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rosie_del

Please help my pool isn’t aligned with my house

2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago







Please help!!! Our pool installer didn’t measure properly and now our pool isn’t inline and it is crooked. I don’t think there is much they can do because the concrete has been poured. We were out of town when they had done the work, it is less noticeable on ground level but your can definitely tell from the deck and from my living room. I know now that this is something we have to live with.

Our pool is basically cockeyed ….

Can I please get some advice on how to move forward? Any suggestions on how the concrete around the pool should be poured, should we do another rectangle shape or should we make it an oval pad so that there is no straight lines to accentuate the pool lines?


here is a photo taken from a drone


Comments (39)

  • 2 months ago

    I would imagine being creative with the pad and nice landscaping could camouflage it

  • 2 months ago
    last modified: 2 months ago

    Do you mean that the length of the pool is centered with the length of your home? Or - is the pool centered on your deck?

    I can't really understand what's wrong based upon the photos that you've posted.

    Do you have a contract with an attached site plan exhibit that showed exactly where the pool would be located in your yard? I assume that you did have an approved site plan attached as an exhibit to your contract - I also assume that it not only showed the exact location of the pool - but also showed what the size/shape of the pool deck.

    Do you have photos that show the issue better? Or at least make notations on the photos in order to explain what is wrong.

    Have you discussed the matter wit your contractor? What did he/she say about the location?

    If it is noticeably offset from ____________ (deck?) + is "crooked" (how is it crooked? Is it at an angle - or is one or more of the sides of the rectangle not straight = parallel+ perpendicular to the other sides = corners not 90 degree angles?), I would assume that your contractor will do something to make it right with you - however, I doubt tearing everything out would be the solution that either of you would want. Were you there when the utilities were located? I wonder if something underground prevented the pool from being placed in the exact place on your site plan?

    I think that once you have the pool deck poured + add furniture + plantings/landscaping that you won't be able to tell that there was an issue. Someone who visits your home will definitely not be able to tell that a mistake was made.

    Making the pool deck a shape different from the shape of your pool will (I assume) help "hide" any issues. However, once you add everything else around your pool, even a rectangular one will most likely look just fine.

    Of course, I can't understand (see) what the issue(s) are based upon the photos you've added.

    Rosie thanked dani_m08
  • 2 months ago

    There isn't a design rule that says pools have to be lined up with anything in particular!

    Your photos don't show anything out of the ordinary. Also, symmetry is way overrated and usually only seen from one specific spot.

    I did not center my pool with my lanai/patio, because it made more sense to leave more space on one side versus the other. So far, no one has told us we should have centered the pool or made it symmetrical!

  • 2 months ago
    last modified: 2 months ago

    Does your contract with the pool contractor and building permit application, if any, include a pool plan with measurements? If yes and the installer goofed on the layout, then it is on the installer to redo the pool shell. Stop construction while you and the contractor wotk this out.

  • 2 months ago
    last modified: 2 months ago

    Huh? i really don’t understand what your concern is, maybe it’s just me.

  • 2 months ago

    @dani_m08 the pool isnt lined up with the house or the deck, i dont have another view of the pool. The measurements are off by 3ft so the pool is basically cockeyed. We really wish we were here for the process or this wouldnt have happened. Your right they will not be fixing where the pool is now, the only option we have is how we will have the concrete poured. i was thinking making it an oval on the corners where it is obvious getting them to make the pad bigger so that it looks off and i can balance it with chairs/planters, OR do we say screw it and have the concrete a rectangle aligned with the pool. im not a designer by any means and i am really stuck on what to do


  • 2 months ago

    @K Laurence our pool is now basically cockeyed its not square to our house or the deck

  • 2 months ago

    An oval could help. Saying screw it for me would be making the rectangular pad exactly aligned with the house as if the pool had been positioned correctly. I wouldn't choose a misaligned pool deck.

  • PRO
    2 months ago

    Good grief........: )


    Clarify, and know that the concrete surround should be the BEGINNING of an attractive pool area, and there needs to be a "beyond" to the concrete in landscaping and furnishings






  • 2 months ago

    I just want to repeat - don’t be afraid to stop construction while you address the issue. A pool is a permanent structure that can increase or decrease your home value.

    Do you know any good landscape architects that can give you an assessment of the issue and possible fixes?

    My landscape architect (LA) designed and oversaw my backyard redesign which included the pool install, placement of the pool equipment, hardscape, shed, landscaping and fence. The LA was invaluable whenever an issue was encountered.

