Layout
Designing a pool for a Gilbert lot
The question is rarely how big a pool can be. It is how much yard you want left over.
This is an independent referral guide. It connects homeowners with independent providers and may receive compensation. It is not a licensed contractor and it does not do the work.
Measure what is left
Draw the lot with the house, the 3 foot setback from property lines, and any easement. Then sketch the deck you actually want to walk on, a spot for the equipment pad, and any grass or play area you plan to keep. The pool goes in what remains.
Many Gilbert subdivisions have a public utility easement along the back wall. The Town policy says a pool cannot sit in a recorded easement without the easement holder's written approval, so check your plat before you fall in love with a long lap pool along that wall.
Keep climbable things away from the fence
The Town policy says raised planters, decks, water features, and other easily climbable amenities should not be closer than 3 feet to a pool fence. That affects where a raised spa, an outdoor kitchen, or a planter wall can go. Source: Town of Gilbert pool fencing policy statement.
Shade, heat, and the deck
Gilbert summers are long. A covered patio that reaches the pool edge, a shade sail, or a tree placed where it will not drop leaves straight into the water can make a pool usable in the afternoon. Ask about deck materials that stay cooler underfoot and how they drain.
Keep reading
Questions on this service
Is a spa worth adding?
That is a personal choice. If you add one, plan its barrier and its equipment at the same time as the pool.
Start with the backyard
Tell us the subdivision, the yard size, and how wide the side gate is.