you to call them on out for all I know!

==Your pool turned out beautifully, but I especially appreciate all the building info you shared in that thread! ==

Thank you, glad it was helpful! I've been meaning to update the 2nd thread with stuff we've been doing lately, but not much of it is photo-worthy. Maybe once I get the whole tiki bar thing done!

I agree that you should wait on getting a PB involved because right now they're busy and you probably won't get a lot of good hands-on assistance (winter would be better). Plus if you start talking to a PB now you will find yourself wanting to build a pool now :-)

On the trees, for most trees the root system is the same size as the canopy above. Check to see how broad the tree will be when it reaches its mature size and try to keep at least that far away from it to avoid future problems (such as the roots growing into your pool piping).

I stopped by a place here in Katy called Laguna Pools that has a showplace & asked one of their guys & he said 15 ft. That means we either take out our beautiful red maples or settle for a *substantially* smaller pool.

They are about 30' tall & will probably get to 50' at maturity. The maple on the left has a gasline running just outside of the landscaping blocks on the right & an electric line + phone lines just outside the blocks on the left (Transformer box only about 12' from it behind fence). I have been worried that its roots might prove to be a problem with those so maybe it's just as well to take them out now. And I won't miss those helicopter seeds all over the yard in the spring. Still, this sucks...