  • 2 months ago
    last modified: 2 months ago

    Where will your pool equipment be sited? You want that away from the pool area and sight lines as it is loud and bulky. Sometimes pool contractors place it aesthetically in a terrible spot like next to the pool deck or against the house to save $/time.

    A pool contractor that installs a cockeyed pool needs extra supervision for thevrest of the work.

  • PRO
    2 months ago

    Will suggest you hire a landscape architect to help you with this. He or she should be able to come up with a solution that will make this situation look intentional or at least less noticeable.

  • 2 months ago

    No oval, that looks even worse!

    An organic curving shape (like Jan drew) will be the best way to disguise any pool misalignment.

  • 2 months ago
    last modified: 2 months ago

    You have posted a picture of an ipad (??) sketch twice but we have no inkling why. Does that show a SUGGESTED layout of the pool area, or the EXISTING layout of the pool area?

    If your home was sketched into that ipad layout, maybe we could see the problem you are trying to solve.

    Jan has posted some valid questions. Help us help you by answering them.

  • 2 months ago

    @JAN MOYER

    hi jan thank you so much for your comment, my husband and i are so upset about all this. we really wish we werent out pf town otherwise this would not have happened.


    in your drawing our pool is cockeyed like your drawin on option b.

  • 2 months ago

    How you approach this depends on your asthetic. I'd make a slab that is rectangular and parallel to the pool so that it too sits cockeyed on the land. It is a more contemporary, modern look and I think absolutely fine. But, from the little bit I can glean of your project, nothing about this seems too contemporary.


    I would not do an oval. I think it just looks wonky and makes matters worse.


    Take a beat for a few weeks or more to think about this. Your contractor should cover the cost of design consultations to make this right. Unless they want to redo the pool. It may set your project back by months, but it is better than living forever with a pool that you don't like.

  • 2 months ago
    last modified: 2 months ago

    Hi Rosie, I sympathize with you & your husband, I realize this wasn’t what you envisioned, however, perhaps Jan’s advice makes sense. Good luck, it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise, hopefully, with a creative treatment it might end up more interesting 🤞

    BTW, while my current pool is very symmetrical & centered with our house ( very modern ), our pool at our previous home was intentinally designed exactly like yours in option ”B”.

  • 2 months ago

    Take a deep breathe and use the discount you get from the pool installer to help with a landscape designer. You design and layout your backyard to take advantage and show off the "Cockeyed pool" rather than allow it to be a hinderance. Big picture, not the issue you're making it out to be.

  • PRO
    2 months ago
    last modified: 2 months ago

    I think you should relax. Perfect line up, perfect symmetry.....often quite over rated.

    You've a rural landscape in the beyond. If you want a total overhaul to perfection, make them dig it up! Start over!

    But honestly, these things often can become lucky accidents.

    You can't do anything until you come home. when you do.........either get big bucks toward significant hard and soft scaping you would need anyway? Or........they do it free and you get the original vision.

    We've no idea the back of your home, no idea the lot, no idea the size of the pool. All we know is it's three feet off PARALLEL, with house and deck, and is B askew DRAWING: ) below

    I would still blur and curve and take the rigid out of the perimeter. Add sun, flowers, trees and a good time. Life is too short: )

    Same answer from me....

    Problem is B!!!



    Problem could have have been C!

    Changes nothing, right, except the three feet askew. Still needs the softness around it.



  • PRO
    2 months ago

    I will add....................

    Folks? Unless illness or death or tragedies of magnitude? Be HOME for designed installations that cost big bucks, and are vastly important to you.

    I don't care if it's your counter top template, your pool dig. or you name it.

    If it can not be you? You HIRE A "YOU", to be there in a check of progress.!!.

    It is not a fair world.

  • 2 months ago

    I would be pissed and raise hell until they redid it or gave me money back so I could hire someone else to redo it.

    They should have staked out the hole first to see it wasn't measured correctly.

  • 2 months ago

    @jan

    Definitely lesson learned, funny thing is we had a “you” and my husband voiced his concerns with the measurements as where to measure from because we have this bay window in our home the house jots in 3ft and which then doesn’t align with the other end of the house. He said yes ok I’ll address it and now we are where we are.

    We are obviously at a point where we know we have to live with this, yes it’s bad at the moment we will be able to get past this at some point. We have stopped construction and we will fly a drone to get an aerial view and see what we can do with the concrete pad to somewhat make this right.

    We really really wanted it to be symmetrical but now it feels we only have one option which is rounded for a softer look. I am going to try and see if I can find a designer to help with this, my husband and I are mentally drained and our design thoughts are everywhere.

    It was our dream to have a big lot like what we have and now we can actually have a pool, we went a head and got one now we are stuck with a big headache.

