Adding a concrete pool to your backyard is one of the most exciting upgrades you can make to your home. A custom concrete pool creates a place for relaxation, entertainment, exercise, and long-term property value. Because concrete pools are highly customizable, homeowners can design a backyard retreat that perfectly fits their lifestyle and available space.

However, before construction begins, it’s important to properly prepare your property for the installation process. From planning access routes to protecting landscaping, executing these steps ahead of time can help alleviate some headaches down the road.

For more than 50 years, Rising Sun Pools has helped homeowners across North Carolina transform their outdoor spaces with custom concrete pools designed to last for decades. Here’s what homeowners should know when preparing their backyard for a concrete pool installation.

Understand the Installation Timeline

Concrete pool installation requires careful planning and coordination. Unlike prefabricated pool options, concrete pools are built entirely on-site and customized to fit your property.

At Rising Sun Pools, most concrete pool projects take approximately 12 to 20 weeks from the start of installation, weather permitting. During that time, crews will complete excavation, install plumbing and electrical systems, place rebar for structural support, apply shotcrete or gunite, and allow the concrete to cure properly before finishing work begins.

Understanding the timeline ahead of time helps homeowners prepare for temporary disruptions to their backyard and outdoor routines.

Clear the Installation Area

One of the first steps in preparing for pool construction is clearing the area where the pool will be installed. This includes removing outdoor furniture, planters, toys, grills, portable fire pits, and decorative features that could interfere with construction equipment.

You’ll also want to take a few practical steps before construction begins to avoid accidental damage around your yard. Patio furniture, grills, decorative items, and potted plants should be moved away from the work area ahead of time. If you have sprinkler lines, invisible dog fencing, or landscape lighting buried underground, it’s a good idea to point those out to your contractor before excavation starts. Homeowners with pets should also plan to keep them safely away from the construction zone while crews are working.

Because concrete pool projects involve excavation equipment, delivery trucks, and building materials moving in and out of the property, having a clear workspace makes a major difference throughout the installation process.

Plan Ahead for Backyard Access

One detail homeowners sometimes overlook is how construction equipment will actually reach the backyard. Depending on your property layout, this may be simple — or it could require some extra coordination.

Pool builders may need enough room for excavators, skid steers, concrete trucks, and other equipment to pass through side yards or access points. Tight gates, fences, steep slopes, or limited spacing between homes can sometimes create challenges that need to be addressed before work begins.

During the early planning stages, your contractor will typically inspect things like:

• Entry points into the backyard
• Fence and gate clearances
• Areas for equipment or material staging
• Existing utility locations
• Drainage patterns and grading conditions

In some situations, a section of fencing may need to be temporarily removed so machinery can enter the property safely without damaging surrounding structures or landscaping.

Protecting Your Existing Landscaping

Most homeowners want to save as much of their yard as possible during pool construction, especially if they’ve invested time and money into landscaping. While some disruption is unavoidable during excavation and construction, there are still ways to help reduce the impact on surrounding areas.

Before work begins, homeowners may want to relocate delicate plants, trim back shrubs, or identify trees with large root systems near the pool site. Some homeowners also install temporary barriers around any landscaping they want protected during construction.

Once the pool is finished, many families use the opportunity to upgrade the rest of the backyard as well. New patios, landscape lighting, outdoor kitchens, seating areas, and custom hardscaping are all popular additions that can help tie the entire outdoor space together.

Drainage Matters More Than Many Homeowners Realize

Drainage is one of the most important factors in any successful pool installation, especially with concrete pools designed to last for decades. If water is not directed properly around the yard, it can eventually create erosion issues, standing water, or soil movement around the pool and decking.

As part of the installation process, experienced pool builders will evaluate how water currently moves through the property and whether grading adjustments are needed. Depending on the layout of your yard, this could include adding drainage solutions, reshaping portions of the landscape, redirecting downspouts, or adjusting patio slopes to help water flow away from the pool area.

Taking care of drainage concerns early helps protect both the pool itself and the surrounding outdoor living space over the long term.

Be Prepared for Utility Upgrades

Installing a concrete pool involves more than excavation alone. Many projects also require electrical, plumbing, or gas work depending on the features included in the design. Pool pumps, filtration systems, heaters, lighting, automation systems, and water features all need proper utility connections as part of the installation process.

Your contractor will coordinate the necessary utility work and inspections, but homeowners should be prepared for temporary utility access throughout the construction process.

Talk to Your HOA if Necessary

If you live in a neighborhood governed by a homeowners association, it’s important to review community requirements before construction begins. Some HOAs have rules regarding:

• Fence placement
• Pool setbacks
• Construction hours
• Equipment visibility
• Landscaping requirements

Obtaining approvals early can help prevent delays once your project is scheduled to begin.

Think Beyond the Pool Itself

A concrete pool installation is also an opportunity to reimagine your entire backyard. Because concrete pools are fully customizable, homeowners can create a space tailored to their family’s needs.

When planning your project, consider how you want the finished space to function. Popular additions include:

• Sun shelves and tanning ledges
• Attached spas
• Waterfalls or fountains
• Outdoor lighting
• Custom decking
• Seating areas
• Outdoor kitchens
• Fire pits

The shape and layout of your pool should reflect how you plan to use the space, how many people will swim in it regularly, and how it fits within your property.

Understand the Benefits of Concrete Pools

Concrete remains one of the most popular choices for inground pools because of its strength, longevity, and design flexibility. Rising Sun Pools builds custom concrete pools using either shotcrete or gunite construction methods, both of which create highly durable structures reinforced with rebar.

Concrete pools allow for virtually unlimited customization.

Homeowners can also choose from a variety of beautiful interior finishes and water color options through Wet Edge Technologies to create a truly personalized backyard retreat.

While concrete pools typically involve a larger investment — often ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 depending on design and features — many homeowners view them as a long-term enhancement to both their lifestyle and property value.

Work with an Experienced Pool Builder

Preparing your backyard properly is only part of a successful concrete pool installation. Choosing an experienced pool builder is equally important.

Since 1972, Rising Sun Pools has built and renovated pools for homeowners and businesses throughout North Carolina. With decades of experience handling complex pool construction projects, the team understands how to navigate site challenges, customize designs, and deliver pools built for long-term enjoyment.

Whether you’re envisioning a sleek modern design, a resort-style retreat, or a family-friendly backyard gathering space, proper preparation and professional guidance can help make the installation process smoother from start to finish.

If you’re considering a custom concrete pool, scheduling a consultation is the best way to begin planning your backyard transformation.