    Thank you for your help and comments ❤️

  • PRO
    2 months ago
    last modified: 2 months ago

    You need to come in from that ledge. This is really , no matter how you look at it from a distance, a SMALL problem in your life.

    I'm with @ Millworkman. Take the discounted amount, find the best landscape ARCHITECT in your area........meaning not the garden store up the road.......and get a design for the whole area. Buy lovely furniture.

    At some point in life, most of us will encounter a really big problem, and find ourselves longing for one of the others that loomed gigantic at the time.;, and in their particular moment. It's a POOL!

    This too shall pass......: ) along with the "headache" Good Luck!

  • 2 months ago

    @JAN MOYER - I've noticed that you will use the phrase, "This too shall pass" sometimes in your comments. My mom used to use that phrase fairly often. We lost her a few years ago (quite unexpectedly - she was in her early 70s - with no health issues).


    She was always correct when she would say that - many (most?) things aren't nearly as big of a deal as we think they are. Thanks for making me smile!

  • PRO
    2 months ago
    last modified: 2 months ago

    Sounds like a very wise and wonderful mom!

    Does this look "perfect" below? Does anything line up?



    I rest my "Mom" case, lol........because everything passes. Even the worst stuff does.

    See the text in the bottom of the pic? Rather ironic n'est pas?!

  • 2 months ago

    She was a very wise and wonderful mom ❤️.


    She was very straightforward also - which reminds me of you. When asked for her advice/opinions - said what she thought - even if it wasn't what the person "wanted" to hear - it was what the person NEEDED to hear.


    The photo is a perfect example for OP - that pool area looks nice and relaxing! All of the "extras" around the actual in ground pool are what makes (or breaks) the overall look of the yard.

  • PRO
    2 months ago

    Here are a couple of pics from Google. They might give you ideas!



    Good luck!

  • 2 months ago

    I am of the camp that says that if they messed it up, they fix it, or give you major concessions. A few years ago I put in a pool with a pebble finish. I got home from work and my pool was plastered tan. I asked if it was the pebbles that would make it the Tahoe blue color I had chosen and watched my builders face fall. He had gotten my job mixed up with another and used the wrong color plaster. He took full responsibility, took several days to remove the wrong plaster, and made it right, all at his expense. The end result was perfect. It is on your builder to fix this to your satisfaction at no additional expense to you. builder to make this right for you.

  • 2 months ago

    Has the contractor offered to take $$$ off the total cost of the pool for his mistake? Do you think it is fair compensation and can you live with the asymmetry? If so, as suggested, put that money toward a landscape architect and move on. If not, the contractor needs to redo per the specifications and measurements in the contract. If he has not offered compensation or to redo the pool, you may need the help of an attorney.

  • 2 months ago

    I noticed you just added a drone view of the pool construction to your original post.

    This is really a non-issue. In a few years you will laugh at yourself for even posting this as a "problem". Most of the lines in your house and property are not symmetrical, or even parallel.


  • PRO
    2 months ago

    This is where I start yelling.......

    You can't do this online. You can't do this, today or this weekend.

    You do as everyone has said. Get A Landscape architect to the site. Stake it all out. Concrete is not the entire surround, You need pavers.... a beyond.!! You need plantings! You can't crowd source it here.: )

  • 2 months ago

    Thanks for posting the drone picture! By far the best picture you’ve posted so we can see what you’ve been trying to describe.

  • 2 months ago

    So how old were your first pictures? From the drone pics this project is several years old. It's waaay too late to call foul now.

  • 2 months ago

    Your house and pool are on a huge piece of land and do not need to be lined up like legos - as suggested a great landscape architect will make it look purposeful and it may end up looking more natural and part of the surroundings, which is desired for a pool - hang in there! :)

  • PRO
    2 months ago

    Out of curiousity... how often are you going to be viewing your pool from a drones eye view? It looks a little cocked from high up in the air, but how does it look from the ground level where it will most often be looked at? Get your concrete poured, your plantings in... and you probably wont really notice it from ground level viewing.

  • 2 months ago
    last modified: 2 months ago

    OM Gosh... looking at the drone picture it is not straight, BUT with landscaping, etc it is still going to be wonderful, and I bet you will love it when finished!!!

  • 2 months ago

    Arcy_gw, not sure what you are seeing, but look at OP's first 4 photos. The views from inside the house are exactly the same as the drone view (photos 2,3 and 4). You see a pool that is an empty cement hole with mounds of dirt and torn up yard around it.

    Maybe you are confusing some photos that other people posted of finished pools?

  • PRO
    2 months ago

    I see ONE drone picture